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The Love We Chase
A story of love, betrayal, and unexpected friendship.
Lottie’s relationship with Greg ends when he leaves her for Emma, a decision that intertwines their lives in ways neither woman could foresee.
Emma traps Greg in marriage by falling pregnant. Later, a one-night stand leaves Lottie carrying Greg’s child, forcing them into an uneasy co-parenting arrangement. Then Lottie is diagnosed with breast cancer.
As both women navigate their complicated connection, they build an uneasy alliance. And when Lottie faces the ultimate challenge, she is forced to ask Emma for help. Can two women who once loathed each other come together during the darkest time?
Poignant, heart-wrenching, and hopeful, this is a tale of resilience and the power of unexpected connections.
Lottie’s relationship with Greg ends when he leaves her for Emma, a decision that intertwines their lives in ways neither woman could foresee.
Emma traps Greg in marriage by falling pregnant. Later, a one-night stand leaves Lottie carrying Greg’s child, forcing them into an uneasy co-parenting arrangement. Then Lottie is diagnosed with breast cancer.
As both women navigate their complicated connection, they build an uneasy alliance. And when Lottie faces the ultimate challenge, she is forced to ask Emma for help. Can two women who once loathed each other come together during the darkest time?
Poignant, heart-wrenching, and hopeful, this is a tale of resilience and the power of unexpected connections.
- GenresAudiobook
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2025
About the author
Alison Irving
4 books45 followersAlison lives in a village outside Belfast with her husband, two children and a very spoiled cat. Casual Cruelties is her first novel. The follow up Her Best Friend's Husband, can be read as a standalone and follows Laura's friend Claire, whose past is having a devastating effect on her present.
The sequel, The Cheated Wife, will be published by Bloodhound Books in November, 2025
The Love We Chase is a standalone women's fiction about love, friendship and betrayal.
The sequel, The Cheated Wife, will be published by Bloodhound Books in November, 2025
The Love We Chase is a standalone women's fiction about love, friendship and betrayal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
May 15, 2025
The story follows Lottie and Emma and it told from their pov. Initially, Emma is completely unlikeable. She manipulates and lies to get what she wants... Lottie's boyfriend Greg. But soon, the women are forced together and they will need to find a way to stop hating one another before it is too late.
The writing style was so easy to follow and flowed well. The author is skilled at character development and I got a sense of who Emma and Lottie were, they felt believable. I spent a lot of the book wanting the girls to team up against Greg! He was so insincere and selfish at times.
I loved the story and really felt for their situations. Lottie is so likeable and I wanted her to find the happiness she deserved. i even found myself warming to Emma.
The themes were interesting love, betrayal, revenge, friendship and mortality. It got me thinking how I'd react in similar circumstances.
A great read for the summer (we are almost there!)
Huge thanks to the author, Bloodhound Books and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
The writing style was so easy to follow and flowed well. The author is skilled at character development and I got a sense of who Emma and Lottie were, they felt believable. I spent a lot of the book wanting the girls to team up against Greg! He was so insincere and selfish at times.
I loved the story and really felt for their situations. Lottie is so likeable and I wanted her to find the happiness she deserved. i even found myself warming to Emma.
The themes were interesting love, betrayal, revenge, friendship and mortality. It got me thinking how I'd react in similar circumstances.
A great read for the summer (we are almost there!)
Huge thanks to the author, Bloodhound Books and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.
April 4, 2025
A really well written book with believable characters and a compelling and complex story about past loves, present lovers and the emotional rollercoaster that a Cancer Diagnosis throws into the mix for a friendship circle which has looked after each other for years despite unfortunately circumstances and betrayals.
I really enjoyed this novel by Alison Irving.
I really enjoyed this novel by Alison Irving.
March 24, 2025
I was lucky enough to be given the chance to be an ARC reader for Alison Irving’s new novel, The Love We Chase’, published 24 April 2025 by Bloodhound Books.
The story alternates every few chapters between the two female protagonists and their love for the same man. The story draws you in to their perspective, with the earliest chapters leaving you wondering who to feel the most empathy for, and who to dislike and be the most frustrated by.
Events take you to a point where the true bonds of friendship, love and acceptance are revealed in heartbreaking clarity, with the courage to let go of past regrets and recriminations.
An uplifting and enjoyable read.
The story alternates every few chapters between the two female protagonists and their love for the same man. The story draws you in to their perspective, with the earliest chapters leaving you wondering who to feel the most empathy for, and who to dislike and be the most frustrated by.
Events take you to a point where the true bonds of friendship, love and acceptance are revealed in heartbreaking clarity, with the courage to let go of past regrets and recriminations.
An uplifting and enjoyable read.
March 25, 2025
What a book!
It follows 3 main characters Greg, Lottie & Emma & we get to know a little about a wider group of people along the way.
From the off, I was irritated by Greg, I thought he was selfish, self-centered, & arrogant. I thought Lottie foolish to be so blinded by him & his egotistical ways.
And Emma, well I hated her to begin with, jealous & conniving, scheming to get what she wants. But as the story unfolds, and they face marriage, becoming parents, infidelity, health issues and infertility we learn more about who they all are & how their characters evolve throughout the story, I came to love them all. The friendship they share, especially with their wider circle of friends, is heartwarming & something we all probably seek.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, sad & touching in parts. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to the author for enabling me to read a copy early for review. It truly is a wonderful 5-star read.
It follows 3 main characters Greg, Lottie & Emma & we get to know a little about a wider group of people along the way.
From the off, I was irritated by Greg, I thought he was selfish, self-centered, & arrogant. I thought Lottie foolish to be so blinded by him & his egotistical ways.
And Emma, well I hated her to begin with, jealous & conniving, scheming to get what she wants. But as the story unfolds, and they face marriage, becoming parents, infidelity, health issues and infertility we learn more about who they all are & how their characters evolve throughout the story, I came to love them all. The friendship they share, especially with their wider circle of friends, is heartwarming & something we all probably seek.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, sad & touching in parts. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to the author for enabling me to read a copy early for review. It truly is a wonderful 5-star read.
June 25, 2025
loved it
May 7, 2025
I came across A Love We chase through a Facebook ad and, after seeing it pop up a few times, decided to give it a go. I wasn’t sure what to expect—the Goodreads reviews were positive but didn’t say much. I ended up finishing it in two hours, completely hooked. What a journey.
The story is told from two points of view: Lottie and Emma. At the start, Lottie is in a long-term relationship with Greg—they’ve been together since university and are part of a tight-knit friend group. Then, completely out of the blue, Greg breaks up with her. He’s met someone else: Emma.
As we shift into Emma’s point of view, we discover that she and Greg had already been seeing each other behind Lottie’s back. Despite this, Greg and Lottie continue hooking up even after he starts his relationship with Emma. Greg constantly tells Lottie he’ll leave Emma, but he never does. Eventually, Emma gets pregnant, and she and Greg get married.
Fast forward a couple of years, and the dynamics are even more complicated. Emma, now part of the group because of Greg, is still somewhat of an outsider—most of the group doesn’t like her. Lottie and Greg’s affair had continued for some time but eventually, Lottie puts a stop to it. From Emma’s perspective, she always suspected what was going on, but never confronted Greg—maybe because deep down, she knew the truth about how their relationship began.
Lottie then meets Lachlan, and it finally feels like something good is happening in her life. They connect deeply, but after a work trip to Chicago, Lottie begins to see cracks. Their goals aren’t aligned, and when Lachlan accepts a two-year job in Chicago, they mutually agree to part ways—no betrayal, just honesty and maturity.
Meanwhile, Greg and Emma’s marriage is slowly falling apart. They had suffered a miscarriage earlier in their relationship—after their daughter Harper was born—but that wasn’t the main cause of their issues. Their problems run deeper: jealousy, resentment, possessiveness, and emotional distance. Eventually, they separate.
At first, Emma tries to win Greg back. We see her dressing up, putting on a smile, trying to rekindle their bond every time he comes to pick up Harper. But she soon realizes the truth—he’s moved on and is sleeping around. There’s a heartbreaking scene where Emma follows him and sees him with another woman. It’s raw and painful.
It’s during this period—when Greg and Emma are separated—that Greg and Lottie have a one-night stand, which results in Lottie becoming pregnant. When Lottie later meets with Greg to tell him about the pregnancy, he doesn’t give her a chance. Instead, he tells her that he and Emma have decided to give things another go because he misses Emma and Harper.
Lottie is left to face pregnancy alone, but she handles it with strength. She gives birth to a daughter named Hope, and somehow, a co-parenting arrangement is formed. Despite everything, Lottie, Greg, and Emma find a way to coexist. Lottie struggles emotionally when she sees that Lachlan has moved on, especially with someone she always had doubts about, and it genuinely hurts.
Then comes the hardest part—Lottie is diagnosed with breast cancer not long after Hope is born. Her journey through treatment is portrayed with such honesty and emotion. What surprised me most was how her relationship with Emma evolved during this time. They become something like friends—not because everything was forgiven, but because they both understand the weight of what’s happened. Emma, in her own way, has accepted that Greg’s heart always belonged to Lottie.
Eventually, Lottie finishes her cancer treatment and is declared in remission. It’s at this point that she receives a message from Lachlan, who’s returned from Chicago. He admits he made a mistake and wants to reconnect. Their reunion is slow, cautious, but so beautiful to watch unfold.
Just when things seem to be falling into place, Lottie’s cancer returns. And in one of the most emotional scenes of the book, she asks Emma to become Hope’s guardian if anything happens to her. That moment broke me. It said so much about growth, forgiveness, and womanhood.
By the end of the book, everyone has found their place. Lottie and Lachlan are together again. Greg and Emma are trying to make it work. The friend group still exists—fractured, healed, imperfect—but still standing.
I started this book thinking I’d hate Greg and Emma. And while Greg never redeemed himself fully, I came to understand Emma. She wasn’t the villain—she was a woman who went after what she wanted and paid the emotional price. In the end, I genuinely felt sorry for her.
A Love We Lost was raw, emotional, and deeply human. It’s not a neat love story. It’s messy, complicated, and real. But it’s also full of hope and healing. Lottie’s journey—from heartbreak to self-worth, from pain to peace—was powerful. This book wasn’t just a random pick. It was a five-star read I’ll remember for a long time.
The story is told from two points of view: Lottie and Emma. At the start, Lottie is in a long-term relationship with Greg—they’ve been together since university and are part of a tight-knit friend group. Then, completely out of the blue, Greg breaks up with her. He’s met someone else: Emma.
As we shift into Emma’s point of view, we discover that she and Greg had already been seeing each other behind Lottie’s back. Despite this, Greg and Lottie continue hooking up even after he starts his relationship with Emma. Greg constantly tells Lottie he’ll leave Emma, but he never does. Eventually, Emma gets pregnant, and she and Greg get married.
Fast forward a couple of years, and the dynamics are even more complicated. Emma, now part of the group because of Greg, is still somewhat of an outsider—most of the group doesn’t like her. Lottie and Greg’s affair had continued for some time but eventually, Lottie puts a stop to it. From Emma’s perspective, she always suspected what was going on, but never confronted Greg—maybe because deep down, she knew the truth about how their relationship began.
Lottie then meets Lachlan, and it finally feels like something good is happening in her life. They connect deeply, but after a work trip to Chicago, Lottie begins to see cracks. Their goals aren’t aligned, and when Lachlan accepts a two-year job in Chicago, they mutually agree to part ways—no betrayal, just honesty and maturity.
Meanwhile, Greg and Emma’s marriage is slowly falling apart. They had suffered a miscarriage earlier in their relationship—after their daughter Harper was born—but that wasn’t the main cause of their issues. Their problems run deeper: jealousy, resentment, possessiveness, and emotional distance. Eventually, they separate.
At first, Emma tries to win Greg back. We see her dressing up, putting on a smile, trying to rekindle their bond every time he comes to pick up Harper. But she soon realizes the truth—he’s moved on and is sleeping around. There’s a heartbreaking scene where Emma follows him and sees him with another woman. It’s raw and painful.
It’s during this period—when Greg and Emma are separated—that Greg and Lottie have a one-night stand, which results in Lottie becoming pregnant. When Lottie later meets with Greg to tell him about the pregnancy, he doesn’t give her a chance. Instead, he tells her that he and Emma have decided to give things another go because he misses Emma and Harper.
Lottie is left to face pregnancy alone, but she handles it with strength. She gives birth to a daughter named Hope, and somehow, a co-parenting arrangement is formed. Despite everything, Lottie, Greg, and Emma find a way to coexist. Lottie struggles emotionally when she sees that Lachlan has moved on, especially with someone she always had doubts about, and it genuinely hurts.
Then comes the hardest part—Lottie is diagnosed with breast cancer not long after Hope is born. Her journey through treatment is portrayed with such honesty and emotion. What surprised me most was how her relationship with Emma evolved during this time. They become something like friends—not because everything was forgiven, but because they both understand the weight of what’s happened. Emma, in her own way, has accepted that Greg’s heart always belonged to Lottie.
Eventually, Lottie finishes her cancer treatment and is declared in remission. It’s at this point that she receives a message from Lachlan, who’s returned from Chicago. He admits he made a mistake and wants to reconnect. Their reunion is slow, cautious, but so beautiful to watch unfold.
Just when things seem to be falling into place, Lottie’s cancer returns. And in one of the most emotional scenes of the book, she asks Emma to become Hope’s guardian if anything happens to her. That moment broke me. It said so much about growth, forgiveness, and womanhood.
By the end of the book, everyone has found their place. Lottie and Lachlan are together again. Greg and Emma are trying to make it work. The friend group still exists—fractured, healed, imperfect—but still standing.
I started this book thinking I’d hate Greg and Emma. And while Greg never redeemed himself fully, I came to understand Emma. She wasn’t the villain—she was a woman who went after what she wanted and paid the emotional price. In the end, I genuinely felt sorry for her.
A Love We Lost was raw, emotional, and deeply human. It’s not a neat love story. It’s messy, complicated, and real. But it’s also full of hope and healing. Lottie’s journey—from heartbreak to self-worth, from pain to peace—was powerful. This book wasn’t just a random pick. It was a five-star read I’ll remember for a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2025
This was my third read from this author and I have to say that I really love the way they can pull me into a storyline and make me feel so many different emotions throughout.
This book was definitely a tough one as I honestly think that I felt every single emotion going. From anger to joy, heartbreak to being uplifted and from despairing to full of hope.
The characters were ea bit tricky for me at first. I found Lottie a little frustrating to start with and I can't even describe how I felt about Emma.
I hate cheating and so that instantly put me off Emma, but then for the way she handled the relationship, it just got worse!
However, as the story progressed and the strange little friendship between the women grew, I have to admit, that both the author and the characters themselves, totally won me over.
I don't think I'd have been able to feel what I did when reading if I hadn't really connected with them both.
This deals some pretty tough topics throughout and it will burrow into your heart - but Irving writes these with such sensitivity and I do wonder whether at least some of it will have been from close personal experience.
I was completely hooked from the start (despite my dislike of the topic and characters at first!) and I just had to know how this would develop and how things would play out in the end!
A great read, enjoyable in lots of ways and I've come out the other end feeling like my heart is full.
This book was definitely a tough one as I honestly think that I felt every single emotion going. From anger to joy, heartbreak to being uplifted and from despairing to full of hope.
The characters were ea bit tricky for me at first. I found Lottie a little frustrating to start with and I can't even describe how I felt about Emma.
I hate cheating and so that instantly put me off Emma, but then for the way she handled the relationship, it just got worse!
However, as the story progressed and the strange little friendship between the women grew, I have to admit, that both the author and the characters themselves, totally won me over.
I don't think I'd have been able to feel what I did when reading if I hadn't really connected with them both.
This deals some pretty tough topics throughout and it will burrow into your heart - but Irving writes these with such sensitivity and I do wonder whether at least some of it will have been from close personal experience.
I was completely hooked from the start (despite my dislike of the topic and characters at first!) and I just had to know how this would develop and how things would play out in the end!
A great read, enjoyable in lots of ways and I've come out the other end feeling like my heart is full.
May 11, 2025
This was equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking. It was raw, real and gripping. I barely wanted to put this down, but I often had to, to keep my emotions in check.
This dealt with so many difficult topics. cheating, family difficulties, miscarriage, infertility, and the big one - Cancer. All of these were handles with immense sensitivity. It had such a base in reality, that it was hard not to picture this all happening, and the sad fact is that this is a reality for so many people. My aunt has had breast cancer twice, and much like Lottie, the second time it was discovered through back and shoulder pain. This really made the story hit home to me.
The evolution of Emma throughout was beautiful to see, because at the start, it was very difficult to like her or feel any sadness for her.
While most chapters were told from Lottie's POV, some were from Emma's, and I really enjoyed this dual POV storytelling.
This was a beautiful read, but in places very difficult emotionally. I'd definitely recommend it.
This dealt with so many difficult topics. cheating, family difficulties, miscarriage, infertility, and the big one - Cancer. All of these were handles with immense sensitivity. It had such a base in reality, that it was hard not to picture this all happening, and the sad fact is that this is a reality for so many people. My aunt has had breast cancer twice, and much like Lottie, the second time it was discovered through back and shoulder pain. This really made the story hit home to me.
The evolution of Emma throughout was beautiful to see, because at the start, it was very difficult to like her or feel any sadness for her.
While most chapters were told from Lottie's POV, some were from Emma's, and I really enjoyed this dual POV storytelling.
This was a beautiful read, but in places very difficult emotionally. I'd definitely recommend it.
May 19, 2025
The Love We Chase is a raw and heartfelt story about love, friendships and betrayal. As a reader, we go on a journey with Emma, Lottie and Greg as the story unfolds. This novel has some of the best character development I’ve read. Emma is wholly unlikeable in the beginning, but by the end I felt like I understood her better. Cancer and cheating are huge triggers for me, but the author handled these themes with respect and care. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story for the whole time I was reading.
My uncle died from cancer and I read this during the week of the 10th anniversary of his death. It was difficult to read about Lottie’s battle with cancer. I definitely felt all the emotions while reading how these two women, who were once rivals, put their differences aside to support each other during such a tragic time.
These characters will stay with you. The Love We Chase shows the incredible strength found in love and forgiveness. This was a moving read with flawed but well-written characters. Please read the trigger warnings and get your tissues ready.
Thank you Alison Irving, Bloodhound Books and Love Books Tours for gifting me the ARC for this incredible story. These opinions are my own.
My uncle died from cancer and I read this during the week of the 10th anniversary of his death. It was difficult to read about Lottie’s battle with cancer. I definitely felt all the emotions while reading how these two women, who were once rivals, put their differences aside to support each other during such a tragic time.
These characters will stay with you. The Love We Chase shows the incredible strength found in love and forgiveness. This was a moving read with flawed but well-written characters. Please read the trigger warnings and get your tissues ready.
Thank you Alison Irving, Bloodhound Books and Love Books Tours for gifting me the ARC for this incredible story. These opinions are my own.
May 14, 2025
This book was incredible. The story of love, loss and survival. It truly broke my heart. The concept was good and I found it very difficult to put the book down.
The story is written really well and it flows beautifully. The descriptions help in making utterly heartbreaking and heartwarming! The setting of beautiful Belfast in Northern Ireland was excellent.
The characterisation was excellent and the roles the characters played helped make this book what it is. Lottie was a good lady and I liked her a lot. Emma was unlikable at first but she won me over. Gregor was still a bit unlikable as we got to the end but part of me still liked him. Same applies to Lachlan! The rest of the characters were great and I liked them.
The book is written in first person from Lottie and Emma's perspectives. This worked really well as we got to watch their stories unfold and ultimately the events that brought them together.
I really recommend this. It is a beautiful piece of writing and I can't commend it highly enough!
The story is written really well and it flows beautifully. The descriptions help in making utterly heartbreaking and heartwarming! The setting of beautiful Belfast in Northern Ireland was excellent.
The characterisation was excellent and the roles the characters played helped make this book what it is. Lottie was a good lady and I liked her a lot. Emma was unlikable at first but she won me over. Gregor was still a bit unlikable as we got to the end but part of me still liked him. Same applies to Lachlan! The rest of the characters were great and I liked them.
The book is written in first person from Lottie and Emma's perspectives. This worked really well as we got to watch their stories unfold and ultimately the events that brought them together.
I really recommend this. It is a beautiful piece of writing and I can't commend it highly enough!
May 19, 2025
This book had me fooled. As soon as one thing happened and I thought that could be the most emotional part - something else happened that broke me.
Our characters are so well written you cannot help but love them. Lottie is brilliant although some of her decision making at the very start aggravated me - but I grew to love her as the book went on. Greg irritated me from the start - in the best way where you can’t help but love to hate a character. Although in the last quarter I grew to like him as a character. We also have a whole host of surrounding characters that make such a wonderful group that you feel like you fit in alongside them all!
The settings, the storylines, the heartbreaks, the highs and lows, the journey our characters take us on - it is all beautifully written in a way you can’t help but keep on reading.
A really fab read! Perfect for lazing about in the sunshine reading which is how I enjoyed it!
Our characters are so well written you cannot help but love them. Lottie is brilliant although some of her decision making at the very start aggravated me - but I grew to love her as the book went on. Greg irritated me from the start - in the best way where you can’t help but love to hate a character. Although in the last quarter I grew to like him as a character. We also have a whole host of surrounding characters that make such a wonderful group that you feel like you fit in alongside them all!
The settings, the storylines, the heartbreaks, the highs and lows, the journey our characters take us on - it is all beautifully written in a way you can’t help but keep on reading.
A really fab read! Perfect for lazing about in the sunshine reading which is how I enjoyed it!
May 22, 2025
Oh. My. Wow.
This book absolutely floored me. It is a roller coaster of emotions, picking at joy, sorrow, shock, and anger. I loved every single minute of reading this book!
The author writes from two perspectives, but it is clear that there is one main character, Lottie. She writes all of the characters beautifully, and gives so much good detail that you can draw your own conclusions about each of them when reading. She includes so much raw human emotion And real experiences that it is easy to picture what is happening.
The book includes love, heartbreak, grief, sorrow, anger, and so much good character development. It is filled with hope without becoming too unrealistic.
This book absolutely floored me. It is a roller coaster of emotions, picking at joy, sorrow, shock, and anger. I loved every single minute of reading this book!
The author writes from two perspectives, but it is clear that there is one main character, Lottie. She writes all of the characters beautifully, and gives so much good detail that you can draw your own conclusions about each of them when reading. She includes so much raw human emotion And real experiences that it is easy to picture what is happening.
The book includes love, heartbreak, grief, sorrow, anger, and so much good character development. It is filled with hope without becoming too unrealistic.
May 17, 2025
Love | Betrayal | Emotion
It was done. I had lost the man I loved. -
This was such a beautiful book 🥹 the emotional roller coaster was real.
Lottie experiences heartbreak when the man she loves has other ideas, as the story unfolds you find Lottie and Greg finding their way back to each other under various circumstances.
The relationship between Emma and Lottie is so moving. It shows how women and mothers really pull together when tragedy strikes, for the sake of their children and those they love.
I'd recommend this book if you love an emotional read! Trigger warning for cancer 🩷
It was done. I had lost the man I loved. -
This was such a beautiful book 🥹 the emotional roller coaster was real.
Lottie experiences heartbreak when the man she loves has other ideas, as the story unfolds you find Lottie and Greg finding their way back to each other under various circumstances.
The relationship between Emma and Lottie is so moving. It shows how women and mothers really pull together when tragedy strikes, for the sake of their children and those they love.
I'd recommend this book if you love an emotional read! Trigger warning for cancer 🩷
June 11, 2025
I devoured this book, if I had the time I would have read it in one sitting. I found the story raw and relatable as I’m sure we have all wanted a first love to last, I had no expectations where the story would go and I loved how it wasn’t predictable at all. I could tell when the story changed that this was probably a firsthand experience of the writer as it was written with such honesty and reflection. A wonderful book.
April 14, 2025
What a good fragile read . I read this book in a weekend, it follow 3 main characters and then pulls in the characters on the outside. I loved it and would recommend this to others. A story of love, loss and friendship what more do you need.
April 20, 2025
I thought this was maybe a bit slow to start and was just going to be a relationship that was on-off-on-off but it did have more events and about 3/4 of the way through I couldn’t put it down! Relatable and real life with some lovable characters.
April 24, 2025
This book was a gem of a book, I really enjoyed reading it. With characters that feel real in raw, emotional and messy situations, this book felt like visiting friends and their real lives. The character development in this book was really good, from careless young adults to young adults with responsibilities and change of life circumstances that made them grow up, but always with the support and love of their tight best friend's group.
May 12, 2025
This was a beautiful and at times, haunting read. It was sensitively written for such a difficult subject, and had me alternately on the edge of my seat, and furiously wiping away tears. Written as a dual POV story from the perspective of Lottie and Emma, the two main female characters, with excellent pacing and short easy to read chapters, The Love We Chase is a story that will stay with you.
I thought the writing was absolutely fantastic. The characters were well rounded and believable, the prose was genuine and the descriptions of places meant I could almost believe I was there.
I loved seeing how Lottie and Emma's relationship evolved from rivals, to an uneasy friendship, to acceptance that sometimes the woman you should hate is actually someone you need
I thought the writing was absolutely fantastic. The characters were well rounded and believable, the prose was genuine and the descriptions of places meant I could almost believe I was there.
I loved seeing how Lottie and Emma's relationship evolved from rivals, to an uneasy friendship, to acceptance that sometimes the woman you should hate is actually someone you need
March 29, 2025
What an emotional read. The story follows three main characters of Lottie, Greg and Emma whose lives interweave in so many emotional ways. The story shows how fragile the human life and relationships can be. The story is humorous in places, but also sad, angering and at points has you shaking your head at the actions of the characters. The way the characters are written gives you sympathy for them at varying times throughout but also questioning what makes them behave in the way they do. A truly absorbing read.
May 9, 2025
Exceptional book! Highly recommend. Kept me up all night. Can't wait to read other books by this auh
Best book I've read in a long time. Full of angst, infidelity and love. Will read all her books! Thanks Alison.
Best book I've read in a long time. Full of angst, infidelity and love. Will read all her books! Thanks Alison.
October 15, 2026
Touchy subject for me. This story involves friendship, betrayal, motherhood, and illness.
May 12, 2025
This was a moving story, told from the POVs of Lottie and Emma, who both love the same man. Personally, I didn’t see the attraction with Greg! Lottie and Emma really frustrated me throughout most of the book, however as the story progressed I did start to feel sorry for them at times. This story highlights the importance of friendship! This book had happy moments, sad moments and everything in between! Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
March 29, 2025
❤️❤️❤️❤️
March 28, 2025
A story of love, loss and friendship overcoming all. Lottie has an eventful relationship with Greg, interlaced with Emma and Lachlan, and all that life throws at them. A lovely novel with some heart wrenching moments and some warm fuzzy ones to balance it out.
April 22, 2025
A story about love and the real meaning of friendship sad and touching at times but a lovely story I would definitely recommend
April 2, 2025
Absolutely loved this & read it in a day & a half. Didn’t want to put it down! Lottie is such a likeable character & you are instantly drawn into her & Greg’s lives & how they intertwine over the years. Highly recommend!
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July 4, 2025This book displays very messy relationships.
The cheated upon becomes the cheater and then friends with the original cheater.
I really wanted to shake the 3 main characters for a good portion of the book.
Greg was ricochet rabbit as he bounced from bed to bed. I had contempt for him.
Emma was willing to endure pity and grief to hold on to a man who wasn’t worth it.
While I had some sympathy for Lottie she was a ping pong ball between two guys. She didn’t know her own worth.
An interesting read.
Thanks Bloodhound Books for the advance read.
The cheated upon becomes the cheater and then friends with the original cheater.
I really wanted to shake the 3 main characters for a good portion of the book.
Greg was ricochet rabbit as he bounced from bed to bed. I had contempt for him.
Emma was willing to endure pity and grief to hold on to a man who wasn’t worth it.
While I had some sympathy for Lottie she was a ping pong ball between two guys. She didn’t know her own worth.
An interesting read.
Thanks Bloodhound Books for the advance read.
September 23, 2025
3,5 for a very well balanced book that proved my Initial fears wrong; I actually almost dnf-ed after the POV/Narration switched over to Emma for the first time thinking this would be a very black and white portrayal of good vs bad, with Emma being the villain, the cliched evil "other woman" - but I kept reading and I am so glad my assumptions were wrong. The story and its characters are very well developed, three dimensional, all with their own flaws and good qualities, none of them purely "good" or "bad". The relationships between the characters - male and female, romantic and friendly - develope and change with time and circumstance, and felt very genuine and realistic.
Another aspect I appreciated was that there wasn't a "everlasting" battle going on between the two women - they didn't keep fighting over a man. Which was kind of what I was expecting (and fearing) at the start.
I also enjoyed how the story unfolded over several years with the characters growing up, yet clearly still retaining their individual selves.
Besides the main theme of relationships and "finding the one", there are also topics such as being a mother, family, friendship, second chances, forgiveness, trust and belonging
This felt light hearted and hopeful, with a feel good vibe despit its deeper emotional aspects, making it a quick read with substance. A book filled with characters that I couldn't help but too root for, even if I didn't necessarily agree with or approve of, their choices/actions.
Another aspect I appreciated was that there wasn't a "everlasting" battle going on between the two women - they didn't keep fighting over a man. Which was kind of what I was expecting (and fearing) at the start.
I also enjoyed how the story unfolded over several years with the characters growing up, yet clearly still retaining their individual selves.
Besides the main theme of relationships and "finding the one", there are also topics such as being a mother, family, friendship, second chances, forgiveness, trust and belonging
This felt light hearted and hopeful, with a feel good vibe despit its deeper emotional aspects, making it a quick read with substance. A book filled with characters that I couldn't help but too root for, even if I didn't necessarily agree with or approve of, their choices/actions.
March 23, 2025
I was drawn into this book by the nuanced characters and expertly handled emotionally charged relationships. I initially thought Greg was a self-absorbed boor and Lottie mad to want him back. As far as I was concerned, scheming Emma was welcome to him. But as the narrative played out and the relationships between the three of them were woven so inextricably together, I was delighted by the subtle, and not-so-subtle, changes in them all to accommodate their circumstances. And Lottie’s tribe of friends – well, we all want something like that, don’t we?
I found this book and the characters in it by turns infuriating, heartrending, frustrating and ultimately uplifting.
Highly recommend.
April 11, 2025
Is the first cut really the deepest? Can we ever love as profoundly as with our first love? When Greg ends his relationship with Lottie and falls for Emma, Lottie is devastated. She would do anything to win him back. Her hatred for Emma is reciprocated. At one point she is hopeful that Greg is tiring of Emma and will return to her, his first love. Emma, however, is equally enamoured of Greg and determined to keep him. Over the years Lottie’s feelings for Greg ebb and flow, but events enfold that bind them irrevocably together. I enjoyed reading about the growing relationship between the two women, both in love with the same man. There are some difficult moments in the book and the reader is never sure how the story will develop. An interesting and moving read.
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