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The Epicenter of Forever
Not yet published
Expected 1 Feb 26A moving story about family, forgiveness, and unexpected love—where the fault lines of a fractured past become the foundation for building something new.
Eden Hawthorne spent idyllic childhood summers in Grand Trees, a mountain town perched along a restless earthquake fault in the heart of California’s fire country. But her family and future were shattered there, and she vowed never to return—until news of her estranged mother’s illness forces her back twenty years later.
Still reeling from her recent divorce, Eden has to confront her mom’s found family, including single father Caleb Connell, who blames Eden for the seismic rift that drove her away. But as they move beyond a battle of wills, Eden and Caleb discover shared wounds and intertwined histories—and succumb to an attraction that feels fated.
When her mother’s condition worsens, Eden faces an impossible choice between the man she’s falling for and the mother she’s just beginning to forgive. And with time running out, Eden fears her decision will doom her to relive the aftershocks of past heartbreak.
Eden Hawthorne spent idyllic childhood summers in Grand Trees, a mountain town perched along a restless earthquake fault in the heart of California’s fire country. But her family and future were shattered there, and she vowed never to return—until news of her estranged mother’s illness forces her back twenty years later.
Still reeling from her recent divorce, Eden has to confront her mom’s found family, including single father Caleb Connell, who blames Eden for the seismic rift that drove her away. But as they move beyond a battle of wills, Eden and Caleb discover shared wounds and intertwined histories—and succumb to an attraction that feels fated.
When her mother’s condition worsens, Eden faces an impossible choice between the man she’s falling for and the mother she’s just beginning to forgive. And with time running out, Eden fears her decision will doom her to relive the aftershocks of past heartbreak.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 1, 2026
2057 people want to read
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WOWZA, REVIEW TO COME😭😍!!!!!!!!
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈·✦❀💫🌙I love a good juicy family drama story✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈·✦🌙💫❀!!!!!!
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈·✦❀💫🌙I love a good juicy family drama story✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈·✦🌙💫❀!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Grand Trees was where Eden Hawthorne spent her magical childhood summers, but it’s also where her family and future fell apart, and she told herself she’d never go back. But twenty years later, after her divorce and finding out her estranged mother’s illness, Eden finds herself driving back to Grand Trees, not only having to face off her past but Caleb Connell, a single father who is furious at Eden for never visiting her mom. Not wanting to air out her family’s dirty laundry, Eden tries to stay away from Caleb and distance herself from her mom’s found family, but finds that both are hard to do when the magic of the small town tries to seep back into her heart. As Eden tries to find a way to forgive her mother for what she did to her family and get her the treatment she needs, she also tries to keep her romantic feelings for Caleb at bay because the last thing she needs is a reason to stay.
I read the author’s debut The Truth Is in the Detours last year and liked it, so when I saw that she had another novel coming out, I was definitely ready to check it out. And I’m not going to lie, I enjoyed this more than I thought I was going to. 😅
The writing was good, the story was even better, and the ending was satisfying and made me happy for the characters. I will say, though, that I thought there was a lot of purple prose. I don’t remember the last book having as many flowery descriptions or being so ornate. I did find myself skimming some of it because it just didn’t seem necessary. Granted, I do think that kind of prose should be in books, and I have always liked it, but there needs to be a balance of simple sentences and complex ones to make the writing flow like music. If there isn’t a balance of the two, it can sound unrealistic, make paragraphs lengthy, and be overall boring. But I didn’t hate it, which is why I docked half a star.
The other reason why I docked off the other half was that I wasn’t expecting there to be so much romance. Eden and Caleb were ready to do the deed after a week of knowing each other! Mind you, the first few days they were trying to find ways to get under each other’s skin, but now they want to get into each other’s beds? Yeah no, I was sure as heck not expecting that much yearning and longing from those two, at least not until halfway through the book. 😂
But Caleb was sweet once he put away his loyal guard dog side, so I understand why Eden fell for him. He did piss me off at the beginning of the book for being so freaking rude to Eden when he literally didn’t know the full story of why she never contacted her mom. Like, sir, take a chill pill and sit down and shut up, you don’t know anything about anyone. There’s absolutely no need to be a jackass. 🤦♀ At that point, I was siding with Eden the whole time because dang, I felt bad for her, and I also related to her and her pain. Good lord, what is it with these books this new year? It seems like every book I read is pointing out all the things I’ve been burying within the depths of my heart and bringing them to light so I can deal with them. 😂🫣
But it was nice to see how much Eden wanted to fix her relationship with her mom. Forgiveness is a hard thing to do, so I applaud Eden for making an effort to forgive because I, too, need to work on forgiving some people in my life. It might take a while because I’m petty and vengeful, but I’m hoping someday I’ll be able to do it. ❤🩹
Overall, this was a good book with important lessons that made me realize that I still have a lot of work to do in my own life, and if the author comes out with any more books, I will definitely be checking them out!
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Mentions illness of a loved one, abuse, child abuse, & dying.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
I read the author’s debut The Truth Is in the Detours last year and liked it, so when I saw that she had another novel coming out, I was definitely ready to check it out. And I’m not going to lie, I enjoyed this more than I thought I was going to. 😅
The writing was good, the story was even better, and the ending was satisfying and made me happy for the characters. I will say, though, that I thought there was a lot of purple prose. I don’t remember the last book having as many flowery descriptions or being so ornate. I did find myself skimming some of it because it just didn’t seem necessary. Granted, I do think that kind of prose should be in books, and I have always liked it, but there needs to be a balance of simple sentences and complex ones to make the writing flow like music. If there isn’t a balance of the two, it can sound unrealistic, make paragraphs lengthy, and be overall boring. But I didn’t hate it, which is why I docked half a star.
The other reason why I docked off the other half was that I wasn’t expecting there to be so much romance. Eden and Caleb were ready to do the deed after a week of knowing each other! Mind you, the first few days they were trying to find ways to get under each other’s skin, but now they want to get into each other’s beds? Yeah no, I was sure as heck not expecting that much yearning and longing from those two, at least not until halfway through the book. 😂
But Caleb was sweet once he put away his loyal guard dog side, so I understand why Eden fell for him. He did piss me off at the beginning of the book for being so freaking rude to Eden when he literally didn’t know the full story of why she never contacted her mom. Like, sir, take a chill pill and sit down and shut up, you don’t know anything about anyone. There’s absolutely no need to be a jackass. 🤦♀ At that point, I was siding with Eden the whole time because dang, I felt bad for her, and I also related to her and her pain. Good lord, what is it with these books this new year? It seems like every book I read is pointing out all the things I’ve been burying within the depths of my heart and bringing them to light so I can deal with them. 😂🫣
But it was nice to see how much Eden wanted to fix her relationship with her mom. Forgiveness is a hard thing to do, so I applaud Eden for making an effort to forgive because I, too, need to work on forgiving some people in my life. It might take a while because I’m petty and vengeful, but I’m hoping someday I’ll be able to do it. ❤🩹
Overall, this was a good book with important lessons that made me realize that I still have a lot of work to do in my own life, and if the author comes out with any more books, I will definitely be checking them out!
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Mentions illness of a loved one, abuse, child abuse, & dying.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
October 3, 2025
⋮ many thanks to lake union publishing and netgalley for the eARC—all thoughts are my own!
this story, set in the mountainous hometown of grand trees, is a deeply emotional journey about second chances and confronting a painful past. it follows eden, a woman who is forced to return home after two decades of estrangement from her mother.
eden's life is in crisis. she has just been through a difficult divorce after being cheated on, and now she has received devastating news that her mother has been diagnosed with parkinson's. their relationship has been fractured ever since her mother left her father for another man 20 years ago. eden returns not just to help, but to finally face the resentment and unresolved anger she’s carried for half her life.
while trying to navigate this complicated family dynamic, eden meets caleb, the nephew of her mother’s late, controversial boyfriend, sonny. the connection between eden and caleb is immediate and intense. they become a source of unexpected comfort as eden deals with her mother’s illness and their complicated history. but circumstances soon pull them apart. it takes a dramatic natural disaster striking the small town to force them back together and potentially heal all the emotional wounds. both new and old.
── ୭ thoughts and overview
overall, i found this book to be very emotional and compelling. it tackles heavy subjects like grief, estrangement, illness, and recovery with a writing style that is easy to read and highly engaging. diving into eden’s life and watching her try to piece together her relationships was genuinely enjoyable.
but the book’s biggest issue is its length. it is simply too short for the amount of plot and emotion it tries to pack in.
because the story is so short, the pacing is incredibly fast. while i enjoy a swift read, this speed led to some key developments feeling rushed, especially the romance. the relationship between eden and caleb suffers from what i call insta-lust. they meet, they feel an immediate, lusty connection, and they fall in love almost instantly, without enough time for the chemistry and emotional bond to truly develop on the page. i found it difficult to root for their relationship because it lacked the foundational slow burn that makes a romance feel real.
another area i wanted more of was the secondary characters. the story focuses heavily on eden and her internal struggles (which are fascinating), but characters like caleb were underdeveloped. i really liked the short glimpses we got of caleb and wanted to see more facets of his personality, his own history, and his interactions with eden, rather than having him serve almost exclusively as a supportive figure in her journey.
in the end, while the book tackles powerful themes and has a promising premise, i was left wanting more. it’s a good story, but one that needed to be significantly longer to allow the relationships and life altering events the space they deserved to breathe.
September 25, 2025
This book kept me up past my bedtime more than once and made me cry twice- because of how poignantly the author writes feelings. No sophomore slump here, Mara’s second book is as good as her first, if not better. I loved the community of Grand Trees, Caleb’s huge, tender heart, the chemistry between him and Eden, and what Eden overcomes and figures out about herself. And then there’s Cassie, and best dog, Houdini, and Abby. A great cast of characters supporting a beautifully written love story…this is what romance is all about! No queer rep
Short summary: Eden is a complex swirl of emotions when she’s asked to return to the place her life fell apart, on the heels of her failed marriage. What she finds is totally unexpected and altogether seismic.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Short summary: Eden is a complex swirl of emotions when she’s asked to return to the place her life fell apart, on the heels of her failed marriage. What she finds is totally unexpected and altogether seismic.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2026
This is the sort of book that makes you feel human. There are moments and thoughts in these pages that I imagine we’ve all experienced; good, bad, moments that mean to be human.
Whilst there is a romance here, I wouldn’t initially call this a romance though. The romance was almost a tool, albeit beautifully woven within Eden’s character development and therefore patching, and creating, relationships. Is what I would’ve said until about 50% of the way through when this just became straight romance. This is quite a short novel so all those important themes of illness, grief, betrayal just became lost by the second half and massively undeveloped sadly.
The romance itself was ok, my main gripe was there was still so much, sort of, unspoken animosity between Caleb and Eden and to me that just didn’t fit with the story. I’m sure with more time this could’ve been better developed and that is what the majority of my thoughts boil down to with this book. However I still do think this is a worthwhile read, especially if you’re after something on the more lighthearted side of tricky reads.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this Arc in exchange for my own review.
Whilst there is a romance here, I wouldn’t initially call this a romance though. The romance was almost a tool, albeit beautifully woven within Eden’s character development and therefore patching, and creating, relationships. Is what I would’ve said until about 50% of the way through when this just became straight romance. This is quite a short novel so all those important themes of illness, grief, betrayal just became lost by the second half and massively undeveloped sadly.
The romance itself was ok, my main gripe was there was still so much, sort of, unspoken animosity between Caleb and Eden and to me that just didn’t fit with the story. I’m sure with more time this could’ve been better developed and that is what the majority of my thoughts boil down to with this book. However I still do think this is a worthwhile read, especially if you’re after something on the more lighthearted side of tricky reads.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this Arc in exchange for my own review.
Want to read
January 3, 2026*January 2026 Amazon Prime First Read
December 30, 2025
oh. 🥹🥹🥹🥹
i'll be back to properly review but oh how i loved it
i'll be back to properly review but oh how i loved it
July 27, 2025
❤️❤️ Thank You Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC copy! ❤️❤️
This book. Wow. Mara Williams beautifully wrote an enchanting and heart wrenching story of loss, forgiveness, and learning to love again. Eden Hawthorne grew up revisiting Grand Trees every summer to enjoy the mystery and fun of her childhood at camp - that was, until her mother cheated on her father for a camp counselor there and left them a year later to go to Grand Trees permanently. After a surprise phone call from one of her mother’s friends about her mother’s diagnosis that Eden knew nothing of, she returned to the place that brought up emotion and hatred. Between loss, relearning to love again after her recent divorce, learning to put her pride aside and heal and forgive, Eden faces a beautiful story of becoming a person she’s meant to be, in a place with magical roots.
Overall, 5 ⭐️ Cassie is the friend that everyone needs and had me laughing since page 1. The love story painted between Eden and Caleb had me cry, smile, and root for them through all of the difficult turns they faced. The forgiveness and trust Eden rebuilt with her mom tugged at my heart strings and made me reflect on several of my own personal relationships. This book is a definite, must have read!
This book. Wow. Mara Williams beautifully wrote an enchanting and heart wrenching story of loss, forgiveness, and learning to love again. Eden Hawthorne grew up revisiting Grand Trees every summer to enjoy the mystery and fun of her childhood at camp - that was, until her mother cheated on her father for a camp counselor there and left them a year later to go to Grand Trees permanently. After a surprise phone call from one of her mother’s friends about her mother’s diagnosis that Eden knew nothing of, she returned to the place that brought up emotion and hatred. Between loss, relearning to love again after her recent divorce, learning to put her pride aside and heal and forgive, Eden faces a beautiful story of becoming a person she’s meant to be, in a place with magical roots.
Overall, 5 ⭐️ Cassie is the friend that everyone needs and had me laughing since page 1. The love story painted between Eden and Caleb had me cry, smile, and root for them through all of the difficult turns they faced. The forgiveness and trust Eden rebuilt with her mom tugged at my heart strings and made me reflect on several of my own personal relationships. This book is a definite, must have read!
July 22, 2025
This is the kind of book that teaches you something about yourself. My heart was racing, I was sweating and crying and laughing. Reading this book was a full body experience that was magical and immersive. Don't miss this stunning book!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved everything about it. No notes. Etc
July 27, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this e-arc.
The Epicenter of Forever follows our main character Eden, who's a new divorcee with complicated parental relationships. Her mother's diagnosis with Parkinson's brings Eden to Grand Trees, a place filled with the worst - and, arguably, the best - memories. There, she experiences a torrent of emotions, managing her broken relationship with her mother all while enduring her mother's insufferable primary caretaker, Caleb Connell.
I loved how every character in this book is anything but surface level. The way each one of their emotions were so raw and real is just * chef's kiss *.
Eden was a fascinating character to follow because it feels like she had almost treated her life as if she isn't the one living it? So unaffected and unemotional towards everything that has happened?
Caleb was your usual grumpy/broody (borderline a**hole) MMC but I feel like this is one of the very few times where I felt he was (mostly) valid. Just need to work on his delivery 😀. But what's interesting and new in this book is that he's patient and nice to everyone EXCEPT the FMC - that is, at the start obviously.
This book gives small town vibes but with a unique mountainous setting which I loved! The way this book shows actions (this is NOT a justification btw) as gray and not just black & white was such a breath of fresh air for me, however, I'd have liked a bit more explanation from her mom for what she did.
This book has it all - trauma, healing, envy, complicated relationships, forgiveness, second chances - and it does everything so well.
I don't like how insta love/lust this book is or how Eden just keeps thirsting over the mmc despite having somewhat intense back and forth with him, and one of them always ends up getting hurt. One other thing I disliked is that his teen at times doesn't sound or act her age, like at all. Oh, and I would've REALLY liked it more if we had gotten Caleb's POV.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this e-arc.
The Epicenter of Forever follows our main character Eden, who's a new divorcee with complicated parental relationships. Her mother's diagnosis with Parkinson's brings Eden to Grand Trees, a place filled with the worst - and, arguably, the best - memories. There, she experiences a torrent of emotions, managing her broken relationship with her mother all while enduring her mother's insufferable primary caretaker, Caleb Connell.
I loved how every character in this book is anything but surface level. The way each one of their emotions were so raw and real is just * chef's kiss *.
Eden was a fascinating character to follow because it feels like she had almost treated her life as if she isn't the one living it? So unaffected and unemotional towards everything that has happened?
Caleb was your usual grumpy/broody (borderline a**hole) MMC but I feel like this is one of the very few times where I felt he was (mostly) valid. Just need to work on his delivery 😀. But what's interesting and new in this book is that he's patient and nice to everyone EXCEPT the FMC - that is, at the start obviously.
This book gives small town vibes but with a unique mountainous setting which I loved! The way this book shows actions (this is NOT a justification btw) as gray and not just black & white was such a breath of fresh air for me, however, I'd have liked a bit more explanation from her mom for what she did.
This book has it all - trauma, healing, envy, complicated relationships, forgiveness, second chances - and it does everything so well.
I don't like how insta love/lust this book is or how Eden just keeps thirsting over the mmc despite having somewhat intense back and forth with him, and one of them always ends up getting hurt. One other thing I disliked is that his teen at times doesn't sound or act her age, like at all. Oh, and I would've REALLY liked it more if we had gotten Caleb's POV.
January 5, 2026
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Who doesn't love a bit of enemies to lovers action? I know I do. And this one fit that bill really well. This is my first book by Mara Williams and I was pleasantly surprised by the story and it's progression.
Eden Haworth returns to Grand Trees, the site of her idyllic childhood summers, to care for her mother and confront old wounds. Caleb Connell is already there, caring for her mother and being the hero for the entire town. They clash and bump heads more often than not. But there's also a spark that ignites between them. Things take a turn when Eden's mother finally agrees to move back to San Francisco to seek better medical attention. Eden must leave Caleb behind but will their relationship be able to weather the storm?
I think my favorite part of this story was the setting. The descriptions of the mountains and the surrounding areas were great. I could easily picture the camp, the cabin, and the town in my mind. I love a small town romance and this pretty much set that theme. All the people in the small town knowing everyone and a new comer entering the scene. Everyone being super invested in figuring it all out.
The author did a great job presenting the emotions of the characters, as well. There was so much for all of them to work through. She tackles a ton of heavy subjects throughout the story. So much so, I felt like maybe there needed to be more pages to really. There were definitely areas that felt a bit more rushed to me. While the chemistry between the two main characters was great, I really felt like it could have used more time. And the ending definitely felt a bit rushed for me.
I have a love/hate relationship with Eden. On the one hand she has a ton of trauma she needs to work through which I can totally appreciate. From a bad childhood accident to her fraught relationship with her parents, she has things she needs to work through. And for sure those things have followed her and her relationships in to adulthood. What drove me nuts about Eden was her penchant for miscommunication. She kept so much bottled up inside her it easily caused rifts between her and those she chose to surround herself with.
Caleb was the perfect grump. Definitely a man who holds his emotions close to his chest. I liked his development but really needed more from him. I blame this on the fact that the book is told from Eden's perspective. I feel like I wasn't fully able to get to know him because I was never in his head. I prefer dual POV for a romance most of the time.
This book encompasses the idea of found family. While some of the characters are related, the characters really all do act like one big family worried about each other and what happens.
Overall, I enjoyed this even though I thought it could have been a bit longer to explore some of the intense topics. The characters were more or less relatable and definitely felt real. This book explores how mistakes can be made but also how forgiveness can truly open one's soul.
3.5/5 stars
Who doesn't love a bit of enemies to lovers action? I know I do. And this one fit that bill really well. This is my first book by Mara Williams and I was pleasantly surprised by the story and it's progression.
Eden Haworth returns to Grand Trees, the site of her idyllic childhood summers, to care for her mother and confront old wounds. Caleb Connell is already there, caring for her mother and being the hero for the entire town. They clash and bump heads more often than not. But there's also a spark that ignites between them. Things take a turn when Eden's mother finally agrees to move back to San Francisco to seek better medical attention. Eden must leave Caleb behind but will their relationship be able to weather the storm?
I think my favorite part of this story was the setting. The descriptions of the mountains and the surrounding areas were great. I could easily picture the camp, the cabin, and the town in my mind. I love a small town romance and this pretty much set that theme. All the people in the small town knowing everyone and a new comer entering the scene. Everyone being super invested in figuring it all out.
The author did a great job presenting the emotions of the characters, as well. There was so much for all of them to work through. She tackles a ton of heavy subjects throughout the story. So much so, I felt like maybe there needed to be more pages to really. There were definitely areas that felt a bit more rushed to me. While the chemistry between the two main characters was great, I really felt like it could have used more time. And the ending definitely felt a bit rushed for me.
I have a love/hate relationship with Eden. On the one hand she has a ton of trauma she needs to work through which I can totally appreciate. From a bad childhood accident to her fraught relationship with her parents, she has things she needs to work through. And for sure those things have followed her and her relationships in to adulthood. What drove me nuts about Eden was her penchant for miscommunication. She kept so much bottled up inside her it easily caused rifts between her and those she chose to surround herself with.
Caleb was the perfect grump. Definitely a man who holds his emotions close to his chest. I liked his development but really needed more from him. I blame this on the fact that the book is told from Eden's perspective. I feel like I wasn't fully able to get to know him because I was never in his head. I prefer dual POV for a romance most of the time.
This book encompasses the idea of found family. While some of the characters are related, the characters really all do act like one big family worried about each other and what happens.
Overall, I enjoyed this even though I thought it could have been a bit longer to explore some of the intense topics. The characters were more or less relatable and definitely felt real. This book explores how mistakes can be made but also how forgiveness can truly open one's soul.
3.5/5 stars
January 16, 2026
Absolutely loved this captivating and emotional page turner!
After a horrible accident, on a mountain, Eden lost her dream to be a famous ballerina. Unfortunately, she lost so much more because her parents not only abandoned each other, but their daughter as well! The lack of communication was heart breaking.
Then along came Caleb. Will he be able to mend this mess or tear everything further apart?
******* I received this book as a gift from January's Amazon First Reads! Thank you so much! It was great!
After a horrible accident, on a mountain, Eden lost her dream to be a famous ballerina. Unfortunately, she lost so much more because her parents not only abandoned each other, but their daughter as well! The lack of communication was heart breaking.
Then along came Caleb. Will he be able to mend this mess or tear everything further apart?
******* I received this book as a gift from January's Amazon First Reads! Thank you so much! It was great!
January 8, 2026
“Heartbreaks are the toughest breaks to set.”
4.5⭐️
Caleb and Eden, Abby and Houdini, the giant pines of Grand Trees and the power of nature, the depth of repairing relationships long lost and suffering, this book had so many wonderful moments and was an overall great read.
“It’s an act of love to let someone care for you, to be vulnerable and put your life in their hands.”
“I have to silence the hurt part of me to listen to the hurt part of her.”
4.5⭐️
Caleb and Eden, Abby and Houdini, the giant pines of Grand Trees and the power of nature, the depth of repairing relationships long lost and suffering, this book had so many wonderful moments and was an overall great read.
“It’s an act of love to let someone care for you, to be vulnerable and put your life in their hands.”
“I have to silence the hurt part of me to listen to the hurt part of her.”
Review of advance copy
3.5 stars rounded up
I got this as a freebie from Amazon and I surprisingly liked it. I did seriously want to throat punch Caleb for awhile but eventually he grew on me. I do like that Eden and her mom started to reconcile as well
I got this as a freebie from Amazon and I surprisingly liked it. I did seriously want to throat punch Caleb for awhile but eventually he grew on me. I do like that Eden and her mom started to reconcile as well
January 10, 2026
Rounding up to 3 stars for Caleb, and the parents finally realizing that they needed to be the parents. Eden, please go to therapy because my god. Insufferable.
August 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Mara Williams for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review!
Eden Hawthorne returns to her old hometown of Grand Trees, California—a place full of painful memories she tried to leave behind. She comes back because her mother is seriously ill, even though they’ve been estranged for 20 years after a family tragedy.
While there, Eden meets Caleb Connell, a single dad who doesn’t exactly welcome her. But as they spend more time together, they realize they have a lot in common—especially when it comes to loss and healing. Slowly, a romantic connection starts to grow.
I went into this book with zero thoughts and expectations and I came out with a lot of feelings. I really did love this book.
At its core, this story is about reconciling with family—especially with the parts that are painful, broken, or unfinished. Eden and her mother have a strained relationship marked by grief and emotional distance. Eden's return isn’t just about caretaking; it’s about confronting unresolved pain from the past. The idea of “family” is also challenged: Eden’s mother has built a found family in Grand Trees, including Caleb, which makes Eden feel both like an outsider and a daughter who's been replaced. Forgiveness isn’t portrayed as easy or linear—it’s a process Eden must earn, not only from others but from herself. This theme captures how hard it can be to go home—especially when it means facing the people (or memories) that hurt you. The novel treats forgiveness not as a given, but a choice rooted in courage.
Eden feels disconnected—from her family, her past, and her own identity. Coming home forces her to redefine what it means to belong, not just in a place, but in a life she once abandoned. Through reconnection—with her town, with Caleb, with her roots—she slowly rebuilds a sense of self that includes both her past and future. It explores the emotional journey of returning to where you came from—not to stay stuck in the past, but to reclaim your place in the world.
The romance between Eden and Caleb is slow-burning and rooted in emotional vulnerability. Caleb doesn’t initially trust Eden and carries his own pain. Their relationship doesn’t fix their problems but becomes a mirror—reflecting where they’re stuck. Their connection grows as they realize they’ve both suffered losses that left scars. In sharing those wounds, they begin to heal together. Love in this book is not flashy or dramatic—it’s about emotional safety, empathy, and rebuilding trust in yourself and others. This isn’t just a second-chance romance—it’s about opening your heart again when you’ve taught yourself to stay closed. The love story is emotional, not just romantic.
Eden Hawthorne returns to her old hometown of Grand Trees, California—a place full of painful memories she tried to leave behind. She comes back because her mother is seriously ill, even though they’ve been estranged for 20 years after a family tragedy.
While there, Eden meets Caleb Connell, a single dad who doesn’t exactly welcome her. But as they spend more time together, they realize they have a lot in common—especially when it comes to loss and healing. Slowly, a romantic connection starts to grow.
I went into this book with zero thoughts and expectations and I came out with a lot of feelings. I really did love this book.
At its core, this story is about reconciling with family—especially with the parts that are painful, broken, or unfinished. Eden and her mother have a strained relationship marked by grief and emotional distance. Eden's return isn’t just about caretaking; it’s about confronting unresolved pain from the past. The idea of “family” is also challenged: Eden’s mother has built a found family in Grand Trees, including Caleb, which makes Eden feel both like an outsider and a daughter who's been replaced. Forgiveness isn’t portrayed as easy or linear—it’s a process Eden must earn, not only from others but from herself. This theme captures how hard it can be to go home—especially when it means facing the people (or memories) that hurt you. The novel treats forgiveness not as a given, but a choice rooted in courage.
Eden feels disconnected—from her family, her past, and her own identity. Coming home forces her to redefine what it means to belong, not just in a place, but in a life she once abandoned. Through reconnection—with her town, with Caleb, with her roots—she slowly rebuilds a sense of self that includes both her past and future. It explores the emotional journey of returning to where you came from—not to stay stuck in the past, but to reclaim your place in the world.
The romance between Eden and Caleb is slow-burning and rooted in emotional vulnerability. Caleb doesn’t initially trust Eden and carries his own pain. Their relationship doesn’t fix their problems but becomes a mirror—reflecting where they’re stuck. Their connection grows as they realize they’ve both suffered losses that left scars. In sharing those wounds, they begin to heal together. Love in this book is not flashy or dramatic—it’s about emotional safety, empathy, and rebuilding trust in yourself and others. This isn’t just a second-chance romance—it’s about opening your heart again when you’ve taught yourself to stay closed. The love story is emotional, not just romantic.
August 4, 2025
This novel covers a host of relationship issues including infidelity, divorce, and abandonment as well as the challenges of physical trauma and grief. The author does an admirable job of exploring all these with sensitivity without being overly melodramatic. Above all, this story is about love in its many permutations.
At fifteen, Eden Hawthorne’s dream of being a professional ballet dancer shatters with a serious leg injury at the same time she discovers her mother’s infidelity and her family implodes. All this occurs in the small idyllic town of Grand Trees in the Sierra mountains of California. Twenty years later Eden is called to return to her once favorite town to reconcile with her mother who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
While the story focuses on the healing of the rift between mother and daughter, it also explores a romance with a handsome local man who is deeply connected to Eden’s mother and her now deceased lover. Add to the mix a bright, adorable girl, a charmingly rambunctious dog, and a host of caring, community members to round out an enjoyable and engaging storyline.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
At fifteen, Eden Hawthorne’s dream of being a professional ballet dancer shatters with a serious leg injury at the same time she discovers her mother’s infidelity and her family implodes. All this occurs in the small idyllic town of Grand Trees in the Sierra mountains of California. Twenty years later Eden is called to return to her once favorite town to reconcile with her mother who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
While the story focuses on the healing of the rift between mother and daughter, it also explores a romance with a handsome local man who is deeply connected to Eden’s mother and her now deceased lover. Add to the mix a bright, adorable girl, a charmingly rambunctious dog, and a host of caring, community members to round out an enjoyable and engaging storyline.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 ⭐
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Mara Williams for giving me the opportunity to read this as an arc!
The Epicenter of Forever is Mara Williams' second novel, in which we follow Eden, a newly divorced 35 yo, while she tries to glue back together the pieces of her life by going back to the scene of her first and biggest heartbreak. During this journey, Eden faces the challenges of reconnecting with her mother and exploring the wounds caused the drift between them.
I had the opportunity to read Mara Williams' first novel during the summer and I was left pleasantly surprised, so when I stumbled upon this I knew I had to read it too. I can safely say that I will keep reading this author because I love her writing style, it flows nicely and her stories capture my attention and keep me reading even when I'm supposed to be sleeping. I loved reading Eden's story, and I honestly loved reading about all the other characters too. I wish this was a little longer so we could explore some of them better, and especially give more time to the love story. I liked the connection between Eden and Caleb, but I wish the last 20-15% was a little different and I think having the book be a little longer could've helped with that.
The setting is perfect. I've never been to California and I've never seen a Redwood forest, but just like she did in The truth is in the detours, the author made feel like I knew these places and like I experiencing them with the characters!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Mara Williams for giving me the opportunity to read this as an arc!
The Epicenter of Forever is Mara Williams' second novel, in which we follow Eden, a newly divorced 35 yo, while she tries to glue back together the pieces of her life by going back to the scene of her first and biggest heartbreak. During this journey, Eden faces the challenges of reconnecting with her mother and exploring the wounds caused the drift between them.
I had the opportunity to read Mara Williams' first novel during the summer and I was left pleasantly surprised, so when I stumbled upon this I knew I had to read it too. I can safely say that I will keep reading this author because I love her writing style, it flows nicely and her stories capture my attention and keep me reading even when I'm supposed to be sleeping. I loved reading Eden's story, and I honestly loved reading about all the other characters too. I wish this was a little longer so we could explore some of them better, and especially give more time to the love story. I liked the connection between Eden and Caleb, but I wish the last 20-15% was a little different and I think having the book be a little longer could've helped with that.
The setting is perfect. I've never been to California and I've never seen a Redwood forest, but just like she did in The truth is in the detours, the author made feel like I knew these places and like I experiencing them with the characters!
January 15, 2026
I absolutely loved Mara Williams’s debut, so I was so excited to read her sophomore novel early, and I’m happy to report that this one did not disappoint at all.
I loved the setting in Grand Trees, California. It had that cozy small-town feel that just pulls you in and makes you want to stay awhile. The town itself felt like such an important part of the story and was woven in really beautifully.
Eden is a main character who has been through a lot — childhood trauma, a recent divorce — and you can really see how all of that shapes the way she lives her life and approaches relationships. Enter Caleb, a single dad with a grumpy exterior and the biggest heart. He was honestly such a great character. Watching the way he loved and took care of the people in his life was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Both Eden and Caleb have their own things to work through, and I loved how their relationship unfolded as they did the work — both individually and together. The pacing was great, the emotional depth really hit, and there were so many quotes that stood out to me (I highlighted a lot). Did I tear up some? Perhaps…
This was an easy five-star read for me. I genuinely can’t think of anything I would change about their story. If you love emotionally rich romances, strong character growth, and a small-town setting, I highly recommend this one.
Thanks to the author and netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
TL;DR:
Emotional, cozy, and beautifully written. Loved the small-town setting, adored the characters, and highlighted so many quotes. A grumpy single dad + a heroine healing from past trauma = perfection. Easy five stars.
I loved the setting in Grand Trees, California. It had that cozy small-town feel that just pulls you in and makes you want to stay awhile. The town itself felt like such an important part of the story and was woven in really beautifully.
Eden is a main character who has been through a lot — childhood trauma, a recent divorce — and you can really see how all of that shapes the way she lives her life and approaches relationships. Enter Caleb, a single dad with a grumpy exterior and the biggest heart. He was honestly such a great character. Watching the way he loved and took care of the people in his life was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Both Eden and Caleb have their own things to work through, and I loved how their relationship unfolded as they did the work — both individually and together. The pacing was great, the emotional depth really hit, and there were so many quotes that stood out to me (I highlighted a lot). Did I tear up some? Perhaps…
This was an easy five-star read for me. I genuinely can’t think of anything I would change about their story. If you love emotionally rich romances, strong character growth, and a small-town setting, I highly recommend this one.
Thanks to the author and netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
TL;DR:
Emotional, cozy, and beautifully written. Loved the small-town setting, adored the characters, and highlighted so many quotes. A grumpy single dad + a heroine healing from past trauma = perfection. Easy five stars.
September 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
3,5 🌟
I was really excited about this book, and it did not disappoint! I'll definitely be reading more from Mara Williams in the future.
I was hooked from the very first page and instantly connected with Eden.
I loved Abby and Caleb and their relationship with Grams as it beautifully shows how love and family can be found in the most unexpected places.
At first, I couldn't understand why Eden would return to someone who had abandoned her, but as the story unfolds, we begin to understand her reasons and it's easy to empathize with the entire situation. This book is a powerful reminder that we re all living life for the first time, parents included, and that everyone makes mistakes.
In the end, this book had me laughing in one moment and crying on the next. It's emotional, honest and full of heart!
3,5 🌟
I was really excited about this book, and it did not disappoint! I'll definitely be reading more from Mara Williams in the future.
I was hooked from the very first page and instantly connected with Eden.
I loved Abby and Caleb and their relationship with Grams as it beautifully shows how love and family can be found in the most unexpected places.
At first, I couldn't understand why Eden would return to someone who had abandoned her, but as the story unfolds, we begin to understand her reasons and it's easy to empathize with the entire situation. This book is a powerful reminder that we re all living life for the first time, parents included, and that everyone makes mistakes.
In the end, this book had me laughing in one moment and crying on the next. It's emotional, honest and full of heart!
January 17, 2026
I read this book for free through Amazon’s First Reads deal. I was so pleasantly surprised how much I liked this book. Yes it’s a steamy romance novel but found it more unpredictable than I thought and it brought me in from the first pages. I liked the main characters, rooting for them along the way. And the side characters added a lot to the story. I devoured the pages and got to the typical happy ending and loved every minute of it.
January 11, 2026
Do you enjoy living through hard truths and difficult conversations vicariously? Do you like to yearn? Do you want to cry? Do you love Virgin River? If you answered yes, this is the romance for you. I ate this book up and then reflected on the relationship work I need to do in my own life. Loved it
January 11, 2026
3.5 stars - this book had Virgin River vibes which I really enjoyed!!
January 11, 2026
the last 30% is where it’s at, but the book as a whole was very wholesome
January 14, 2026
Amazon Prime free read. Enjoyable family story with romance and second chances. Good sense of place.
Review of advance copy
Excellent book, I loved the flow of this book, Mara is now one of my new favorite writers.
July 28, 2025
3.5 stars
This is a nice romance, but it's also a book about a complex mother-daughter relationship and about forgiveness. During her childhood and teen years Eden and her mom spent every summer at camp in Grand Trees, California. Up until the year when Eden witnessed something that caused her family to fall apart and her relationship with her mother to become so distant that they barely talk anymore. Now twenty years later, a recently divorced Eden gets a call from one of her mother's friends telling her her mom's condition is deteriorating... when Eden didn't even know about her mother's diagnosis up until this phone call. So Eden returns to the place she used to love, up until she started to hate it. Among trying to repair her relationship with her mom, she also meets her mom's found family - including Caleb and his teenage daughter. While Eden and Caleb definitely get off on the wrong foot, there's an undeniable attraction between them almost from the start.
I liked Eden as a main character, she felt relatable, and the more that was slowly revealed about what happened that fateful summer when everything changed, the more her actions and feelings made sense. Caleb took a while to grow on me. He comes across as very judgmental of Eden, and since we never get his POV, his initial reaction to Eden made me dislike him at first. It seemed like he was being an a-hole for no good reason, which made me question how Eden could be attracted to him. Caleb's daughter Abby on the other hand, I fell immediately in love with. She was hilarious, and seeing how Caleb was with her is a huge part of what made him seem redeemable, like maybe he had his reasons for how he acted towards Eden (even if they were based on misunderstandings or false/incomplete information). Also, how he is so nice to everybody, with Eden (at the beginning) being the only exception, is a nice twist on the trope if the broody love interest who is an a-hole to everyone except the main character. Generally speaking, Caleb is not an a-hole at all.
I enjoyed the journey of Eden and Caleb getting to know and understand each other. And I also enjoyed the exploration of the past and current relationship between Eden and her mom. The small town setting was also very nice and their little community really came to life for me. This is a story about forgiveness, getting over bad memories of a place by making new good memories, coming to terms with the fact that parents are also just people and make mistakes, that most people aren't black or white but shades of gray. It is a book about second chances, unexpected romance and re-evaluating your outlook on life. It is filled with complex characters experiencing many complicated emotions.
The only thing I didn't love was the insta-lust, which had Eden salivating over the guy even when every time he opened his mouth, he was being mean or hurtful (whether entirely intentional or not). Their intense love seemed to develop very fast, especially considering the initial dislike, which is brushed off in favor of the physical attraction-at-first-sight.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This is a nice romance, but it's also a book about a complex mother-daughter relationship and about forgiveness. During her childhood and teen years Eden and her mom spent every summer at camp in Grand Trees, California. Up until the year when Eden witnessed something that caused her family to fall apart and her relationship with her mother to become so distant that they barely talk anymore. Now twenty years later, a recently divorced Eden gets a call from one of her mother's friends telling her her mom's condition is deteriorating... when Eden didn't even know about her mother's diagnosis up until this phone call. So Eden returns to the place she used to love, up until she started to hate it. Among trying to repair her relationship with her mom, she also meets her mom's found family - including Caleb and his teenage daughter. While Eden and Caleb definitely get off on the wrong foot, there's an undeniable attraction between them almost from the start.
I liked Eden as a main character, she felt relatable, and the more that was slowly revealed about what happened that fateful summer when everything changed, the more her actions and feelings made sense. Caleb took a while to grow on me. He comes across as very judgmental of Eden, and since we never get his POV, his initial reaction to Eden made me dislike him at first. It seemed like he was being an a-hole for no good reason, which made me question how Eden could be attracted to him. Caleb's daughter Abby on the other hand, I fell immediately in love with. She was hilarious, and seeing how Caleb was with her is a huge part of what made him seem redeemable, like maybe he had his reasons for how he acted towards Eden (even if they were based on misunderstandings or false/incomplete information). Also, how he is so nice to everybody, with Eden (at the beginning) being the only exception, is a nice twist on the trope if the broody love interest who is an a-hole to everyone except the main character. Generally speaking, Caleb is not an a-hole at all.
I enjoyed the journey of Eden and Caleb getting to know and understand each other. And I also enjoyed the exploration of the past and current relationship between Eden and her mom. The small town setting was also very nice and their little community really came to life for me. This is a story about forgiveness, getting over bad memories of a place by making new good memories, coming to terms with the fact that parents are also just people and make mistakes, that most people aren't black or white but shades of gray. It is a book about second chances, unexpected romance and re-evaluating your outlook on life. It is filled with complex characters experiencing many complicated emotions.
The only thing I didn't love was the insta-lust, which had Eden salivating over the guy even when every time he opened his mouth, he was being mean or hurtful (whether entirely intentional or not). Their intense love seemed to develop very fast, especially considering the initial dislike, which is brushed off in favor of the physical attraction-at-first-sight.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 27, 2025
I did not want to put this book down! A lot happened within the first 50 pages, but the book was well-paced and the story flowed. Everything that happened was connected and none of it felt far-fetched. The story follows themes of second chance romances, unexpected love, small town charm, forgiveness, familial strain, and the impending risk of natural disasters.
Grand trees is home to Eden’s best and worst memories. Her childhood memories flourished here, but also died here. Eden experienced a tragic injury along with witnessing her mother’s betrayal. Eden rarely visits the town due to this and only comes back when she receives a call about her mother’s diagnosis. Enter Caleb Connell, charming stranger who saves her from an awkward encounter. The sparks are immediately there. She meets Caleb again through family connections and soon realizes he has given her mother the life she couldn’t. I wouldn’t go as far as to say they’re enemies, but they certainly do not like each other after meeting again. They share many moments that are tense and heated. I will not dive more into the book as I don’t want my review to contain spoilers, but this book is definitely worth the read. Many people in the town experience second chance romances, a second chance at creating the families and lives they desired. The town is sweet in the sense that everyone looks out for one another. It is a close-knit community that relies on each other in times of crisis.
Grand trees is home to Eden’s best and worst memories. Her childhood memories flourished here, but also died here. Eden experienced a tragic injury along with witnessing her mother’s betrayal. Eden rarely visits the town due to this and only comes back when she receives a call about her mother’s diagnosis. Enter Caleb Connell, charming stranger who saves her from an awkward encounter. The sparks are immediately there. She meets Caleb again through family connections and soon realizes he has given her mother the life she couldn’t. I wouldn’t go as far as to say they’re enemies, but they certainly do not like each other after meeting again. They share many moments that are tense and heated. I will not dive more into the book as I don’t want my review to contain spoilers, but this book is definitely worth the read. Many people in the town experience second chance romances, a second chance at creating the families and lives they desired. The town is sweet in the sense that everyone looks out for one another. It is a close-knit community that relies on each other in times of crisis.
October 15, 2025
I had high expectations of The Epicenter of Forever after having read the author’s debut, and this book completely surpassed those expectations! This novel is going to stick with me long after reading, and I already know I’ll be rereading it for its beautiful portrayals of complex family dynamics, the loss of life dreams, the levels of sacrifice for those you love, and the courage to seek something more than what you’ve settled for in the past.
Eden has been largely estranged from her mother for twenty years and only returns to see her after a terrifying diagnosis. There she finds that her mother has built a whole new found family for herself in Grand Trees, including Caleb, the single dad who’s deeply protective of her mother and also may have different views of the rift that divided her family years ago.
In this book, Eden copes with the aftermath of her divorce while learning to see her mother with new eyes, grappling with whether or not she can ever truly forgive her mother’s mistakes. And while she shares the care of her mother with fiercely loyal Caleb, she just might also find herself falling for him.
The book is filled with layered and thoughtful characters, including a lovely cast of small-town residents who lift each other up and support each other through the hardest of times. The romance is powerful and life-affirming.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the ARC of this gorgeous novel.
Eden has been largely estranged from her mother for twenty years and only returns to see her after a terrifying diagnosis. There she finds that her mother has built a whole new found family for herself in Grand Trees, including Caleb, the single dad who’s deeply protective of her mother and also may have different views of the rift that divided her family years ago.
In this book, Eden copes with the aftermath of her divorce while learning to see her mother with new eyes, grappling with whether or not she can ever truly forgive her mother’s mistakes. And while she shares the care of her mother with fiercely loyal Caleb, she just might also find herself falling for him.
The book is filled with layered and thoughtful characters, including a lovely cast of small-town residents who lift each other up and support each other through the hardest of times. The romance is powerful and life-affirming.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the ARC of this gorgeous novel.
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