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Every Chance After
When his reckless mistake upends her future, he’ll do whatever it takes to make it right.
If she’ll let him.
Marnie Strange’s life is about to turn the corner from just getting by to happily ever after. Today, she marries Ashe, the handsome, charming son of the affluent owners of Sunny’s Beach Market, where Marnie’s built a career she adores. She’s living her own Cinderella story, and no one deserves it more. But behind her radiant smile and glowing optimism, Marnie’s dream has always been to belong to a family—a dream finally within her reach.
Grady Tripp has no interest in dreams and doesn’t believe in happily ever afters. A divorced workaholic, he returned to Seagrove two years ago to start over with as few complications as possible. Now, he’s focused solely on his family’s farm and his busy veterinary practice—using work and his perpetual bad mood to avoid getting involved in small-town annoyances. Content in his solitude, he’s convinced he’s better off alone.
Until he causes the tragic accident that destroys Marnie’s one chance for the life she’s always wanted. Now, Grady’s guilt won’t let him walk away. But sticking around means confronting everything he’s avoided: his complicated past, his unwillingness to open up, and the undeniable pull he feels toward Marnie.
Will Grady’s amends lead him to fall in love with the one woman he could never feel he deserves? Will Marnie ever redefine her sense of family and trust her heart to a man whose guilt might be the only thing keeping him by her side?
If she’ll let him.
Marnie Strange’s life is about to turn the corner from just getting by to happily ever after. Today, she marries Ashe, the handsome, charming son of the affluent owners of Sunny’s Beach Market, where Marnie’s built a career she adores. She’s living her own Cinderella story, and no one deserves it more. But behind her radiant smile and glowing optimism, Marnie’s dream has always been to belong to a family—a dream finally within her reach.
Grady Tripp has no interest in dreams and doesn’t believe in happily ever afters. A divorced workaholic, he returned to Seagrove two years ago to start over with as few complications as possible. Now, he’s focused solely on his family’s farm and his busy veterinary practice—using work and his perpetual bad mood to avoid getting involved in small-town annoyances. Content in his solitude, he’s convinced he’s better off alone.
Until he causes the tragic accident that destroys Marnie’s one chance for the life she’s always wanted. Now, Grady’s guilt won’t let him walk away. But sticking around means confronting everything he’s avoided: his complicated past, his unwillingness to open up, and the undeniable pull he feels toward Marnie.
Will Grady’s amends lead him to fall in love with the one woman he could never feel he deserves? Will Marnie ever redefine her sense of family and trust her heart to a man whose guilt might be the only thing keeping him by her side?
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2025
16 people are currently reading
2920 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Sherry
13 books132 followersA diehard mystery and romance fan, Jessica Sherry is the author of several novels across these genres. When she isn’t lost in a book, she finds inspiration at the beach, on her daily park walks, thrift store shopping, and hanging out in beautiful Wilmington, NC, where she lives with her family. Connect and follow her on Instagram & TikTok @authorjessicasherry and at jessicasherry.com.
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November 17, 2025
Imagine having everything you’ve ever wanted right at your fingertips — then watching it crash away in an instant.
Do you believe in fate? Was it fate that upended Marnie’s life? Or just an unfortunate accident?
One thing is certain, tragic circumstances don’t always end in tragedy and sometimes, if you’re unlucky enough — luck with find you in unexpected ways.
Marnie and Grady’s journey is everything I love in a romance and so much more.
In typical Jenny fashion, I loved this book so much that writing a review feels impossible. How can I begin to express how truly fantastic Every Chance After is? So for now at least, I’ll default to a list.
What’s to love…
- age gap & grumpy sunshine
- disastrous meet-cute
- in depth characters that feel so real they’ll be impossible to let go of
- FOUND FAMILY
- the absolute BEST side characters (Christie has my whole heart)
- LQBTQIA+, neurodivergent, and mental health rep that is handle with care
- furry friends (he’s a veterinarian)
- he takes care of her when she’s hurt
- SLOW BURN
- he uses her full name only ::swoon::
I could go on, and on, and on, but I’ll stop it here for now and leave you with some parting thoughts…
I fear it’s going to become increasingly difficult to write reviews for Jessica’s books as time goes by, for a number of reasons…
1. Jessica’s writing gets better with every book. Hard to do when her first ones are so good, but it’s clear she’s hitting her stride and I’m so excited to see what’s next from her.
2. Since reading and reviewing my first Jessica Sherry book, Yes No Maybe, she has become a close friend. I cherish her writing almost as much as I cherish her friendship.
3. Turns out, I’m not just a great alpha reader, apparently I’m so good at this whole feedback thing that I’m now Jessica’s editor. I’m beyond honored that Jessica has asked me to take on this role.
Which leads me to a very important disclaimer. I’ve seen this book in all its iterations, contributed feedback that led to changes made within the book, and therefore, I think it’s safe to say I may not be the most objective reviewer.
BUT, hear me out… It’s BECAUSE I’ve been involved in this book that I feel so confident saying it’s a knock-out. The care and love Jessica puts into her writing and her characters is evident in every word on the page.
If it wasn’t clear enough. I received a complementary copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
Updates:
Cover Reveal: This cover is EVERYTHING!
Alpha Read: I am OBSESSED with Marnie - she must be protected at all costs!
Beta Read: I'm even MORE obsessed! I LOVE GRADY + MARNIE! Also if Grady wasn't in the picture I'd be trying to convince her to join my family.
Final edition: Holy perfection!
5⭐️ | IG | TikTok |
Do you believe in fate? Was it fate that upended Marnie’s life? Or just an unfortunate accident?
One thing is certain, tragic circumstances don’t always end in tragedy and sometimes, if you’re unlucky enough — luck with find you in unexpected ways.
Marnie and Grady’s journey is everything I love in a romance and so much more.
In typical Jenny fashion, I loved this book so much that writing a review feels impossible. How can I begin to express how truly fantastic Every Chance After is? So for now at least, I’ll default to a list.
What’s to love…
- age gap & grumpy sunshine
- disastrous meet-cute
- in depth characters that feel so real they’ll be impossible to let go of
- FOUND FAMILY
- the absolute BEST side characters (Christie has my whole heart)
- LQBTQIA+, neurodivergent, and mental health rep that is handle with care
- furry friends (he’s a veterinarian)
- he takes care of her when she’s hurt
- SLOW BURN
- he uses her full name only ::swoon::
I could go on, and on, and on, but I’ll stop it here for now and leave you with some parting thoughts…
I fear it’s going to become increasingly difficult to write reviews for Jessica’s books as time goes by, for a number of reasons…
1. Jessica’s writing gets better with every book. Hard to do when her first ones are so good, but it’s clear she’s hitting her stride and I’m so excited to see what’s next from her.
2. Since reading and reviewing my first Jessica Sherry book, Yes No Maybe, she has become a close friend. I cherish her writing almost as much as I cherish her friendship.
3. Turns out, I’m not just a great alpha reader, apparently I’m so good at this whole feedback thing that I’m now Jessica’s editor. I’m beyond honored that Jessica has asked me to take on this role.
Which leads me to a very important disclaimer. I’ve seen this book in all its iterations, contributed feedback that led to changes made within the book, and therefore, I think it’s safe to say I may not be the most objective reviewer.
BUT, hear me out… It’s BECAUSE I’ve been involved in this book that I feel so confident saying it’s a knock-out. The care and love Jessica puts into her writing and her characters is evident in every word on the page.
If it wasn’t clear enough. I received a complementary copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
Updates:
Cover Reveal: This cover is EVERYTHING!
Alpha Read: I am OBSESSED with Marnie - she must be protected at all costs!
Beta Read: I'm even MORE obsessed! I LOVE GRADY + MARNIE! Also if Grady wasn't in the picture I'd be trying to convince her to join my family.
Final edition: Holy perfection!
5⭐️ | IG | TikTok |
July 17, 2025
Marine was driving to her wedding when an accident almost ended her life. The responsible is Grady, a vet who fell asleep after too many hours of work, even though the cake knife she was carrying on her lap made the majority of the damage and his quick thinking was the only reason she’s still alive.
After the accident, she loses everything. Except for Grady, who is there to pick up her pieces and take care of her, out of guilt for what happened. Only that Marine wants him to start seeing her as something more than a punishment.
Every Chance After is a hurt-comfort book, slow paced and full of secondary characters that will become Marine’s found family. I don’t think I was the audience for this, because I don’t quite like the dynamic of the sunshine princess who is always kind and the grumpy hero who protects her from everything. I want my heroines to save themselves, and I want them to be a bit mad and unkind sometimes.
For example, when her fiancee went to their honeymoon with his best friend while she was at the hospital recovering from an accident that almost killed her, the heroine was just sad. Like, come on! You were supposed to be in love with the asshole! She told him it was okay, that she understood!
Leaving the fact that Marine was too nice for me, I was very disappointed about the lack of progression on the hero’s part. You see at the beginning that he has a problem. He felt asleep because he had too much on his plate. He was taking care of everyone, so he should work less and focus on quality time with their family, instead of doing their chores but never staying to enjoy their presence. There wasn’t really a discussion on this. Like, he could feel asleep and bump into someone else at any point?
I also didn’t see a lot of progression on his guilt towards the accident. He went from letting it be an obstacle for their love, to accepting that they could be good together. I missed really seeing a change in how he felt. Feelings aren’t linear. I also missed this on the heroine: she accepted everything so easily, she wasn’t mad or surprised, barely felt any sadness. Taking into account the trauma they were dealing with, I wanted a rollercoaster of emotions that would have made me believe they were real people.
Grady’s character was in general very flat. He started being the protector trying to save everyone (and almost killing someone because of his lack of sleep) and ended the book being the same person, only adding one more person to take care of.
On top of that, the pacing of the novel was off. One day Grady was playing matchmaker between Marine and his brother, the next day (literally) he was telling her they were in forever. I felt the book was too repetitive towards the middle, only to rush the ending for no reason.
That being said, I liked certain aspects of the book, especially the whole game night with all the family and the fact that Marine made her own board games and was the best at making the supermarkets she worked at the best in the region. She was very cool in that aspect.
Overall, this wasn’t the book for me. The ‘bad characters’ were a bit flat and unrealistic, and the pacing wasn’t always the best. That being said, this has an average rating of 4.30 (07/17/25) because I’m aware a lot of readers actually enjoy hurt-comfort books and sunshine heroines protected by grumpy heroes. If you are one of those, you may like this.
*Rating: 1.5/5
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
After the accident, she loses everything. Except for Grady, who is there to pick up her pieces and take care of her, out of guilt for what happened. Only that Marine wants him to start seeing her as something more than a punishment.
Every Chance After is a hurt-comfort book, slow paced and full of secondary characters that will become Marine’s found family. I don’t think I was the audience for this, because I don’t quite like the dynamic of the sunshine princess who is always kind and the grumpy hero who protects her from everything. I want my heroines to save themselves, and I want them to be a bit mad and unkind sometimes.
For example, when her fiancee went to their honeymoon with his best friend while she was at the hospital recovering from an accident that almost killed her, the heroine was just sad. Like, come on! You were supposed to be in love with the asshole! She told him it was okay, that she understood!
Leaving the fact that Marine was too nice for me, I was very disappointed about the lack of progression on the hero’s part. You see at the beginning that he has a problem. He felt asleep because he had too much on his plate. He was taking care of everyone, so he should work less and focus on quality time with their family, instead of doing their chores but never staying to enjoy their presence. There wasn’t really a discussion on this. Like, he could feel asleep and bump into someone else at any point?
I also didn’t see a lot of progression on his guilt towards the accident. He went from letting it be an obstacle for their love, to accepting that they could be good together. I missed really seeing a change in how he felt. Feelings aren’t linear. I also missed this on the heroine: she accepted everything so easily, she wasn’t mad or surprised, barely felt any sadness. Taking into account the trauma they were dealing with, I wanted a rollercoaster of emotions that would have made me believe they were real people.
Grady’s character was in general very flat. He started being the protector trying to save everyone (and almost killing someone because of his lack of sleep) and ended the book being the same person, only adding one more person to take care of.
On top of that, the pacing of the novel was off. One day Grady was playing matchmaker between Marine and his brother, the next day (literally) he was telling her they were in forever. I felt the book was too repetitive towards the middle, only to rush the ending for no reason.
That being said, I liked certain aspects of the book, especially the whole game night with all the family and the fact that Marine made her own board games and was the best at making the supermarkets she worked at the best in the region. She was very cool in that aspect.
Overall, this wasn’t the book for me. The ‘bad characters’ were a bit flat and unrealistic, and the pacing wasn’t always the best. That being said, this has an average rating of 4.30 (07/17/25) because I’m aware a lot of readers actually enjoy hurt-comfort books and sunshine heroines protected by grumpy heroes. If you are one of those, you may like this.
*Rating: 1.5/5
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 17, 2025
✨ Rating: 3⭐️
🫧 Vibes: second chances & fate
🎶 Song: better days - the goo goo dolls
📖 Favourite Quote: "Rules don't apply to you. You're my one exception."
📚 Would I recommend? sort of.
💬 tldr thoughts: an interesting love story but the FMC was just too nice.
In the package:
📦 soulmates
📦 grumpy x sunshine
📦 found family
📦 emotional healing
Plot: A car accident between Grady and Marnie completely changes their lives. The accident occurs on Marnie's wedding day which completely upends her life, forcing her to rebuild it from the ground up. As Grady steps in to help out of guilt, their connection grows into a slow-burn love.
Thoughts: Personally, I think this book was a little too unrealistic for me. I wanted to love the FMC, but she was just TOO nice to everyone around her when her entire life was falling apart and people treated her like shit. I was shouting "GIRL GET UP" so many times because she wouldn't stand up for herself 😭 Like her fiancé goes on THEIR honeymoon while she's in the hospital and she's just okay with it?? Sometimes you just need to be mean and not let people walk all over you.
This book was a slow-burn but towards the end, it progressed so fast that the pacing just felt very off. Grady went from trying to stay away from Marnie to telling her they would be together forever. It was a little too rushed.
The premise of the book was very interesting and I appreciated the fact that this was an unconventional love story. The FMC and MMC were adorable together despite how different they were.
Thank you Jessica Sherry for the ARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: second chances & fate
🎶 Song: better days - the goo goo dolls
📖 Favourite Quote: "Rules don't apply to you. You're my one exception."
📚 Would I recommend? sort of.
💬 tldr thoughts: an interesting love story but the FMC was just too nice.
In the package:
📦 soulmates
📦 grumpy x sunshine
📦 found family
📦 emotional healing
Plot: A car accident between Grady and Marnie completely changes their lives. The accident occurs on Marnie's wedding day which completely upends her life, forcing her to rebuild it from the ground up. As Grady steps in to help out of guilt, their connection grows into a slow-burn love.
Thoughts: Personally, I think this book was a little too unrealistic for me. I wanted to love the FMC, but she was just TOO nice to everyone around her when her entire life was falling apart and people treated her like shit. I was shouting "GIRL GET UP" so many times because she wouldn't stand up for herself 😭 Like her fiancé goes on THEIR honeymoon while she's in the hospital and she's just okay with it?? Sometimes you just need to be mean and not let people walk all over you.
This book was a slow-burn but towards the end, it progressed so fast that the pacing just felt very off. Grady went from trying to stay away from Marnie to telling her they would be together forever. It was a little too rushed.
The premise of the book was very interesting and I appreciated the fact that this was an unconventional love story. The FMC and MMC were adorable together despite how different they were.
Thank you Jessica Sherry for the ARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
July 28, 2025
I love it when I dive into a romance and I can honestly say that I’ve never read a story quite like it, which is absolutely the case here. I devoured 75% of this in a single sitting… unfortunately, the day before I got the flu, lol. I took a month off of reading, and the moment I sat back down with this slow-burning romance, the storyline came rushing back to me. It is wholly one-of-a-kind; a hopeful, swoony, and smile-inducing love story with a slow burn romance that hooked me in with ease. I loved that this couple meets on one of the worst days of their lives and finds love by showing that they’re prepared to support each other through tough times together. It’s got small town charm, a deliciously grumpy and steadfast hero, and a heroine who gets stronger with every page. An excellent introduction to this new-to-me author, it lives up to that gorgeous cover. I really enjoyed it!
The story follows Marnie, a woman who is driving to her wedding when she’s in a car accident that almost ends her life. Wounded, newly infertile, and hurting in more ways than one, Marnie is disappointed to discover that her fiancé has no intention of being there in her time of need. In fact, Marnie gets the most support from the person she least expected - the overworked veterinarian who caused the accident. Gutted by the situation, Grady can’t bring himself to leave Marnie alone. She’s clearly hurting, and there’s no one around to support her. As the two form an unlikely connection, Grady and Marnie slowly develop a friendship that sometimes feels like more. They show up for each other time and time again, but the transition to love is not without some bumps in the road.
I’ve heard good things about this author’s work, so I’ve been meaning to try her books for a while now, and this cover and blurb had me itching to dig in. I was immediately drawn in by the unconventional meet not-so cute and curious how that could be the catalyst for love. I stayed for the unpredictable storyline and swoonworthy relationship development. Marnie has some physical and emotional healing to do before she can even consider a connection, and I loved that Grady was by her side every step of the way. He offered tender support and encouraged Marni to find her inner strength. He’s also such a GENUINELY GOOD GUY, which made me love him even more. There were maybe one or two moments that were a little slow-paced, but it’s entirely possible that I was just impatient for them to find their way together. It’s a memorable and uplifting read that left an impact.
The story follows Marnie, a woman who is driving to her wedding when she’s in a car accident that almost ends her life. Wounded, newly infertile, and hurting in more ways than one, Marnie is disappointed to discover that her fiancé has no intention of being there in her time of need. In fact, Marnie gets the most support from the person she least expected - the overworked veterinarian who caused the accident. Gutted by the situation, Grady can’t bring himself to leave Marnie alone. She’s clearly hurting, and there’s no one around to support her. As the two form an unlikely connection, Grady and Marnie slowly develop a friendship that sometimes feels like more. They show up for each other time and time again, but the transition to love is not without some bumps in the road.
I’ve heard good things about this author’s work, so I’ve been meaning to try her books for a while now, and this cover and blurb had me itching to dig in. I was immediately drawn in by the unconventional meet not-so cute and curious how that could be the catalyst for love. I stayed for the unpredictable storyline and swoonworthy relationship development. Marnie has some physical and emotional healing to do before she can even consider a connection, and I loved that Grady was by her side every step of the way. He offered tender support and encouraged Marni to find her inner strength. He’s also such a GENUINELY GOOD GUY, which made me love him even more. There were maybe one or two moments that were a little slow-paced, but it’s entirely possible that I was just impatient for them to find their way together. It’s a memorable and uplifting read that left an impact.
July 15, 2025
This slowburn grumpy-meets-sunshine romance explores belonging and healing, where a pivotal event both links and changes two strangers’ lives forever.
[ Contains some spoilers ]
PLOT SUMMARY
36-year-old Grady Tripp, a divorced workaholic veterinarian and self-proclaimed grouch, is the man everyone turns to for help, often at the expense of his own well-being. 25-year-old Marina “Marnie” Strange, customer service manager and store designer of Sunny’s Beach Market, has never liked Valentine’s Day. It’s her birthday but the same day her mother abandoned her at 15 so she deems it unlucky. But her fiancé Ashe Sullivan (whose family owns Sunny’s) convinces her to have their wedding day on her birthday and that will remind her it is a lucky day.
Unfortunately, Grady falls asleep at the wheel, resulting in a devastating car accident with Marnie where both their lives will never be the same. Grady springs into action to save Marnie’s life but not only does it shatter her hopes for her lucky day, it destroys her future in having a family – the one thing she has struggled and wanted the most to obtain. Rather than stepping up and caring for her, Ashe breaks up with her, and his controlling manipulative mother Cora fires her for “no longer meeting expectations”, offering a $25k severance. Marnie has no job she loves and no future to look forward to.
Grady overhears how he has ruined Marnie’s life and, desperately wants to look out for her make up for it. He shows up for her to ensure she is healing up well and decides to get her to work for his uncle Wade, who needs his struggling G&G (Grab and Go) store restored to its former glory, all while secretly paying for her salary himself.
The more time they spend together, the more sparks fly as grumpy Grady falls for sunshine Marnie. But Grady feels he’s too old for her and his guilt makes him feel he cannot deserve her, and Marnie feels she may never be enough for anyone as she is. And the Sullivans are all too eager to put Marnie in her place. Both of them must confront their past and heal each other if they ever want a future.
This is told from the present-tense first-person POV of Marnie and Grady.
OVERALL OPINIONS
If you love character-driven stories with a charming romance and quirky backdrop, but something authentic and profound, then prepare to be utterly charmed by “Every Chance After”. This is a must-read for this year! And I really mean it when I say I did not expect the story to start the way it did. I honestly went into this expecting a rom-com, so the tragic start was a refreshing, impactful surprise. It perfectly illustrates the idea that sometimes the most profound connections are born from the most unexpected beginnings. Indeed, the combination of humour and heart in here was the Goldilocks of just right.
ㅤ🚗❤️🩹 character and community 🏠🐶🐱
Jessica Sherry really captures the heart of a community, the different people you find and their quirks. From the snarky supercilious Sullivans to the trustworthy tender Tripps, the characterisation is immaculate and one of the best aspects of this story. Every side character appears several times, is memorable, gets an arc and serves a purpose. Even the cats and dogs that Marnie and Grady own like Blackbeard the not-so-fierce pirate dog who is a German Shepherd with three legs.
ㅤ🚗❤️🩹 the romance 🏠🐶🐱
Seeing Grady and Marnie’s love story develop is beautiful. Their honesty policy, where they say “Truth” when they want to hear it from the other person, is a lovely touching element. And we always love a man who yearns! They both have these personal obstacles that prevent them from being together: Grady feels guilty about what he has done to Marnie, deems the age gap too great and that she deserves someone better around her own age; Marnie’s situation that she now has makes her feel like a burden, that loving her is a challenge. But despite this, they are drawn to each other, and Grady keeps showing up for Marnie.
My favourite moments between them include: the moment with the paper boats where they literally throw their fears to the wind (I got quite emotional) and the thing at the restaurant. Their chemistry is gorgeous and the slowburn was done very well. I was squealing and kicking my feet at the piano scene. Respectfully, dayum!
ㅤ🚗❤️🩹 symbolism and themes 🏠🐶🐱
Speaking of which, I really love Sherry’s use of imagery in this story . For example, there is the white wedding dress with the blood on it, symbolic of Marnie’s purity and innocence being tarnished. There is also the symbolism behind the game Marnie is making called Play Together, Stay Together that is about strengthening the family tree but it is incomplete and she doesn’t know how to fix it. This is a poignant metaphor for her own incomplete family dynamic.
But the most powerful thing is the piano, an extended personification of Marnie herself. She is right there and he’s not giving her a chance. He’s been too scared to play his piano since he divorced; he’s never dated since his divorce.
This theme of second chances is prevalent throughout this book : Marnie calls herself the Queen of Lose Causes and Second Chances as she rescues animals and thrifts old furniture and art; Grady saves Marnie, giving her a second chance in life though she loses a part of herself she will never get back; Grady messes up and wants a second chance; Marnie gets fired, giving her a second chance in finding herself; Marnie does up Wade’s G&G giving the store a second chance; Marnie giving her mother a second chance and (my favourite part) Marnie having a second chance for herself through giving her younger sister, Tilly, a normal life; Marigold and Peter have a second chance after he insulted her in high school; and Wade and Mack have a second chance after a family feud that has carried on for too long. Every one of these are covered in a different and gorgeous way.
<< Positives >>
🠚 The chapter header image of the paper boats are so sweet and perfect choice because of the significance of that scene!
🠚 The name choice of calling Marnie’s convertible Beauty, and Grady’s one is called Beast. It’s cute!
🠚 Marnie and Grady’s relationship.
🠚 The piano sceneee! Enough said.
🠚 The parallel between Marnie and the piano.
🠚 The issues of infertility were covered very well in this story.
🠚 The board games were very creative – I wanted to play them myself! (Also love how they are all playing them for family game night)
🠚 The depth of all characters, not just the main characters. Even the people who work at Wade’s store have a backstory that is explored. Really gave the sense of a community. There’s a moment where Cora opens up about how she struggled to become pregnant and it makes you feel sorry for her, despite her being the person she is, which adds a layer to her character.
🠚 I like that the Tripp family are introduced properly in Chapter 20 and in such a way that I could remember each and every one of them well. It’s not an easy thing to do.
🠚 Love the subplots within the plot. The games Marnie makes, making the games popular, the restoration of the G&G, the rift between characters that Marnie fixes (which made you want to read on to find out what happened), a little bit of tension with the reminder of the Sullivans, the arrival of the mother. The subplot of Marigold, Grady’s sister, is lovely. She has sensory overload and has social anxiety – it’s so sweet that Marnie makes friends with her and admires her artistic talent, making her the concept designer for the G&G and bringing Marigold more and more out of her shell.
🠚 Good reveal of backstories, especially Grady’s.
🠚 Marigold and Peter’s story is really cute, I love the description of him scrambling over to her carrying the desk he made for her like the Hulk, to apologise.
🠚 The humour, especially via Wade, Christine and Roy, was great. I love the bit at the end when the three of them are ready to protect Marnie from Ashe. The puns titles for the different films.
🠚 I like the lack of drama in this story. I thought the Sullivans were really going to ruin things and I expected Marnie to feel betrayed by Grady and then we’d have a third-act breakup. So glad we didn’t.
<< Negatives >>
🠚 The main thing I felt was missing was any sort of solution for Grady: he is the family’s go-to man about everything and that’s what keeps him away from them to a considerable extent. By the end of this story, he is still the person the family depend on and it would have been nice I think if the family realised they have been asking a lot of him and they work on a solution together – or Marnie herself decides to help with some of it to share the load. This would be a nice parallel to the fact Grady was always silently there helping her restore the G&G.
🠚 Grady’s tattoos were hardly brought up. I would have had Marnie tracing them/asking about them at some point after their *wink wink* chess games.
🠚 It would’ve been nice if the Play Together, Stay Together had been completed.
🠚 The incident with Roy and the lingerie felt a bit too cringe for me.
CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Marnie꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I love how Marnie, who has struggled all her life to belong since her mother abandoned her at 15, touches the hearts of every single person she meets. As Grady himself puts it, she has this beautiful and inspiring ability to create a family wherever she goes which I think is so lovely! She’s so observant, remembers the little details about people, and helps them see and hone in on the best in themselves.
Her enthusiasm and strength are very inspiring! I love her puns so much, she’s just like me in that regard “tripping over a Tripp”. I like her “Tripp Grady Tripp”, reminds me of James Bond. It’s ashame she put up with Ashe, especially when she has abandonment issues and he essentially abandons her to go on honeymoon. She deserved so much better.
I love her attitude with “problems are opportunities in disguise with the right attitude.”
-ˋˏ ꒰ Grady꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ A man who yearns is>>>>
I love how considerate Grady is, like when Cora brings flowers and there’s white flowers in it which cats are allergic to so he throws them out. The way he braids her hair. Taking her to the Game Café which is a coffe shop with games at each table. Him calling her Darling!!! Buying rings in advance – from an antique store too! It’s sweet the times he is going to apologise or intervene for something, but then Marnie has it under control.
I LOVE that he managed to steal her notebook back. If I hadn’t fallen in love with him already, I had then.
• She smiles, blue eyes glassy and drooping like flower petals weighed down with rain. “You always seem so sad. Don’t be sad. It’s like you have a million thoughts but no one to tell them to.”
• “Marina,” Grady’s voice stirs me awake again—no one ever calls me by my full first name. It’s always Marnie. But I like hearing him say it. It makes me feel important.
• There’s a delicate strength to her that shines through her beauty. It makes me think of my grandmother’s heavy crystal dishes that Mom pulls out for Thanksgiving. How the cut glass reflects the candlelight. Soft and strong together.
• I’ve tried locking her out, but lately, she breaks in anyway. Sometimes, late in the day, if I’ve been called out for a farm emergency, I hear her. “Relax, Grady.” I respect those moments like she’s become my inner voice, telling me when to slow down. Set a new pace. Take a breath. Think of what I’ve done.
• he hits me with one of the top five sexiest side smiles I’ve ever seen—devious like he knows a secret and *admiring*, especially the way his eyes trail down my long hair like he wants his fingers to follow.
• Heat rises with my quickening heartbeat—it’s been an age since I’ve been this close to a woman. It’s been even longer since I remember goosebumps over someone’s delicate touch. Or felt twinges of anticipation and hope, staring into someone’s eyes. All those things are happening with her. She is sunlight, peeking slowly through the window, waking me from my self-induced coma, and begging me back to life.
• She catches my eye as she gushes over their private joke. Her smile widens, making my heartbeat thud harder, and my feet almost move in her direction. That smile was for me.
• I don’t just enjoy her. I long for her attention. With her, I don’t need my grouchy, reclusive shields. They drop so I can be whatever she needs me to be. Protector. Helper. Fucking lapdog, if she wants. Weirder still, that’s what I want—to be Marina’s go-to guy, for her to pull me in a thousand places as long as it brings me closer to her.
• Undressing me with his eyes feels like a gross understatement. It’s more like undressing my soul, rendering me naked but safe, nested to him.
• A soft smile played on his lips as he took me in and said, “I’m here, Marina. Whatever you are. Whatever you need. Whenever you’re ready to fall apart.”
• *Everything* about her catches me off guard. I caused the impact that started us, but she’s crashed into me ever since. Barreling through my walls. Softening my rough edges. Bringing me out of the shadows.
• We say nothing as we set our boats adrift. Though it’s only paper that will soon be saturated and vanish into the murk, sending them off feels freeing and necessary—like these delicate, little objects hold the heavy weights we’ve all carried for far too long.
• Thinking of how he held my hands at the pier, his lone tear over what I wrote, my heart plays an erratic beat to my thoughts, and the hope that he’s finally *seeing* me. Not a victim of his mistake. Not an obligation. But as *his* Marina. Because I long for him to be *my* Grady.
• Grady keeps a coffin-like reminder of his bad memories, and I’m his human version of this. He keeps me around to make himself miserable. I’m not his piano. I refuse to become Grady’s unloved, unplayed, token of guilt and regret.
• “You and me. Together. *This* is where we belong.” He’s stern and sudden, locking on to my hesitation like he’s reading my mind. His eyes drift over my face, measuring me, and I feel our belonging like a sore muscle, finally getting relief. I *belong* with him.
• My mouth drops, bringing with it what’s left of my barriers. She saved me. All this time, I thought I was the hero—helping her, protecting her, giving her chances. But the Queen of Lost Causes and Second Chances rescued *me*.
• I’ve never felt more loved or special. Not only that, I’ve never felt so worthy of feeling loved and special, either. He makes me *want* to be seen, heard, regarded, valued, loved, and admired, revered and feared, pirate-like—all I’ve missed in my *before* life. This is *after*. My happily ever? I don’t know. But certainly, with the wreckage cleared and finding each other through the losses, he’s the closest I’ll get to one.
• We stare up into the inky night speckled with stars—they are innumerable and delicate, tiny flecks of wonder, like each could hold another love story, and ours twinkles right back at them. Lying with her, relaxing under the massive universe, fills me with gratitude for my universe—her.
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Jessica Sherry and Reedsy for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
“I’m falling hard and fast, and it’s making me dizzy. Nothing makes sense. How can I curse the day I hurt you and be grateful for it at the same time? How could you even want me after everything? You are so loving, so forgiving, and so beautifully, unequivocally, perfectly you. Marina, you’re everything I want, exactly as you are—and that scares the hell out of me. I’m sorry for that shitshow. Sorry for pulling away. Sorry that I let you think for a second that you aren’t enough for me. You are more than enough. You’re *everything* to me. Truly.”
[ Contains some spoilers ]
PLOT SUMMARY
36-year-old Grady Tripp, a divorced workaholic veterinarian and self-proclaimed grouch, is the man everyone turns to for help, often at the expense of his own well-being. 25-year-old Marina “Marnie” Strange, customer service manager and store designer of Sunny’s Beach Market, has never liked Valentine’s Day. It’s her birthday but the same day her mother abandoned her at 15 so she deems it unlucky. But her fiancé Ashe Sullivan (whose family owns Sunny’s) convinces her to have their wedding day on her birthday and that will remind her it is a lucky day.
Unfortunately, Grady falls asleep at the wheel, resulting in a devastating car accident with Marnie where both their lives will never be the same. Grady springs into action to save Marnie’s life but not only does it shatter her hopes for her lucky day, it destroys her future in having a family – the one thing she has struggled and wanted the most to obtain. Rather than stepping up and caring for her, Ashe breaks up with her, and his controlling manipulative mother Cora fires her for “no longer meeting expectations”, offering a $25k severance. Marnie has no job she loves and no future to look forward to.
Grady overhears how he has ruined Marnie’s life and, desperately wants to look out for her make up for it. He shows up for her to ensure she is healing up well and decides to get her to work for his uncle Wade, who needs his struggling G&G (Grab and Go) store restored to its former glory, all while secretly paying for her salary himself.
The more time they spend together, the more sparks fly as grumpy Grady falls for sunshine Marnie. But Grady feels he’s too old for her and his guilt makes him feel he cannot deserve her, and Marnie feels she may never be enough for anyone as she is. And the Sullivans are all too eager to put Marnie in her place. Both of them must confront their past and heal each other if they ever want a future.
Grady hops out with me and doesn’t let go of my hand, as if crashing into each other has affixed us permanently.
What a funny thought—but true, regardless. He and I will always share this memory and our unique before-and-afters of the crash. We may be strangers. We may never speak again. But we will always have this.
This is told from the present-tense first-person POV of Marnie and Grady.
OVERALL OPINIONS
If you love character-driven stories with a charming romance and quirky backdrop, but something authentic and profound, then prepare to be utterly charmed by “Every Chance After”. This is a must-read for this year! And I really mean it when I say I did not expect the story to start the way it did. I honestly went into this expecting a rom-com, so the tragic start was a refreshing, impactful surprise. It perfectly illustrates the idea that sometimes the most profound connections are born from the most unexpected beginnings. Indeed, the combination of humour and heart in here was the Goldilocks of just right.
ㅤ🚗❤️🩹 character and community 🏠🐶🐱
Jessica Sherry really captures the heart of a community, the different people you find and their quirks. From the snarky supercilious Sullivans to the trustworthy tender Tripps, the characterisation is immaculate and one of the best aspects of this story. Every side character appears several times, is memorable, gets an arc and serves a purpose. Even the cats and dogs that Marnie and Grady own like Blackbeard the not-so-fierce pirate dog who is a German Shepherd with three legs.
ㅤ🚗❤️🩹 the romance 🏠🐶🐱
Seeing Grady and Marnie’s love story develop is beautiful. Their honesty policy, where they say “Truth” when they want to hear it from the other person, is a lovely touching element. And we always love a man who yearns! They both have these personal obstacles that prevent them from being together: Grady feels guilty about what he has done to Marnie, deems the age gap too great and that she deserves someone better around her own age; Marnie’s situation that she now has makes her feel like a burden, that loving her is a challenge. But despite this, they are drawn to each other, and Grady keeps showing up for Marnie.
My favourite moments between them include: the moment with the paper boats where they literally throw their fears to the wind (I got quite emotional) and the thing at the restaurant. Their chemistry is gorgeous and the slowburn was done very well. I was squealing and kicking my feet at the piano scene. Respectfully, dayum!
ㅤ🚗❤️🩹 symbolism and themes 🏠🐶🐱
Speaking of which, I really love Sherry’s use of imagery in this story . For example, there is the white wedding dress with the blood on it, symbolic of Marnie’s purity and innocence being tarnished. There is also the symbolism behind the game Marnie is making called Play Together, Stay Together that is about strengthening the family tree but it is incomplete and she doesn’t know how to fix it. This is a poignant metaphor for her own incomplete family dynamic.
But the most powerful thing is the piano, an extended personification of Marnie herself. She is right there and he’s not giving her a chance. He’s been too scared to play his piano since he divorced; he’s never dated since his divorce.
“Pianos are meant to be played, Grady. Played and enjoyed and shared with people. They should spread joy, not be turned into dust collectors, mocking your pain every day. It’s right there, waiting for you, hoping you’ll take a chance and try again, and you walk on by it, selfishly ignoring a beautiful opportunity. This is why you’ll never be happy—you’re too damn busy being miserable.”
This theme of second chances is prevalent throughout this book : Marnie calls herself the Queen of Lose Causes and Second Chances as she rescues animals and thrifts old furniture and art; Grady saves Marnie, giving her a second chance in life though she loses a part of herself she will never get back; Grady messes up and wants a second chance; Marnie gets fired, giving her a second chance in finding herself; Marnie does up Wade’s G&G giving the store a second chance; Marnie giving her mother a second chance and (my favourite part) Marnie having a second chance for herself through giving her younger sister, Tilly, a normal life; Marigold and Peter have a second chance after he insulted her in high school; and Wade and Mack have a second chance after a family feud that has carried on for too long. Every one of these are covered in a different and gorgeous way.
<< Positives >>
🠚 The chapter header image of the paper boats are so sweet and perfect choice because of the significance of that scene!
🠚 The name choice of calling Marnie’s convertible Beauty, and Grady’s one is called Beast. It’s cute!
🠚 Marnie and Grady’s relationship.
🠚 The piano sceneee! Enough said.
🠚 The parallel between Marnie and the piano.
🠚 The issues of infertility were covered very well in this story.
🠚 The board games were very creative – I wanted to play them myself! (Also love how they are all playing them for family game night)
🠚 The depth of all characters, not just the main characters. Even the people who work at Wade’s store have a backstory that is explored. Really gave the sense of a community. There’s a moment where Cora opens up about how she struggled to become pregnant and it makes you feel sorry for her, despite her being the person she is, which adds a layer to her character.
🠚 I like that the Tripp family are introduced properly in Chapter 20 and in such a way that I could remember each and every one of them well. It’s not an easy thing to do.
🠚 Love the subplots within the plot. The games Marnie makes, making the games popular, the restoration of the G&G, the rift between characters that Marnie fixes (which made you want to read on to find out what happened), a little bit of tension with the reminder of the Sullivans, the arrival of the mother. The subplot of Marigold, Grady’s sister, is lovely. She has sensory overload and has social anxiety – it’s so sweet that Marnie makes friends with her and admires her artistic talent, making her the concept designer for the G&G and bringing Marigold more and more out of her shell.
🠚 Good reveal of backstories, especially Grady’s.
🠚 Marigold and Peter’s story is really cute, I love the description of him scrambling over to her carrying the desk he made for her like the Hulk, to apologise.
🠚 The humour, especially via Wade, Christine and Roy, was great. I love the bit at the end when the three of them are ready to protect Marnie from Ashe. The puns titles for the different films.
🠚 I like the lack of drama in this story. I thought the Sullivans were really going to ruin things and I expected Marnie to feel betrayed by Grady and then we’d have a third-act breakup. So glad we didn’t.
<< Negatives >>
🠚 The main thing I felt was missing was any sort of solution for Grady: he is the family’s go-to man about everything and that’s what keeps him away from them to a considerable extent. By the end of this story, he is still the person the family depend on and it would have been nice I think if the family realised they have been asking a lot of him and they work on a solution together – or Marnie herself decides to help with some of it to share the load. This would be a nice parallel to the fact Grady was always silently there helping her restore the G&G.
🠚 Grady’s tattoos were hardly brought up. I would have had Marnie tracing them/asking about them at some point after their *wink wink* chess games.
🠚 It would’ve been nice if the Play Together, Stay Together had been completed.
🠚 The incident with Roy and the lingerie felt a bit too cringe for me.
CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Marnie꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I love how Marnie, who has struggled all her life to belong since her mother abandoned her at 15, touches the hearts of every single person she meets. As Grady himself puts it, she has this beautiful and inspiring ability to create a family wherever she goes which I think is so lovely! She’s so observant, remembers the little details about people, and helps them see and hone in on the best in themselves.
Her enthusiasm and strength are very inspiring! I love her puns so much, she’s just like me in that regard “tripping over a Tripp”. I like her “Tripp Grady Tripp”, reminds me of James Bond. It’s ashame she put up with Ashe, especially when she has abandonment issues and he essentially abandons her to go on honeymoon. She deserved so much better.
I love her attitude with “problems are opportunities in disguise with the right attitude.”
I decide this is my defining moment. Not the accident. Not becoming barren. Not losing Ashe. Not getting fired. But this. This beautiful clarity and confidence she’s inspired. Me taking back control of my life rather than being someone else’s puppet or plaything or breeder. They won’t see me break. I don’t break. I bend. I have built my life from nothing. I’ll rebuild it even stronger. They have not seen the last of me.
-ˋˏ ꒰ Grady꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ A man who yearns is>>>>
I love how considerate Grady is, like when Cora brings flowers and there’s white flowers in it which cats are allergic to so he throws them out. The way he braids her hair. Taking her to the Game Café which is a coffe shop with games at each table. Him calling her Darling!!! Buying rings in advance – from an antique store too! It’s sweet the times he is going to apologise or intervene for something, but then Marnie has it under control.
I LOVE that he managed to steal her notebook back. If I hadn’t fallen in love with him already, I had then.
I wrap around her, her head tucked under my chin, and my hand laced into the soft bands of her hair, holding her close to me. She grips my shoulders like she doesn’t want me to let go. Not that I would.FAV QUOTES
For her, anything goes. I know this already. Whatever I have to give is hers to take.
• She smiles, blue eyes glassy and drooping like flower petals weighed down with rain. “You always seem so sad. Don’t be sad. It’s like you have a million thoughts but no one to tell them to.”
• “Marina,” Grady’s voice stirs me awake again—no one ever calls me by my full first name. It’s always Marnie. But I like hearing him say it. It makes me feel important.
• There’s a delicate strength to her that shines through her beauty. It makes me think of my grandmother’s heavy crystal dishes that Mom pulls out for Thanksgiving. How the cut glass reflects the candlelight. Soft and strong together.
• I’ve tried locking her out, but lately, she breaks in anyway. Sometimes, late in the day, if I’ve been called out for a farm emergency, I hear her. “Relax, Grady.” I respect those moments like she’s become my inner voice, telling me when to slow down. Set a new pace. Take a breath. Think of what I’ve done.
• he hits me with one of the top five sexiest side smiles I’ve ever seen—devious like he knows a secret and *admiring*, especially the way his eyes trail down my long hair like he wants his fingers to follow.
• Heat rises with my quickening heartbeat—it’s been an age since I’ve been this close to a woman. It’s been even longer since I remember goosebumps over someone’s delicate touch. Or felt twinges of anticipation and hope, staring into someone’s eyes. All those things are happening with her. She is sunlight, peeking slowly through the window, waking me from my self-induced coma, and begging me back to life.
• She catches my eye as she gushes over their private joke. Her smile widens, making my heartbeat thud harder, and my feet almost move in her direction. That smile was for me.
• I don’t just enjoy her. I long for her attention. With her, I don’t need my grouchy, reclusive shields. They drop so I can be whatever she needs me to be. Protector. Helper. Fucking lapdog, if she wants. Weirder still, that’s what I want—to be Marina’s go-to guy, for her to pull me in a thousand places as long as it brings me closer to her.
• Undressing me with his eyes feels like a gross understatement. It’s more like undressing my soul, rendering me naked but safe, nested to him.
• A soft smile played on his lips as he took me in and said, “I’m here, Marina. Whatever you are. Whatever you need. Whenever you’re ready to fall apart.”
• *Everything* about her catches me off guard. I caused the impact that started us, but she’s crashed into me ever since. Barreling through my walls. Softening my rough edges. Bringing me out of the shadows.
• We say nothing as we set our boats adrift. Though it’s only paper that will soon be saturated and vanish into the murk, sending them off feels freeing and necessary—like these delicate, little objects hold the heavy weights we’ve all carried for far too long.
• Thinking of how he held my hands at the pier, his lone tear over what I wrote, my heart plays an erratic beat to my thoughts, and the hope that he’s finally *seeing* me. Not a victim of his mistake. Not an obligation. But as *his* Marina. Because I long for him to be *my* Grady.
• Grady keeps a coffin-like reminder of his bad memories, and I’m his human version of this. He keeps me around to make himself miserable. I’m not his piano. I refuse to become Grady’s unloved, unplayed, token of guilt and regret.
• “You and me. Together. *This* is where we belong.” He’s stern and sudden, locking on to my hesitation like he’s reading my mind. His eyes drift over my face, measuring me, and I feel our belonging like a sore muscle, finally getting relief. I *belong* with him.
• My mouth drops, bringing with it what’s left of my barriers. She saved me. All this time, I thought I was the hero—helping her, protecting her, giving her chances. But the Queen of Lost Causes and Second Chances rescued *me*.
• I’ve never felt more loved or special. Not only that, I’ve never felt so worthy of feeling loved and special, either. He makes me *want* to be seen, heard, regarded, valued, loved, and admired, revered and feared, pirate-like—all I’ve missed in my *before* life. This is *after*. My happily ever? I don’t know. But certainly, with the wreckage cleared and finding each other through the losses, he’s the closest I’ll get to one.
• We stare up into the inky night speckled with stars—they are innumerable and delicate, tiny flecks of wonder, like each could hold another love story, and ours twinkles right back at them. Lying with her, relaxing under the massive universe, fills me with gratitude for my universe—her.
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Jessica Sherry and Reedsy for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
October 7, 2025
I loved this soo much!!
I loved this couple so much! They had instant chemistry and connection!
Every Chance After is about our main characters, Marina & Grady, who meet after a tragic accident that was caused by the MMC! This accident changes Marina's life in more ways than one and will change her future. Through his guilt Grady refuses to leave Marina's side and will do everything to make it up to her!! However, this doesn't exactly play out the way he thought it would and there may be more to their friendship than they thought!!
We have grumpy x sunshine, found family, age-gap, friends-lovers & slow burn 🔥
I don't normally like age-gap romances but in this book you couldn't really tell whilst reading that there was a gap!
Grady was probably my fav character in this book, he had to come back to the small town after going through a divorce, he stuck himself into work and busied himself doing things that were needed. He has a lot of trauma that he has to deal with and Marnie helps him through it! I loved that he let himself open up to her and be the person they both needed, as well as what his family needed 💗
Marina has a heart of gold and never lets anyone down, except she's letting people walk all over her because of her desperation for a family but that family abandon her, taking her fiance and job with it!! However, she doesn't let it defeat her and gets back out there and when an opportunity comes up to redesign a store in a dire condition, she takes the challenge on and exceeds leading to more opportunities! She doesn't let herself have a breakdown or any negative feelings even after everything she's been through, until Grady who becomes the person she needs the most and lets her have all her feelings! She's truly an amazing FMC 💖
Omg I loved Wade, Roy, Christie, Wren their little group was the best little family and it was so nice to see and for Marina to be welcomed into, it was like the family she never had!! Marigold was another side character who I adored, I loved everything she represented and her whole personality 💕
Thank you to Jessica Sherry for the arc of this book! 💗
I loved this couple so much! They had instant chemistry and connection!
Every Chance After is about our main characters, Marina & Grady, who meet after a tragic accident that was caused by the MMC! This accident changes Marina's life in more ways than one and will change her future. Through his guilt Grady refuses to leave Marina's side and will do everything to make it up to her!! However, this doesn't exactly play out the way he thought it would and there may be more to their friendship than they thought!!
We have grumpy x sunshine, found family, age-gap, friends-lovers & slow burn 🔥
I don't normally like age-gap romances but in this book you couldn't really tell whilst reading that there was a gap!
Grady was probably my fav character in this book, he had to come back to the small town after going through a divorce, he stuck himself into work and busied himself doing things that were needed. He has a lot of trauma that he has to deal with and Marnie helps him through it! I loved that he let himself open up to her and be the person they both needed, as well as what his family needed 💗
Marina has a heart of gold and never lets anyone down, except she's letting people walk all over her because of her desperation for a family but that family abandon her, taking her fiance and job with it!! However, she doesn't let it defeat her and gets back out there and when an opportunity comes up to redesign a store in a dire condition, she takes the challenge on and exceeds leading to more opportunities! She doesn't let herself have a breakdown or any negative feelings even after everything she's been through, until Grady who becomes the person she needs the most and lets her have all her feelings! She's truly an amazing FMC 💖
Omg I loved Wade, Roy, Christie, Wren their little group was the best little family and it was so nice to see and for Marina to be welcomed into, it was like the family she never had!! Marigold was another side character who I adored, I loved everything she represented and her whole personality 💕
Thank you to Jessica Sherry for the arc of this book! 💗
December 21, 2025
Jessica Sherry’s Every Chance After is a poignant, funny, and deeply moving story about love, grief, and the unexpected ways life rebuilds itself. At its heart, it’s the tender, slow-burn romance between Marnie (sunshine) and Grady (grumpy)—two people navigating loss in different ways but finding solace and hope in each other. Their love story unfolds naturally, with quiet moments and everyday interactions that make their connection feel authentic and earned.
Sherry tackles heavy themes—grief, miscarriage, and the meaning of family—with a deft, compassionate touch. One passage in particular, dealing with the loss of a wanted pregnancy, is heartbreaking yet beautifully rendered, conveying profound emotion with just a few carefully chosen details. The book doesn’t shy away from pain, but it never feels oppressive; instead, it dwells, as Marnie does, in possibility—the beauty of what *could be*.
What makes this novel truly special is its rich ensemble cast. Sherry populates Marnie and Grady’s world with vivid, memorable characters, each given their own moment to shine. (I’m personally crossing my fingers for a Gil/Ivy spin-off!) The small-town setting feels alive, full of warmth, humor, and the occasional absurdity of everyday life.
Every Chance After isn’t a light read, but it’s far from bleak. It’s a story that acknowledges sorrow while celebrating resilience, love, and the small, ordinary miracles that make life worth living. If you enjoy emotionally layered romances with depth, humor, and a cast of characters who feel like friends, this book is for you.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the book, in exchange for which I am providing my unbiased opinion.
Sherry tackles heavy themes—grief, miscarriage, and the meaning of family—with a deft, compassionate touch. One passage in particular, dealing with the loss of a wanted pregnancy, is heartbreaking yet beautifully rendered, conveying profound emotion with just a few carefully chosen details. The book doesn’t shy away from pain, but it never feels oppressive; instead, it dwells, as Marnie does, in possibility—the beauty of what *could be*.
What makes this novel truly special is its rich ensemble cast. Sherry populates Marnie and Grady’s world with vivid, memorable characters, each given their own moment to shine. (I’m personally crossing my fingers for a Gil/Ivy spin-off!) The small-town setting feels alive, full of warmth, humor, and the occasional absurdity of everyday life.
Every Chance After isn’t a light read, but it’s far from bleak. It’s a story that acknowledges sorrow while celebrating resilience, love, and the small, ordinary miracles that make life worth living. If you enjoy emotionally layered romances with depth, humor, and a cast of characters who feel like friends, this book is for you.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the book, in exchange for which I am providing my unbiased opinion.
June 23, 2025
A car accident on the bride’s wedding day caused accidentally by the town’s grumpy vet leads to a changed life for all involved.
Marnie has always had to fend for herself, she is THE golden retriever - always the optimistic, positive thoughts only, bringing the good vibes with her. She is engaged to the prince of Sunny’s Beach Market.
Grouchy, I mean, Grady, Tripp is in a default mood of generally irritated by everyone. But his guilt over the accident and Marnie’s shiny, warm personality reveals his soft, caring side just for her.
This book is so emotional and deep for a romance. This is not a rom-com. Think Abby Jimenez or Katherine Center or Tarah DeWitt.
It handles topics of family, neglect, infertility, mental health…
“Tripp Grady Tripp, those shoulders are impressive but can’t carry everything.”
“When it comes to you, I’m a packhorse.”
There is a ten year age gap which I am not normally a fan of, but it felt so natural in this romance.
The miscommunication is more of a case of misplaced protection rather than actual miscommunication and when these two talk, they LISTEN. They learn.
It did frustrate me about how easily Marnie forgave Grady at the start. She was too sunshine. I know car accidents happen, but driving whilst sleepy is negligent and I know Grady feels extremely guilty, but it icked me at her easy immediate forgiveness.
This had major small town vibes where everyone knows everyone. It was cozy and sweet and had me giggling a lot.
There is a great sense of found family and representation of all different types of family models, friendships, and lifestyles.
I would recommend this for a heartfelt, slow-burn, emotionally complex romance that covers triggering topics similar to Abby Jimenez.
Arc gifted by author.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Marnie has always had to fend for herself, she is THE golden retriever - always the optimistic, positive thoughts only, bringing the good vibes with her. She is engaged to the prince of Sunny’s Beach Market.
Grouchy, I mean, Grady, Tripp is in a default mood of generally irritated by everyone. But his guilt over the accident and Marnie’s shiny, warm personality reveals his soft, caring side just for her.
This book is so emotional and deep for a romance. This is not a rom-com. Think Abby Jimenez or Katherine Center or Tarah DeWitt.
It handles topics of family, neglect, infertility, mental health…
“Tripp Grady Tripp, those shoulders are impressive but can’t carry everything.”
“When it comes to you, I’m a packhorse.”
There is a ten year age gap which I am not normally a fan of, but it felt so natural in this romance.
The miscommunication is more of a case of misplaced protection rather than actual miscommunication and when these two talk, they LISTEN. They learn.
It did frustrate me about how easily Marnie forgave Grady at the start. She was too sunshine. I know car accidents happen, but driving whilst sleepy is negligent and I know Grady feels extremely guilty, but it icked me at her easy immediate forgiveness.
This had major small town vibes where everyone knows everyone. It was cozy and sweet and had me giggling a lot.
There is a great sense of found family and representation of all different types of family models, friendships, and lifestyles.
I would recommend this for a heartfelt, slow-burn, emotionally complex romance that covers triggering topics similar to Abby Jimenez.
Arc gifted by author.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
July 25, 2025
This book was sooooo fucking cute. Jessica Sherry knows how to write the perfect comforting-meets-tearjerker romance with a warm and fuzzy HEA 🫶 perfect for fans of age gaps (~10 years), small town romances (make it swampy 🐊), a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and a charming cast of characters!!
June 7, 2025
i devoured this!!!!
grady & marnie are so so so perfect together & their story is PERFECT !! jessica sherry killed this one.
i went in a little blind, not knowing much about the book, & it was so fun to experience everything with fresh eyes!! i was laughing and crying and stressed and swooning. there are so many parts in this book that will genuinely leave you shook to your core. but also there's so much that is so sweet and hilarious. jessica captured the small town vibes perfectly and this would make the best romcom movie !!!!
marnie is precious & i love her and i love how passionate she is about what she loves and that she's not afraid to go after what she wants. i love grady and how grumpy he is !! i love how protective and supportive he becomes. & I LOVED their love story !!! it was so perfect!! one of my fav grumpy/sunshine combos !!
thank you so much Jessica Sherry for the arc! this is my honest review.
grady & marnie are so so so perfect together & their story is PERFECT !! jessica sherry killed this one.
i went in a little blind, not knowing much about the book, & it was so fun to experience everything with fresh eyes!! i was laughing and crying and stressed and swooning. there are so many parts in this book that will genuinely leave you shook to your core. but also there's so much that is so sweet and hilarious. jessica captured the small town vibes perfectly and this would make the best romcom movie !!!!
marnie is precious & i love her and i love how passionate she is about what she loves and that she's not afraid to go after what she wants. i love grady and how grumpy he is !! i love how protective and supportive he becomes. & I LOVED their love story !!! it was so perfect!! one of my fav grumpy/sunshine combos !!
thank you so much Jessica Sherry for the arc! this is my honest review.
July 5, 2025
this was an absolute banger i fear
grady my man my man my man!!!
grady my man my man my man!!!
June 24, 2025
This story was intense. It wasn’t the kind of book you breeze through—it demanded something from me as a reader. The sadness was heavy, and there were moments that felt almost too real. It was hard to sit with some of the pain the characters were going through, but at the same time, I couldn’t look away.
What made it all worth it was the connection between the two main characters. Their bond was everything. It wasn’t perfect or easy, but it felt real—raw, honest, and deeply human. Even when the world around them was crumbling, they kept finding each other in the chaos. That connection gave the story so much heart.
By the end, I felt both drained and full. It hurt, but it was beautiful. This story reminded me how powerful it is to be seen and loved by just one person, especially when everything else feels like it's falling apart.
What made it all worth it was the connection between the two main characters. Their bond was everything. It wasn’t perfect or easy, but it felt real—raw, honest, and deeply human. Even when the world around them was crumbling, they kept finding each other in the chaos. That connection gave the story so much heart.
By the end, I felt both drained and full. It hurt, but it was beautiful. This story reminded me how powerful it is to be seen and loved by just one person, especially when everything else feels like it's falling apart.
May 16, 2025
A grumpy/sunshine small town romance that left me with big feelings.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy from the author for this novel. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Every Chance After was literally the perfect small town romance for me. I started this book at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and finished up at one in the morning. I read it all in less than 12 hours.
In this novel, we follow Marnie and Grady as they turn a harrowing and devastating experience into something beautiful and magical. After a devastating mistake made by Grady that up ends Marnie's chance for future happiness, Grady refuses to step away until he's "made everything right". But is this a situation that Grady can fix, or is it a situation he has to roll with to find utter happiness in his life?
Marnie is sunshine and roses and always looks at the bright side of life. At the cusp of getting everything she's ever wanted she has to deal with an unfortunate and very drastic change in her circumstances. But she never loses that smile and that is something I absolutely loved about Marnie. She makes the best out of everything. Sometimes at the expense of her own emotions. A self proclaimed cat lady and savor of all things used, you cannot help but enjoy her infectious personality. Watching Marnie navigate the circumstances in the novel, and all of the new situations thrown at her was absolute joy and sunshine. I loved how Marnie possessed the ability to cast her spell of warmth and sunshine, even the most cynical of people.
Honestly, my favorite character and all of this was Grady. Grady uses his sour disposition to stay out of small town affairs and complications. He returned to his small town after a divorce to become a workaholic as a vet and helper on his father's farm. When he makes a head on collision with Marnie's life and realizes how much he wants her sunshine and warmth in his life, it is like a watching a flower blossom. Watching Grady shed his sour demeanor and embrace a life of sunshine was absolutely a fun and interesting experience. I felt like his character was so well rounded and realistic.
There are some heavy themes tackled in this small town, contemporary romance. I would highly recommend checking the authors page for trigger warnings because it does have some deeper meanings that are definitely triggering. I do feel like all of them were handled very well. Enjoy organic to the plot. They were absolutely realistic and not in any way sensationalized.
This book had a lot of representation in it. Wonderful realistic representation for infertility and found family. As well as a wonderful gender non-conforming character that stole my heart. 💝
I highly recommend this book by Jessica Sherry. It is my first book by this author, and I cannot wait to dive into her backlog.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy from the author for this novel. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Every Chance After was literally the perfect small town romance for me. I started this book at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and finished up at one in the morning. I read it all in less than 12 hours.
In this novel, we follow Marnie and Grady as they turn a harrowing and devastating experience into something beautiful and magical. After a devastating mistake made by Grady that up ends Marnie's chance for future happiness, Grady refuses to step away until he's "made everything right". But is this a situation that Grady can fix, or is it a situation he has to roll with to find utter happiness in his life?
Marnie is sunshine and roses and always looks at the bright side of life. At the cusp of getting everything she's ever wanted she has to deal with an unfortunate and very drastic change in her circumstances. But she never loses that smile and that is something I absolutely loved about Marnie. She makes the best out of everything. Sometimes at the expense of her own emotions. A self proclaimed cat lady and savor of all things used, you cannot help but enjoy her infectious personality. Watching Marnie navigate the circumstances in the novel, and all of the new situations thrown at her was absolute joy and sunshine. I loved how Marnie possessed the ability to cast her spell of warmth and sunshine, even the most cynical of people.
Honestly, my favorite character and all of this was Grady. Grady uses his sour disposition to stay out of small town affairs and complications. He returned to his small town after a divorce to become a workaholic as a vet and helper on his father's farm. When he makes a head on collision with Marnie's life and realizes how much he wants her sunshine and warmth in his life, it is like a watching a flower blossom. Watching Grady shed his sour demeanor and embrace a life of sunshine was absolutely a fun and interesting experience. I felt like his character was so well rounded and realistic.
There are some heavy themes tackled in this small town, contemporary romance. I would highly recommend checking the authors page for trigger warnings because it does have some deeper meanings that are definitely triggering. I do feel like all of them were handled very well. Enjoy organic to the plot. They were absolutely realistic and not in any way sensationalized.
This book had a lot of representation in it. Wonderful realistic representation for infertility and found family. As well as a wonderful gender non-conforming character that stole my heart. 💝
I highly recommend this book by Jessica Sherry. It is my first book by this author, and I cannot wait to dive into her backlog.
May 24, 2025
This jumped straight to the top of my tbr for this weekend when I spotted it on NetGalley this morning, I knew then I’d not be able to put it down or read anything else. As soon as I started Every Chance After I knew it was going to be a 5 ⭐️ read and Grady Tripp did not disappoint.
I don’t know what Jessica Sherry puts in her books but they make for the best kind of all day reading experiences. The MCs are top tier and so well written they jump right out of the pages fully formed and real, I love the cameos or mentions of characters from previous books, it makes everything like an inside joke that I’m in on. I love the side characters she writes too because they too bring the comedic value to moments, I particularly love the scene about 44% of the way through - I was howling with laughter as it unfolded.
Every Chance After is a swoon fest from the go, but let’s be honest it starts when you look at that cover! I can’t wait to catch Marnie + Grady in future books and see what they’re up to! Thank you so much Jessica for the ARC and for making my weekend ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
I don’t know what Jessica Sherry puts in her books but they make for the best kind of all day reading experiences. The MCs are top tier and so well written they jump right out of the pages fully formed and real, I love the cameos or mentions of characters from previous books, it makes everything like an inside joke that I’m in on. I love the side characters she writes too because they too bring the comedic value to moments, I particularly love the scene about 44% of the way through - I was howling with laughter as it unfolded.
Every Chance After is a swoon fest from the go, but let’s be honest it starts when you look at that cover! I can’t wait to catch Marnie + Grady in future books and see what they’re up to! Thank you so much Jessica for the ARC and for making my weekend ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
June 14, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
One of my favorite tropes is 'grumpy and sunshine' and there is plenty of it in this book. After being in an accident, Grady and Marnie's story develops and goes through a lot, till it brings them together. However, I didn't like that their bond was born from trauma. I rather liked Grady's family dynamic, the chaos and happiness with them.
Overall, I give this book 4 stars.
One of my favorite tropes is 'grumpy and sunshine' and there is plenty of it in this book. After being in an accident, Grady and Marnie's story develops and goes through a lot, till it brings them together. However, I didn't like that their bond was born from trauma. I rather liked Grady's family dynamic, the chaos and happiness with them.
Overall, I give this book 4 stars.
June 12, 2025
Going into this, I was shocked and absolutely delighted that Jessica named this main character after me. During the reading, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the characters. And of course, Jessica threw me off guard once again by including the characters from her other books! It’s lovely to see them grow this these new books and characters!
September 12, 2025
I truly truly enjoyed this book so much!! The tropes that were included i the book were so well done. The fact that they are grumpy x sunshine made the whole story wholesome; their dynamic was really good. I found myself smiling and laughing while reading it despite having the emotional and sad part of it. Marnie went through a lot, but we still got to see a happy and funny aspect of the book, which made it not so hard on the emotional aspect. I also LOVED that we got to have a found family aspect (it is my favourite trope) because it added so much more in the story. Although at some times i wished that Marnie would stick up for herself, she was truly amazing, and relatable on some ways.
This was my first book of Jessica Sherry, and i will definitely check out her other work!
Thank You Netgalley for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for a honest review! :)
This was my first book of Jessica Sherry, and i will definitely check out her other work!
Thank You Netgalley for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for a honest review! :)
November 5, 2025
4 .25⭐️
1.5 🌶️
Can someone please phone Netflix and tell them we have the perfect script for them because this needs to go straight the the screen.
This was the coziest small town story which I loved.
What did I love - The characters had so much depth and the way one can relate to their insecurities. They were complex but they grew so much by the ending. I loved the side characters which I feel all can have their own story but Ashe and his mom, seriously, shame on you.
What I didn’t like - It felt like there were just to many micro tropes to keep up with. There is the hobbies, the lost family, the found family, the age gap, thw accident…….
I would convince anyone to read this perfect feel good small town story.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
1.5 🌶️
Can someone please phone Netflix and tell them we have the perfect script for them because this needs to go straight the the screen.
This was the coziest small town story which I loved.
What did I love - The characters had so much depth and the way one can relate to their insecurities. They were complex but they grew so much by the ending. I loved the side characters which I feel all can have their own story but Ashe and his mom, seriously, shame on you.
What I didn’t like - It felt like there were just to many micro tropes to keep up with. There is the hobbies, the lost family, the found family, the age gap, thw accident…….
I would convince anyone to read this perfect feel good small town story.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
May 20, 2025
4.5 rounded up! This was an incredibly sweet romance that handled tough topics so freaking well.
Marnie and Grady have the opposite of a meet-cute: a serious, life-altering car accident on the day of her wedding that leaves Marnie unable to have children and Grady distraught over what he believes he's taken away from her. Marnie's fiance Ashe bails after the future they once planned together is no longer possible, leaving Marnie without a fiance and now without a job, given that she worked for his family business. Grady is determined to help her out how he can - getting her home from the hospital, making sure she has everything she needs to recover, keeping her company, but it's just the kind thing to do when you mess up someone's life like that, right? Plus, she's ten years younger than him so nothing else can happen anyway. Until they start spending more time together, and Marnie begins to breathe color back into Grady's gray and grumpy world.
Hello, please, I love them so much. Despite how they meet, it quickly becomes clear that they're very much what each other needs. I loved having both their perspectives when reading the book and getting these glimpses of how unsure they are of each other's feelings when their own feelings are so big (ANGSTY!!!!!!).
I loved how each of the serious topics was handled with care. Marnie's inability to conceive children, but also her general ambivalence to having them at all, her estranged relationship with her mother, Grady's compulsion to be the go-to guy for his family were all woven into the story seamlessly but still delivered on the importance of each of these topics.
Side characters in this story were A+, including the cats and the dogs (and Bessie). Definitely will be recommending this one as it's such a unique romance and it really does give you all the feels.
Thank you to the author Jessica Sherry for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Marnie and Grady have the opposite of a meet-cute: a serious, life-altering car accident on the day of her wedding that leaves Marnie unable to have children and Grady distraught over what he believes he's taken away from her. Marnie's fiance Ashe bails after the future they once planned together is no longer possible, leaving Marnie without a fiance and now without a job, given that she worked for his family business. Grady is determined to help her out how he can - getting her home from the hospital, making sure she has everything she needs to recover, keeping her company, but it's just the kind thing to do when you mess up someone's life like that, right? Plus, she's ten years younger than him so nothing else can happen anyway. Until they start spending more time together, and Marnie begins to breathe color back into Grady's gray and grumpy world.
Hello, please, I love them so much. Despite how they meet, it quickly becomes clear that they're very much what each other needs. I loved having both their perspectives when reading the book and getting these glimpses of how unsure they are of each other's feelings when their own feelings are so big (ANGSTY!!!!!!).
I loved how each of the serious topics was handled with care. Marnie's inability to conceive children, but also her general ambivalence to having them at all, her estranged relationship with her mother, Grady's compulsion to be the go-to guy for his family were all woven into the story seamlessly but still delivered on the importance of each of these topics.
Side characters in this story were A+, including the cats and the dogs (and Bessie). Definitely will be recommending this one as it's such a unique romance and it really does give you all the feels.
Thank you to the author Jessica Sherry for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 11, 2025
I loved every minute of this book! It's a perfect fall / Autumn read
for those who love some spice , drama and fun.
Must love small town, friends to lovers romance.
for those who love some spice , drama and fun.
Must love small town, friends to lovers romance.
June 25, 2025
A solid 4.5 stars.
This book was an adorable read. And I really enjoyed this a lot. The plot was simple, with no brainers.
The main theme of this book is particularly *Second Chance in Love*.
Both of them are broken hearts and not lying, but I cried when Ashe broke up with her. Anyway, Marina deserves far better than that monkey Ashe.
Marina Ann Strange, a simple girl with Sunshine🌞 Vibes always vibrant and kind, is ready to get married to the love of her life until everything changes.
Grady Macmillan Tripp, aka the Grouchy Tripp, an oldie (that's what he considers himself), considers himself responsible for everything that happened with Marina and decides to help her in every way possible, until slowly he falls in Love❤️.
But Grady is not Ready to accept his feelings for her because apparently he thinks he is too old for her and she deserves far better 🤧.
And omg, Grady's side of the story of his loss, I'm sobbing. Sobbing for the little Sara who didn't get to see the world.
But then after Grady's love confession and played for Marnie at the restaurant, omg it was so adorable. That man literally sang for her. Why do these book men set the standards? Why do now I've to suffer my whole life? Because I'm never getting one and so I'm never looking for one.
And then, the little sister, Matilda, is a cute little baby.
And then, omg, their little love talks. (Ikik I'm jumping from one topic to another.)
Their special game *Chess*. I love it I love every part of this book.
And omg the EPILOGUE, it was the bestttt.
This book was super amazing and I really appreciate for getting to read this amazing piece of art.
I would like to thank the Author, Jessica Sherry, and Netgalley for offering me this book to read in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, people. I'm so thankful that I got to read this book. It was really a great experience.
This book was an adorable read. And I really enjoyed this a lot. The plot was simple, with no brainers.
The main theme of this book is particularly *Second Chance in Love*.
Both of them are broken hearts and not lying, but I cried when Ashe broke up with her. Anyway, Marina deserves far better than that monkey Ashe.
Marina Ann Strange, a simple girl with Sunshine🌞 Vibes always vibrant and kind, is ready to get married to the love of her life until everything changes.
Grady Macmillan Tripp, aka the Grouchy Tripp, an oldie (that's what he considers himself), considers himself responsible for everything that happened with Marina and decides to help her in every way possible, until slowly he falls in Love❤️.
But Grady is not Ready to accept his feelings for her because apparently he thinks he is too old for her and she deserves far better 🤧.
And omg, Grady's side of the story of his loss, I'm sobbing. Sobbing for the little Sara who didn't get to see the world.
But then after Grady's love confession and played for Marnie at the restaurant, omg it was so adorable. That man literally sang for her. Why do these book men set the standards? Why do now I've to suffer my whole life? Because I'm never getting one and so I'm never looking for one.
And then, the little sister, Matilda, is a cute little baby.
And then, omg, their little love talks. (Ikik I'm jumping from one topic to another.)
Their special game *Chess*. I love it I love every part of this book.
And omg the EPILOGUE, it was the bestttt.
This book was super amazing and I really appreciate for getting to read this amazing piece of art.
I would like to thank the Author, Jessica Sherry, and Netgalley for offering me this book to read in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, people. I'm so thankful that I got to read this book. It was really a great experience.
July 14, 2025
I read this as an ARC and really enjoyed it. its low on the spice level, though well done, and heavy on the healing and relatability. Marnie's positivity is inspiring. Grady and Marnie both carry fixer traits and that's just so so real. I appreciate the authenticity in characters, approach to neurodivergence and acceptance of others' interests, along with the genuine experience for both parties post-tragic car accident.
I would definitely recommend, with advice to read the trigger warnings.
I would definitely recommend, with advice to read the trigger warnings.
June 6, 2025
I won’t lie, I struggled with this one. Not for lack of plot or the way it was written, I just think some of it was a bit unbelievable and a little too cheesy for me? I really wanted to like it, and for the most part, I did. I just couldn’t get past a few things.
Grumpy/Sunshine and Found Family are two of my very favorite tropes. In practice, one wasn’t really my cup of tea and the other was everything I wanted and more.
Grumpy (Grouchy) Grady and Sunshine Marina (Marnie) were almost too on the nose. Marnie, specifically, rubbed me the wrong way with her - sometimes toxic - positivity. Luckily, Grady helped her past that, but it was painful at times to hear her justify everything with “no frowns, no fears, no tears.”
I was hoping for more development dealing with Grady’s exhaustion from being everything for everyone - vet, son, brother, etc. He kind of just transferred all of that energy to Marnie’s wellbeing and, although sweet, just felt like a loose end. He’s such a sweetie pie and I really loved him, I just wanted more from him in terms of growth.
Maybe it’s a me-thing, but I just cannot forgive the way Marnie does. She’s had some pretty huge bombshells dropped on her and without much preamble, those who dropped them are forgiven. I admire that, I just don’t know how realistic it is.
The pacing felt super off at the end with their relationship, but again, that’s probably a me-thing and I’m being picky.
The found family aspect was done so, so well. That alone was its own story. Wade, Roy, and Christie were the perfect gruff, yet squishy group of misfits for Marnie to wrangle. I loved their individual backgrounds and how that shaped the G&G and their friendships.
The side characters really shined in this book. I felt like they were fully developed and helped move the plot along. Just really well-written.
I enjoyed this book, it just wasn’t my favorite. Don’t let that stop you - definitely check it out for a fun summer read!
A few things I loved:
* Peter & Marigold 🛠️🎨
* Game making as a hobby♟️
* Success being the best revenge ☀️
* Mornings on the dock ☕️
* Comeuppance for Cora 🤷♀️
* That cover?! 😍
* Paper boats ⛵️
The Basics:
Veterinarian//Retail Manager
1st Person Dual POV
Standalone
HEA 🖤
🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Jessica Sherry, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🤍
Grumpy/Sunshine and Found Family are two of my very favorite tropes. In practice, one wasn’t really my cup of tea and the other was everything I wanted and more.
Grumpy (Grouchy) Grady and Sunshine Marina (Marnie) were almost too on the nose. Marnie, specifically, rubbed me the wrong way with her - sometimes toxic - positivity. Luckily, Grady helped her past that, but it was painful at times to hear her justify everything with “no frowns, no fears, no tears.”
I was hoping for more development dealing with Grady’s exhaustion from being everything for everyone - vet, son, brother, etc. He kind of just transferred all of that energy to Marnie’s wellbeing and, although sweet, just felt like a loose end. He’s such a sweetie pie and I really loved him, I just wanted more from him in terms of growth.
Maybe it’s a me-thing, but I just cannot forgive the way Marnie does. She’s had some pretty huge bombshells dropped on her and without much preamble, those who dropped them are forgiven. I admire that, I just don’t know how realistic it is.
The pacing felt super off at the end with their relationship, but again, that’s probably a me-thing and I’m being picky.
The found family aspect was done so, so well. That alone was its own story. Wade, Roy, and Christie were the perfect gruff, yet squishy group of misfits for Marnie to wrangle. I loved their individual backgrounds and how that shaped the G&G and their friendships.
The side characters really shined in this book. I felt like they were fully developed and helped move the plot along. Just really well-written.
I enjoyed this book, it just wasn’t my favorite. Don’t let that stop you - definitely check it out for a fun summer read!
A few things I loved:
* Peter & Marigold 🛠️🎨
* Game making as a hobby♟️
* Success being the best revenge ☀️
* Mornings on the dock ☕️
* Comeuppance for Cora 🤷♀️
* That cover?! 😍
* Paper boats ⛵️
The Basics:
Veterinarian//Retail Manager
1st Person Dual POV
Standalone
HEA 🖤
🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Jessica Sherry, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🤍
July 14, 2025
“I caused the impact that started us, but she’s crashed into me ever since. Barreling through my walls. Softening my rough edges. Bringing me out of the shadows.”
Grady Tripp, a small town grumpy vet, is on his way home after a night saving animals when he falls asleep at the wheel and crashes into a stranger’s car. Marnie is on the way to her wedding, but in one moment, everything in her life changes. Grady’s guilt forces him to get involved, but his feelings for Marnie cause him to stay. Will mistakes in the past affect their future together?
OMG THIS BOOK. This one pulled me in from the very beginning, when the tragic accident happened and the immediate aftermath. Again, I started it too late at night, stayed up reading it, and couldn’t do anything today until I finished it (oops, accidentally read all morning!). Told in alternating POVs between Grady and Marnie, I loved them both so much, separately and together. The small coastal town where the book takes place also had so many fun and quirky side characters to love. I hope some of them get their own books. Grady and Marnie both had tragic backstories, but watching them fall in love and overcoming their hurt and pain, together and apart, was so well written and realistic that I just couldn’t stop reading this book! There is no miscommunication or misunderstanding, which made me love absolutely everything about this book, from beginning to end. It’s the sign of an amazing book when I finished reading it and I’m sad it’s over, and then I immediately add everything else the author has ever written to my Amazon wish list. Huge kudos to the author because I am very impressed! And I'm pretty stingy with my stars for a romance book. Perfect for fans of the grumpy vs sunshine trope and found families, and recommended for fans of Abby Jimenez, Christina Lauren, and Sarah Adams. If you like strong but flawed characters who are absolutely perfect for each other, give this one a try!
Spice: 🌶️ 1/2
Rating: 5⭐️
Grady Tripp, a small town grumpy vet, is on his way home after a night saving animals when he falls asleep at the wheel and crashes into a stranger’s car. Marnie is on the way to her wedding, but in one moment, everything in her life changes. Grady’s guilt forces him to get involved, but his feelings for Marnie cause him to stay. Will mistakes in the past affect their future together?
OMG THIS BOOK. This one pulled me in from the very beginning, when the tragic accident happened and the immediate aftermath. Again, I started it too late at night, stayed up reading it, and couldn’t do anything today until I finished it (oops, accidentally read all morning!). Told in alternating POVs between Grady and Marnie, I loved them both so much, separately and together. The small coastal town where the book takes place also had so many fun and quirky side characters to love. I hope some of them get their own books. Grady and Marnie both had tragic backstories, but watching them fall in love and overcoming their hurt and pain, together and apart, was so well written and realistic that I just couldn’t stop reading this book! There is no miscommunication or misunderstanding, which made me love absolutely everything about this book, from beginning to end. It’s the sign of an amazing book when I finished reading it and I’m sad it’s over, and then I immediately add everything else the author has ever written to my Amazon wish list. Huge kudos to the author because I am very impressed! And I'm pretty stingy with my stars for a romance book. Perfect for fans of the grumpy vs sunshine trope and found families, and recommended for fans of Abby Jimenez, Christina Lauren, and Sarah Adams. If you like strong but flawed characters who are absolutely perfect for each other, give this one a try!
Spice: 🌶️ 1/2
Rating: 5⭐️
June 26, 2025
Every Chance After
by Jessica Sherry
Rating Factors:
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes/Micro-tropes:
Slow Burn
Grumpy x Sunshine
Found Family
Age Gap
Hurt + Comfort
Review
This is the book I’ve been waiting for all year. It stole my heart, broke it, melted it, pieced it back together and then put it back in my chest good as new.
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely adored these characters. Starting with the FMC, Marina “Marnie” Strange, she is a bottle of sunshine who’s always longed for family. She is kind and forgiving, but has sadness and grief that she buries down. She also has a talent and aspiration for rescuing things that need it. Marnie is so easily lovable and pulls on your heartstrings throughout the book. All you could do is root for her and long to see her happy ending. The MMC, Grady Tripp, is a closed off veterinarian who came back to his hometown after tragic circumstances. He is overworked and his families go-to guy, which is ultimately what leads to the events in the beginning of the book. Grady is frustrating in an understandable way. He tends to self sabotage instead of allowing himself to be happy. I couldn’t wait to see him grab on to his happy ending and hold it tight. This book also came with a wide assortment of lovable and grumpy side characters. They added a beautiful found family aspect that made this book even more enjoyable.
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My heart is absolutely melted after reading Grady and Marina’s story. It is filled with sadness, happiness, heartbreak, and longing. Grady and Marnie meet under terrible circumstances that alters them forever. Grady struggles with guilt while Marnie deals with pain and heartbreak. Together they find themselves realizing that the worst day of their lives may not have been the worst after all. There were so many swoony moments between these characters that had me giggling and kicking my feet. The longing they experienced towards each other had my heart happy and aching at the same time. They may just be my favorite book couple of 2025.
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The saying “Good things come to those who wait.” absolutely applies to the spice in this book. Once you reached the scenes, they were so good.
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If I can give you one piece of advice, go into this book blind. I had already read the description at least once, but had forgotten about it and it definitely worked in my favor. I had no idea what to expect with this book and had no idea how quickly the story would begin. The storyline was just beautiful.
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed the writing and pacing. Everything moved at the perfect pace and the writing was detailed, but not overly so. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my “Book of the Year” so far for 2025 and I’m shocked it doesn’t have more reads. Jessica Sherry created a beautiful love story and I’m so happy I read it.
Thank you to Jessica Sherry and NetGalley for allowing me to receive a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
by Jessica Sherry
Rating Factors:
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes/Micro-tropes:
Slow Burn
Grumpy x Sunshine
Found Family
Age Gap
Hurt + Comfort
Review
This is the book I’ve been waiting for all year. It stole my heart, broke it, melted it, pieced it back together and then put it back in my chest good as new.
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely adored these characters. Starting with the FMC, Marina “Marnie” Strange, she is a bottle of sunshine who’s always longed for family. She is kind and forgiving, but has sadness and grief that she buries down. She also has a talent and aspiration for rescuing things that need it. Marnie is so easily lovable and pulls on your heartstrings throughout the book. All you could do is root for her and long to see her happy ending. The MMC, Grady Tripp, is a closed off veterinarian who came back to his hometown after tragic circumstances. He is overworked and his families go-to guy, which is ultimately what leads to the events in the beginning of the book. Grady is frustrating in an understandable way. He tends to self sabotage instead of allowing himself to be happy. I couldn’t wait to see him grab on to his happy ending and hold it tight. This book also came with a wide assortment of lovable and grumpy side characters. They added a beautiful found family aspect that made this book even more enjoyable.
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My heart is absolutely melted after reading Grady and Marina’s story. It is filled with sadness, happiness, heartbreak, and longing. Grady and Marnie meet under terrible circumstances that alters them forever. Grady struggles with guilt while Marnie deals with pain and heartbreak. Together they find themselves realizing that the worst day of their lives may not have been the worst after all. There were so many swoony moments between these characters that had me giggling and kicking my feet. The longing they experienced towards each other had my heart happy and aching at the same time. They may just be my favorite book couple of 2025.
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The saying “Good things come to those who wait.” absolutely applies to the spice in this book. Once you reached the scenes, they were so good.
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If I can give you one piece of advice, go into this book blind. I had already read the description at least once, but had forgotten about it and it definitely worked in my favor. I had no idea what to expect with this book and had no idea how quickly the story would begin. The storyline was just beautiful.
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed the writing and pacing. Everything moved at the perfect pace and the writing was detailed, but not overly so. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my “Book of the Year” so far for 2025 and I’m shocked it doesn’t have more reads. Jessica Sherry created a beautiful love story and I’m so happy I read it.
Thank you to Jessica Sherry and NetGalley for allowing me to receive a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 29, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
A tragic accident on her wedding day ends up completely changing the course of Marnie’s life, and she is left navigating her new future with the man who caused it.
I’ll be honest, if I were in Marnie’s place, I’m not so sure I would have been as forgiving as she was with Grady—even if he did save her life.
However, she’s sunshine incarnate and in spite of the life she imagined herself having crumbling around her, she continued to see the good in everything.
Despite how they met, Grady and Marnie just work. They balance each other out well, and their friendship turned romance was super sweet.
What to expect:
- car accident meet “cute”
- trauma bonding
- small town romance
- age gap
- grumpy x sunshine
- friends to lovers
CW: on page car accident, injuries and blood sustained from said crash, emergency medical procedures, mentions of infertility/pregnancy, grief, abandonment, mental health rep, parental abandonment, mentions of divorce
A tragic accident on her wedding day ends up completely changing the course of Marnie’s life, and she is left navigating her new future with the man who caused it.
I’ll be honest, if I were in Marnie’s place, I’m not so sure I would have been as forgiving as she was with Grady—even if he did save her life.
However, she’s sunshine incarnate and in spite of the life she imagined herself having crumbling around her, she continued to see the good in everything.
Despite how they met, Grady and Marnie just work. They balance each other out well, and their friendship turned romance was super sweet.
What to expect:
- car accident meet “cute”
- trauma bonding
- small town romance
- age gap
- grumpy x sunshine
- friends to lovers
CW: on page car accident, injuries and blood sustained from said crash, emergency medical procedures, mentions of infertility/pregnancy, grief, abandonment, mental health rep, parental abandonment, mentions of divorce
June 5, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Yes, I’d give it 6 stars if I could!)
From the very first page, Every Chance After had me completely hooked. Jessica Sherry throws you straight into the action with a dramatic, emotional opening that sets the tone for a beautifully written story about healing, hope, and second chances.
The characters are so well developed, I genuinely felt like I knew them. I absolutely adored the dynamic between Grady and Marnie, it’s real, heartfelt, and full of gentle moments that slowly build into something so meaningful. I found myself rooting for them so hard the entire way through!
One of the things I loved most is that not one single page bored me. Every chapter pulled me deeper in. Whether it was emotional, sweet, or filled with quiet strength, each scene served a purpose and made me care even more.
The writing is smooth and easy to fall into, but it’s also layered with just the right amount of depth and warmth. This is the kind of story that sticks with you long after you finish it, the kind that makes you smile to yourself when you think about it.
Honestly, I’d give this more than 5 stars if I could. It's heartwarming, moving, and full of beautiful little moments that made me pause and breathe it all in.
Highly recommend. A new favourite!
ARC provided by the author via NetGalley. Thank you so much!
#NetGalley #ARC
From the very first page, Every Chance After had me completely hooked. Jessica Sherry throws you straight into the action with a dramatic, emotional opening that sets the tone for a beautifully written story about healing, hope, and second chances.
The characters are so well developed, I genuinely felt like I knew them. I absolutely adored the dynamic between Grady and Marnie, it’s real, heartfelt, and full of gentle moments that slowly build into something so meaningful. I found myself rooting for them so hard the entire way through!
One of the things I loved most is that not one single page bored me. Every chapter pulled me deeper in. Whether it was emotional, sweet, or filled with quiet strength, each scene served a purpose and made me care even more.
The writing is smooth and easy to fall into, but it’s also layered with just the right amount of depth and warmth. This is the kind of story that sticks with you long after you finish it, the kind that makes you smile to yourself when you think about it.
Honestly, I’d give this more than 5 stars if I could. It's heartwarming, moving, and full of beautiful little moments that made me pause and breathe it all in.
Highly recommend. A new favourite!
ARC provided by the author via NetGalley. Thank you so much!
#NetGalley #ARC
July 1, 2025
You know that feeling when your stomach twists and your heart picks up and you can’t help but smile because something just feels so right? That was me, start to finish, reading Every Chance After. (Well—except for their first meeting. That had me fully tense, uncomfortable, and already deeply concerned for their emotional well-being. But once it clicked between them? I was gone.)
Grady has a reputation—small-town grump, closed off, the guy who never lets anyone in. But the second Marnie enters his world, it’s like something cracks open. Watching him soften for her, in spite of himself, was one of the most satisfying emotional slow burns I’ve read in a long time. She’s bright and kind and sunshine through and through—but she’s not untouched by grief or pain. She just chooses joy anyway. And watching her learn that she doesn’t have to do everything alone? Devastating in the most beautiful way.
They’re a walking, talking case study in opposites attracting—but the kind that makes sense. Perfectly imperfect. The chemistry between them simmers slow, steady, and hot enough to start a wildfire. But this isn’t just a romance. It’s a story about trust, about healing, about learning to let someone else shoulder the weight with you.
The characters feel real in that “I could definitely run into them at the gas station” way. The family dynamics are rich and layered—messy but full of love. And the way the author handles trauma, grief, and emotional baggage? Gentle. Honest. So, so well done. Marnie’s growth hit me hard—she learns what family feels like and that she doesn’t always have to be the one holding everything together.
And the internal monologues? Forget about it. They’re raw, funny, heart-wrenching—everything I love. I laughed. I cried. I highlighted half the book.
Every Chance After is grumpy-sunshine perfection, filled with emotional depth, quiet moments that hit like thunder, and just enough chaos to remind you it’s real life. Five stars. Would absolutely let this man rescue me on the side of the road, even if he’s scowling the whole time (and maybe also the one who hit me)
Grady has a reputation—small-town grump, closed off, the guy who never lets anyone in. But the second Marnie enters his world, it’s like something cracks open. Watching him soften for her, in spite of himself, was one of the most satisfying emotional slow burns I’ve read in a long time. She’s bright and kind and sunshine through and through—but she’s not untouched by grief or pain. She just chooses joy anyway. And watching her learn that she doesn’t have to do everything alone? Devastating in the most beautiful way.
They’re a walking, talking case study in opposites attracting—but the kind that makes sense. Perfectly imperfect. The chemistry between them simmers slow, steady, and hot enough to start a wildfire. But this isn’t just a romance. It’s a story about trust, about healing, about learning to let someone else shoulder the weight with you.
The characters feel real in that “I could definitely run into them at the gas station” way. The family dynamics are rich and layered—messy but full of love. And the way the author handles trauma, grief, and emotional baggage? Gentle. Honest. So, so well done. Marnie’s growth hit me hard—she learns what family feels like and that she doesn’t always have to be the one holding everything together.
And the internal monologues? Forget about it. They’re raw, funny, heart-wrenching—everything I love. I laughed. I cried. I highlighted half the book.
Every Chance After is grumpy-sunshine perfection, filled with emotional depth, quiet moments that hit like thunder, and just enough chaos to remind you it’s real life. Five stars. Would absolutely let this man rescue me on the side of the road, even if he’s scowling the whole time (and maybe also the one who hit me)
July 17, 2025
What a delightful, charming, emotional and heartfelt read! I love Jessica’s writing style and with this story she absolutely nails it at every turn.
Grady and Marina are compelling MCs from the jump, who I couldn’t help but fall in love with. The premise of the book is so unique. The emotions were plentiful and varied throughout. And the journey these two take is just — wow.
This is a slow burn, every second of which made sense and was lower on spice — but no less butterfly-inducing than its spicier counterparts.
Every character in this is so nuanced and intriguing, from Grady’s family to the three men who come to mean so much (in a fatherly way) to Marnie. Together, they show us what it means to find your place in the world among your people.
I was charmed throughout and kept thinking, “how is this not on every bestseller list?”
So glad I decided to download this one — you will be too!
Grady and Marina are compelling MCs from the jump, who I couldn’t help but fall in love with. The premise of the book is so unique. The emotions were plentiful and varied throughout. And the journey these two take is just — wow.
This is a slow burn, every second of which made sense and was lower on spice — but no less butterfly-inducing than its spicier counterparts.
Every character in this is so nuanced and intriguing, from Grady’s family to the three men who come to mean so much (in a fatherly way) to Marnie. Together, they show us what it means to find your place in the world among your people.
I was charmed throughout and kept thinking, “how is this not on every bestseller list?”
So glad I decided to download this one — you will be too!
November 21, 2025
Every Chance After is a sweet grumpy x sunshine romance that focuses heavily on the importance of forgiving, healing, found family, and redefining oneself. Marnie and Grady are two individuals from the same small town but they couldn't be more different. One tragic accident brings them together and not only do they eventually fall in love, they learn, grow, accept, and let go along the way. This is more than just a simple romance. This is a story of growth and healing, and it is simply beautiful.
Thank you NetGalley and Jessica Sherry for this ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Jessica Sherry for this ARC.
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