Things I Remember

Heartlanders #6

by Kelsey Humphreys

It shouldn’t be a surprise that my marriage is ending, since it was secretly a business arrangement to begin with. It’s time to let it go. I have accepted that.

Apparently, my almost-ex-husband has not.

Susan Canton loves her family and their business. Typical first-born, she’s an achiever, a leader. She cannot stand the thought of letting her family down, which is why she volunteered for a strategic marriage deal.

She was friendly, determined, and obsessively organized. She could handle it. And she did. She succeeded in faking the romance and saving the company.

She also accidentally fell in love with her husband. In return, he respected and appreciated her and she was sure that would be enough.

Many years, a couple tragedies, three beautiful baby boys, and one distant, disgruntled husband later, she’s not sure of anything anymore.

And the grumpy, growly, groom, Adam Bell? He’s only sure of one Susan Canton-Bell is the best thing that’s ever happened to him and he can’t let her go.

This sweeping, 122,000-word novel is the final, smart, sexy, full-length contemporary romance in the Heartlander Series. It rounds out the Canton story and will break you apart and put you back together again. Expect laugh-out-loud banter, road trips, tension, twists, tears, a swoony happily-ever-after, and a family group text thread you’ll wish you could join!

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance Romance, Contemporary

457 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 19, 2024

About the author

“If you don’t laugh out loud or get choked up, I’ve failed.” After tens of millions of video views, comedian Kelsey Humphreys has captured her hilarious, heart-warming characters in book form. Her steamy stories dig into deep truths about love, identity, purpose and family. When she’s not writing romance or creating comedy videos, she is reading, running, mom-ming and wife-ing in Oklahoma. She also writes fantasy romance under the pen name Kay Humphreys.

Reviews

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where can I find me an Adam?

I loved Adam. I didn't always like the heroine but I always liked him. And the whole bunch of guys giving him advice and helping him were priceless. I haven't read the other books but this one really was good. Long? Very and that was a little annoying but at the end it was just so right. I would have skipped her dating those last few times and spent more time with Adam, but that's just me. What he did to get her back was simply amazing. He did have some issues but he definitely fixed himself and wowed me with his redemption. I am not sure she even took any responsibility for her actions leading up to the divorce. I don't remember it at least but she had a hand in their breakdown. For sure. That ending was pure gold. I'm really glad I gave this a chance. Adam was swoon worthy and I want one.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't Want the Series to End!

This has been a wonderful.series about the Canton daughters and their part in the dynasty their father founded. These women were normal and not divas and I enjoyed each of them getting their own happily ever after. This was was about the eldest, the one that was already married when the series started. But things aren't always what they seem and when a break up seems inevitable it takes a village-otherwise known as her sisters and their significant others-to help mend the feelings. Is it too late? That's the question here. I enjoyed the whole story and all the problems and yes even the angst. I enjoyed seeing Adam man up and do his best to try to work things out. I also enjoyed seeing all the other couples get involved. I'm going to stop this here as I don't want to say too much. I will say that this really doesn't stand alone. Its the sixth book of a series that is all interconnected. I think you would be lost if you start here. 4.25 stars. Highly recommend the whole series.

[Soma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story. Lots of big family vibes and plenty of laughs. There’s also real emotional upheaval from both sides. The reason i didn't rate it 5⭐ is because of how many times I genuinely got so mad and upset for Susan and on her behalf. Overall , I enjoyed seeing Adam man up and do his best to try to work things out.

[Irum · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had me absolutely fuming 🤡

First of all, Adam did not deserve her. The man straight-up manipulated her into taking him back, and the cherry on top? Pretending to be someone else on a dating app to win her over. If I were her, I wouldn’t just be mad I’d be ready to throw hands. The audacity is unmatched.

And can we talk about the unnecessary characters who kept butting into their relationship? It felt like every side character thought they were Dr. Phil, but instead of helping, they just made everything so much worse. Seriously, all the meddling just amplified the chaos, and I couldn’t stand it 💀💀💀

[Leah M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan & Adam have been together through all the books. I always just assumed their story was off page. But Kelsey Took. Us. Through. It. All the way back to the beginning.

Susan is the first born, type A, overachiever, who has always been the rock & glue of her family. Then assumed the mom role for her younger siblings when their mother died.

Adam is the grumpy, growly, man of few words.
Despite having a crappy example from his own father, Adam was dad of the year, but communication in his marriage was never a strength for him.

I read this book with a lump in my throat and tension all through my body. Adam & Susan's story is like none l've read before. Their relationship begins as a business arrangement. It wasn't instant or easy, but it evolved and they created a good life. Which made it even harder to see them fall.

💔 The real marriage moments paired with raw & painful emotions just ripped my heart open more than once!
Things you'll love:
• emotional romance
• hilarious family
• the best group family chats
• brother-in-law banter
• self-discovery & healing

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stay with this story! It is sooo worth their very paced and rocky start to get to the amazing ending. It was hard to basically reexperience the trials of marriage, the miscommunication, the no communication. But the payoff! The sisters! Their husbands! I have no more exclamation points in my quota, so I will just say that the way was worth it times 10.

[Deea (Andreea) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Kelsey what have you done with this story... 🫶🥹🥹🥹

I've been following the Canton sisters and they feel so close to me now, I feel like I'm part of that big wonderful family. I enjoyed the quips, the banter, the sistervantions and each couple's journey to their HEA.

And Susan, the oldest sister and their rock, glue and all around badass mama bear, has been there for them through it all. Only, she seemed she had her own problems in her marriage no one was privy to. She was always so put together, she and Adam had a solution for everything, everyone, at any time of day or night. They were IT. The family everyone was looking up to - both in their personal lives, but in business too, as leaders and the faces of their corporations.

But we got a sense that things were not as good as they seemed in the latest books and the wondering about what happened, were was the husband and why he was missing from family events kept nagging at us. I literally scremed it in Kat's book lol.

And now, we finally got their story. From the very beginning. 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

And while the start was rocky, hilarious and steamy, things went a bit downhill in the middle. We got to experience it all and omg I thought no one could replace my babies Sadie and Shep as favorites but this second chance marriage in trouble adventure was absolutely amazing, intense and downright heartbreaking at times. Until they got to the "ok, we still love and get each other like no one else ever could I can't see my life without you, let's fix this" moment at the end, it was a rollercoaster of emotions, memories, angst and unsaid things. Years of hurt, bitterness, crazy routines with their jobs and kids, getting lost in the grind, yet so much love that kept being pushed back in all the mayhem.

I've been in my feels all throughout. But it was sooo beautiful and hopeful and warm and ahh..🥲

So this is a RomCom but in the sense Abby Jimenez and and Emily Henry's books are romcoms (or Tarah DeWitt if you will; and yes that is very much the type of writing and vibe I got from here and this needs to be more popular!) I mean, yes there were some cute funny moments at the beginning and the end but the "middle" gutted me. I don't cry at books, ok? I'm a perpetual black cat cynic stereotypical "heroine" type and yes, I get feels, but I never cry. But oh man, I cried my eyes out some of the middle parts.

I don't think I ever rooted and felt for a couple so, so much. The way Kelsey takes us through their journey, thoughts and emotions is so realistic, immersive and relatable. Then the present day, the bromance between all the other MMCs, the intervention, grand gestures and all the little things that mattered to Susan and Adam being brought back into focus, all the love, support and communication made for a perfect ending. I have a hard time getting over it still... And I probably have more to say but I'm mostly just sitting here processing.

And once again, I'm mad this series is not more popular and on bookstores shelves it's so much better than many popular ones.😭

This is what a marriage in trouble and second chance romance should ever be, to feel real and emotional.

Thank you so much Kelsey and Booksirens for sending the ARC for my honest opinion. I can't get more honest than that except if I send you pic of my tears. 😂

And in case no one told you today and I'm just some random person on the internet, I'm proud of you. 🤗🥰🫶

I don't know when you even had time to write this masterpiece.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's not the beginning or the end that really explains a dying marriage. It's the middle. Those in-between year where nothing is thrilling or sexy anymore....You get stuck that way. Then one of you gets unstuck and one of you...doesn't."

Wow! When the author's note opening the book starts with "marriage is hard," you know you're about to be in for it. Because it is. And Susan's quote in chapter 1 really does sum it up. Marriage IS hard. That is what they leave out of fairytales...the fights about someone not picking up their socks or who is cleaning up after the sick dog at 3 am or forgetting an anniversary because you're both so busy that it really is just another day. Fairytales leave out real life.

Susan and Adam’s fairytale wasn’t so much the dreamy Disney version we see, but more of the beginnings of a fairytale with a princess “encouraged” to marry someone for all the wrong reasons. Their fairytale comes in the life they build together, but then we go through the pain and heartbreak of watching it fall apart.

But they (whoever “they” are) say that when one door closes, another opens. In this case, Susan and Adam’s fractured fairytale really does get a newer, happier ending!

I absolutely DO NOT WANT TO SAY GOODBYE to the Cantons! Kelsey has given us a family with ALL the feels! I feel in love with Skye and Matt, got uncomfortable with Sam and Emerson, found redemption with Sadie and Shep, found courage with Sally and Nate, learned to move beyond first impressions with Kat and Dennis.

But Susan and Adam? I LIVED Susan and Adam! Their story hits so hard in a way that only people in long term relationships can truly understand, but anyone in any stage of a relationship needs to know! Relationships ARE hard. Harder than anyone can really describe and harder than we ever want to imagine at the beginning of one. But their story also shows us the importance of honesty and communication and commitment. Their story shows us that just because the beginning was flawed and things get broken along the way, it doesn’t mean the ending won’t be better. Sometimes the pain IS worth it in the end. Sometimes, we have to go through all the pain to find the beauty and joy.

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for this advanced copy!

[Liz Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8⭐️
1.5🔥


I had a hard time deciding between 3 or 4 stars. If I were rating the story itself, it would be 4 stars—it kept my attention, and even though I obviously knew what the overall ending was going to be, the different twists in the story still managed to surprise me and keep me hooked.

The downside, though, is that the beginning felt a bit too Wattpady for me, especially with the whole rich family kind of plot. I don’t mind reading about rich people, but a lot of times it just feels fake, and I couldn’t bring myself to care much about the sisters.

Now, regarding the main relationship, I thought they had a lot of beautiful moments. I did believe in their love, and their chemistry was definitely there—but at the same time, I kept thinking I could never have a husband like him. He wasn’t a bad person, and I did fall for him alongside the main character, but his lack of communication was way too extreme. I just wish the author had written it so they resolved their issues years earlier, because living through that kind of situation would have been incredibly frustrating.

[Carrie Vandenhouten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing read from Kelsey Humphreys!! This series makes my heart so happy. I've loved the girls' bond and support of one another (and, hello hilarious group texts!) throughout all the books, and I'm over the moon with how the guys showed up for each other in this final installment of THINGS.

Thank you, Kelsey, for including me in the ARC distribution this go around. I'm a forever fan!

[Aisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I struggled with this. I think my favourite book of this series was Sadie, who felt the most real. This particular book was great on the face of it, but I got weird vibes all the way through. It didn't entirely ring true to me that Susan and Adam would put up with their issues for as long as they did, and it felt strange that the idea of Adam sleeping with other women is completely glossed over but when anyone suggests Susan sleep with someone else she acts like it's this awful idea.

I liked getting to wrap up their stories, but much of this felt a bit too ridiculous and on the nose.

[Debra James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

I picked up this book because I’ve been reading radon a heap of marriage in trouble books. This was different in the way it was presented but it made the story more relatable.

[Siham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was unexpectedly so freaking good
I'm in love with them, it was almost rom com till the last couple of chapters, he became more my type of H
Love me obsessed possessive manipulative husbands 💖 💕

[Poonam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was a hard one for me to start. I was hesitant because I am neither a fan of second chance romances nor of flashbacks (which I knew it was going to be in some form). But it was soooo worth it!!
I am so glad I trusted Kelsey and just dove into the book because it is hands down my favorite one in the series. Adam and Susan have always been steady characters in the background for all the Canton sisters' stories, so I was really looking forward to reading theirs.
I am not going to give anything away in this review, because you have to read it to experience all the feels, and you really should!
I LOVED the progression of their relationship. I am so glad it was not an insta-love/attraction thing for them. And there were no flashbacks! We got to know both of their backgrounds, their texts, all the younger sisters (especially Sally) and their view of Susan and Adam's relationship. I feel as if this book answered so many questions and also gave a fresh perspective on some of the events that have such a presence in the previous books in the series. I also really appreciated seeing Susan vulnerable because she is this bossy, organized, has everything figured out in life persona, that seeing the other aspects of her personality was amazing. We also understand Adam and his actions much better, especially in the second half. I liked that Kelsey addressed real relationship issues in their book. A marriage is hard and I am very happy that a grand gesture by Adam did not brush their underlying issues under the rug. Susan really took her time, thought through her feelings and they really worked on their communication, which can be a problem with everybody.
It was also funny because we read about some things like Pinterest, the iPod and the car GPS thing with wonder when they were young, because these things are so normal for me, hahaha.
I was definitely not ready to say goodbye to all these characters and their family so I enjoyed reading the bonus scenes as well.
Overall, this is one second chance book that I would recommend over and over. Go for it because you will not regret it!

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sixth book in a series which follows five sisters and their cousin each getting their HEA. Some of the introduction to this book comes at the end of the last book. I'm pretty sure you could read this as a standalone although you might find all the sisters and their spouses a bit bewildering.

Anyway, Susan, the eldest Canton sister has been happily married for years to Adam Bell, they have three sons. She is the CEO of Canton Corporation (a greeting card company) and he is the CEO of Bell Corporation (a construction company). What none of the rest of the sisters know is that Susan and Adam were an arranged marriage a quid pro quo to prop up Canton Corporation after their uncle made some very unwise business decisions which affected Bell Corporation. It was either do this or Canton would go into receivership. After they get over their shock at that, Susan drops the bombshell that they are separated and she is getting a divorce.

Cue a substantial flashback to when Susan's parents first approached her about an arranged marriage and how she and Adam courted/married. Then we see how their marriage started to dissolve. Susan is madly in love with Adam, has been since before they were married if she's honest, but Adam has never told her he loves her - well maybe once under duress when she was heavily pregnant and hormonal and basically forced him to say it. Every year Adam gets grumpier and grumpier, he seems to hate all the things he used to like and laugh about, like Susan's hyper-organisation and list making. They seem to be ships that pass in the night, too busy to talk to each other about anything except the boys.

But when Susan announces to her sisters that she wants to start dating, Adam and his brothers-in-law bring on Operation Win-her-back, but is it too late?

I read this in one day, devoured it. Should have been working. Cried more than once. Loved it.

Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

[Chrissy HappilyEverAfterBookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you guys ever get where you want the last book in an interconnected series so bad because you want the story of that certain character, but at the same time you absolutely don’t want it because you know it’s the end. That’s me with The Heartlanders series. I knew the story of the oldest Canton sibling was going to be so great, but gosh I am so very sad the series is coming to an end. If you love an interconnected family series you have got to give this one a try. It is filled with so much love, humor, sweet and heartfelt family moments, fabulous sisters with the swooniest love stories and some great spice that never eclipses the story itself.

Things I Remember is a marriage in trouble story that was done in dual timeline, which is normally not my favorite, but this one was done to such perfection that I loved every second of it. We get to see how this marriage started and where it began to fall apart and then what it was going to take to save it. Gah I loved it. The backstory of Susan and Adam was filled with such fun banter and road trips and you can see the progression of how they fall in love. Then life gets in the way and you see how they fell apart. And then my favorite is what Adam does to prove his love for Susan. I laughed and I cried. Seeing all the sisters and their partners and the group texts just made me so happy. It was everything I hoped it would be and while I’m terribly sad it’s over, Kelsey gave us a bonus novella/epilogue that wrapped up everything PERFECTLY and gave us glimpses into each couple and made my heart so happy! You guys really need to give this series a try. I have loved every single book. With each release I say I loved it more than the last, but honestly it was truly just a great series. I promise you won’t regret it!

[Hopeless Romantic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I eagerly awaited this book after finishing Sally and Nate's story, and Kelsey didn't disappoint. As a fan of 'Marriage in Trouble,' I was swept into the world of Susan, Canton's elder sister, and her grumpy husband, Adam.

This book masterfully explores the struggles Susan faces in her marriage, leading her to consider divorce. As the story unfolds, we discover the circumstances surrounding Susan and Adam's arranged marriage.

What resonated deeply with me was the emphasis on open communication as the foundation of a successful marriage. The lack of honest dialogue drove Adam and Susan apart, but Adam's journey towards self-awareness and vulnerability was truly compelling.

I admired how Adam learned to express his thoughts and feelings, giving Susan the space to decide whether to rekindle their relationship. The Canton sisters' unwavering support for Susan was heartwarming, while the brother-in-laws' (Emerson, Nate, Shep, Matthew, and Denise) humorous message exchange added a lighthearted touch.

What struck me most was the lengths to which Adam went to regain Susan's trust. This story stood out for its absence of cheating and unnecessary drama, instead delivering a satisfying happily-ever-after.

Kelsey has once again proven her skill in crafting relatable characters and heartfelt stories.

[Coffeenbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Grumpy/sunshine

- Second chance

- Growing apart

- Arranged marriage

- Forgiveness

This book had me all in my feels! I have been waiting so long for Susan's story. The eldest Canton daughter, her story was an emotional one.

"It's not the beginning or the end that really explains a dying marriage, though, is it? It's the middle. Those in-between years where nothing is thrilling or sexy anymore. You get stuck that way. Then one of you gets unstuck and one of you… doesn't."

Marriage is not easy and I loved that this author acknowledges that and shows us that it needs help along the way. Especially for Susan and Adam, whose arranged marriage didn't begin with the strong foundation of deep love. Each of them came from wealthy and successful families, but where Susan's family had love in abundance, Adam's family was unfeeling and toxic.

But despite the hurdles, they loved each other in their own ways. They just forgot to tell each other….

After years of marriage and three children, Susan begins to feel lonely and sad. She makes the decision to end her marriage, but Adam isn't quite ready to give up…..

This poignant book is the emotionally satisfying conclusion of the Heartlanders series, which has been one of my favorite series of all time. This book deserves way more than 5 stars!!!

[Natalie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love Kelsey’s books. She never disappoints! Her characters are so diverse in their personalities & they feel so real, like they are sitting right next to you! Her men are just to die for, never perfect, but always ready for that grand gesture!
I was so happy to finally get Susan & Adam’s story, and I love that it went back to the beginning & filled us in on their entire story. Throughout this series I always felt like there was so much going on with Susan, being a mother figure to her entire family, basically running a huge company, and just juggling so much. Their story hit me hard with the love and emotions- prepare to cry (a lot if you’re anything like me! But don’t worry the HEA more than makes up for it!)
Now that we have Susan’s story I feel like I need to go back & reread all of these books after being able to see the entire picture.
Overall, while this is second change romance, with miscommunication - not usually my cup of tea at all, I felt so invested in their story, and felt it was so well written and real. The miscommunication didn’t bother me at all, because from book one that is who Adam is .. strong & silent.
Give this entire series a shot, you won’t be disappointed!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Taylor Doran]

It's time for Susan and Adam's story!

If you are familiar with these sisters, you know Susan as the oldest sister, billionaire CEO and master list maker. She makes everything go smoothly and is a boss and takes over the mother role of her family.

I really enjoyed this conclusion to the Heartlanders series on Kindle Unlimited. It is about the five Canton sisters. These are not standalones. I would definitely recommend reading them in order, but I haven't read the prequel about the Canton parents falling in love.

Is it a linguistic masterpiece? Nah. But did I really enjoy myself while reading these stories? Yes! I fly through Kelsey's writing! I was thinking about the characters when I wasn't reading and wanting to pick up my Kindle as soon as I could.

I felt like I was reading three books in one. The first part included falling in love, a college sports romance and an arranged marriage. There were road trips, grumpy x sunshine and slow burn. I love a book with fun text conversations and this series is great at that.

Seeing Susan and Adam falling out of love was hard to read because it was so real. But ending was a joy and so tender.

Tropes:
Arranged marriage
Slow burn
College football romance
Road trips
Grumpy x sunshine
Billionaire romance
Marriage in trouble

[Leann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew! The final book of the Heartlanders series, Susan’s story, will leave you in the fetal position. This book is for all the oldest daughters/sisters out there who handle it ALL. If you’ve ever complained about a second-chance romance book not having enough groveling, you will not be disappointed with Adam Bell. He puts the grrrrr in grovel. I was not sure a modern-day arranged marriage story would work well, but as usual, Kelsey pulls it off. I disassociated from Election Day stress by finishing this book and I already want to read it again. In this story, we finally see Susan from her perspective rather than from the younger sisters—and there is so much more to her than being the CEO of her family and a type A nag. If you are a mom, oldest daughter, big sister, and the more emotionally available parent in your marriage, you are SEEN in this book. Go read the rest of the series first and then come back and READ THIS. And then sign up for the bonus epilogue novella that wraps everyone’s story up with a neat bow. You can thank me later 😉. I received an ARC from the author but I always buy my own copies of her books because she is one of my faves.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful story and very well written. I think it was a great ending to the series overall. There were a few things that just didn't quite resonate with me, which is why this is only 4 stars, but I do think this is one of the best books I have read in months.

My biggest issue with everything was just how Adam practically didn't speak. At all. I get not communicating well, but to not even tell your wife you love her in 15 years is a bit too extreme. Neither one of them could communicate for shit, which is why everything fell apart. It was both of them, but the book is mostly from Susan's POV, so we feel her pain the most.

Near the end, there, I was starting to think that she might not take him back and would just date until she found someone new. But then I realized that this is a romance novel, and eventually, my hunch was confirmed when she did take him back.
I honestly wasn't even too upset for her telling him No so many times because of how much he had messed up. I would have been mostly OK.

I don't think that I would read this again, but I definitely would recommend it to others.

[Vanessa Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chokehold this book had on me! And I'm 100% positive it was due to all the angst because that thing was THICK!

I absolutely loved reading Adam and Susan's story. We get a glimpse into how they originally got together, and their initial interactions were great because sunshine Susan was trying so hard to connect with grumpy Adam. That growing tension between them at the beginning was fabulous.

We then move into the failing of their marriage and goodness gracious that had me tearing up constantly. I am a sucker for a man obsessed, but Adam was my second thing a man can be - DESPERATE. I was elated that Susan stuck to her guns on multiple occasions and did not give in easily to Adam. While she did give in to physical temptation every now and then, she still made sure to be firm in her boundaries and hold Adam accountable for his actions.

I appreciated that this book really dove into how hard marriage can be - especially when one party is unhappy in a major aspect of their lives. As the author noted - "It's not the beginning or the end that really explains a dying marriage. It's the middle."

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I Remember ~ Heartlanders#6 by Kelsey Humphreys

Blurb:
It shouldn’t be a surprise that my marriage is ending, since it was secretly a business arrangement to begin with. It’s time to let it go. I have accepted that. Apparently, my almost ex-husband has not.

I have read all six books now - though not in order, but I hope to reread them in due course.
I found Things I Remember to be written extremely well, with wonderful characters that you fall in love with from the start. The storyline is believable and the way Kelsey writes draws the reader in, and you feel that you too are there.

This story is Susan Canton Bell and Adam Bell's story, and believe me, I did not see this when I read the first 5 books. It is their story from when they were younger and in college till now. I will not leave any spoilers, as I believe I will spoil the story for others, so if you are interested, then you will need to get your copy today, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. I highly recommend this and the others in this series to all.

[52kaosangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelsey Humphreys absolutely killed this last book in the series. We get the full story of Susan and Adam, how they were enemies, how they fell in love, how life broke them, and how they ultimately chose each other again.

There were so many tears and so many laughs. And it absolutely breaks my heart that Susan just takes the name calling from everyone and doesn't see how she has held everything together. I love Adam for reminding her and not letting her forget who she is and that he doesn't let Susan think she needs to be less than who she is for him.

I loved the grand gesture, the willingness to change because he couldn't bare to live without Susan. And I also love that Adam found his peace at the end of all of this.

I'm so sad that this series is over but I also can't wait to see whatever else comes next for Kelsey!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Taylor B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded to 4

I thoroughly enjoyed this conclusion to the Canton sisters' saga. While it's a marriage in trouble romance, the first half of the book is very much the beginning of Susan and Adam's relationship and it is swoony. This isn't a laugh out loud rom-com ala Pippa Grant, but the humor is done with heart in the style of Abby Jimenez or Tarah DeWitt. My only regret is that I hadn't read all of the books previous to this, just a couple. I think I would have appreciated the story even more had I read the others.

Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship (especially ones with kids) will resonate with this story so much. The difficulties of maintaining space for a relationship while also trying to keep every ball in the air is so difficult and Humphreys doesn't hold back about the struggles. An emotional book and one I will be recommending.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mattie O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

After devouring five books in the Heartlander Series, you’d think I’d be prepared for the emotional rollercoaster Humphreys delivers every time—but somehow, she always manages to surprise me! Each installment has been a masterclass in storytelling, evoking both tears and uncontrollable laughter with effortless grace.

Book six is no exception. The characters feel like old friends—so vivid, so relatable—that I can almost hear the notifications from their sister group chat. Humphreys has an extraordinary gift for creating worlds that pull you in and keep you invested long after the final page.

The Heartlander Series has been nothing short of a thrilling, heartfelt journey. I’m not ready to say goodbye to her sharp wit and authentic writing, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, you’re missing out on something truly special!

[Kandi Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just devoured Things I Remember by Kelsey Humphreys and I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Susan and Adam's story is a beautifully written story about love, marriage, and motherhood. It gives such an honest account of what it means to be in a long-term relationship when life and children come into play. It shows the fight for love when it's questioned if love is enough after all the hurt. I connected with Susan more than I was ready for. This book brought me to tears and it gave me all the feelings. Very few authors can write a book about such a heavy topic it is conveyed in such a raw, honest, and lovely way. Kelsey Humphrey did that and so much more. I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially women who feel invisible.

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Patricia Baxes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do NOT attempt to read this amazing book without lots of tissues and iced drinks on hand. I literally cried so hard that my glasses fogged up and I had to stop and clean up all those tears! This series was totally kick a$$ from the very first book until the end of Things I Remember. Kelsey Humphries has delivered an incredible book that you don’t want to end. It certainly deserves more than five stars.

The storyline was superb; the characters felt as familiar as old comfortable shoes; the plot twists and turns kept you bouncing all over the place; and even though it felt like there couldn’t possibly be a HEA … we see hope spring eternal right in front of our eyes. Thank you Kelsey Humphreys for gifting us with this amazing book! It definitely belongs on everyone’s TBR list! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and absolutely loved it!)❤️❤️❤️

[Nikki M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I loved:
He makes her a playlist
Roadtrip attractions
Group texts
The Canton Sisters
Movie quotes


This is the last book in the series and it did not disappoint! Ugh this book pulled at my heartstrings but also had me cracking up!! Loved Adam and Susan so much ❤️. They have been married for 15 years and the last few have been a struggle which leads to them filing for divorce. This book was a great reminder that communication is so important in a marriage. They realized how difficult it can sometimes be to find yourselves as a couple after having kids and how easy it is to get lost in a routine revolving around the kids. I loved seeing their journey from the beginning and the work they put in to have a second chance. I am so happy they got their HEA. If you like marriage in trouble romance, I recommend this one!