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Beyond the Wall
Lucas Carlisle grew up as Bayport Cove’s resident golden boy. Son of the county mayor and heir to a lucrative real estate investment company, his name came with both prestige and expectations. Surrounded by sycophants, he was lucky to find camaraderie with a genuine few, but none more important than her.
His best friend.
His first love.
And the girl whose heart he broke.
Now grown and on his own with a lifestyle envied by most, he’s unsettled at best. It’s been years since she left town, but he carries the weight of regret on his shoulders and a torch for the girl who still owns his heart.
~
At eighteen, Callie Bennett left the only place she’d ever known and didn’t look back. Because for her, home was just another name for heartache.
When the aftermath of a loss brings her back to Bayport for the first time in ten years, she’s intent on avoiding her past, but it’s not as easy as she thinks.
Not when her past is six foot two, looks like he was carved out of marble, and is hell-bent on earning her forgiveness.
Lucas is determined to right his wrong and knock down the walls he’s responsible for putting around Callie’s heart in order to win it back. But when a buried secret is unearthed, it doesn’t just threaten their second chance…
It shatters everything they’ve ever known.
His best friend.
His first love.
And the girl whose heart he broke.
Now grown and on his own with a lifestyle envied by most, he’s unsettled at best. It’s been years since she left town, but he carries the weight of regret on his shoulders and a torch for the girl who still owns his heart.
~
At eighteen, Callie Bennett left the only place she’d ever known and didn’t look back. Because for her, home was just another name for heartache.
When the aftermath of a loss brings her back to Bayport for the first time in ten years, she’s intent on avoiding her past, but it’s not as easy as she thinks.
Not when her past is six foot two, looks like he was carved out of marble, and is hell-bent on earning her forgiveness.
Lucas is determined to right his wrong and knock down the walls he’s responsible for putting around Callie’s heart in order to win it back. But when a buried secret is unearthed, it doesn’t just threaten their second chance…
It shatters everything they’ve ever known.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2024
48 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Ani Thomas
3 books36 followersAni is a romance enthusiast fueled by coffee and endless daydreams. She writes heartfelt stories that incorporate angst, humor, and open-door spice with endearing characters and happily ever afters. Born and raised in Upstate New York, she now lives in the South with her husband, three children, and their dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
November 13, 2024
Tropes:
- Small Coastal Town
- Billionaire MMC
- Dial 1st Person POV
- Second Chance
- Friends to lovers to strangers to lovers
- Spicy Romance
- First Spicy Scene: 75%
Callie left Bayport when she was 18-years-old after her best friend broke her heart. Ten years later she has returned, intending to avoid him for the short time she is there, yet Callie’s stay ends up being longer than she expected. Lucas becomes impossible to avoid as their lives intersect, as he is determined to win back her trust.
This freaking book!!! Ahhhhhh! I was a little hesitant at first because I am not a huge fan of second chance romance, but how could I pass up a billionaire romance in a cute coastal town?! I am so glad my hesitance with second chance did not keep me from reading this book because I am OBSESSED!
It does start out relatively slow, setting the scene with Lucas and Callie’s lives prior to them meeting again in the current timeline, so the actual romance in the current timeline takes some time to get to, but there are sprinkles of the past inserted in the first half to really set the scene and help you fall in love with these characters and their dynamic.
And I FELL IN LOVE with them. I absolutely adore both Callie and Lucas. This book is pretty character driven which is my favorite type of book because it really helps me connect with the characters and understand their decisions and actions. Literally as soon as I was finished reading I just felt so gooey and happy and ugh I could talk about how much I loved this book for ages. I wish I had more by this author because it made me want to BINGE read this entire series but it’s only the first book and I have to WAIT!
This was an absolutely stunning debut novel by Ani Thomas and I am absolutely blown away by it. I am so grateful to have been allowed to read an eARC of this novel and fall in love with these characters and this story. Thank you so much Ani Thomas and Truly Yours PR!
- Small Coastal Town
- Billionaire MMC
- Dial 1st Person POV
- Second Chance
- Friends to lovers to strangers to lovers
- Spicy Romance
- First Spicy Scene: 75%
Callie left Bayport when she was 18-years-old after her best friend broke her heart. Ten years later she has returned, intending to avoid him for the short time she is there, yet Callie’s stay ends up being longer than she expected. Lucas becomes impossible to avoid as their lives intersect, as he is determined to win back her trust.
This freaking book!!! Ahhhhhh! I was a little hesitant at first because I am not a huge fan of second chance romance, but how could I pass up a billionaire romance in a cute coastal town?! I am so glad my hesitance with second chance did not keep me from reading this book because I am OBSESSED!
It does start out relatively slow, setting the scene with Lucas and Callie’s lives prior to them meeting again in the current timeline, so the actual romance in the current timeline takes some time to get to, but there are sprinkles of the past inserted in the first half to really set the scene and help you fall in love with these characters and their dynamic.
And I FELL IN LOVE with them. I absolutely adore both Callie and Lucas. This book is pretty character driven which is my favorite type of book because it really helps me connect with the characters and understand their decisions and actions. Literally as soon as I was finished reading I just felt so gooey and happy and ugh I could talk about how much I loved this book for ages. I wish I had more by this author because it made me want to BINGE read this entire series but it’s only the first book and I have to WAIT!
This was an absolutely stunning debut novel by Ani Thomas and I am absolutely blown away by it. I am so grateful to have been allowed to read an eARC of this novel and fall in love with these characters and this story. Thank you so much Ani Thomas and Truly Yours PR!
November 10, 2024
Arc Review for Beyond the Wall by Ani Thomas🤍
“If there’s anyone I’ve ever met in my life that deserves the world, it’s you, Callie Bennett.”
This book, I am completely obsessed with. One of the few books I read this year that I found the second I started it, I was hooked and could not put the book down for the life of me.
Do you ever find a book that just completely calls to you the second you start it and accidentally becomes one of your favorite books in the entire universe? And you just don’t know how you ever lived without it before? Beyond the Wall is just that for me. I had a feeling when I found this book that something about it would connect with my would, and it did, I just love it when an unassuming story that I stumble upon by accident completely takes over my entire life, changes my entire world and makes me question what to do with myself after finishing it. Everyone needs to read this book at one point in their life.
Overall Rating: 5/5⭐️
Spice Rating: 2/5 🌶️
I’m an absolute sucker for a reunion + second chance romance and this book delivered!!! I can’t explain how much a good first look moment at each other from across the room & all else falls away and it’s just them… that’s what happened here and I swooned. It’s just so unmatched.
I like that I didn’t have to wait until the end of the book to find out what had happened between them, only getting more bits and pieces of their previous past relationship and their journey forward together after everything. It was emotional, and heartbreaking to experience what they had gone through, and gratuitous to see how they figured things out when they reconnected. The tenderness Lucas and Callie share is evident like not much I’ve seen elsewhere in books, it’s all consuming and I felt it constantly reasoning these pages.
Lastly, never thought I’d cry over sea glass pebbles but here we are. and also, I’m gonna need more of wes next book. That man is fine and silly as fuck. I need him.
What to expect in Beyond the Wall:
🌊 small coastal town
🌊 billionaire
🌊 childhood friends to lovers to strangers
🌊 second chance romance
🌊 buried secrets
🌊 found family
🌊 cinnamon roll mmc
🌊 they’re from two different worlds
🌊 first love / “It’s always been you”
I received an ARC copy of Beyond the Wall and all thoughts & comments on this review are my own!
Beyond the Wall Releases November 19th, 2024!
“If there’s anyone I’ve ever met in my life that deserves the world, it’s you, Callie Bennett.”
This book, I am completely obsessed with. One of the few books I read this year that I found the second I started it, I was hooked and could not put the book down for the life of me.
Do you ever find a book that just completely calls to you the second you start it and accidentally becomes one of your favorite books in the entire universe? And you just don’t know how you ever lived without it before? Beyond the Wall is just that for me. I had a feeling when I found this book that something about it would connect with my would, and it did, I just love it when an unassuming story that I stumble upon by accident completely takes over my entire life, changes my entire world and makes me question what to do with myself after finishing it. Everyone needs to read this book at one point in their life.
Overall Rating: 5/5⭐️
Spice Rating: 2/5 🌶️
I’m an absolute sucker for a reunion + second chance romance and this book delivered!!! I can’t explain how much a good first look moment at each other from across the room & all else falls away and it’s just them… that’s what happened here and I swooned. It’s just so unmatched.
I like that I didn’t have to wait until the end of the book to find out what had happened between them, only getting more bits and pieces of their previous past relationship and their journey forward together after everything. It was emotional, and heartbreaking to experience what they had gone through, and gratuitous to see how they figured things out when they reconnected. The tenderness Lucas and Callie share is evident like not much I’ve seen elsewhere in books, it’s all consuming and I felt it constantly reasoning these pages.
Lastly, never thought I’d cry over sea glass pebbles but here we are. and also, I’m gonna need more of wes next book. That man is fine and silly as fuck. I need him.
What to expect in Beyond the Wall:
🌊 small coastal town
🌊 billionaire
🌊 childhood friends to lovers to strangers
🌊 second chance romance
🌊 buried secrets
🌊 found family
🌊 cinnamon roll mmc
🌊 they’re from two different worlds
🌊 first love / “It’s always been you”
I received an ARC copy of Beyond the Wall and all thoughts & comments on this review are my own!
Beyond the Wall Releases November 19th, 2024!
November 10, 2024
I’m so thrilled to have gotten an ARC of this book. I was hooked from the beginning and could not put it down.
The characters are so well done. I fell in love with Lucas and Callie, but Wes and Morgan are close runner ups.
I love a second chance romance, and while I’m a big fan of escapism, this book and the characters made it feel realistic and I was rooting for Lucas and Callie the entire time. The way grief is dealt with is also wonderful, and some other serious subjects are also handled awesomely.
The banter between Lucas and Callie, as well as the friend group was definitely one of my favorite parts. The small coastal town was a perfect setting and I can’t wait to read more in this series.
The characters are so well done. I fell in love with Lucas and Callie, but Wes and Morgan are close runner ups.
I love a second chance romance, and while I’m a big fan of escapism, this book and the characters made it feel realistic and I was rooting for Lucas and Callie the entire time. The way grief is dealt with is also wonderful, and some other serious subjects are also handled awesomely.
The banter between Lucas and Callie, as well as the friend group was definitely one of my favorite parts. The small coastal town was a perfect setting and I can’t wait to read more in this series.
November 19, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
My absolute FAVORITE book this year and I’ve read close to 100. I had the privilege of reading the ARC copy and I can’t wait for the release of the actual book on the 19th!
Luke is the sweetest, cutest and the most loyal book boyfriend ever and deserves a second chance regardless of what he did when he was 18. People make mistakes, especially when they’re young.
The way Ani Thomas evokes these damn emotions in me is crazy, I was crying at work and had no regrets!
The spice 😱🫠 Lucas Carlisle can get it!
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
My absolute FAVORITE book this year and I’ve read close to 100. I had the privilege of reading the ARC copy and I can’t wait for the release of the actual book on the 19th!
Luke is the sweetest, cutest and the most loyal book boyfriend ever and deserves a second chance regardless of what he did when he was 18. People make mistakes, especially when they’re young.
The way Ani Thomas evokes these damn emotions in me is crazy, I was crying at work and had no regrets!
The spice 😱🫠 Lucas Carlisle can get it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2025
This is a new author to me, and I am thrilled to add her to my favorites list.
It was easy to breeze through these pages, with a storyline that was easy to connect with, and enjoy. Lucas and Callie's story is full of sweet, touching moments, and everything that I enjoy in a childhood friends to lovers storyline, but it is also a rollercoaster of emotions.
What I wasn't prepared for was the heartache and emotions surrounding Callie's losses, and reasoning for travel! Ugh! Just so tough for her, and coming back home? The worst.
Lucas' devotion is everything I love reading, and the gestures of his love are soo endearing! I just wanted to crawl in these pages and hug him! I love when stories deliver me the ability to "feel", and this one does it well.
Arrrgh! Then the twists! And the lies, and the absolute heartbreaking details of long ago smash into this couple! If it weren't for the friend group (which is great), I'm not sure they would have made it to their HEA.
Bottom line, I recommend beginning your love affair with this new author here, and get ready for a great read. Fortunate to receive a complimentary ARC, (thank you) I happily leave my review. I cannot WAIT to get into Wes and Morgan's story next!!
It was easy to breeze through these pages, with a storyline that was easy to connect with, and enjoy. Lucas and Callie's story is full of sweet, touching moments, and everything that I enjoy in a childhood friends to lovers storyline, but it is also a rollercoaster of emotions.
What I wasn't prepared for was the heartache and emotions surrounding Callie's losses, and reasoning for travel! Ugh! Just so tough for her, and coming back home? The worst.
Lucas' devotion is everything I love reading, and the gestures of his love are soo endearing! I just wanted to crawl in these pages and hug him! I love when stories deliver me the ability to "feel", and this one does it well.
Arrrgh! Then the twists! And the lies, and the absolute heartbreaking details of long ago smash into this couple! If it weren't for the friend group (which is great), I'm not sure they would have made it to their HEA.
Bottom line, I recommend beginning your love affair with this new author here, and get ready for a great read. Fortunate to receive a complimentary ARC, (thank you) I happily leave my review. I cannot WAIT to get into Wes and Morgan's story next!!
May 23, 2025
Obsessed! I really really liked this! Took me a sec to get my bearings because here is the premise: a boy and a girl from 2 different worlds meet up at the wall between their houses and lives every night. They are each other’s safe spaces and homes away from home. But they never mix this life with their real lives. Something happens when they are about to go to college and they lose touch. Now, 10 years later, they are about to be thrown back into each other’s lives, and they haven’t stopped thinking about each other . Ok y’all, 10 YEARS???? I was 18 only 6 years ago and I can’t imagine myself pining over the person I was with in high school. But after I got over this I realized their circumstances are unique.
I really liked Callie and Lucas. But I LOVED their best friends, Wes and Morgan. And I know for a fact that book 2 is about them so I really can’t wait. I loved this book and it dealt with grief and loss in a really beautiful and emotional way, as well as maintaining the small town romance feel I love so much. It’s like the Dream Harbor series but better. The only reason I am giving it 4 instead of 5 stars is because I’m more eager to read about Morgan and Wes and their dynamic. Overall would recommend! Sweet, wholesome, a little spicy, really well written small-town romance. I was not disappointed!!
I really liked Callie and Lucas. But I LOVED their best friends, Wes and Morgan. And I know for a fact that book 2 is about them so I really can’t wait. I loved this book and it dealt with grief and loss in a really beautiful and emotional way, as well as maintaining the small town romance feel I love so much. It’s like the Dream Harbor series but better. The only reason I am giving it 4 instead of 5 stars is because I’m more eager to read about Morgan and Wes and their dynamic. Overall would recommend! Sweet, wholesome, a little spicy, really well written small-town romance. I was not disappointed!!
November 15, 2024
4.5/5⭐️
Callie and Lucas were childhood friends and each other’s first love. One incident breaks them apart and Callie leaves Bayport. After ten years, Callie is finally back to settle some matters. When Lucas finally meets her, he decides to seize the opportunity to get her back!
I loved those flashbacks to their past as it showcases how they became friends and how closely knit they were. It killed me during the flashback of that incident which tore them apart.
Thankfully, Lucas is up for the challenge and he truly proved how much he cared for Callie through both his words and actions. I liked the way he wore someone down to win her for Team Luke, and to eventually succeed with his Operation Get Callie Back. The twist at the end was not what I expected though and it was an angsty third act. The resolution was really good and I loved how the whole gang chipped in!
The found family vibe is definitely strong here and I liked how they befriended Callie right from the start. Those trivia nights and basically any night the gang hanged out together was so fun.
This was a truly great debut novel and I can’t wait for Wes and Morgan’s story.
Callie and Lucas were childhood friends and each other’s first love. One incident breaks them apart and Callie leaves Bayport. After ten years, Callie is finally back to settle some matters. When Lucas finally meets her, he decides to seize the opportunity to get her back!
I loved those flashbacks to their past as it showcases how they became friends and how closely knit they were. It killed me during the flashback of that incident which tore them apart.
Thankfully, Lucas is up for the challenge and he truly proved how much he cared for Callie through both his words and actions. I liked the way he wore someone down to win her for Team Luke, and to eventually succeed with his Operation Get Callie Back. The twist at the end was not what I expected though and it was an angsty third act. The resolution was really good and I loved how the whole gang chipped in!
The found family vibe is definitely strong here and I liked how they befriended Callie right from the start. Those trivia nights and basically any night the gang hanged out together was so fun.
This was a truly great debut novel and I can’t wait for Wes and Morgan’s story.
August 13, 2025
😭❤️🩹❤️
Beyond The Wall
By: Ani Thomas
“Ten years of friendship.
Ten years of him being my person.
The last year of him being… everything.
And in the end, it meant nothing at all. Because I was nothing more to him than the girl beyond the wall.”
“There hasn’t been a single day in the last ten years where I haven’t thought about her and wished I could fix what I broke.”
“I still love you. I never stopped.”
You guys this story, wow! Lucas and Callie are childhood friends who begin dating their senior of high school. Except something happens and they end up not talking to each other for 10 years. Not until Callie comes back to town and their worlds collide. Be ready for a roller coaster of emotions and for the twist and turns that come with this story, I was addicted and couldn’t stop!!
Tropes:
Second Chance
Small Town
Billionaire
Found Family
Spice Starts at: 75%
Spice: 2/4
Stars: 5/5
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Beyond The Wall
By: Ani Thomas
“Ten years of friendship.
Ten years of him being my person.
The last year of him being… everything.
And in the end, it meant nothing at all. Because I was nothing more to him than the girl beyond the wall.”
“There hasn’t been a single day in the last ten years where I haven’t thought about her and wished I could fix what I broke.”
“I still love you. I never stopped.”
You guys this story, wow! Lucas and Callie are childhood friends who begin dating their senior of high school. Except something happens and they end up not talking to each other for 10 years. Not until Callie comes back to town and their worlds collide. Be ready for a roller coaster of emotions and for the twist and turns that come with this story, I was addicted and couldn’t stop!!
Tropes:
Second Chance
Small Town
Billionaire
Found Family
Spice Starts at: 75%
Spice: 2/4
Stars: 5/5
Available on Kindle Unlimited
May 9, 2025
For being my first Ani Thomas book I throughly enjoyed it! It was about Callie and Lucas childhood best friends turned lovers when a life altering choice made Callie disappear for 10yrs. We watch these two rekindle their friendship and love for each other after a tragedy happens for Callie. She needs to learn to work through it and coming home to the place that haunts her is hard enough. Callie was strong and so independent with a huge stubborn side. Lucas with a town rich boy in all the delicious cinnamon roll-ness. I loved it. The side characters we met were some of my favorites and I can’t wait to see them again in book 2! If you love beach towns, billionaire romances, second chance, childhood friends, and grief rep this one is for you!
May 23, 2025
I love a good second chance romance and this is one of the best I’ve read. Lucas and Callie finding each other again after being childhood friends to lovers to enemies (at least for Callie) was spectacular and had plenty of pining and longing to make any romance reader happy. I also loved their found family of close friends especially because they welcomed Callie into their group almost instantly and that Morgan is a superb best friend to Callie. I’ll definitely be reading more books by this author. Thank you to Ani Thomas and Torch Lit Ink for letting me read this before reading Beneath the Surface.
November 17, 2024
A compelling love story, the writer explores and shares the journey of Callie and Lucas. From the very first page, I was hooked. I loved all the details about their backstory. Where they started to where they wanted to be. Always needing to turn the page to read more and to find out if these lovers will be okay. If you love angst and a slow burn to red hot romance, this is a must read.
_tessaliam_
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November 25, 2025
4 stars ⭐️
If you're looking for a romance that combines incredible pining with small-town charm, this is it. I am absolutely obsessed with second-chance romance, and Beyond the Wall delivered on every level.
This is a beautifully character-driven book, which is why I connected so deeply with Callie and Lucas. Getting the flashbacks to their initial friendship-to-lovers story was essential; it truly sold the strength of the bond they shared and the devastating reasons for their eventual break.
Honestly, the heartache surrounding Callie’s past losses and the emotional difficulty of her return home hit me hard. The author handles her journey back with real depth. But Lucas? His devotion is simply everything.
Lucas is the perfect devoted hero. His decade of pining, coupled with his genuine remorse for the mistakes he made, made it easy to forgive his past actions, which, in the context of the story, were honest and human reactions.
Beyond the main couple, I adored the world-building:
- The tight-knit found family among the friends.
- The cozy small-town setting.
- The refreshing dynamic between Lucas and his sweet grandpa.
- The fact that the billionaire hero is so charmingly down-to-earth.
This story excels at making you feel everything. While the emotional intensity and the twist that kicked off the angsty third act were unexpected, the final resolution, and the way their entire friend group chipped in, was incredibly satisfying.
If you're looking for a romance that combines incredible pining with small-town charm, this is it. I am absolutely obsessed with second-chance romance, and Beyond the Wall delivered on every level.
This is a beautifully character-driven book, which is why I connected so deeply with Callie and Lucas. Getting the flashbacks to their initial friendship-to-lovers story was essential; it truly sold the strength of the bond they shared and the devastating reasons for their eventual break.
Honestly, the heartache surrounding Callie’s past losses and the emotional difficulty of her return home hit me hard. The author handles her journey back with real depth. But Lucas? His devotion is simply everything.
Lucas is the perfect devoted hero. His decade of pining, coupled with his genuine remorse for the mistakes he made, made it easy to forgive his past actions, which, in the context of the story, were honest and human reactions.
Beyond the main couple, I adored the world-building:
- The tight-knit found family among the friends.
- The cozy small-town setting.
- The refreshing dynamic between Lucas and his sweet grandpa.
- The fact that the billionaire hero is so charmingly down-to-earth.
This story excels at making you feel everything. While the emotional intensity and the twist that kicked off the angsty third act were unexpected, the final resolution, and the way their entire friend group chipped in, was incredibly satisfying.
November 17, 2024
Listen. I'm OBSESSED with Bayport Cove and I'm super mad it's not real. Callie and Morgan are my girls, 💯, and THESE MEN Y'ALL. Love Lucas, OBSESSED WITH WES, and I'm already ready to lay down and die for Blake.
WRITE FASTER MS. THOMAS I NEED MORE KTHXBAI
WRITE FASTER MS. THOMAS I NEED MORE KTHXBAI
May 5, 2025
If you love a second chance slow burn then you will LOVE this!! And let me tell you it is definitely a slow burn but oh my god it was so good!
November 15, 2025
I have been in the biggest reading slump and holy moly.. this book was exactly what I needed. And a debut novel?? I was shocked when I learned that. Ani’s ability to write and capture your attention on each page is so authentic. One of the best stories I have read in a while and cannot wait to continue the series. The characters, plot, emotions, spice, all of it was some exceptionally well. I loved every moment. It was raw, real, heartbreaking and heartfelt. It was everything.
June 12, 2025
I’ll start by saying that I had been eagerly anticipating Ani Thomas’s book. "Beyond the Wall" exceeded my expectations. It’s a book that evokes emotions in such a beautiful way - from laughter to tears, from heartwarming moments to utter shock. That plot twist... Oh my God...
Ani Thomas not only writes beautifully about emotions but also masterfully builds the world of a small coastal town. This town hides dark secrets, yet at the same time, invites you to visit. How wonderful it would be to sit with Callie on her porch swing, a cup of tea in hand, and chat away.
The book also features multidimensional characters that are impossible not to like. The sharp and uncompromising Morgan, the straightforward and seductive Wes, the warm and friendly Gabe... They all welcome Callie, their old/new friend, with open arms. Callie returns to her hometown to deal with her late mother’s estate. Along the way, she must face her former love, Lucas, who is determined to regain their friendship - and perhaps their love.
Callie and Lucas are wonderfully crafted characters, so real, with flaws, fears, and countless doubts. Their relationship is so beautifully developed - it’s hard to put the book down. I’ll admit that I savored this book, not wanting it to end too quickly. Now, I’m impatiently awaiting the next installments in the Bayport Cove series. An absolute masterpiece. Highly recommend!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ani Thomas not only writes beautifully about emotions but also masterfully builds the world of a small coastal town. This town hides dark secrets, yet at the same time, invites you to visit. How wonderful it would be to sit with Callie on her porch swing, a cup of tea in hand, and chat away.
The book also features multidimensional characters that are impossible not to like. The sharp and uncompromising Morgan, the straightforward and seductive Wes, the warm and friendly Gabe... They all welcome Callie, their old/new friend, with open arms. Callie returns to her hometown to deal with her late mother’s estate. Along the way, she must face her former love, Lucas, who is determined to regain their friendship - and perhaps their love.
Callie and Lucas are wonderfully crafted characters, so real, with flaws, fears, and countless doubts. Their relationship is so beautifully developed - it’s hard to put the book down. I’ll admit that I savored this book, not wanting it to end too quickly. Now, I’m impatiently awaiting the next installments in the Bayport Cove series. An absolute masterpiece. Highly recommend!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 17, 2024
“Ten years of friendship. Ten years of him being my person. The last year of him being… everything. And in the end, it meant nothing at all. Because I was nothing more to him than the girl beyond the wall. “And you’re just the boy stuck behind it.”🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
“Beyond The Wall” (Bayport Cove Book 1)🐚🩵
By Ani Thomas
5⭐️
2🌶️
🥰Oh My goodness …🥺 what a beautiful 🤩 second chance 💘romance!! It takes a lot for me to really enjoy a Contemporary Romance book , but this story and the characters just sucked me right in! And made me tear 🥹up a little.
This book had all the elements of what I really love in a romance book.
A Small Coastal town 🐚, Second Chance Romance, Childhood Friends to lovers, Found Family, Friendship, Family Secrets and Lies , He falls first, different worlds/ wrong side of the tracks, some Spice 🥵, a MMC billionaire with a heart of gold, and a Strong MFC that stands her ground !
After being away for 10 years …MFC Callie “ a travel blogger has to return to her small coastal hometown of Bayport because of the death of her mother. But her first true love “MMC Lucas “broke her heart and Callie is hesitant to return home and face her past.
Callie’s plan is settle her Mother’s estate and leave before she runs into Lucas. But Lucas , his friends and her best friend Morgan have other plans . Callie starts to reconnect with her beautiful hometown and the love she lost so long ago.
This book just really tugged at my heartstrings and I was rooting for Lucas & Callie to get past their mistakes and differences and finally be together! And it does end on a happily ever after … thank goodness 😅
Loved the “Sea glass” representation and Lucas putting a piece of sea glass on “their wall” every day while Callie was gone 🥺💗( I don’t want to spoil it, you just have to read it to understand) it was just a beautiful part of this story that tore a hole in my heart 💔
I’m also excited to read more about “Wes” (loved his banter) & feisty “Morgan” it will be a perfect enemies to lovers sort of story lol 😂
Overall I can’t believe this is Ani Thomas’s debut novel! It was really good and I highly recommend you check it out! 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
Thank you Ani & TrulyYours.PR for the opportunity to arc read this book in exchange for a honest review! 🫶🏻🩵
“Beyond The Wall” (Bayport Cove Book 1)🐚🩵
By Ani Thomas
5⭐️
2🌶️
🥰Oh My goodness …🥺 what a beautiful 🤩 second chance 💘romance!! It takes a lot for me to really enjoy a Contemporary Romance book , but this story and the characters just sucked me right in! And made me tear 🥹up a little.
This book had all the elements of what I really love in a romance book.
A Small Coastal town 🐚, Second Chance Romance, Childhood Friends to lovers, Found Family, Friendship, Family Secrets and Lies , He falls first, different worlds/ wrong side of the tracks, some Spice 🥵, a MMC billionaire with a heart of gold, and a Strong MFC that stands her ground !
After being away for 10 years …MFC Callie “ a travel blogger has to return to her small coastal hometown of Bayport because of the death of her mother. But her first true love “MMC Lucas “broke her heart and Callie is hesitant to return home and face her past.
Callie’s plan is settle her Mother’s estate and leave before she runs into Lucas. But Lucas , his friends and her best friend Morgan have other plans . Callie starts to reconnect with her beautiful hometown and the love she lost so long ago.
This book just really tugged at my heartstrings and I was rooting for Lucas & Callie to get past their mistakes and differences and finally be together! And it does end on a happily ever after … thank goodness 😅
Loved the “Sea glass” representation and Lucas putting a piece of sea glass on “their wall” every day while Callie was gone 🥺💗( I don’t want to spoil it, you just have to read it to understand) it was just a beautiful part of this story that tore a hole in my heart 💔
I’m also excited to read more about “Wes” (loved his banter) & feisty “Morgan” it will be a perfect enemies to lovers sort of story lol 😂
Overall I can’t believe this is Ani Thomas’s debut novel! It was really good and I highly recommend you check it out! 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
Thank you Ani & TrulyYours.PR for the opportunity to arc read this book in exchange for a honest review! 🫶🏻🩵
November 15, 2024
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶 out of 5
Small Town Billionaire
He Falls First and Hard
Pining MMC
First Love
Second Chance
Different Worlds
✨️Blurb:
At eighteen, Callie Bennett left the only place she’d ever known and didn’t look back. Because for her, home was just another name for heartache.
When the aftermath of a loss brings her back to Bayport for the first time in ten years, she’s intent on avoiding her past, but it’s not as easy as she thinks.
Not when her past is six foot two, looks like he was carved out of marble, and is hell-bent on earning her forgiveness.
Lucas is determined to right his wrong and knock down the walls he’s responsible for putting around Callie’s heart in order to win it back.
✨️Review:
This turned out to be a solid second chance romance that shows how two people can truly find each other again. We definitely get the pining and the tension! I especially liked the little flashbacks we get of Callie and Luke because that helped inform what a strong friendship to lovers relationship they had.
I did have to suspend disbelief a bit in seeing how Callie would completely cut Luke out of communication considering how close their friendship was for 10 years though. Because of that, I was a bit frustrated with Callie in the first half, as she was so dismissive of Luke (I connected to him immediately).
His reasonings as to why he acted the way he did at the penultimate event of break up, does make sense and it was an honest in-the-moment reaction. He's super sweet, pining for her for 10 years, feels awful for what he did and has nothing but kind intentions. I'm glad I stuck through it because around 60% or so is when I felt the real pull to the characters and narrative take on a new energy. It seemed to really burst to life and their moments together of s3xual tension and sweetness were so wonderful!
I recommended this second chance romance for the tender way it's shown to rekindle...and kudos for this sweet softie of a man Luke, who fights so hard to win back his love!
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶 out of 5
Small Town Billionaire
He Falls First and Hard
Pining MMC
First Love
Second Chance
Different Worlds
✨️Blurb:
At eighteen, Callie Bennett left the only place she’d ever known and didn’t look back. Because for her, home was just another name for heartache.
When the aftermath of a loss brings her back to Bayport for the first time in ten years, she’s intent on avoiding her past, but it’s not as easy as she thinks.
Not when her past is six foot two, looks like he was carved out of marble, and is hell-bent on earning her forgiveness.
Lucas is determined to right his wrong and knock down the walls he’s responsible for putting around Callie’s heart in order to win it back.
✨️Review:
This turned out to be a solid second chance romance that shows how two people can truly find each other again. We definitely get the pining and the tension! I especially liked the little flashbacks we get of Callie and Luke because that helped inform what a strong friendship to lovers relationship they had.
I did have to suspend disbelief a bit in seeing how Callie would completely cut Luke out of communication considering how close their friendship was for 10 years though. Because of that, I was a bit frustrated with Callie in the first half, as she was so dismissive of Luke (I connected to him immediately).
His reasonings as to why he acted the way he did at the penultimate event of break up, does make sense and it was an honest in-the-moment reaction. He's super sweet, pining for her for 10 years, feels awful for what he did and has nothing but kind intentions. I'm glad I stuck through it because around 60% or so is when I felt the real pull to the characters and narrative take on a new energy. It seemed to really burst to life and their moments together of s3xual tension and sweetness were so wonderful!
I recommended this second chance romance for the tender way it's shown to rekindle...and kudos for this sweet softie of a man Luke, who fights so hard to win back his love!
November 20, 2024
𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️
This is the first book in the Bay Cover series and I cannot wait to continue this series and follow along with Ani’s. This book started out slow with a lot of world building and setting up the scene but I was glad I kept reading and stuck out the story because I fell in love with Callie and Lucas’s love story! This book had me giggling, laughing, and crying through the entire book and I couldn’t have asked for anything better!
I loved that this story included flashbacks but it was more of just memories within chapters instead of an entire chapter being from the past. I fell in love with Lucas and everything that he was dealing with from the guilt he felt from 10 years ago to feeling lost in his life and what was next for him. Callie is back in her hometown for the first time in 10 years and is determined not to run into Lucas; her goal was to deal with why she is back in town and bottle up all of her emotions. Little did both of them know that one night out with their friends would bring their worlds colliding again. Lucas was determined to talk with Callie and explain what happened that fateful night but Callie was determined to ignore him and refused to speak with him.
Callie has been holding onto anger and resentment towards Lucas and more recently has added guilt onto all of this for not being home in 10 years and in these 10 years she hasn’t faced these emotions and everything is catching up to her now. I connected with both of the characters and could feel their emotions coming off of the page and their chemistry towards each other even after 10 years I could feel it coming off of the page. Lucas would do just about anything for Callie, he was so sweet, and in the bedroom was even better. I loved the lighthouse and sea glass pebbles that were part of these two love story’s and everything that it symbolized for these two. Add in the penguins I was done for and swooned every single time a sea glass pebble was found or left between these two.
Thank you Ani Thomas and Truly Yours PR for an ARC of this book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️
This is the first book in the Bay Cover series and I cannot wait to continue this series and follow along with Ani’s. This book started out slow with a lot of world building and setting up the scene but I was glad I kept reading and stuck out the story because I fell in love with Callie and Lucas’s love story! This book had me giggling, laughing, and crying through the entire book and I couldn’t have asked for anything better!
I loved that this story included flashbacks but it was more of just memories within chapters instead of an entire chapter being from the past. I fell in love with Lucas and everything that he was dealing with from the guilt he felt from 10 years ago to feeling lost in his life and what was next for him. Callie is back in her hometown for the first time in 10 years and is determined not to run into Lucas; her goal was to deal with why she is back in town and bottle up all of her emotions. Little did both of them know that one night out with their friends would bring their worlds colliding again. Lucas was determined to talk with Callie and explain what happened that fateful night but Callie was determined to ignore him and refused to speak with him.
Callie has been holding onto anger and resentment towards Lucas and more recently has added guilt onto all of this for not being home in 10 years and in these 10 years she hasn’t faced these emotions and everything is catching up to her now. I connected with both of the characters and could feel their emotions coming off of the page and their chemistry towards each other even after 10 years I could feel it coming off of the page. Lucas would do just about anything for Callie, he was so sweet, and in the bedroom was even better. I loved the lighthouse and sea glass pebbles that were part of these two love story’s and everything that it symbolized for these two. Add in the penguins I was done for and swooned every single time a sea glass pebble was found or left between these two.
Thank you Ani Thomas and Truly Yours PR for an ARC of this book!
December 31, 2024
firstly, i would like to thank truly yours marketing and ani thomas for providing me with an arc copy of this book to read and review!
this was just the book i needed to get myself out of a reading slump. i instantly fell in love with the setting and the characters and the plot as well. this book is just so well written! because i loved it so much, i found i didn’t want it to end and that actually made me read it really slowly which i think in hindsight hindered my overall reading experience. but i already want to go back and binge read this book again! beyond the wall is one of the best books i’ve read in a long time!
i think the parallel between the present timeline and the flashbacks to the past were written so well, and truly gave us insight into the characters and the events that lead to the story today. and the characters - they are just so lovable and relatable. i felt like i stepped right into their friendship group and fit right in. these are the kinds of friends i aspire to have in my own life! this book is just a big cozy escape that i could have spend forever reading.
ani really knows how to write a great book! everything felt so real - the language characters were using, the setting, the storyline, everything. i honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it was actually happening in real life somewhere! this is also a book i would LOVE to see turned into a movie or a tv show to see these characters brought to life. i would absolutely binge it.
and tell me why i was actually nervous throughout parts of the book? i was so far into the storyline that i mirrored the emotions of the characters in the best way possible, especially when so many things were uncovered! so many pieces of this story just clicked into place perfectly and i absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series!
overall this is a book i think you HAVE to read if you love small town, coastal romance vibes. if i read this book again in a shorter time period, it would most likely be closer to a 5 ⭐️ read!
this was just the book i needed to get myself out of a reading slump. i instantly fell in love with the setting and the characters and the plot as well. this book is just so well written! because i loved it so much, i found i didn’t want it to end and that actually made me read it really slowly which i think in hindsight hindered my overall reading experience. but i already want to go back and binge read this book again! beyond the wall is one of the best books i’ve read in a long time!
i think the parallel between the present timeline and the flashbacks to the past were written so well, and truly gave us insight into the characters and the events that lead to the story today. and the characters - they are just so lovable and relatable. i felt like i stepped right into their friendship group and fit right in. these are the kinds of friends i aspire to have in my own life! this book is just a big cozy escape that i could have spend forever reading.
ani really knows how to write a great book! everything felt so real - the language characters were using, the setting, the storyline, everything. i honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it was actually happening in real life somewhere! this is also a book i would LOVE to see turned into a movie or a tv show to see these characters brought to life. i would absolutely binge it.
and tell me why i was actually nervous throughout parts of the book? i was so far into the storyline that i mirrored the emotions of the characters in the best way possible, especially when so many things were uncovered! so many pieces of this story just clicked into place perfectly and i absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series!
overall this is a book i think you HAVE to read if you love small town, coastal romance vibes. if i read this book again in a shorter time period, it would most likely be closer to a 5 ⭐️ read!
May 24, 2025
“𝙄𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
A second-chance romance steeped in heartache, healing, and the kind of longing that comes from years of unresolved love.
Callie and Lucas were childhood best friends—inseparable despite the worlds between them. She was the girl next door, grounded and grieving. He was the boy from privilege, harboring his own quiet battles. And then something happened—something that shattered their bond and left a chasm of hurt between them. That emotional fallout is the anchor of this story, and watching them find their way back to each other is as rewarding as it is heart-wrenching.
Callie’s guardedness is completely understandable. She’s been through it—losing loved ones and betrayed by the one person she trusted most. Her walls are high and her heart is bruised, and while she comes off a little sharp in the beginning, you 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 the depth of her pain. Her resistance isn’t cruelty—it’s 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭.
Lucas is soft-hearted, persistent, and absolutely determined to make things right. He’s not flashy, not cocky—and refused to let his past mistakes define him. His journey to win Callie back is full of quiet gestures, unspoken devotion, and the kind of vulnerability that makes you root for him from the start.
What truly shines here is the emotional undercurrent—the softness and sincerity of unspoken love between Callie & Lucas, long before they admit it to each other. And once the tension breaks—it’s 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. Their relationship feels earned, real, and deeply human.
“𝙄’𝙢 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙. “𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
This isn’t a flashy romance—it’s gentle, heartfelt, and steeped in emotional growth. A love story about showing up, even when it’s hard, and finding your way back to someone you never truly stopped loving.
A second-chance romance steeped in heartache, healing, and the kind of longing that comes from years of unresolved love.
Callie and Lucas were childhood best friends—inseparable despite the worlds between them. She was the girl next door, grounded and grieving. He was the boy from privilege, harboring his own quiet battles. And then something happened—something that shattered their bond and left a chasm of hurt between them. That emotional fallout is the anchor of this story, and watching them find their way back to each other is as rewarding as it is heart-wrenching.
Callie’s guardedness is completely understandable. She’s been through it—losing loved ones and betrayed by the one person she trusted most. Her walls are high and her heart is bruised, and while she comes off a little sharp in the beginning, you 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 the depth of her pain. Her resistance isn’t cruelty—it’s 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭.
Lucas is soft-hearted, persistent, and absolutely determined to make things right. He’s not flashy, not cocky—and refused to let his past mistakes define him. His journey to win Callie back is full of quiet gestures, unspoken devotion, and the kind of vulnerability that makes you root for him from the start.
What truly shines here is the emotional undercurrent—the softness and sincerity of unspoken love between Callie & Lucas, long before they admit it to each other. And once the tension breaks—it’s 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. Their relationship feels earned, real, and deeply human.
“𝙄’𝙢 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙. “𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
This isn’t a flashy romance—it’s gentle, heartfelt, and steeped in emotional growth. A love story about showing up, even when it’s hard, and finding your way back to someone you never truly stopped loving.
May 28, 2025
This was my first book from this author and I really enjoyed it. It sucked me in right away and I couldn’t put it down.
Callie comes from a family that’s rich in love, but not money. She loses her father when she was just 10 and it leaves just her and her mother. She meets a boy at the wall behind her house and they quickly become good friends. When they turn seniors, it quickly grows into more. But this boy is from a completely different world than her, his family has money. They decide to keep their world separate and only a couple of people know about them.
Lucas is a very successful billionaire who has taken over his grandfathers company. He has it all, except the girl who got away. He made a stupid judgement call when he was 18 that lead to her running away and she hasn’t been back home in nearly 10 years.
After Callie’s mother passes it away she is forced to return back home to settle everything. She is nervous being back home because of all the bad and even the good memories that come with it. She just wants to hang out with her best friend Morgan and her new friend Wesley and get the heck out of Bayport. Well fate had other ideas and tossed her back into his life.
Lucas still loved her and just wanted to explain everything. Callie wanted nothing to do with him. It was a lot of tension! There were a lot of feelings and frustration between the two. Emotions were running really high. And the twist??? OMGGGG, I was not expecting that!!! Mind freaking blown. But I loved how vulnerable and raw the emotions were in this book. It was a beautiful and emotional story. Lucas had turned into such a big cinnamon roll of a man. The glass pebbles, oh my heart!
5⭐️
2.5🌶️
Callie comes from a family that’s rich in love, but not money. She loses her father when she was just 10 and it leaves just her and her mother. She meets a boy at the wall behind her house and they quickly become good friends. When they turn seniors, it quickly grows into more. But this boy is from a completely different world than her, his family has money. They decide to keep their world separate and only a couple of people know about them.
Lucas is a very successful billionaire who has taken over his grandfathers company. He has it all, except the girl who got away. He made a stupid judgement call when he was 18 that lead to her running away and she hasn’t been back home in nearly 10 years.
After Callie’s mother passes it away she is forced to return back home to settle everything. She is nervous being back home because of all the bad and even the good memories that come with it. She just wants to hang out with her best friend Morgan and her new friend Wesley and get the heck out of Bayport. Well fate had other ideas and tossed her back into his life.
Lucas still loved her and just wanted to explain everything. Callie wanted nothing to do with him. It was a lot of tension! There were a lot of feelings and frustration between the two. Emotions were running really high. And the twist??? OMGGGG, I was not expecting that!!! Mind freaking blown. But I loved how vulnerable and raw the emotions were in this book. It was a beautiful and emotional story. Lucas had turned into such a big cinnamon roll of a man. The glass pebbles, oh my heart!
5⭐️
2.5🌶️
November 19, 2024
"It doesn't matter how much time passed because I would've waited, Callie. No matter how long it took, I would've waited for you. I've been waiting."
I love a second chance romance especially when it is childhood friends to lovers to strangers to lovers type second chance. Lucas and Callie are one amazing couple. From the beginning I was hooked, the first meeting between these two is so cute and the way the author gives the reader looks at them via flashbacks that give just enough info to keep you reading to see what actually causes them to be a second chance couple because they are so perfect together.
It has been 10 years since they have seen each other and if Callie has her way she will not see him while she is back in her home town and then the inevitable happens and they come face to face. When I say that so many chapters in this book caused me mild panic attacks because I am impatient and couldn't wait for certain things to happen...I am not kidding. With how Ani builds them up as a young couple in the beginning of the book and then we see how they have both been just surviving the last 10 years, yeah...my nerves got the best of me waiting for them to come face to face.
There are so many aspects of this story that I was loving. Obviously Lucas and Callie, but the found family amongst friends, the small town living, the billionaire who is such a down to earth guy, the relationship between Lucas and his grandpa...I loved it all. Most of all his love for Callie and the gestures that stem from that love that has never burned out. Even the plot twist that came out of thin air, as much as I didn't want to love it I love what the author did with it.
This book has stuck with me for days. I love debut novels and while I read a lot of them they are few and far between as far as sticking with me but Beyond the Wall is definitely a top read for 2024.
I love a second chance romance especially when it is childhood friends to lovers to strangers to lovers type second chance. Lucas and Callie are one amazing couple. From the beginning I was hooked, the first meeting between these two is so cute and the way the author gives the reader looks at them via flashbacks that give just enough info to keep you reading to see what actually causes them to be a second chance couple because they are so perfect together.
It has been 10 years since they have seen each other and if Callie has her way she will not see him while she is back in her home town and then the inevitable happens and they come face to face. When I say that so many chapters in this book caused me mild panic attacks because I am impatient and couldn't wait for certain things to happen...I am not kidding. With how Ani builds them up as a young couple in the beginning of the book and then we see how they have both been just surviving the last 10 years, yeah...my nerves got the best of me waiting for them to come face to face.
There are so many aspects of this story that I was loving. Obviously Lucas and Callie, but the found family amongst friends, the small town living, the billionaire who is such a down to earth guy, the relationship between Lucas and his grandpa...I loved it all. Most of all his love for Callie and the gestures that stem from that love that has never burned out. Even the plot twist that came out of thin air, as much as I didn't want to love it I love what the author did with it.
This book has stuck with me for days. I love debut novels and while I read a lot of them they are few and far between as far as sticking with me but Beyond the Wall is definitely a top read for 2024.
November 17, 2024
Beyond The Wall by Ani Thomas
Bayport Cove Book#1 ✨️arc review✨️
For all my bookish babes that are looking for a second chance small town romance that has so many twists and turns, it'll keep you on your toes. This is truly the book for you. 🩷
I genuinely loved this book with all of my heart. To give the most basic level summary childhood friends become lovers and then become strangers, After 10 years they are reunited *in the most slightly comical and ironic way possible 👀* overcome trials and tribulations and you'll have to read the book to figure out the rest (oh I know I'm terrible 🤭) Ani Thomas serves readers suspense, heartbreak, rekindled relationships, the most heartfelt friend group, maybe another romance? *idk Morgan and Wes kinda gave me ideas 🫣* and enough 🔥HEATED TENSION🔥 to burn a house down. Like, I swear Callie and Lucas spent 5 chapters just teasing each other, and I was like, "OH MY GOSH, JUST GET MARIED ALREADY YALL AE MADE FOR EACH OTHER!!😆" And you'll never be able to think of penguins and seaglass without swooning. * It's the cutest thing ever. You all really need to read this book 😩*
As a debut novel and the first book to kick off a series, Beyond the Wall did not disappoint, and I am very much excited for it to be released for everyone to read and enjoy. Callie and Lucas have such an amazing story, and I know so many people will love it just as much 😊
Release day is fast approaching on Tuesday, November 19th! And this book to the TBR babes and then👏RUN👏to get your copy. I have a feeling ya'll wil love it! 🫶
Bayport Cove Book#1 ✨️arc review✨️
For all my bookish babes that are looking for a second chance small town romance that has so many twists and turns, it'll keep you on your toes. This is truly the book for you. 🩷
I genuinely loved this book with all of my heart. To give the most basic level summary childhood friends become lovers and then become strangers, After 10 years they are reunited *in the most slightly comical and ironic way possible 👀* overcome trials and tribulations and you'll have to read the book to figure out the rest (oh I know I'm terrible 🤭) Ani Thomas serves readers suspense, heartbreak, rekindled relationships, the most heartfelt friend group, maybe another romance? *idk Morgan and Wes kinda gave me ideas 🫣* and enough 🔥HEATED TENSION🔥 to burn a house down. Like, I swear Callie and Lucas spent 5 chapters just teasing each other, and I was like, "OH MY GOSH, JUST GET MARIED ALREADY YALL AE MADE FOR EACH OTHER!!😆" And you'll never be able to think of penguins and seaglass without swooning. * It's the cutest thing ever. You all really need to read this book 😩*
As a debut novel and the first book to kick off a series, Beyond the Wall did not disappoint, and I am very much excited for it to be released for everyone to read and enjoy. Callie and Lucas have such an amazing story, and I know so many people will love it just as much 😊
Release day is fast approaching on Tuesday, November 19th! And this book to the TBR babes and then👏RUN👏to get your copy. I have a feeling ya'll wil love it! 🫶
November 20, 2024
8.5/10
this book starts off amazing and i cannot wait to see more from the characters in the rest of the bayport series.
i truly was pleasantly surprised by this second chance romance small town spicy goodness of a book and this is an excellent first book from ani thomas.
both callie and luke’s families kinda suck but i like the imperfections and flaws. there’s no miscommunication trope and there’s an excellent rekindling after a decade of turbulence and things left unsaid.
i enjoyed that they slowly became friends again without diving into a relationship headfirst and the unique zoom into how their relationship might be different now than it was years ago.
now, there is a LOT of info dump at certain parts of the story. geographically and even in their friend circles. it can be a lot and it’s not always the best time to do it because it doesn’t seem to matter at least for this book.
i know all the surrounding coastal towns to bayport but also chad, and blake and wyatt and brody and halley (?) and gabe and all these people that we don’t really see a lot of for this book.
this combined with the lengthy drawn out first meeting (like 25% of the book had gone by) first read as apprehensive anticipation and then was just a “when are we gonna reach this moment”. these were really the only two gripes i had with book, and they are minuscule as well.
i received this book ahead of its release date in exchange for a honest review.
this book starts off amazing and i cannot wait to see more from the characters in the rest of the bayport series.
i truly was pleasantly surprised by this second chance romance small town spicy goodness of a book and this is an excellent first book from ani thomas.
both callie and luke’s families kinda suck but i like the imperfections and flaws. there’s no miscommunication trope and there’s an excellent rekindling after a decade of turbulence and things left unsaid.
i enjoyed that they slowly became friends again without diving into a relationship headfirst and the unique zoom into how their relationship might be different now than it was years ago.
now, there is a LOT of info dump at certain parts of the story. geographically and even in their friend circles. it can be a lot and it’s not always the best time to do it because it doesn’t seem to matter at least for this book.
i know all the surrounding coastal towns to bayport but also chad, and blake and wyatt and brody and halley (?) and gabe and all these people that we don’t really see a lot of for this book.
this combined with the lengthy drawn out first meeting (like 25% of the book had gone by) first read as apprehensive anticipation and then was just a “when are we gonna reach this moment”. these were really the only two gripes i had with book, and they are minuscule as well.
i received this book ahead of its release date in exchange for a honest review.
November 21, 2024
“Lucas had been a constant in my life since I was eight. Even in the decade we spent apart, he was still there, a lingering dim ember, smoldering for years until I returned home, and my soul was reunited with its twin flame. And one kiss was all it took for that ember to flare into a full-on inferno.”
I am obsessed. A stunning debut. I am an absolute sucker for a second-chance romance and this book delivered. I loved the way Ani gave us bits and pieces throughout the chapters for us to know what happened between Callie and Luke and decade ago. This book was so character driven and I really love that because it made me feel like I KNEW them and felt so connected to them. Callie is guarded, strong, but uses escapism to deal with her grief and trauma. Luke is… I don’t know if I even have the words. A cinnamon roll MMC if I ever did see one. Ugh, the sea glass at the wall 🥹 The found family aspect was amazing. The banter between the entirety of the group. I loved each of the side characters so much and can’t wait to see more of both Wes and Morgan. Those are ride or dies right there. I was not expecting the imploding secret at the end, at all, but I truly believe it was something that made Callie and Luke even stronger in the end.
Thank you to Ani Thomas and Truly Yours PR for an ARC to review. If you love small coastal-towns, childhood friends to lovers to strangers, billionaires, secrets, found family, and so much more, please add this to your TBR immediately.
I am obsessed. A stunning debut. I am an absolute sucker for a second-chance romance and this book delivered. I loved the way Ani gave us bits and pieces throughout the chapters for us to know what happened between Callie and Luke and decade ago. This book was so character driven and I really love that because it made me feel like I KNEW them and felt so connected to them. Callie is guarded, strong, but uses escapism to deal with her grief and trauma. Luke is… I don’t know if I even have the words. A cinnamon roll MMC if I ever did see one. Ugh, the sea glass at the wall 🥹 The found family aspect was amazing. The banter between the entirety of the group. I loved each of the side characters so much and can’t wait to see more of both Wes and Morgan. Those are ride or dies right there. I was not expecting the imploding secret at the end, at all, but I truly believe it was something that made Callie and Luke even stronger in the end.
Thank you to Ani Thomas and Truly Yours PR for an ARC to review. If you love small coastal-towns, childhood friends to lovers to strangers, billionaires, secrets, found family, and so much more, please add this to your TBR immediately.
November 26, 2024
I felt like this book was a nice second chance romance. Callie and Lucas had been best friends for years, until he broke her heart. I was really intrigued by their falling out because they used to spend so much time together, even though, they were sort of from different worlds. But Lucas was determined though to win her back and that made me excited for their journey.
Callie was hurt, which I understood but she was a bit harsh at first. I totally understood though why. She had been through so much with losing her dad earlier in life and the losing her mother. It was tragic, but I knew Lucas would be able to bring her out of that.
Lucas was a sweetheart, and I found myself really connecting with him. He wasn’t the type to flaunt his money which made me appreciate him more, but also he struggled too. They needed each other, and I was happy that Lucas was not going to let this opportunity to win Callie back slip through his fingers. I also felt like once things started to warm up, you could truly see how they cared for each other.
Their love story is pure, and even though it had ups and down, they deserved each other so much. By the end, I was just happy for them. I felt like it was a great read, and the writing was so beautiful. I really felt like I was in the story.
Thank you Truly Yours PR and Ani for this lovely read! I can’t wait to see what is next!
Callie was hurt, which I understood but she was a bit harsh at first. I totally understood though why. She had been through so much with losing her dad earlier in life and the losing her mother. It was tragic, but I knew Lucas would be able to bring her out of that.
Lucas was a sweetheart, and I found myself really connecting with him. He wasn’t the type to flaunt his money which made me appreciate him more, but also he struggled too. They needed each other, and I was happy that Lucas was not going to let this opportunity to win Callie back slip through his fingers. I also felt like once things started to warm up, you could truly see how they cared for each other.
Their love story is pure, and even though it had ups and down, they deserved each other so much. By the end, I was just happy for them. I felt like it was a great read, and the writing was so beautiful. I really felt like I was in the story.
Thank you Truly Yours PR and Ani for this lovely read! I can’t wait to see what is next!
November 29, 2024
A beautifully written tale of romance, redemption, and second chances. It masterfully explores themes of social class, young ignorance, and the transformative power of time.
The story follows Callie and Lucas, childhood friends from opposite sides of the wall—Lucas from privilege and Callie from a humble, working-class background. Their bond, which begins under the magnolia tree near the wall, evolves into a secret romance as they grow older. But their relationship is shattered when Callie believes she sees Lucas for who he truly is—a moment that leads her to leave town and Lucas behind.
Ten years later, Callie returns home after her mother’s passing, determined to avoid Lucas. But fate has other plans, forcing their paths to cross once again. As old wounds resurface and truths come to light, they must confront their past to determine if they can build a future together.
This slow-burn romance is filled with raw emotion, heartfelt redemption, and the painful realities of social divides. The nuanced portrayal of Callie and Lucas’s growth over a decade adds depth to their love story, making their reunion all the more satisfying. And that third-act twist? Absolutely jaw-dropping!
If you enjoy stories about second chances, complicated relationships, and the resilience of love, Beyond the Wall is a must-read.
The story follows Callie and Lucas, childhood friends from opposite sides of the wall—Lucas from privilege and Callie from a humble, working-class background. Their bond, which begins under the magnolia tree near the wall, evolves into a secret romance as they grow older. But their relationship is shattered when Callie believes she sees Lucas for who he truly is—a moment that leads her to leave town and Lucas behind.
Ten years later, Callie returns home after her mother’s passing, determined to avoid Lucas. But fate has other plans, forcing their paths to cross once again. As old wounds resurface and truths come to light, they must confront their past to determine if they can build a future together.
This slow-burn romance is filled with raw emotion, heartfelt redemption, and the painful realities of social divides. The nuanced portrayal of Callie and Lucas’s growth over a decade adds depth to their love story, making their reunion all the more satisfying. And that third-act twist? Absolutely jaw-dropping!
If you enjoy stories about second chances, complicated relationships, and the resilience of love, Beyond the Wall is a must-read.
May 25, 2025
I loved this book. The characters were great I felt a connection to all of them.
Callie, brought up in a middle class family, tragedy happened when she was 10. Met the boy over the wall and instantly became friends and were inseparable for 10 years.
Lucas, the boy from over the wall, he was from an upper class family whose parents thought they were better than everyone else. But he was nothing like his parents.
But after 10 years of friendship and testing the waters for more it all comes crashing down when Lucas says something to some ‘friends’ and Callie overhears it and leaves.
10 years later she arrives back to arrange her mums accounts after Callie lost her. Her best friend Morgan was now friends with the group which included Lucas.
The storyline is great it had me liking disliking Lucas from the start and wanting to know what he did to ruin their friendship. When I found out what he did I disliked him even more. Until after halfway through when he proved he never stopped loving Callie or waiting for her to come back.
A horrible twist towards the end of the book though which turned both their lives upside down for a while and tested both of their commitment to each other!
Callie, brought up in a middle class family, tragedy happened when she was 10. Met the boy over the wall and instantly became friends and were inseparable for 10 years.
Lucas, the boy from over the wall, he was from an upper class family whose parents thought they were better than everyone else. But he was nothing like his parents.
But after 10 years of friendship and testing the waters for more it all comes crashing down when Lucas says something to some ‘friends’ and Callie overhears it and leaves.
10 years later she arrives back to arrange her mums accounts after Callie lost her. Her best friend Morgan was now friends with the group which included Lucas.
The storyline is great it had me liking disliking Lucas from the start and wanting to know what he did to ruin their friendship. When I found out what he did I disliked him even more. Until after halfway through when he proved he never stopped loving Callie or waiting for her to come back.
A horrible twist towards the end of the book though which turned both their lives upside down for a while and tested both of their commitment to each other!
November 20, 2024
This book was a discovery, a very beautiful discovery. It help me to start reading again after a couple of difficult weeks where I had a little bit lost my groove for reading, so thank you Ani Thomas for this book! It was a beautiful story about love and betrayal, second chances, friendship that goes beyond everything and so much more. The story of Callie and Lucas was a an emotional one. They lost each other for 10 years because of misconceptions and miscommunication and also because of stubborness. They were very young and they come from two different worlds and that difference broke them apart. Then someone happened and they reunite, even if Lucas had to work very hard. The only thing that trough me off was when she accused him about her not coming back home for 10 years, that was not nice of her to load him about her own faults, but then she acknowledged her mistake so that was fine.
The finals revelations were unexpected and made the story even more interesting and deep. Their relationship came out stronger after that and it was beautiful to read their connection was even deeper after everything.
5 starts so well earned.
The finals revelations were unexpected and made the story even more interesting and deep. Their relationship came out stronger after that and it was beautiful to read their connection was even deeper after everything.
5 starts so well earned.
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