What do you think?
Rate this book
You Were Always The One
A second chance. A quiet town. The one person she never planned to see again.
Lilith Edenfield never expected to cross paths with him again—not on her favorite trail, not with autumn settling in around her, and definitely not with a heart that never quite forgot.
When Elias Carter returns to Whispering Pines after years away, he brings with him a quiet storm of memories Lilith thought she had long buried. Their past is tangled, unfinished—and despite everything, still achingly soft around the edges.
Now grown, bruised, and holding more secrets than he left with, Elias isn’t the boy she once knew. But the pull between them never really disappeared. It just went silent.
As the leaves fall and emotions rise, Lilith is drawn back into the spaces she once closed off—the trail, the touch, the possibility. In a season of second chances, she's faced with the one question she never dared to
What if this time... she didn’t let him go?
You Were Always the One is a deeply emotional, slow-burn second chance romance filled with longing, tenderness, and just the right amount of spice. With open-door intimacy and rich emotional tension, it’s perfect for readers who love stories that feel personal and stay with you.
Lilith Edenfield never expected to cross paths with him again—not on her favorite trail, not with autumn settling in around her, and definitely not with a heart that never quite forgot.
When Elias Carter returns to Whispering Pines after years away, he brings with him a quiet storm of memories Lilith thought she had long buried. Their past is tangled, unfinished—and despite everything, still achingly soft around the edges.
Now grown, bruised, and holding more secrets than he left with, Elias isn’t the boy she once knew. But the pull between them never really disappeared. It just went silent.
As the leaves fall and emotions rise, Lilith is drawn back into the spaces she once closed off—the trail, the touch, the possibility. In a season of second chances, she's faced with the one question she never dared to
What if this time... she didn’t let him go?
You Were Always the One is a deeply emotional, slow-burn second chance romance filled with longing, tenderness, and just the right amount of spice. With open-door intimacy and rich emotional tension, it’s perfect for readers who love stories that feel personal and stay with you.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2025
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 7, 2025
4/5 Stars
This was such a cute late summer early autumn read; I will be suggesting it to other romance readers all around! I am definitely looking forward to the second book! I'm on the hype train for Rae Lipari and I hope this series gets popular!
Amazing work Rae :)
This was such a cute late summer early autumn read; I will be suggesting it to other romance readers all around! I am definitely looking forward to the second book! I'm on the hype train for Rae Lipari and I hope this series gets popular!
Amazing work Rae :)
May 1, 2025
Lilith and Elias parted ways as teens. They were very good friends with a simmering crush when Elias suddenly had to move away.
Just as suddenly and unexpectedly, Elias returns to whispers beneath the pines. This stuns our insecure Lilith. She can't believe he's back and older and filled out.. and it looks like he's here to stay! Whaaat!?
What is someone with a lackluster romantic past supposed to do? Would he still want to be friends? Is she the only one whose belly flips at the sight of him?
The longing and yearning abides it seems.
Is it one sided?
If not.. how do they continue where they left off?
Lilith is still so insecure and confused and this leads her to make a bad decision. Will she be able to return from her mistake? And will Elias be willing to turn a blind eye and ignore it?
I enjoyed reading this book, in the beginning the pacing is slow but obviously intentional. Very atmospheric with intense fall vibes. The essence of the season was captured very well and the reader is immersed in this small town as they are introduced to its inhabitants.
The author does a clear work of introducing and highlighting possible future characters and the ending ?
Excuse me!?
If you are a cry-baby expect to shed some tears.
Looking forward to the next book !
Many thanks to the author for opportunity to read and share my thoughts❤️
Just as suddenly and unexpectedly, Elias returns to whispers beneath the pines. This stuns our insecure Lilith. She can't believe he's back and older and filled out.. and it looks like he's here to stay! Whaaat!?
What is someone with a lackluster romantic past supposed to do? Would he still want to be friends? Is she the only one whose belly flips at the sight of him?
The longing and yearning abides it seems.
Is it one sided?
If not.. how do they continue where they left off?
Lilith is still so insecure and confused and this leads her to make a bad decision. Will she be able to return from her mistake? And will Elias be willing to turn a blind eye and ignore it?
I enjoyed reading this book, in the beginning the pacing is slow but obviously intentional. Very atmospheric with intense fall vibes. The essence of the season was captured very well and the reader is immersed in this small town as they are introduced to its inhabitants.
The author does a clear work of introducing and highlighting possible future characters and the ending ?
Excuse me!?
If you are a cry-baby expect to shed some tears.
Looking forward to the next book !
Many thanks to the author for opportunity to read and share my thoughts❤️
May 2, 2025
"You Were Always the One" is a tender and evocative second-chance romance set against the quiet charm of Whispering Pines in autumn. Lilith Edenfield's peaceful life is disrupted by the unexpected return of Elias Carter, the one man her heart never truly forgot. Their rekindling connection is a slow burn, filled with longing and the weight of a shared past, beautifully illustrated in moments like Lilith's solitary walk past the familiar landmarks of her town – the bakery, Val's bookstore, The Bean – as she grapples with Elias's reappearance. Throughout her emotional journey, Lilith leans on her close friends Odessa and Val, and her sister Eve, highlighting the importance of enduring relationships in navigating life's complexities. This tale is for readers who appreciate nuanced characters and romance that unfolds organically, exploring themes of personal growth and the courage to embrace a second chance at love. However, the quiet intimacy takes a dramatic turn towards the end, leaving the reader questioning the fate of Whispering Pines. The abrupt shift underscores the fragility of their second chance and promises a tumultuous continuation. A must read!
May 3, 2025
A cozy romance that goes about how you think it's going to go. Very predictable, but in a nice way. Author does a great job of keeping your eyes moving, and making each scene move along. At times you may want to slap the female protag for continually getting in her own way, but I was impressed by the author's ability to bring out her trauma and make it real and understandable for the reader.
Also liked the hinting at relationships between other men and her friends. Lots of subtle chemistry going on. Super cute. Intimate scenes were cozier than they were spicy. Noticed at the end of the book that it was set up to be a series, and it's pretty appropriate. Author leaves certain issues undealt with. I would consider picking up the second book just to see what happens to one character.
A great read for a rainy day!
Also liked the hinting at relationships between other men and her friends. Lots of subtle chemistry going on. Super cute. Intimate scenes were cozier than they were spicy. Noticed at the end of the book that it was set up to be a series, and it's pretty appropriate. Author leaves certain issues undealt with. I would consider picking up the second book just to see what happens to one character.
A great read for a rainy day!
May 5, 2025
I was given an ARC of this book so generously by the author, so I got it 4 days early, but didn’t start it until release day.
This book was definitely out of my “normal reading” but it was still good.
The vibes were there FOR SURE.
I love a good, second chance
It’s always been you
Reuniting after years
Trope, it hits every time.
This book was no different, however, I felt it just went on forever, the back and forth of the two characters. Lilith just being so insecure and just letting her own self get in the way and damage what was so good, it was not my favorite.
I lowkey, skimmed, the last like…40%
AHHH IM SORRY 🫣🫣🫣
But the story as a whole?
Vibes were there
It was a nice, light, easy read
A good palette cleanser
However, the ending?
I wasn’t expecting that at all!!!
It shocked me to my core
But I love how it set up for more books to come
This book was definitely out of my “normal reading” but it was still good.
The vibes were there FOR SURE.
I love a good, second chance
It’s always been you
Reuniting after years
Trope, it hits every time.
This book was no different, however, I felt it just went on forever, the back and forth of the two characters. Lilith just being so insecure and just letting her own self get in the way and damage what was so good, it was not my favorite.
I lowkey, skimmed, the last like…40%
AHHH IM SORRY 🫣🫣🫣
But the story as a whole?
Vibes were there
It was a nice, light, easy read
A good palette cleanser
However, the ending?
I wasn’t expecting that at all!!!
It shocked me to my core
But I love how it set up for more books to come
May 12, 2025
This book is beautiful deep and cosy.
A second chance small town romance.
A tight group of found family friends.
It was emotional, miscommunication, and made me cry.
If you like emotional books you'll love this.
I just struggled as I don't like miscommunication and emotional moving books. It broke my heart. So 3 star for me, but very could be 5 star for you!
A second chance small town romance.
A tight group of found family friends.
It was emotional, miscommunication, and made me cry.
If you like emotional books you'll love this.
I just struggled as I don't like miscommunication and emotional moving books. It broke my heart. So 3 star for me, but very could be 5 star for you!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews