When I Was Theirs

by Evelyn Flood

The sky raged on the night that I met Benjamin Bennett.
I should have known.
Bad things always happen when the sky rages.

Ben Bennett blows into my life like a whirlwind. Intent on keeping my head down, he pushes me to look up. To look at the stars.

To dance in the rain.
To love the little moments.
To love him.

Loving Ben is easy. As easy as breathing. Until the worst happens, and I’m left alone to pick up my broken pieces for the second time.

Except now there’s Jared. Ben’s brother is angry, and I’m his favorite target. He wants nothing to do with me. I want nothing to do with him. But when my world flips again, Jared Bennett becomes the one person holding me together.

If only he wasn’t the one who broke me.

Please note that this book contains heavy, emotional themes.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, M F Romance

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2024

About the author

Evelyn Flood is an Amazon bestselling author of more than fifteen romance books.

She writes in various sub-genres including contemporary romance, fantasy romance and why choose, but you'll always find a main course of angst and a side dish of uncontrollable sobbing in every book she writes.

She's based in South Wales, where she spends most of her time hopping between coffee shops with her laptop in hand and buying a ridiculous amount of notebooks to write all of her ideas down.

Find her on Facebook in her reader group, The Evelyn Flood Collective.

Reviews

[Britney ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evelyn Flood had NO business making me cry like that. It was truly cruel.

This is an emotional story from start to finish. The author does an incredible job at making you care about the characters just from the first few chapters. The way she can write a character literally never disappoints.

It really is a beautiful story. It's gripping, an emotional rollercoaster, and has everything you hope it will. The spice scenes are incrediblely well placed and add so much.

The only thing is I wish we got more of I guess the background. The side characters were really interesting, but a lot of their problems and life happened off page and I wish we got to see that a little more.

Thank you to the author for the gifted arc

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen… When I Was Theirs broke me. I knew going in this was going to be heavy on the emotions, but my god I wasn’t prepared to be this genuinely devastated.

I sobbed, so fucking much. Seriously, so so much. I honestly didn’t think I would ever stop crying, but I did because this ended up being such a beautifully written story about healing and finding love after loss & every little moment mended my broken heart.

Highly recommend if you enjoy getting your heart shattered and sobbing uncontrollably.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be happy. Be brave, and dance in the rain.

5/5 no notes. This book teaches you many lessons about love and loss and relationships. The good, the bad, the ones you wish you had more time with.

I couldn’t put the book down. I was captivated from beginning to end. This is a must read. Please make sure to read the trigger warnings. Be warned, your heart will shatter.

Trigger warnings include: domestic abuse, difficult parental relationships, managing grief and loss, illness/cancer, death, childhood cancer

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Laura (lady_h_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️½
😭😭😭😭😭 x ♾️
I thought I knew what heartbreak felt like. Pain. Grief. Rage. But I didn’t. I had no idea what true heartbreak felt like. Not until this moment. I know that I will never forget it. That amidst everything else in my life, amongst every bad memory, this one–this is the one that will haunt me.


Trying to psych myself up to write this review: I will not cry... I will not cry... I will not 😭😭😭

When I Was Theirs absolutely wrecked me. I'm talking about crying from the first chapter through to the HEA. This is, by far, Evelyn's best (and most emotionally charged) book to date. It's full of loss (SO MUCH LOSS), but it's also full of healing.

This book was two love stories: the one that ended too soon, and the healing journey to get to the one that lasts forever. I had to keep telling myself that it ends in a HEA while I was ugly crying and sobbing into my pillow. And it was so worth the pain to get there.

This is one of my top reads of the year. I highly recommend it.

[Briony · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC - PUBLICATION DATE 14TH NOV 2024

5 ☆

『 tropes 』
•insta-love
•second chances
•cancer
•alcoholism
•mental health
•death
•two brothers

『 plot 』
emmy is hurting, she is just getting by, she works two jobs just to distract herself from her past, and is just living in limbo.

ben is leaving, it’s not permanent, it can’t be. he’s hurting, he’s leaving, he’s trying really hard to stay positive and leave how he wants to, alone and hurting no one else.

but the night emmy and ben meet, ben knows he can’t stay away from her, he should, but he can’t. they have a fast, instant, whirlwind romance but ben has a secret, a secret that will inevitably break them apart, with ben leaving and emmy heartbroken.

then comes jared, ben’s brother. he’s bitter, he’s hurting and he’s angry. but he needs to see ben before ben leaves.

ben broke emmy’s heart, but can jared put it back together?

『 my thoughts 』
this book made me feel, SO much. it was beautiful, it was heartbreaking, it was hopeful, it was meaningful, it was just everything.

this book is just simply about love, about different love, at different stages of a person’s life. how different love can shape you, make you or break you or all three at the same time.

emmy and ben’s love was fast, it was instant, it was all consuming, it was temporary, it took and took and took and it was exactly the kind of love that ben needed in that particular time in his life, he needed someone to love him with everything they had. it was also the love that emmy needed at that particular time, it needed to show her what real love was, it needed to heal her, to consume her, even though in the end it broke her.

emmy and jared’s love was slow, it was cautious, it was thoughtful, it was unconditional, it was healing, it was unselfish and beautiful and it was forever

『 overall 』
i loved this book so much, i loved the complexity of all the characters and topics and themes of the story. it was thought provoking, it was insightful, it was messy and scary and bittersweet. i need this book to be read far and wide. i’m obsessed.

[Jenny Lovez Bookz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent read. I liked the premise, the execution was a little off for me tho. I felt like we didn't get enough time to connect with Ben & Emmy. It was very instant and then he was gone. With Jacob & Emmy, the author did a better job working towards a connection, however I didn't like the side drama with Emmy. I don't think it was needed and took away from the overall storyline. The premise of the story was very similar to Full Tilt, just not as well written. Honestly the cover is what made me read this, it's so pretty

[Zubs Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one truly is for my followers who love having their heartbroken because trust me, this one will make you sob.

Two love stories - one that ended too soon and the journey we take to find the one that is our forever love.
It's a heavy read but you can't help but be so invested in these characters. You go on their journey with them and really do feel every emotion they do.

If you're looking for a book to totally break your heart and then piece it back together again this one is for you.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent read

Let me start by saying I liked the book. I loved the premise and I don’t think it was bad. I just felt a disconnect while reading it. I could have used more details or more time. I’m not sure. I do know that I just didn’t feel emotionally connected to any of the characters. It was sad at times and there were sweet moments too.
Overall it’s a good book and I think a lot of people will love it but for me, it’s just a like

[Krystin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this at 10p and finished at 3:15a
I cried basically the entire time.


This book was just *sighs* beautifully written. I’ve mentioned in other reviews that I don’t typically like the Insta-love trope but this just had so much more happening that made it make sense.

If you ‘enjoyed’ being emotionally destroyed by A Thousand Boy Kisses and/or Darling Venom, you will probably hate to love this one too.

* It is heavy so make sure you check trigger warnings.

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emmy, a pesar de su juventud, ha pasado por muchas experiencias que la han dejado marcada. Ya no confía en la gente y prefiere estar sola, hasta que conoce a Ben.

Ben, por su parte, también ha vivido situaciones difíciles y guarda un devastador secreto. Cuando conoce a Emmy, no puede alejarse de ella, a pesar de saber que debería hacerlo.

Ambos caen rápidamente en un romance intenso, pero cuando Ben se va, su hermano Jared aparece.

Jared no confía en Emmy, pero le hizo una promesa a su hermano y debe cumplirla: cuidarla.





Spoilers ⚠️
Siento que el romance con Jared necesita algo más. Quizás más desarrollo en su relación con Emmy, una mayor conexión emocional o un conflicto interno que haga que la relación con ella evolucione de forma más profunda.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tori Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn’t the saddest book I’ve read but I did shed a few tears not gonna lie. This was so heartbreakingly beautiful.

[Caitlin M · Rating 5 out of 5]

When i was theirs is a journey and a half.
I cannot begin to explain just how well Evelyn takes us on the journey with all of these characters.
From despondency to devastation, to healing and kicking your feet in joy (bittersweet joy).
You will cry. I cried. Extensively.
These characters really go through it and again so will you.
All i can say is, it’s going to hurt. But oh my is it worth it.
It is so worth it.
Please please please check the trigger warnings, this one is tough.
5🌟

[Allie Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost all I can say is, WOW.

“When I Was Theirs” made my heart gush, break and heal all at once.

One night working in a bar Emmy Marsters meets Ben Bennett under unusual circumstances. What should have been an odd occurrence between two strangers turns into a nightly routine. However a dark secret looks over Emmy and Ben’s bright future. Ben tries to shelter Emmy from feeling the inevitable pain, but he is no match for Emmy. He lets down his guard and lets Emmy in. As quickly as their love story begins, it’s over just as fast… until Ben’s brother Jared comes along

Jared was never meant to stay. A ball of anger due to life’s unfortunate circumstances, he’s abrasive and cold. That is until Ben asks Jared for a promise. Wanting nothing to do with the request, Jared drowns himself in the comfort of alcohol while trying to ignore his brother’s request. Eventually Jared decides to follow through. Instead of driving right in, he puts up walls and boundaries that won’t allow him to cross any lines.

Slowly over time Jared and Emmy start to spend time together bonding over pain, Jared taking over Ben’s nightly routine. During one of those routines, Emmy’s dark past turns up causing Jared to doubt her. Jared realizing he made a mistake, decides to block out his regret and shame by getting drunk. What he doesn’t know is Emmy’s nightmare is waiting for her. From there, hell breaks loose leaving Emmy and Jared to deal with the consequences. In dealing with the fallout, the power of hope, healing and love is uncovered.


Evelyn Flood did an amazing job creating such emotion behind the story. For those who have suffered the same fate as Ben (along with loved ones) it’s a heartbreaking reminder that life is never fair. Be that as it may it serves as a beautiful reminder to as Evelyn puts it, “Breathe. Live in the Little Moments. The bigger things will still be there, whether you worry about them or not.”

Another thing I truly appreciated that Evelyn articulated well, is Jared’s struggles && recovery. Without spoiling the story line, the sacrifices Jared made not only for himself but for Emmy eventually leading to Emmy’s self discovery was absolutely beautiful. It shows what a real relationship with someone in recovery should look like. Both people working on themselves first, before coming together as one.

I thoroughly enjoyed “When I Was Theirs” and I’ll definitely be reading Evelyn Food’s books. 5 out of 5 stars.

[Pixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yikes

I saw this on TikTok and the excerpt there was the equivalent of when you see a trailer for a movie, then you see the movie, then you realize the trailer was the best part of the movie. There's no slow burn there's just slow, and boring and I finished this book out of spite....covers pretty.

[demi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted an emotional read, one to make my heart hurt and make me cry. And I thought this would do the job, given the reviews I read. But actually, I just found this book okay. I have read a couple books previously with this plot - sometimes including brothers, other times it being two best friends, and in this case it was two brothers. Now I don’t hate that it was two brothers and I obviously knew this going into reading the book, but what I didn’t like was how we got to see both relationships on page. I think personally, I maybe would have preferred to be have been told about the first relationship and then see the aftermath of that and the process of moving on. That way there is only one relationship shown on page to root for and be invested in. Emmy and Ben’s relationship was first, brief and quite instantaneous and we are expected to believe that in such a short space of time and despite his circumstances, they have this great love that is meaningful and impactful. They barely knew each other, and the time they did have which we saw on page, we quickly saw how their dynamic changed and wasn’t solely romantic partners and I just didn’t emotionally connect with this relationship at all. And then insert Jared, Ben’s brother. I liked that we got to see Emmy and Jared as friends for a little while and got more time with them before they gave their relationship a real chance. But I just couldn’t believe in their relationship when Ben was there first and he apparently had such a strong love with Emmy. Usually this doesn’t bother me too much in these kinds of books, and I’ll still root for the second couple to have their happy ending, but for some reason here with this book, I just wasn’t invested in these characters and wasn’t convinced of any of their love. I did appreciate the small acts Jared would do for Emmy which showed he cared. But it also just wasn’t enough. And it’s a shame because I did think this was a good book, I liked the premise, I liked the characters and the writing. I just wasn’t emotionally invested in this like I maybe should have been. A solid three stars for me though; I had a good time with this book, I just didn’t find it emotional and probably wouldn’t pick it back up to reread.

[Christy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am honestly struggling to find the words, but I’ll try…

When I Was Theirs is a story of beautiful juxtapositions. It was a story of grief and healing. It was both beautiful and painful. Heartbreaking and soul warming. But above all else it was perfection!!

Ben, Emmy and Jared were all broken, bruised and impossibly sad for so many reasons. They each endured so much pain that I wondered whether I’d ever stop crying! But then, as is often the case with Evelyn’s books, she came along and mopped up my tears. With all the little moments of dancing in the rain, umbrellas with fairy lights, glow in the dark stars and paper flowers, this story glued my shattered heart back together just as well as Geraldine’s creepy face.

I’m not sure I’ll ever stop grieving Ben Bennett but this story has been catapulted to one of my all time favourite books. I just know it will be a comfort read for me when I need a cathartic cry! Evelyn…once again has written an incredible, complex, emotional story with characters that will live in my head rent free forever. If you also like to get your soul shredded by books this ones for you, but have the tissues and emergency electrolytes at the ready because the sobbing was real!!

Favourite quotes:

“You are the most important thing in my life, Emmy Marsters. But I want to be a footnote in yours. I want to be the guy you met on the way to your happy ever after. This is my ending, but it isn’t yours. You’re going to pick yourself up when this is over , and you’re going to be happy. Promise me you’ll do that.”

“Somewhere in the universe, there’s another Emmy Marsters, and another Ben Bennett, and they’re happy. So happy, baby.”

“After a few years, maybe we’d have kids. A little girl that looks like you. Maybe a boy that looks like me. And we would have been happy, Em. So fucking happy. I would have spent my entire life waking up every morning with you beside me, and it would have been a life well spent.”

“I felt sorry for her!” she protests, wiping her eyes. “She even has a name. Geraldine.” “Lalalalala.” I shove my fingers in my ears and squeeze my eyes shut. “For the love of God, don’t say it three times. I’ve seen this movie before, Emilia.”

“I think Geraldine is broken.” She doesn’t move. “You reckon if I fix her, she won’t curse me? I still dream about that doll, you know.”

[Mrs Crossley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I feel so lucky to have received an ARC of When I Was Theirs from NetGalley—thank you for the chance to dive into this incredible story! Evelyn, where have you been keeping this gem all this time? My heart feels like it’s been shattered and stitched back together, and I mean that in the best way possible.

From the first page, I was pulled in, and I’m pretty sure I sobbed through half the book. This story is both heart-wrenching and beautiful, packed with moments so expertly crafted that they felt like a part of my own life. Evelyn Flood doesn’t shy away from heavy, real-life themes: cancer, loss, domestic abuse, self-discovery, and love—all interwoven in a way that resonates deeply. Every page is full of these "little moments" that hit close to home, drawing you into the characters’ lives and making you feel every emotion they go through.

I was blown away by how Flood handles each theme with such care and sensitivity. There’s a rawness to the story, but it’s also incredibly hopeful, showing that even through the darkest times, there’s a path forward. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Evelyn, for bringing this story to life.

Highly, highly recommend! When I Was Theirs is a five-star masterpiece that will stay in my heart for a long time.

[Melissa N-T · Rating 4 out of 5]

C’est un peu cliché l’histoire en soi et dans la 1ère partie, les personnages tombent en amour ultra rapidement (c’est peut-être un jugement de ma part).

En même temps, il faut que ça se passe pour que la suite ait lieu.

Autre que ça, j’ai peu d’éléments négatifs à redire.

C’était triste, j’ai versé quelques larmes.💧

J’ai toujours un petit quelque chose de plus pour celle qui ont vécu de la violence conjugale❤️‍🩹

Disons que la personnage principale, elle n’a pas eu une période facile et qu’elle le mérite son bonheur.


“ Be happy. Be brave, and dance in the rain. ” ☔️🌈

[Kami E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting in four hours because who could put this emotional roller coaster down?!

This book gives you all the feels, a lot of them being silently sobbing at 1am next to your husband in bed. Beautifully written story but hot damn no one warned me.

If you’re in the mood for a cathartic cry with characters that’ll clutch your heart strings…this is it!

[Angela Naumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such an emotional read! The way Evelyn Flood writes makes everything feel so real and heartfelt. The story shifts between past and present, which kept me hooked!!

The characters were really well written, and I felt like I could connect with them on a deep level. It’s a story about love, loss, and learning to move forward, and it’s written in a way that pulls at your heart.

I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys powerful, emotional stories. It’s one that stays with you long after you finish it.

[Nikki Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yep. I cried.

[Melanie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart. 🥲🥲🥹🥹

[Michelle Claypot_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was heartbreaking. I cried more than once in this one. Plenty of angst and pain but ultimately a beautiful HEA

[Sarah Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obliterated my heart, put it back together, and left me with a 15 years later epilogue. 🥰

[Ashley Schounard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do not read this without tissues

I was sobbing by 21% and even more at 50%… this book broke my heart and I don’t think all the pieces were put back the same.

This is one of those where I wish I could read for the first time again.

I don’t know how to explain this book without giving anything away.. however if you read the synopsis.. you may guess what happens. Even if you do, it’s still the most heartbreaking story!

The writing sucked me in and I felt every single emotion right along with the characters and that doesn’t happen often. The writing was amazing!!

The Bennett Brothers and Emmy all have been through horrible situations.. it was beautiful to see them help each other grow and heal.

Kindle unlimited// HOPING it comes to paperback because I will be clutching it sobbing when I reread this book.

[Kiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benjamin was a whirlwind and easy to love until the worst happens and all that's left of him is his brother Jared who is angry with the world.

This book is full of emotions. I was crying during so many different parts.

[Bookskee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first time reading Evelyn Flood and I enjoyed this book so much.
It was fast paced, charming, heartbreaking, cute, suspenseful with some spice.
Definitely reccomend if you are a softie and would like to shed a tear or two.
But keep the heavy topics in mind.

Thank You so much Evelyn for this wonderful and unexpected gifted ARC !

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe to say I cried A LOT reading this. I read it in less than a day (which says a lot given I have a 3 month old!) and I full on cried multiple times.
This is not a book I'd normally have picked up but a few friends were reading it and I got FOMO. I'm not normally an insta love girlie but this was done so well. Ben and Emmy have a connection that you can really feel between them, But when things take a turn, we meet Jared - Ben's brother.

Evelyn has written a book that deals with fried in such a beautiful and honest way. Her writing was heartbreaking at points, and some of the lines were honestly heart wrenching.

This was an easy 5* read for me.

[Kiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I Was Theirs was about 23-year-old Emilia "Emmy" Marsters, a florist and part-time bartender, 23-year-old Benjamin "Ben" Bennett, and Ben's brother, 28-year-old Jared Bennett, a guitar tutor.

Content Warning: Please be aware that this book includes some difficult themes. This includes:
Death of a brother/partner (not the MMC but does include his POV), Cancer/Glioblastoma, including final stages, Domestic/physical violence (on and off page), Alcohol dependency, Parental abandonment, Difficult parental relationships/control, Grief and loss, and Childhood cancer (leukemia). It is off-page but referenced.

"It was a dark and stormy night..." when Emmy met Ben at the bar where she was a part-time bartender. The storm temporarily knocked out the electricity, throwing the entire, overflowing bar into darkness...a darkness that Emmy was terrified of. Ben helped her through her panic attack, noticing as he did that she had a scar on the left side of her face. Once she had calmed down, he helped her and another coworker clean up the mess left by the panicked crowd fleeing the storm. He then walked her home. When a week or two had passed, and their relationship grew, Ben took notice of other scars on her body that were extensive, yet neither of them talked about what happened. Emmy also began to notice things about Ben, and she realized he was ill. When confronted by the truth, he finally admitted he was dying from Glioblastoma. His brother, Jared, had spent countless money to beat the disease, but Ben, who finally accepted the truth, disappeared from Jared's life so that his brother wouldn't watch him die. He had planned to die alone...until he met Emmy, who wouldn't allow him to do that. Three weeks later, Ben was much worse. Not many days later, things went from bad to worse, and Emmy made the call that Ben couldn't...to his brother, Jared. Ben's brother made it in time to spend what little time he had left, then Ben was gone, a short eleven weeks after he met Emmy. Nine days later, they buried him, and then Emmy and Jared went their separate ways.

Another six weeks passed before Emmy encountered Jared playing a guitar on the street. She soon learned he had taken over his brother's apartment.

Jared and Emmy began spending more time together. One day, when he visited her at the florist shop, her boss mentioned something about "all of her men" who either called or tried to see her at work. When he mentioned a man with red hair who called her by the wrong name (Emilia Matthews), Emmy paled and panicked. Her past had apparently caught up with her in the form of her abusive, estranged husband, Arron Matthews.

Arron showed up at the bar, where he half-convinced Jared that Emmy was the problem and not the other way around. This caused Jared to question everything he knew or thought about Emmy, and he couldn't hide his doubts from her. He didn't completely believe her, and half believed the lies her abusive husband spewed at him. Although she showed him proof of her innocence, Emmy told Jared to leave her alone and then she left work early, only to realize her husband had found her. The assault started immediately.

This book was more a journey than a romance novel—one of acceptance, loss, healing, growth, and love. Of course, there was love, but it wasn't the strong, romantic love one expects from such stories. It was more of an enduring love than anything. There were two separate love stories in his book. The first one was of Emmy and Ben, who learned to love through the trials life threw at them. The second was of Emmy and Jared, whose love grew through all of the stages of grief and became a strong abiding love.

While it was an extremely emotional storyline, it was overflowing with an information dump, making the book a bit tedious at times. I can usually read a book of this size (76 chapters) in a day. However, I struggled with this book. Not because it was dark or depressing, although it did spend a few chapters that way, but because it just had too much information that bogged it down and created a boring void that could have been left out.

Although the three main characters were fully developed and mature, they were also old before their time. The author portrayed quite well what the struggle can be like for normal, ordinary people who have to deal with some pretty harsh circumstances in their lives, and this story was about ordinary people, leading ordinary lives. It wasn't about people who had unlimited funds, fantastic careers, or jetsetters. These main characters struggle to survive each day. They had bad things happen to them, but they also had good things happen as well.

I gave this book only a four-star rating because the romance of the story could have been a bit better. The chemistry between Jared and Emmy was somewhat on the weak side, and the way Emmy and Ben's relationship morphed into love was more stifled than it needed to be. Still, it was a good book that one might decide to re-read on a rainy day.

[Zabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating:❤️5/5
Spice:🌶️4/5
Read in May 2025: 🌻09
Goodreads Challenge 2025:📚102/180

♥ [Ben, Emmy, Jahred] ♥

Tropes:
📌sickness, cancer, death
📌loss & grief
📌instalove
📌forbidden relationship (ish)
📌addiction, alcoholism
📌domestic violence & abuse
📌angst
📌painfully beautiful
📌HEA

In two sentences: Ben Bennett teaches her to look up, to love the little things, to love him. But when tragedy strikes, it’s his angry brother Jared who ends up holding her together—despite being the one who tore her apart.

🇺🇸 My Review: This story completely wrecked me — in the best, most tender way possible.
It’s the kind of emotional ride that lingers long after the last page, where every word feels carefully chosen to either break you or patch you back up.

Ben and Emmy’s connection is pure light. He teaches her to slow down, to breathe again, to fall in love with life, and with him. Their relationship is so deeply sincere, so full of hope and warmth, that I was already grieving before the heartbreak even hit. And when it did? It shattered me.

Then Jared enters the scene — all sharp edges and bottled-up pain. He’s angry, emotionally off-limits, and absolutely not the person she should turn to. And yet… he's the only one who truly sees her grief, who understands it because it mirrors his own.

Their bond is complicated, born from loss, guilt, and a grief that’s almost unbearable. But what I loved is how the author lets them sit in that discomfort. She doesn’t rush their connection — she lets it breathe, stretch, ache. The time apart was such a smart choice. They needed to break down before they could build something healthy together.

This book is beautifully written, full of messy, aching emotions, and absolutely unforgettable. I’ll be thinking about it for a long, long time.

_____________________________________

En deux mots: Quand Ben Bennett entre dans sa vie, tout change : il lui apprend à lever les yeux, à aimer les instants simples, à aimer tout court. Mais après le drame, c’est Jared, son frère en colère, qui devient son pilier – et aussi celui qui l’a brisée.

🇫🇷 Ma Chronique: Ce roman m’a bouleversée.
Pas avec de grands rebondissements ou des twists inattendus — mais avec l’émotion brute, la justesse des sentiments, et une écriture à fleur de peau. C’est le genre d’histoire qui vous laisse un creux dans la poitrine, parce qu’elle touche quelque chose de profondément humain.

Ben et Emmy, c’est la douceur incarnée. Il lui apprend à vivre à nouveau, à voir la beauté dans les petites choses, à s’ouvrir à l’amour. Leur relation est si évidente, si naturelle, qu’on sent très vite que cette lumière ne pourra pas durer. Et quand la chute arrive… elle fait mal. Très mal.

Puis vient Jared. Froid, distant, plein de colère contenue. Celui qu’Emmy ne devrait surtout pas aimer. Et pourtant, c’est avec lui qu’elle trouve une forme de paix — douloureuse, fragile, mais nécessaire. Leur lien est chaotique, plein de non-dits, mais aussi porteur d’une vérité impossible à ignorer : ils se reconnaissent dans leur douleur.

Ce que j’ai adoré, c’est que rien n’est précipité. Leur rapprochement prend du temps, passe par le rejet, la fuite, l’introspection. Le choix de les séparer un moment est une brillante idée : chacun avait besoin de guérir avant de pouvoir construire ensemble.

C’était beau, intense, dérangeant, et profondément émouvant. Une lecture marquante, qui m’a laissée le cœur en vrac — mais rempli.