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Until Adleigh
A rockstar running away from her new problems only to be faced with her old ones.
A farmer struggling with his deception.
A meeting they never knew they needed and a love story they never saw coming.
A farmer struggling with his deception.
A meeting they never knew they needed and a love story they never saw coming.
230 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2024
90 people want to read
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July 18, 2024
Until Adleigh written by Alyssa Milani was a beautiful, yet heart breaking novel. I thought this book was going to be a book about a rock star and a hot grumpy farmer falling in love, but boy was I wrong, it was SO much more than that. Until Adleigh was super SPICY so if that's not your thing, you might want to stay away from this book, but let me tell you, it's more than just spice and falling in love. This book is about forgiveness, strength, growth, facing your past mistakes and learning from those to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be. I first fell in love with that stunning cover, because as many of you know, I'm a sucker for pretty covers, so of course I had to get my hands on this book immediately, but I'm so glad I did because this book was absolutely powerful and emotionally drained me. Until Adleigh wasn't perfect in anyway, but it had me hooked from page one all the way until the very last page. This was my first ever book by Alyssa Milani, but I'll definitely be sure to check out her other books in the future after falling in love with this story. I can't recommend this book enough, and no amount of words will give this novel the justice is deserves, so go grab your copy immediately.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND VICTORY EDITING NETGALLEY CO-OP FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!
Broken rock star and struggling country boy, hmmm? What could they possibly have in common?
⚠TRIGGER WARNINGS⚠
-Suicide
-Drug Addiction
-Alcoholism
"😭💔Shit, I think all our childhood memories together revolved around me being sick. And bald. Do you remember how you used to want to shave your head to be like me? But I wouldn't let you, your hair has always been too wild and gorgeous to ruin. And I hope you keep it like that, maybe dye it some weird colors😭💔".
Six years ago Adleigh Cole left her small hometown in California because her brother Adler committed suicide, Adleigh couldn't face life without her brother by her side, so Adleigh walked away from her hometown and her parents never looking back. Adleigh is in a band with her fiance and best friend, who is also her bassist. One day, Adleigh walked in on her best friend Rachel and her fiancé of three years, Jamie Cofield having sex. How can you be in love with someone and then go and have sex with someone else? After catching them together, Adleigh doesn't want to be in this town anymore, so instead she packs her bags and returns home to California. After walking away six years ago and never looking back, you can only imagine everything being shaky when you return home. When Adleigh returns back to her hometown, her mom welcomes her with open arms, but her dad doesn't want to see or talk to Adleigh. Adleigh's brother, Adler had cancer, many doctor appointments were involved, Adler also took many medications to help cure his cancer, Adler always told everyone he was fine because he didn't want to be a burden, but he never told anyone that his cancer came back. One night, Adler committed suicide by overdosing on his medication and beer combined. Adler wrote suicide notes to everyone in his family, but the one he wrote for Adleigh completely ruined me.
When Adleigh returns home, she meets Colter because she stopped in at a bar and some dude kept catcalling her and Colter didn't like that. Colter Finn is a hot farmer and a country bumpkin who is also struggling. Colter and his high school sweetheart, Mary-Jo have been together since they were fourteen years old, but Colter has the same baggage that Adleigh has. Colter caught Mary-Jo have an affair with Keene, the town's troublemaker and of course the sheriff's son. Colter and his best friend Zander work together on a corn farm where they also do mechanical work. Zander was such a cutie, he had such a sassy mouth that made me laugh so much. I can't forget about Colter's dogs, he had a German Shepherd named Roscoe and a Golden Retriever named Buckwheat, oh my goodness gracious, they were just the cutest pups, I just wanted to reach into my kindle and hug those sweet pups. As Colter and Adleigh get to know each other and spend more time together, they start to form a bond with each other and that's how their love story is written. I absolutely adored watching Colter and Adleigh grow so much after catching their significant others cheating on them, it was such a bittersweet moment watching their growth unfold. Witnessing Colter comforting Adleigh after she told the story of her brother just warmed my heart so much, but it also made me so emotional.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND VICTORY EDITING NETGALLEY CO-OP FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!
Broken rock star and struggling country boy, hmmm? What could they possibly have in common?
⚠TRIGGER WARNINGS⚠
-Suicide
-Drug Addiction
-Alcoholism
"😭💔Shit, I think all our childhood memories together revolved around me being sick. And bald. Do you remember how you used to want to shave your head to be like me? But I wouldn't let you, your hair has always been too wild and gorgeous to ruin. And I hope you keep it like that, maybe dye it some weird colors😭💔".
Six years ago Adleigh Cole left her small hometown in California because her brother Adler committed suicide, Adleigh couldn't face life without her brother by her side, so Adleigh walked away from her hometown and her parents never looking back. Adleigh is in a band with her fiance and best friend, who is also her bassist. One day, Adleigh walked in on her best friend Rachel and her fiancé of three years, Jamie Cofield having sex. How can you be in love with someone and then go and have sex with someone else? After catching them together, Adleigh doesn't want to be in this town anymore, so instead she packs her bags and returns home to California. After walking away six years ago and never looking back, you can only imagine everything being shaky when you return home. When Adleigh returns back to her hometown, her mom welcomes her with open arms, but her dad doesn't want to see or talk to Adleigh. Adleigh's brother, Adler had cancer, many doctor appointments were involved, Adler also took many medications to help cure his cancer, Adler always told everyone he was fine because he didn't want to be a burden, but he never told anyone that his cancer came back. One night, Adler committed suicide by overdosing on his medication and beer combined. Adler wrote suicide notes to everyone in his family, but the one he wrote for Adleigh completely ruined me.
When Adleigh returns home, she meets Colter because she stopped in at a bar and some dude kept catcalling her and Colter didn't like that. Colter Finn is a hot farmer and a country bumpkin who is also struggling. Colter and his high school sweetheart, Mary-Jo have been together since they were fourteen years old, but Colter has the same baggage that Adleigh has. Colter caught Mary-Jo have an affair with Keene, the town's troublemaker and of course the sheriff's son. Colter and his best friend Zander work together on a corn farm where they also do mechanical work. Zander was such a cutie, he had such a sassy mouth that made me laugh so much. I can't forget about Colter's dogs, he had a German Shepherd named Roscoe and a Golden Retriever named Buckwheat, oh my goodness gracious, they were just the cutest pups, I just wanted to reach into my kindle and hug those sweet pups. As Colter and Adleigh get to know each other and spend more time together, they start to form a bond with each other and that's how their love story is written. I absolutely adored watching Colter and Adleigh grow so much after catching their significant others cheating on them, it was such a bittersweet moment watching their growth unfold. Witnessing Colter comforting Adleigh after she told the story of her brother just warmed my heart so much, but it also made me so emotional.
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June 4, 2024Title: Until Adleigh by Alyssa Milani
Release Date: July, 13th, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars
"Until Adleigh" by Alyssa Milani is a compact yet dramatic tale that captures the essence of a rockstar's escape from newfound heartache only to be confronted with the ghosts of her past.
This novella, though brief at under three hundred pages, is packed with emotional turmoil, dramatic revelations, and the slow burn of a love story.
Adleigh, a rockstar fleeing the betrayal of her fiancé and bandmate, returns to her small town after a six-year absence, triggered by her brother's passing. Her return is fraught with unresolved trauma and emotions, setting the stage for a tumultuous journey of self-discovery and healing. Enter Colton, the handsome farmer next door, who is himself entangled in the web of failed relationships and family troubles. Their meeting, initially charged with tension, evolves into an unexpected connection that neither of them anticipated.
Milani's storytelling is engaging, however sometimes the plot did not feel as smooth and it took me a little push to carry through at times..
The push and pull dynamic between Adleigh and Colton is palpable, adding depth to their evolving relationship. While the novella primarily focuses on Adleigh's emotional journey, providing a deep dive into her struggles and growth, Colton's issues are somewhat glossed over, leaving readers yearning for a more balanced exploration of both characters' backgrounds and challenges.
Despite this minor drawback, "Until Adleigh" shines in its portrayal of love as a force that can heal old wounds and bridge the gaps between two very different worlds. The novella's compact size belies the complexity of its themes, exploring love, loss, and the power of confronting one's past head-on.
Milani's ability to craft a compelling story with well-developed characters in a limited space is commendable, making "Until Adleigh" a satisfying read for fans of romance and drama alike.
"Until Adleigh" is a heartfelt and engaging novella that offers a blend of romance, drama, and personal growth. While it may leave some questions unanswered and certain characters' stories underdeveloped, it succeeds in delivering a poignant tale of love found in the most unexpected places.
Alyssa Milani's work is a testament to the impact that can be made with a concise yet powerful narrative, earning it a solid 3.5 stars for its emotional depth and engaging storytelling.
Thank you to The Publisher Amazon ,The Author Alyssa Milani & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
Release Date: July, 13th, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars
"Until Adleigh" by Alyssa Milani is a compact yet dramatic tale that captures the essence of a rockstar's escape from newfound heartache only to be confronted with the ghosts of her past.
This novella, though brief at under three hundred pages, is packed with emotional turmoil, dramatic revelations, and the slow burn of a love story.
Adleigh, a rockstar fleeing the betrayal of her fiancé and bandmate, returns to her small town after a six-year absence, triggered by her brother's passing. Her return is fraught with unresolved trauma and emotions, setting the stage for a tumultuous journey of self-discovery and healing. Enter Colton, the handsome farmer next door, who is himself entangled in the web of failed relationships and family troubles. Their meeting, initially charged with tension, evolves into an unexpected connection that neither of them anticipated.
Milani's storytelling is engaging, however sometimes the plot did not feel as smooth and it took me a little push to carry through at times..
The push and pull dynamic between Adleigh and Colton is palpable, adding depth to their evolving relationship. While the novella primarily focuses on Adleigh's emotional journey, providing a deep dive into her struggles and growth, Colton's issues are somewhat glossed over, leaving readers yearning for a more balanced exploration of both characters' backgrounds and challenges.
Despite this minor drawback, "Until Adleigh" shines in its portrayal of love as a force that can heal old wounds and bridge the gaps between two very different worlds. The novella's compact size belies the complexity of its themes, exploring love, loss, and the power of confronting one's past head-on.
Milani's ability to craft a compelling story with well-developed characters in a limited space is commendable, making "Until Adleigh" a satisfying read for fans of romance and drama alike.
"Until Adleigh" is a heartfelt and engaging novella that offers a blend of romance, drama, and personal growth. While it may leave some questions unanswered and certain characters' stories underdeveloped, it succeeds in delivering a poignant tale of love found in the most unexpected places.
Alyssa Milani's work is a testament to the impact that can be made with a concise yet powerful narrative, earning it a solid 3.5 stars for its emotional depth and engaging storytelling.
Thank you to The Publisher Amazon ,The Author Alyssa Milani & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
June 11, 2024
Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
This story had all of the makings of a book I would love. However, it ended up falling flat for me which was disappointing.
Music star Adleigh heads back to her hometown after 6 years away after the death of her brother (she left without saying goodbye to her parents and only left a note) due to the fact that she found her fiance and bandmate cheating on her. The male main character, Colton, is the guy next door and your sterotypical southern grumpy neighbor that Adleigh meets when she returns. Colton has also been cheated on with his very long term girlfriend.
The biggest issue for me throughout the story was that their arguments felt incredibly juvenile and I felt they both needed to work on themselves due to these complex traumas before entering any sort of relationship (not to mention the incredibly short timeline in which Adleigh was home). Honestly, towards the end of the book the fighting and then making up almost two seconds later gave me whiplash.
Everything felt way too rushed (insta-lust right to love). Also I hated that there were supporting characters popping in for a few pages here or there and then disappearing again (some of them could have been really great) and the way the southern dialect was written really bothered me. It felt excessive.
Despite all of that, there were nice moments with her parents and I enjoyed the small town gatherings. Lastly, I enjoyed the epilogue and seeing how things wrapped up for the two of them.
If the book was longer, I really think it has the makings of a great love story and would allow for things to be flushed out further.
This story had all of the makings of a book I would love. However, it ended up falling flat for me which was disappointing.
Music star Adleigh heads back to her hometown after 6 years away after the death of her brother (she left without saying goodbye to her parents and only left a note) due to the fact that she found her fiance and bandmate cheating on her. The male main character, Colton, is the guy next door and your sterotypical southern grumpy neighbor that Adleigh meets when she returns. Colton has also been cheated on with his very long term girlfriend.
The biggest issue for me throughout the story was that their arguments felt incredibly juvenile and I felt they both needed to work on themselves due to these complex traumas before entering any sort of relationship (not to mention the incredibly short timeline in which Adleigh was home). Honestly, towards the end of the book the fighting and then making up almost two seconds later gave me whiplash.
Everything felt way too rushed (insta-lust right to love). Also I hated that there were supporting characters popping in for a few pages here or there and then disappearing again (some of them could have been really great) and the way the southern dialect was written really bothered me. It felt excessive.
Despite all of that, there were nice moments with her parents and I enjoyed the small town gatherings. Lastly, I enjoyed the epilogue and seeing how things wrapped up for the two of them.
If the book was longer, I really think it has the makings of a great love story and would allow for things to be flushed out further.
June 28, 2024
Adleigh Cole is a music star who returns home after catching her fiancé and band mate cheating on her with her best friend who is also part of the group. The welcome at home is not warm as she left six years before after the death of her brother. Next door she meets Colton who can empathize with her as he has been cheated on in the past.
This book isn’t long, just over 200 pages and everything is instant. Instant attraction, feelings, etc. And it all feels kind of icky, never sweet. Colter watches her skinny dip in his pool, which his brother allowed. He gets all angry about it because she didn’t ask him for permission. Yet he watches and gets off later to the images he saw. The writing style wants to be minimalistic. It doesn’t elaborate or fill in with descriptions. It leaves the reader having to interpret and read between the lines. My ARC copy had formatting issues putting the title and the authors name randomly in the text on every page. I am not marking down for that as I am sure it will be fixed but it made the story that much harder to read because I had to reread sentences on every page.
Reconnecting with her parents and getting past the loss of her brother was a decent storyline. I never understood Colter’s personality and wondered what she saw in him. I never saw Colter as anything other than a rebound guy although the epilogue helps. Overall this wasn’t a good fit for me. I prefer more depth to my characters and more build up to a romance. I did like the cover which was probably the main reason I requested the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
This book isn’t long, just over 200 pages and everything is instant. Instant attraction, feelings, etc. And it all feels kind of icky, never sweet. Colter watches her skinny dip in his pool, which his brother allowed. He gets all angry about it because she didn’t ask him for permission. Yet he watches and gets off later to the images he saw. The writing style wants to be minimalistic. It doesn’t elaborate or fill in with descriptions. It leaves the reader having to interpret and read between the lines. My ARC copy had formatting issues putting the title and the authors name randomly in the text on every page. I am not marking down for that as I am sure it will be fixed but it made the story that much harder to read because I had to reread sentences on every page.
Reconnecting with her parents and getting past the loss of her brother was a decent storyline. I never understood Colter’s personality and wondered what she saw in him. I never saw Colter as anything other than a rebound guy although the epilogue helps. Overall this wasn’t a good fit for me. I prefer more depth to my characters and more build up to a romance. I did like the cover which was probably the main reason I requested the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
July 30, 2024
This was a fairly short read at only around 120 pages - but this was so skillfully written to pack so much into the storyline and deliver a pair of main characters that you couldn't help falling in love with.
After finding her fiancé in bed with another woman, rockstar Adleigh flees back to her hometown - but having left on bad terms 6 years ago, she's going to have to face the issues from her past as well as planning what she wants from her future.
We dive straight into this one with no pre-amble at all - but I really liked this and felt instantly connected to both of the characters - despite both of their aloofness.
Colter was a mystery from the start and it took a little while to get to the bottom of his past trauma - but what a heart-wrencher!
While Adleigh wore her pain on her sleeve, this became even more emotional as we learn about what happened before she left home years ago.
I really liked that this was told as (roughly) alternating pov chapters.
This gave us such a great insight into the personalities, feelings and inner thoughts of both main character and helped to explain their behaviours at times.
It was clear right from the first few pages where this story was heading, but there was so much to the development that this really stood out as a unique read.
I loved the instant connection that Adleigh and Colter had and even with all the reasons they tried to find, they couldn't deny what they felt.
A great read and my first one by this author - I'd love to read more from them in the future.
After finding her fiancé in bed with another woman, rockstar Adleigh flees back to her hometown - but having left on bad terms 6 years ago, she's going to have to face the issues from her past as well as planning what she wants from her future.
We dive straight into this one with no pre-amble at all - but I really liked this and felt instantly connected to both of the characters - despite both of their aloofness.
Colter was a mystery from the start and it took a little while to get to the bottom of his past trauma - but what a heart-wrencher!
While Adleigh wore her pain on her sleeve, this became even more emotional as we learn about what happened before she left home years ago.
I really liked that this was told as (roughly) alternating pov chapters.
This gave us such a great insight into the personalities, feelings and inner thoughts of both main character and helped to explain their behaviours at times.
It was clear right from the first few pages where this story was heading, but there was so much to the development that this really stood out as a unique read.
I loved the instant connection that Adleigh and Colter had and even with all the reasons they tried to find, they couldn't deny what they felt.
A great read and my first one by this author - I'd love to read more from them in the future.
July 10, 2024
Until Adleigh is a ⭐️⭐️read. It is a short romance novella which usually I wouldn't mind too much. However, I feel like the relationship between the main characters is rushed.
Adleigh is a heartbroken rockstar, whose ex-fiance cheats on her. This drives her to return to her small town, where she hasn't spoken to her parents in years. Colter is her attractive next-door neighbor. He also happens to be the brother of her high school lover???
Both characters have serious trauma and important backstories that could have been addressed better. With this said, I do like seeing the impact of their past traumas on their current relationship.
Thank you Amazon and Netgalley for the ARC. There were some formatting issues with the ebook and I hope these are fixed by the release date.
Adleigh is a heartbroken rockstar, whose ex-fiance cheats on her. This drives her to return to her small town, where she hasn't spoken to her parents in years. Colter is her attractive next-door neighbor. He also happens to be the brother of her high school lover???
Both characters have serious trauma and important backstories that could have been addressed better. With this said, I do like seeing the impact of their past traumas on their current relationship.
Thank you Amazon and Netgalley for the ARC. There were some formatting issues with the ebook and I hope these are fixed by the release date.
June 25, 2024
This was a really easy book to read, but I didn’t really click with it. I felt bad for the MF character a lot of the time but that’s about it.
I feel like the relationship was so rushed… like he was saying I love you and wanting her to move in within two weeks of knowing her…
I feel like there was so many inconsistencies. First one I noticed is that she said her brother never left a note… then there was a note?? And the relationship with his brother?? Who was never actually in the book, just mentioned that he was gay but slept with her a lot..?
I just didn’t feel a connection with any of the characters. It was so rushed and I cringed so much with the kitten references. It was gross.
This was just disappointing and I’m glad it’s finished
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange of my honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2024
The start was just very rushed with Adleigh finding her fiance cheating, immediately as the book starts, and not letting the reader get emotionally invested in Adleigh and her feelings in this relationship, and she goes to a bar, gets hit on, and it essentially becomes insta-love with the guy that saves her from the creep.
This was a very quick read, although I will say, it did take some pushing for me to finish it. I was not emotionally invested in the characters and was not a fan of Adleigh or Colter, the MMC. Both of them were a bit insufferable and cringy and it just made me not want to read their story. Colter had a really bad anger problem and it seems like he spent more time angry than happy. He honestly left a lot to be desired.
Both Adleigh had a lot of healing from their passed traumas that needed to be done before entering a relationship and bringing someone else into their world of trauma. We did not get to see their maturity and growth on this front, and the traumas weren't really explored as much as they could have been to show the growth of the characters and showing that they could actually move passed it. Unfortunately we didn't get that.
Maybe because the book was so short, there was not a lot of room for the details that would have made this book great. The structure was there, and with more details and depth in the story, it could have been so much better. Throughout the book, there was also not a lot of details about anything. It just seemed to be a very minimalistic "Let's write some stuff and not elaborate on anything" kind of vibe.
I think it would have been great to have more back story about our FMC, before throwing her into the whirlwind.
Thank you to Alyssa Milani, Amazon, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.
This was a very quick read, although I will say, it did take some pushing for me to finish it. I was not emotionally invested in the characters and was not a fan of Adleigh or Colter, the MMC. Both of them were a bit insufferable and cringy and it just made me not want to read their story. Colter had a really bad anger problem and it seems like he spent more time angry than happy. He honestly left a lot to be desired.
Both Adleigh had a lot of healing from their passed traumas that needed to be done before entering a relationship and bringing someone else into their world of trauma. We did not get to see their maturity and growth on this front, and the traumas weren't really explored as much as they could have been to show the growth of the characters and showing that they could actually move passed it. Unfortunately we didn't get that.
Maybe because the book was so short, there was not a lot of room for the details that would have made this book great. The structure was there, and with more details and depth in the story, it could have been so much better. Throughout the book, there was also not a lot of details about anything. It just seemed to be a very minimalistic "Let's write some stuff and not elaborate on anything" kind of vibe.
I think it would have been great to have more back story about our FMC, before throwing her into the whirlwind.
Thank you to Alyssa Milani, Amazon, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2024
Until Adleigh is a classic case of what it could have been but didn't at the end. It had all the potential to blow your mind. A tortured Rockstar with troubled past and messy present running back to her hometown with tainted memories and trauma. A brooding grumpy farmer with his own burden and trust issues. Complete opposite worlds colliding and explosion of instant chemistry. But all these pieces were half told and haphazardly executed.
Adleigh and Colter both have a lot of emotional baggage and I feel we didn't even scratch the surface. Adleigh ran away from the pain of her brother's suicide and her parents' grief and now she is back to the home. She is famous and rich and has been living her best rock and roll life but it was empty and chaotic and now she is heartbroken. Her father hasn't forgiven her, her mother is doing her best to heal Adleigh's scars and then she meets Colter on the first Day home.
They have an insta lust connection but Colter kept his distance initially as he already has a lot on his plate. His heart was broken by a woman he has completely dedicated his life to. And he doesn't need a passing Rockstar to break him farther. But Adleigh got under his skin and inside his heart with her sassy and vulnerability and he realises he can do new beginning.
It was fast paced and spicy. And I feel we didn't give enough time to work through major issues. There was scope of major angst and we missed it. Colter acted a bit irrationally and immaturely when he faced real struggle in the budding relationship and Adleigh was sometimes too lost. Her cheating ex and band mate coming to win her back complicated things but both of them could handle it better. Even before I could connect to their heartache and happiness..it was over.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily through netgalley
Adleigh and Colter both have a lot of emotional baggage and I feel we didn't even scratch the surface. Adleigh ran away from the pain of her brother's suicide and her parents' grief and now she is back to the home. She is famous and rich and has been living her best rock and roll life but it was empty and chaotic and now she is heartbroken. Her father hasn't forgiven her, her mother is doing her best to heal Adleigh's scars and then she meets Colter on the first Day home.
They have an insta lust connection but Colter kept his distance initially as he already has a lot on his plate. His heart was broken by a woman he has completely dedicated his life to. And he doesn't need a passing Rockstar to break him farther. But Adleigh got under his skin and inside his heart with her sassy and vulnerability and he realises he can do new beginning.
It was fast paced and spicy. And I feel we didn't give enough time to work through major issues. There was scope of major angst and we missed it. Colter acted a bit irrationally and immaturely when he faced real struggle in the budding relationship and Adleigh was sometimes too lost. Her cheating ex and band mate coming to win her back complicated things but both of them could handle it better. Even before I could connect to their heartache and happiness..it was over.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily through netgalley
July 15, 2024
I love a small-town romance with a rock star/celeb, so I was excited to read Until Adleigh by Alyssa Milani. This just fell flat. I almost DNF'd, but I pushed through trying for some redemption. I felt like the pace was off, in some sections too fast, and others way too slow and that it was forced.
From the first chapter, we are thrown into a story that doesn't ever really develop beyond the tropes. What I mean is, that Adleigh catches her fiancé and best friend in bed together and leaves. Where does she go? Home. However, she hasn't even talked to her family since the day she left, but no biggie. She left home and became a famous rock star, but we never really go into detail there.
She enters a bar the moment she lands in the middle of nowhere small town and instantly attracts the attention of multiple men, one being our MMC. She instantly falls for this hometown hero who just so happens to live next door, yet she somehow NEVER heard about him even though she grew up best friends/dated his half-brother?!
The MMC and FMC instantly fall for each other in like 2 days. Both characters were cheated on by their longtime partners rather recently and never really unpack the trauma. Instead, they dive into this weird insta-love, possessive relationship. They also had a significant amount of arguments (in the like week they know one another) that I would expect from teenagers not grown adults. Also, there wasn't enough substance to fall in love with the characters, they had no depth or character arcs. By the end I was just rolling my eyes.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
From the first chapter, we are thrown into a story that doesn't ever really develop beyond the tropes. What I mean is, that Adleigh catches her fiancé and best friend in bed together and leaves. Where does she go? Home. However, she hasn't even talked to her family since the day she left, but no biggie. She left home and became a famous rock star, but we never really go into detail there.
She enters a bar the moment she lands in the middle of nowhere small town and instantly attracts the attention of multiple men, one being our MMC. She instantly falls for this hometown hero who just so happens to live next door, yet she somehow NEVER heard about him even though she grew up best friends/dated his half-brother?!
The MMC and FMC instantly fall for each other in like 2 days. Both characters were cheated on by their longtime partners rather recently and never really unpack the trauma. Instead, they dive into this weird insta-love, possessive relationship. They also had a significant amount of arguments (in the like week they know one another) that I would expect from teenagers not grown adults. Also, there wasn't enough substance to fall in love with the characters, they had no depth or character arcs. By the end I was just rolling my eyes.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 6, 2024
I love a small town romance, and rockstar one; so I was quite excited about this book. It just fell completely flat. The prose seemed trying so hard in places, but ended up making little sense, but there were also many editing and formatting issues which may have contributed to some of this. The arguements seemed young, and there just wasn't enough substance to fall in love with the characters. Honestly I almost DNFed after the pool scene. By the end I was just rolling my eyes.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form my opinions from.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form my opinions from.
June 11, 2024
Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for making this available to me in exchange for an honest review.
DNF.
It is unusual for me to DNF a book - especially romance. There are a great many things I look past in romance books because I just love the genre so much. Alas, this was not the case here.
Firstly, the formatting was weird. That may have been due to my device or some other outside influence. Therefore, I didn't remove any star ratings for that. It's just a mild irritation I wanted to bring up.
And now, onto the actual reason I DNF'd this 70 percent in.
The entire storyline was so incredibly confusing. There is a huge element of lust at first sight, which I suppose works in an 18+ romance novella. However, the author seemed to be trying to cover a lot of very complicated elements and conditions with very little space and as few words as possible. There was so much happening and so little explanation as to what or where or why. We have someone parentyfying their own child after she discovers her brothers's dead body at like 18. We have said child doing nothing but judging and being cruel to her parents. We have the MMC watching the FMC out his window whilst she is skinny dipping in his pool because 'his brother let her use the pool, so why wouldn't he?' She didn't ask to use the pool, and then the MMC started waxing lyrical about consent - whilst watching her naked. Oh, and the MMC is the half-brother of the guy the FMC lost her virginity to who is also now gay? There was a not very well-done addiction storyline, an even more badly done family trauma storyline, and possibly the worst chemistry I have ever seen between two characters.
But I digress.
This could have been really good. The premise of the story is excellent, and despite the weird formatting and some repetitive elements, I actually enjoyed the writing style. I think that, with a little more troubleshooting and more detail (AKA, turn this into a full-length novel and spend a lot more time working on it), and the author could have something really special. The MMC has all the traits of a phenomenal book boyfriend, but we needed to see more and know more about him. A man being grumpy with no explained reason is just a man being a douche and getting away with it. I would have loved to see the storyline more fleshed out - the story idea needed that. It's a good idea and deserves so much more than a novella.
2 stars.
DNF.
It is unusual for me to DNF a book - especially romance. There are a great many things I look past in romance books because I just love the genre so much. Alas, this was not the case here.
Firstly, the formatting was weird. That may have been due to my device or some other outside influence. Therefore, I didn't remove any star ratings for that. It's just a mild irritation I wanted to bring up.
And now, onto the actual reason I DNF'd this 70 percent in.
The entire storyline was so incredibly confusing. There is a huge element of lust at first sight, which I suppose works in an 18+ romance novella. However, the author seemed to be trying to cover a lot of very complicated elements and conditions with very little space and as few words as possible. There was so much happening and so little explanation as to what or where or why. We have someone parentyfying their own child after she discovers her brothers's dead body at like 18. We have said child doing nothing but judging and being cruel to her parents. We have the MMC watching the FMC out his window whilst she is skinny dipping in his pool because 'his brother let her use the pool, so why wouldn't he?' She didn't ask to use the pool, and then the MMC started waxing lyrical about consent - whilst watching her naked. Oh, and the MMC is the half-brother of the guy the FMC lost her virginity to who is also now gay? There was a not very well-done addiction storyline, an even more badly done family trauma storyline, and possibly the worst chemistry I have ever seen between two characters.
But I digress.
This could have been really good. The premise of the story is excellent, and despite the weird formatting and some repetitive elements, I actually enjoyed the writing style. I think that, with a little more troubleshooting and more detail (AKA, turn this into a full-length novel and spend a lot more time working on it), and the author could have something really special. The MMC has all the traits of a phenomenal book boyfriend, but we needed to see more and know more about him. A man being grumpy with no explained reason is just a man being a douche and getting away with it. I would have loved to see the storyline more fleshed out - the story idea needed that. It's a good idea and deserves so much more than a novella.
2 stars.
June 30, 2024
I’m not saying that my rating was influenced by the rockstars I had just read about in the history of punk, but I’m also not not saying that. Those guys were so much more hardcore in that scene that Adleigh’s issues with fame and fortune and all that came with it felt a bit trite. That being said, I loved how Adleigh and her beau both dealt with the grief and betrayal of their exes as well as how their damage impacted their relationship - the road never did run smooth, did it.
June 8, 2024
I made the mistake of looking at other reviews of this book after I finished it, and I must say that I disagree with some of the comments that I read. I personally enjoyed this story because of the raw emotions during some of the characters' conversations and their backstories. Do I think that it can improve? Yes. But I can also see the foundation of a great story.
Let me start with a few clarifications. I picked up this book on NetGalley about 6 weeks prior to the publication date as part of their "Read Now" option. First, I want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for making this book available. Because this is an ARC copy, I want to make clear that my review is based solely on the story, not the format of the book. However, I do need to make this comment with the hope that these errors will be corrected before the publication date. NetGalley provided an epub copy of the book for ARC readers. Something was off on the epub file because the title and author of the book popped up on every page in the middle of the text. The first letter of the first word of every chapter was also unaligned and appeared in the middle of the sentence and finally, the page number or each page would also randomly appear in the middle of the paragraph. I assume this is just an error in transferring the document to Epub for Kindle. It was slightly distracting, and for anyone purchasing the physical book once it is released, I assume this will not be an issue. However, I do hope this is corrected for the ebook version as I would assume readers do not want to pay for a book that has not been properly formatted to the source they are purchasing for.
Ok, now that that is out of the way, let's get onto the story. I want to say that I am going to rate it at a 3.75. Again, the foundation of the storyline is there, and I think it could easily be a 4+ star book, but some of the storytelling felt rushed while other parts felt as if they dragged on. other plot points were addressed, and I was left with so many questions that never were answered or resolved in the storyline.
Allow me to give a brief overview while, hopefully, not giving away too many spoilers.
We first meet Adleigh, a rockstar who is traveling back to her small country town, a place she escaped from six years prior. Why does she go back? She finds her fiancé (and bandmate) in bed with her friend (and another bandmate) in their home. She went back to her hometown to see her parents, people she cut out of her life when she left at the age of 19 (that is what I calculated based on some details of the story) a few days after her older brother committed suicide. She immediately meets Colton and soon learns that he is neighbors with her parents. She doesn't recognize him because, when they were younger (even though Colton is 8 years older than her), he didn't grow up in that house. His parents were separated, and he decided to grow up living with his father, a town over while his mother and younger half-brother lived across the yard/road from Adleigh. Now, as adults, they meet, and there is an obvious attraction. However, Adleigh has a life in California with her music career and she is just waiting for her ex-fiance to move out of the house they lived in together. After this intense relationship, the last thing she is looking for is a new fling, especially not in the town she escaped from, and she holds so many memories of her late brother. Colton is also recently single, having ended a long-term relationship. I won't give details on that relationship or why it ended, but let's just say that he was left heartbroken, betrayed, and guilty for not "acting like a man" (whatever that means).
Adleigh and Colton can't help but act on the connection they feel for each other. However, they always stop themselves out of fear. Fear from their past, fear that they may have no future as they lead different lives. Colton has no plans to leave the small town or home he currently has. Not long ago, he bought the home he is living in from his mother and took over the business (farmer) and, as mentioned, Adleigh has an amazing music career and can't leave California permanently. We watch the two MCs learn to trust each other, open up about their past, and discover if they have the opportunity to have a future together.
Separately, Adleigh has her demons in the town she left. As mentioned, her brother committed suicide a few days before she left town. Her parents were devastated by losing their son and then hurt when Adleigh decided to take off as well. The relationship between Adleigh and her father is strained to put it mildly. We watch as they work on communication and mending their relationship in this book. I have to admit that I shed a few tears when we discovered why and how Adler, Adleigh's brother, took his life and how his parents reacted to the loss of both their children. When Adleigh originally left, she was haunted daily by the loss of her brother and family so she turned to alcohol and drugs to cope. It is mentioned that her fiancé was the person she met and fell in love with, and he helped her out of those dark times. That is why his cheating and betrayal were devastating to her. I wish we would have heard more of this time from Adleigh and she explains her life either to her parents when asking for forgiveness or when she tells Colton. I think hearing more details of her backstory would have let us relate to her more.
I mentioned that Colton's mother and half-brother were Adleigh's neighbors growing up. Well, Adleigh was friends with, even the girlfriend of, Colton's half-brother, Kentry. Colton and Kentry had a strained relationship and Colton explains the reason to Adleigh. I would have liked to see some form of reconciliation or even an attempt at contacting each other from the two brothers. The fact that Adleigh and Colton had no idea about each other, even though they shared a bond through Kentry, is still shocking to me. We also know that Colton grew up living with his father a town over, which is where he met his long-term girlfriend. We learn what happens in their relationship and how it ended, but Colton doesn't give us much insight into how the relationship was throughout the years, how they coped with death, long-distance relationships, future plans, etc. This is information that could have been incorporated into Colton's chapters as internal dialogue when thinking about his ex or fantazising about Adleigh. I also think a chapter or two after the end but before the epilogue, where Colton goes with Adleigh to California and maybe attempts to reach out to Kentry. Both of these slight changes could have helped us get to know Colton better.
Let me start with a few clarifications. I picked up this book on NetGalley about 6 weeks prior to the publication date as part of their "Read Now" option. First, I want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for making this book available. Because this is an ARC copy, I want to make clear that my review is based solely on the story, not the format of the book. However, I do need to make this comment with the hope that these errors will be corrected before the publication date. NetGalley provided an epub copy of the book for ARC readers. Something was off on the epub file because the title and author of the book popped up on every page in the middle of the text. The first letter of the first word of every chapter was also unaligned and appeared in the middle of the sentence and finally, the page number or each page would also randomly appear in the middle of the paragraph. I assume this is just an error in transferring the document to Epub for Kindle. It was slightly distracting, and for anyone purchasing the physical book once it is released, I assume this will not be an issue. However, I do hope this is corrected for the ebook version as I would assume readers do not want to pay for a book that has not been properly formatted to the source they are purchasing for.
Ok, now that that is out of the way, let's get onto the story. I want to say that I am going to rate it at a 3.75. Again, the foundation of the storyline is there, and I think it could easily be a 4+ star book, but some of the storytelling felt rushed while other parts felt as if they dragged on. other plot points were addressed, and I was left with so many questions that never were answered or resolved in the storyline.
Allow me to give a brief overview while, hopefully, not giving away too many spoilers.
We first meet Adleigh, a rockstar who is traveling back to her small country town, a place she escaped from six years prior. Why does she go back? She finds her fiancé (and bandmate) in bed with her friend (and another bandmate) in their home. She went back to her hometown to see her parents, people she cut out of her life when she left at the age of 19 (that is what I calculated based on some details of the story) a few days after her older brother committed suicide. She immediately meets Colton and soon learns that he is neighbors with her parents. She doesn't recognize him because, when they were younger (even though Colton is 8 years older than her), he didn't grow up in that house. His parents were separated, and he decided to grow up living with his father, a town over while his mother and younger half-brother lived across the yard/road from Adleigh. Now, as adults, they meet, and there is an obvious attraction. However, Adleigh has a life in California with her music career and she is just waiting for her ex-fiance to move out of the house they lived in together. After this intense relationship, the last thing she is looking for is a new fling, especially not in the town she escaped from, and she holds so many memories of her late brother. Colton is also recently single, having ended a long-term relationship. I won't give details on that relationship or why it ended, but let's just say that he was left heartbroken, betrayed, and guilty for not "acting like a man" (whatever that means).
Adleigh and Colton can't help but act on the connection they feel for each other. However, they always stop themselves out of fear. Fear from their past, fear that they may have no future as they lead different lives. Colton has no plans to leave the small town or home he currently has. Not long ago, he bought the home he is living in from his mother and took over the business (farmer) and, as mentioned, Adleigh has an amazing music career and can't leave California permanently. We watch the two MCs learn to trust each other, open up about their past, and discover if they have the opportunity to have a future together.
Separately, Adleigh has her demons in the town she left. As mentioned, her brother committed suicide a few days before she left town. Her parents were devastated by losing their son and then hurt when Adleigh decided to take off as well. The relationship between Adleigh and her father is strained to put it mildly. We watch as they work on communication and mending their relationship in this book. I have to admit that I shed a few tears when we discovered why and how Adler, Adleigh's brother, took his life and how his parents reacted to the loss of both their children. When Adleigh originally left, she was haunted daily by the loss of her brother and family so she turned to alcohol and drugs to cope. It is mentioned that her fiancé was the person she met and fell in love with, and he helped her out of those dark times. That is why his cheating and betrayal were devastating to her. I wish we would have heard more of this time from Adleigh and she explains her life either to her parents when asking for forgiveness or when she tells Colton. I think hearing more details of her backstory would have let us relate to her more.
I mentioned that Colton's mother and half-brother were Adleigh's neighbors growing up. Well, Adleigh was friends with, even the girlfriend of, Colton's half-brother, Kentry. Colton and Kentry had a strained relationship and Colton explains the reason to Adleigh. I would have liked to see some form of reconciliation or even an attempt at contacting each other from the two brothers. The fact that Adleigh and Colton had no idea about each other, even though they shared a bond through Kentry, is still shocking to me. We also know that Colton grew up living with his father a town over, which is where he met his long-term girlfriend. We learn what happens in their relationship and how it ended, but Colton doesn't give us much insight into how the relationship was throughout the years, how they coped with death, long-distance relationships, future plans, etc. This is information that could have been incorporated into Colton's chapters as internal dialogue when thinking about his ex or fantazising about Adleigh. I also think a chapter or two after the end but before the epilogue, where Colton goes with Adleigh to California and maybe attempts to reach out to Kentry. Both of these slight changes could have helped us get to know Colton better.
June 5, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Unfortunately, this book was not a hit for me. It's more like a novella, coming in at under 300 pages, which definitely helps since it is a quick easy read.
Adleigh is a (country?) musician whose fiancee cheats on her with their band member. Wanting to escape, she moves back to her small town. She is estranged from her family and deals with lots of drama regarding her relationship with her father. When she arrives in town, she meets Colter, the damaged country boy next door dealing with a breakup. Romance and drama happens, they end up happily ever after with FOUR kids.
The characters were given "complex" backstories/ trauma, but it wasn't flushed out enough to make me believe that it affected them in such a way to have them behave as they did. The writing was low level and the language used in dialogue felt forced-- they were supposed to be southern but (as someone who grew up in the south) it felt unbelievable. There were slight mentions about the FMC's relationship with her brother that felt weird to me, and Colter had some anger issues that came across in a not hot way. There was brief spice but in my opinion it was not detailed enough to make reading it soley for the spice worth it (as I have been known to do...). All that being said, it did have it's cute moments and could benefit from being flushed out into a longer book.
A note for the cover art: Adleigh is described as having multiple tattoos, but on the cover she has none.
Unfortunately, this book was not a hit for me. It's more like a novella, coming in at under 300 pages, which definitely helps since it is a quick easy read.
Adleigh is a (country?) musician whose fiancee cheats on her with their band member. Wanting to escape, she moves back to her small town. She is estranged from her family and deals with lots of drama regarding her relationship with her father. When she arrives in town, she meets Colter, the damaged country boy next door dealing with a breakup. Romance and drama happens, they end up happily ever after with FOUR kids.
The characters were given "complex" backstories/ trauma, but it wasn't flushed out enough to make me believe that it affected them in such a way to have them behave as they did. The writing was low level and the language used in dialogue felt forced-- they were supposed to be southern but (as someone who grew up in the south) it felt unbelievable. There were slight mentions about the FMC's relationship with her brother that felt weird to me, and Colter had some anger issues that came across in a not hot way. There was brief spice but in my opinion it was not detailed enough to make reading it soley for the spice worth it (as I have been known to do...). All that being said, it did have it's cute moments and could benefit from being flushed out into a longer book.
A note for the cover art: Adleigh is described as having multiple tattoos, but on the cover she has none.
August 5, 2024
Arc Review:
Overall Rating: 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 2 🔥🔥
Tropes:
- Enemies To Lovers
- Dual POV
- Banter
- In Love With Her Voice 🎶
- Second Chance
- Cheating Exes
- Ex-Boyfriend’s Older Brother
- Open Door
- First Time Against A Brick Wall
- Swimming In Jeans 🌊👖
- Hard Worker
- Ozzy The Bear 🐻🤟
- HEA
I felt that this book had a lot of potential but just felt so rushed. I still enjoyed reading it though.
Summary:
Adleigh is a musician that comes home one day to find her fiancé/band mate cheating on her with another band mate. Needing to get away from them both she goes back to her home town where her parents live but the thing is she left home 6 years ago without a word to them after a traumatic family event. When she arrives in her hometown she immediately goes to a bar where this one guy flirts with her and tries to take her home but Adleigh declines but the guy is pretty insistent that Adleigh comes home with him, luckily it’s Colter to the rescue. Colter is the country cowboy type who just happens to be her parents next door neighbour and her hometown ex-boyfriend’s older brother. Colter is going through his own break up with his longtime girlfriend who also cheated on him. Can these two crazy kids find love again and the closer they are looking for? Read ‘Until Adleigh’ yourself to find out.
Thank you NetGalley and Alyssa Milani for the arc copy of this book.
Overall Rating: 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 2 🔥🔥
Tropes:
- Enemies To Lovers
- Dual POV
- Banter
- In Love With Her Voice 🎶
- Second Chance
- Cheating Exes
- Ex-Boyfriend’s Older Brother
- Open Door
- First Time Against A Brick Wall
- Swimming In Jeans 🌊👖
- Hard Worker
- Ozzy The Bear 🐻🤟
- HEA
I felt that this book had a lot of potential but just felt so rushed. I still enjoyed reading it though.
Summary:
Adleigh is a musician that comes home one day to find her fiancé/band mate cheating on her with another band mate. Needing to get away from them both she goes back to her home town where her parents live but the thing is she left home 6 years ago without a word to them after a traumatic family event. When she arrives in her hometown she immediately goes to a bar where this one guy flirts with her and tries to take her home but Adleigh declines but the guy is pretty insistent that Adleigh comes home with him, luckily it’s Colter to the rescue. Colter is the country cowboy type who just happens to be her parents next door neighbour and her hometown ex-boyfriend’s older brother. Colter is going through his own break up with his longtime girlfriend who also cheated on him. Can these two crazy kids find love again and the closer they are looking for? Read ‘Until Adleigh’ yourself to find out.
Thank you NetGalley and Alyssa Milani for the arc copy of this book.
June 27, 2024
I absolutely devoured this story!
MFC & rockstar Adleigh Cole heads to her hometown following a breakup and to the family she left behind six long years ago. MMC Cole is still reeling from his previous relationship until he lays eyes on Adleigh. The story delves into the dark and traumatic pasts of the characters as they explore the undeniable attraction they feel.
Coming in at under 300 pages this was a novella, and other than minor things, I really enjoyed the story ; it was easy to read and I found myself really rooting for things to go right for the characters. The spice level was maybe a 1-2 🌶️🌶️
I loved the epilogue, it gave me all the good feelings and happy endings I found myself hoping for.
Some triggers - mentions of suicide, dying and illness, addiction, grief and cheating.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
MFC & rockstar Adleigh Cole heads to her hometown following a breakup and to the family she left behind six long years ago. MMC Cole is still reeling from his previous relationship until he lays eyes on Adleigh. The story delves into the dark and traumatic pasts of the characters as they explore the undeniable attraction they feel.
Coming in at under 300 pages this was a novella, and other than minor things, I really enjoyed the story ; it was easy to read and I found myself really rooting for things to go right for the characters. The spice level was maybe a 1-2 🌶️🌶️
I loved the epilogue, it gave me all the good feelings and happy endings I found myself hoping for.
Some triggers - mentions of suicide, dying and illness, addiction, grief and cheating.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2024
Adleigh left town years ago and hasn’t returned. Now she needs a safe place to land after she finds her fiancé cheating on her. She has a lot of personal issues to work through and she certainly isn’t looking to start a new relationship. Colter has a lot going on in his life including dealing with the fallout from his cheating ex girlfriend. When he first sees Adleigh he knows he wants her but knows that he can’t have her because their worlds are too different. The attraction is magnetic and they simply can’t fight it but is there any way to meld two very different worlds into one?
Adleigh is a superstar singer/songwriter. The author does a good job establishing the Adleigh is famous and has paid a huge price for fame. I thought the addiction was glossed over a little bit but it wasn’t critical to telling the story of her family and personal pain. Speaking of her family, the reason Adleigh ran and never returned was a good one. No one in her family dealt with the death of her brother in a good way. The author showed how they came together and worked through their issues. Part of what helped Adleigh heal was meeting Colter. In such a small town it was hard to understand how they never came into contact with one another, but the author gave them an 8 year age gap so that explains a little bit of it. Colter has a complex relationship with his younger brother. I thought it was a little confusing and kind of weak but the point of the story is that family dynamics are complex and not easily fixed. Colter had a lot of anger he needed to work through and once he did he was left with a decision. Should he continue living on his farm by himself or go after Adleigh and take another chance on love. I was glad the author showed what happened to them years down the road.
This is a contemporary small-town romance. There is a lot family drama. Both of the main characters are adults with demanding careers. The main focus is on Adleigh so the story focusses on her issues and solutions to them more than on Colter’s issues. I enjoyed this book a lot and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Adleigh is a superstar singer/songwriter. The author does a good job establishing the Adleigh is famous and has paid a huge price for fame. I thought the addiction was glossed over a little bit but it wasn’t critical to telling the story of her family and personal pain. Speaking of her family, the reason Adleigh ran and never returned was a good one. No one in her family dealt with the death of her brother in a good way. The author showed how they came together and worked through their issues. Part of what helped Adleigh heal was meeting Colter. In such a small town it was hard to understand how they never came into contact with one another, but the author gave them an 8 year age gap so that explains a little bit of it. Colter has a complex relationship with his younger brother. I thought it was a little confusing and kind of weak but the point of the story is that family dynamics are complex and not easily fixed. Colter had a lot of anger he needed to work through and once he did he was left with a decision. Should he continue living on his farm by himself or go after Adleigh and take another chance on love. I was glad the author showed what happened to them years down the road.
This is a contemporary small-town romance. There is a lot family drama. Both of the main characters are adults with demanding careers. The main focus is on Adleigh so the story focusses on her issues and solutions to them more than on Colter’s issues. I enjoyed this book a lot and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
June 2, 2024
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Releases July 15th!
Whilst this novella sized story may be under three hundred pages long, I can say that a lot happens when it comes to the drama and push and pull relationship between rockstar Adleigh and small town farmer Colton.
The book begins with Adleigh finding her fiancé cheating on her with her bandmate and 'best friend', though we never hear or see this character again. Adleigh is quick to return home once more after leaving six years ago after the passing of her brother. She's got a lot of trauma and emotions to unpack, and things only get worse when hot neighbour Colton shows up in her life. He's not doing much better in terms of failed relationships and family troubles, though the book kind of skims over his problems and focuses on Adleigh's.
The romance is instantly instalove, or more like instalust since Colton falls first when he sees her after arriving in town. I didn't have a massive problem with it, but their push and pull did get tiring by the time I was halfway through the book. I liked that it was kind of slow burn, we wait and wait for the characters to be ready to open up and heal before getting together, it's gritty and angst filled, especially when they both make dumb choices and act a little immaturely, however when they're good they're good.
The spice was brief but there, I especially liked the outside bar scene with the rain and evening. The overall storyline was fairly simple, and other than the healing and romance drama not much happened, which I think was a downfall. If this book was longer and more developed I think it definetly could have been rated higher, I'd liked to have seen more of Adleigh's job and the resolution at the end of the two page third act breakup (which did feel a little unnecessary).
Overall, this was a good read, don't get me wrong, it's simple and has some good moments and a cute epilogue set ten years later, but it did feel a little empty.
3/5 🌟
Releases July 15th!
Whilst this novella sized story may be under three hundred pages long, I can say that a lot happens when it comes to the drama and push and pull relationship between rockstar Adleigh and small town farmer Colton.
The book begins with Adleigh finding her fiancé cheating on her with her bandmate and 'best friend', though we never hear or see this character again. Adleigh is quick to return home once more after leaving six years ago after the passing of her brother. She's got a lot of trauma and emotions to unpack, and things only get worse when hot neighbour Colton shows up in her life. He's not doing much better in terms of failed relationships and family troubles, though the book kind of skims over his problems and focuses on Adleigh's.
The romance is instantly instalove, or more like instalust since Colton falls first when he sees her after arriving in town. I didn't have a massive problem with it, but their push and pull did get tiring by the time I was halfway through the book. I liked that it was kind of slow burn, we wait and wait for the characters to be ready to open up and heal before getting together, it's gritty and angst filled, especially when they both make dumb choices and act a little immaturely, however when they're good they're good.
The spice was brief but there, I especially liked the outside bar scene with the rain and evening. The overall storyline was fairly simple, and other than the healing and romance drama not much happened, which I think was a downfall. If this book was longer and more developed I think it definetly could have been rated higher, I'd liked to have seen more of Adleigh's job and the resolution at the end of the two page third act breakup (which did feel a little unnecessary).
Overall, this was a good read, don't get me wrong, it's simple and has some good moments and a cute epilogue set ten years later, but it did feel a little empty.
3/5 🌟
June 16, 2024
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“Until Adleigh” follows our FMC, Adleigh, who heads back to the small town where she grew up after catching her fiancé cheating on her. There, she meets Colter, who she is instantly attracted to. Over the next several chapters, the two protagonists continuously find themselves together and become increasingly interested in each other.
I would have loved to see a few chapters at the beginning showing some behind-the-scenes of Adleigh’s band as well as her relationship with her fiancé. While I can empathize with her when she walks in on her fiancé and bandmate together, I think it would’ve hit harder if we were privy to the smaller aspects of her relationships with them.
While I don’t mind a shorter book, I would’ve liked to see, in the first half, more scenes that progress the MCs personal agendas and conflicts. They each had significant trauma and backstories that sounded interesting, and I wish we would have gotten to see those sooner. As I didn’t finish the book, I can’t say for sure how these work out, but without very much leading into it or moving it forward, I think it will end up feeling rushed.
I wish the characters had been more fleshed out as they felt a little two dimensional. And, this is just a personal issue, but I was not a fan of the way the characters talked. I believe it was meant to kind of mimic a small town slang, but it felt very stilted. Also, the nickname “big boy” just rubbed me the wrong way and I couldn’t get over it.
Overall, I liked the premise of the book, but felt very underwhelmed. As I didn’t finish the book, I can’t speak to the second half. Some of the things I mentioned may actually be included in the last 55% (feel free to let me know if they are). Unfortunately the writing style in regards to dialogue/thoughts was not for me. If these don’t bother you, definitely give this book a try as you may very well enjoy the plot and spice it offers!
“Until Adleigh” follows our FMC, Adleigh, who heads back to the small town where she grew up after catching her fiancé cheating on her. There, she meets Colter, who she is instantly attracted to. Over the next several chapters, the two protagonists continuously find themselves together and become increasingly interested in each other.
I would have loved to see a few chapters at the beginning showing some behind-the-scenes of Adleigh’s band as well as her relationship with her fiancé. While I can empathize with her when she walks in on her fiancé and bandmate together, I think it would’ve hit harder if we were privy to the smaller aspects of her relationships with them.
While I don’t mind a shorter book, I would’ve liked to see, in the first half, more scenes that progress the MCs personal agendas and conflicts. They each had significant trauma and backstories that sounded interesting, and I wish we would have gotten to see those sooner. As I didn’t finish the book, I can’t say for sure how these work out, but without very much leading into it or moving it forward, I think it will end up feeling rushed.
I wish the characters had been more fleshed out as they felt a little two dimensional. And, this is just a personal issue, but I was not a fan of the way the characters talked. I believe it was meant to kind of mimic a small town slang, but it felt very stilted. Also, the nickname “big boy” just rubbed me the wrong way and I couldn’t get over it.
Overall, I liked the premise of the book, but felt very underwhelmed. As I didn’t finish the book, I can’t speak to the second half. Some of the things I mentioned may actually be included in the last 55% (feel free to let me know if they are). Unfortunately the writing style in regards to dialogue/thoughts was not for me. If these don’t bother you, definitely give this book a try as you may very well enjoy the plot and spice it offers!
June 8, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Releases on July 15th, 2024.
The story starts with Adleigh, a famous rockstar, coming home after 6 years because her fiancé cheated on her with her best friend and fellow band member. The home life isn’t easy either, because she needs to deal with the aftermath of her brother’s death after 6 years of avoidance and running. Then she meets the boy next door named Colter.
At first the story was interesting but it got less and less the further it went. I wanted to like the characters but from her rocky relationship with her parents to the attitude Colter had it just wasn’t happening. The biggest problem with both main characters was that they wanted to be deep, but couldn’t get past the childish phase of you can’t always have what you want and you just have to deal with life. I thought that their similar past’s would somehow round the story but it just tore everything apart. Somehow I couldn’t see them being together just because they were too different. All in all the story was supposed to be emotional and antsy, but it just came out as cheap with all the sexual language and don’t let me start on the explicit scenes that were weirdly roughly forced and had no communication whatsoever. I still think Colter needs at least 2 years of therapy.
And what’s with the word reckon in this book? If I counted I bet I could find it on every page. I guess there is a better word, or maybe not use it so much because constantly repeating it just makes it monotonous and boring.
Releases on July 15th, 2024.
The story starts with Adleigh, a famous rockstar, coming home after 6 years because her fiancé cheated on her with her best friend and fellow band member. The home life isn’t easy either, because she needs to deal with the aftermath of her brother’s death after 6 years of avoidance and running. Then she meets the boy next door named Colter.
At first the story was interesting but it got less and less the further it went. I wanted to like the characters but from her rocky relationship with her parents to the attitude Colter had it just wasn’t happening. The biggest problem with both main characters was that they wanted to be deep, but couldn’t get past the childish phase of you can’t always have what you want and you just have to deal with life. I thought that their similar past’s would somehow round the story but it just tore everything apart. Somehow I couldn’t see them being together just because they were too different. All in all the story was supposed to be emotional and antsy, but it just came out as cheap with all the sexual language and don’t let me start on the explicit scenes that were weirdly roughly forced and had no communication whatsoever. I still think Colter needs at least 2 years of therapy.
And what’s with the word reckon in this book? If I counted I bet I could find it on every page. I guess there is a better word, or maybe not use it so much because constantly repeating it just makes it monotonous and boring.
June 4, 2024
[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Until Adleigh releases July 15, 2024
Adleigh is a musician and finds herself back in her hometown 6 years later, after catching her fiancé cheating on her with her best friend.
While navigating a strained relationship with her parents that stems from the loss of their son/her brother, Adleigh strikes up an entanglement with the next door neighbour whom happens to be the brother of her childhood boyfriend, and who shares the experience of also ending an engagement due to being cheated on.
I was really not fond of the writing style or the characters, and at no point did I find this book to be romantic.
The slang and overuse of “ain’t” really bothered me, and I found the conversational nicknames used with strangers to be odd (ex. little miss, big boy, etc.).
Adleigh and Colter were so angry and had perpetual chips on their shoulders, which definitely translated in the tone of the story to the point that their moods were rubbing off on me, and I was not having a fun or enjoyable time.
Colter’s history of assault was a huge red flag, especially when he started exhibiting the same behaviours once Jamie showed up.
I’m really wondering why Adleigh is described to have many tattoos, yet there are no tattoos to be seen on the cover art.
cw: mentions of suicide and being cheated on
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Until Adleigh releases July 15, 2024
Adleigh is a musician and finds herself back in her hometown 6 years later, after catching her fiancé cheating on her with her best friend.
While navigating a strained relationship with her parents that stems from the loss of their son/her brother, Adleigh strikes up an entanglement with the next door neighbour whom happens to be the brother of her childhood boyfriend, and who shares the experience of also ending an engagement due to being cheated on.
I was really not fond of the writing style or the characters, and at no point did I find this book to be romantic.
The slang and overuse of “ain’t” really bothered me, and I found the conversational nicknames used with strangers to be odd (ex. little miss, big boy, etc.).
Adleigh and Colter were so angry and had perpetual chips on their shoulders, which definitely translated in the tone of the story to the point that their moods were rubbing off on me, and I was not having a fun or enjoyable time.
Colter’s history of assault was a huge red flag, especially when he started exhibiting the same behaviours once Jamie showed up.
I’m really wondering why Adleigh is described to have many tattoos, yet there are no tattoos to be seen on the cover art.
cw: mentions of suicide and being cheated on
June 12, 2024
A small-town romance that is full of emotion and passion. Adeleigh is a rockstar who goes back home to escape her cheating fiance and Colter is a grumpy cowboy who is used to the small town life. Apart they are damaged/broken but together everything fits into place.
I love it when characters who are total opposites have undeniable chemistry. And that is the case with Adeleigh and Colter. When she comes back to town wanting to forget all the heartache that her ex-fiance has caused, she meets Colter. He is a cowboy who is a big ole grump. They both have had cheating exes but that seems about the only thing they have in common. But when they talk sparks fly. They break down the walls they have put up and that vulnerability just adds to their passionate chemistry. Things get spicy and I love it. Colter had me wishing for my very own cowboy.
What I was drawn to most was watching the healing process. Adeleigh's grief and guilt that came with losing her brother took a toll on her and made her push so many people she cared about away. Colter was there for her to remind her of her inner strength and championed her healing whenever he could. Colter is a grump for a reason, but Adeleigh quickly makes him realize the importance of opening your heart to give beautiful experiences a chance to happen.
I love it when characters who are total opposites have undeniable chemistry. And that is the case with Adeleigh and Colter. When she comes back to town wanting to forget all the heartache that her ex-fiance has caused, she meets Colter. He is a cowboy who is a big ole grump. They both have had cheating exes but that seems about the only thing they have in common. But when they talk sparks fly. They break down the walls they have put up and that vulnerability just adds to their passionate chemistry. Things get spicy and I love it. Colter had me wishing for my very own cowboy.
What I was drawn to most was watching the healing process. Adeleigh's grief and guilt that came with losing her brother took a toll on her and made her push so many people she cared about away. Colter was there for her to remind her of her inner strength and championed her healing whenever he could. Colter is a grump for a reason, but Adeleigh quickly makes him realize the importance of opening your heart to give beautiful experiences a chance to happen.
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July 3, 2024 Mini Book Review: "Until Adleigh" by Alyssa Milani
"Until Adleigh" by Alyssa Milani is a heartwarming and emotional romance novel that captivates readers from the very first page. The story revolves around Adleigh, a young woman with a troubled past who is trying to rebuild her life and find happiness. When she meets the enigmatic and compassionate Nolan, sparks fly, and their connection becomes undeniable.
Milani masterfully crafts a narrative that delves deep into the complexities of love, healing, and personal growth. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with Adleigh's vulnerability and strength making her an endearing protagonist. Nolan's unwavering support and patience add depth to their burgeoning romance, making their journey together both believable and inspiring.
The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers engaged and eager to see how Adleigh and Nolan's relationship evolves. Milani's writing style is both poignant and captivating, with vivid descriptions and heartfelt dialogue that bring the story to life.
Overall, "Until Adleigh" is a beautifully written novel that explores the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit. It's a must-read for fans of contemporary romance, offering a perfect blend of emotional depth and heartwarming moments.
Thank you Netgallery for giving me Arc a copy
"Until Adleigh" by Alyssa Milani is a heartwarming and emotional romance novel that captivates readers from the very first page. The story revolves around Adleigh, a young woman with a troubled past who is trying to rebuild her life and find happiness. When she meets the enigmatic and compassionate Nolan, sparks fly, and their connection becomes undeniable.
Milani masterfully crafts a narrative that delves deep into the complexities of love, healing, and personal growth. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with Adleigh's vulnerability and strength making her an endearing protagonist. Nolan's unwavering support and patience add depth to their burgeoning romance, making their journey together both believable and inspiring.
The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers engaged and eager to see how Adleigh and Nolan's relationship evolves. Milani's writing style is both poignant and captivating, with vivid descriptions and heartfelt dialogue that bring the story to life.
Overall, "Until Adleigh" is a beautifully written novel that explores the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit. It's a must-read for fans of contemporary romance, offering a perfect blend of emotional depth and heartwarming moments.
Thank you Netgallery for giving me Arc a copy
October 8, 2024
Until Adleigh by Alyssa Milani is an emotional and captivating romance that pulls you in from the very first chapter. Milani has crafted a heartfelt story about love, loss, and second chances that resonates deeply with the reader.
Adleigh, the protagonist, is a wonderfully relatable character, grappling with her past and hesitant to open her heart again. The journey she embarks on is beautifully written, full of raw emotion and vulnerability. Her relationship with the male lead develops naturally, filled with sweet moments, tension, and undeniable chemistry. Milani does an excellent job of balancing romance with deeper themes of healing and self-discovery, making Adleigh’s story both tender and inspiring.
The pacing is just right, and I found myself rooting for the characters, eager to see how their love story would unfold. The supporting characters also add richness to the narrative, enhancing the depth and heart of the story.
Overall, Until Adleigh is a touching and uplifting read that will resonate with anyone who loves emotional romance stories about rebuilding and finding love when you least expect it. Alyssa Milani’s writing is heartfelt and engaging, making this a book you won’t want to miss!
A huge thank you to Alyssa Milani, NetGalley, and Amazon for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Adleigh, the protagonist, is a wonderfully relatable character, grappling with her past and hesitant to open her heart again. The journey she embarks on is beautifully written, full of raw emotion and vulnerability. Her relationship with the male lead develops naturally, filled with sweet moments, tension, and undeniable chemistry. Milani does an excellent job of balancing romance with deeper themes of healing and self-discovery, making Adleigh’s story both tender and inspiring.
The pacing is just right, and I found myself rooting for the characters, eager to see how their love story would unfold. The supporting characters also add richness to the narrative, enhancing the depth and heart of the story.
Overall, Until Adleigh is a touching and uplifting read that will resonate with anyone who loves emotional romance stories about rebuilding and finding love when you least expect it. Alyssa Milani’s writing is heartfelt and engaging, making this a book you won’t want to miss!
A huge thank you to Alyssa Milani, NetGalley, and Amazon for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 12, 2024
Adleigh is back in her hometown after up and leaving 6 years ago. Her fiancé cheated on her and she needed an escape. Feel ya girl. But maybe keep in touch with your folks before you just drop in on them?
Colton hasn’t long had a nasty break up either - his high school sweetheart was also someone else’s high school sweetheart…
Cue out there rocker girl and stubborn moody boy who fall for each other…. Well, kinda. It’s a little too toxic for me. And they both know it as well.
Both know they’ve got some trauma going on, yet this back and forth yes no between them is so ridiculous. I questioned how old they were - spoiler, he’s 32 and she’s (I believe) 24. Ok, so the idiotic toxic behaviour I could *maybe* accept from her. Only just. But him!? Nope. He’s old enough to not act like a total dickwad.
And let’s not talk about the chapter after the karaoke in his yard! Anyone else feel that was a little…grapey without the g?
He really lost me there, and then when he snapped at her again when she had to leave. Like calm down! It’s not even been a week!
Writing was good. Story - as an idea - was good. Maybe if it was longer and it could be passed out a little more it may be great. And check some scenes. We like dominate men, not toxic grapey ones :)
——————
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
Colton hasn’t long had a nasty break up either - his high school sweetheart was also someone else’s high school sweetheart…
Cue out there rocker girl and stubborn moody boy who fall for each other…. Well, kinda. It’s a little too toxic for me. And they both know it as well.
Both know they’ve got some trauma going on, yet this back and forth yes no between them is so ridiculous. I questioned how old they were - spoiler, he’s 32 and she’s (I believe) 24. Ok, so the idiotic toxic behaviour I could *maybe* accept from her. Only just. But him!? Nope. He’s old enough to not act like a total dickwad.
And let’s not talk about the chapter after the karaoke in his yard! Anyone else feel that was a little…grapey without the g?
He really lost me there, and then when he snapped at her again when she had to leave. Like calm down! It’s not even been a week!
Writing was good. Story - as an idea - was good. Maybe if it was longer and it could be passed out a little more it may be great. And check some scenes. We like dominate men, not toxic grapey ones :)
——————
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
June 6, 2024
Until Adleigh by Alyssa Milani
Rating: 3/5
Release Date: 13 July 2024
Adleigh, a musician, returns to her hometown after discovering her fiancé cheating with her best friend. She faces a strained relationship with her parents, still grieving the loss of her brother. Amidst this, Adleigh becomes involved with her next-door neighbour, the brother of her childhood boyfriend, who has also ended an engagement due to infidelity.
The characters in the story had complex backstories and trauma, but these elements were not fully developed, leaving the believability of their behaviour questionable.
The writing was basic, and the dialogue felt forced, especially in representing Southern characters. The relationship dynamics, particularly the protagonist's bond with her brother felt awkward and just plain strange.
Although there were moments of romance, they lacked detail and depth, making the story less appealing for readers seeking spice.
Overall, despite its flaws, the story had its charming moments and could benefit from further expansion into a longer book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Amazon, and the author, Alyssa Milani, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Rating: 3/5
Release Date: 13 July 2024
Adleigh, a musician, returns to her hometown after discovering her fiancé cheating with her best friend. She faces a strained relationship with her parents, still grieving the loss of her brother. Amidst this, Adleigh becomes involved with her next-door neighbour, the brother of her childhood boyfriend, who has also ended an engagement due to infidelity.
The characters in the story had complex backstories and trauma, but these elements were not fully developed, leaving the believability of their behaviour questionable.
The writing was basic, and the dialogue felt forced, especially in representing Southern characters. The relationship dynamics, particularly the protagonist's bond with her brother felt awkward and just plain strange.
Although there were moments of romance, they lacked detail and depth, making the story less appealing for readers seeking spice.
Overall, despite its flaws, the story had its charming moments and could benefit from further expansion into a longer book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Amazon, and the author, Alyssa Milani, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
July 5, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Until Adleigh releases July 15, 2024
I'm sorry but I almost wish I only read the synopsis and just skipped this one.
For starters, little phrases like "boy was it one helluva night to remember" really threw me; seems more like ironic bad writing straight out of a DCOM and not what I want in a romance. The dialogue throughout is awkward, mostly because the book is so short Adleigh (the FMC) is almost forced into blurting things out to strangers to progress the plot and build exposition and then the same happens with Colter (the MMC) to build "tension" if you could even call it that because its basically insta-love. The plot is very rushed and the reader didn't connect with the characters and the characters don't develop on any level that matters even with their dramatic backstories.
Truly I don't even think I found this book romantic. Good banter is something I need and this was just lacking, from their first interaction to the spice it felt.....OFF. I probably wouldn't recommend to this to my friends because I found myself struggling to get past the bad writing there just wasn't much going on.
Until Adleigh releases July 15, 2024
I'm sorry but I almost wish I only read the synopsis and just skipped this one.
For starters, little phrases like "boy was it one helluva night to remember" really threw me; seems more like ironic bad writing straight out of a DCOM and not what I want in a romance. The dialogue throughout is awkward, mostly because the book is so short Adleigh (the FMC) is almost forced into blurting things out to strangers to progress the plot and build exposition and then the same happens with Colter (the MMC) to build "tension" if you could even call it that because its basically insta-love. The plot is very rushed and the reader didn't connect with the characters and the characters don't develop on any level that matters even with their dramatic backstories.
Truly I don't even think I found this book romantic. Good banter is something I need and this was just lacking, from their first interaction to the spice it felt.....OFF. I probably wouldn't recommend to this to my friends because I found myself struggling to get past the bad writing there just wasn't much going on.
July 31, 2024
Until Adleigh written by Alyssa Milano was a heartbreakingly beautiful novel. When I first started this book my first impression was another story about a messed up rock star and an attractive grumpy farmer that helps her pull her life together. Though that is partly true this story goes so much deeper than i imagined. This story touches on topics of healing, resilience, growth, confronting past mistakes, and demonstrating that even in darkness there’s light. The book took a while to capture my attention but once it did, I was hooked.
This book was not perfect and I wish there was more character development happening on the page, however for the length of the novel and the story being an insta attraction and insta love it was sweet. The themes and the background of the main characters, Adleigh Cole and Colter Finn were gut wrenchingly relatable. This made for a sweet and mildly spicy version of stereotypical romance.
PLEASE CONSIDER TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING:
-suicide
-drugs and alcohol addiction
-cheating
Lastly, thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Happy Reading!
This book was not perfect and I wish there was more character development happening on the page, however for the length of the novel and the story being an insta attraction and insta love it was sweet. The themes and the background of the main characters, Adleigh Cole and Colter Finn were gut wrenchingly relatable. This made for a sweet and mildly spicy version of stereotypical romance.
PLEASE CONSIDER TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING:
-suicide
-drugs and alcohol addiction
-cheating
Lastly, thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Happy Reading!
June 23, 2024
~Colter & Adleigh~
~ Superstar FMC x cowboy MMC
~ Small town setting
~ Grief rep*
~ Past relationship drama
After Adleigh runs away from her LA life when she finds her fiancé cheating on her, she returns to her home town to rebuild some family relationships. Colter is feeling jaded after his ex also cheated on him. When Adleigh realizes Colter lives next to her parents, they aren’t able to get away from each other, even if they want to.
I often struggle with liking FMC’s and that was a big struggle for me in this book. I didn’t really connect with her and I found her pretty annoying during all of her interactions with the MMC. I know that there was suppose to be tension and angst between the two but I often felt that they were too toxic together.
While I didn’t really enjoy much of the romance pieces, I did enjoy seeing the growth of Adleigh’s family and working through their grief together.
*Note: this book does mention (previous) suicide of a MC’s sibling. Please read with care ♡
Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy!
~ Superstar FMC x cowboy MMC
~ Small town setting
~ Grief rep*
~ Past relationship drama
After Adleigh runs away from her LA life when she finds her fiancé cheating on her, she returns to her home town to rebuild some family relationships. Colter is feeling jaded after his ex also cheated on him. When Adleigh realizes Colter lives next to her parents, they aren’t able to get away from each other, even if they want to.
I often struggle with liking FMC’s and that was a big struggle for me in this book. I didn’t really connect with her and I found her pretty annoying during all of her interactions with the MMC. I know that there was suppose to be tension and angst between the two but I often felt that they were too toxic together.
While I didn’t really enjoy much of the romance pieces, I did enjoy seeing the growth of Adleigh’s family and working through their grief together.
*Note: this book does mention (previous) suicide of a MC’s sibling. Please read with care ♡
Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy!
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