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Evergreen Grove #2
Ride by Your Side
She was supposed to say "I do,” instead, she said "Drive."
When Veronica Prescott plays the starring role of runaway bride in what should’ve been her fairy-tale wedding, the last person she expects to find behind the wheel of her getaway car is Miles Bennett—her best friend’s grumpy, broody, and no-nonsense older brother. She’s spent years trying (and failing) to win him over, but he’s made it abundantly clear he can’t stand her. Is he her first choice? Nope, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Miles Bennett has no interest in spending his vacation chauffeuring his younger sister’s impulsive best friend across state lines. Unfortunately, even he can’t deny she needs an escape—something he knows all too well, having spent way too many years as the target of ignorant small-town gossip.
With every mile that passes, the tension between them rises as their walls begin to crumble. It’s clear that something between them is shifting, but can what they’re building last beyond their road trip, or will they have to face the truth that the road to love is never smooth?
When Veronica Prescott plays the starring role of runaway bride in what should’ve been her fairy-tale wedding, the last person she expects to find behind the wheel of her getaway car is Miles Bennett—her best friend’s grumpy, broody, and no-nonsense older brother. She’s spent years trying (and failing) to win him over, but he’s made it abundantly clear he can’t stand her. Is he her first choice? Nope, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Miles Bennett has no interest in spending his vacation chauffeuring his younger sister’s impulsive best friend across state lines. Unfortunately, even he can’t deny she needs an escape—something he knows all too well, having spent way too many years as the target of ignorant small-town gossip.
With every mile that passes, the tension between them rises as their walls begin to crumble. It’s clear that something between them is shifting, but can what they’re building last beyond their road trip, or will they have to face the truth that the road to love is never smooth?
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2025
71 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Lucero
4 books66 followersKristen Lucero is a devoted mother of three boys and has been happily married for 14 years. They live in Utah, along with their two dogs, Milo and Beans. She has always had a passion for reading and writing. Kristen's love for romance novels and their happily ever afters inspired her to create her own heartfelt stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
March 11, 2025
Thank you Kristen Lucero for allowing me to read this arc! Ride by Your Side is the perfect slow burn, best friends brother book. I felt it was very well written and flowed beautifully. While reading I could picture everything easily and I felt like I wasn’t ever confused about what was happening or what they were thinking. One scene that sticks out to me the most is the ocean scene because I feel like it is a moment we really get to see Miles break from being a grump and just have fun. I did feel like there were a couple slow spots but they weren’t big enough to affect the story to me. I am very happy I got to read this book and I hope everyone else reads and enjoys it also!!
February 27, 2025
[arc review]
this was such a cute slow burn 🥹
ronnie is a bit wild and chaotic but she knows how to use that to her advantage and she knows when to turn it down. when miles got sick, she immediately sprung into action despite miles telling her he’s fine (he’s a man, he’s lying). she gave me mom vibes in that part but i can also see how she’s the mom of the friend group. i’m glad she left pete though, i’ve always hated him and i sincerely hope his political career tanks.
miles has accepted that he’s the town reject (his words, not mine) so he doesn’t think he’s deserving of all the love and attention ronnie gives him. it’s a little heartbreaking to see because he absolutely deserves the same love that ford and blair have. the town will always gossip but he’s also the only mechanic in town so…they’ve gotta play nice :)
this was such a cute slow burn 🥹
ronnie is a bit wild and chaotic but she knows how to use that to her advantage and she knows when to turn it down. when miles got sick, she immediately sprung into action despite miles telling her he’s fine (he’s a man, he’s lying). she gave me mom vibes in that part but i can also see how she’s the mom of the friend group. i’m glad she left pete though, i’ve always hated him and i sincerely hope his political career tanks.
miles has accepted that he’s the town reject (his words, not mine) so he doesn’t think he’s deserving of all the love and attention ronnie gives him. it’s a little heartbreaking to see because he absolutely deserves the same love that ford and blair have. the town will always gossip but he’s also the only mechanic in town so…they’ve gotta play nice :)
March 17, 2025
After reading this I badly want to visit a beach! And go on a road trip too, is it too much to ask for? 😭❤️
It's a cosy story with the perfect pace, the story that makes you feel giddy! 👉🏻👈🏻 I mean the story and words were flowing perfectly and I was really invested, didn't want to stop reading it at all.
Veronica was truly a sunshine, a bit reckless? But still a sunshine. I really loved her and I'm glad she left Pete!
Miles was one of the swooniest grumpy heroes I've read in the recent past and the beach scene where he showed how vulnerable he actually was all along under his grump demeanour? So heartfelt💗
Their banters? Funny and cute
Their chemistry? Dreamy and fun to read
Overall vibes of this book? So so amazing!
If you love:
✨Best friend's brother
✨Grumpy x sunshine
✨Road trip
✨Enemies to lovers
Definitely read this book!
Thank you so much Kristen Lucero for the ARC 💗
It's a cosy story with the perfect pace, the story that makes you feel giddy! 👉🏻👈🏻 I mean the story and words were flowing perfectly and I was really invested, didn't want to stop reading it at all.
Veronica was truly a sunshine, a bit reckless? But still a sunshine. I really loved her and I'm glad she left Pete!
Miles was one of the swooniest grumpy heroes I've read in the recent past and the beach scene where he showed how vulnerable he actually was all along under his grump demeanour? So heartfelt💗
Their banters? Funny and cute
Their chemistry? Dreamy and fun to read
Overall vibes of this book? So so amazing!
If you love:
✨Best friend's brother
✨Grumpy x sunshine
✨Road trip
✨Enemies to lovers
Definitely read this book!
Thank you so much Kristen Lucero for the ARC 💗
September 4, 2025
Thank you Kristen for letting me read this as an ARC. It is a good story, really liked the characters on it. The slooow burn 😍
March 13, 2025
Thank you Kristen Lucero for giving me access to this ARC. Ride by Your Side picks up directly where the first books leaves off. You don’t have to read the first one to understand the second, but it gives you background on Blair’s storyline. This was a very simple and easy read. Ronnie leaves her fiancé at the altar after seeing the red flags. Her getaway driver? None other than her best friend’s grumpy brother, Miles. I normally don’t like slow burn but appreciated it in this book. This was a cute read, but Ronnie never really has a big reflective moment. The book focuses so much on her making impulsive decisions but not so much on the outcome of her consequences. I really wish she would have undergone more personal development/matured more after the fact. I wish it would have been revisited. Also, I wasn’t a fan of how Miles spoke to/of her at the beginning. Idk if its just me, but had he spoken to me the way he did to Ronnie, I wouldn’t have even given the relationship a chance to develop.
February 23, 2025
4.5⭐️
What’s not to love about a grumpy/sunshine, best friend’s brother, dislike to lovers, with a hint of forced proximity romance??
Ride By Your Side by Kristen Lucero gave us everything we wanted and more. While it is part of a series of standalones, I decided to read my ARC without reading the first book, and I’m happy to report I didn’t feel lost at all! The author did a great job and laying everything out for us.
I loved seeing Veronica and Miles’s relationship develop along their road trip. With each stop, it seemed like they hated each other a little less, and then when they hit Vegas… well what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas (until it doesn’t!).
While the story itself was overall lighthearted, there are some mentions of heavier topics, so please be sure to read the content warning list before jumping in 💖
What’s not to love about a grumpy/sunshine, best friend’s brother, dislike to lovers, with a hint of forced proximity romance??
Ride By Your Side by Kristen Lucero gave us everything we wanted and more. While it is part of a series of standalones, I decided to read my ARC without reading the first book, and I’m happy to report I didn’t feel lost at all! The author did a great job and laying everything out for us.
I loved seeing Veronica and Miles’s relationship develop along their road trip. With each stop, it seemed like they hated each other a little less, and then when they hit Vegas… well what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas (until it doesn’t!).
While the story itself was overall lighthearted, there are some mentions of heavier topics, so please be sure to read the content warning list before jumping in 💖
March 3, 2025
4 ⭐️ ARC
This was cute, very well done.
I like the pace of the story, not too rushed but definitely real life like haha
This was cute, very well done.
I like the pace of the story, not too rushed but definitely real life like haha
April 23, 2025
Looooved this book! 🤭 A cute and easy read and I loved the Sabrina carpenter references!
February 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
If you're in the mood for a light, breezy beach read, Ride By Your Side might be just what you're looking for. It’s the literary equivalent of a Hallmark movie: sweet, predictable, and easy to consume. There are no high stakes, no deep emotional turmoil, and no shocking revelations; it's just a simple, feel-good romance.
Unfortunately, that’s also where the book fell short for me. Veronica, literally just ran away from her wedding, yet she faces no real consequences. I kept waiting for some deeper self-reflection or character development, but it never really came. I wanted more of her inner dialogue, more emotional growth, but it all felt a little too shallow.
Then there’s Miles. He starts off genuinely disliking Veronica. But before you know it, he flips from hater to lover with no real internal reckoning. His feelings change almost instantly, and it felt like a missed opportunity to explore his character arc more meaningfully.
Overall, I rated this book 3 stars because it was an enjoyable read. Ride By Your Side kept me entertained, but everything remained surface-level. If you’re looking for an easy, no-drama romance, this will do the trick. But if you want something with more depth and character evolution, this one might leave you wanting more.
If you're in the mood for a light, breezy beach read, Ride By Your Side might be just what you're looking for. It’s the literary equivalent of a Hallmark movie: sweet, predictable, and easy to consume. There are no high stakes, no deep emotional turmoil, and no shocking revelations; it's just a simple, feel-good romance.
Unfortunately, that’s also where the book fell short for me. Veronica, literally just ran away from her wedding, yet she faces no real consequences. I kept waiting for some deeper self-reflection or character development, but it never really came. I wanted more of her inner dialogue, more emotional growth, but it all felt a little too shallow.
Then there’s Miles. He starts off genuinely disliking Veronica. But before you know it, he flips from hater to lover with no real internal reckoning. His feelings change almost instantly, and it felt like a missed opportunity to explore his character arc more meaningfully.
Overall, I rated this book 3 stars because it was an enjoyable read. Ride By Your Side kept me entertained, but everything remained surface-level. If you’re looking for an easy, no-drama romance, this will do the trick. But if you want something with more depth and character evolution, this one might leave you wanting more.
February 23, 2025
I was a previous ARC Reader for Kristen’s book, Aisle Come Back to You, and had to read the continuation of the story! I just say Miles and Veronica are probably one of my most favorite fictional couples I’ve read. Their chemistry was off the charts and had me absolutely OBSESSED! Their banter and chemistry made the book pretty much unputdownable 😁. I will definitely be purchasing this book to have on my shelf despite receiving the ARC. These two lovebirds deserve a space on my shelf. 💜
March 13, 2025
Ahhh! I love Veronica and Miles story!! Enemies to lovers, grumpy-sunshine is one of my favorites!! The banter and flow of this book is spot on! When they finally realize their feelings I was so happy!! They definitely deserve to be happy!! I would absolutely recommend this book!! I feel so lucky to have been reading it before everyone else!! Thank you for allowing me to read this arc!
March 9, 2025
Kristen said "I'm going to write a blond male main character and everybody will love him despite his hair color", and she was right! 🙂↕️
From the first interaction Veronica and Miles had in the first book, I knew their story was bound to be amazing! I loved how different these two were, how Veronica was the sunshine Miles needed, and how they clicked perfectly despite disliking each other at first. There are many great tropes throughout the story, and they all felt natural for these characters. Their road trip was incredibly fun to follow, and I loved seeing them connect more and more as time passed. The forced proximity was exactly what they needed to understand each other and themselves better! Veronica felt like a friend everyone would want to have, and Miles was exactly the prince charming meant to love and cherish her. Seeing their dislike grow into mutual attraction was a delight!
I would definitely recommend this one! It's a lot of fun and the sweetest romance with some slow burn spice! I'm excited to see whose story is next; I think I might know who it will be!
A huge thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of this book!
From the first interaction Veronica and Miles had in the first book, I knew their story was bound to be amazing! I loved how different these two were, how Veronica was the sunshine Miles needed, and how they clicked perfectly despite disliking each other at first. There are many great tropes throughout the story, and they all felt natural for these characters. Their road trip was incredibly fun to follow, and I loved seeing them connect more and more as time passed. The forced proximity was exactly what they needed to understand each other and themselves better! Veronica felt like a friend everyone would want to have, and Miles was exactly the prince charming meant to love and cherish her. Seeing their dislike grow into mutual attraction was a delight!
I would definitely recommend this one! It's a lot of fun and the sweetest romance with some slow burn spice! I'm excited to see whose story is next; I think I might know who it will be!
A huge thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of this book!
March 10, 2025
I was lucky enough to be chosen to be part of the ARC team by Kristen Lucero.
I hadn’t read the first book so I was a little hesitant at first when I realized it was technically part of a series, but the book definitely can stand on its own. Some of my favorite tropes are grumpy/sunshine and best friend’s brother so I was so excited to read this book and absolutely loved it. The pacing of the book was also very well done and there was never a moment where I felt the story was either rushed or dragging on for too long. I also feel like Veronica and Miles have a decently relatable relationship journey where readers will be able to connect with or even relate to a lot of aspects of it (just maybe not the whole journey hahaha). I can’t wait to go back and read the first book and I just know many of my friends are going to love this book as much as I have.
I hadn’t read the first book so I was a little hesitant at first when I realized it was technically part of a series, but the book definitely can stand on its own. Some of my favorite tropes are grumpy/sunshine and best friend’s brother so I was so excited to read this book and absolutely loved it. The pacing of the book was also very well done and there was never a moment where I felt the story was either rushed or dragging on for too long. I also feel like Veronica and Miles have a decently relatable relationship journey where readers will be able to connect with or even relate to a lot of aspects of it (just maybe not the whole journey hahaha). I can’t wait to go back and read the first book and I just know many of my friends are going to love this book as much as I have.
March 8, 2025
I wish I could give this book infinity stars! I absolutely loved it and read it in one sitting! Honestly loved everything about this book Vee and Broody Bennett absolutely stole my heart. I've not read a lot of the best friends brothers Trope but this one truly took the cake for me! I need more!
Favorite Quote:
"There’s no way someone with a life as perfect and full as hers would ever be interested in someone as broken and pathetic as me."
Favorite Quote:
"There’s no way someone with a life as perfect and full as hers would ever be interested in someone as broken and pathetic as me."
March 13, 2025
This was such a fun read. While I haven't yet read Aisle Come Back To You, I didn't feel lost reading this at all. That being said, I will definitely be going back to read book 1!
This follows Ronnie as she escapes her wedding and embarks on a road trip with Miles. The slow burn, and the best friend's brother tropes are up there with my faves and this book does not disappoint.
Thank you to Kristen for giving me the chance to read this as an arc and defo check it out!
This follows Ronnie as she escapes her wedding and embarks on a road trip with Miles. The slow burn, and the best friend's brother tropes are up there with my faves and this book does not disappoint.
Thank you to Kristen for giving me the chance to read this as an arc and defo check it out!
May 4, 2025
Thank you to Kristen Lucero for the ARC!
This was a fun concept - a slow burn romance between a runaway bride and her best friend's older brother (who always disliked her growing up). Ronnie and Miles are so sweet together and we all know I'm a fan of the "my wife" trope. Such a good one!
The book itself was good. I think the pacing felt off in places and I find that sometimes the internal monologues get repetitive but it works in the end.
This was a fun concept - a slow burn romance between a runaway bride and her best friend's older brother (who always disliked her growing up). Ronnie and Miles are so sweet together and we all know I'm a fan of the "my wife" trope. Such a good one!
The book itself was good. I think the pacing felt off in places and I find that sometimes the internal monologues get repetitive but it works in the end.
March 16, 2025
I love these two! Miles was the getaway driver and took a road trip with Veronica. One thing lead to another, and feeling start to build, you can tell with these two they can't get enough of each other. Never in thought she was going to fall in love with her best friend brother but time grew on them and knew they couldn't be without each other!
March 19, 2025
3.5 ✨ ARC review:
Huge thanks to Kristen Lucero for the ARC review! Those last few chapters totally broke my reading slump and left me craving more. I seriously fell harder for Miles with every page, and had some major mouth-drop moments.
Read this if you enjoy:
⭐️ Bestfriends brother trope
⭐️ The Movie Runaway Bride
⭐️ A fan of Julia Roberts 🤭
⭐️ Small town
⭐️ grumpy x sunshine
Huge thanks to Kristen Lucero for the ARC review! Those last few chapters totally broke my reading slump and left me craving more. I seriously fell harder for Miles with every page, and had some major mouth-drop moments.
Read this if you enjoy:
⭐️ Bestfriends brother trope
⭐️ The Movie Runaway Bride
⭐️ A fan of Julia Roberts 🤭
⭐️ Small town
⭐️ grumpy x sunshine
March 20, 2025
✨ARC Review✨
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I REALLY liked this book. I had read the first one and thought it was good but THIS one was definitely 10 times better plot wise. I was OBSESSED with Miles in this book and Vee (IYKYK) was my kind of girl once she left her ex-fiance (not really a spoilers since that’s what happened at the end of book one). Love, love, LOVED this!!! May have to reread.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I REALLY liked this book. I had read the first one and thought it was good but THIS one was definitely 10 times better plot wise. I was OBSESSED with Miles in this book and Vee (IYKYK) was my kind of girl once she left her ex-fiance (not really a spoilers since that’s what happened at the end of book one). Love, love, LOVED this!!! May have to reread.
February 21, 2025
Ride by your side ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ride by Your Side is a charming enemies-to-lovers romance where Veronica Prescott, a runaway bride, ends up on a road trip with Miles Bennett, her best friend’s brooding older brother.
Though Miles has no interest in helping her, he reluctantly agrees, and as they journey across state lines, their tension-filled interactions begin to turn into something deeper.
The story beautifully balances humor, flirty moments, and emotional growth, with a slow-burn romance that feels both fun and heartfelt. It’s a delightful, feel-good read perfect for fans of sweet, angsty love stories.
Ride by Your Side is a charming enemies-to-lovers romance where Veronica Prescott, a runaway bride, ends up on a road trip with Miles Bennett, her best friend’s brooding older brother.
Though Miles has no interest in helping her, he reluctantly agrees, and as they journey across state lines, their tension-filled interactions begin to turn into something deeper.
The story beautifully balances humor, flirty moments, and emotional growth, with a slow-burn romance that feels both fun and heartfelt. It’s a delightful, feel-good read perfect for fans of sweet, angsty love stories.
March 8, 2025
This is an okay read if you're looking for something light, fluffy, and low angst. However, I really struggled with the wordiness (literally pages of narration/inner monologues) and lack of character development.
Veronica's character falls flat for someone who has an epiphany and leaves a man at the altar. It felt Hallmarky with a surface level, too predictable plot- I wish we had more insight with Miles and his childhood or his relationship with the town (flashbacks, dialogue with people other than Blair and Veronica, something...).
I enjoyed Aisle Come Back to You, but this missed the mark.
I received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Veronica's character falls flat for someone who has an epiphany and leaves a man at the altar. It felt Hallmarky with a surface level, too predictable plot- I wish we had more insight with Miles and his childhood or his relationship with the town (flashbacks, dialogue with people other than Blair and Veronica, something...).
I enjoyed Aisle Come Back to You, but this missed the mark.
I received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 22, 2025
ARC Review 🫶🏻
This was a sweet and fun romance about a runaway bride who unexpectedly falls for her best friend’s older brother—and he falls just as hard. A wild night leads to a Vegas marriage, buried feelings come to light, and love finds its way to a happily ever after.
🌶
This was a sweet and fun romance about a runaway bride who unexpectedly falls for her best friend’s older brother—and he falls just as hard. A wild night leads to a Vegas marriage, buried feelings come to light, and love finds its way to a happily ever after.
🌶
November 28, 2025
Another 3.5 cute and easy romance
March 13, 2025
4.5 stars ⭐️
I love Veronica & Mile’s story. I also enjoyed this book more than the first. I love the dynamics of Ronnie & Miles throughout this book. There was definitely more at stake.
There were many tropes including💕: runaway bride, best friend’s brother, grumpy x sunshine, small town romance, forced proximity, & more!
The pace was truly amazing and made it an easy read. 💛
Thank you to Kristen Lucero for the digital copy of this ARC!
I love Veronica & Mile’s story. I also enjoyed this book more than the first. I love the dynamics of Ronnie & Miles throughout this book. There was definitely more at stake.
There were many tropes including💕: runaway bride, best friend’s brother, grumpy x sunshine, small town romance, forced proximity, & more!
The pace was truly amazing and made it an easy read. 💛
Thank you to Kristen Lucero for the digital copy of this ARC!
March 12, 2025
I was so excited for this book after reading Aisle Come Back to You last year and meeting our MCs for this one! The author's note says you don't need to have read Aisle to read this one, but it does follow straight on from the ending and you will get SIGNIFICANT spoilers for the story of Aisle (although if you've already read the blurb for this you've got them already I guess so probably doesn't matter haha!). I'll be mentioning the same spoilers in this review though so don't read ahead if that will bother you (but I won't be giving spoilers for this book don't worry!).
So, I loved both Miles and Veronica in book 1. Veronica seemed like an excellent friend to Blair and Miles was her (Blair's) perfect protective but grumpy older brother. I loved them both and also Miles really didn't like Ronnie it seemed like the perfect setup for an excellent grumpy/sunshine (sort of enemies-to-lovers although Ronnie has no issue with him) book, but it confused me since that can't be because the story of book 1 is Blair back in town for Ronnie's wedding to Pete! Who it turns out sucks... So this was indeed the perfect book it promised to be! We pick up exactly where it ended with Ronnie running away from the wedding and Miles playing getaway driver and they end up on a spontaneous road trip (cue some extra forced proximity too which I love). I wasn't sure if the whole book would be road trip, or if they'd get together on the road and then return at some point and have some forbidden love Blair-related issues or Pete or something else. I won't give away anything about what does happen but I really didn't expect it! It was absolutely perfect though, just typical Ronnie! Their road trip was so cute and I loved the story when they returned too. There was a lot less drama than I was expecting though given how worried she'd been about returning to a small town after running away from her wedding! But it was better for seeing their relationship unfold and I loved it! Mainly though my only complaint would be that Ronnie was also worried about how her parents would react and we don't get to see them at all? I assume she must go speak to them at some point after returning but don't get to see it or hear her tell Miles about how it went or anything which was a shame.
But this book was excellent and I think I loved it even more than the first one! There weren't any obvious setups that I noticed this time since there are no more siblings or besties (Ronnie had 2 other friends who feature briefly but no obvious love interests for them) but I'm hoping there are more to come because I love Evergreen Grove.
So, I loved both Miles and Veronica in book 1. Veronica seemed like an excellent friend to Blair and Miles was her (Blair's) perfect protective but grumpy older brother. I loved them both and also Miles really didn't like Ronnie it seemed like the perfect setup for an excellent grumpy/sunshine (sort of enemies-to-lovers although Ronnie has no issue with him) book, but it confused me since that can't be because the story of book 1 is Blair back in town for Ronnie's wedding to Pete! Who it turns out sucks... So this was indeed the perfect book it promised to be! We pick up exactly where it ended with Ronnie running away from the wedding and Miles playing getaway driver and they end up on a spontaneous road trip (cue some extra forced proximity too which I love). I wasn't sure if the whole book would be road trip, or if they'd get together on the road and then return at some point and have some forbidden love Blair-related issues or Pete or something else. I won't give away anything about what does happen but I really didn't expect it! It was absolutely perfect though, just typical Ronnie! Their road trip was so cute and I loved the story when they returned too. There was a lot less drama than I was expecting though given how worried she'd been about returning to a small town after running away from her wedding! But it was better for seeing their relationship unfold and I loved it! Mainly though my only complaint would be that Ronnie was also worried about how her parents would react and we don't get to see them at all? I assume she must go speak to them at some point after returning but don't get to see it or hear her tell Miles about how it went or anything which was a shame.
But this book was excellent and I think I loved it even more than the first one! There weren't any obvious setups that I noticed this time since there are no more siblings or besties (Ronnie had 2 other friends who feature briefly but no obvious love interests for them) but I'm hoping there are more to come because I love Evergreen Grove.
March 2, 2025
I received this as an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.
This review may contain some spoilers.
Ride By Your Side is a slow burn romance and the second book in the Evergreen Grove series. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading Aisle Come Back to You not only for some extra back story, but it’s just really good.
Ride By Your Side picks up right where Aisle Come Back to You ends…only this book is about our runaway bride Ronnie and her getaway driver (and Ronnie’s best friend’s brother), Miles. For the entirety of Ronnie’s friendship to Blair, she has known that Miles has never cared for her. He thinks she’s irresponsible and impulsive, which has led to getting herself and Blair into trouble. Miles does take pity on her when she calls off her wedding needing a getaway and volunteers to drive her on a trip as she sorts out her life.
Miles is very stand offish, keeping his emotions and true feelings in check due to the hard and neglectful upbringing he and his sister, Blair experienced. But, Ronnie (or Vee, as he starts calling her) is the sunshine to his grumpiness and he starts coming out of his shell and enjoying himself on this trip.
Pretty early on in the trip, they both start to realize they are attractive to each other secretly and don’t plan on acting on it out of respect for Blair and not wanting to ruin relationships.
I’ll stop there without ruining the rest of the book, but here’s my takeaways from this:
1. I really loved this book. I almost read it all in one sitting. It was well written with enough backstory detail to give the characters enough development to be believable.
2. The third act “break up” and conclusion wasn’t very dramatic, but I liked that. Sometimes, they are out of character or over the top, but this was nicely done.
3. The fact our grumpy Miles went from finding Ronnie an annoyance, to doing whatever it took to see her smile *swoon*
4. The dance floor scene in Vegas…🥵 I was a fan, enough said
5. And, I got what is probably one of my favorite troupes. The “my wife” scene. Be still my heart
6.
Negatives for this book: none, except I probably could have read another 10 chapters of them or an extended epilogue, I’m not picky!
📣Final Verdict📣
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Goodreads:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Would I recommend: YES ❤️
This review may contain some spoilers.
Ride By Your Side is a slow burn romance and the second book in the Evergreen Grove series. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading Aisle Come Back to You not only for some extra back story, but it’s just really good.
Ride By Your Side picks up right where Aisle Come Back to You ends…only this book is about our runaway bride Ronnie and her getaway driver (and Ronnie’s best friend’s brother), Miles. For the entirety of Ronnie’s friendship to Blair, she has known that Miles has never cared for her. He thinks she’s irresponsible and impulsive, which has led to getting herself and Blair into trouble. Miles does take pity on her when she calls off her wedding needing a getaway and volunteers to drive her on a trip as she sorts out her life.
Miles is very stand offish, keeping his emotions and true feelings in check due to the hard and neglectful upbringing he and his sister, Blair experienced. But, Ronnie (or Vee, as he starts calling her) is the sunshine to his grumpiness and he starts coming out of his shell and enjoying himself on this trip.
Pretty early on in the trip, they both start to realize they are attractive to each other secretly and don’t plan on acting on it out of respect for Blair and not wanting to ruin relationships.
I’ll stop there without ruining the rest of the book, but here’s my takeaways from this:
1. I really loved this book. I almost read it all in one sitting. It was well written with enough backstory detail to give the characters enough development to be believable.
2. The third act “break up” and conclusion wasn’t very dramatic, but I liked that. Sometimes, they are out of character or over the top, but this was nicely done.
3. The fact our grumpy Miles went from finding Ronnie an annoyance, to doing whatever it took to see her smile *swoon*
4. The dance floor scene in Vegas…🥵 I was a fan, enough said
5. And, I got what is probably one of my favorite troupes. The “my wife” scene. Be still my heart
6.
Negatives for this book: none, except I probably could have read another 10 chapters of them or an extended epilogue, I’m not picky!
📣Final Verdict📣
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Goodreads:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Would I recommend: YES ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2025
ARC - PUBLICATION DATE (TODAY) 13TH MARCH 2025
4.5 ☆
『 tropes 』
•best friends brother
•grumpy x sunshine
•runaway bride
•forced proximity
•road trip
•dual PoV
this book is the second in the evergreen grove series and while this can be read as a standalone, i would highly recommend reading the first book ‘aisle come back to you’ as the 2 main characters in this are established in the first book and this book starts exactly where the first book finishes off
『 plot 』
the book follows veronica, a school teacher who should be about to say ‘i do’ instead she realises this weeding and her husband to be is definitely not what she wants. her best friend finds her a getaway drive, who is none other than her brother, miles, who hasn’t kept his dislike of veronica hidden since they were kids. veronica isn’t ready to go home and face the music just yet so miles agrees to join her on a road trip.
『 my thoughts 』
i really enjoyed this book, veronica is such a loveable character, she has a bit of a wild side, is strong, independent and doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her but she kinda lost herself trying to fit into the mould that her ex fiance, and his family, wanted from her to be. she’s always tried to get miles to like her, but has never been successful, so she takes this trip as an opportunity to try and get him to change his mind.
miles is grumpy, keeps himself to himself and is seen as the towns reject, people automatically think he’s a bad guy because he grew up with an alcoholic father. he never takes holidays so he sees this opportunity with veronica to take some time away from work and his hometown, and spending one on one time with veronica makes him start to realise that she’s not as bad as he once portrayed her.
going into this i thought i knew where the story was going to go, and whilst it kinda did go the direction i thought it would, there was also a few things that i was pleasantly surprised with and added more depth and drama to the storyline.
4.5 ☆
『 tropes 』
•best friends brother
•grumpy x sunshine
•runaway bride
•forced proximity
•road trip
•dual PoV
this book is the second in the evergreen grove series and while this can be read as a standalone, i would highly recommend reading the first book ‘aisle come back to you’ as the 2 main characters in this are established in the first book and this book starts exactly where the first book finishes off
『 plot 』
the book follows veronica, a school teacher who should be about to say ‘i do’ instead she realises this weeding and her husband to be is definitely not what she wants. her best friend finds her a getaway drive, who is none other than her brother, miles, who hasn’t kept his dislike of veronica hidden since they were kids. veronica isn’t ready to go home and face the music just yet so miles agrees to join her on a road trip.
『 my thoughts 』
i really enjoyed this book, veronica is such a loveable character, she has a bit of a wild side, is strong, independent and doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her but she kinda lost herself trying to fit into the mould that her ex fiance, and his family, wanted from her to be. she’s always tried to get miles to like her, but has never been successful, so she takes this trip as an opportunity to try and get him to change his mind.
miles is grumpy, keeps himself to himself and is seen as the towns reject, people automatically think he’s a bad guy because he grew up with an alcoholic father. he never takes holidays so he sees this opportunity with veronica to take some time away from work and his hometown, and spending one on one time with veronica makes him start to realise that she’s not as bad as he once portrayed her.
going into this i thought i knew where the story was going to go, and whilst it kinda did go the direction i thought it would, there was also a few things that i was pleasantly surprised with and added more depth and drama to the storyline.
March 6, 2025
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy and am sharing my honest review based on my personal experience.
I’m so frustrated with this book because it had such a strong plot and the potential to be a 5-star read. Unfortunately, it fell short for me in a few key areas. So with that said I will be giving this book 3 stars.
The pacing was painfully slow, especially when it came to the romance. The connection between Ronnie and Miles didn’t truly develop until about 70-80% into the book, which made the slow burn feel excessively drawn out. To make matters worse, the story is hit with a third-act breakup trope that feels completely unnecessary, and it’s resolved in just a few pages. It honestly felt like the author was trying to fill space or hit a word count in the last 20% of the book.
The characters also felt one-dimensional. There was no real growth or emotional change throughout the story. Ronnie, in particular, made one reckless decision after another without learning from her mistakes, even when she knew it was causing harm to the people around her. Her lack of growth made it difficult to root for her, and it left me feeling disconnected from the story.
I did enjoy the road trip aspect of the story and seeing Miles gradually warm up to Ronnie little by little. That part of their journey felt genuine and had promise. However, I just couldn’t fully believe in their connection. The slow burn dragged on for so long that when they finally ended up together, it didn’t feel earned. The resolution, where they decide to stay married and live together, felt unrealistic and rushed. In my opinion, they never truly developed a deep emotional connection, and their bond didn’t come across as believable by the end.
The epilogue was another point of frustration. It didn’t add much to their love story or provide any satisfying conclusion. Instead of offering deeper insight into Miles and Ronnie’s relationship, it just told us they were in a “puppy love” phase, constantly wanting to kiss each other. The epilogue focused more on Miles’s sister, Blair, being in a happy relationship and buying a house, which felt out of place and didn’t serve the overall narrative. It was a letdown and made me feel like the story could have wrapped up just fine without it.
I think that this book had all the potential to be great and just wasn't. I really truly enjoyed the first half, so I think I’ll still give a recommendation to try this book for yourself and see if it hits the mark for you. I would most definitely give this author a chance in the future.
I’m so frustrated with this book because it had such a strong plot and the potential to be a 5-star read. Unfortunately, it fell short for me in a few key areas. So with that said I will be giving this book 3 stars.
The pacing was painfully slow, especially when it came to the romance. The connection between Ronnie and Miles didn’t truly develop until about 70-80% into the book, which made the slow burn feel excessively drawn out. To make matters worse, the story is hit with a third-act breakup trope that feels completely unnecessary, and it’s resolved in just a few pages. It honestly felt like the author was trying to fill space or hit a word count in the last 20% of the book.
The characters also felt one-dimensional. There was no real growth or emotional change throughout the story. Ronnie, in particular, made one reckless decision after another without learning from her mistakes, even when she knew it was causing harm to the people around her. Her lack of growth made it difficult to root for her, and it left me feeling disconnected from the story.
I did enjoy the road trip aspect of the story and seeing Miles gradually warm up to Ronnie little by little. That part of their journey felt genuine and had promise. However, I just couldn’t fully believe in their connection. The slow burn dragged on for so long that when they finally ended up together, it didn’t feel earned. The resolution, where they decide to stay married and live together, felt unrealistic and rushed. In my opinion, they never truly developed a deep emotional connection, and their bond didn’t come across as believable by the end.
The epilogue was another point of frustration. It didn’t add much to their love story or provide any satisfying conclusion. Instead of offering deeper insight into Miles and Ronnie’s relationship, it just told us they were in a “puppy love” phase, constantly wanting to kiss each other. The epilogue focused more on Miles’s sister, Blair, being in a happy relationship and buying a house, which felt out of place and didn’t serve the overall narrative. It was a letdown and made me feel like the story could have wrapped up just fine without it.
I think that this book had all the potential to be great and just wasn't. I really truly enjoyed the first half, so I think I’ll still give a recommendation to try this book for yourself and see if it hits the mark for you. I would most definitely give this author a chance in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2025
🚘 Ride By Your Side by Kristen Lucero
“I'm already addicted, and I'm sure anything he does to me tonight will only add to that addiction.”
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Veronica Prescott was supposed to say “I do,” instead she tells her best friend’s older brother, Miles Bennett, “Drive.” Veronica is Evergreen Grove’s sweetheart, everyone loves her sunshiney, bubbly personality. Everyone except grumpy Miles, who has never appreciated all the shenanigans Veronica got his younger sister into. Veronica gets to play runaway bride when she realizes marrying Pete is a huge mistake. Miles has no interest in spending his vacation driving Veronica around, but he understands that she needs to escape the small town gossip mill. The longer Veronica and Miles spend together, the more their walls begin to crumble and the tension starts to shift.
Ride By Your Side is the second in The Evergreen Grove series and I had an inkling we would get Veronica and Miles story in the second book. I love how much we still get to interact with Blair and Ford from book 1. I always love interconnected stand alones where you get to see the first couple keep evolving their relationship. Kristen was diabolical with this one! The gasp that I gusped while reading - multiple times. I don’t want to say too much because I want you to enjoy the full experience of reading this book and get those surprise reactions too - but OMG. I absolutely loved the evolution of Veronica and Mile’s relationship. The protectiveness that Miles has over Veronica later in the book. 🤭 I could not handle their interactions. Both of them just had such a pure love for the other, wanting to be there and take care of the other.
Tropes
-Road trip
-Brother’s best friend
-Forced proximity
-Runaway bride
-Grumpy x sunshine
-One bed
-Small town
-Dual POV
“I'm already addicted, and I'm sure anything he does to me tonight will only add to that addiction.”
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Veronica Prescott was supposed to say “I do,” instead she tells her best friend’s older brother, Miles Bennett, “Drive.” Veronica is Evergreen Grove’s sweetheart, everyone loves her sunshiney, bubbly personality. Everyone except grumpy Miles, who has never appreciated all the shenanigans Veronica got his younger sister into. Veronica gets to play runaway bride when she realizes marrying Pete is a huge mistake. Miles has no interest in spending his vacation driving Veronica around, but he understands that she needs to escape the small town gossip mill. The longer Veronica and Miles spend together, the more their walls begin to crumble and the tension starts to shift.
Ride By Your Side is the second in The Evergreen Grove series and I had an inkling we would get Veronica and Miles story in the second book. I love how much we still get to interact with Blair and Ford from book 1. I always love interconnected stand alones where you get to see the first couple keep evolving their relationship. Kristen was diabolical with this one! The gasp that I gusped while reading - multiple times. I don’t want to say too much because I want you to enjoy the full experience of reading this book and get those surprise reactions too - but OMG. I absolutely loved the evolution of Veronica and Mile’s relationship. The protectiveness that Miles has over Veronica later in the book. 🤭 I could not handle their interactions. Both of them just had such a pure love for the other, wanting to be there and take care of the other.
Tropes
-Road trip
-Brother’s best friend
-Forced proximity
-Runaway bride
-Grumpy x sunshine
-One bed
-Small town
-Dual POV
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