A hopeless romantic. An irritable woodworker. An unexpected disaster.
Abby
After a string of relationships that haven’t worked out, I’m left wondering if there’s anyone meant for me. However, love becomes the least of my worries when I find myself in a mess with nowhere to go. The last person I expect to rescue me is my closed off neighbor, Kaiser.
I know I should accept his offer for what it is, but I can’t help myself or the feelings that surface. Am I mistaking his kindness for something else or is my growing infatuation for him not so one sided??
Kaiser
There’s nothing I hate more than chaos, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about my bubbly neighbor, Abby, it’s that chaos follows her like a shadow follows the sun.
Still, none of that stops me from swooping in to help her at the first sign of trouble, and before I know it, Abby’s invading more than my house.
I’ve been resisting Abby for as long as I’ve known her, but with the distance between us getting smaller and smaller, it’s getting harder to remember why I put up my barriers in the first place. Can I let my guard down and be the man she wants? Or will I ruin everything like I always do?
Brittney is a Northern California native who spends her nights crafting love stories. When she’s not writing you can find her amongst friends deciding what game to play next, performing Taylor Swift songs to her unsuspecting husband, and binge watching period romance movies.
includes: age gap, small town, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, closed door & suspense
rating: 4/5
this book was honestly very raw and honest. it was two characters who had rough pasts due to their childhood, previous relationships or ptsd from the military. you really got to learn of the characters backstory as to where they stood in present day on the idea of love or the feeling of not being worth to be loved. it took awhile for them to come together which had me on the edge of the seat but felt very realistic to who they were as characters.
grumpy x sunshine will always be my favorite trope and every time *insert character* thinks they’re annoying *insert character* and you get to their pov and it’s the complete opposite? yeah… I eat it up every time.
characters:
abby faulkner: she’s a crystal and horoscope girlie, paralegal, a hopeless romantic & an amateur baker.
kaiser price: small business owner (woodworking), harboring a small (pretty big tbh) crush on his neighbor, served in the military
“You deserve to be loved loudly, publicly. I don’t like being the center of attention but I do want everyone we love to know just how much I love you.”
anything I would change?
eh maybe the pacing a little here or there or not sharing so much about side characters but that didn’t affect my overall reading experience.
thank you to the author for arc in exchange of my honest thoughts and opinions <3
Kaiser and Abby bonded over the traumas of their past during this sweet and heartwarming story. Loved the grumpy/sunshine dynamic and the neighbourly relationship blossoming into love and realising everything they are to one another.
This is an e-ARC review and is entirely my own opinion.
I didn't love this one as much as Anything for You; that book is so precious to me. I was really excited to read about Lennon's sister, and I loved he,r but I really had an issue with Kaiser. I don't mind a tortured hero, but I can't with the whiney "I'm so undeserving of love and no one will ever love me" nonsense. He was also so hot and cold with Abby. I did think the story was cute, but I just didn't love it as much as the first.
Abby has always been a hopeless romantic, looking for love in all the wrong places and has slew of unsuccessful relationships in her wake. Beneath her sunny exterior lies a history of heartache and fear, thanks to childhood trauma and an ex who turned her world upside down with his obsessive behavior. Abby struggles to believe she’s worthy of love and safety; like there is someone out there that will love and accept her for who she truly is.
Kaiser, her older next-door neighbor, is the town’s brooding woodworker. With his rough exterior and no-nonsense demeanor, most people assume he’s unapproachable. His gruffness is his shield, a way to protect himself after being burned in the past and feeling unworthy of love or second chances.
Abby often finds herself knocking on Kaiser’s door for help with her quirky household projects, even though she is pretty sure Kaiser doesn’t even like her. What Abby doesn’t realize is that Kaiser secretly admires her optimism, even if he struggles to show it. Her requests give him an excuse to spend time with her, though he’s convinced she’s too good for someone like him.
When Abby’s house is burglarized, she runs straight Kaiser for help. Kaiser’s immediate, unwavering reaction is to open his arms and home to Abby. This emphasizes his quiet strength and protective nature. It marks a turning point where Abby starts to see that love can be expressed through actions, and that her safety and well-being matter deeply to someone else. This act of care chips away at Abby’s reluctance to believe in her own worthiness of love. Over their time living together their relationship develops slowly as they spend more time together. Abby begins to let her guard down around Kaiser, opening up to the possibility that she is not unlovable or a burden, but someone deserving of protection, care, and affection. Kaiser, on the other hand, starts to confront his own barriers and insecurities, realizing that Abby’s sunshine isn’t overwhelming—it’s the light he didn’t know he needed to work through his own issues; to be able to let someone in and open himself up again.
In the third act breakup, Kaiser thought he was doing the right thing when he pushed Abby away. He convinced himself that she betrayed him, deserved someone better, someone who didn’t carry the weight of past wounds and trust issues. But as the days went by, he found himself haunted by her absence. Her laughter no longer echoed through his evenings, and her thoughtful gestures—the way she’d bring him coffee or ask about his day—felt like holes in his life that no one else could. This is really turning point for the both of them as they navigate their own traumas and aim to move on from them for a better future together.
Everything You are is an emotional and heartwarming small town romance! The way Abby and Kaiser complement each other—her sunshine softening his gruff edges, his steadiness grounding her doubts—creates such an authentic and heartwarming dynamic. Their ability to love and accept each other despite their flaws speaks volumes about the depth of their bond.
A huge thank you to Brittney Lauren for the early copy! This is a must read for age gap romance lovers looking for heartfelt emotions with a touch of suspense! .
Honest ARC Review of ‘Everything you are’ by Brittney Lauren.
We find ourselves in the world of Abby and Kaiser. Abby is a paralegal trying to slowly build herself up after suffering from a troublesome childhood and abusive relationship. She doesn’t come off as annoying and totally weak, loved the balance her character has. Her neighbour is the hunky Kaiser who has served in the armed forces and is just trying to live a peaceful life. He comes off as calm, gentle, but he suffers from the aftermath of his ex’s actions. Abby’s house gets trashed and Kaiser will help her with the renovations. And that’s where their story really starts.
The chemistry is beautiful, lots of push and pull with their attraction being so palpable. But with having self love issues on both sides, it is a slow burn growing. When they finally reach their climax, the spice is kept to subtle YA pokes, and I found that refreshing.
Personally I like more 🌶️ , but this is a romantic, gentle reading story, perfect for just sitting in your nook and slowly flip the pages. As a crystal collector myself, I liked the addition of Abby being a crystal collector and explaining stuff to a sceptic Kaiser, which made me chuckle because me and the hubz are like this lol.
Overall, this was a cute, slow paced, slow burn, romantic, down to earth book with a lovely HEA #arc #arcreader #arcreview #honestreview #booktok #booklover #book #books #bookgram #instagram #instabook #romance #everythingyouare #brittneylauren @Brittney Lauren | Indie Author
I received this as an ARC. I enjoyed this book, you could relate to both Abby and Kaiser and their insecurities. I think everyone has had some of these feelings if not all of them. Abby and Kaiser both have issues with not communicating well and not telling people what is really going on, Abby is lucky the situation with Liam ended the way it did, she should’ve told someone several times over, but very realistically done in the book. Many people in real life handle it just like she did. I really enjoyed watching Abby and Kaiser realize their feelings for each other that were always there went deeper than they thought and were reciprocated. I loved that she had Lennon and Carina. I loved that Kaiser had Kaity and Randy and his love for his mom and Woods. They definitely had a good group of friends around them and that was so nice to see. I liked that they came from rough backgrounds, it made them more relatable. Their development together and their growth and care for each other was well done.
Everything You Are starts off quietly, but the emotion builds with every chapter. The pacing gives you time to really understand the characters and what they’re holding back, without feeling slow or dragged out.
Kaiser reminded me of someone I know—someone who’s been through a lot and doesn’t think he deserves love, even though he shows it in all the ways that count. He’s steady, protective, and deeply loyal. Abby wants to be loved without conditions, and that need came through so clearly.
What made this hit me emotionally wasn’t any big moment or twist—it was how much I recognized their fears and the way they tried, even when it was hard, to trust that someone might stay.
This isn’t a dramatic romance. It’s quiet, character-driven, and all about trust, healing, and love that doesn’t need big gestures to matter. If that’s the kind of story you look for—add this to your list.
**Thank you to the author for an eARC copy of this book.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This age gap, grumpy x sunshine, closed-door romance was filled with lots of great swoon-worthy moments. I particularly enjoyed Kaiser’s character. Despite his quiet, gruff exterior, his emotions run deep and he’s a wonderful man who knows how to treat Abby and give her the love she deserves. I’d pick him as a book boyfriend any day! It was heartwarming watching how they loved each other despite their anxieties and self-doubt.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I appreciated being given an early copy from Brittney.
That said, for me personally, it felt like the story needed a bit more development, a good edit, and more focus on their progressing love story. From Abby’s mom, to Liam, to Ivy, to extensive self-doubt, there was a lot of backstory to unpack that took me out of the moment. As a reader who likes to escape reality and get lost in a heartwarming romance, it felt a bit too focused on their traumas and anxieties.
Very Easy to read and it's quick to finish. It's a YA love story with no spice and slow burn. It explores various mental health issues like PTSD, low self-esteem, recurring nightmares and so on along with external threats, both the characters fight through. Kaiser is a very avoidant person who feels he's unworthy of love because of his past. Abby feels she's very fast and easily falls into relationships so she's holding back. They're neighbours, but they think neither of them are interested in each other but it's the contrary. But that's what the book is about, how they eventually know and fall for each other harder. It's a love story that's filled with affirmations one should know and believe in for themselves. Chapter 52 heard my prayers and brought them together in the perfect way. And the epilogue 🤭 will make us giggle plentiful. I loved this book so much and I'm glad I got a chance. I would recommend it to everybody ❤️.
I received a copy of this book as an ARC read in return for an honest review.
“Everything You Are” by Brittney Lauren is one of my favorite recent romance novels. So well written and such a satisfying read!
I’m a sucker for a good small-town romance and this book definitely was just the right book for me. I was hooked from the start following Abby & Kaiser’s love story and couldn’t put it down! I also thought that the topics of mental health and PTSD were tackled so realistically but in an appropriate way. Abby’s character was so relatable as someone who struggles with self-worth and as a first responder, the topic of PTSD is something that is very important to me. I know many first responders and military veterans who struggle with PTSD and this novel raised some awareness without it being overly triggering.
I’ll definitely be looking out for more books from Brittney Lauren in the future, thanks for letting me read and review this! 💕
4/4.5 I enjoyed this read. There were a few instances where the whole "I'm not loveable" from the MCs was a bit over-the-top but it made the plot work. There is romance! But it's closed-door, so keep this in mind if you pick up this book.
In terms of Grumpy X Sunshine, this book delivered. I've yet to see a character as broody as Kaiser, and I love him for it! I did prefer the MMC to the FMC (Abby) but to each their own I guess. It was quite refreshing to have "older" characters and not 20-something gallivanting about town.
This book gave sweet/cozy vibes BUT please do check the first pages with warnings. Due to these, the book felt very real and raw while reading.
I received an e-ARC of this book from the author. I'm leaving this review voluntarily, this review is my own.
First of all, thank you so much to Brittney Lauren for providing me with an ARC of Everything You Are! I really enjoyed this heartfelt, emotional story with such a sweet grumpy-sunshine dynamic.
I loved watching Kaiser slowly open up to Abby and how he made her see just how amazing she truly is. Their journey felt genuine and raw, and their connection was beautiful to watch unfold.
The only thing that felt a little off was their insecurity—it did feel a bit much at times. But considering everything they had gone through, it was also understandable and added depth to their healing process.
Overall, this book was like a healing journey—filled with love, growth, and finding happiness after pain. I'm so happy they got their well-deserved happy ending!
Thank you Brittney for allowing me to be an ARC for this book! I was so excited to learn more about Abby and to see where she found love.
This is such a good read with so much depth. The battles these two characters face is relatable. It may feel like a bit much but that’s reality. When you’re drowning with anxiety and overthinking, that’s how your brain functions. It was really cool to read a story and connect with the insecurities and overthinking both characters experience.
I loved the character building, the build up to their connection and the little suspense that is twisted into the story. Although there are trigger warnings, it is still a good fast pace read with a great story line.
Everything You Are is a cute grumpy/sunshine, closed-door romance with a splash of suspense. It’s a slow burn, filled with genuine, touching moments that make the story feel real.
I couldn’t help but love Kaiser. He’s quiet, strong, and always shows up when it matters. I loved reading his POV and was so happy he found someone who could bring some sunshine to his world.
Abby is on a journey to find her spark and rediscover herself. She brings a bit of chaos with her wherever she goes, and I can totally relate.
I enjoyed reading this one and will definitely pick up more books from Brittney Lauren. She creates emotional, moving characters and scenes that will resonate with her readers.
It has an age gap, a small town, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, a closed door & suspense
Our FMC is Abby, who is bright and bubbly, loves her crystals, is a paralegal, a hopeless romantic & an amateur baker.
Our MMC is Kaiser: He is ex-military, has PTSD, and is very raw and down on himself. He runs a woodworking business and is very creative.
This book was very raw and honest. Following through the life and trauma that both characters have been through, as they heal together. Check your triggers, as there is talk of PTSD and difficulty with being ex-military. But overall, a really good read.
I really enjoyed reading this book! While there were a few grammar and spelling errors that caught my attention, they didn’t take away from the overall experience. The story itself was compelling and well worth the read.
Abby and Kaiser’s journey is actually adorable. This is a true slow burn with little to no spice, but the romance is incredibly sweet and heartfelt. Beyond the love story, there’s also a thrilling element that adds an exciting layer to the plot. The pacing could have been smoother in some areas, but overall, the story flowed well. It does tackle some heavy themes, but ultimately, it delivers a satisfying happily-ever-after.
The repetition in the book was a little annoying. But I liked it anyway. Abby seemed a little clueless for a smart lady 🤣🤣 Like she’s a paralegal and some of the things she didn’t put together was like um duh 😅🤦🏻♀️ I absolutely loved Kaiser. Definitely book boyfriend worthy. It's heartbreaking how they both had such low thoughts of themselves. But I'm glad that in finding each other they lost their blinders and saw themselves worthy of love and so much more. Definitely going to be back tracking and reading book one. And hopefully there is a book 3 about Carina. Solid ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ and zero 🌶️
*PLEASE CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS* This book is not for everyone❤️😂 *Special Thanks to the Author for gifting me this book. All Opinions are my own!*
This was a really good read! I love the Trauma bonding between Abby and Kaiser. This book did not sugar coat and was very raw and quite frankly honest to the realities of dealing with Anxiety, Overthinking, and insecurities. This is a closed door romance filled with some sweet and cute moments. I loved how Abby and Kaiser progressed throughout the story. Overall this book had a great storyline with strong character development.
Overall, this was a good Grumpy x Sunshine book. I liked that we got dual POV from Abby and Kaiser. It's closed door but, we get a good taste of tension and heat. Their dynamic was cute, and it was great to watch them slowly learn to trust each other/themselves and find a little peace with the traumas they've endured.
With that said, the reason for 4 rather than 5 stars is because the pacing felt a little off and read jolting at times.
Overall, I am excited to see more from this author!!
This book was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me and I loved every second of it. The characters were written with depth and nuance which brought them to life off the page. Each character is going through something significant but they complemented each other so well. The story was well written and was easy to read but provided emotional depth throughout. Absolutely recommend if you enjoy contemporary romance with a hint of deeper/darker themes. I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, age gap, forced proximity, suspense & closed-door
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this one, it was cute and also riddled with grammar/spelling mistakes I had trouble following sometimes. I also had some trouble following the timeline, which is what made me rate it lower. Of course mine was an ARC, so I hope the final edited copy has a bit of a switch up and the timelines match and the grammar/spelling mistakes are gone.
If you are looking for an easy read that features an age gap romance, sunshine meets grumpy, people who feel undeserving of love and a small TW menu, this is one for you.
BEAUTIFUL! This book was simply just beautiful. The characters, the story. ALL of it! Kaiser and Abby are truly amazing and I love how they fell in love ❤️ However Liam can find a rough place in hell to sleep
Every girl needs a sister and a best friend, whether that's 1 person or 2, Carina and Lennon get 5⭐️ on being amazing people
I 100% recommend this book, if you want to feel love ❤️
I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy. This is the first book I have read from this author and after reading this, I can’t wait to read more! This book was an easy and quick read, and gave me all the warm fuzzy feels. The characters were likable and relatable, and I love how this highlighted how as humans or lovers we can help to make each other better people. Thanks for the arc!
This book releases on April 24th and I was lucky to get the chance to read it!
I loved the age gap trope for this book! My favorite part was the main characters feeling that they are not worthy of love due to previous relationships, who find each other, and learn their worth ♥️
The tension and all of the extra problems in this story made it so so good. But their love for each other completely transforms each of them. I loved this book so much.
What a cute love story! I loved the slow build between Abby and Kaiser. It was very character driven, while exploring self development and healing from their respective traumas. Definitely watch the trigger warnings, it led me on an emotional roller coaster and was suspenseful at times.
This is a age gap, closed door, grumpy/sunshine love story. Them finding each other is just what needed to happen. There was lots of ups and downs and heartbreaking moments but when they realized they need each other to feel whole again, their love is exceptional. Happy Reading!
This was a nice read. Poor Kaiser has a lot of self doubt and PTSD to work through and wasn't very positive about himself. That led him to eventually lead Abby away sadly. But HEA!
I think i fell in love with woodwork, This book is so amazing I have very little words to express how amazed I am, I will definitely be reading it many more times, and its incredibly heartwarming🥹🥹