You Cake My Breath Away

by Tobie Carter

Archer Wilson isn’t just the stupidly handsome carpenter I had a crush on in college, he’s my late husband’s best friend. Someone I used to consider a friend too.

Yeah, used to being the operative word.

Ever since Jessie passed away, Archer’s frozen me out. Where there was once warmth and playful friendship between us, now we can’t stand to be in the same room without throwing snarky remarks at each other.

When I discover Jessie bought me a bakery location before he died and tasked Archer with the job to get it ready for opening, I’m shocked. We can barely stand each other. How are we going to work together day in and day out?

This is going to be a disaster.

But now I have a problem…

Old feelings are bubbling back to the surface, and I want to honor my commitment to my late husband, but I’m falling for his best friend. This thing with Archer could be my second chance at happily-ever-after, or it could collapse like an overdone souffle.

Please check the author's website for any content warnings!

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2025

About the author

Tobie Carter is a fiction writer of contemporary romance and suspense who will die on the hill saying that there was absolutely enough room on that plank for both of them. Her stories are fast-paced, angsty, high heat, and feature relatable characters who refuse to settle for less than they deserve.

Reviews

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the perfect recipe of tenderness, grief rep, second chances, steamy moments and resilience.

Fair warning: I cried… a lot reading this book. Tobie delicately portrays loss and grief so beautifully and realistically. I already adored that it was dual pov, but the epistolary letters Archer writes his deceased brother really provided that extra perspective that helped me better connect with him.

Our sweet, brave Tilly. Her struggle to simply exist and move forward while continuing to process her grief amidst these newfound feelings for her late husband’s best friend had my heart aching for hers. I love that she was honest and vocal, that we see her recognize her work through her areas for growth as much as advocate for her own needs.

And I have to shoutout that the story is based in San Antonio!! As someone who calls this city her hometown, I felt that everything from the Pearl to the Whataburger references to the 410 traffic were represented perfectly.

Altogether this book was unlike anything I’ve read before and I ate it up. The originality of the characters, the sensitive nature of the plot and the complexity of each character had me quite literally devour this book in one sitting. Please proceed after reading trigger warnings, but know this book is one to cake your breath away🍰✨

BLURB:
To get her bakery ready for grand opening, a grieving Tilly must work with her late husband's best friend to fix up the place. When old feelings bubble back to the surface, Tilly and Archer must learn to how forgive to move forward together or let their second chance at happily ever after collapse like an overdone soufflé.

🍰 Second Chance Romance
💕 Widow x Late Husband's Best Friend
🍰 Only One (Truck) Bed
💕 Grumpy x Sunshine
🍰 Close Proximity
💕 Epistolary Letters
🍰 Grief rep
💕 Baker x Carpenter
🍰 Found Family
💕 Open Door Spice

[BarbieTheeReader🎀🫦 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If there's something... there.. forgive before it's too late for growth to happen."
"We go at your pace and see where it goes."
"Your allowed to be happy, and you're allowed to be sad too. You can feel whatever you need to but don't battle it up."
"I want to be the man who makes all of your dreams come true, Tilda St. James."

Thank you to the author for an E-ARC!

My heart is so warm and full now I finished this lovely descriptive story. This story is truly a love letter to anyone who has lost a loved one (platonic, family member, significant other. etc.) This author did a phenomenal job with depicting how grief, sadness, and loss is felt when a loved one has passed away. The way the author used descriptive language, and vivid words to create the sadness pouring out on the page that the reader feels every raw feeling that Tilly and Archer experience throughout the story. Although both characters express / feel with their grief emotions is extremely different, but it shows that we all experience grief differently and those differences are okay. So many important themes were executed well within this story and the slow growth that Tilly and Archer express / go through individually to come to together stronger than ever was beautiful to read. I highly recommend this story.

Tilly's journey of coming to terms and trying to live life after her husband passed away was written so beautifully, her daily thoughts and daily turmoil of trying to live her life was so sad but such a real way. Her internal monologues / growth towards life, herself, and love that she deserves was beautiful to see, I love her growth and I love her character so much.

Archer's respect and slow realization over the years of yearning for Tilly was written so well. I thoroughly enjoyed the secret journals he wrote over the years and the strength he overcame to pick the job profession he always loved and learning to continue to live life without someone important by his side.

I really enjoyed the strong family dynamic demonstrated within Archer and Tilly's life, that strong support system and constant love surrounding them in such hard times made me smile. Shantel and Nora were thee best side characters and always supported Archer and Tilly whether they wanted their love or not. On the same note, the stressful distress Archer has experienced from his blood relatives provided both sides of the coin of what love is like unconditionally and conditionally.

This can be heavy read for some but this is a necessary read for sure. This such a great read.


Tropes:
2nd chance
Widow/Husband's best friend
Grumpy x Sunshine
Grief Rep
Only One Bed

[Melissa Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg.. great love story! Another great book to the Wordplay series 💕

[Rosalva Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute pleasure of reading an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of You Cake My Breath Away by Tobie Carter, and let me tell you, it’s as sweet and heartfelt as its title suggests! ❤️🍰🧁

Archer and Tilly’s story is a beautifully raw exploration of love, grief, and healing. Tobie Carter masterfully captures the unfiltered emotions of two people navigating life after devastating loss. Tilly after losing her husband and Archer after losing his best friend. Their shared grief binds them in the most heart wrenching yet uplifting way.

Archer is the ultimate dream guy, so selfless, kind, and devoted. The way he would do anything for Tilly without hesitation melted my heart. And Tilly’s journey, from heartbreak to finding strength in her passion for baking, was inspiring and relatable. I couldn’t help but wish I could try one of her delicious recipes! They all sounded so good and had my mouth watering! 🎂

The found family dynamic with Nora and Shantel added so much warmth and light to the story. These characters felt like real family you’d want to spend time with. The balance between heartbreak and hope made this book a captivating and emotional read.

Tobie Carter has delivered a story that is equal parts delicious and sweet, and I can’t recommend it enough to readers who love stories about love, loss, and the power of found family.

You Cake My Breath Away is an absolute treat, and I can’t wait for everyone to dive into this beautiful, bittersweet story when it’s released on February 11, 2025!

[Sabrina | thebookishspot · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Book Review✨


4.25 ⭐ for You Cake my Breath Away by Tobie Carter


With a punny title like that, and the fact that the FMC is a baker, I knew I had to read this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This story does have some heavy themes (lots of grief discussion, amongst others) so thread with caution if that's not your thing, but there's also a cute love story to counterbalance all the heavy that I loved.


Archer has been pining for Tilly since college, and he's completely down bad for her; for him, it's always been her, but since she's his best friend's widow, things are a touch complicated, to say the least. I loved this depiction of love after loss, how they slowly rebuilt their friendship and ultimately Tilly fell in love with him too. Archer is such a good guy, with the biggest heart and I adored him! Only downside for me was him shaving his beard at the end lol.


I did get frustrated with the third-act breakup, as I felt it would've been resolved with a mature conversation between them, and the unexpected pregnancy trope shows up, but thankfully it's towards the end of the book.


Overall, I really enjoyed this book, it had some sweet moments (and some spicy ones!) and I'm curious about reading more from this author.


Thank you to Ingram Reviews for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[🐷Shay loves books🐷 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by this author and it definitely will not be the last! She takes real emotions and life’s struggles and writes them in a way that leaves your heart needing more. This is an absolutely beautiful story. You get 2nd chance romance, friends to lovers, husbands best friend, found family and so much more! I cannot wait to read more of her work! Not only are her covers amazing, but the words inside this book were written so perfectly! I felt every emotion she portrays in this book! At times I felt myself in the characters shoes and how amazing life can be, if you allow yourself to get out of the way and let your heart do its job, and sometimes that means going way out of your comfort zone and trying something new, and in doing so, if the need arrives, you have to cut people out of your life, no matter who or what they are to you!

[darkromancexo · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
🌶️🌶️

Archer and Tilly

Wow this book was a lot. Don’t get fooled by the cover because it’s so not sweet. But I did love it the dynamic between Archer and Tilly was so sweet, perfect and also heartbreaking.
Tilly has lost her husband from an aneurysm which was totally unexpected. She woke up to him with his arms wrapped around her. 🥺 So she becomes anti touchy. She’s also wanted to own her own bakery since her mom showed her how to bake. But little to her knowledge she gets more than what she signed up for.
Archer is Tilly’s husband’s best friend used to be her best friend too. He’s a carpenter who helps out Jesse before his passing. Ever since his brother was murdered he’s held on to a chip and flips it (in his mind he thinks his brother is deciding his faith) he also writes to him almost everyday. But he’s always loved Tilly ever since he first saw her. He decides to sign up for hgtv to get out of San Antonio to get on a makeover show and hopefully make his parents proud.

[Renee Arieno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archer and Tilly's story is all about love, grief, and healing from loss. Tobie captures such raw emotions of two people navigating life after loss. Tilly losing her husband and Archer because it was his best friend.

Tilly’s husband bought her a bakery before he passed and Archer is working to fix it up and she wants to help in the process.

I really enjoyed watching Tilly’s journey, finding her strength and passion through baking. This was such a beautiful story and I’m looking forward to reading more of this series!

What to Expect:
💖 2nd chance
🧁 Love after Loss
💖 Grumpy x Sunshine
🧁 Grief Rep
💖 Only One Bed

[Rosio · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great live story that also shows us the many ways to grieve! It was the perfect story to read this Valentines Day 🩷

[Jen 🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A adorable read! Loved it! Tobie did it again! Awesome read! Highly recommend! 🫶🏻

[Jennifer Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐ for Archer and Archer only

Guess I'm going to be the only one who didn't really care for this book. I could not stand Tilly. I understand her grieving, but she treated Archer horribly. Archer deserved better overall. His family was horrible too. Also Jessie wasn't that great of a person in my opinion.

Tilly tells Archer she needs space to be alone, but then is angry that he isn't texting her or talking to her. Any time someone asked about Tilly and Archer's relationship, Tilly pretty much said "there is no relationship, we got each other out of our systems so now we can move on".

Nora, Shantel, and Archer were the only good characters.

"I stare down at my empty finger and realize Jessie asked me to marry him with a ring he didn’t pick out, that my favorite piece of jewelry, the bracelet I wear daily, was chosen by a man who stood on the sidelines instead of getting onto the field and fighting to win my heart."

"All these things were showing me that he truly knew me, that he truly loved me, and I threw it all away because he was too scared to tell me, to fight for me all those years ago. Because his parents, and even me, made him feel so unworthy of love that when it finally came time for him to have it, he didn’t feel like he deserved it."

"I pushed Archer away because I was scared I wasn’t enough, and that I was too much at the same time. I didn’t give him a chance to truly show me he was serious about us, and instead of trusting his words from the book, I turned it around on him and made him feel like a cheap fling to me."

[Dawn Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the perfect blend of sweetness, heartache, and hope, much like the baked goods at the heart of its story. It masterfully crafts a tale of second chances and healing, set against the backdrop of a cozy, soon-to-open bakery.

It's filled with chemistry, banter, and raw emotion. Their dynamic is electric, grumpy x sunshine. The tropes—second chance, widow falling for her husband’s best friend, and even the fan-favorite only one bed—are executed beautifully, adding layers to the story without feeling cliché.

What truly makes this book shine is its honest and compassionate portrayal of grief. The FMC's struggle to navigate her feelings for Archer while honoring her late husband is handled with care, making her journey relatable and deeply moving.

The story is sweet enough to make your heart swoon but real enough to leave a lasting impression. This one is a must-read for anyone who loves romance with depth, warmth, and the occasional snarky comeback. Plus, the bakery vibes will leave you craving something sugary to pair with this delectable read!

[Misty • booksplusplants · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tilly lost her husband, but realized he had bought her dream bakery and asked his best friend, Archer, to help her get it ready for opening. Archer and Tilly haven’t gotten along in years, and old feelings are coming back for both of them. 

Archer was majorly swoony, a perfect green flag. I love the pining and “it’s always been you” vibes. I loved all his letters to his brother, showing how much he showed up for Tilly in the only ways he could. Seriously swoon. 

I love how the grief was handled in this book. It was done beautifully and with care, while also not making the book feel too heavy. 

Definitely recommend if you like:
🧁Second chance 
🧁Widow/late husband's best friend
🧁It’s always been you 
🧁Grief rep
🧁Close proximity 
🧁Grumpy/Sunshine
🧁Found family
🧁Dual timeline

[Charleys Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You haven't tasted anything I've made in like four years.
- I know it sounds corny, but I didn't need another reason to fall for you."


You Cake My Breath Away by Tobie Carter is coming out Tuesday! This book is a beautifully written slow-burn second chance romance! Tobie Carter has quickly become an author whose writing I love and can't wait to read, and I love this book is set in San Antonio! Tilly, who has always dreamed of opening up her own bakery, when discovers paperwork in her late husband's belongings; she is now faced with renovating her dream storefront with her late husband's best friend. All while trying not to fall in love with the same man who pushed her away all of those years ago.

Grief, healing, and moving forward are a very heavy themes in this book, and I loved the care in how Tobie Carter wrote it throughout the book.
I loved Archer's character and how, for a portion, his feelings and thoughts were brought to us through letters he wrote to his late brother. I loved that these letters were both present in the timeline and also allowed us glimpses into Archer's past thoughts and feelings. His twisted sense of honor made me rally behind a happy ending for him and Tilly.

Tilly is still struggling with her husband's death, touch starved, and pissed that Archer (her late husband's best friend) has been treating her like crap! I love that she doesn't just take his crap but gives it back. Even in her grief, she was still strong and fitting back against his harsh words and actions.

I could not get enough of this book; I loved the banter, slow burn, and the second chance of what almost was from years prior! I would highly recommend reading this and other works by Tobie Carter.

Tropes List:
💞Second Chance Romance
👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏻Widow/Late husband's best friend
😔Estranged friends to lovers
💌Secret letters
🌦️Grumpy x sunshine
🤏🏾Close Proximity
🛏️Only one bed (truck bed, that is)
❌Complicated family dynamics

**Content warnings**
Grief(spousal death); Death of sibling(on-page, in the past gun violence); Mention of drug use; Touch starvation; Pregnancy; Open-door intimacy

*Thank you to Tobie Carter for ARC Copy!

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was different than the other books I've read recently and I loved it so much.
The FMC, Tilly, lost her husband about six months before the book starts and she is still trying to figure out her new normal. This touched on the grief process and the different ways grief can stall your life if you let it. Everyone in Tilly's life is so good with giving her space and supporting her but they also give her a reality check when she needs it. The supporting characters were people i would want in my life, giving advice that you can use for every day as well as post loss.
The MMC, Archer, isn't a perfect man and that's why I loved him. He's flawed and he knows it but he also tries to better himself and shows Tilly every step of the way how much he loves her instead of just telling her. Reading his journal entries to his brother was so bittersweet because you can see how much he's loved her, how long, and how well he knows her. The scenes with the wall paper and the signs are proof that this man knows her like the back of his hand.
The storyline of dead husband's best friend seems like it would have so much drama but this was not dramaless but there was no "How could you", if anything... let me not ruin it.
I'm trying to think of a way to describe the book as a whole and lovely is the only word I can think of because it really had me in my head and feelings but I was so happy at the ending but still thinking about the different nuggets of wisdom I got going through the book.
Thank you to tobie Carter for allowing me to ARC read

[S Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tilly is a recent widow who is still grieving and trying to figure out what comes next in her life. Archer was best friends with both Tilly and her late husband but started distancing himself from both of them when they began dating. Turns out Archer was in love with Tilly and instead of pursuing her he let his best friend pursue her and they ended up getting married. Fast forward a year after her husband's death and Tilly starts to make discoveries that change the course of her life.

This book had a little bit of everything. It’s a slow burn romance with a secret crush and two people dealing with different stages of grief and loss. This book tackles a lot of emotional topics around death including the guilt you sometimes feel for moving on. What I loved about this book is that despite their grief, each character works hard to make changes in their lives. I really felt all the emotions Tilley has, both in her feelings toward Archer and her guilt from the possibility of moving on and being happy. Archer is a flawed MMC but his flaws make him endearing and you want them both to figure out a way to be together. I Loved everything about this book. Definitely a book worth reading.

[Lyna • lynasbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Tilly as she navigates life after losing her husband unexpectedly. Tilly’s world stood still after her husband was gone. Her support system was his sister and Nora, the best in-laws you could ever ask for. Archer has buried his feelings for Tilly since college and backed off thinking he couldn’t give Tilly the life she deserved. Her late husband’s gift to her, her dream bakery, is the only tie between Archer and Tilly in present day. Spending day in and day out on this project brings them back together - stronger than ever. Archer loves Tilly in the small things he’s noticed of her, the small things he does for her, in how he doesn’t judge her or want to change her, in the way he gave up on his happiness for hers. The ultimate book boyfriend right there. This book has the tender moments. It has the steamy moments. It has the chemistry coming off the pages. The first few chapters gave me chills as we learn about Tilly, her loss, and the people around her. I never wanted to put the book down. It also made me cry in public on a plane. Thank you to Tobie for my precious gifted ARC.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure this would have been on my radar without receiving an ARC , but I am so very grateful that it ended up there! This was a delightfully slow burn of forced proximity that didn't hold back and captured both the grief of lost opportunities and the loss of a loved one, and did it with authenticity.

Archer's journal entries are top tier--the author did a beautiful job with these to give him so much depth, and the final resolution with his family? Gah! I have no words for how honest and necessary that situation (years in the making though it may have been) was.

What keeps this from a 5-star for me is the ending is a bit rushed in relation to the rest of the story. We're at 50% through and they are still hardly talking to each other but the third-act breakup gets resolved in no time flat? It didn't ring true for me--I was looking for a bit more in terms of their inner turmoil during their time apart.

"I learned how to live by myself, relying on no one to take care of me, and it worked for a while."

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tension between our leads is off the charts. Loving someone you know you shouldn’t want but can’t help but crave? Pure heartbreak fuel.

The secret journal entries that Archer writes over the years are my favorite parts of the book. They had me feeling so many emotions. It’s such an intimate and raw look into his heart and mind.

Also, a Texan man calling the fmc ”baby girl” and ”darlin’”? Yeah, I’m obsessed😌 Archer, you not only cake my breath away but I can’t cake my eyes off you😍 (that was a bad one, sorry🫣)

But this book isn’t just about the cute romance—it’s about grief, second chances, and letting yourself love again. The author handled these topics perfectly, making the characters feel very real.

I highly recommend this book for anyone that’s looking for a love story with a lot of depth that will bring you on an emotional rollercoaster. If you love angst and male yearning—you’re in for a treat🤭

[kayleegreadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was such a privilege to ARC read this sweet story.

Tilly is a baker but gave up her dream in grief when her husband passed suddenly in his sleep in her arms. The grieving period is HARD and she completely folds in on herself.

Archie was besties with Tilly and her husband before they started dating but has always also been in love with Tilly. Because of that, he backed off entirely and made Tilly believe he hated her simply because he didn’t want to cross a line.

Them finding each other again while building the bakery her husband bought prior to his death is so good. There’s spice, forced proximity, friends to enemies to lovers, found family. A wholesome love story that deals with tough stuff.

I would’ve probably given this 5 stars if Archie and Tilly didn’t make me so mad at times and it could have been a little shorter.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love second chance romances so so so so much. The heartbreak!! The second half of this book ripped me apart. Tilly and Archer had so much self-doubt and grief to work through. It was heart-wrenching to read how they put themselves down so much.

There were some things in the book that weren’t addressed that I wished was. Some parts felt a little dragged on and repetitive in the first half, but once I hit the second half, it flew by for me.

The author is so great at writing supporting cast of characters. They’re just as good as the mains. Shantel and Nora are truly your dream family. And look… Diedre is lucky she’s a book character because we would’ve had some words.

YCMBA has some open-door spice scenes, but I didn’t think they were overly descriptive.

Thank you to Tobie for blessing me with this ARC!

[Bookreader B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚🌶🌶

You Cake My Breath Away is apart of The Wordplay Series. This has a little bit of a forbidden aspect to it. Tobie Carter does a great job of portraying their relationship from friends to nemesis to lovers and how this all effects their lives.

Archer is the local carpenter and had promised his late best friend that he would help renovate a bakery. This bakery happens to belong his best friend’s wife, Tilly. Tilly is not aware she gets to pursue her dreams of opening a bakery her husband bought for her until he passes. Archer and Tilly used to be friends and would get along really well until Tilly's husband passes. Now he is cold, distant and can't stand being in the same room as each other. Now they have to work together to get the bakery up and running. All they have to do is be able to be in the same room with each other and not throw around snarky remarks.

[Nicke M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for a good pun so when I saw this book on the gram I was anxiously awaiting its release date so I could dive in, and I was not disappointed.
There’s something about navigating the nuances of love after loss on the page that when done right, gets me every time. And this one was done right.
Everyone needs an Arch in their life. What a gem of an MMC. And Tilly is equally as amazing. I loved their dynamic with each other, with their chosen family, the anticipation, pain, and tender, hopeful moments in this book.
If you too are a sucker for…
🖤Widow/Late husband’s best friend
🖤Forced proximity
🖤Second chances
🖤Just one (truck bed)
🖤Grief to hope to love
🖤Estranged friends to lovers
… then I recommend this book. And if you have a chance to get the bonus scene…Def do it!

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Cake My Breath Away is a swoon-worthy, romantic, raw, relatable, cute, and delightful read! This is an open-door romance from the Word Play Series with an emphasis on grief and loss. The balance of spousal loss with opening your heart to new romance was so sensitively done. I loved this aspect of the book and appreciate realistic internal conflict the characters went through. It was so sweet and heartwarming to see the main characters relationship grow from off-limits to warm friendship to romance. The banter was so cute! Tilly is a very lovable character and Archer is captivating! I love Archer is her late husband's best friend and is willing to help her with all the bakery renovations; he is so kind!

[Sophia Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel honored to receive such an amazing ARC! This was my first ever second chance romance and I think it was an amazing start to this trope. The sheer cheesiness of the second meet up is currently unmatched. I really like how Tilly doesn’t try to just ignore her grief. She really represents the true reality of pain and loss. Archer was an amazing character and his backstory was even more lovable. I truly believe that this book is just one Hallmark Movie with extra depression. In summary, I loved this book! The only part that made the book loose me a little was how epilogue and last chapter are rushed a little. But besides that, fabulous book!

[Analee · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

Tobie has really done it again! The book makes you love the heartbreak of her main characters because it shows their depth of growth and love that they have for each other and the people that mean most to them. Getting to see the heartbreak from both points of view just makes you want to learn more about their history and how their story is about second chances at life and love. They really show you that you're allowed to be happy or sad about things going on in your life because hey, it's normal.

If you love a quirky FMC that dresses how she wants and a very grumpy, very handy MMC in your books, please look no further than Tilly and Arch's story!

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice: Open 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating: 👍

Tobie doesn't miss. The characters in this one 👌 You've got Archer with his grumpy vibes (for good reason you will come to find out), Tilly as a grieving widow who isn't quite ready to let go yet, and a meddling family (cue sister in law and mother in law) who just want what's best for Tilly AND Archer. Next, you've got a bakery that the late husband was giving Tilly as an anniversary present, but never got to give her because he passed that now Archer has to fix up. The only problem? Archer and Tilly's friendship stopped when Tilly 'chose' Jessie. What could go wrong??

[SL Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

Whew what a story! Archer and Tilda’s love story was not an easy road. First, I love how grief was portrayed in this book. We had parental, sibling and spousal grief. It was so realistic and beautifully done. Archer and Tilda had gone to school together and along the way, started as friends but ended up not so friendly. But they find themselves back to each other. The supporting cast was spectacular as well as the journal entries Archer wrote to his brother. I can say enough good things about this story except to read it and enjoy! Thank you Ms. Carter for the wonderful book!

[Khian Reaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You Cake My Breath Away” by Tobie Carter is a heartfelt and charming romance that beautifully explores love after loss. Archer and Tilly’s journeys through grief are raw and deeply emotional, yet their connection is filled with warmth, humor, and hope. Archer’s unconventional coping mechanisms add a unique twist to his character, making him both relatable and endearing. Tilly’s struggle to open her heart again is portrayed with authenticity, making her story all the more compelling. Carter’s writing is engaging, and the side characters bring extra layers of depth and charm. Overall, this is a touching and uplifting read—I’d love to see more from these amazing characters!

[Evie Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story, I couldn't help but fall in love with Archer through every letter of his I read. His patience and understanding with Tilly as she worked through her grief was so heart-warming that I just wanted to wrap him in a big hug! The grief rep and the care that was put into these character's as they carried the losses of their loved ones were so sweet. This was a great palate cleanser. I also have to add that the bonus scene alone was just *chefs kiss 😙🤌* I knew Archer was hiding a little freak in there somewhere behind all of the brooding and thoughtfulness and it was nice to have those thoughts validated 😆✔️