Years in the Making

by Megan McSpadden

Sometimes the best love stories are years in the making.

Nellie Woodcroft is living the life she’s always wanted. She has a job she loves as a librarian, has been selected to lead a mobile library program in a remote area, and has the best friends a girl could ask for. So what if her dating life has been cursed by the memories of blue eyes and baseball socks from twelve years ago?

Teddy Fletcher is home and finally settled. He likes his job working at Bennett Morgan’s dog sanctuary, and he's feeling a bit more like himself after twelve years of running from all-encompassing guilt and grief. So what if he can’t stop thinking of her smile, that wild auburn hair and how he broke her heart?

When Nellie and Teddy's mutual friends fall in love, they unexpectedly find themselves back in one another's lives. For Teddy, their passionate reunion ignites hope that he can prove he’s still the same guy she fell for, but Nellie is convinced that friendship is the only thing she’s open to. After all, she spent years piecing her broken heart back together and Teddy’s devastating reasons for leaving won’t erase that.

With the help of meddling friends, a reluctant Nellie agrees to let Teddy tag along on her mobile library journey so he can help at a local rescue. For the dogs, she tells herself. In the heart of a middle-of-nowhere town, surrounded by good-hearted, nosy townsfolk, Nellie begins to realize that sometimes chemistry happens whether you want it to or not. Sometimes you can't fight the inevitable.

Genres: Second Chance, Canada, Romance, Found Family

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 2024

About the author

Megan McSpadden dreads talking about herself almost as much as seeing a snake on a hike. But she knows we all must do scary things so here it goes.

Megan lives in Hamilton, Ontario with her husband, two dogs, two cats and unruly garden. When not writing she can usually be found photographing families (don’t worry they pay her to do it), yelling at her beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, dreaming of travelling somewhere else or cooking something her husband will ask her to make again but knows she won’t because Megan doesn’t do recipes.

Megan enjoys writing romance that will make you laugh one minute only to cry the next. Don’t ask why because she doesn’t know.

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I love this book? Let me count the ways. I love thee from the witty banter to the forced proximity, familial realness and dog named Kevin. The tattoos, to the maple cookies and deep hunger for love.

Megan McSpadden does it again. I Ate This Book Up!

Lines I loved:

▪️"Four days wasn't enough, and five was almost too many." "Like an avocado," I say, and we burst out laughing again.

▪️Greaseball McGee

▪️Every town needs a gas station, liquor store, and a good taxidermist. Those are the essentials.

▪️He's a weiner, he shivers when a warm breeze touches him.

[Haylee • haylsbookshelf •]

The absolute perfect welcome back into this fictional world! I adored the first in this series & was very happy being back with everyone 💖 thank you @authormeganmcspadden for sending me an early copy!!!

Nelly & Teddy 🥰💖😍😭💖🥹 they have an epic love story! And I never wanted it to end 🥹🥰 I couldn’t help but cheer for them even as I smiled & cried through the pages 😭😂 everything was beautifully written & the emotions packed into these characters & story was absolutely brilliant 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I loved both of these characters! Nelly was independent, a fellow lover of books, & someone I would love to have in my corner! And Teddy’s journey was a tough one, no doubt about it! He had a lot to navigate, but the kind of person is was always shown through 🥰

And the dogs 🐶🐶🐶 getting to see the other characters from book 1 was perfect!!! I am a sucker for dogs in books! And then a new doggo named Kevin 🥹🥹 he stole my heart! (Fun fact: my sister’s dog is named Kevin!)

This book was so much more than an epic love story 💖 the tough subjects of grief, mental health, & trauma made it that much for real, & the characters raw & authentic! Thank you Megan for handling this with the care you did 🥰💖 I can’t wait to read more of your work!!

What to expect:
✨second chance romance
✨dual timeline
✨small town
✨found family
✨interconnected series
✨mental health rep: anxiety, grief, blood disorder, trauma
✨sunshine/sunshine
✨DOGS (a puppy named Kevin!)
✨awesome townsfolk
✨banter
✨and the list could go on!!

Mark your calendars!! YEARS IN THE MAKING hits shelves July 23 🗓️

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book takes its time with you - and thank goodness for that. Between life, work, and the occasional need to be a functioning adult, Years in the Making, quite literally lived up to its name for me. But honestly, I’m so grateful for the slower pace. It gave me the rare gift of savouring a story I know I would’ve otherwise devoured in one sitting.

Let’s start with Nellie, our tattooed, strong, endlessly kind FMC. She had me from the very beginning. Relatable, grounded, and a total dream of a main character. She’s the kind of woman you cheer for on every page, and secretly wish you could be best friends with.

But Teddy. Let’s raise a glass for this man! A walking, talking green flag. He’s complex, imperfect, and so easy to root for. The second-chance storyline between him and Nellie felt so real, heartfelt and believable in a way that hit deeper than I expected.

Also, Kevin. The Weiner. The snuggliest, sassiest four-legged king. I’m just saying, this book frankly wouldn’t be the same without him. (Yes, I went there.)

And while we’re here, can we talk about the incredible cast of side characters in Marmot Point? Every single one of them added heart, humour, and that small-town charm that made the story feel like home.

I adored book one, but book two managed to top it. What’s even more than adore? Revere? Obsess? Tattoo it on my soul? Whatever it is, I feel it.

So cheers to Nellie, Teddy, Kevin, and to Megan for writing a sequel that felt like coming home.

[Melly Mel - Shelf_ishly_lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years In The Making, Megan McSpadden

Witty. Sexy. Heartwarming.

Following up from her stunning debut, An Unexpected Path, Meg takes us into the worlds of Nellie and Teddy. (With glimpses of a few fave past characters and pups).

In Years In The Making, Nellie and Teddy stumble into each other as they make their way home for summer from university. This chance meeting encounter becomes the launching point for a sweet budding romance. Unfortunately, Teddy suddenly disappears leaving Nellie questioning their relationship, her heart, and herself. Years later their paths cross and the two met again. Another unexpected chance encounter, this time thanks to Marley and Bennet.

Reading this book was extra fun as I felt like I was in an exclusive VIP book club with my friend and author Meg! Sharing a few of my thoughts as I went along. For example:

- [ ] Just meeting Nellie & Teddy and instantly they are adorable!! Loving their banter!! Fully invested!
- [ ] Update: I’m up to page 221. When I’m in - I’m in. Teddy - full. Stop. Swoon.
- [ ] Full marks for the level of tension you have created. (The way Meg crafted tension - perfect!)
- [ ] Finding the title in the book - 🧑‍🍳 😘

I can’t say more. I’d spoil it all.
What I will say is, for a person who is picky about rom-com’s and is not easily won over - Meg has stolen my heart, not once but twice now!!

[Jamie (jamie.bookworm)]

I’ve been lucky enough to have my hands on an early copy of Megan’s second book for awhile now and I’ve been meaning to read since I got it but I just couldn’t find the right time….(mood reader problems) much like the characters in this book - some things needed to align properly and that finally happened!

I love the way the plot was in before and after parts. I especially enjoyed the “then” section and getting to see where it all began for Nellie and Teddy.

This book touches on grief being different for everyone and how it can be all consuming.

Teddy was so sweet and I felt so badly for him throughout the book. I really liked his story and his character was a standout for me.

The meddling side characters might be my favourite part - it was great to see Marley & Bennett again!

Another great book by Meg - I’m in awe of your talent friend - you wrote two books!!!! Congrats!!

YEARS IN THE MAKING is out July 23rd!!

[Melanie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

YEARS IN THE MAKING by @authormeganmcspadden came out yesterday 🥳🥳 I loved it!!

This is Megan’s second book, and second in a series, but can be read as a stand alone!

Nellie and Teddy have a love that spans many years, and is truly, years in the making. I loved that we get their early love story, how they met and fell in love 12 years earlier, how we find out what happened to cause Teddy to disappear, and then, how the came back into each other’s lives by mutual friends. Seeing Nellie open herself up to trusting Teddy again and finding true happiness was so heartwarming. There is nothing like a roadtrip (made possible by meddling friends), to bare all your secrets, a s staying in a remote northern village where even the people there want to see them together and happy.

Highly recommend reading this book! If you are a big dog lover, then this book is a must! Kevin the dog warmed my heart so much 🫶🏻💙

READ IF YOU LIKE:
💙 second chance
💙 small town (Ontario, Canada)
💙 forced proximity
💙 banter
💙 dual POV & dual timeline
💙 secret tattoos
💙 anxiety rep
💙 steamy
💙 roadtrip
💙 cinnamon role MMC
💙 sunshine x sunshine
💙 DOGS!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It finally happened!"
"You DNFed a book?"

(For the record, I did not DNF Years in The Making lol!)
It's not technically necessary to read Megan McSpadden's first book, An Unexpected Path, before this one. But why wouldn't you? It brings you into her "Right Place, Right Time" world. It's one of charming characters, witty banter, family and friends, Canadiana, messy pasts, and love.
Years In the Making is more of what qe love, with our MCs of Teddy ("Enviro Guy") and Nellie ("Library Girl") taking center stage this time. (For those who haven't yet read AUP, Teddy works for Bennett, and Nellie is one of Marley's bffs.)
There are new characters, plus the ones we know and love - both two-legged and four!
Recommended!

[Megan O'Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another phenomenal book from Megan! I absolutely loved Teddy and Nellie’s story 🥹 We got introduced to these two in the first book and got to experience them crossing paths again, but seeing their story come to life was amazing! The ‘then’ timeline had me in tears of joy and sadness and the ‘now’ timeline had me rooting for them the whole time 🥰 Beautifully written and highly recommend you read Megan’s books. I cannot wait for the next one!

[Kelly (miss_kellysbookishcorner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Years in the Making
Author: Megan McSpadden
Series: Right Place, Right Time #2
Genre: Romance
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: July 23, 2024

I received a complimentary eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Rustic • Swoony • Realistic

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Sometimes the best love stories are years in the making.

Nellie Woodcroft is living the life she’s always wanted. She has a job she loves as a librarian, has been selected to lead a mobile library program in a remote area, and has the best friends a girl could ask for. So what if her dating life has been cursed by the memories of blue eyes and baseball socks from twelve years ago?

Teddy Fletcher is home and finally settled. He likes his job working at Bennett Morgan’s dog sanctuary, and he's feeling a bit more like himself after twelve years of running from all-encompassing guilt and grief. So what if he can’t stop thinking of her smile, that wild auburn hair and how he broke her heart?

When Nellie and Teddy's mutual friends fall in love, they unexpectedly find themselves back in one another's lives. For Teddy, their passionate reunion ignites hope that he can prove he’s still the same guy she fell for, but Nellie is convinced that friendship is the only thing she’s open to. After all, she spent years piecing her broken heart back together and Teddy’s devastating reasons for leaving won’t erase that.

With the help of meddling friends, a reluctant Nellie agrees to let Teddy tag along on her mobile library journey so he can help at a local rescue. For the dogs, she tells herself. In the heart of a middle-of-nowhere town, surrounded by good-hearted, nosy townsfolk, Nellie begins to realize that sometimes chemistry happens whether you want it to or not. Sometimes you can't fight the inevitable.

💭 T H O U G H T S

As many of you will already know, discovering and supporting Canadian authors is something I adore and each year I make an conscious effort to include as much Canadian content in my reading life as I can. Enter Megan McSpadden, a Canadian indie author whose journey I have been following on social media for quite some time. I was so grateful to receive an ARC ahead of publication and Years in the Making did not disappoint!

Megan delivers a dual timeline/dual perspective romance that does all of the little things just right - from Nellie and Teddy's jobs to their meet-cute on the train, to their witty banter and adorable nicknames, to all of the little pieces of Canadiana sprinkled throughout. Additionally, she handles the topic of grief with care and compassion, showcasing how everyone's grieving process and journey is different. I also appreciated the inclusion of anxiety and von Willebrand disease (a blood disorder) rep. The information on von Willebrand disease led me to seek out more information because I saw so many of my own symptoms in the description.

And then there are Nellie and Teddy! Their chemistry leaps off the page. I loved getting to know their history and seeing their slow return to one another. They are well formed and endearing, as are the secondary characters, even the furry friends. Everyone felt so familiar. Found family is a favourite trope of mine and it was on full display in this one.

Years in the Making is an absolute delight, filled with second chances, forced proximity, and sweet little moments and endearing characters. Theoretically part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand alone (the books take place in an interconnected world, but each with a different set of main characters). I cannot wait to go back and read Marley & Bennett's story while I eagerly await Meg's next release. A Canadian author to keep an eye on!

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• road trips
• small town settings
• found family

⚠️ CW: death, death of parent, grief, medical content, medical trauma, cerebral aneurysm, chronic illness, mental illness, anxiety, car accident, sexual content, cursing, vomit

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"The human heart is an interesting thing, capable of holding great hope and the capacity for immense heartbreak at the same time."

"When you know, you know. Time doesn't matter."

[Amanda (amanda.always.reading) Magdic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Canadian indie author McSpadden strikes again with a second chance romance that pulls from her own life experience. I loved An Unexpected Path, so was excited to receive an ARC for book 2 in the series.

Years in the Making is a sweet small town romance full of laughs and great banter. I really enjoyed Nellie's character. And how despite her guardedness after being hurt, she's still open to trying again and letting Teddy back in. Speaking of Teddy, our poor broken boy. While he maybe went about it the wrong way, I like how he managed to work through his grief and find himself as an adult. The slow burn chemistry between the two was excellent. As well the cute little nicknames they had for each other. You couldn't wait for them to finally let down their walls and just come together. Gently nudged of course by the fantastic cast of side characters. I loved the dynamic between Midge and big Al. Plus we get some cameos by Marley and Bennett. And it wouldn't be a Meg McSpadden book without some loveable dogs. If this one isn't already on your summer reading list it should be.

Side shout out to the artist for the awesome cover!

TW: chronic illness, familial betrayal, loss of a parent, grief

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

4.5/5 ⭐

Okay so first things first, I'd like to thank the author for the ARC. I love the cover, it is so beautiful and I'm in awe of it.

I don't know much about the birds but this book piqued my interest, so maybe I'd spend some time reading about the birds I read in this book.

The story in this book revolves around the two main characters - Teddy and Nellie. Also the book is written in two parts Then and Now. The book is set against the backdrop of a small town in Canada.

Teddy is an Environment Guy because he studied environmental science and Nellie is a Library Girl because she is in an undergrad program for library science.

They met on a train and instantly clicked. They both were mesmerized by each other. They exchanged numbers and kept in touch, they both are nerds in their own respective ways. They formed a friendship that summer and started spending time together until the tragedy struck and everything they worked for shatters.

The story takes a leap of 12 years and they are forced to face each other again, although coincidentally. Since it's an ARC I won't spoil it for you, having said that I'd like to point out a few things I liked in this book.

1. I liked how the vulnerabilities of both the characters were portrayed.
2. I liked how honest they were with each other even though so much time had passed between them.
3. I liked how one of the characters had to go through the grief journey and then the healing journey.
4. Even though I am not a fan of insta-love stories, this one felt different.
5. I liked how the characters changed over time yet they remained unchanged.
6. I liked the world building, both the characters being green flags.
7. I loved the animals in the book and the conversations about birds and books.

PS: i really enjoyed the book and it's only better because the author has beautifully written certain parts from her personal experience.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year when I read Meg's first book An Unexpected Path, I was immediately drawn into her written world, characters, and overall goodness of the book. So when book 2 in the Right Place, Right Time series was announced I was so excited. You don't necessarily need to read AUP first, but there are some overlapping characters, so it's fun to have the background a bit. But back to this book though... Years in the Making is just that! It's kind of a dual timeline, but it's back in the day, then current. And throughout you get to know EG & LG and what really went on there. Of course the side characters are so great, as with book 1, and we have pets, wildlife and tattoos, so what's not to love. Hop on this one friends, you won't regret it. And bonus... book 3 has already been announced, so there's more goodness heading our way!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second chance + found family + sunshine & sunshine!

Nellie is selected to lead a mobile library program in the middle of nowhere, but her dating life is lacking.

After twelve years of running & traveling, Teddy is finally settled and enjoying his life working at a dog rescue.

When their best friends fall in love, they are thrown back into each other's lives, twelve years after an intense summer fling.

Read if you love...
✨dual perspective & timeline
🐶dogs named human names
✨forced proximity
🎧author created playlist
✨found family
🎨secret tattoos
✨small town
🥵"good boy"
✨second chance
🌞sunshine & sunshine
✨meddling friends & townsfolk
🫠cute af nicknames
✨so much banter
💬texts on page
✨swimming & hiking
🦅birds
✨workplace, adjacent
👏🏼no third act breakup
✨one bed
🫶🏼it's always been you
✨caretaking

To zero people's surprise, I loved Meg's sophomore novel!

Nellie & Teddy, or LG & EG, are just everything, and I absolutely adore them.

I loved both the dual perspective & dual timeline. It added so much depth and made present day Nellie & Tessy make so much more sense, and as someone who doesn't necessarily enjoy second chance, this was so important!

I loved the plot, the small middle of nowhere town, the meddling friends & townsfolk, the perfect mix of tropes, the banter, the texts on page, the best boy Kevin, and so much more I can't say because spoilers.

One of my favorite things was the way both Nellie & Teddy have to work through the way things ended twelve years before, rebuild trust, and relearn each other. I loved how this dynamic played out!

100/10 recommend you read this one!

📍Canada
✨Representation: type three Von Willebrand disease (blood disease); anxiety
‼️Content: death of a parent, cebereal aneurysm; car accident

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve years ago, Nellie and Teddy met on a train. Nellie loves books and is a librarian. Teddie is an environment guy. Feeling draw to each other from the beginning, they begin to get to know each other while home for the summer. However, after a tragedy strikes, Teddy disappears leaving Nellie wondering what went wrong. Fast forward twelve years, Nellie and Teddy come face to face with one another again. Teddy is forced to decide if he wants to fight for Nellie and Nellie has to decide if she can move past the pain Teddy caused her. Together, they’ll need to work through their grief and pain. All while living together in a small town helping with a mobile library and dog rescue.

Tropes:
🤍Second Chance
🤍Small Town
🤍Found Family
🤍Mental Health Rep.
🤍Forced Proximity
🤍Banter
🤍Dual POV
🤍Dual Timeline


💭My Thoughts💭
The one word that came to my mind when I finished reading this book was ‘beautiful’. I loved this book so much. I felt every emotion while I read it and I was not expecting to cry and tear up as much as I did. This book is very realistic with Nellie and Teddy’s relationship and the heartbreak, grief and anxiety they feel. My heart broke for both of them. I liked that Nellie understood why Teddy left and was open to friendship, but she still held him accountable for what he did to her. The progression of the friendship/relationship was slow and over time, but we do get to see them start to heal.

Although this book did get me right in the heart, there are also a lot of light hearted moments. There are plenty of dogs, banter between Nellie and Teddy and nosy neighbors. I can’t forget to mention how Marley, Izzy and Bennett are great friends.

Check trigger warning before reading this book.

Thank you Megan McSpadden for this arc for an honest review!

[Courtney Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️
3/5🌶️

Arc Review!
Thank you to Megan Mcspadden for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

First of all, I’d like to say the story of Nellie and Teddy was written just beautifully! I never found myself getting bored or uninterested the entire book! I also loved how half the book was written 12 years prior to fully explain their history and then the other half in the present day. I felt that with reading half the book in the previous time, when it come to how Nellie was feeling about things 12 years later, I could actually believe why she was feeling that way.

Things I loved about Years in the Making!

1. The familiarity of it!
2. The language!
(The banter, the heartbreak, the sadness. It’s all written so well)
3. The reality of the characters!

So many little parts and details that go into this story make it such a powerful and real novel. Things like, your parents can’t always be close to you, good health may not run in the family, and sometimes your not someone’s first priority as you may never know what someone else is going through.

I absolutely loved their story and will hold Nellie and teddy extra close to my heart for quite a while!

[Morgane · Rating 4 out of 5]

As they head home for the summer after university, Nellie and Teddy run into each other in the train. This random encounter serves as the beginning of a charming love story. Sadly, Teddy vanishes without warning, leaving Nellie to doubt their bond, her own feelings, and herself. Years later, their paths reunited after a long separation.

I adore Nellie & Teddy, or LG & EG (if you know, you know), and they are everything.

The dual timeframe and dual perspective were both fantastic. It gave Nellie & Tessy's current situation so much more depth and sense. Nellie was understanding of Teddy's reasons for leaving and willing to be friends, which was nice, but she also held him responsible for what he had done to her. Although the friendship/relationship developed slowly over time, we do get to witness them beginning to mend. My heart broke for them both! I really liked how the author made them vulnerable, they are so relatable to me in some sense! The vulnerability of Teddy and everything he went through reminds me a lot of what I went through

What to expect:
✨second chance romance
✨dual timeline
✨small town
✨found family
✨mental health rep: anxiety, grief, blood disorder, trauma
✨DOGS, but especially a puppy named Kevin!
✨banter

Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity of he ARC, I am sorry for the delay in the review! Years in the Making is out NOW (July 23)

[Terri Van Steen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible story with all the feels!! We get to watch Nellie and Teddy rediscover each other with the cute little dog Kevin along for the ride.

As someone that lost a parent to cancer I can absolutely empathise with Teddy and cannot fathom how I’d feel after finding out about the secret his family kept. I’m pretty sure I’d have handled it in the way to be fair but my heart did break for Nellie, it’s so clear they had strong chemistry from the get go.

What I really enjoyed about this story is seeing a man not only verbally apologise for his mistakes but also physically do what was needed also. He gave Nellie the space she needed to figure out her feelings.

I loved Nellie, her banter and funny comments had me giggling my way through the book.

I didn’t actually realise this was book 2 when I read it so you can absolutely read it as a standalone without feeling like you’re missing anything

[Stephanie (stephs_cozycorner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg, you did it again!!!

I loved this book.

I was so looking forward to Teddy and Nellie’s story. Their chemistry, witty banter, the forced proximity, the secret tattoos, literally just everything worked so well!

I absolutely loved the dual POV and the before and after parts. My fave was the before parts as I really loved seeing how Teddy and Nellie met and the things they went through.

I especially loved their meet cute. I mean it really couldn’t have been more perfect for these two.

This book has an amazing cast of characters and I loved every single person.
And it wouldn’t be a Megan McSpadden book without a beloved dog companion and this time we get Kevin!!!

Another knockout book!!! So proud of you Meg.

**Thank you for allowing me the privilege of reading an advanced copy for an honest review!

[Tamara Rolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something special that happens when an author injects little pieces of themselves and their own experiences into stories. Somehow the story becomes just a little more…of everything. Years in the Making is an emotional, second chance romance that follows two twenty something’s through 12 years of love, heartbreak and grief. Teddy and Nellie have an instant connection that leads to a beautiful friendship just blossoming into something more before it’s torn apart by a loss in Teddy’s life. While apart, they both compare others to the one that got away. When they finally reunite, the chemistry remains but they have to learn to trust and love each other again. Although it takes a while, getting to Teddy and Nellie’s reunion and HEA is more than worth the wait. If you’re a fan of romance I would definitely recommend this story.

[Booksandchinooks (Laurie)]

This book has a second chance love story with a lovable dog and an interesting cast of secondary characters! Nellie and Teddy have a history. One where Teddy broke Nellie’s heart. Once they see each other again he hopes to be able to prove he is worth a second chance. Their friends conspire to help this along by sending Teddy on a road trip with Nellie and her travelling library. I’m a lover of second chance romances so this story appealed to me from the beginning. I enjoyed watching Nellie and Teddy rekindle their romance and learn to trust each other. A main character as a librarian is also a great selling point for me to be invested in a book. This book is well written and keeps your interest throughout. This is the second novel I’ve read from this author and I have really enjoyed both of them. If you’re a romance reader be sure to give this one a read!

[Criselle Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the books I enjoyed reading. I really can’t stop reading.
I love the characters, their personality, wit and their relationship. I admire how the author wrote the “then” chapters. The meet-cute scene and the development of their relationship from crush to love. I got really invested in their relationship that I felt heartbroken when they seperated.
It almost made me cry but I can’t deny that my heart was crushed in some few chapters. I really felt the heartbreak.
Suggestion: it could have been better of there are some unique scenes during the ‘then’ chapters or more swoon or funny dialogues. But overall, this book is one of my favorites. It was hard for me to let this one go.

[Noëmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did this book play with my emotions? Yes!
Did this book make me cry? Also yes!
Did this book make me bite my lips? Yes!
Did this book make laugh? Also yes!!
Did this book make me sigh? Oh yes!
Did this book make me want to scream into a pillow? Yes!
Did this book make me want to jump in and shake some sense into the characters? Yes!
Did this book make me find a partner and do unspeakable things? Oh yes! 😏

Also it was an easy read, I loved the setting, the characters, the dogs (Kevin in his little vest 🥰, the infodump about birds and books…

A perfect romance book. And I read it without knowing the first one. So I read it as a standalone. Worked perfectly for me!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable read.
The range of emotions I felt was impressive. I laughed, cried, cringed (in a good way) and generally just enjoyed getting to know these characters.
The love story was sweet and lovely, the spice was sprinkled and enough and the characters were really likeable.
I read this as a standalone so felt like I missed a little nuance of the relationship dynamics of the other characters, but not enough to cause issues, and I’m looking forward to reading the first book in the series when I can.

[Linda Ressler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have become a huge fan of this author's books. I read books for information I want to know more about, struggling to stay awake or keep going. Now I also read Megan's books, learning from the details she provides about topics new to me, while having the pleasure of reading out of interest in the story line that keeps me reading. Although YITM has the realism of the pain that is involved in loving, it is a pleasure to learn about all the characters, including the side characters, as they seem so real that it is easy to care about them all.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was, overall, a really good book, and I really enjoyed it. I liked the characters, I liked their relationship. I liked that we got the 'past' chapters in the first half of the book and then the 'now' chapters in the back-half, and nothing was past/now/past/now sort of thing. I did dock a star, since this WAS going to be 5 stars, for the simple fact that it felt like the author was just doing too much near the end. I think it should've been 320 pages, not 370 pages. Like, really, did we need the moment of the bear and moose and the bathroom? No, not really.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have your tissues ready for this one, I usually don’t cry during books but Megan sure got me a few times during this one.
Teddy and Nellie a second chance, forced proximity love story which is absolute perfection. A real raw glimpse of life and relationships, trauma and friendship. A story of growth and learning.
A book to read if you are looking for a realistic love story.
Can’t wait to read what Megan writes next!

[Sol · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading An unexpected path, which I loved, I was expecting another heartfelt story for the second book, and that’s exactly what I got! I loved the complexity of the characters, the pace was perfect and it was really well written, I can wait to read more from this author. Plus, it was a great bonus to have a little bit of an insight into Marley and Bennett’s relationship after the first book.

[Athena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I didn’t know I needed! I don’t know why I left it on my shelf unread for as long as I did but wow was it worth the wait! Teddy and Nellie are both such amazing characters on their own, but together… they’re perfection. I loved the character growth and the ups and downs they had to work through. I always love appearances of past characters too, the match making was amazing!
Can’t wait to read every single book Megan puts out in the future! Autobuy author for sure!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect in every way.

Megan handles tough topics with such sensitivity and strength. I loved the host of characters and the meddling neighbours. I loved everything about Nellie and Teddy and am so grateful to have received an ARC copy of Years In the Making.

If this (and An Unexpected Path) isn’t on your radar it absolutely should be.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good second chance romance, and even more so, a small town romance written by Megan McSpadden! She's mastered the art of combining small town, witty banter, laugh out loud moments, heartfelt scenes, representation, and my favorite tropes. This is so charming and cute and cozy and I think it should be on everyone's list!