Take Me Back to the Start

by Jeannie Choe

Her first love was unforgettable. Losing him was unbearable. Seeing him again might be undoable.

Christine “Teeny” Diaz thought she had life figured out—married young, built a career, played the part of the perfect wife. But now, at thirty-six, she’s facing a failed marriage, a shattered heart, and a past she’s tried to bury. Until Everett Hayes walks back into her life.

Once the boy next door, Everett was her first love—the one who left without knowing the secret she carried. Now, thrown together for her brother’s wedding, old wounds reopen, and memories stolen kisses, late-night diner runs, the way he made her feel like the only girl in the world. But the truth she never told him still stands between them.

Everett never forgot Teeny, never stopped wondering what could have been. Now that fate has brought them back together, he’s determined to prove that their love was never meant to be left behind. But when long-buried secrets come to light, Teeny must decide if the pain of the past is too much to risk a future with the only man she’s ever truly loved.

Take Me Back to the Start is a heart-wrenching second-chance romance filled with longing, redemption, and the kind of love that refuses to fade. Start the journey today—because some loves deserve a second beginning.

Perfect for fans

Second chancesBrother’s best friendSlow-burn romanceSmall-town

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Second Chance Romance

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 27, 2025

About the author

Figuring out the indie-author world one happily ever after at a time...

Specializing in New Adult/Contemporary Romance Novels, Jeannie offers stories ranging from angsty/emotional to heartfelt and outright adorable. Because who doesn't love a happily ever after filled with squeal-inducing moments of romantic gestures?


Jeannie lives in Southern California with her hubby, two babies, and fur babies.

All of Jeannie's books are available on Kindle Unlimited. For more information on upcoming new releases, check out Jeannie's Instagram page.

Reviews

[Kayla]

Take Me Back To The Start
By Jeannie Choe

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

ARC Review

𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅. 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝑰 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎.

Can I interest anyone in twenty YEARS of angst and pining?

Oh boy. The angst is ANGSTING in this book! Teeny and Everett have turned yearning into an Olympic sport. I really enjoyed the slow burn of them finding each other and getting to know and trust each other again. It was so tender and soft but also riddled with their pain. I loved both main characters do much and this story is a rollercoaster of emotions!

I really loved the way this story was told. It is a Dual Timeline alternating between past and present every other chapter. But the thing I loved is that the present timeline is told (almost) exclusively from the FMCs POV; while the past timeline when they are in high school is told from the MMCs POV.

I loved the past timeline. It felt really nostalgic to me. Like I was reading a Sarah Dessen or Jenny Han book. The characters absolutely FELT younger in that past timeline and I really liked that they didn't feel the same as they do when they are 20 years older. They are so sweet and obsessed with each other as teenagers and even though I was extremely anxious the entire time for what would break them up, I was still looking forward to those flash back chapters so much!

My only struggle with this book is that the FMC is a newly single mom, actively going through a divorce, and I didn't love everything about how that storyline played out. Especially in regards to how she handled things with her daughter. It was fairly minor in the grand scheme of the book but did bother me a little bit.

Overall it's an excellent second chance romance. I devoured it and I definitely recommend adding it to your TBR.

𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒚.

Read June 6-7, 2025

[Daisy]

🌊ARC REVIEWS 🌊

Book: Take Me To The Start
Author: @not_choe.typicalwriter
Release Date: May 27, 2025
Pages: 390

- Tropes -

🏀 Brother's Best Friend
🎨 Second Chance
🏀 First Loves
🎨 It's Always Been You
🏀 Boy/Girl Next Door
🎨 Newly Single FMC
🏀 MMC Who Waited Twenty Years

- Favorite Quotes -

“I would eventually find my way back to her. My place is with her, no matter what.”

"Teeny, there will never be a life where I would regret another chance with you. You're it for me. And I will wait the rest of my life for you to come back to me."

- Thoughts -

This book had so many of my favorite tropes, and on the surface, it was everything I should have loved: a boy next door turned lifelong love, a girl growing up to find her own voice, and a love story that spans decades. Teeny and Everett were high school sweethearts torn apart by life, and the premise of them reconnecting 20 years later? I was in. I love second chances, especially when they come wrapped in unresolved feelings, slow burn tension, and all the things that were left unsaid.

There were moments that genuinely worked for me. The dual POV structure—Teeny narrating the present, Everett narrating the past—was clever and emotionally rich. I especially loved Everett’s chapters. His voice was so raw and sincere, and watching him fall in love as a teenager felt nostalgic and tender. He’s a quiet, steady kind of character who clearly never stopped loving her, and that kind of vulnerability always gets me. Teeny’s arc as a newly single woman facing her past was equally complex and layered, and I appreciated the realistic messiness of her emotional state.

That said, I do think this story has a lot of heart. It’s quietly emotional, a slow unraveling of the past, and a tender look at what it means to come back to the love you never really let go of. While it didn’t become a favorite, I’m still glad I read it—and I’ll absolutely be checking out more from Jeannie Choe. There’s a lot of promise in her voice, and I’m curious to see what she writes next.

My Rating: 4 ⭐️
Spice: 2 🌶️

Couple: Everett Hayes and Christine “Teeny” Cohen

[GenReadThis]

“I follow willingly because I don’t think there’s a place on this earth I wouldn’t follow him right now. I’d follow him right into the ruins of our past if it means more of this.” ~ Christine “Teeny” Cohen

Have you ever been so invested in a couple’s HEA, that you’re mentally threatening to write a sternly worded letter to the author every time it looks like things aren’t going their way? This was me at multiple points throughout this book.

A book that, in my opinion, is an absolute masterclass in storytelling. Jeannie Choe manages to effortlessly pull the reader into the poignancy of a love lost and the emotional wasteland left in the wake of heartbreak and divorce.

We meet Teeny and Everett as teenagers on the cusp of adulthood and in the throes of first love. However, life gets in the way and Teeny ends up marrying Leo and starting a family.

Twenty years pass and Teeny & Everett reconnect during her brother’s wedding, while she is navigating the trauma of a pending divorce following Leo’s affair. With MCs who are both in their late 30’s, the author perfectly encapsulates the fragility of love after heartbreak.

When I received this ARC I was expecting a run of the mill love story, instead I got an epic romance for the ages. This book made me laugh at the audacity, sob at the injustice and shriek with glee at the inevitability of true love.

Available from May 27th.

[Megs]

I was lucky enough for the opportunity to get an ARC. A slow burn second chance romance that I just could not put down. Boy/Girl next door and brother best friend. I just am obsessed with Teeny and Everett. This story was so well thought out and smoothly told it’s a slow burn that you can’t turn away from. This book had me in a choke hold. Absolutely would recommend every time. Spice, tears, and all the feelings. Excited for what is to come.

[WhatJo13reads]

“This is what soulmates are made of. The invisible string tugging at our hearts, tying us to one another to connect us whenever we lose our way.”

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

I love the format of this book. Present day is from Teeny’s POV and 20 years ago is from Everett’s.

Jeannie certainly puts these characters through it but it makes the story raw and real.

🩵 It’s always been you
🩵 Brother’s best friend
🩵 He waited 20 years
🩵 Newly single FMC
🩵 First loves

[Hailey Mascaro]

So grateful for this ARC! I loved the dual timeline and POV’s from when they were kids. I enjoyed finding out how their relationship came to be in the past timeline and how their interactions change in the present timeline! Everett did what he could to be there for her as well as remind her that they were it for eachother, especially after how her stupid husband behaves 🙄 such a good story!!!

[Melly]

This broke my heart and put it back together! I went through so many emotions reading this book! I really enjoyed how the story went back and forth between the past and present. Teeny and Everett had amazing chemistry and this undeniable attraction. Even after 20 years being apart the attraction and chemistry was still there. They have so much history! If Jeannie writes it I am going to read it! I definitely recommend this book!

What to expect:
Brother’s Best Friend
Second Chance
First Loves
It’s Always Been You
Newly Single FMC
MMC waited 20 years

Thank you Jeannie and good girls pr for the e-arc! All thoughts are my own!

[Gissane]

Jeannie and second chance romances are a match made in heaven!

[Lindsey Adams]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Jeannie Choe is a must read author for me! Since I discovered her as an author, every story she writes is filled with raw emotion, beautiful healing, heated romance, and a wonderful journey as our MCs find their happy ending. Anything she writes, I will devour and Take Me Back to the Start delivers all this and more. The way I was rooting our couple on throughout this book borderlines on insanity, as they are fictional, but I wanted, no need, their happy ending to happen.

Christine (Teeny) is in the midst of a messy divorce after catching her husband being unfaithful. Meeting her originally when she is a teenager, we get to experience the ups and downs of this tragic event. Although she is so happy for her brother, going to his wedding is bittersweet, considering what she is going through. When she reconnects with Everett, her brother’s best friend, at said wedding. Just when she thought her heart would never beat the same, it flips, flutters, and skips a beat, just like it did when she was younger.

Everett is a character that is written with flaws, but knows he is flawed. He isn’t perfect by any means, but perfect for Teeny. Watching him reconnect with Teeny was beautifully done and had me clutching my chest more than I could count. The way I swooned for this man and what he was for Teeny during a time of her life that she was broken and hurting. When Teeny shares with him a secret she has kept close to her heart, it challenges him, but Jeannie doesn’t disappoint and makes me fall harder and harder for this man.

Reading through a double timeline made this story a wonderful experience. Seeing Teeny and Everett in the past and how they were with each other, while seeing where their lives had gone, and finally them reconnecting bringing us the present; not an easy thing to do in a book while keeping it clear and concise, but Jeannie is a master at this. The dual timelines adds insight, drama, and tension to their present and had me gasping at what they would do when the truth finally came out. If you love reading stories that are full of heart, complexity, depth, and emotion this book is for you! Jeannie has written an excellent second chance romance about a first love and I am here for it!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🌊Brother’s Best Friend
⌚Second Chance
🌊First Loves
⌚It’s Always Been You
🌊MCs in Their 30s
⌚Boy/Girl Next Door
🌊Newly Single FMC
⌚MMC Whose Waited 20 Years

[Tyler Huor]

Where second chances and communication can be what makes a messy journey called love work out.


Thank you to the publisher and Good Girls PR for this ARC! Arc meaning Advanced Reader Copy. 


This book does have sex scenes so keep that in mind if that’s what you want in a romance story and content warnings at the start.


This messy romance stars Christine “Teeny” Diaz and her highschool sweetheart Everett Hayes.  We switch perspectives each chapter of Teeny’s life in the present then Everett’s perspective in the past in their high school days. Teeny had a passion for art while Everett had transferred to their school and recently moved in as next-door neighbors. 


Teeny’s going through heartbreak while maining her role as a mother, a future divorcee, and bridesmaid. Everett’s trying to reunite with his true love and set things right again. It’s a bit tropey at times, like being highschool sweethearts reuniting after so long away, and after a VERY rough last encounter. It’s very messy, like a trainwreck that keeps crashing but you’ll keep reading.

It’s rather sweet seeing how smitten and in love these two were, and seeing them in the present day try to make amends and rebuild what was destroyed. I did struggle to root for him near the end, but the two communicated and made things work. I wish we saw more ways of how Teeny helped keep Everett balanced, while Everett helped her passions stay strong.


The writing captures Teeny’s struggles really well, and her justification about how she handles it all feels realistic to me— keep in mind I don’t read romance very often. The theme of heartbreak and time was done well, along with the chemistry between the two both in the past and the present. A consistent action I liked was Everett trying to not rush things and making sure that Teeny was okay with what was happening and having her back for the most part. 


The last 100 pages kicked things up and this slow-burn set everything to flames from colossal ‘mistakes’, to put it lightly.  


Romance, slow-burn and/or Jeannie Choe fans will really enjoy this one. Overall this book’s writing is stellar and worth giving a shot.


This book's publication date is 27th May, 2025.

[Camryn Williams]

🩵ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ🩵

𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 | 𝙅𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙚
𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ✰✰✰✰.5
𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜: 𝙈𝙖𝙮 27

ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ↓

“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐’𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘻𝘦𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨’𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺.”

This book was a roller coaster omg but I was absolutely eating it up the slow burning was slowing and the past chapter had me going through it

This book shows the past and present of the relationship with teeny and Everett, it’s been 20 years since they broke up Teeny brother has invited Everett to his brother

Teeny is going through a divorce and has a teen daughter, I loveeee teeny she’s so lovely I loved seeing her get her spark back

I cried about what happened to them in high school because I did not see that coming, I was just wanting them to be together and rooting for them cause they deserve everything

Reading about Everett anxiety and him getting help to cope with his anxiety was great to read about. He came back for her he just need to see her 😫😫

This book made me cry and laugh throughout the whole book and the chemistry and banter between them was just great even after all the time that past

tropes ۶ৎ
→ Second chance
→ Brother’s Best Friend
→ First loves
→ Slow burn
→ Newly single FMC
→ Dual timeline
→ MMC who waited twenty years

[Kass]

Take Me Back to the Start is a second chance, brother's best friend romance and is the story of Christine "Teeny" and Everett.

This story is told in dual POV with Teeny telling the story in their current timeline while Everett's is their story from the past. When they were teenagers Everett and Teeny fell in love but Teeny ended up marrying another and Everett spent twenty years pining for his one true love. Teeny is recently single after discovering his husband being unfaithful and returns to her hometown for her brother's wedding. While she is happy for him, her heart hurts given what she is going through. What she did not expect was to run into Everett Hayes and have the memories of their past stir something inside her. Everett has never stopped thinking of Teeny as the one who got away and wants nothing more than to rebuild their friendship and make her see the love he never lost.

This story was very well written with emotional depth and poignant memories of who Teeny and Everett were to one another and for the future that they hope to share. The dual timelines have a depth to the story that allowed for the emotions and struggles each character went through to be shown well. Teeny and Everett earned their HEA that was decades in the making showing that perseverance and true love can span time and bring those who are truly meant to be together, together.

[Anna Christodoulou-Vega]

🎥✨ Book Review: “Take Me Back to the Start” by Jeannie Choe ✨🎥

📚💔 "Some loves deserve a second beginning..." 💔📚

Y’ALL. I just finished Take Me Back to the Start, and I am wrecked in the best possible way 😭💘

This book is everything I want in a second-chance romance:

🌅 Small-town nostalgia
👀 Brother’s best friend
🔥 Slow-burn tension that made me want to throw my Kindle
💔 Secrets. Regret. Redemption. All the feels.

Teeny (YES I’m calling her that now like we’re besties) is a beautifully broken heroine just trying to hold it together after a failed marriage—and then BAM 💥 Everett walks back into her life. The BOY NEXT DOOR. The ONE WHO GOT AWAY. The man who never knew the truth. 😮‍💨

And let me just say: Everett Hayes? Sir, you are now the blueprint. The tenderness? The pining? The way he sees her? GIVE THIS MAN A MEDAL 🥇

This story gave me:
✨ Late-night diner runs 🍟
✨ Emotional gut punches
✨ Slow dances and stolen glances
✨ THAT ending 😭❤️‍🔥

📖 Final thoughts: If you love messy, real love stories with healing, hope, and heart, this book is for YOU. Jeannie Choe, I am BEGGING you to write more—this one’s going straight to my re-read shelf.

📝✨Jeannie, thank you for reminding us that love doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth fighting for. 💫

[Shannon]

***ARC Review***

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Jeannie Choe can write a dang story! Sometimes you just need a book that will emotionally destroy your heart, and she steps right up to the plate, again! I mean, seriously, first chapter in and boom.. ANGST. There is heart and feeling in every chapter. This book had dual timelines, so it really felt like an emotional rollercoaster. The flashbacks gave me all the warm and fuzzies, while the present had me living in angst and tension. The way she writes is just absolutely fantastic, it has so much feeling that I swear that I am actually living the lives of these fictional characters.

I personally like to go into books blind, as I don’t find too many things triggering. But this book did touch on one subject that could be triggering for some. There is discussion and mention of remembered (off page) abortion from 20 years prior. It also briefly touched on some mental health aspects as well, panic attacks, anxiety, seeking therapy, etc. Protect your peace, people. Your mental health matters! But just know, this book does have a HEA!

Read if you like –
Second Chance Romance
Brother’s Best Friend
Boy/Girl Next Door
Slow Burn

[Cheryl Huber]

Rating: 4 stars 🌟

Thank you to @good.girls.pr and @not_choe.typicalwriter for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book!

Spoiler free review :)
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! This is my first Jeannie Choe read and I’m just glad to be here honestly! Christine, or Teeny as she likes to be called, is such a strong FMC, a lot of people in the same position as her would not have been able to make the decisions she had made for herself. Everett, the MMC, is a flawed but very sweet man. I truly fell for him reading this book and especially related to him as I too have struggled with anxiety. I loved the pattern of this book and being able to see their relationship in the past and the present unfold, not knowing what the conflict was that lead this beautiful relationship to break, and watching them struggle with so much left unsaid. It was heartbreaking, I fought back tears through alot of this book. I also wanted to punch certain people for being SO STUPID 👀 but I’ll let you all read it yourselves to find out who 🤗

Please support @not_choe.typicalwriter and get this book, available on May 27th, 2025. 🫶🏻

[Connie]

Take Me Back to the Start by Jeannie Choe
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

If you’re a fan of second chance romances that tug at the heartstrings, this one’s for you. Take Me Back to the Start follows Christine “Teeny” Diaz, recently divorced and still licking her wounds from her broken marriage, and Everett Hayes, her childhood best friend and first love who unexpectedly reenters her life 20 years later, at her brother’s wedding, no less.

I love how the story was told through dual timelines: the present-day account is told from Teeny’s POV, while the past is remembered through Everett’s. Watching these two navigate old wounds, tender memories, and new beginnings was such a rewarding slow burn. Also, Everett’s unwavering love and quiet pining? Chef’s kiss.

What I loved:
💓The emotional depth and maturity in their reconnection
💓Dual timeline, it was SO effective at showing their evolution
💓A love story that proves healing and reconnection are possible at any age

This was my first book by Jeannie Choe and definitely won’t be my last. If you’re in the mood for emotional tension, real-life love, and second chances, I highly recommend taking this one for a spin.

[Coco (Channel)]

**ARC**

Cute second chance romance

The story line follows Christine and Everett- as teenagers from Everett POV and primarily Christine POV as adults.
Everett moves in next door to. Christine , becomes best friends with her brother and falls hard for Christine. But can first love survive heart heartbreak? 17 years later, Everett is back and despite the ring on her finger— he isn’t taking no for an answer.

I’m always down for a multicultural relationship. Wish there was more discussion regarding the cultural background though. I kinda felt like this second chance was a bit sticky because she was still married when she got with the MMC. Even though, she was divorcing her husband, some readers may not like that. Everett is a big softie. He realizes his mistake 17 years later and is willing to do anything to get her back. I did love the backstory when they were kids more than the present actually.

Overall it was a good book.

Thanks to Good Girls PR for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book.

[mystical_reads_booknook]

This is honestly one of the only romance books that isn’t a “dark romance” read that I’ve actually enjoyed. It was honestly super unexpected. The past and the heartbreak Teeny had to endure literally broke me. I could not for the life of me understand why she was so hellbent on keeping Everett away, until I read that. My heart shattered.
Everett’s parents, his MOM?!? Oh my goodness, it was just an emotional rollercoaster.
It wasn’t the typical “second chance” romance where it’s all rainbows and butterflies, it was all the nitty gritty, ugly stuff that happens before the happy ending. My goodness I don’t think I’ve cried this much from book in my life.
Everything was so symbolic, from the paintings to the tattoo, to the honeymoon. It honestly reads like a memoir. Like, while it’s dual pov, you really get to experience and see and FEEL what the characters are feeling.
Also can I just mention how much I HATE Leo😡 What a dud.

[Bookskee]

From the moment I started I just couldn't put this book down.

Just as Teeny  is navigating new and  unknown waters in her life, her first love appears after 20 years... 20 years!!!

I'll be honest and say I thought to myself omgosh!! What a terribly long time to still hold a flame for someone.

The way the author told the story from both POV'S it was clear to see that Teeny and Everett had an amazing love, chemistry and connection.

When the truth comes out and Everett finally discovers what happened to her it was heart breaking.

It was so gripping to read about Teeny's struggle to cope with her life at present, the appearance and distraction of Everett after all the years, finally revealing her truth to him. Attempting to trust again, to forgive for the past, and also move on with her new life, I finally let out a breath I KNEW I was holding after I was done with this book!

Thank you Jeannie Choe
And good.girls.pr for the ARC and opportunity to share my thoughts.

[Donadee's Corner]

Christine Diaz’s world shatters, forcing her to face the wreckage—and nothing will ever be the same.

Take Me Back to the Start is an emotional second-chance romance that follows Christine “Teeny” Diaz as she faces the wreckage of a failed marriage and a past she thought was buried. When Everett Hayes—the boy who once held her heart—unexpectedly returns for her brother’s wedding, old memories resurface, and long-buried truths threaten to unravel her carefully guarded life. As passion reignites and past wounds reopen, Christine must decide if love is worth the risk or if some secrets are better left untouched. A gripping journey of longing, redemption, and fate, this novel is perfect for fans of slow-burn romance and heartfelt storytelling. Get your copy today!

• ASIN: B0F63Y2JB2
• Publisher: Love N. Books Press
• Publication Date: 5/27/2025
• File Size: 3.9 MB
• Print Length: 390 pages
• Genre: Love Triangle Romance - Later in Life Romance - Contemporary Women's Fiction

[Dana]

•••6+ 🌟•••
This book. This writing. I got so lost in this story. It was so hard to put down. This is my first read of Jeannie Choe’s and this book did not disappoint. It is one of the most perfect second chance romances I’ve read in a while. I also really loved that it was two timelines wrapped in one. The first being in the present told by the FMC, Teeny and the second being the past told by the MMC, Everett. I think I enjoyed the MMC’s POV more because it unveiled how vulnerable and in love he was and that is above all, swoon-worthy. Also being set in San Diego/California puts this story in the Summer Reads category. If you want my true honest opinion? This story is how Love Letters To Whiskey should’ve been written. And this story tops all second chance romances for me 🫶🏻
•
💞Second chances
💞Brother’s best friend
💞Slow-burn romance
💞Small-town

[Mikayla Lee]

I feel so honored being able to read this ARC! Take Me Back to the Start is a beautifully written, emotionally rich story that completely stole my heart.

We love a dual pov to get both sides of the story, which really highlights the differences in the two characters. Everyone loves a flash back to the start of every romance that really paints the picture of the chemistry and romance that still stands true after 20 years.

This book really brought me back to my own second chance love story and made me feel things at a deeper level. Beach memories included!

First 5/5 ⭐️'s for the month of May for me! This was the wholesome pure romance I have been craving! I love it when a book can make me cry for multiple reasons. Happiness. Sadness. And because it was over.

If second chance love is your jam, or even if it's not, this deserves a spot on your TBR. Just saying.

[Arianna]

Tropes: Brother's best friend, second chance, first loves, it's always been you, boy/girl next door, newly single FMC, MMC who waited twenty years, dual POV

This book follows the story of Teeny and Everett, who find their way back to each other after 20 years. Using chapters that take place in the past and dual POV, you slowly piece together what happened that tore these two apart as teenagers in love and whether or not they can fix what is broken between the two of them after all this time.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It put me through an emotional rollercoaster in both the chapters about the past and the present. “Take Me Back to the Start” is filled with pining, confessions, and trips down memory lane that I couldn’t get enough of. Teeny and Everett’s story is one you won’t want to miss.

[Linda]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️.5

Tropes:
🏀 boy/girl next door
🌊 second chance
🎨 brothers best friend
💙 first love

I was so skeptical about the whole reconnecting 20 years later but it delivered! This book is a dual POV with Teeny’s POV in the present and Emmett’s POV in the past. I love the emotion in the book. It’s subtle but it still feels very real. I also love the relationship between both MC’s! You can feel that their love for each other is a forever kind of love 🥺 I do wish we could have gotten more tension between both MC’s and more of a back story between their past and what they went through. For example I wish we got more of the healing process of Teeny after Everett left and more of what Everett was feeling about his parent’s situation and his healing process. Overall, I really enjoyed this book 🤍🤍

Thank you Jeannie for this ARC!! 🫶🏼

[Mama's Spicy Bookstack]

🌶️/5

The story in this book was a good one. I just didn’t feel like I really connected to either of the characters. They felt 2 dimensional to me and their relationship felt forced in the current timeline.

The dual timeline was done well, but I didn’t feel like I got enough of the actual couple being together. It felt like the whole book moved super slowly, but then as soon as the couple got together the book was almost over.

My biggest issue with this book was the under usage of the FMC having a child. She was barely mentioned even though almost all of the events in the book had a direct impact on her life.

Overall the plot in this book was good. It was a sweet second chance romance with very limited steam. It would be a good read for someone just getting into spicy books or wanting to see if spice is for them.

[Rebecca Billman]

Take Me Back To The Start was my first Jeannie Choe book and I loved it!

When they were younger, Teeny and Everett were best friends and Tenny’s first love.

Tenny has decided to go back to her hometown after going through a divorce and having her heart broken. Once she arrives she finds out will be at her brother’s wedding as well and old sparks start to ignite again.

There is a lot of secretiveness, especially in the beginning, but there are still some things that Teeny never told Everett.

Right now she is just living in the moment and that is fine with her.

Everett on the other hand has never forgotten about Teeny being the one that got away.

I loved reading this book and the what if’s that could have happened if they both gave in years earlier. Now you just have to see where it can bring them now!

[greenapplemojito]

I am conflicted between a three or four-star rating, but something in me pushed me to give a three.

Not going to lie, this book cover reminded me of "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin, which personally, is a book I thought was quite overrated and I personally didn't enjoy, and hence I was worried about diving into this book.

Based on the TWs, I could roughly guess how the storyline was going to be. The story is told in alternating POVs. Past from the MMC's and present from the FMC's. I personally wasn't that fond of the storyline and what went down. I just wish the fallout had happened differently, and that the 20-year-long pining had been from both ends and better.

Please read TWs before diving into the story. This is a second-chance, brother's best friend romance.

[StephanieMichelle]

This was my first book by Jeannie Choe and after reading it, it can't be my last. I absolutely LOVED it. This was a sweet slow burn, lost loves romance that had me rooting for them the entire time. While it was hard to read about what broke them apart in high school knowing they spent the next twenty years apart.

I also loved how spunky the FMC was when she was young and seeing her get her spunk back when they reunited. It was refreshing to see a MMC with anxiety that he didn't know how to cope with as a teen and then see that same character handling it as an adult and openly talking about seeing a therapist to help.

There was really nothing I didn't find enjoyable about this book. It was a fun read and I'm so happy I was able to be an ARC reader for it!

[Birgit]

Take me Back to the Star - Jeannie Choe
ARC review
⭐⭐⭐⭐


Jeannie has this amazing ability to write angsty romance with dual timelines. I'm normally not the biggest fan of dual timelines but the way it's told here, is so beautiful. We meet Teeny (Christine) during a hard time in her life, she found out her husband cheated on her, they're now separated she hasn't claimed the divorce yet. She hasn't told her family yet, only her oldest brother and her best friend. She is stressed, she is vulnerable. During the dinner rehearsal of one of her brothers upcoming weeding, his best friend from highschool is making a surprise appearance, Everett...Teenys Ex-Boyfriend and the man who still has her heart after ten years.

“𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔, 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚝? 𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎? 𝚆𝚑𝚢?” “𝙸 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞,”

Everett, knows he fucked up when he was younger, and he tries everything to get Teeny back. When he finds out, that her marriage is over and he might have a chance back in her life it's game on. I love how the conflict within Teeny was written, she was betrayed by her husband, but can't she overcome the betrayal? Can't she suck it up for their family sake? For their daughter? For all these years? But there is Everett and her heart wants him back. At the same time we learn what Everett did, how he vanished at a time where Teeny needed him the most! Can she forgive him?

It's definitely not a cute romcoms to read on a Sunday afternoon, no this one takes it time and emotions from you. But if you're in the mood for an angsty, romantic, second chance, brothers beste friend and it's always been you romance - that's it!

“𝚈𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎.”

[JoAnne Cochran]

Wow. Just…wow. This book is fantastic. Thank you to Jeannie Choe and Good Girls PR for allowing me to read an ARC of this incredible story. I am completely new to this author, but I can promise this will not be my last read from Jeannie. I’m having a hard time putting into words how much the book made me feel. I feel like somehow her words attached to my soul and I could feel every emotion the characters felt. I thoroughly enjoyed Teeny’s present POV and Everett’s past POV. I loved getting a glimpse of each of their love for each at different points in their lives. I held my breath through so many moments, laughed, and cried. Another aspect of the book I adored is the brotherly love between Teeny and her brothers, especially James. This book will forever be held in my heart.