Right Where You Left Me

by Kile White

Emma Newton is ready for her new start. She’s finally accepted her sexuality, she has a new job set up back in her hometown, and everything is looking up. That is, until she realizes her new boss is none other than the older sister of her ex best friend Sage. Sage: the only girl Emma has never been able to forget.

Sage Collins has everything she wants out of her life. Good friends, her sister, and her tattoo shop. But of course, that means things need to get shaken up. Emma Newton broke her heart 13 years ago and never looked back and now she’s back in town trying to act like nothing happened? Well, two can play at that game.

Genres: LGBT, Lesbian, Contemporary, Lesbian Romance, Romance

220 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Scout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thanks to Kile White for the ARC of this super sweet book! 💛

This was such a comforting, heartwarming read. It’s a second chance FF romance about a baker, Emma, who moves back to her small town for a fresh start post-just-realised-she’s-a-lesbian-divorce and ends up working at a cafe… that’s coincidentally owned by the sister of her ex-best friend, Sage. Cue all the tension, unresolved feelings, and icy-glares-melting-into-soft-glances goodness. It’s dual POV too, which I always love.

- Second chance
- Best friends to strangers to lovers
- Small town (baker and tattoo artist)
- Found family
- Post-divorce fresh start
- Expressing love through baking (need I say more)

There were so many emotional moments in this one that were beautifully written, from grief, to heartbreak, to some really tender reflections that hit me in a really special way. But throughout, the writing felt like a warm hug, like the perfect autumn read or a spiced latte in book form.

The side characters were everything to me. Riv was my absolute fave and I cannot wait for his book! Emma’s mom was so sweet too, and I loved the found family throughout the story. So many moments between them that made my my heart feel full. Also, the way this was written had me feeling like I was walking through a fairy light-lit town myself.

Just a really cosy, feel-good read with two loveable, sweet characters that you can’t help but root for. I can’t wait to read the next book Kile puts out 🫶

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC: Right Where You Left Me by Kile White✨

🥐Second Chance FF Romance
🧁Best Friends to Hate to Love
🥐Found Family
🧁Baker x Tattoo Artist

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Right Where You Left Me by Kile White and I am so glad I did! If you’re not new to my page, you know I am *mostly* an MM Romance reader, but Kile’s debut sounded so good I HAD to sign up for it.

First and foremost, the found family in this book was EVERYTHING. I loved every single character and immediately wanted each character’s book. The friendships were so special and sweet and supportive I just loved all their dynamics and how welcoming they all were to each other throughout the book.

Second, I am a sucker for a GOOD second chance romance. To be honest, it is a trope that I find is hard to perfect but I absolutely adored Emma and Sage’s story and seeing things from both sides with the Dual-POV. Seeing how each woman felt and how they got to where they are was so special.

I feel like I’ve read a lot of heavy stuff lately, so Right Where You Left Me was a nice breath of fresh air. Low angst, sweet, opposites attract, grumpyXsunshine vibes where two women are finding their way back together after a long time apart.

So grateful to @kile.writes for letting me have an ARC for this and cannot WAIT to see what you do next because I NEED the next book.

[Heidi H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kile White's Right Where You Left Me is a sapphic story full of heart. Emma is making big life changes and is moving back to her hometown in her 30s. This brings her face-to-face with her ex-best friend Sage, and a lot of feelings she now has new understanding about. Kile has done a fantastic job with Emma's discoveries about herself and her sexuality. I also loved her handling of mental health and the importance of supporting loved ones. This wonderful story grabbed my heart and I hope we get more stories about this amazing found family!

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3/5)

[Nat E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave 3 stars because I felt generous. I wanted to like this more than I did. I will start with the negatives. I did not like Sage. She sucked. Plain and simple. Sage is rude and immature. I understand what Emma did in the past was very hurtful but instead of having a conversation like a normal person when the opportunity presented itself, she acted like a child. Once the two MCs clear the air, it was just instant love(I know not instant for Sage)and cringy dialogue. The bedroom talk included frequent use of the C word. Gross.In my opinion, the author over used the word “ethereal” and “elf”. Also, a lot of “wet laughs”. I felt Emma deserved better. Peyton wasn’t that great either.
Now for the positives.
Emma. She was sweet, patient, and experienced her own personal growth. Emma had a supportive ex husband/best friend. Emma and Liam had honest conversations and open communication. Emma’s mother was also supportive. Piper as Emma’s boss. Piper put Sage in her place a few times and I loved it. River was a great character. Lovable, kind, and respectful.

[Carly Molinar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal parts charming, emotional, and swoon worthy.

After hurting her best friend in college and ghosting her for the past 13 years, Emma finds herself newly out, freshly divorced, and moving back to her hometown. The same hometown where said best friend still lives. What could go wrong?

A beautiful story of self discovery, making amends, second chances, and healing. Layered with wonderful found family, delicious baked goods, all the snark and sass, pining, tension, and palpable chemistry a lifetime in the making.

I laughed, I cried, and I healed with Sage & Emma along the way. A perfect sapphic romance.

What you’ll get:
•Sapphic Romance
•Baker/Tattoo Artist
•Coming Out Later in Life
•Moving back home
•Second Chance
•Making Amends for Past Hurt
•Grief + Hurt/Comfort
•Found Family

[Reading Rommance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was adorable!! I love Emma so much. She really is like a little keebler elf. She's positive and optimistic and kind. She's thoughtful and has a great work ethic. I love Sage, too. Sage is grumpier and more straight to the point, but she's such a lover underneath it all. Her love for her family is adorable as is her little tattoo shop found family. I thought the two of them dancing around each other was fun. Then, getting to know each other again was charged with so much sexual tension. And finally, these two together is precious. They compliment each other so well and they have fun together, which I love. The only thing stopping this from being a five is that I thought there should've been some more groveling at some point. What Emma did in college is kind of huge. I think Sage was right to still be mad and I'd need a little more than an apology, I think. But overall this book had me kicking my feet! I'll be recommending it often.

Notes: 2/5 spice levels, second chance, enemies to lovers, late bloomer, divorced mc, hometown, tattoo artist/baker, grumpy/sunshine, homophobic parents, great friends, coworkers

[Montes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Newton is divorcing her husband because she finally accepted she’s a lesbian, she moves back home with her mom and has a new job as a pastry chef in a cafe, everything seems to be going pretty well for uprooting her entire life, what she didn’t expect was that her boss is her ex best friend’s sister. Sage Collins owns a tattoo shop with her best friend, River and she volunteers to help her sister cover a few shifts at the cafe. One day when she arrives, she sees the girl that shattered her 13 years ago behind the counter and she wants nothing to do with her. Can Emma get back in her good graces or will it be a recipe for disaster?

I loved the book so much! I’m a sucker for a second chance sapphic romance. I read the entire thing in one day both because I didn’t want to put it down but also because it flows so easily. At no point did i feel like the plot was dragging too much but I also didn’t feel whiplash from the characters decisions, for me it was really good pacing and cohesiveness. It might be ridiculous but I appreciated a book in which parking was not always magically available, thank you for that.

I enjoyed that both main character had separate close relationships and good support systems. Piper, River, Peyton, Liam and Emma’s mom are such lovely characters but I have to admit that River is by far my favorite. Before I forget, f*ck Levi. I could understand where Sage was coming from and her hurt was completely warranted based on what happened. As someone who also stopped talking to one of my very close friends very suddenly and still feels horribly about it, I could feel Emma’s guilt and her need to fix it.

Right Where You Left Me had everything: hurt, betrayal, yearning, grief, happiness, fulfillment and spiciness. The frosting scene and the dancing scene at the club, just chef’s kiss.

Thank you to Kile White for the opportunity to receive an eARC in exchange for an honest opinion. I can’t wait to read what you publish next!

Rated 4.75 ⭐️

[Marilyn (yuu.nemi_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a heartwarming and cute read.

The small-town vibes were perfect, and it makes you feel cozy with the fantastic found family elements.

Emma is back in her hometown; she encounters people from her past she was hoping to avoid. In her new job is her ex-best friend Sage, whose friendship ended abruptly.
Sage is very angry to find Emma back in town since the break of their friendship hurt her deeply. She has tried to suppress that hate and anger, but she makes very clear her distaste towards Emma.

They have to interact and see if all the things they haven’t said and see if apologies can bring them back together.

Emma being recently divorced and discovering herself as a lesbian is something very inspiring to read; I felt emotional with that aspect of her journey.
Sage having such amazing supportive friends and sister was something beautiful to read. Sage is rightfully hurt, and the way she overcomes it and decides to open her heart again is something brave and strong to do.

Their relationship was sweet, and their instant connection helps to see their development grow stronger. They were cute and sexy, making me kick my feet with their flirting.

Overall, Emma and Sage overcoming the rifts in their friendship and turning it into a beautiful love story was such an amazing experience.

River, my boy, I hope you find a love worthy of you.

[Bailey Gilligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sage and Emma 🫶🏻 a best friends to lovers sapphic romance! I personally love when two besties who had a falling out in their early years, end up reconnecting later in life because it creates the space to give them each room to grow and learn who they are without each other. I think it makes their reconnecting so much more special. That is definitely the case in this book! With finding their individual passions and found family throughout their years apart, Sage and Emma’s love grows to be a perfect mix of passion and sweetness when they finally reconnect. I really enjoyed my time reading this book! I found myself laughing out loud quite often, feeling like I was in on some of the jokes. I not only loved the relationship between Sage and Emma but with each of them and their friends and family that are introduced in the book. The spice was well written and balanced out well with the story! Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy! I am very appreciative and truly loved this book!

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma, after her amicable divorce from Liam, has come back to her home town and a café job she arranged via phone. Imagine her surprise when she finds out said cafe is run by her high-school bestie's big sister AND the bestie works there.

Sage is frankly shocked at seeing Emma there and tries to convince Piper to fire her. Turns out Emma was her first love, but after the kissed at a college party, Emma freaked, ran off and ghosted her.

Emma tries to chat, and Sage shuts her down hard. Emma doesn't realize how shitty she was... Sage telled her off, and Emma finally gets a sense of how badly she messed up.

After a sincere apology and some time, Sage figures out most of why she was pissed was due yo underlying feelings. So, eventually, they date.

Dumb third act breakup.

3 stars out of 5. Its decent, basically, and not outstanding. I believe it's her first book, so plenty of room to grow.

[Britni MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute, I had fun with this story and these characters.

Emma coming to terms with her sexuality as a married woman, truly had an out of this world support system. I found it refreshing that she was able to be honest with her ex husband and that he would be kinda sickly supportive, but I liked it.

Sage, very much in her scorned woman era did IMO put a little too much of the mental and emotional burden on Emma based on their history. I get her nervous, hurt before you can be hurt mind, I just wished she would have had a bit more of a growth arc.

Takes two baby.
Would for sure continue a sapphic journey with this author.

Thanks to Kile White for the advance read in exchange for an honest review.

[Kala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first ever ARC book and wow, I'm glad it was!

I loved the small town vibes and the dynamic between Sage, Emma, and their close family and friends. Seeing them grow from past conflict and getting to know each other again was so heartwarming. The perfect cozy read to take a break from life and some of the other intense books I've been reading lately!

Each character was so well written and different in how they spoke to each other and about each other. River became a fast favorite, being the big teddy bear friend who said what had to be said, even when they didn't want to hear it.

I'll definitely be on the look out for future books from this author!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kile White's Right Where You Left Me was a really fun, quick read that I could not put down. I felt connected to the characters of Sage and Emma right away and really enjoyed all the side characters as well and loved all the interactions they had together. I really enjoyed the besties to hate to love story line, it had me rooting for Emma and Sage the whole way through. This one had me kicking my feet, curling my toes, giggling and also had me teary at a few parts. If you enjoy a well written Sapphic romance, I'd highly recommend picking this one up!

[Best Lesfic Reviews]

Way back when, Sage Collins was in love with her best friend, Emma Newton. One drunken kiss, and straight girl Emma ghosted her. Thirteen years thence, they're back in the same town and in each other's lives.

I'm not sure whether this can be called a second-chance romance exactly, because it's not like there was a first chance at all. Maybe a different-phases-in-life-finally-converge romance?

Read the complete review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...

[Eve Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the pleasure of reading this as an ARC and it was so good! It's such a sweet little read that I just ate right up. The characters are very loveable and they each had a great sense to who they were. There was no questioning who was who, even with side characters.

The story itself had great pacing and that beautiful small town vibe I love so much. It's definitely a good little fall read and the spicy scenes were just icing on the cake!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, big BIG thank you to Kile for gifting me this ARC!

This was a refreshing take on a second chance romance, a trope I usually do not enjoy lol. Soft and sweet baker FMC (re)meets black cat tattoo artist FMC and they navigate a laundry list of heavy hitting relationship hurtles. It felt genuine, and raw, but still comforting as I went alongside their journey in rediscovery of self and healing inner rejections.

Now… off I go to enjoy a little sweet treat of my own 🥐

[Petrina Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Promising start, but quickly lost appeal with the introduction of Sage. I could accept her anger when she and Emma met again, but her attitude as the book progressed? Honestly, she was written like a bratty teenage boy. I really couldn't see what Emma found attractive about her beyond looks. She was petty, jealous, constantly aggressive, to the point that when the 3rd act break up happened Emma described her as scary. I didn't root for them to get back together, thought Emma deserved better.

[Lacey McGraw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely devoured this book! Loved it so much, Kile writes such a perfect comfort read. Right Where You Left Me had me giggling and kicking my feet and holding back tears within the span of a few pages. The characters are all so perfect, the kind you wish you could be friends with in real life. I absolutely cannot wait to see whose book is next!!

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this adorable, small town, sapphic romance! This was everything there is to love about grumpy x sunshine, second chances, and found family! Absolutely fell in love with River and can’t wait to see him again hopefully 👀 Sage and Emma were sweet and sexy together and I absolutely love them.

Can’t wait to see what comes next from Kile!

[Megan Watters · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good

This is the cutest story! I enjoyed getting lost in it for a few hours. The characters developed very well and the author did a great job portraying their emotions. Go ahead and give it a read!

Also, am I the only one hoping through the whole book for Liam and River the have their own little meet cute?

[Blane Bellamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! I’m obsessed. Emma and Sage were everything. I’ll be totally honest, in the beginning I was 100% team Sage, but Emma did the necessary groveling. The way their relationship unfolded was absolutely swoon worthy. I also loved the supporting characters as well! Such a great book!

[Alisia alis_reads_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these girls so much and the side characters so. Also such a coz and comforting book that makes me trust the author to entertain its readers with great writing and excellent dialogue!

I’ll be reading from this author from now on!!

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfectly paced and well written romance.

This love story has everything. A tumultuous past, banter, good side characters, some fight, some love and enough dirty talk (and more) to keep you blushing.

And as probably all of Emma’s pastries it ends on a perfectly sexy and sweet bite.

[Suzi Vilkman (Hautaniemi) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming love

Second chance romance is one of my absolute favourite tropes, and this book has exactly that. Miscommunication tore our characters apart before and tries to do that again but the characters’ resilience rescues their relationship this time around.

[SainteCrystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

like a solid 3.5, characters were pretty basic but the supporting characters were good and everyone took responsibility for their own mistakes.

[Cora Jorvina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Language

Didn't like all the cussing. Was it really necessary? They weren't teenagers. If they were adults they surely didn't talk like.one.

[mana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute ig a bit fast paced I think I would’ve preferred more pining but that’s just me also I think sage should’ve been the one to apologise after the argument

[Shaye⚡️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately sage character fell very short for me