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What We Keep
Charming and heroic, there’s nothing about Gabriel Woodruff that Avery Burke doesn’t love. His warm brown eyes, his generosity, that small scar above his lip. The newspaper photo of him carrying her from a burning home only adds to the romance of it all.
A fairytale beginning and a picture-perfect marriage practically guarantees Avery and Gabriel a ride into the sunset. But every relationship has flaws, and what they ignored while they were busy being flawless eventually surfaces. The unraveling begins with the smallest tug on the tiniest string.
Their fall is spectacular, the kind that makes the paper.
When the fairytale goes up in smoke, Avery and Gabriel are forced to ask themselves hard questions.
What does 'for better or worse' really mean?
Is this their second chance at a once-in-a-lifetime love?
What do we keep, when we lose it all?
A fairytale beginning and a picture-perfect marriage practically guarantees Avery and Gabriel a ride into the sunset. But every relationship has flaws, and what they ignored while they were busy being flawless eventually surfaces. The unraveling begins with the smallest tug on the tiniest string.
Their fall is spectacular, the kind that makes the paper.
When the fairytale goes up in smoke, Avery and Gabriel are forced to ask themselves hard questions.
What does 'for better or worse' really mean?
Is this their second chance at a once-in-a-lifetime love?
What do we keep, when we lose it all?
500 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2024
About the author
Jennifer Millikin
30 books2,381 followersJennifer Millikin writes contemporary fiction with elements of romance, emotion, and hard-learned lessons. She likes her characters flawed and her romance swoony.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 681 reviews
September 26, 2024
You 100% should read this.
September 2, 2024
Rating: 4.75/5
I read What We Keep in one sitting because I literally could not put it down. Jennifer Millikin’s storytelling hooked me from the first page and didn’t let go until the very end.
The book is divided into two distinct parts, each adding depth and complexity to the narrative. Part One alternates between Avery’s therapy sessions and her recounting of a love story filled with passion, lies, and heartbreak. I was completely gripped by the intensity of Avery’s journey, even though the “insta-love” element was present. Honestly, it didn’t bother me because the rest of the story made up for it.
In Part Two, the narrative shifts between Avery and Gabriel’s points of view as they navigate life apart, grappling with the aftermath of their choices. This part felt raw and real, showing the messy, imperfect reality of love and relationships. The emotional highs and devastating lows had my heart on a roller coaster ride, and I couldn’t look away.
This isn’t your typical romance—it’s an honest exploration of how relationships can both build and break us. It’s thought-provoking, deeply emotional, and unlike anything I’ve read before. I highly recommend it to readers looking for a love story with depth and grit, but definitely check for potential trigger warnings before diving in.
Have tissues handy. You’ll need them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2024
This book was a HUGE WOW for me! I knew going into it that it was going to be heavy and man was I right BUT I would like to point out that it also felt so real. Like this could happen to anyone. The reactions were perfect. There was just enough to detail to give you an idea of what was happening but not too much detail to make you depressed. I did find myself crying throughout this one though multiple times. With that being said, I was also smiling SO hard and cheering for these two SOOO hard once part 2 hit. I loved getting dual POVs after only having one. I loved the vulnerability between these two and the undeniable chemistry. I found myself dipping my tow in with some hesitation but then I was legit HOOKED.
Avery and Gabriel fall hard and fast for each other. He literally saves her from a burning building. They move in with each other. Get married. Avery is working towards getting her career on track which means that Gabriel is supporting them. Slowly but surely Avery starts to see things that make her start to question other things. Gabriel never wants to talk about his brother who passed away. He has a hard relationship with his parents though he works with his dad. These are things she can work through but then something tragic happens at work for Gabriel. And EVERYTHING changes. His drinking problem he kinda sorta mentioned comes out to play in the worst way. She doesn't recognize their life anymore. What happened to planning a future? She is too ashamed to talk about it so she hides her head in the sand until she can't. Now the whole town knows what is going on and Gabriel is going to be out of her life for a while. That's ok though. She can hang in there. She knows that they love each other. But then he files for divorce and she loses her grip on reality.
Fast forward to two years and Avery is writing a book. She has rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere and is on her way to pick up something for her sister's wedding when she runs into none other than Gabriel. The same Gabriel who didn't even talk to her about his decision. The same one who took away her choice. Gosh she finds herself still so drawn to him but she was so hurt. Slowly but surely they start to reconnect. They kind of dabble about what happened but there is just so much trauma and hurt. Avery finally finds herself having to make the decision- is their love worth having another go? Will she ever be able to trust him again?
Gabriel has moved far away from Phoenix. He hasn't talked to the love of his life for years. He did this on purpose. He wanted her to succeed and thrive. But then he sees her at this shop and realizes how much he was lying to himself. He only wants her to succeed and thrive with him. He loves her so much he only sees this as a sign that they really are meant to be together. Now he has his work cut out for him because he has to get her to see that too. Will his love be enough?
This was just a FANTASTIC read. Wonderful characters. Crash and burn romance with a plot twist of an HEA. Wonderful character growth. Large conversations around mental health, addiction, the loss of a sibling and best friend, and trauma. Very well done Jennifer. I have only read one other book by her and this one blew that one out of the water (in my opinion).
Thank you to Valentine PR and Jennifer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! HIGHLY recommend.
Avery and Gabriel fall hard and fast for each other. He literally saves her from a burning building. They move in with each other. Get married. Avery is working towards getting her career on track which means that Gabriel is supporting them. Slowly but surely Avery starts to see things that make her start to question other things. Gabriel never wants to talk about his brother who passed away. He has a hard relationship with his parents though he works with his dad. These are things she can work through but then something tragic happens at work for Gabriel. And EVERYTHING changes. His drinking problem he kinda sorta mentioned comes out to play in the worst way. She doesn't recognize their life anymore. What happened to planning a future? She is too ashamed to talk about it so she hides her head in the sand until she can't. Now the whole town knows what is going on and Gabriel is going to be out of her life for a while. That's ok though. She can hang in there. She knows that they love each other. But then he files for divorce and she loses her grip on reality.
Fast forward to two years and Avery is writing a book. She has rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere and is on her way to pick up something for her sister's wedding when she runs into none other than Gabriel. The same Gabriel who didn't even talk to her about his decision. The same one who took away her choice. Gosh she finds herself still so drawn to him but she was so hurt. Slowly but surely they start to reconnect. They kind of dabble about what happened but there is just so much trauma and hurt. Avery finally finds herself having to make the decision- is their love worth having another go? Will she ever be able to trust him again?
Gabriel has moved far away from Phoenix. He hasn't talked to the love of his life for years. He did this on purpose. He wanted her to succeed and thrive. But then he sees her at this shop and realizes how much he was lying to himself. He only wants her to succeed and thrive with him. He loves her so much he only sees this as a sign that they really are meant to be together. Now he has his work cut out for him because he has to get her to see that too. Will his love be enough?
This was just a FANTASTIC read. Wonderful characters. Crash and burn romance with a plot twist of an HEA. Wonderful character growth. Large conversations around mental health, addiction, the loss of a sibling and best friend, and trauma. Very well done Jennifer. I have only read one other book by her and this one blew that one out of the water (in my opinion).
Thank you to Valentine PR and Jennifer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! HIGHLY recommend.
September 7, 2024
2.25
I dnf’d at 60%. After reading the reviews, I was expecting a deeply emotional and angsty read. But I didn’t find this very emotional at all.
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW
The mc’s (Gabriel and Avery) were very dry and lacked personality. I kept reading hoping I would get more attached to them, but I just got annoyed.
We first read about him rescuing her and them falling in love. I wasn’t that moved by it. His friend dies and he starts drinking and develops a drinking problem which eventually ruins their marriage because he gets a DUI and goes to jail for 2-3 years. Now- this is truly where this story started to lose me. I think his drinking problem went on for maybe a year(?). He never got abusive-she just felt abandoned. Anyway—she never really confronted him about it at all. He would come home from drinking with his friends and say “sorry” and she would just stew and feel sorry for herself.
He gets a DUI and gets 2-3 years because he hit another drunk guy. She’s very angry but still devoted to him. She sees him every week for a little bit. He blindsides her and serves her with divorce papers because he’s ashamed and wants her to move on. His lawyer basically tells Avery that he’s doing it because he loves her but he doesn’t want to speak to her about it. So— you’d think if she truly loved this guy (HER HUSBAND)- she would demand to speak to him about it right?!? Maybe fight for him? Tell him that 2-3 years is nothing and she will stand by him??Nope—she just signs the papers and moves on with her life. She dates and sleeps with another guy not too long after and even states that she feels no guilt.
I was pretty much done after this, but I kept reading to see if their first confrontation after he got out evoked any emotion from me. It really just made me realize that I truly disliked the heroine. He wasn’t much better— he seemed very weak to me. I definitely didn’t care to read any further.
I dnf’d at 60%. After reading the reviews, I was expecting a deeply emotional and angsty read. But I didn’t find this very emotional at all.
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW
The mc’s (Gabriel and Avery) were very dry and lacked personality. I kept reading hoping I would get more attached to them, but I just got annoyed.
We first read about him rescuing her and them falling in love. I wasn’t that moved by it. His friend dies and he starts drinking and develops a drinking problem which eventually ruins their marriage because he gets a DUI and goes to jail for 2-3 years. Now- this is truly where this story started to lose me. I think his drinking problem went on for maybe a year(?). He never got abusive-she just felt abandoned. Anyway—she never really confronted him about it at all. He would come home from drinking with his friends and say “sorry” and she would just stew and feel sorry for herself.
He gets a DUI and gets 2-3 years because he hit another drunk guy. She’s very angry but still devoted to him. She sees him every week for a little bit. He blindsides her and serves her with divorce papers because he’s ashamed and wants her to move on. His lawyer basically tells Avery that he’s doing it because he loves her but he doesn’t want to speak to her about it. So— you’d think if she truly loved this guy (HER HUSBAND)- she would demand to speak to him about it right?!? Maybe fight for him? Tell him that 2-3 years is nothing and she will stand by him??Nope—she just signs the papers and moves on with her life. She dates and sleeps with another guy not too long after and even states that she feels no guilt.
I was pretty much done after this, but I kept reading to see if their first confrontation after he got out evoked any emotion from me. It really just made me realize that I truly disliked the heroine. He wasn’t much better— he seemed very weak to me. I definitely didn’t care to read any further.
September 10, 2024
First read, 2024:
This book GUTTED me to my core.
My first *6* star read EVER!
Second read, 2025:
I will never get over how uniquely written this story is. Both parts are written so beautifully and work so well together even though they are vastly different - the first part breaks you while the second puts you back together but you’ll always have those visible cracks.
The story is top tier. The characters and their connections plus growth is done to perfection. A must read for everyone!
This book GUTTED me to my core.
My first *6* star read EVER!
Second read, 2025:
I will never get over how uniquely written this story is. Both parts are written so beautifully and work so well together even though they are vastly different - the first part breaks you while the second puts you back together but you’ll always have those visible cracks.
The story is top tier. The characters and their connections plus growth is done to perfection. A must read for everyone!
August 25, 2024
❤️Arc review ❤️
This is my first time reading by this author and I really love the story.
Avery and Gabriel they fall hard, they have this unique love story and they had this perfect beginning, then they got married and the unraveling begins
but every relationship has flaws..and they facing those challenges..🥹
I truly enjoyed this story and Avery and Gabriel they belong to each other ❤️
it has two parts, part one Avery's POV past/present
the second part Duel POV
well written and very fast paced
and I'm looking forward to read more books ❤️ by @jenmillwrites
❤️Firefighter
❤️Second chance
❤️Trouble marriage
❤️Angst
thank you @valentine_pr and @jenmillwrites
for the ARC ❤️
This is my first time reading by this author and I really love the story.
Avery and Gabriel they fall hard, they have this unique love story and they had this perfect beginning, then they got married and the unraveling begins
but every relationship has flaws..and they facing those challenges..🥹
I truly enjoyed this story and Avery and Gabriel they belong to each other ❤️
it has two parts, part one Avery's POV past/present
the second part Duel POV
well written and very fast paced
and I'm looking forward to read more books ❤️ by @jenmillwrites
❤️Firefighter
❤️Second chance
❤️Trouble marriage
❤️Angst
thank you @valentine_pr and @jenmillwrites
for the ARC ❤️
January 21, 2025
This book is about imperfect relationships, an imperfect marriage, yet it’s absolutely incredible!!!❤️🔥 I lived through every page with the characters. I believed in them so much that I sometimes had to pause my reading just to catch my breath.
The mmc is a firefighter, and the book also shows how challenging this profession is, as well as how hard it is for a wife to wait for her husband to come home after every shift. Every day is a risk.
If you love emotional, heartbreaking stories, I highly recommend it!
Tropes:
✓firefighter🔥 x therapist
✓second chance
✓troubled marriage
✓broken hero
✓angsty
The mmc is a firefighter, and the book also shows how challenging this profession is, as well as how hard it is for a wife to wait for her husband to come home after every shift. Every day is a risk.
If you love emotional, heartbreaking stories, I highly recommend it!
Tropes:
✓firefighter🔥 x therapist
✓second chance
✓troubled marriage
✓broken hero
✓angsty
September 4, 2024
4.75✨ 📖 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧
“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.”
Buckle up friends, this book was an emotional rollercoaster that was 10000% worth the ride. Avery and Gabriel’s story broke my heart and then stitched it back together.
I truly felt like I was there with Avery & Gabriel for every step of their journey. Meeting, falling in love, falling apart and then healing together. 💞
"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘈𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵." 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. "𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦."
The formatting of the book was really cool. The first half of the book is told in flashbacks and therapy sessions all from Avery’s point of view. The second half is told in the present with both Avery and Gabriel’s POVs.
Like I said, this book broke my heart. A character deals with Alcohol Use Disorder and you see up close and personal how that affected the relationships around him. He makes a mistake and has to face the consequences of it. Grief and life after loss also play heavy roles in a characters actions.
The last half of the book is all about healing and I loved it. Gabriel and Avery were always great together but they overlooked little issues and they snowballed into bigger obstacles. Everything about their journey back to each other was amazing.
The spice towards the end was so good! ❤️🔥
If you love second chance love stories heavy on the emotions with two people that grow so much during the story, go add 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧, to your TBR today!
𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
✌🏼 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
💔 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰
🚒 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘹 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘵/𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳
✨ 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩
😮💨 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵𝘺
💖 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴
💍 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦
🫶🏼 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 & 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘯
“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.”
Buckle up friends, this book was an emotional rollercoaster that was 10000% worth the ride. Avery and Gabriel’s story broke my heart and then stitched it back together.
I truly felt like I was there with Avery & Gabriel for every step of their journey. Meeting, falling in love, falling apart and then healing together. 💞
"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘈𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵." 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. "𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦."
The formatting of the book was really cool. The first half of the book is told in flashbacks and therapy sessions all from Avery’s point of view. The second half is told in the present with both Avery and Gabriel’s POVs.
Like I said, this book broke my heart. A character deals with Alcohol Use Disorder and you see up close and personal how that affected the relationships around him. He makes a mistake and has to face the consequences of it. Grief and life after loss also play heavy roles in a characters actions.
The last half of the book is all about healing and I loved it. Gabriel and Avery were always great together but they overlooked little issues and they snowballed into bigger obstacles. Everything about their journey back to each other was amazing.
The spice towards the end was so good! ❤️🔥
If you love second chance love stories heavy on the emotions with two people that grow so much during the story, go add 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧, to your TBR today!
𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
✌🏼 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
💔 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰
🚒 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘹 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘵/𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳
✨ 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩
😮💨 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵𝘺
💖 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴
💍 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦
🫶🏼 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 & 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘯
lost-interest
April 6, 2025I loved 'here for the cake' so much, I know this is not the same vibe, but hopefully I'll love this as well.
December 5, 2025
4.5 star.
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
I had no idea what I was getting into with this one, it was slow to start, a unique read, talking to a therapist, and recalling how she got to this moment. At halfway there was just a moment that had me bawling. And I was all in. Hanging on for dear life to see if Gabriel and Avery find their way back to each other. Great book. Humans being humans, lessons learned and heartbreak.
Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell
“And now her memory is one step further from me.”
“I feel bad for wishing he’d gotten over my mother faster. She was a good person, and she deserved his grief.”
“Grief has always fascinated me. It is an emotion so layered, so nuanced. One moment it can be as soft as a gentle rain, the next, an outraged typhoon. Some people refuse to admit its presence. Others drown in it”
“Everybody’s personal tragedy is their own, and they have the right to be upset by it. Nobody gets to tell you what you grieve.”
This moment stood out. “When we were together before, I wanted to be pretty for you. All the time. Not just physically, but every other way too. I wanted a life that was shiny, that looked good. And in doing so, I created a world where you could not be ugly with me.”
My first read of Jennifer Millikin and I plan to read more of her work, apparently “Our finest Hour”
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
I had no idea what I was getting into with this one, it was slow to start, a unique read, talking to a therapist, and recalling how she got to this moment. At halfway there was just a moment that had me bawling. And I was all in. Hanging on for dear life to see if Gabriel and Avery find their way back to each other. Great book. Humans being humans, lessons learned and heartbreak.
Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell
“And now her memory is one step further from me.”
“I feel bad for wishing he’d gotten over my mother faster. She was a good person, and she deserved his grief.”
“Grief has always fascinated me. It is an emotion so layered, so nuanced. One moment it can be as soft as a gentle rain, the next, an outraged typhoon. Some people refuse to admit its presence. Others drown in it”
“Everybody’s personal tragedy is their own, and they have the right to be upset by it. Nobody gets to tell you what you grieve.”
This moment stood out. “When we were together before, I wanted to be pretty for you. All the time. Not just physically, but every other way too. I wanted a life that was shiny, that looked good. And in doing so, I created a world where you could not be ugly with me.”
My first read of Jennifer Millikin and I plan to read more of her work, apparently “Our finest Hour”
September 3, 2024
#Review: *What We Keep* - Jennifer Millikin
[No age restriction]
4.2/5✨
0/5🌶️
This book was so different from the other one I previously read from this author, "Here for the cake", but I'm really glad I've read it! I need to thank Jennifer and Valentine Pr for this e-ARC.
This book was really different from everything I've read so far. It was split in two parts, one in which are explained the events from the past and the other half contains the present time.
Another unique thing were the therapy sessions the main character, Avery, was taking. She had a shock because of her husband and needs to recuperate after that. This part is in the first half of the book, along with the whole story about Avery and her husband, Gabriel.
In the second half we have the struggles Avery still goes through, even though she is a little better now. She decides what to do with her life and starts to write a book which contains the story of her relationship with Gabriel.
I liked the insta love between the characters. They just clicked so well together and I liked to follow their sweet first moments, excluding the first one, being a traumatizing one, when Avery was rescued from the fire by Gabriel, who was a firefighter.
Overall, it was a nice read, maybe a little too many details for my liking in the first part, having a slow flow, but the second one was really nice to follow and I enjoyed it more.
✨Tropes:
#InstaLove;
#LoveAtFirstSight
#StrangersToLovers
#SecondChance
#StartingOver
[No age restriction]
4.2/5✨
0/5🌶️
This book was so different from the other one I previously read from this author, "Here for the cake", but I'm really glad I've read it! I need to thank Jennifer and Valentine Pr for this e-ARC.
This book was really different from everything I've read so far. It was split in two parts, one in which are explained the events from the past and the other half contains the present time.
Another unique thing were the therapy sessions the main character, Avery, was taking. She had a shock because of her husband and needs to recuperate after that. This part is in the first half of the book, along with the whole story about Avery and her husband, Gabriel.
In the second half we have the struggles Avery still goes through, even though she is a little better now. She decides what to do with her life and starts to write a book which contains the story of her relationship with Gabriel.
I liked the insta love between the characters. They just clicked so well together and I liked to follow their sweet first moments, excluding the first one, being a traumatizing one, when Avery was rescued from the fire by Gabriel, who was a firefighter.
Overall, it was a nice read, maybe a little too many details for my liking in the first part, having a slow flow, but the second one was really nice to follow and I enjoyed it more.
✨Tropes:
#InstaLove;
#LoveAtFirstSight
#StrangersToLovers
#SecondChance
#StartingOver
September 12, 2024
This book was really beautiful and heartbreaking but so so good. I don’t usually cry over the books I read but this one had me choked up in quite a few places. I’m still processing so I’ll have to come back later and update with more of my thoughts.
August 31, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-♾️
🌶🌶 (not explicit. just trust me: their chemistry is off the charts.)
Avery & Gabriel
❤️🔥❤️🔥 2 hearts, one heartbeat.
I LOVE THIS STORY WITH ALL I AM. 💖
Jennifer Millikin … you broke me, shattered my heart,💔 made me face my ghosts, and then put my heart back together again. ❤️🩹
YES, you CAN fall in love with the same person a second time!
(I can attest to that!)
Tropes:
❤️🔥second chance
❤️🔥angst… tons of it
❤️🔥troubled marriage (no cheating)
❤️🔥broken hero
❤️🔥soulmates
❤️🔥firefighter x therapist
❤️🔥insta-love
❤️🔥first half big city
❤️🔥second half small town
❤️🔥off the charts character growth
❤️🔥normalizing therapy
**Please check the author's TW.**
That said, GO BLIND into this story.
KEEP KLEENEX NEARBY!!
I'm not going to go into great depth with this review because I don't want to give anything away!
There's a few themes I do want you to pay attention to:
❤️🔥compassion vs pity
❤️🔥emotional intelligence
❤️🔥marital longevity… What's the secret? Is there a secret??
Avery & Gabriel's story was extremely realistic & relatable for me, from the instant love between them, falling hard & fast, becoming consumed!
What makes this second chance romance different from others is that we experience our MCs falling in love, their crash & burn, and then experience their fight back to each other.
This book is divided into 2 parts:
Part 1: Avery's POV thru present time therapy sessions and flashbacks. Seamlessly written.
Part 2: present time, flowing between dual POV of Avery and Gabriel. Beautifully done! I felt totally immersed and engaged the entire book. Could not put it down!!!!!!
If you're still reading this, I had 533 highlights, bookmarks, and notes. It's THAT AMAZING.
THANK YOU, Jennifer, for the ARC and for the bts chats getting me thru the trenches. 😘xo
Trust the journey.
🌶🌶 (not explicit. just trust me: their chemistry is off the charts.)
Avery & Gabriel
❤️🔥❤️🔥 2 hearts, one heartbeat.
I LOVE THIS STORY WITH ALL I AM. 💖
Jennifer Millikin … you broke me, shattered my heart,💔 made me face my ghosts, and then put my heart back together again. ❤️🩹
YES, you CAN fall in love with the same person a second time!
(I can attest to that!)
Tropes:
❤️🔥second chance
❤️🔥angst… tons of it
❤️🔥troubled marriage (no cheating)
❤️🔥broken hero
❤️🔥soulmates
❤️🔥firefighter x therapist
❤️🔥insta-love
❤️🔥first half big city
❤️🔥second half small town
❤️🔥off the charts character growth
❤️🔥normalizing therapy
**Please check the author's TW.**
That said, GO BLIND into this story.
KEEP KLEENEX NEARBY!!
I'm not going to go into great depth with this review because I don't want to give anything away!
There's a few themes I do want you to pay attention to:
❤️🔥compassion vs pity
❤️🔥emotional intelligence
❤️🔥marital longevity… What's the secret? Is there a secret??
Avery & Gabriel's story was extremely realistic & relatable for me, from the instant love between them, falling hard & fast, becoming consumed!
What makes this second chance romance different from others is that we experience our MCs falling in love, their crash & burn, and then experience their fight back to each other.
This book is divided into 2 parts:
Part 1: Avery's POV thru present time therapy sessions and flashbacks. Seamlessly written.
Part 2: present time, flowing between dual POV of Avery and Gabriel. Beautifully done! I felt totally immersed and engaged the entire book. Could not put it down!!!!!!
If you're still reading this, I had 533 highlights, bookmarks, and notes. It's THAT AMAZING.
THANK YOU, Jennifer, for the ARC and for the bts chats getting me thru the trenches. 😘xo
Trust the journey.
August 28, 2024
Wow! What an amazing emotional roller coaster. This one really puts the second chance into second chance romance. It forces you to think about “for better or worse” and what you’d do when “worse” happens. This is the kind of story that shows you sometimes you have to blow it all up to make it better.
Avery and Gabriel seem to have it all: the meet cute, the chemistry and the perfect marriage. And, for a while they do have it all, but not forever. Marriage in trouble books are always a little hard for me, but this story is handled so well. You never doubt the love between these two, even as their actions would have you thinking otherwise.
I love the unconventional way the story unfolds with the past being told mostly to her therapist from Avery’s perspective and the present played out in dual POV. And I really appreciated the positive therapy rep and how honest Avery was with herself.
What a great story this is and what an epic romance between Avery and Gabriel, even if they do get put through the wringer. Don’t want to spill any twists or turns, but totally recommend this one!
Avery and Gabriel seem to have it all: the meet cute, the chemistry and the perfect marriage. And, for a while they do have it all, but not forever. Marriage in trouble books are always a little hard for me, but this story is handled so well. You never doubt the love between these two, even as their actions would have you thinking otherwise.
I love the unconventional way the story unfolds with the past being told mostly to her therapist from Avery’s perspective and the present played out in dual POV. And I really appreciated the positive therapy rep and how honest Avery was with herself.
What a great story this is and what an epic romance between Avery and Gabriel, even if they do get put through the wringer. Don’t want to spill any twists or turns, but totally recommend this one!
September 3, 2024
He once saved me from a fire. But when it was all said and done, he's the one who burned me down.
One of my favorite parts of reading was checking out the author's note or acknowledgment, and the ones in this book were no exception. As Jennifer mentioned, "This book is a journey," yes, it truly was. Interestingly, Avery and Gabriel's story was not your typical contemporary romance where the main characters met, fell in love, had a fight, and then made up peacefully. Instead, they fell head over heels for each other at first sight and then experienced the process of love backwards, gracing the readers with excruciating heartbreaks and broken promises.
The overall presentation of this book was pretty unconventional, almost on an experimental level, in my opinion, as the story was told by Avery in the first half of the book and mixing with Gabriel's POV in the second half. What's more, Avery's side of the sweetest love story of her and Gabriel was split into "then" and her most recent "therapy session"; thus, I had to admit it was a little hard for me to fully immerse myself in the book because aside from trying to collect the pieces of their story here and there, the slow-burn heartbreak--yes, you heard me right, it was heartbreak rather than the romance we were all looking forward to--killed me gradually. My heart felt as if it were scraped over and over again by the sharpest knife, leaving it dripping blood all over the floral carpet where blind love lied.
Honestly, I had to put down the book every few chapters when reading the first half as Avery's emotion was so raw that I could feel it like my own. There were several times that I wish I could jump into the pages just to reach her and give her whatever physical support I could offer. She deserved to be loved better than Gabriel did or tried to do. But then there was Gabriel, the heroic fireman with a shattered soul. I was glad to catch a glimpse into his mind later in the book, which was beautifully woven through Avery's. Both characters weren't perfect but as they grew into a more satisfying version of themselves, mission accomplished.
Needless to say, what impressed me most was the therapy sessions. Those heartfelt therapy moments had grown on me lately and I always appreciated when a book normalizing them as if there was nothing to be ashamed of when people went to therapy. They were saving themselves and practicing self-care and I simply hoped more and more people in real life would recognize how strong these mental health survivors/advocates were.
Lastly, the only reason this book didn't get a five-star from me was because of the second chance Avery and Gabriel had. It was indeed beautiful to see them rekindle the friendship and walk through the devastating divorce from what felt like another lifetime together in retrospect; however, I just personally couldn't resonate with either character, especially throughout the second half of the story. I felt like witnessing someone else's life going on instead of experiencing what they were feeling and that was kind of a bummer for me. So the problem was me and there was nothing to do with the book or the writing style!
All in all, I hoped you'd enjoy What We Keep more than I did. Avery and Gabriel did not have an easy love story but rather, a hard-earned one that was worthy of every single page of this book.
***Thanks to the author for generously providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
September 10, 2024
Rating:⭐️2/5
Spice:🌶️4/5
Read in 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 2024:🎒03/20
Goodreads Challenge:📚194/240
♥ [𝙰𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 & 𝙶𝚊𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚕] ♥
📌meet cute
📌he's a firefighter
📌she's a psychiatrist (aspiring writer)
📌love at first sight
📌marriage in trouble
📌check TW
📌spicy
📌angsty
🇺🇸I’m so disappointed with What We Keep by Jennifer Millikin, especially since I absolutely loved my previous read by this author. I went into this book with high expectations, but unfortunately, it just didn’t deliver for me. The characters were insufferable to the point where I found myself wishing something terrible would happen to them just to shake things up and make them more bearable.
There was a certain point in the story where I felt completely disconnected from the characters and their decisions. Instead of rooting for them or feeling empathy, I was left frustrated and annoyed. It’s a shame because Jennifer's writing in the past has impressed me, but this time, the plot and characters didn’t resonate at all.
It’s always tough when a book by an author you usually enjoy doesn’t hit the mark, and this was one of those cases for me. Hopefully, the next one will be a better experience!
---------------------------------------------
🇫🇷 Je suis tellement déçue par What We Keep de Jennifer Millikin, surtout après avoir adoré mon précédent livre de cette autrice. J’ai commencé cette lecture avec de grandes attentes, mais malheureusement, elle n’a pas du tout été à la hauteur. Les personnages étaient si insupportables qu’à un moment donné, je me suis surprise à espérer qu’il leur arrive quelque chose de terrible, juste pour que l’histoire prenne un tournant intéressant et qu’ils deviennent plus supportables.
Il y a eu un moment dans le récit où je me suis complètement déconnectée des personnages et de leurs décisions. Au lieu de les soutenir ou d’éprouver de l’empathie, j’ai ressenti frustration et agacement. C’est vraiment dommage, car l’écriture de cette auteure m’avait impressionnée par le passé, mais cette fois-ci, l’intrigue et les personnages n’ont pas du tout résonné avec moi.
C’est toujours difficile quand un livre d’une autrice qu’on apprécie habituellement ne répond pas aux attentes, et c’est exactement ce qui s’est passé ici pour moi. J’espère que son prochain livre sera une meilleure expérience !
Spice:🌶️4/5
Read in 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 2024:🎒03/20
Goodreads Challenge:📚194/240
♥ [𝙰𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 & 𝙶𝚊𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚕] ♥
📌meet cute
📌he's a firefighter
📌she's a psychiatrist (aspiring writer)
📌love at first sight
📌marriage in trouble
📌check TW
📌spicy
📌angsty
🇺🇸I’m so disappointed with What We Keep by Jennifer Millikin, especially since I absolutely loved my previous read by this author. I went into this book with high expectations, but unfortunately, it just didn’t deliver for me. The characters were insufferable to the point where I found myself wishing something terrible would happen to them just to shake things up and make them more bearable.
There was a certain point in the story where I felt completely disconnected from the characters and their decisions. Instead of rooting for them or feeling empathy, I was left frustrated and annoyed. It’s a shame because Jennifer's writing in the past has impressed me, but this time, the plot and characters didn’t resonate at all.
It’s always tough when a book by an author you usually enjoy doesn’t hit the mark, and this was one of those cases for me. Hopefully, the next one will be a better experience!
---------------------------------------------
🇫🇷 Je suis tellement déçue par What We Keep de Jennifer Millikin, surtout après avoir adoré mon précédent livre de cette autrice. J’ai commencé cette lecture avec de grandes attentes, mais malheureusement, elle n’a pas du tout été à la hauteur. Les personnages étaient si insupportables qu’à un moment donné, je me suis surprise à espérer qu’il leur arrive quelque chose de terrible, juste pour que l’histoire prenne un tournant intéressant et qu’ils deviennent plus supportables.
Il y a eu un moment dans le récit où je me suis complètement déconnectée des personnages et de leurs décisions. Au lieu de les soutenir ou d’éprouver de l’empathie, j’ai ressenti frustration et agacement. C’est vraiment dommage, car l’écriture de cette auteure m’avait impressionnée par le passé, mais cette fois-ci, l’intrigue et les personnages n’ont pas du tout résonné avec moi.
C’est toujours difficile quand un livre d’une autrice qu’on apprécie habituellement ne répond pas aux attentes, et c’est exactement ce qui s’est passé ici pour moi. J’espère que son prochain livre sera une meilleure expérience !
September 5, 2024
This book is one you need to go in blind. If you need trigger warnings, check those, but nothing else. The story is unlike anything you have read before, and it stuck with me for days after I finished it.
Avery and Gabriel have a second chance, but we need to figure out how they got here. The book is told in 2 parts, Avery tells her side of the story in part one. Together she and Gabriel are the voices in part two. Much like real life, there are challenges, and as we unravel their story we learn their flaws, but see the love.
I loved this book and read it quite quickly. The story had me hooked, and it provided just enough information to keep me wanting more. The story stayed with me long after I read The End. It is emotional and frustrating but unique and a must-read.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review
Avery and Gabriel have a second chance, but we need to figure out how they got here. The book is told in 2 parts, Avery tells her side of the story in part one. Together she and Gabriel are the voices in part two. Much like real life, there are challenges, and as we unravel their story we learn their flaws, but see the love.
I loved this book and read it quite quickly. The story had me hooked, and it provided just enough information to keep me wanting more. The story stayed with me long after I read The End. It is emotional and frustrating but unique and a must-read.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review
August 8, 2025
Dnf at 70%
The first half (part 1) was good,I enjoyed it,I loved reading about it,the concept was great.
The second part…In the second part I realised the characters are both stupid🤚,making stupid decisions,and both were kinda the same.They always has to answer to a question with a long ass paragraph that,obviously,had to have a deep meaning,the fmc was always seen by the other characters as perfect,amazing,no flaws detected,etc.
I got sick of both of them and it’s such a disappointment,it was so good at first,I was thinking of giving this book a 5stars rating.Little did I know😔
Can’t wait to yap to |sa about this🤭🤭
The first half (part 1) was good,I enjoyed it,I loved reading about it,the concept was great.
The second part…In the second part I realised the characters are both stupid🤚,making stupid decisions,and both were kinda the same.They always has to answer to a question with a long ass paragraph that,obviously,had to have a deep meaning,the fmc was always seen by the other characters as perfect,amazing,no flaws detected,etc.
I got sick of both of them and it’s such a disappointment,it was so good at first,I was thinking of giving this book a 5stars rating.Little did I know😔
Can’t wait to yap to |sa about this🤭🤭
September 6, 2024
5 stars
Okay, so I went in blind on this book and, oh, mylanta the journey I've been on! If you have the chance to go in blind, PLEASE take it!
The book is written in a part 1/part 2 format where part 1 is Avery only's POV. The whole first part I was curious as to what had happened to get Avery here and anxious to find out. The back and forth between present and the past made the tension build to where I couldn't put the book down. I had to find out what happened to cause the huge contrast between the perfect love story Avery was telling and the grim present she was in now. Then part two is dual POV from both Avery and Gabriel in the present.
This book broke me and slowly put me back together. I feel like this was the most honest and real relationship I've ever read in a story. Avery and Gabriel were real people. They instantly fell in love with each other. Their meet cute was part nightmare and part fairytale. They fell hard and fast for each other, but then the lies and the deception and the cracks started forming. One horrible mistake on Gabriel's part changes everything for everyone. The ripples from that choice affect everyone and not just him and Avery.
Avery starts to piece her world back together into something completely different than her life with Gabriel when a chance encounter, again, sends ripples and shockwaves through everything she thought she knew and thought she had gotten over.
This book hit WAY to close to home for me right now. I was emotionally wrecked the entire time and to say that I highlighted so many passages from this book is an understatement. I'm sure most of the book is highlighted. This book is going to stay with me for a very long time, if not forever.
Thank you, Valentine PR and Jennifer Millikin for this ARC.
Okay, so I went in blind on this book and, oh, mylanta the journey I've been on! If you have the chance to go in blind, PLEASE take it!
The book is written in a part 1/part 2 format where part 1 is Avery only's POV. The whole first part I was curious as to what had happened to get Avery here and anxious to find out. The back and forth between present and the past made the tension build to where I couldn't put the book down. I had to find out what happened to cause the huge contrast between the perfect love story Avery was telling and the grim present she was in now. Then part two is dual POV from both Avery and Gabriel in the present.
This book broke me and slowly put me back together. I feel like this was the most honest and real relationship I've ever read in a story. Avery and Gabriel were real people. They instantly fell in love with each other. Their meet cute was part nightmare and part fairytale. They fell hard and fast for each other, but then the lies and the deception and the cracks started forming. One horrible mistake on Gabriel's part changes everything for everyone. The ripples from that choice affect everyone and not just him and Avery.
Avery starts to piece her world back together into something completely different than her life with Gabriel when a chance encounter, again, sends ripples and shockwaves through everything she thought she knew and thought she had gotten over.
This book hit WAY to close to home for me right now. I was emotionally wrecked the entire time and to say that I highlighted so many passages from this book is an understatement. I'm sure most of the book is highlighted. This book is going to stay with me for a very long time, if not forever.
Thank you, Valentine PR and Jennifer Millikin for this ARC.
August 28, 2024
ALC
“If a hero would sacrifice their love to save the world, but a villain would sacrifice the world to save their love, what does that make me?”
Adds to top reads of 2024 ✔️
This was a freaking masterpiece. 10/10 chefs kiss! First let’s talk about the story..
This follows Avery a Marriage therapist, that starts to experience her own forms of troubles in what she thought was the perfect fit when her hero quite literally rescues her from a fire. Que the hottie firefighter vibes (and boy does this deliver HEAT)! This story goes between her in the present and her falling in love which I really enjoyed seeing the split sides. It’s also split into two parts and Avery has to fight for what she deserves like the queen she is, and she deserves every piece. Gabriel fits into Avery’s life seamlessly at first and has to overcome some trials himself to fully rise to his potential. I was in tears during this book and I loved every freaking minute.
The audio:
HOT DANG 🔥 that’s all you need to know about that.
But I think duet narration was flawless!! Like I said before I was crying, smiling and giggling. Seeing this two Fall in and out of love, and the audio really packed all the heat, and emotions of the therapy sessions perfection. The line “ I want whatever you feel” SWOON.
Okay I could go on and on forever about this book.
What a beautiful story by Jennifer and hats off to the narrators Victoria Dickson, Wesley Mercer!
Thank you Valentine PR and Jennifer for the ALC in exchange of my honest review!
“If a hero would sacrifice their love to save the world, but a villain would sacrifice the world to save their love, what does that make me?”
Adds to top reads of 2024 ✔️
This was a freaking masterpiece. 10/10 chefs kiss! First let’s talk about the story..
This follows Avery a Marriage therapist, that starts to experience her own forms of troubles in what she thought was the perfect fit when her hero quite literally rescues her from a fire. Que the hottie firefighter vibes (and boy does this deliver HEAT)! This story goes between her in the present and her falling in love which I really enjoyed seeing the split sides. It’s also split into two parts and Avery has to fight for what she deserves like the queen she is, and she deserves every piece. Gabriel fits into Avery’s life seamlessly at first and has to overcome some trials himself to fully rise to his potential. I was in tears during this book and I loved every freaking minute.
The audio:
HOT DANG 🔥 that’s all you need to know about that.
But I think duet narration was flawless!! Like I said before I was crying, smiling and giggling. Seeing this two Fall in and out of love, and the audio really packed all the heat, and emotions of the therapy sessions perfection. The line “ I want whatever you feel” SWOON.
Okay I could go on and on forever about this book.
What a beautiful story by Jennifer and hats off to the narrators Victoria Dickson, Wesley Mercer!
Thank you Valentine PR and Jennifer for the ALC in exchange of my honest review!
September 13, 2024
HOLY SH!T I HAVEN’T CRIED THIS HARD AT A BOOK IN A WHILE !!!
This was the craziest rollercoaster ride about a marriage in trouble, changing and growing from grief and the power of second chances . Mixed in with PTSD, trauma, gut-wrenching emotions, endless angst and the hard topics of substance abuse . All while two people, Gabriel Woodruff + Avery Burke, learn that their love was meant to be . Soul mates in every lifetime they are in . Jennifer Millikin is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors - the realness she can bring to the page is perfection . Not to mention that the split timeline of past to present was done flawlessly . Totally a Libby coded book through and through . I need more lol .
This book can be read as a complete standalone .
This audiobook was given to me for honest review by Valentine PR + Management .
This was the craziest rollercoaster ride about a marriage in trouble, changing and growing from grief and the power of second chances . Mixed in with PTSD, trauma, gut-wrenching emotions, endless angst and the hard topics of substance abuse . All while two people, Gabriel Woodruff + Avery Burke, learn that their love was meant to be . Soul mates in every lifetime they are in . Jennifer Millikin is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors - the realness she can bring to the page is perfection . Not to mention that the split timeline of past to present was done flawlessly . Totally a Libby coded book through and through . I need more lol .
This book can be read as a complete standalone .
This audiobook was given to me for honest review by Valentine PR + Management .
October 24, 2024
I absolutely loved this. I usually love the Marriage in trouble trope and this one did not disappoint. This was such a refreshing take on this trope and I really enjoyed it. I just loved the fact that it was very mature and handled realistically.
Even when the MMC, Gabriel hurt Avery (FMC), even though it was upsetting, it was also very realistic and I understood. PLS check TWS before you read this book, it deals with issues such as grief, death and many other trigger points. Like I couldn't be fully angry at him and him and Avery were so in love from the very beginning. I loved them both. AND even after they separated, they still loved eachother, there was no one else for him and she tried to move on, but could not.
It was a romance but it was also a journey for both the MCs, I'll definitely be reading more from this author. 💓🫶
Even when the MMC, Gabriel hurt Avery (FMC), even though it was upsetting, it was also very realistic and I understood. PLS check TWS before you read this book, it deals with issues such as grief, death and many other trigger points. Like I couldn't be fully angry at him and him and Avery were so in love from the very beginning. I loved them both. AND even after they separated, they still loved eachother, there was no one else for him and she tried to move on, but could not.
It was a romance but it was also a journey for both the MCs, I'll definitely be reading more from this author. 💓🫶
September 5, 2024
❤️🔥 What We Keep by Jennifer Millikan ❤️🔥
This book will destroy you and put you back together again all in one. It’s devastating and heartbreaking while also being hopeful and heartwarming by showing that true love prevails. This is a great second chance romance and was a wonderful story.
The story is done in two parts and is multiple timelines which I enjoyed. It was very easy to follow and I liked getting to watch their story unfold. You get to see Avery and Gabriel fall in love, fall apart, and come back to one another. It is heartbreakingly beautiful and Jennifer did such a great job with this story! There are some heavier topics shown throughout and it was done with so much care. The struggles of the characters were handled really well which was great to see. I liked both characters and enjoyed getting to watch their journey unfold!
Tropes:
❤️ Second Chance
🔥 Marriage in Trouble (NO cheating NO other woman/man)
❤️ Emotional
🔥 Angsty
❤️ Soulmates
🔥 Broken Hero
❤️ Big City and Small Town
🔥 Firefighter MMC x Therapist FMC
✨ There are some heavier topics within this book, please check content warnings before reading if you have any triggers ✨
I listened to the audiobook and it was duet narration which I really enjoyed! If you like audiobooks I’d recommend this audio!
Thank you Jennifer and valentine pr for an ALC I was so happy to get to read this one early!
This book will destroy you and put you back together again all in one. It’s devastating and heartbreaking while also being hopeful and heartwarming by showing that true love prevails. This is a great second chance romance and was a wonderful story.
The story is done in two parts and is multiple timelines which I enjoyed. It was very easy to follow and I liked getting to watch their story unfold. You get to see Avery and Gabriel fall in love, fall apart, and come back to one another. It is heartbreakingly beautiful and Jennifer did such a great job with this story! There are some heavier topics shown throughout and it was done with so much care. The struggles of the characters were handled really well which was great to see. I liked both characters and enjoyed getting to watch their journey unfold!
Tropes:
❤️ Second Chance
🔥 Marriage in Trouble (NO cheating NO other woman/man)
❤️ Emotional
🔥 Angsty
❤️ Soulmates
🔥 Broken Hero
❤️ Big City and Small Town
🔥 Firefighter MMC x Therapist FMC
✨ There are some heavier topics within this book, please check content warnings before reading if you have any triggers ✨
I listened to the audiobook and it was duet narration which I really enjoyed! If you like audiobooks I’d recommend this audio!
Thank you Jennifer and valentine pr for an ALC I was so happy to get to read this one early!
September 2, 2024
4.5 ~ went into this blind and that was truly the best way to read it. without giving too much away this book shows the rise and fall of an insta love relationship and marriage, and the second chance they get. i read this in a day, i honestly could not put it down. overall the story and writing were so unique to me and i love love loved this!! will be a forever favorite!
thank you to the author and vpr for the arc/alc <3
thank you to the author and vpr for the arc/alc <3
September 5, 2024
This book was absolutely everything. I went into it blind basically and it was nothing like I was expecting. The last Jennifer Millikin book that I read was so lighthearted and funny and this one was not. It was super heavy, emotional, and full of trauma, heartbreak, healing and self discovery.
Both main characters go through so much and to see them find themselves again and to find each other again, I felt all of the emotions.
The way Jennifer told this story was also so unique. I stayed up until 2am reading this book because I needed to know what was going to happen. I could not put this down.
Make sure to check TW before starting this if you need too💖
Thank you to Jennifer and Valentine PR for the e-arc!
Both main characters go through so much and to see them find themselves again and to find each other again, I felt all of the emotions.
The way Jennifer told this story was also so unique. I stayed up until 2am reading this book because I needed to know what was going to happen. I could not put this down.
Make sure to check TW before starting this if you need too💖
Thank you to Jennifer and Valentine PR for the e-arc!
November 13, 2024
So cute 😭😭
September 26, 2026
3.5 stars ⭐️
i felt like the author was always on the cusp of developing the hard parts of the story, but always fell short, which made me find the plots lacking and surface-level and stopped me from truly connecting with the characters. but maybe it's a me thing 🤷🏻♀️
i felt like the author was always on the cusp of developing the hard parts of the story, but always fell short, which made me find the plots lacking and surface-level and stopped me from truly connecting with the characters. but maybe it's a me thing 🤷🏻♀️
December 18, 2024
4.5✨
I absolutely loved the whole concept of this book. At first, the layout was throwing me off because I didn’t know exactly why things were happening so fast. But when things started to click, wow what a beautiful story.
This is a story about a woman’s journey through a marriage she never saw coming. It’s about her learning who she is and what she’s capable of. It’s also a love story. A story of pain and forgiveness.
I really loved the plot. It was so uniquely written. I normally don’t enjoy flashbacks but that’s what this story is essentially.
Avery is a strong FMC. She dives headfirst and fast into love and doesn’t look back. She doesn’t see the struggles coming. She doesn’t know the pain that lies ahead. But from those ashes, she rises and becomes a new person. I loved her journey and her growth. She’s learning how to be capable of doing things for herself.
Gabriel is nothing short of a wonderfully complex character. He has his demons and it’s hard to see him as someone other than the caring and passionate guy he is. I really enjoyed seeing the good and bad sides of him because it just shows how wonderful Jennifer’s writing is. I loved experiencing his struggles and seeing him make a 180. I loved seeing him come out on the other end and being better for not just Avery but for himself.
I think this beautifully depicts the struggles of marriage, addiction, therapy, and healing. Who it affects and how.
My only downside to this was I think because things happen so quickly, we didn’t get to really see these two fall in love and have that connection. It just happens. Obviously it needs to be written that way but at first it was hard for me to fall in love with their love. But towards the end, it’s inevitable and very prevalent.
I really enjoyed this and found myself really excited to see where it would go. I almost wish I read this and not listened to but that’s neither here nor there.
This is the 3rd book from Jennifer I’ve read and I’m not surprised in the slightest that I loved it.
I absolutely loved the whole concept of this book. At first, the layout was throwing me off because I didn’t know exactly why things were happening so fast. But when things started to click, wow what a beautiful story.
This is a story about a woman’s journey through a marriage she never saw coming. It’s about her learning who she is and what she’s capable of. It’s also a love story. A story of pain and forgiveness.
I really loved the plot. It was so uniquely written. I normally don’t enjoy flashbacks but that’s what this story is essentially.
Avery is a strong FMC. She dives headfirst and fast into love and doesn’t look back. She doesn’t see the struggles coming. She doesn’t know the pain that lies ahead. But from those ashes, she rises and becomes a new person. I loved her journey and her growth. She’s learning how to be capable of doing things for herself.
Gabriel is nothing short of a wonderfully complex character. He has his demons and it’s hard to see him as someone other than the caring and passionate guy he is. I really enjoyed seeing the good and bad sides of him because it just shows how wonderful Jennifer’s writing is. I loved experiencing his struggles and seeing him make a 180. I loved seeing him come out on the other end and being better for not just Avery but for himself.
I think this beautifully depicts the struggles of marriage, addiction, therapy, and healing. Who it affects and how.
My only downside to this was I think because things happen so quickly, we didn’t get to really see these two fall in love and have that connection. It just happens. Obviously it needs to be written that way but at first it was hard for me to fall in love with their love. But towards the end, it’s inevitable and very prevalent.
I really enjoyed this and found myself really excited to see where it would go. I almost wish I read this and not listened to but that’s neither here nor there.
This is the 3rd book from Jennifer I’ve read and I’m not surprised in the slightest that I loved it.
September 3, 2024
What We Keep is one of the most emotional, beautiful, real, raw, books I have read recently. Right from the start the writing absolutely gripped me, the characters completely consumed me and the story was entirely addictive. This book is a total ride, but it is absolutely worth every single second. It is woven in the most beautiful and delicate way to truly make you feel and connect with these characters. It was FANTASTIC! I haven't read anything like this yet and it was refreshing to see the imperfections of a marriage, the hardships for the HEA.
Avery and Gabriel are explosive together. Their chemistry, their connection, their love, how they met, everything about their story completely consumed me. The first part of the book when we get Avery's POV of their story with the therapy sessions, I thought that was so original how it was constructed and that's truly what hooked me.
There are a lot of heavy topics in this book, so make sure to check triggers for you prior to reading, but honestly Jennifer absolutely killed it with her execution. The way the subjects were approached, discussed and resolved. Absolute PERFECTION. I went through all the emotions with this book, I absolutely fell in love with these characters, their story and I just fell in love with Jennifer Millikin!
🎧 The narration by Victoria Dickson & Wesley Mercer was chefs kiss. Absolutely beautiful. The pain, the emotions, it was all felt through their words. The way they delivered the story, they had the perfect voices and tones. They played the characters to absolute perfection. Highly recommend it!
✨️Thank you to @valentinepr & @jennifermillikin for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Avery and Gabriel are explosive together. Their chemistry, their connection, their love, how they met, everything about their story completely consumed me. The first part of the book when we get Avery's POV of their story with the therapy sessions, I thought that was so original how it was constructed and that's truly what hooked me.
There are a lot of heavy topics in this book, so make sure to check triggers for you prior to reading, but honestly Jennifer absolutely killed it with her execution. The way the subjects were approached, discussed and resolved. Absolute PERFECTION. I went through all the emotions with this book, I absolutely fell in love with these characters, their story and I just fell in love with Jennifer Millikin!
🎧 The narration by Victoria Dickson & Wesley Mercer was chefs kiss. Absolutely beautiful. The pain, the emotions, it was all felt through their words. The way they delivered the story, they had the perfect voices and tones. They played the characters to absolute perfection. Highly recommend it!
✨️Thank you to @valentinepr & @jennifermillikin for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2024
Wow. This book was SOOOO emotionally heavy, but I still loved it so so much! Thank you to Valentine PR and Jennifer Millikin for an opportunity to early read this ARC. Avery and Gabriel have a unique beginning and meeting and then they fall fast, and they fall hard. The most beautifully written troubled marriage, second chance romance I have ever read. This is the first book that has made me shed some (or a lot) of true tears in a while. It also had me rooting for Avery and Gabriel throughout all of part two. Such amaaaazing characters, plot, storyline, crash and burn and a plot twist of a HEA. Absolutely recommend. 100x over. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
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