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Haircuts and Heartthrobs #3

Pine For Me: A Hilarious Second Chance, Accidental Pregnancy Romcom

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He’s my Hollywood heartthrob ex-husband.
My hot new neighbor.
And, thanks to one reckless night, my soon-to-be baby daddy.


Patton Pierce has a knack for showing up when I least expect him—my street, my salon, my martial arts studio. Even my dreams.

Sure, I’ve pined for him over the past seven years, but if he thinks his low-slung gray sweatpants, backward cap, and infuriating grin will make me forget our past, then he’s in for a rude awakening.

But then my sister’s bachelorette party happens, and I have one too many drinks. One ridiculous dare later, and I find myself “kissing the boy I used to love”.

One kiss leads to one incredible night.
And one night leads to two very pink lines.

Patton says he wants me back, that nothing would make him happier than to have this baby with me. But I’ve heard those words before.
He chose Hollywood over me before, and he’ll choose it over me again.

Still, with him taking care of my every craving—both in and out of the bedroom—it’s getting harder not to fall for him.
The question will he be there to catch me this time?

Author’s PINE FOR ME is book 3 of the Haircuts And Heartthrobs series but can be read as a standalone. It features a famous ex-husband, a FMC with eyeliner as sharp as her wit, a thieving hairless cat, and a bloodhound who expresses love through intense staring and aggressive plant hydration. If you enjoy swoony second chances, unplanned babies, and pets who absolutely do not stay in their lane, you’ve picked the right book.

426 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 27, 2025

107 people are currently reading
218 people want to read

About the author

Swati M.H.

17 books1,156 followers
Swati MH is a Texas raised contemporary romance author living in the Bay Area with her very own book husband and two beautiful daughters. When she's not writing stories full of humor, heart, and heartbreak, she's likely thinking about doing so . . . preferably while holding a glass of wine.

FIND ME!!
Website→ http://www.swatimh.com/
Newsletter→https://bit.ly/SMH-Newsletter
Amazon→https://bit.ly/Swati-AMZ
Instagram→https://www.instagram.com/swati.mh
Reader Group→ https://bit.ly/SMH-Sweeties
Facebook→https://www.facebook.com/authorswatimh

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5 stars
215 (57%)
4 stars
115 (30%)
3 stars
36 (9%)
2 stars
7 (1%)
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3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
Profile Image for Amber.
1,081 reviews46 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 19, 2025
I've been waiting for Nisha and Patton's book since the beginning. I just love a great second chance romance and this was it. Nisha and Patton were high school sweethearts and married at 21 while he was becoming a major actor in Hollywood. When Nisha felt like he kept choosing her last, especially after some major life changes, she knew she couldn't do it anymore. Now seven years later, Patton is back and willing to do anything to prove he's changed and she was/is his only choice. Leading to an accidental pregnancy, they explore their relationship, growing closer. Can Patton prove Nisha is his top priority?
Profile Image for Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth).
2,295 reviews1,539 followers
January 7, 2026
All the angst!

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: second chance, accidental pregnancy
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥

What an emotional roller coaster ride! The story was beautifully written and will have you alternating between laughing out loud and sobbing into your kndle. This is a hard fought happily ever after and these characters have you wholly invested from beginning to end!
Profile Image for Stephanie Rose.
Author 30 books2,944 followers
December 27, 2025
All the stars for Nisha and Patton!

I will fight and d!e for Patton Pierce. My heart broke for him the entire book, and no man grovels or growls "my wife" better in any universe. Nisha and Patton's story was heart breaking but they were so in love they were inevitable, no matter how much Nisha tried to resist. A lot of their journey hit close to home for me, making their amazing HEA that much sweeter.

Beautifully written with deep emotions, laugh out loud moments, and scorching hot spice, Pine for Me was an awesome end to an incredible series, but I hope Swati still gives us glimpses of this fantastic crew.
Profile Image for RomanceLand65.
497 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 19, 2025
oh lord where do I begin. it was so good. one minute you laugh so hard with the antics then you are sobbing. full on snuffle cry. I think many fans of this author could just read one entire book with the text messages. they are hands down hilarious. she has a definite gift for these extremely amusing conversations. pretty sure the name of the chat will make you laugh out loud in a public place. don't whatever you do read them in a library cause you will full on disturb the peace. Dean of course steals the chat show.
as hysterical as this read was there were some pretty heavy topics. loss of a baby during pregnancy and the breakdown of the marriage. so many times I just sobbed with the emotions of this topic. it was written very well with the utmost respect to the main character who endured this. and as a female who suffered two miscarriages you feel for this character.
you will definitely fall head over bald pussy (hey it's the cat) for Patton. his back story was emotional and you saw him heal and make him a better version of himself.
I really can't speak highly enough of this authors incredible talent writing a read with such emotions. from laughter to sobbing. it was a therapy session truly. it helped me heal myself from my loss.
Profile Image for Kasie Harvey.
206 reviews5 followers
December 30, 2025
4.5⭐️ 3.5🌶 2.75😭
Once again, Swati absolutely knocked it out of the park. This was the perfect book to wrap up the series. The friend group and found family dynamic is truly something everyone should wish for—supportive, protective, and always ready to give that much-needed push when it matters most. You can’t get anything past them, and it really is for better or worse with this crew, which I loved.
Patton and Nisha’s story takes you through every heart-wrenching moment they each endure. The fight Patton is willing to put up to find his way back is a powerful reminder to never give up on someone you love, no matter how much time has passed. And Nisha—reading about everything she’s been through was both beautiful and devastating. Her trials and heartbreak had me wanting to wrap her in a hug and never let go.
Profile Image for My Own Bookshelves.
717 reviews137 followers
January 4, 2026
Patton is top tier boyfriend material. He’s has put in the work and now ready to claim what his heart has always wanted and that soft spot to land is his ex wife.

While second chances are not guaranteed, the author shows it’s not always a bed of roses in the journey. Sprinkled with humor as the friends assist our hero in recapturing the heart of the one that got away.

The author delivers thoughtful storytelling with difficult subjects and brings it all together in a satisfying happily ever after.
Profile Image for Sabrina Latulipe.
228 reviews30 followers
December 29, 2025
I can’t believe this series is over!! I devoured this book!!

This is book 3 in the Haircuts and Heartthrobs series and it follows Nisha and Patton.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶️

✨Second Chance Romance
✨Accidental Pregnancy
✨Celebrity MMC
✨Cat Thief
✨Hilarious Group Texts

This book took me through a rollercoaster of emotions. I seriously felt all of the emotions through the characters. Nisha and Patton had such a strong connection and even through all of their struggles and of being separated for 6 years they still had such amazing chemistry. And don’t even get me started on the group chats! They were hilarious. I love how close their friend groups are. Im sad this series is over but I can’t wait to see what Swati MH delivers next!
Profile Image for XenyMarie.
637 reviews15 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 19, 2025
“You’re not a choice or an option for me, Neesh. You’re a necessity.”

I love second chance stories, and this one was so heartwarming and fun to read. I truly enjoyed every minute of it.

First of all, let's start with these crazy pets. We have a klepto furless cat, and a dog obsessed with Nisha's bra, or more like her smell. I swear I could read a short story of just the pets' shenanigans with how hilarious they are.

Then we have Nisha in denial, although that didn't last long. I loved how both groups of friends unknowingly worked together to get Nisha and Patton back together.

I really enjoyed seeing the way Patton worked to prove that he was all in, and how fate's sense of humor came into play when it came to his mom.

Quote: “I’ve already done everything I ever dreamed of, except this—building a family with you. This was always the real dream, baby.”
401 reviews13 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 27, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to the author for providing an eARC for me to read and review!

This is the final book in the trilogy of Haircuts and Heartthrobs and Swati MH saved the best for last! Nisha and Patton are just so freaking adorable! The way that Patton knows he messed up and works so hard to be better is commendable and I loved that Nisha didn't give in too quickly. Their chemistry is great and the dynamic between them never felt imbalanced. There was a refreshing give and take between these two that really spoke to me.

I'm going to miss all of these characters so much, especially the cats! Nisha's kleptomaniac cat Beaver was hilarious and stole my heart along with Vajayjay and Snatch from the other books. I feel like a novella from the cats' point of view would be hysterical!
1,026 reviews63 followers
December 30, 2025
I love a second chance between a divorced couple. Nisha and Patton's story was perfect. Even though little Gia helped bring them back together, Patton work was perfect. The chemistry was good and it was well written.
Profile Image for Devon Cook.
80 reviews24 followers
January 3, 2026
“You ruined me for anyone else.”

I have been DYING waiting for this book and the fact that I got it 2 weeks ago and I JUST finished it. It’s been crazy busy and I’ve had little to no time to read—but MY GOD this book! I’m already a sucker for second chances but add in a surprise pregnancy?! Swati really hit me in the chest with the infertility aspect as well, because I know exactly how Nisha felt.

I absolutely loved Patton’s groveling, and I’m so glad they got their HEA 🤍
Profile Image for Paige (wingsandsmut).
959 reviews92 followers
December 12, 2025
While this is part of a series, it is an interconnected standalone and you don’t need to read the other books if you don’t want to. Cheers to another second chance romance that I devoured! Patton & Nisha’s story is so heartbreaking, yet seeing them reconnect and learn to trust and love each other again was so sweet. Their chemistry is undeniable, but that was never the issue between them.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
Second chance
Accidental pregnancy
Celebrity mmc
Ex-husband/ex-wife
Forced proximity

Thank you to Swati M.H for letting me read/review an ARC of this in exchange for my honest thoughts!
1,066 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 14, 2025
Reading a book by Swati is the highlight of my day!! Between the hilarious group chats and the off the charts steamy smut, I just can't get enough. Patton and Nisha's story is heartbreaking, hopeful, and beautiful. When Patton read the goodbye letter from Nisha, I cried for their pain and loss. But the group chats were my favorite especially the horse and pony chat... absolutely hilarious!! This is a great feel good second chance romance.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Stephanie.
658 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 27, 2025
Patton Pierce completely stole my heart. Nisha and Patton’s journey is an emotional, beautifully written heartbreak story. This second-chance romance will hit you right in the feelings. Their past is messy and painful in all the right ways, making their reunion even more powerful. The chemistry between them is undeniable. It's loaded with longing, regret, and hope that makes you keep reading. The author delivers a deeply satisfying love story that proves some connections never truly fade, and watching Nisha and Patton find their way back to each other was everything I wanted from this couple from the start.
Profile Image for KelsBookstagram.
739 reviews24 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 15, 2025
Currently wishing I had a group chat like this 🤣🤣
The friggin banter is off the charts.

Please can we appreciate how Swati weaves humour into her stories so effortlessly—it sneaks up on you and suddenly you’re laughing out loud. Her writing style is absolutely friggin Chef’s kiss 💋

This is a beautiful emotionally charged second chase romance that has all the feels and some really challenging and traumatic moments which as a reader you will feel in your soul.

However, these two are meant for eachother and honestly all I feel deep within my soul is their connection and love for eachother and their growth as individuals is so super inspiring!!

The ending had me crying with all the feels and emotions going. The ending was utterly perfection for this couple and I am so friggin obsessed with this interconnected series!!
Profile Image for Keza Campbell.
788 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy
December 19, 2025
I enjoyed this book as all the others I have read by this author in the past.

The story of two people who love each other but life gets in the way and finding themselves coming back together.

The spice and chemistry that was obvious from the first page.

The hilarious animals and their crazy personalities really topped this story.

I definitely recommend 👌🏻
Profile Image for Britny Kemple.
12 reviews5 followers
January 26, 2026
Amazing! Seriously her books never fail! You feel everything with this book, heartbreaking, loving, funny, etc. I will continue to recommend her books to anyone that will listen. This one might be my favorite though. I related so much with Nisha as I have been in her shoes. Please give this book a read, it’s totally worth it!
Profile Image for Christelle Ruiz.
474 reviews
December 29, 2025
Not for me! I was bored after reading 8% of this book.
I didn’t enjoy the extra pushy girl friends and how the FMC let them! I’m not fan on indecisive people and boneless at the thought of her ex husband just looking at her…. Please can the FMC be more pathetic! Plus they separated because they loved each other’s too much! WTF?! Really! And she left without talking about and left a letter! Yeah no! She is spineless as well!!
Not for me, the FMC was annoying me after 43 pages!! I DNF it!!
Profile Image for Cigi cini.
706 reviews50 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 11, 2025
🔥 Second Chance Romance
🎬 Hollywood Heartthrob
💍 Ex-Husband / Ex-Wife
🏘️ Neighbors to Lovers
🤰 Surprise Pregnancy
😢 Past Hurt / Trust Issues
❤️‍🔥 Still in Love
🍑 Forced Proximity
💞 Slow Rebuild
✨ HEA

Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Pine For Me is everything a second-chance romance should be sharp with longing, heavy with history, and overflowing with chemistry that refuses to die, no matter how much time passes. Swati M.H once again works her magic in the Haircuts and Heartthrobs series, delivering a story that balances humor, heartbreak, and heat in a way that feels effortless and deeply satisfying.

From the very first page, it’s clear that Patton and his ex-wife Nisha were never truly over. Their dynamic is electric charged with old wounds, unresolved desire, and a stubborn kind of love that neither of them has been able to outrun. Patton’s return to her life isn’t just inconvenient; it’s destabilizing in all the ways she’s spent years guarding against. He shows up everywhere: her neighborhood, her salon, even her martial arts studio. He’s the last man she wants to deal with, and the only one who still has the power to make her pulse jump with a single look.

The setup is irresistible: a bachelorette-party dare, one impulsive kiss with the man she’s tried so hard to forget, and a night that cracks open everything they’ve kept bottled up. It’s messy and passionate and full of the kind of vulnerability that only exists between two people who once shared everything. The fallout of those two pink lines pushes them right back into each other’s orbit, this time with stakes higher and more permanent than ever.

What makes the story shine is how Swati M.H builds Patton into a hero who’s not just charming and sexy, but genuinely repentant and determined. He knows he messed up. He knows she doesn’t trust him. And he’s ready to show up for her in ways he never did before. His care is constant not just in the sweet, domestic ways, but in the intimate, emotional moments where he quietly proves that he’s changed, that he’s choosing her and their baby above everything else, even Hollywood.

Meanwhile, Nisha’s hesitation is beautifully written. She’s not cold or stubborn; she’s someone who has learned the hard way that love isn’t always enough. Watching her wrestle with her fears, torn between protecting her heart and wanting to believe in the man she once married, adds a poignant depth to the story. Their journey is slow, tender, and incredibly rewarding as they rediscover the pieces of themselves, they lost along the way.

And let’s talk about the chemistry because it’s scorching. The banter crackles, the tension is constant, and their physical connection feels both nostalgic and brand new. Every stolen glance and heated moment adds fuel to a fire that’s been quietly burning for seven years. The inside jokes, the shared memories, the private smiles they create a romance layered with familiarity and rediscovery.

By the time the story reaches its emotional climax, it’s impossible not to root for them. Not just to reunite, but to heal. To trust. To finally become the version of themselves, they always should’ve been when they first fell in love.

Pine For Me isn’t just about rekindling a romance, it’s about second chances, forgiveness, and the courage to believe that people can grow into someone better. It’s tender, it’s spicy, it’s heartfelt, and it leaves you with the warm, satisfied feeling of watching two soul-deep lovers finally find their way home.

A beautiful, addictive must-read for anyone who loves exes-to-lovers, emotional reconnection, and heroes who will move heaven and earth for their person.
Profile Image for Rachael.
62 reviews5 followers
December 30, 2025

We love a man who fixes the things he has fallen short on and persists in trying to win HIS girl back! Add to that a multiple years-long yearning for each other while they lived separate lives in different parts of the country/world (did I mention he's become THE Hollywood heartthrob people put at the top of their "Celebrity Hall Pass" list?) and undeniable
chemistry that's sure to keep them plagued with thoughts of what could be if they tried again to make things work. She's been unable to avoid his existence on the screens in front of her- it's not her fault he's in magazines and on gossip sites she just happens to see! He may have kept his distance and given her an overabundance of space, but he's waited long enough to earn back her love and trust* and is in hot pursuit of what's always been his!!!

This couple has an incredibly endearing storyline where they started out as best friends before they got married only to have their life blow up. *There was no cheating, but there was tragedy and letdown. (Content WARNING in the beginning of the book lists sensitive topics of fertility struggles, miscarriage, and divorce) She's a sassy high-end-salon-owning taekwondo master and with a heart of gold that has worked hard for everything she's accomplished in life. He has overcome traumatizing circumstances of his own and likewise worked hard to become a household name at the top of his game and the only thing missing from his life is his one true love.Joined by a crazy and fun group of friends that we've met in previous books and their pets with peculiar quirks (his dog Bob is a new adorable addition and he's also quite a character all his own, and Beaver might be my favorite of all the hairless cats) this book is sure to make you laugh, chuckle, and cackle at various points. Another heartfelt win by Swati MH. I am sure going to miss this group of characters, but with books we never have to say goodbye completely even if their stories have come to a close they will also live on to be read again.
I will never tire of the way Swati's writing pulls at my heartstrings and has me feeling the emotions ranging from the jubilant highs of joy to the deep and sobering lows of sorrow. Cheering for another book that I can sing the praises about!
Profile Image for Victoria Weston.
1,033 reviews55 followers
December 27, 2025
"You're not a choice or an option for me, Neesh. You're a necessity."

"I've already done everything I ever dreamed of, except this - building a family with you. This was always the real dream baby."


This is book #3 in this series, Haircuts and Heartthrobs series and is the last book in this series and can be read as a standalone. It is a real second chance at love story.


What to expect

💛Second chance romance
💛Forced proximity
💛Neighbours to lovers
💛Accidental pregnancy
💛Ex's to lovers
💛He Falls First

After his career takes off Nisha feels a little abandoned. Years after they separate he's back.
Patton was so career focused that he neglected Nisha and they split. Only now years he's determined to prove to her that she's the love of his life and he's changed.
Nisha has been through alot and feels like now she's finally in a good place, well until she gets the surprise of her life.

This storyline flows throughout beautifully and really will have your emotions in a complete whirlwind inside your heart. The story has moments where you'll be laughing out loud and then having your heartstrings pulled. This book is full of banter between all the characters, humour which is amazing, heartbreak and you'll need the tissues and at times is very raw and the characters are vulnerable.
The characters were so connected and I found it easy to love them, they always had a strong connection and the chemistry is awesome and I loved reading their story. I absolutely loved the way this author writes and the animals were fabulous in their own right which was amazing and a really great touch. Swati.MH really knows how to write a story and hook the reader right in from the beginning and knows how to write a page turner, her writing style is great and I definitely recommend this book and this series as all these couples were amazing in each book.

✨Check trigger warnings before you start✨
Profile Image for Ashley's Novel Idea.
495 reviews25 followers
December 31, 2025
Patton Pierce is done spending six years away from the woman he knows is his soulmate. Sure, he’s pulling a few strings—and a few of her friends’ partners into his corner—but love is war, and he’s all in. What he doesn’t expect are the twists waiting for him.

Nisha Aurora finally has her life on track… until two pink lines blow it all apart. Old wounds reopen, new fears rise, and suddenly everything feels uncertain. Luckily, her loud, loyal circle—and her Sphinx cat, Beaver—aren’t letting her face any of it alone.

Pine For Me hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting. It’s not just a second‑chance romance — it’s two people carrying years of hurt, love, and unfinished conversations finally facing what broke them.

Patton and Nisha’s connection feels raw and lived‑in. The moment he steps back into her life, you can feel every memory they’ve tried to bury rise to the surface. One kiss, one night, and suddenly all the walls they built start to crumble. And when life hands them a moment that changes everything, they’re forced to confront the version of themselves they used to be… and the people they’re trying to become.

What stayed with me most is the tenderness. Patton trying to show he’s grown. Nisha trying to protect a heart that’s already been through too much. Their fear, their hope, their pull toward each other — it all feels so human- so relatable.

This book isn’t just about rekindling a romance. It’s about forgiveness, growth, and the terrifying, beautiful choice to believe in someone again. It’s soft, it’s aching, it’s full of heat and heart, and it left me with that warm, quiet feeling of watching two people finally find their way back home.

Tropes:

🔥 Second Chance Romance
💍 Ex-Husband / Ex-Wife
🏘️ Neighbors to Lovers
🤰 Surprise Pregnancy
😢 Past Hurt / Trust Issues
🍑 Forced Proximity

Content Warnings:

Profile Image for BookAddict.
2,097 reviews210 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 20, 2025
This one is bittersweet. It's the end of an era as we say goodbye to characters from this series and the one before. But it looks like this masterful storyteller saved the best for last! A second chance romance between two people who fell in love as kids, and then a world of paın separated them. He burıed his paın by building an A-list acting career, and she picked up her broken pieces and made herself into a fiercely strong, caring, successful business woman.

Patton Pierce has decided six years is long enough to be estranged from his soulmate. So maybe he's a tad manipulative, especially garnering support from the men attached to the women in his ex-wife's life, but all fair when you’re in a fıght for love. And as confident and determined as Patton may be, nothing can prepare him for the curves life has in store.

Nisha Aurora is finally in a good place in her life. Then, one slip of her strong will and two pink lines throws her world into chaos, bringing back all of the pain from her past. Fortunately, she has the support of her colorful and quirky family and friends. And her Sphinx cat, Beaver, definitely has her back.

I got goosebumps reading the first chapter and laughed my way through the next, and then the story really got good. Some storytellers don’t have the chops to keep the momentum going, but our girl here delivers over and over, with perfect comedic timing and heartfelt pacing to deliver a euphoric reading experience.

There are so many favorites and fond memories with this one, from the chats and the cats to the dad who makes me miss mine and the rival pseudo-suitor and the surprising twists. Every bit of it delicious, delightful, heart-rending, devastating, inspiring, and uplifting. Wow, what an amazing ride! This one has rıp-your-heart-out, mend-you-right, and feel-good happy sigh written all over it, so make sure you don’t miss it!
Profile Image for Rachael.
242 reviews33 followers
January 5, 2026
3.5⭐️ (rounded up to 4)
2.5🌶️

🐈‍⬛Second Chance Romance
✨Soulmates
🐈‍⬛Accidental Pregnancy
✨Hollywood Star X Stylist to the Stars
🐈‍⬛Found Family
✨Cute Animal Hijinks
🐈‍⬛RomCom

This was a great read to end this series with, and I really enjoyed Nisha's character arc throughout, as well as seeing Patton not just tell but show Nisha all the ways he had changed to make sure she knew she was his priority once again.

I'm not usually a fan of second chance romance, but this one made more sense for me than others that they found their way back to each other. Patton made a lot of mistakes seven years ago, but Nisha made some too, and they both went through trauma (TW: mention and scene where FMC details past miscarriage) that they needed to learn and heal from. I was glad that Nisha didn't let Patton just waltz right back in and grand gesture her back into his life, she really made him work for it, and he put in the work.
I was also glad that he started out wanting to get her back well before their accidental pregnancy, because I cannot stand it when it feels like the only reason the MMC is invested is because of a baby. Patton was in it years before that happened and before he even thought she'd ever give him another chance, so the accidental pregnancy is truly just the cherry on top for both of them.

The found family was great in this one, and the friend groups and group chats are always so funny and sweet. I loved seeing past characters throughout the story and catching up with them in this book, and Nisha, Piper, and Sarina are bestie goals. ❤️

One thing I didn't love were the parallels that were used at the end to create conflict. It just felt a little unnecessarily mean to Nisha, in my opinion.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author and am leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for The Good Girl Review.
42 reviews4 followers
December 27, 2025
🌻ARC Review🌻

Pine for me by Swati M.H. is officially out. It is the third book in the Haircuts and Heartthrobs series. Nisha and Patton get their happily ever after in this second chance romance. Nisha has watched her best friend and twin find their other halves while she has always known the man for her was her ex husband Patton. Their marriage ended when his acting career took off and their love wasn’t enough. If you have read the Haircuts and Heartthrobs series then you know Nisha is a co owner of the salon. She’s badass on the outside with a sleeve of tattoos who could fight anyone with her taekwondo skills, with a heart of gold. When she’s not teaching at the dojang she is volunteering her services at the homeless shelter. She also tends to stalk her famous ex online in her free time. Patton has loved Nisha since they were teenagers. This book is a second chance with top tier groveling. Patton spends most of the book making sure Nisha knows how much he loves her and that she is his priority. After a run in he forms a plan to win back his wife. And he’ll need the help of their family and friends. We typically struggle with a second chance but this one was just too good. And can we just talk about the Schlongs and the Clams group chats. They kept us laughing throughout the entire series. Along with the hilarious chats, we should also touch on the heartache in this story. Please make sure to read the trigger warnings before starting. This series has always touched on some emotional topics but this book in particular is heavy and could be triggering for some readers. Swati wrote a beautiful story and the topics were really well done. What Nisha and Patton had to go through only makes us love them more and makes their hea even sweeter.
Profile Image for Sarah Beth.
572 reviews21 followers
January 14, 2026
Reading Pine For Me felt way too personal for comfort, and not in a casual “aww this is relatable” way, but in a “why is this book digging around in my emotional history” way.

Because this isn’t just a second-chance romance. It’s a divorce story. It’s two people who loved each other, lost each other, and never really stopped being connected. Even when they were living completely separate lives. And that part? That wrecked me.

Their reconnection didn’t feel easy or neat. It felt messy and scared and emotionally loaded, which is exactly how it feels when you let someone back into your heart after they once shattered it. Every moment between them felt heavy with history, and that made every glance, every touch, every almost-kiss hurt in the best way.

And the pregnancy trope?? I usually either love it or want to throw the book across the room. Here? I was weirdly invested. The emotions felt raw and messy instead of cute-Hallmark. It wasn’t just “oops baby!” it was fear, longing, regret, unfinished love, and two people who never really healed from each other. That hit harder than I expected.

So yeah, I cried more than normal reading this. Not just because it was beautiful, but because it mirrored parts of my own story. The grief, the hope, the terrifying possibility of loving someone again after a marriage ended.

Pine For Me isn’t just about falling in love. It’s about finding your way back to someone after you’ve already lost them. And when you’ve lived that kind of heartbreak, it hits different.
Profile Image for Colorado.
848 reviews17 followers
December 30, 2025
Taking a second chance after a painful divorce

This is a hopeful second chance romance about a couple who have experienced the pain of infertility and miscarriage. It's also about the need to rebuild trust after both partners walked away from the relationship. Patton and Nisha were best friends who married young and still love each other, even after being divorced for 7 years and living in different cities. Now a Hollywood star, Patton's pursuit of his career resulted in his being absent for important moments - until Nisha finally left. The pair is reunited when Patton travels to San Francisco for a role and both participate in a wedding party. An impetuous encounter results in a surprise pregnancy. As Nisha is expecting, the pair need to learn to communicate with each other and acknowledge their roles in the collapse of their original relationship.

The characters are well developed and you will understand Patton's fear and pain about being abandoned and Nisha's insecurity about living in Patton's shadow and her need to develop confidence in herself. Even after a long separation, their love is convincing.

There are too many references to characters from the earlier series, Elements of Rapture. They don't really play a role in the story beyond participating in group texts and, if you haven't read the previous books, the jokes don't resonate and there are a lot of names to track.
Profile Image for greenapplemojito.
826 reviews7 followers
January 27, 2026
For me, I think a lot of the context or the dynamic between the MCs was completely lost, and the whole storyline, starting from the fallout to the resolution were almost a cliche storyline except for stuff here and there. There were just too many TMI jokes that just felt a bit too much and uncomfortable for me personally, though I did laugh for some, but after a point, it just became a lot. At the start of the book, I kind of felt as if the thesaurus was used on every word or as if the words were made to look more formal than casual talk. There were parts of the book I personally couldn't relate to or visualize as much - for example, as someone from Indian origin, I have read books where the characters are second, third or even fourth generation Indians, but there were more things I could relate to or understand there compared to here as some of the things spoken or discussed every so casually are not a common thing here and so while I loved the Indian-ness introduced to some aspects of the book to highlight the character, it just felt a bit too unrelatable for me - which I feel is fine and hence was not accounted for in the rating.

I suggest folks read the books in the series in order, because as someone who read this as a standalone, you have no idea the number of times I was lost with regard to the other characters. There were parts that brought out the waterworks in my eyes and were written in a beautiful yet grieving way. This was a decent read overall!
Profile Image for Katie.
512 reviews22 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
December 26, 2025
This book was everything!! Second chance is my least favorite trope, but Swati might have just converted me to love this trope because Patton & Nisha’s story was everything and so much more!

This book had it all. Group text messages with the women's group and men's group that you had smiling, kicking your feet, and laughing. And we cannot forget the banter, playfulness, and hot spice between Patoon and Nisha!

This book also had depth and heart. Nisha & Patton's story will break your heart, especially when you get to the past moments of what happened between these two and everything that they went through together and alone. Nisha will break your heart with what she went through and make you cry. Honestly, one minute I was laughing in this book, and the next I found myself absolutely tearing up.

The growth that both characters had separately and as a couple is exactly what you want to see in a second-chance romance . I loved seeing them both take what the other said seriously and make the change to be better and do better not only for themselves but together as a couple.

I also love the surprise pregnancy (in a book), and this was done beautifully.

Thank you so much, Swati, for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
Second chance
Accidental pregnancy
Celebrity mmc
Ex-husband/Ex-wife
check TW
Profile Image for Sarah Furlow.
277 reviews
January 6, 2026
You Patton sir pined for Nisha for 6 years until you worked on yourself. You saw what was broke and fixed it as you needed to grow as a person and work through your past traumas.


6 years you waited to see her again at her request but you knew the whole time how she was doing as you would be where you are without her lovely father giving you the tea on her. But without him in your life over the last several years you wouldn’t be here right now, you were in a bad spot and he helped you to get where you needed.


Nisha, she was finally on a good place in her life, she was balanced finally after going through the worst heartache that one could bear. And she fought to get where she is with her friendly felines and the two best friends could ask for. But she never lost thoughts of her soulmate Patton, she knew she would always love him but could they move past what grief became between them not only that but the grief that came with the lost of their marriage as he was pursuing his career and kind of forgot about the woman he married.



The happy ending that came out between Patton and Nisha was the best thing about this book. She made him work for getting them back to where they started and trusting him again. His grand gestures were so sweet and the night of Sarina’s wedding with the wheel spin necklace…. That was the true game changer for them both.
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