Can We Just Be Happy Now?

Finding Home #3

by Tisa Matthews

Cooper Montgomery had his future mapped out–until he realized the girl next door was the one thing missing. He and Sophie Porter have been inseparable since childhood, but as Cooper heads off to college two years before her, he questions if their friendship should be more.

Sophie Porter has always been a dreamer, getting lost in fictional worlds rather than facing reality. But after exploring her feelings for Cooper, she discovers a love deeper than their childhood friendship that’s impossible to ignore.

When their age difference becomes an obstacle, their sweet romance turns bitter. Sophie’s convinced they need to chart their own paths before rediscovering each other. As she searches for direction, Cooper seizes the opportunity to prove love and adventure can go hand in hand, and that being in a relationship doesn’t have to mean missing out.

Can they navigate their differences and beat the odds, or will their friendship crumble under the strain of heartache?

Can We Just Be Happy Now? is a dual timeline, spicy, friends to lovers college romance, navigating the highs and lows of young love and growing up. Read it as the third book in the Finding Home series or as a standalone romance.

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary

409 pages, Paperback

Published February 14, 2024

Reviews

[Márcia Brilhante · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have a story that captures the difficulties of dating while we are in our teenager era. It’s a first love with all the pushes and pulls that comes with it, self-sabotage, and crazy decisions. It’s a part of a series but I only realized it when the questions about side characters started to appear.

This book has a dual timeline of the main character relationship that was done amazingly well. It was a fantastic representation of first loves and all the challenges that come with them. It was a cute book with nicely developed characters.

Overall, it was a nice, fun read that I enjoyed. The writing was simple, and the chapters were small, however I felt like the miscommunications between our main characters made their relationship a bit toxic for my taste. I still recommend it to fans of friends-to-lovers trope with a dual timeline.

Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

[Anna Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

Oh this one was so infuriating and yet a perfect representation of a young, growing love!

We all remember what it’s like to have that first love, the one you’d do anything for but also seem to self sabotage with stupid in-the-moment decisions that leave you thinking you’ve lost your damn mind later - and that’s what this is. Remembering the age of the characters (particularly Sophie) is key here because at times she comes across as a total brat 😂 But watching her grow up and finally realise what’s she wants is gold. Cooper is a total sweetheart, a true gentleman and would literally do anything for Sophie.

The push and pull made you want to bang their heads together, and when they finally get their acts together it’s worth the turmoil. They really do love each other deeply, know each other inside out, and are perfect for each other… if they don’t keep screwing it up!

It’s emotional, heart wrecking, frustrating, wholesome, deep seated love that was always meant to be 💜

Well done Tisa, you got all the feels here!

Tropes include -

❤️ It’s always been you
💙 Childhood friends to lovers
🧡 Emotional push and pull
💜 First love and second chance
🩵 Dual timeline
💛 Dual POV
🩷 College romance

[Morgan West · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

BESTFRIENDS FOREVER TO LOVERS?? Sign me up!

I don’t usually love a back and forth but oh my gosh I was eating this up from start to finish.

The dual timeline was done ✨seamlessly✨ I could physically feel Sophie & Cooper’s pull to each other. Most of the book had me kicking and screaming in the best way. The last chapter made me CRY MY EYES OUT. The closing of their story was amazing, it couldn’t have been any better. Get you a girl who’s ever changing like Sophie & a man who loves as deep as Cooper 💗

I guess you can read this as a standalone but why would you? I meannnnn the other two books are just as good & reading them all will make you feel all the feels

THE COSTA RICA PART??? DEAN HELLO!!!! I love him so much & it just made me miss him even more.

[Kort Combe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this book! COOPER AND SOPHIE ARE EVERYTHING! I am a huge fan of the push and pull romance. This story had the perfect amount of breakup/together times!

Tropes: girl next door, friends to lovers, traditions, right person wrong time.

My favorite part of this book was the heartbreaking dual timeline of their relationship. Tisa Matthew’s does a phenomenal job giving you just enough to lead you into the next time change!

This is a must read. It will rip your heart out and put it back together. Love the coming of age love story. It reminds me of college years. Super relatable content!

[Krystal Barba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I was very fortunate to get an ARC copy of this book! I loved it so much. It was a slow start and I was frustrated because I wanted answers right away and this book goes back in forth in time. Don’t get me wrong it was so worth it and after 100 pages I could not put this book down. As a tired momma I love my sleep but I stayed up late to finish this book! Sophie frustrated me but when I think about it, she does resemble realistic girls in their early adulthood college life. Cooper was EVERYTHING. 😍😭

If you loved “Love and Other Words”, I HIGHLY recommend this book to you. This “friends to lovers” was so good!!!! I’m usually not a big fan of that trope but if it’s executed like this…. then I love it! 🩷🩷🩷


Thank you Tisa Matthew’s for this opportunity. Now I just need a shelf trophy! It’s released on my birthday so now I can’t wait to treat myself!!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can We Just Be Happy Now? is a great novel, and is exactly what it says in the title. I spent most of the novel impatiently waiting for the characters to get their happy ending. The author cleverly used a dual timeline, weaving Sophie and Cooper’s past and present into a bittersweet narrative that juxtaposed happy and heartbreaking moments into an engrossing tale that will keep you hooked! It was honestly more angsty than what I usually read and what I anticipated but don’t let this deter you. Overall, Can We Just Be Happy Now? was a great read that I finished within 24 hours, and I would definitely recommend checking it out!
I had not encountered Tisa Matthew’s work before Can We Just Be Happy Now? but I will definitely be going back to the other books in the series!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this novel through NetGalley.

#CanWeJustBeHappyNow #NetGalley

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ 3/5

I LOVED this book!! I had a hard time putting it down & read it in 2 days! The dual timeline was done seamlessly!

I’m a sucker for friends to lovers books but this one was a crazy rollercoaster of emotions! Sophie and Cooper are perfect for each other but they are young and the 2 year age gap causes some issues between high school and college life. At times I wanted to shake them for making the stupid in the moment mistakes that you know they will regret later but overall watching them grow up was an amazing story!

[Kaitlyn | read_withkaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

*ARC REVIEW*

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

2.5 stars rounded up. I really, really, really wanted to love this book but the toxicity of the relationship was WAY too much for me. I liked the male MC very much. He stood his ground and tried his very best to do what he felt was right. The female MC was.... in nice words, ANNOYING. I felt like the flashbacks gave a great view into the relationship they had before the issues started but it was a VERY long read, in my opinion.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ATE THIS BOOK UP and then it ate me up back. I laughed, I cried and I swooned (sometimes all at once). These two have been in love for so long because there was so much back and forth, I felt like I was an external member of their friend group just screaming at them to confess their feelings and stop messing around.

Their story reminded me so much of myself when I went off to college while trying to live my life, experiment with new things but also trying to stay true to myself. I also really wanted to punch JT in the face, multiple times. Im glad he got his and I'm also happy to report he will not be getting a redemption arc. My god he sucked.

2🌶

I loved all the of time jumps back and forth and that this story takes place along the same timeline as book 1 and 2. You dont need to read those (but you absolutely should) before diving into this but I think you appreciate the side characters even more if you are familiar with them.

Young love is so tough. Im really sad I only have 1 book left in this series and to that I am asking Tisa to write her next series faster and then give them all to me at once.

*initial reaction after finishing*
I asked Tisa if she keeps a jar of her readers tears. She said yes. Next to her bed

[Lanakai | Higherreads ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a book babe that enjoys a friends to lovers/second chance romance then Can We Just Be Happy Now? is for you 💙 This book took me on the biggest emotional roller coaster ride! We all remember what it was like to be young and in love, right? Well let me just say this is the perfect representation of being young and in love 🥰

The story follows childhood best friends Sophie and Cooper who discover they share a connection that goes beyond friendship. It also has dual POV and timeline which I enjoyed! It was nice being able to follow the characters through their journey of growth, self-dicovery and riding out the highs and lows of young love.

As with any first love relationship, there is a lot of insecurity, pushing and pulling, jealousy and irrational decisions made throughout the book. It's emotional, heartbreaking, infuriating, and there will be a lot of 🤦🏽‍♀️ moments but I promise you will not want to put this down!

This is a reminder that falling in love is easy, it's staying in love that's hard work. Love requires trust, vulnerability, sacrifice, forgiveness, compromise and patience. It is choosing your partner time and time again even when shit gets tough!

Overall- If you’re a fan of friends to lovers and want to reminisce about the bittersweet feelings of being young and in love, this is the book you want to read next! The best part is it will be available on kindle unlimited on Valentine's Day 🌹

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for approving me to read this arc in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏽

[Cam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having just read Tisa Matthews’ other books in the series to understand the background before reading this ARC, I appreciate the focus of each books in the series is on finding yourself when you’re a young adult, putting yourself first to get to know who you are and want you want. But I just don’t think it worked into a nice story in this book.

The book focuses on Cooper and Sophie, who’ve been neighbours and best friends their whole lives. They are two years apart and that creates some friction as their priorities don’t align, which impacts their friendship and then relationship. Although the flashbacks and now vs then timelines worked well to pull you into the story, I just didn’t understood he 2 years age gap being made into such a thing… even at their ages, it’s practically nothing? It just made most of the difficulties in their relationship look quite meaningless and the fighting and drama felt like it was exaggerated. The character of Sophie is a little annoying with her playing hot and cold with Cooper so often - he made one mistake but she’s made dozen of them. Sure it’s teen love and they’re meant to be immature, but she was just too uncertain and at every point where she needs to make a decision, she keeps making the bad one and not liking the consequences… you get to be young and figure your shit out, but it’s not an excuse to hurt other people and expect them to stick around for more. Unfortunately, they didn’t feel meant to be to me by the end of the book because of her behavior.

[Bri Izzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for the friends to lovers trope in romance books. This one? It’s childhood best friends & next door neighbors to forever lovers. Say no more. When I say this is my favorite romance book I’ve ever read, I mean it with my entire heart.

I’ve struggled with dual timeline recently, but this was done flawlessly. I enjoyed that most (if not all) of the flips back and forth had a POV from each narrator and it wasn’t ever single chapter flipping back and forth or in the middle of a scene that would make it necessary to flip back two chapters to remind yourself where the conversation was.

Sophie and Cooper were so stinkin sweet and cute. I personally think Cooper was sweet the entire book, even when he was mad. It was nice to see Sophie grow up throughout the book. She felt very human, making mistakes repeatedly. While there were times I thought what Sophie was doing was wrong or stupid, I was actually never infuriated with her. It’s funny that she likes to read and outwardly tells Cooper she hates the miscommunication trope and then she went and lived it for a few years. I knew she would eventually figure it out and was just hoping the timing would be right with Cooper when she did.

The way this book was written was absolutely perfect. I can’t get over how much I loved it. Forever my gold standard of friends to lovers.

[Ems · Rating 4 out of 5]

Him teaching her how to drive was my absolute favorite scene. I was giggling and kicking my feet. 🫢

I enjoyed the first 50% so so much , and then enjoyed it less and less as the book continued. I loved the flashbacks and seeing them in love so much but the back and forth between them was just too long for me personally. I would’ve definitely loved it more if it wouldn‘t have been the same over and over again.
Nevertheless this was a relatable story about two young people falling in love and trying to make it work while also growing up.

Sophies love for books was just so relatable and he‘s just so supportive .

“It's just a book,” I tell her, and the sliver of worry fades as if it’s a gift that automatically discredits the idea of romance. If only she knew Sophie, whose exact idea of romance is a book–not that I’m trying to romance her.“

“You’re the one who gets me the books.” “I’ll buy you all the damn books you want,” I



Rating: 4/5⭐️
Spice: 3/5🌶️

Tropes:
- Childhood (best) friends to lovers
- Dual POV
- two timelines
- Right person wrong time
- He teachers her how to drive 🥹
- She’s a bookworm

[🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much! I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC copy of this book and it was amazing!

I really enjoyed the dual POV, you could really feel the difference between Sophie’s and Cooper’s voices. The story also has two timelines which I really enjoyed and it kept me wanting to read the next chapter straight away to find out what happens next.

There was a lot of angst and I just couldn’t wait for them to finally resolve everything and be together. The story actually reminded me a little bit of ‘Love, Rosie’ and if you enjoyed that book you will definitely love this one!!

It was a really sweet book with quick and easy to read chapters. It also had some of the best tropes - girl next door, right person wrong time, friends to lovers. It also has some spice in it, which I didn’t mind at all, but something to be aware of before you read it.

I only discovered Tisa by reading this book and I am very excited to read rest of her books. She is hands down now one of my favourite sweet romance authors.

[Alexandra Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

This book had me nearly crying, wanting to throw my kindle across the room, repeatedly groaning at Sophie's immature actions, and reminiscing on what young love was like for me at their age. This is very much an emotional push and pull romance and I had to constantly remind myself that the characters are in high school and the beginning of college so of course there's bound to be a lot of stupid decisions made by both Sophie and Cooper. Any book that can get me to experience such a wide range of emotions is an automatic favorite for me and this book did just that.

While I spent most of the book mad at Sophie, it was so worth it to see how much she and Cooper grew individually and how their relationship evolved from childhood friends to lovers back to friends and then back to lovers yet again. I can honestly say that I did not have any issues with the book itself, only with the decisions being made by Sophie and Cooper throughout their story 😅

This book is the third installment in the Finding Home series but can be read as a standalone. I read this one as a standalone and was not confused at all, but I could tell whenever the other characters from the first two books were referenced which made me excited to go and read those as well!

Tropes to expect-

🛹 Childhood friends to lovers
💕 The girl next door
🛹 Dual POV & timeline
💕 Second chance
🛹 College/high school romance
💕 Right person, wrong time

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Breanne McFall · Rating 3 out of 5]

* I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review! *
I was enjoying this book for the first half, and then enjoyed it less and less and it continued on. The dual timeline and dual POV was hard to follow at times, and the book just felt like a re-hashing of the same issues over and over again until the HEA. This was the most toxic relationship, and what might have been written off once or twice as young love and teenage mistakes went on wayyyy too long to do so. Some of the spice felt overdone and added to the toxicity of the relationship for me. By the end I didn’t like either main character 😭
However, the book was an easy read, had short chapters, and did keep my interest most of the way through. Really wanted to love this one, but it wasn’t really for me.

[Emma Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic representative of first loves and the difficulties that come with learning to fight or walk away. The hardships and the influences of young love, something I think all of us can connect with deeply.
Absolutely loved the dual POV and timeline aspect, it created more depth within the characters!
What a cute book. I adored the characters, the first third and last third were the best, it became slightly repetitive within the middle but over all the story came together. I wish there was more consistent situations brought up throughout with some parts of the storyline (the birthday book, sunshine etc)
🩷childhood bestfriends
🩷 friends to lovers
🩷second-chance romance
🩷 Dual timeline and POV
Thankyou Tisa Matthews for the ARC, I’m honoured I got to experience this story.

[Vicky.lovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can we just be happy now? By Tisa Matthews

4.5⭐️

Tropes

First love
Friends to lovers
Coming of age/college romance
Small town

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I will definitely go back and read the other books from this series. It’s told from a dual timeline and the push pull dynamic of their relationship really gripped me.

It reminded me of how difficult it was to navigate a new relationship while being young and trying to grow up and find out who I was all at the same time.

Cooper and Sophie have such a strong connection and I really felt that throughout the book. I was so happy with how everything turned out. I don’t mind angst as long as I have my HEA!

I highly recommend reading this book.

[Meesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Can We Just Be Happy Now" masterfully captures the essence of college romance, evoking a nostalgia that's both sweet and heart-wrenching. Cooper and Sophie's journey is a rollercoaster of emotions, reminiscent of the intoxicating scent of familiarity or the melody of a song that transports you back to carefree college days.

The magnetic pull between Cooper and Sophie is palpable, keeping you on the edge of your seat with every turn of the page. Rooting for their love one moment and admonishing their choices the next, the story weaves a captivating narrative that elicits tears, blushes, and moments of intense rage.

Tisa Matthews skillfully navigates the highs and lows of young love, making this dual timeline, spicy friends-to-lovers college romance a captivating addition to the Finding Home series.

You can read this as a stand alone or start by reading And Then There’s You (Book 1) and I Love You So What? ( Book 2).

Cooper & Sophie have my heart 🩵💚

[abbiealwaysreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book so badly. Friends to lovers and second chance are two tropes I really enjoy. But this book felt like I was reading the same fight over and over for about 200 pages. I think that Cooper and Sophie’s story has a lot of potential but the content may be more suitable for a novella than a full length novel.

[Maddy Tollefson]

This was so frustratingly great! I don’t usually love the dual time line but this story made sense this way, to get the full picture. The miscommunication between these two made me so frustrated.

[Kitti · Rating 5 out of 5]

BFFs since birth.
Soulmates.
Friends to lovers to strangers to friends to lovers.
Right person wrong time.
Second chance.
Popular guy x sunshine, bookworm girl

It’s the most heartwarming journey I’ve read in a long time.Their friendship, love and mistakes were everything to me. Beautifully written story. Thank you NetGalley❣️

[Monique Soleil ☀️]

dnf’ed at 22%.

i am a big fan of friends to lovers and second chance romances but i could tell within the first few chapters that this book wasn’t going to be the one for me.

it made me uncomfortable that our mmc was 18/19 and interested in a freshly turned 16 year old??? i also don’t mind a then/now timeline. i actually normally really enjoy the build up to finding out what went wrong in the main characters relationship but this one was difficult to follow.

i might try to revisit this book down the road but only if i’ve read the first two and enjoyed them.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, lively, quirky yet very touching and at times tragic, “Can We Just Be Happy Now?” (“CWJBHN?”) goes through all the highs and lows of both young love and right love, wrong time.

You never forget your first: first kiss, first love, first heartbreak. Sometimes, you experience it all with the same person. This is the case with our main characters Sophie Porter and Cooper Montgomery, inseparable childhood best friends, neighbours, and both secretly in love with each other. It is told in present tense from both their points of view, in a dual timeline of the Then and Now. Then is around two and a half years before the present day, when Sophie is 16 in high school and Cooper is 18 and about to go off to college. Now is when Sophie is 18 and Cooper is 20, in her first year of college. Through the assistance of both time periods, you see how it started and how it’s going – and let me tell you, it is not going too well!

The story begins after a bitter breakup between the two of them in the Now, for reasons revealed later. Sophie decides to have a bucket list of things (and people) she wants to experience in college. Cooper finds Sophie hanging out with another guy, JT, though she told Cooper she just needed time and would consider starting again. Thanksgiving is awkward, to say the least (their families have always celebrated it together so there is no escaping it). Sophie misses the way things were and wants to make things work between them again, or at least to go back to some sort of friendship. However, things at every opportunity (and I really mean every ) get in the way either by her own self-destructive doing, or Cooper’s attempts to shut her out.

Between these moments are memories from Then, starting from Sophie’s 16th birthday when Cooper admits he has feelings for her. From this, it can be seen why Sophie wants to get back together with him, and wondering what could’ve happened to tear them apart. For these are all very adorable moments, where Cooper treats her like a princess, which makes switching between the timelines all the more bittersweet. Will their love, and memories, conquer all the obstacles and the hate?

This has been a rollercoaster of a read with never a dull moment, and there are so many things I have enjoyed while reading this! The pacing, dialogue, and description were perfect, I could picture everything. The small touches about this book also won me over: I loved the paragraph divider in chapters being the Goldfinch named Sunshine that visits the bird feeder by their homes and has also appeared through many moments of their ups and downs (I simply adore that Sophie has that as a tattoo at the end). Also, the title of the book being a quote near the end? I cried! I loved all the characters; each served a purpose. Especially the supportive family members like Cooper’s mother and Sophie’s brother and mother helping them see the error of their ways and enabling them to get a fresh perspective on their relationship.

I am a sucker for the friends to lovers trop and a firm believer in right love, wrong time so I really enjoyed reading this. Sophie and Cooper have my heart, with their chemistry and their awkwardness. There is a constant push and pull between them – and every time you think this might be it, they might be able to work through this, something happens that makes you want to scream either at Cooper or Sophie or *both* of them! The number of times they go to say “I love you” but end up holding back from it would leave one inebriated if one took a drink every time! Neither of them watching the TV show Beauty & The Beast finale because they didn’t want to see it without the other ahh! Bless them!
Cooper is everything. I love how respectful and kind he is (also the way he would brush Sophie’s tears away or cup her face, love that gentle touch). There are even some chapters where he slips her bookmark back into the book before setting it aside: this is a top priority! Men, take note of this! The way Sophie discovers Cooper writes a message at the back of each birthday book he gives her, oh my wee heart! You cannot *not* love him! Sophie reminds me of myself – and that’s not just because we share the same name! From her love of books to her impulsiveness in some situations to her organisational skills to how easily she can become emotional, I relate so much. I also agree that if I were to get a fairly subtle tattoo and something I am certain of getting. She goes through an incredible amount of emotional maturity, something which I did not have at 18 so it was lovely to see this. I was very petty, insecure and required validation.

"You deserve the best version of me–a happy version of me. Not the one who is off making stupid decisions because she is listening to someone else's words instead of her own heart."

I loved this. Everyone needs to hear this!

I must commend Tisa for the use of both dual timeline and dual point of view. It has been a while since I have read a book with this, and it is a very difficult thing to do. She used it very effectively here to not only link what is being discussed or briefly reminisced in the present day to the past but to also gradually reveal all of which happened before that has turned their friendship and relationship sour. One such example is Chapter 15 when present-day Cooper sees that Sophie is calling, and her contact photo is one he took of her skateboarding when she was 16, when they were happily dating. Chapter 17 expands on this from the perspective of Cooper in the past. Interestingly, both their reasonings for breaking up is because they do not want the other to miss out on college experience with everything and everyone, except the initial breakup is at Sophie’s request because she is insecure and the next breakup is by Cooper but due to her father’s influence on him.

A few notes I took as I was reading:
ch 18 "slipping her bookmark in place before resting it on the nightstand" Absolute green flag!
ch 25 "The flood gates open as the door to the diner closes behind Cooper" This description is a masterpiece!
ch 33 ooft! but also dang it!
ch 39 THE NOTES AT THE BACK OF EACH BIRTHDAY BOOK!!!
ch 54 my jaw DROPPED
ch 66 FINALLY

I cannot find much fault with this novel at all. It made sense why certain events happened or why a character behaved the way they did. I always like books in a series to be able to be read as a standalone and this can be read as such. I think the only thing I was perhaps disappointed in was there was no real resolution between Sophie’s father and Cooper. It does not matter ultimately but I was hoping he would come to see the error of his ways or behave a lot more civil. In real life, some people never change and this is a good reflection of that. If anything, his attitude needs to be smacked out of him – just like Cooper punched JT haha!

I am honoured to have been selected as an ARC reader for this book, and I’d like to thank Tisa for the opportunity.

[B.B. Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚BOOK REVIEW 📚

Can We Just Be Happy Now? (Book 3 of the Finding Home Series) by Tisa Matthews

⭐️Goodread Rating: 4.78/ 5⭐️
💫My Rating: 4.5/5 💫

⚠️Trigger Warnings ⚠️
-alcohol use, graphic language, sexual activities, manipulation, push and pull of emotions

📝My Review📝

Written with such emotional accuracy you can’t help, but be sucked in.

In Matthews’ newest edition to the Finding Home Series, the “girl next door” story unfolds with childhood friends becoming on and off again lovers. Both of them on their journey together, yet each of them are experiencing it on their own. In a dual timeline and dual POV Tisa leads her readers on an emotional roller coaster that will leave you reeling in a ping pong effect. Readers will become attached to characters through their relatable and detailed experiences and inner thoughts. As every scene plays out, it exposes a layer of understanding with each character’s decision. Matthews’ has nailed the emotional detail with an accuracy that only enhanced the authenticity of the storyline.

Similar to the two previous books, Tisa sprinkles the novel with the prior books’ beloved characters that will paint a larger picture to the story arc of the entire Finding Home series. With each additional novel, Tisa’s writing has excelled. Book 3 demonstrates this strength and growth that she has developed as an author. While it is written in dual POV and dual time lines, it is executed well and easy to follow along.

Overall I have throughly enjoyed reading this series and seeing how each story evolves. This novel brought out my passionate side which made me more invested and loyal to some characters more than others. Although Sophie and Cooper’s story put me through an internal war of emotions, I cannot recommend this series and novel enough.

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[Jxn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Tisa Matthews' third installment of the Finding Home series, "Can We Just Be Happy Now?", Cooper Montgomery and Sophie Porter's childhood friendship blossoms into a passionate love affair. However, their age difference and differing life paths threaten to tear them apart. Cooper, a pragmatic planner, leaves for college two years before Sophie, leaving her to face the reality of their changing relationship. Sophie, a dreamer lost in fictional worlds, struggles to balance her feelings for Cooper with her own need for independence. The tension between their conflicting desires creates a rift that tests the strength of their bond. As Sophie searches for her own path, Cooper embarks on a journey of self-discovery, determined to prove that love and adventure can coexist. He believes their relationship doesn't have to hinder their individual growth and sets out to bridge the gap between them. The narrative alternates between past and present, offering readers a glimpse into the evolution of Cooper and Sophie's relationship. Through flashbacks, we witness their childhood camaraderie, the blossoming of their romantic feelings, and the obstacles they face as they navigate the complexities of young love. Matthews' writing is engaging and emotive, capturing the rollercoaster of emotions that accompany first love. She skillfully delves into the characters' inner thoughts and struggles, making them relatable and sympathetic. The supporting cast of characters adds depth to the story, providing insight into Cooper and Sophie's individual journeys. "Can We Just Be Happy Now?" is a heartwarming and poignant exploration of young love, friendship, and the challenges of growing up. Matthews' ability to craft authentic characters and her talent for weaving a compelling narrative make this a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. Overall, this book is a delightful addition to the Finding Home series and a satisfying read for anyone who enjoys stories about love, loss, and the pursuit of happiness.

[Nashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an infuriating, frustrating and exciting representation of young love, of coming of age of finding who you are and what it means to be yourself in a relationship.

First loves are a big deal and they are a part of us forever. We would have done anything for them. But when you are young and finding out what love is, it is full of self sabotage, stupid decisions, overthinking and some more overthinking. This book had all of that in a dual POV and dual timeline where we follow Cooper and Sophie as their friendship blossoms into something more and what that means for them, their families and their future.

Cooper has my ENTIRE heart, eventhough I wanted to hit him in the head once or twice because his actions were frustrating to me. Young him and a little older him was a total sweetheart, a gentleman (although still a guy in love) and he is the perfect representation of he fell first, he fell harder and he will do anything for who he loves.

Sophie and her internal turmoil and her journey of discovery can be frustrating but at least for me it was very relatable. And I had to keep reminding myself of how young she was. Plus for someone who hates the miscommunication trope, she sure found herself in that situation a lot.

Can we just be happy now? is an emotional, heartbreaking, warm and fuzzy, frustrating, wholesome book about love that has always been meant to be but it does not come easy. A representation of the fact that the one has to be chosen time and time again and that it requires work.

Tisa definitely gave me all the feels and she got my reaction of how I could not put this book down and read it in less than 24 hours.

This book is part of the Finding Home series and can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend you read the entire series first because stories intertwine and there are recurring characters through them all.

Thank you Tisa and Netgalley for my arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah (Books_with_a_cuppa) · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I was excited for this book being released would be downplaying the situation, significantly. I downloaded it as soon as it was released and started it immediately.

This story was everything I needed it to be. There was so much sexual tension, there was swoon-worthy declarations, there was an insane level of build up, and there was a healthy amount of frustration!

One of the things I’ve really loved in Tisa’s books, and with her writing style in general, is that she keeps it so real. And this story was probably the truest representation of that. She introduced you to Sophie and Cooper, childhood friends and neighbours in a way that you could feel their connection, their friendship. You believe that no matter what, they need each other like they need air. And then you throw in turning of age stresses and first loves and it becomes an addictive combination of “I need them to be together, but I understand why they’re not”.

Cooper is everything. He loves her so fiercely and unconditionally. He’s so patient and so considerate. He’s resolute in his beliefs and wants. Sophie frustrated the hell out of me due to her naivety and ability to be influenced. Deep down she knows what she wants but she thinks she shouldn’t and therefore needs to follow a more “conventional” journey into adulthood. She tries to be mature and to do what she thinks is right, for both of them, but her actions are so naive. It made me want to scream at the page both for and against her!

This book also gives you more of both Troy (yes please 😍) and Marcus. My love for Marcus grew further in this book and I honestly can’t wait for his story. He seems so level-headed and mature, I can only imagine what our intro to him will be like.

If I could give this book, and this Finding Home series, more than 5 stars I would in a heartbeat.

[Astrid Whispers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cooper and Sophie have been neighbours and best friends forever. Growing up, they have been inseparable and they are the perfect team. Soon things begin to change for Cooper, especially when Sophie turns 16. When Cooper leaves for college two years ahead of Sophie, he begins to wonder whether his best friend can be more.

Sophie has always said that Cooper is her favourite person and when he tells her he’s thought about kissing her, her nerves get the better of her because but Cooper always makes her feel safe and comfortable and eventually Sophie admits she too has feelings for Cooper.

Everything between them is perfect but when Sophie tells Cooper she thinks they should break up, he’s heartbroken. Sophie believes she’s doing the right thing and whilst she does has feelings for Cooper, she believe they need to both experience and find themselves first. A devastated Cooper who doesn’t want anyone but Sophie, tries his best to prove to Sophie they experience everything and be together.

I loved this story. Cooper and Sophie are endgame, soulmates, they are so meant to be and every time they pushed each other away I found myself shaking my book, screaming JUST SAY YOU LOVE EACH OTHER! Their connection, friendship and love is so pure but Sophie is convinced Cooper may resent having a High School girlfriend whilst he goes off to college and she wants him to experience everything College has to offer, she wants the same for herself too. As time goes on they realise it’s a lot harder than they think to navigate what they want, college, new experiences other people and remain friends even after breaking up. It’s clear they just want each other but their jealousy and hurt lead to hurting each other and ultimately themselves even though they keep coming back to each other.

[Jason Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can We Just Be Happy Now? What a perfect title for this up-and-down, emotional roller coaster of a book.

This is Book 3 of the Finding Home series. I highly recommend reading both And Then There’s You, and I Love You, So What? However, this book can stand alone on its brilliant use of dual timeline and dual POV.

Matthews takes us on a journey and will bring us back to the time in our lives where we are just reaching adulthood and independence, yet not quite ready for either. A time where the decisions we made are the decisions we look back on and cringe a bit.

A tale of childhood friends who take the next step in their relationship. What ensues is a back-and-forth, up-and-down, journey where you simultaneously slap your palm against your forehead and continue to root for these two to “just be happy.”

The writing is masterful. This is Matthews’ third book and the quality of her writing, storytelling, character development, and plot design are on a whole new level, compared to her first two books. As I was reading this book, I was getting Liane Moriarty vibes, in the sense that I knew I was getting information, but not sure how it all fit in.

And the ending? Matthews does it again. Sticks it perfectly. Satisfying the journey, leaving us wanting just a little more.

P.S: The chapter sections are separated by a graphic of a little bird, which makes complete sense when you read it and is the BEST little Easter egg I have ever come across in a book. Great job!

P.P.S: Oh yes, there are some good spicy scenes. They aren’t what I read for, so I forget to mention them sometimes. That being said, the “culmination” scene in the kitchen is amazing!