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Can't Always Get What You Want: A Novel
Fans of Ruthie Knox, Rachel Gibson, and Molly O’Keefe will love this deeply romantic and uplifting debut novel about losing everything you thought you wanted—and getting exactly what you need.
Sophie Richards has been looking forward to a much-needed girls’ night out: a Rolling Stones tribute-band concert, a few drinks, a distraction from her grueling nursing shifts in acute care. But when her best friend bails, Sophie gets stuck with a blind date.
Although Brett Nicholson may be the hottest carpenter alive, and Sophie may technically be single, she isn’t exactly on the market. Six years ago she found The One. He was everything Sophie dreamed a man could be—and then she lost him. In an instant, her whole life changed, and she forgot all about happily ever after.
But as she gets to know Brett, Sophie starts to wonder about the future for the first time. With a broken heart still clouding her mind, jumping into a new relationship feels impossible. When she’s in his arms, walking away feels even harder. Now Sophie faces an impossible choice: living in the past or choosing love in the here and now.
Advance praise for Can’t Always Get What You Want
“Can’t Always Get What You Want is heart-wrenching in all the right ways. Smartly written and emotionally satisfying, this story will stick with you long after the last page.”—USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne
“A sweet, moving story about love and loss, Chelsey Krause’s debut is full of heart.”—Clodagh Murphy, author of Girl in a Spin
“Can’t Always Get What You Want is a delightful mix of humor, heart, and the struggle to move on from past grief. I am definitely looking forward to more books by Chelsey Krause!”—Mary Frame, author of Imperfect Chemistry
“This is a funny, heartfelt story about moving on, a touching debut from a very promising author. Romance lovers looking for both a giggle and a cry will get what they need from Can’t Always Get What You Want.”—Stephanie Pegler, editor, Chicklit Club
“Very romantic . . . I loved this book mainly for Sophie trying to figure out that everyone deserves a second chance at feeling loved again. . . . [I] can’t wait for more from Chelsey Krause.”—Reviews by Melena
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
Sophie Richards has been looking forward to a much-needed girls’ night out: a Rolling Stones tribute-band concert, a few drinks, a distraction from her grueling nursing shifts in acute care. But when her best friend bails, Sophie gets stuck with a blind date.
Although Brett Nicholson may be the hottest carpenter alive, and Sophie may technically be single, she isn’t exactly on the market. Six years ago she found The One. He was everything Sophie dreamed a man could be—and then she lost him. In an instant, her whole life changed, and she forgot all about happily ever after.
But as she gets to know Brett, Sophie starts to wonder about the future for the first time. With a broken heart still clouding her mind, jumping into a new relationship feels impossible. When she’s in his arms, walking away feels even harder. Now Sophie faces an impossible choice: living in the past or choosing love in the here and now.
Advance praise for Can’t Always Get What You Want
“Can’t Always Get What You Want is heart-wrenching in all the right ways. Smartly written and emotionally satisfying, this story will stick with you long after the last page.”—USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne
“A sweet, moving story about love and loss, Chelsey Krause’s debut is full of heart.”—Clodagh Murphy, author of Girl in a Spin
“Can’t Always Get What You Want is a delightful mix of humor, heart, and the struggle to move on from past grief. I am definitely looking forward to more books by Chelsey Krause!”—Mary Frame, author of Imperfect Chemistry
“This is a funny, heartfelt story about moving on, a touching debut from a very promising author. Romance lovers looking for both a giggle and a cry will get what they need from Can’t Always Get What You Want.”—Stephanie Pegler, editor, Chicklit Club
“Very romantic . . . I loved this book mainly for Sophie trying to figure out that everyone deserves a second chance at feeling loved again. . . . [I] can’t wait for more from Chelsey Krause.”—Reviews by Melena
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2015
30 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Chelsey Krause
2 books146 followersChelsey loves thrift shops and musty old books stores, DIY projects, and has a rather serious Starbucks addiction. A nurse, wife, and mom to two children, she can often be found repurposing other people’s junk or considering whether the library would let her move in. The rest of the time, she’s reviewing for Chicklit Club or writing. All Shook Up is her second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
December 7, 2014
**2.5 Need-More Stars
(Arc Kindly provided by Netgalley)
Sophie Richards has been living with a broken heart for the past six years after having loved and lost. Her pain is always with her, even though she's tried to move on, the devastating experience has shaped her life in more ways than one. One night, Sophie has plans with her best friend to go to a concert, but after her bestie becomes unavailable she suddenly finds herself being set-up on a blind date, that will put her face to face with a gorgeous guy that with one smile, has her thinking about hope and the future. Brett is sexy and a total catch and Sophie can't help but feel giddy and alive when she's with him. They have perfect chemistry and become closer than either of them thought possible but the shadow of her past and the guilt will creep in making it hard for love to bloom. Her frustrations with her job and the sadness for what she's lost will become too much, threatening to brake her again. Will she finally let go and forget the past, or will she loose her second chance at love?
I was impressed by the way this author writes, especially for being a debut novel; the story really felt from the heart, with a strong voice, it was almost as if the author was next to me telling me about the girl carrying such big sorrows. Unfortunately there were issues with the structure of the plot, in my opinion it really needs some trimming; the heroine's inner monologues and everyday scenes were too long and too much. The romance felt secondary, the story became mostly about Sophie, and her struggles, preventing me from feeling the connection between both loves in her life. Past and present scenes switches were not seamless but felt force and lastly I really wish there would have been a bit more passion between the characters, seemed to me like Sophie was a fiery type of girl, yet she never got her big moment to get what she was craving out of both life and love.
This was a very promising novel but unfortunately fell short for me, regardless of that in the future I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another book by this author.
(Arc Kindly provided by Netgalley)
Sophie Richards has been living with a broken heart for the past six years after having loved and lost. Her pain is always with her, even though she's tried to move on, the devastating experience has shaped her life in more ways than one. One night, Sophie has plans with her best friend to go to a concert, but after her bestie becomes unavailable she suddenly finds herself being set-up on a blind date, that will put her face to face with a gorgeous guy that with one smile, has her thinking about hope and the future. Brett is sexy and a total catch and Sophie can't help but feel giddy and alive when she's with him. They have perfect chemistry and become closer than either of them thought possible but the shadow of her past and the guilt will creep in making it hard for love to bloom. Her frustrations with her job and the sadness for what she's lost will become too much, threatening to brake her again. Will she finally let go and forget the past, or will she loose her second chance at love?
I was impressed by the way this author writes, especially for being a debut novel; the story really felt from the heart, with a strong voice, it was almost as if the author was next to me telling me about the girl carrying such big sorrows. Unfortunately there were issues with the structure of the plot, in my opinion it really needs some trimming; the heroine's inner monologues and everyday scenes were too long and too much. The romance felt secondary, the story became mostly about Sophie, and her struggles, preventing me from feeling the connection between both loves in her life. Past and present scenes switches were not seamless but felt force and lastly I really wish there would have been a bit more passion between the characters, seemed to me like Sophie was a fiery type of girl, yet she never got her big moment to get what she was craving out of both life and love.
This was a very promising novel but unfortunately fell short for me, regardless of that in the future I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another book by this author.
January 25, 2015
Who feels like singing after reading the title of this book? If you belt out the song after reading the title, YOU ARE MY KIND OF PEOPLE. I admit that the title is the one that caught my attention and gave me the reason to read this one. I just cannot miss a book that has something to do with The Rolling Stones. I JUST CANNOT.
But this book isn’t just about the band or the music. True, it was mentioned and the chapter titles are just epic because they’re titles of TRS’s songs.. but this book is much more than that. It deals with a pretty hard subject, in my opinion.
Losing someone you love is hard, but this book just reminded me that moving on is much much harder. No matter how much you want it, no matter how you command your heart, IT’S JUST NOT EASY. It takes time, it needs the right people in your life and you need to JUST LET GO.
I love Sophie as a character. People who usually in this current situation (in real life and in books) are whiny and they tend to baby their hurty feelings. But not Sophie, she’s strong, she’s funny, she’s smart and she’s perfectly flawed. I love how the author keep her response to everything realistically. Brett is the kind of love interest that you wish that will just magically appear right in front of you. Though there is this scene where he said that he chose celibacy over hot monkey sex (Sophie’s words, not mine)
What do you think ladies, do you buy it?
I want to.
Lastly, it’s wonderful that the author kept the drama into minimal. Some just tends to overboard you know? The amount of drama and funny moments are just right and I love that it’s a light read even though the concept is kind of heartbreaking. I only gave it a 3.5 because I have read a lot of books like this already and I guess even though I wasn’t bored at all, it just doesn’t give that BOOM effect when you finish it. It still a decent read especially coming from a debut author. I really am a fan and cannot wait for her upcoming works!
But this book isn’t just about the band or the music. True, it was mentioned and the chapter titles are just epic because they’re titles of TRS’s songs.. but this book is much more than that. It deals with a pretty hard subject, in my opinion.
“Moving on doesn’t mean forgetting or denying. It means letting go. You stop asking what could have been, and how you could have changed things. You stop thinking about what went wrong, or what you could have done differently. You have to forgive yourself for what happened. Admit it was out of your control”
Losing someone you love is hard, but this book just reminded me that moving on is much much harder. No matter how much you want it, no matter how you command your heart, IT’S JUST NOT EASY. It takes time, it needs the right people in your life and you need to JUST LET GO.
I love Sophie as a character. People who usually in this current situation (in real life and in books) are whiny and they tend to baby their hurty feelings. But not Sophie, she’s strong, she’s funny, she’s smart and she’s perfectly flawed. I love how the author keep her response to everything realistically. Brett is the kind of love interest that you wish that will just magically appear right in front of you. Though there is this scene where he said that he chose celibacy over hot monkey sex (Sophie’s words, not mine)
What do you think ladies, do you buy it?
I want to.
Lastly, it’s wonderful that the author kept the drama into minimal. Some just tends to overboard you know? The amount of drama and funny moments are just right and I love that it’s a light read even though the concept is kind of heartbreaking. I only gave it a 3.5 because I have read a lot of books like this already and I guess even though I wasn’t bored at all, it just doesn’t give that BOOM effect when you finish it. It still a decent read especially coming from a debut author. I really am a fan and cannot wait for her upcoming works!
January 13, 2015
3 - "It was never just us." Stars.
Chelsey Krause shows massive talent with her debut novel, and in general Can’t Always Get What You Want was an easy-going, and entertaining if slightly underwhelming read. The writing style didn’t quite gel for me at points, and I found the constant references to her ex, as well as the non-stop comparisons between him and the new guy in her life overused and a little repetitive as the story progressed.
Sophie was likeable, she reminded me a bit of Bridget Jones with some of the situations and scenario’s she finds herself in. But the story jumps between her when she was 19 and to the current day (she’s 24), and there didn’t seem to be a lot of progression of maturity in those five years.
I kind of wished this had actually been split into two books, so the reader was given the full story between Sophie and Aaron 5 years previous, and then Sophie and Brett current day, as the flashbacks at points lacked a little depth and full development.
”When I look at you,” … “I see forever.”
The other thing that massively annoyed me, was the constant break downs into lists of –
Pros: against Cons:
A)
B)
C)
Regularly followed by
1)
2)
3)
It was used far too often, and didn’t really add anything to the writing.
This isn’t a bad book; the story just needed a little more content and fleshing out, rather than pretty much being reliant on the one trope. The characters were varied and interesting, there were a few laughs, a few tears, I just wanted more. I look forward to seeing where Chelsey takes her readers next.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
Chelsey Krause shows massive talent with her debut novel, and in general Can’t Always Get What You Want was an easy-going, and entertaining if slightly underwhelming read. The writing style didn’t quite gel for me at points, and I found the constant references to her ex, as well as the non-stop comparisons between him and the new guy in her life overused and a little repetitive as the story progressed.
Sophie was likeable, she reminded me a bit of Bridget Jones with some of the situations and scenario’s she finds herself in. But the story jumps between her when she was 19 and to the current day (she’s 24), and there didn’t seem to be a lot of progression of maturity in those five years.
I kind of wished this had actually been split into two books, so the reader was given the full story between Sophie and Aaron 5 years previous, and then Sophie and Brett current day, as the flashbacks at points lacked a little depth and full development.
”When I look at you,” … “I see forever.”
The other thing that massively annoyed me, was the constant break downs into lists of –
Pros: against Cons:
A)
B)
C)
Regularly followed by
1)
2)
3)
It was used far too often, and didn’t really add anything to the writing.
This isn’t a bad book; the story just needed a little more content and fleshing out, rather than pretty much being reliant on the one trope. The characters were varied and interesting, there were a few laughs, a few tears, I just wanted more. I look forward to seeing where Chelsey takes her readers next.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
January 10, 2015
This book is really hard to review and if I could, I would give it 2.5 stars. I liked the storyline of this book - Sophie is getting over her lost love of 5 years ago, she hasn't really dated much since and when her friend kind of sets her up on a blind concert date with Brett, they develop a relationship. I liked how this author did some scenes in the past to show Sophie with her previous boyfriend and what their relationship was like. What I didn't like about this story was Sophie's inner monologue and how every detail of her day and her job were written out. I found myself skimming because there was only so much I wanted to read about her patients and her work at the hospital and it really held no relevance to the story. Overall, this book just didn't work for me but I did like the characters and the plot so I look forward to seeing what this author writes in the future.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
December 27, 2014
Sometimes life’s greatest cruelty opens the door for second chances and life’s greatest gift of all, but how many are ready to take that leap of faith through the unknown to reach that gift? Chelsey Krause will weave a tale of love, loss and an opportunity for a second chance at living that will capture you from page one. Can’t Always Get What You Want is a heart-stopping journey that will, in turn have you wanting to support and hug it’s young heroine and then wanting to throttle her blindness to what is right in front of her eyes.
Sophie lost the love of her life, a rebellious young man whom she thought could rope the stars. Their lives were filled with love, even when it seemed they were standing against the world, no one expected that their breaking point would be disease and a painful death. As the years go by, Sophie is lost in the past, the what ifs and might have beens, the loneliness and the fear of moving on, the guilt of surviving, when she is set up with a blind date with a man that made her feel like there could be life after her Aaron. Brett is everything a woman could want, kind, funny, non-aggressive, and successful with model-like rugged good looks. Her guilt at being attracted to him is eating her from the inside out, at the unfairness that he wasn’t Aaron. That she was being unfaithful to a man who is no longer here.
Brett forces nothing on her, gives her space, has the patience of a saint, but Sophie refuses to let him know how deeply she cares for him, although he does see how the ghost of Aaron comes between them at the worst of times. How much can he take? He has been hurt before and wants a life with Sophie, but he cannot battle something or someone he cannot see or understand. What will it take for Sophie to let go of the past and learn to truly live again?
Post-traumatic stress comes in many forms and no one is safe from its brutal darkness. Chelsey Krause has done a beautifully dramatic tale illustrating the ravages of the heart that barely survives the loss of a loved one. In Brett, she demonstrated the lengths to which another will go when love is involved, as well as that point that one must retreat or risk further pain. Ms. Krause will etch this tale onto your soul, one word at a time, erasure, not an option. This is truly fiction mimicking reality, as hope straddles the fine line between darkness and the brilliance of second chances at happiness and love.
I received an ARC edition from Random House Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: January 13, 2015
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
ISBN-13: 9781101883624
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 312
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Sophie lost the love of her life, a rebellious young man whom she thought could rope the stars. Their lives were filled with love, even when it seemed they were standing against the world, no one expected that their breaking point would be disease and a painful death. As the years go by, Sophie is lost in the past, the what ifs and might have beens, the loneliness and the fear of moving on, the guilt of surviving, when she is set up with a blind date with a man that made her feel like there could be life after her Aaron. Brett is everything a woman could want, kind, funny, non-aggressive, and successful with model-like rugged good looks. Her guilt at being attracted to him is eating her from the inside out, at the unfairness that he wasn’t Aaron. That she was being unfaithful to a man who is no longer here.
Brett forces nothing on her, gives her space, has the patience of a saint, but Sophie refuses to let him know how deeply she cares for him, although he does see how the ghost of Aaron comes between them at the worst of times. How much can he take? He has been hurt before and wants a life with Sophie, but he cannot battle something or someone he cannot see or understand. What will it take for Sophie to let go of the past and learn to truly live again?
Post-traumatic stress comes in many forms and no one is safe from its brutal darkness. Chelsey Krause has done a beautifully dramatic tale illustrating the ravages of the heart that barely survives the loss of a loved one. In Brett, she demonstrated the lengths to which another will go when love is involved, as well as that point that one must retreat or risk further pain. Ms. Krause will etch this tale onto your soul, one word at a time, erasure, not an option. This is truly fiction mimicking reality, as hope straddles the fine line between darkness and the brilliance of second chances at happiness and love.
I received an ARC edition from Random House Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: January 13, 2015
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
ISBN-13: 9781101883624
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 312
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
December 27, 2014
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
3.5 stars
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Loveswept via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is January 13th 2015.
I really enjoyed this read as it was truly about falling in love. Not only did I get to share the experience of Sophie falling in love once but twice in this story and both times I was swept away. I watched Sophie fall in love with Aaron through flashback memories and again with Brett in real-time. I brought me back to the time of butterflies in your stomach and silly daydreams about what could be.
The main theme of this story is learning to let go of the past in order to start living for the future. Sophie was fortunate to have two amazing men in her life at two different times and they were both perfect. I mean seriously, most people would like to meet one perfect person while she had two in her lifetime! In order for Sophie to have a future with Brett she had to let go of her past with Aaron.
I have never been in a situation like Sophie so I do not know what it is like to lose the one you love and how hard it is to let go. I felt that she was holding on too tight for the amount of time that had passed. Maybe I am being a bit insensitive but I think it is really ok to love again after six years have passed. Then again without this dilemma there really wouldn't have been a story. Needless to say I was in Brett's corner the whole time.
Random things I liked about this story include
• I loved the shout out to Canadian culture and it's fascination with Tim Horton's. For any non Canadians out there it is really true. We love our Tim Horton's. While Starbucks is great, Timmies prices are a portion of Starbucks and it is as much a part of Canadian culture as Hockey is
• Anytime a story takes place in a Canadian city or town I automatically feel like I can identify. From the warm summers to snowy winters the story always feels a little more like home.
• I loved Samira's parents. I can only hope that many years from now that my husband and I will be picking fights with each other to get each other worked up without actually fighting. That kind of affection is priceless.
All in all this was a really nice love story. If you like a little romance in your books than this is a good pick for you
3.5 stars
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Loveswept via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is January 13th 2015.
I really enjoyed this read as it was truly about falling in love. Not only did I get to share the experience of Sophie falling in love once but twice in this story and both times I was swept away. I watched Sophie fall in love with Aaron through flashback memories and again with Brett in real-time. I brought me back to the time of butterflies in your stomach and silly daydreams about what could be.
The main theme of this story is learning to let go of the past in order to start living for the future. Sophie was fortunate to have two amazing men in her life at two different times and they were both perfect. I mean seriously, most people would like to meet one perfect person while she had two in her lifetime! In order for Sophie to have a future with Brett she had to let go of her past with Aaron.
I have never been in a situation like Sophie so I do not know what it is like to lose the one you love and how hard it is to let go. I felt that she was holding on too tight for the amount of time that had passed. Maybe I am being a bit insensitive but I think it is really ok to love again after six years have passed. Then again without this dilemma there really wouldn't have been a story. Needless to say I was in Brett's corner the whole time.
Random things I liked about this story include
• I loved the shout out to Canadian culture and it's fascination with Tim Horton's. For any non Canadians out there it is really true. We love our Tim Horton's. While Starbucks is great, Timmies prices are a portion of Starbucks and it is as much a part of Canadian culture as Hockey is
• Anytime a story takes place in a Canadian city or town I automatically feel like I can identify. From the warm summers to snowy winters the story always feels a little more like home.
• I loved Samira's parents. I can only hope that many years from now that my husband and I will be picking fights with each other to get each other worked up without actually fighting. That kind of affection is priceless.
All in all this was a really nice love story. If you like a little romance in your books than this is a good pick for you
February 14, 2015
4 Stars
Any book that has you singing Rolling Stone lyrics in your head the entire time you are reading, is a pretty good book in my opinion!
Can't Always is about Sophie, a twenty something year old who experienced the once in a lifetime kind of love, and then lost it. She lost it suddenly and tragically.
When Brett enters her life in the form of a blind date (wow good things really do come from those), her body and all her butterflies tell her its time to experience love again, however her mind and a huge part of her heart are harder to convince.
Sophie basically quit being her when she lost Aaron the love of her life. She kept living, graduating college, starting a career, etc. However, the person she was, her wants, her desires left when Aaron did. Every decision she made after that was a direct reflection of losing her one true love.
Chelsey Krause takes you on a journey through Sophie's past. We don't only get to be a part of Sophie's new and blossoming love life with Brett, her job woes, and present day dilemmas but we get to go back in time through Sophie's memories and get to know Aaron. I really like that the author did this because we get to witness first hand why Sophie is having such a hard time moving on.
Sophie must finally decide if someone can love two people at once, when it is o.k. to let go, and if she will finally decide to live life for her.
This was an interesting, likeable, quick read. The characters were fun. The story allowed you to laugh at times and cry at others. The characters were authentic and relatable. The flow of the story could be slow at times, and confusing in a few places. Overall this was a great read. Perfect for the day you want to be able to laugh and cry with out the heaviness of something really emotional.
This book was generously provided via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Any book that has you singing Rolling Stone lyrics in your head the entire time you are reading, is a pretty good book in my opinion!
Can't Always is about Sophie, a twenty something year old who experienced the once in a lifetime kind of love, and then lost it. She lost it suddenly and tragically.
When Brett enters her life in the form of a blind date (wow good things really do come from those), her body and all her butterflies tell her its time to experience love again, however her mind and a huge part of her heart are harder to convince.
Sophie basically quit being her when she lost Aaron the love of her life. She kept living, graduating college, starting a career, etc. However, the person she was, her wants, her desires left when Aaron did. Every decision she made after that was a direct reflection of losing her one true love.
Chelsey Krause takes you on a journey through Sophie's past. We don't only get to be a part of Sophie's new and blossoming love life with Brett, her job woes, and present day dilemmas but we get to go back in time through Sophie's memories and get to know Aaron. I really like that the author did this because we get to witness first hand why Sophie is having such a hard time moving on.
Sophie must finally decide if someone can love two people at once, when it is o.k. to let go, and if she will finally decide to live life for her.
This was an interesting, likeable, quick read. The characters were fun. The story allowed you to laugh at times and cry at others. The characters were authentic and relatable. The flow of the story could be slow at times, and confusing in a few places. Overall this was a great read. Perfect for the day you want to be able to laugh and cry with out the heaviness of something really emotional.
This book was generously provided via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
January 14, 2015
This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.
**I received a copy from the publisher, but that did not influence the review**
3-3.5 stars What a cute, quick read. There were adorable main characters as well as great secondary ones that I had fun getting to know.
Only told from Sophie’s POV we got to see her love again, after she suffered a terrible loss years earlier. While she threw herself into her work it turned out that her career was not something that inspired her. So between her personal and professional life Sophie was due for things to shake up. As we took this journey with her we were treated to some hilarious inner dialogue. And when I say hilarious, I mean hilarious. It made me giggle out loud more than once, and I found her sense of humor fantastic.
Not only did Sophie have great internal thoughts, but her banter with Brett was almost just as entertaining. I could feel the ease they both had with each other and it was fun to watch them fall in love. Both of them felt the sparks, but both of them were a little gun shy. I was rooting for them and loved that they both couldn’t help but fall for each other.
Now, I want to talk more about the romance…the chemistry foundation was there but it never got off the ground. I’m talking about the stuff that makes my heart flutter. How they held hands, how they touched, breathed in each other’s essence. There were starts of that, but then the chapter would end or Sophie would say we had an “epic make out session”. I am greedy! I want to know: why was it epic? tell me tell me tell me Was he holding her waist? Could he feel her pulse in her neck? Were there sparks? Yes, all of that. Sophie’s thoughts were definitely hot but then she never told us about the stuff…like kissing, and I love me some good kissing!! The sexual tension was totally there, but it could have been developed so much more.
The ending was nice but I still never even got that kiss or big scene I was hoping for all along. However, it made me very happy inside and I found Can’t Always Get What You Want a sweet and loving read.
**I received a copy from the publisher, but that did not influence the review**
3-3.5 stars What a cute, quick read. There were adorable main characters as well as great secondary ones that I had fun getting to know.
Only told from Sophie’s POV we got to see her love again, after she suffered a terrible loss years earlier. While she threw herself into her work it turned out that her career was not something that inspired her. So between her personal and professional life Sophie was due for things to shake up. As we took this journey with her we were treated to some hilarious inner dialogue. And when I say hilarious, I mean hilarious. It made me giggle out loud more than once, and I found her sense of humor fantastic.
Not only did Sophie have great internal thoughts, but her banter with Brett was almost just as entertaining. I could feel the ease they both had with each other and it was fun to watch them fall in love. Both of them felt the sparks, but both of them were a little gun shy. I was rooting for them and loved that they both couldn’t help but fall for each other.
Now, I want to talk more about the romance…the chemistry foundation was there but it never got off the ground. I’m talking about the stuff that makes my heart flutter. How they held hands, how they touched, breathed in each other’s essence. There were starts of that, but then the chapter would end or Sophie would say we had an “epic make out session”. I am greedy! I want to know: why was it epic? tell me tell me tell me Was he holding her waist? Could he feel her pulse in her neck? Were there sparks? Yes, all of that. Sophie’s thoughts were definitely hot but then she never told us about the stuff…like kissing, and I love me some good kissing!! The sexual tension was totally there, but it could have been developed so much more.
The ending was nice but I still never even got that kiss or big scene I was hoping for all along. However, it made me very happy inside and I found Can’t Always Get What You Want a sweet and loving read.
February 25, 2016
I'm unable to adequately express how much I loved this book.
Seriously.
Sophie's journey of healing and love is utterly heart wrenching. Her pain is so palpably written that at times her hurt felt like my own hurt. Krause's writing was truly exceptional and greatly impressed me.
I loved the dialogue between Brett and Sophie as they begin their relationship. They are both so adorably dorky and quirky. But most important, they just seem so.....normal.
Outstanding debut. I truly loved this book and I can't wait to see what else Krause has up her sleeve.
Seriously.
Sophie's journey of healing and love is utterly heart wrenching. Her pain is so palpably written that at times her hurt felt like my own hurt. Krause's writing was truly exceptional and greatly impressed me.
I loved the dialogue between Brett and Sophie as they begin their relationship. They are both so adorably dorky and quirky. But most important, they just seem so.....normal.
Outstanding debut. I truly loved this book and I can't wait to see what else Krause has up her sleeve.
January 22, 2015
**JOSIE'S REVIEW**
*4.5 Stars*
Can’t Always Get What You Want was a very emotional and beautiful story. The author really did a great job in sharing Sophie’s journey to finding love a second time around. You know when you get a story that literally touches your heart and mind where you feel like you start reevaluating your own life? Well this is was that book for me. I loved how the author took us from the present and into the past. I was able to see how much Sophie’s first love touched her soul. Ms. Krause also shows readers that it is possible to not know how to live without the other part of soul and how it is ok to love again where you don’t need to feel guilty about it. This story will make you laugh. The relationship Sophie has with her good friends and family is a relationship that real people have. I found myself relating to those relationships. Please get a tissue because there are times I had tears in my eyes.
Sophie lives a pretty mundane life. If she did not have the love and support of her family and friends she would pretty much be non-existent. She is stuck in the past. She can’t seem to get past having known true love with Aaron. A love that slipped through her fingers 6 years ago. She doesn’t really date because she has not felt anything remotely to the feelings she had with him. Her best friend gives her tickets to see The Rolling Stones and suggest she takes her finance’s friend Brett with her to the concert. Although reluctant at first Brett and Sophie attend the concert together and feel very comfortable around each other.
Brett is everything any woman wants. He is gorgeous, funny outgoing and did I say gorgeous. He has dated a lot and his last experience has made him reluctant to jump into another relationship so quickly. Seeing that they both like each other’s company, they agree to take things slow, become friends and see where things go. The friendship and build up between Brett and Sophie was beautifully written, extremely genuine and believable. There is no denying Sophie is extremely attracted to Brett but she is constantly comparing him to Aaron and not able to move on from the past.
“Hey what were you think about at the game?”
“I was thinking about what it would be like to kiss you.”
“I’ve waited to kiss you all night.”
“I’ve never felt…”
“Me either.”
The more time Sophie spends with Brett the more she falls for him. She feels guilty for falling for someone else. Brett is extremely patient with Sophie and takes his time with her. He opens up to her about his past but he can’t help but notice that at times Sophie drifts away to somewhere else. You will love Brett and how he handles his relationship with her. He gives her space and time but when he realizes his feelings run deep, he can’t help but wonder if she feels the same.
“I don’t think you get how much I want you, Sophie. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I want marry you someday. You’re me everything! You’re all I think about, all I dream about. I need to know, before we say anything else tonight, if you love me.”
“Of course I do. I’ve told you I love you.”
"No, I mean with your whole heart.”
How far can Brett go to show Sophie the depth of his love and devotion to her without losing a part of himself? When will Sophie let go of a past that with never exist? The author shows the level of confusion, turmoil and love Brett and Sophie feel for each other. Can Brett and Sophie get a second chance at love or will Sophie’s past tear them apart? You will fall in love with this book and the journey these characters take you on.
*4.5 Stars*
Can’t Always Get What You Want was a very emotional and beautiful story. The author really did a great job in sharing Sophie’s journey to finding love a second time around. You know when you get a story that literally touches your heart and mind where you feel like you start reevaluating your own life? Well this is was that book for me. I loved how the author took us from the present and into the past. I was able to see how much Sophie’s first love touched her soul. Ms. Krause also shows readers that it is possible to not know how to live without the other part of soul and how it is ok to love again where you don’t need to feel guilty about it. This story will make you laugh. The relationship Sophie has with her good friends and family is a relationship that real people have. I found myself relating to those relationships. Please get a tissue because there are times I had tears in my eyes.
Sophie lives a pretty mundane life. If she did not have the love and support of her family and friends she would pretty much be non-existent. She is stuck in the past. She can’t seem to get past having known true love with Aaron. A love that slipped through her fingers 6 years ago. She doesn’t really date because she has not felt anything remotely to the feelings she had with him. Her best friend gives her tickets to see The Rolling Stones and suggest she takes her finance’s friend Brett with her to the concert. Although reluctant at first Brett and Sophie attend the concert together and feel very comfortable around each other.
Brett is everything any woman wants. He is gorgeous, funny outgoing and did I say gorgeous. He has dated a lot and his last experience has made him reluctant to jump into another relationship so quickly. Seeing that they both like each other’s company, they agree to take things slow, become friends and see where things go. The friendship and build up between Brett and Sophie was beautifully written, extremely genuine and believable. There is no denying Sophie is extremely attracted to Brett but she is constantly comparing him to Aaron and not able to move on from the past.
“Hey what were you think about at the game?”
“I was thinking about what it would be like to kiss you.”
“I’ve waited to kiss you all night.”
“I’ve never felt…”
“Me either.”
The more time Sophie spends with Brett the more she falls for him. She feels guilty for falling for someone else. Brett is extremely patient with Sophie and takes his time with her. He opens up to her about his past but he can’t help but notice that at times Sophie drifts away to somewhere else. You will love Brett and how he handles his relationship with her. He gives her space and time but when he realizes his feelings run deep, he can’t help but wonder if she feels the same.
“I don’t think you get how much I want you, Sophie. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I want marry you someday. You’re me everything! You’re all I think about, all I dream about. I need to know, before we say anything else tonight, if you love me.”
“Of course I do. I’ve told you I love you.”
"No, I mean with your whole heart.”
How far can Brett go to show Sophie the depth of his love and devotion to her without losing a part of himself? When will Sophie let go of a past that with never exist? The author shows the level of confusion, turmoil and love Brett and Sophie feel for each other. Can Brett and Sophie get a second chance at love or will Sophie’s past tear them apart? You will fall in love with this book and the journey these characters take you on.
October 20, 2014
*I will try to avoid spoilers
Can't Always Get What You Want by Chelsey Krause
It is said that there is someone out there for everyone but does a person only have one soul mate?
Sophie Richards is a nurse who works in acute care and fills in to help with the Emergency Room when needed. More often than not she complains about her career choice yet is as compassionate and understanding with the patients as she can be.
While Sophie is at her best friend Samira's house for the evening, Samira informs her that she cannot attend the Jagger Bombs concert that the two had made plans to go see months ago.
Sophie was looking forward to going with her best friend but understands. Samira suggests Sophie call Brett Nicholson, a man Sophie has never met to go in Samira's place. After weighing all her options she gives Brett a call.
Brett Nicholson is the business partner of Samira's other half, Narayan. Oddly enough, Brett and Sophie have a brief yet enjoyable conversation and agree to meet up before the concert.
Sophie starts to wonder what she has gotten herself into. It has been five years since she lost her first true love. After giving herself a pep talk she thinks of the concert ahead and takes her first step towards life and all its possibilities instead of just coasting and existing.
Sophie finds Brett HOT and is pleasantly surprised that he seems to like the same music she does as he mouths the words to the songs. After the concert he insists on walking her to her car.
While he walks her to her car she realizes how easy he is to talk to while enjoying playful banter, they arrive at her car before she knows it but not before the two agree to meet up again.
Upon meeting up for coffee the two agree to start with friendship and to see what happens.
Will Sophie be able to cherish the past while moving on towards a brighter future?
I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK! It had me laughing from the start which drew me in, as I read on it made me smile.Other times, it pulled at my heart and brought tears to my eyes. This book has ALL the feels! Do NOT miss out on reading this FANTASTIC BOOK!!!
*Checkout my blog:
http://wicked-blogs.blogspot.com
Can't Always Get What You Want by Chelsey Krause
It is said that there is someone out there for everyone but does a person only have one soul mate?
Sophie Richards is a nurse who works in acute care and fills in to help with the Emergency Room when needed. More often than not she complains about her career choice yet is as compassionate and understanding with the patients as she can be.
While Sophie is at her best friend Samira's house for the evening, Samira informs her that she cannot attend the Jagger Bombs concert that the two had made plans to go see months ago.
Sophie was looking forward to going with her best friend but understands. Samira suggests Sophie call Brett Nicholson, a man Sophie has never met to go in Samira's place. After weighing all her options she gives Brett a call.
Brett Nicholson is the business partner of Samira's other half, Narayan. Oddly enough, Brett and Sophie have a brief yet enjoyable conversation and agree to meet up before the concert.
Sophie starts to wonder what she has gotten herself into. It has been five years since she lost her first true love. After giving herself a pep talk she thinks of the concert ahead and takes her first step towards life and all its possibilities instead of just coasting and existing.
Sophie finds Brett HOT and is pleasantly surprised that he seems to like the same music she does as he mouths the words to the songs. After the concert he insists on walking her to her car.
While he walks her to her car she realizes how easy he is to talk to while enjoying playful banter, they arrive at her car before she knows it but not before the two agree to meet up again.
Upon meeting up for coffee the two agree to start with friendship and to see what happens.
Will Sophie be able to cherish the past while moving on towards a brighter future?
I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK! It had me laughing from the start which drew me in, as I read on it made me smile.Other times, it pulled at my heart and brought tears to my eyes. This book has ALL the feels! Do NOT miss out on reading this FANTASTIC BOOK!!!
*Checkout my blog:
http://wicked-blogs.blogspot.com
February 1, 2015
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. To read more reviews like this one, check out Obsessive Book Nerd!
This was a laugh out loud book and I loved it. Sophie was so incredibly funny that I found myself grinning more than half the time I was reading. While the main character was hilariously awesome, there were some deeply sad flashbacks that weren't so funny. A few chapters were devoted to flashbacks, which I didn't mind. I'm not a huge fan of flashbacks in books, they can be confusing and sometimes it's hard to jump into the past and then back to the present. There was one flashback that I disliked in particular, where Sophie flashed back to a memory where she was thinking about another memory, ah, let's not get carried away now.
Anyways, I loved Sophie's relationship with Brett. Their banter was just perfect. Both their character and personalities were enjoyable. Honestly, I can't tell you how many times I caught myself chuckling out loud. I have to share a quote, and it's a great example of Sophie's hilariousness, to top it off, it's the start of a chapter titled "Sad Sad Sad"...
"I need a cigarette.
Only, I don't smoke. And, I have no idea what craving a cigarette feels like. But I'm so shaky and nerved up that I imagine it would calm me down. At least, that's what I've seen on TV."
I'm thrilled I had a chance to read this book. Once I request a book from NetGalley or add a book to my "Must Read" list, I rarely go back and read the synopsis. I always like the element of surprise. So I knew there was something in Sophie's past that would sure as heck, come back and shake up her present. I enjoyed being in the dark, even though I could have probably guessed the twist without the help of some strategically placed foreshadowing. Either way, I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
This was a laugh out loud book and I loved it. Sophie was so incredibly funny that I found myself grinning more than half the time I was reading. While the main character was hilariously awesome, there were some deeply sad flashbacks that weren't so funny. A few chapters were devoted to flashbacks, which I didn't mind. I'm not a huge fan of flashbacks in books, they can be confusing and sometimes it's hard to jump into the past and then back to the present. There was one flashback that I disliked in particular, where Sophie flashed back to a memory where she was thinking about another memory, ah, let's not get carried away now.
Anyways, I loved Sophie's relationship with Brett. Their banter was just perfect. Both their character and personalities were enjoyable. Honestly, I can't tell you how many times I caught myself chuckling out loud. I have to share a quote, and it's a great example of Sophie's hilariousness, to top it off, it's the start of a chapter titled "Sad Sad Sad"...
"I need a cigarette.
Only, I don't smoke. And, I have no idea what craving a cigarette feels like. But I'm so shaky and nerved up that I imagine it would calm me down. At least, that's what I've seen on TV."
I'm thrilled I had a chance to read this book. Once I request a book from NetGalley or add a book to my "Must Read" list, I rarely go back and read the synopsis. I always like the element of surprise. So I knew there was something in Sophie's past that would sure as heck, come back and shake up her present. I enjoyed being in the dark, even though I could have probably guessed the twist without the help of some strategically placed foreshadowing. Either way, I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
November 23, 2014
I was gifted this book from Netgalley and the publisher (thank you) in exchange for an honest review.
You Can't Always Get What You Want by Chelsey Krause, was a great book with a double love story! This is a great example of a sweet romantic love story, that has its problems eventually, where you have to decide if it is all really worth the cost.
It's been a long time since Sophie has had a date and her best friend Samira's knows just the guy to fix that. So, since Samira can't make it to a concert with Sophie, she encourages her to call this guy for a blind date.
It takes a lot of encouragement for Sophie to do this, but she Call Brett and ask for a date!
Krause does an excellent job here expressing all of the emotions that Sophie is going through and she gives us flash backs of Sophie first love. The one who still has her heart. Brett is HOT and so sweet, you can tell that he is really falling for Sophie.
I found Krause's character development to be good and I was so rooting for Brett, he made me swoon the whole time. He was just that good of a guy ladies. He wasn't one of the alpha males (but I would have let him be anything he wanted to be) and he wasn't a millionaire. This book gave us a new type of man to go gaga over.
I don't want to give to much away, but tears did fall! I got a little frustrated with Sophie (but maybe because I had never been in that situation) and I was so rooting for Brett, a normal guy!
This was Krause's first book and that is so hard to believe, it had so much emotion and had me hooked very early. I recommend this book for any romance reader that likes thing less gritty and more sweet!
I give Can't Always Get What You Want 5 Platypires
That would be 5 stars in the world of reading!!
Bama Love!! Roll Tide!! and Keep Reading Y'all!
~Renee
You Can't Always Get What You Want by Chelsey Krause, was a great book with a double love story! This is a great example of a sweet romantic love story, that has its problems eventually, where you have to decide if it is all really worth the cost.
It's been a long time since Sophie has had a date and her best friend Samira's knows just the guy to fix that. So, since Samira can't make it to a concert with Sophie, she encourages her to call this guy for a blind date.
It takes a lot of encouragement for Sophie to do this, but she Call Brett and ask for a date!
Krause does an excellent job here expressing all of the emotions that Sophie is going through and she gives us flash backs of Sophie first love. The one who still has her heart. Brett is HOT and so sweet, you can tell that he is really falling for Sophie.
I found Krause's character development to be good and I was so rooting for Brett, he made me swoon the whole time. He was just that good of a guy ladies. He wasn't one of the alpha males (but I would have let him be anything he wanted to be) and he wasn't a millionaire. This book gave us a new type of man to go gaga over.
I don't want to give to much away, but tears did fall! I got a little frustrated with Sophie (but maybe because I had never been in that situation) and I was so rooting for Brett, a normal guy!
This was Krause's first book and that is so hard to believe, it had so much emotion and had me hooked very early. I recommend this book for any romance reader that likes thing less gritty and more sweet!
I give Can't Always Get What You Want 5 Platypires
That would be 5 stars in the world of reading!!
Bama Love!! Roll Tide!! and Keep Reading Y'all!
~Renee
November 14, 2014
"Can't always get what you want." If you're gonna quote a Stones songs that would be the one to go with, right? Well, as readers of this book, we DO get what we want - a well-written novel with lovable characters, and a sweet but heart-breaking plot.
I mean really, in this genre? This book is the holy grail of what readers are looking for.
Naturally, as soon as I cracked this book open (in he digital sense, of course), I was sucked in. The characters (and the nutty situations they found themselves in) were completely endearing. The sweet moments were completely balanced with the sassy ones, until we start digging into parts of Sophie's past.
(SPOILERS) Without truly delving into specifics, there were certain elements of Sophie's past that didn't sit well with me. I didn't like how she treated certain things like dirty little secrets. That being said, it's not a fault in the book, it's just my personal preferences. We all have our own peeves while reading, right? This was kind of mine. The whole "you should move on" "but I caaaaaaant. And I refuse therapy" line really gets to me.
But you know what? If I'm going to read a book with that plot that follows those lines, THIS is the one I want to read. The characters were so utterly appealing, I found myself upset that the book drew to a close.
Four and a half I-love-me-some-Rolling-Stones stars.
(An ARC of this book was provided by Random House Publishing - Loveswept via Netgalley, and I am so very grateful.)
I mean really, in this genre? This book is the holy grail of what readers are looking for.
Naturally, as soon as I cracked this book open (in he digital sense, of course), I was sucked in. The characters (and the nutty situations they found themselves in) were completely endearing. The sweet moments were completely balanced with the sassy ones, until we start digging into parts of Sophie's past.
(SPOILERS) Without truly delving into specifics, there were certain elements of Sophie's past that didn't sit well with me. I didn't like how she treated certain things like dirty little secrets. That being said, it's not a fault in the book, it's just my personal preferences. We all have our own peeves while reading, right? This was kind of mine. The whole "you should move on" "but I caaaaaaant. And I refuse therapy" line really gets to me.
But you know what? If I'm going to read a book with that plot that follows those lines, THIS is the one I want to read. The characters were so utterly appealing, I found myself upset that the book drew to a close.
Four and a half I-love-me-some-Rolling-Stones stars.
(An ARC of this book was provided by Random House Publishing - Loveswept via Netgalley, and I am so very grateful.)
January 3, 2015
Can't Always Get What You Want is a romantic emotional read with endearing characters, but something was missing for me; as invested as I was in Sophie and Brett's blossoming romance, I needed more and I found it steady.
"Who knew roughneck carpenters could be so romantic?"
Indeed, because if there is one thing in this book that I loved, it was Brett. The man is a sweetheart and, despite a couple of moments heading towards the end where I could've rung his neck for saying some fairly thoughtless things, he was pretty damn near perfect. I must confess I thought his own little secret might have been a bit bigger than it was, but he and Sophie had a lovely chemistry throughout.
What I wasn't so keen on was the flash backs; Sophie's backstory is heartbreaking and has shaped her, and it's vital to the story, but they were lengthy in parts and as emotional as they were I didn't really want to spend pages getting to know her past relationship in such detail.
That said it is a good debut from Chelsey Krause, she's an author I would read again, it's simply a case that this story needed a little more meat on its bones for me.
Copy received courtesy of Loveswept for an honest and unbiased opinion.
"Who knew roughneck carpenters could be so romantic?"
Indeed, because if there is one thing in this book that I loved, it was Brett. The man is a sweetheart and, despite a couple of moments heading towards the end where I could've rung his neck for saying some fairly thoughtless things, he was pretty damn near perfect. I must confess I thought his own little secret might have been a bit bigger than it was, but he and Sophie had a lovely chemistry throughout.
What I wasn't so keen on was the flash backs; Sophie's backstory is heartbreaking and has shaped her, and it's vital to the story, but they were lengthy in parts and as emotional as they were I didn't really want to spend pages getting to know her past relationship in such detail.
That said it is a good debut from Chelsey Krause, she's an author I would read again, it's simply a case that this story needed a little more meat on its bones for me.
Copy received courtesy of Loveswept for an honest and unbiased opinion.
July 28, 2015
4.5 "I see forever" stars
I'm not going to lie, I bought the book entirely for the cover. I saw cute and romantic and that's the story I wanted to read, and I was very happy because that is the story I got :)
It took me a tiny bit to get into it, but once I had I couldn't stop. I'm a fan of female characters I can relate to or at least understand where they are coming from, and Sophie I just "got." Ms. Krause gave me the opportunity to see Sophie in the past, and I was not told how to feel about everything, but shown why it was so important, why Sophie became the woman she was. It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once.
It also takes a very special book to make me laugh and cry within the same few pages. I love these books... they are the ones I greedily search for. Sophie has hilarious internal dialogue that made me snort to myself on more than one occasion. Add in the cute, sweet, not-an-asshole guy, and this book was a #WIN! I can't wait to read another from this author.
I'm not going to lie, I bought the book entirely for the cover. I saw cute and romantic and that's the story I wanted to read, and I was very happy because that is the story I got :)
It took me a tiny bit to get into it, but once I had I couldn't stop. I'm a fan of female characters I can relate to or at least understand where they are coming from, and Sophie I just "got." Ms. Krause gave me the opportunity to see Sophie in the past, and I was not told how to feel about everything, but shown why it was so important, why Sophie became the woman she was. It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once.
It also takes a very special book to make me laugh and cry within the same few pages. I love these books... they are the ones I greedily search for. Sophie has hilarious internal dialogue that made me snort to myself on more than one occasion. Add in the cute, sweet, not-an-asshole guy, and this book was a #WIN! I can't wait to read another from this author.
May 6, 2015
*I received a free ARC of Can't Always Get What You Want from Loveswept via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*
Can't Always Get What you Want is a slow-paced, kind of sad romance in which Sophie needs to let go of the past so that she can get on with the rest of her life.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
Can't Always Get What you Want is a slow-paced, kind of sad romance in which Sophie needs to let go of the past so that she can get on with the rest of her life.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
May 24, 2020
Sophie Richards seems like she's got it all together, but the life she's been living for the past six years is built on the broken foundation of the past. Cruel fate took away her first love, and while she's managed to live, she hasn't really moved on. So when she meets Brett, a guy who has no trouble stealing her broken heart, she's stuck between guilt and a future, and moving forward has never been so hard to do.
The Verdict: When we first meet Sophie, she seems like a normal, fun-loving girl. She's got good friends, a good job, and a good outlook on life — at least on the surface. But in truth, she's still reeling from the loss of her first love to cancer some six years ago. They'd had something of a fairy tale romance, and watching him waste away destroyed her in ways she can't begin to sort out.
A blind date of sorts brings her face to face with a new possiblity, though. Brett is undeniably good-looking, plenty of fun, and in many ways the perfect guy. Except he isn't the guy she lost. They go from acquaintances to friends to something more, but for all of Sophie's trying to make things work between them, she's still eaten up with grief and mourning. The sadness she wears around her heart is getting in the way of a pretty good thing, and for all his perfection, Brett is no martyr willing to play second to a guy who died years ago.
Normally, flashbacks annoy me, and unless they're there to solve some mystery, I skim right past them. But in You Can't Always Get What You Want, they serve a real purpose. As much as I loved Brett, stepping back in time with Sophie and seeing her relationship with Aaron made me fall in love with him, too, and Sophie's grief and anger at the loss not only made sense but was practically tangible. I didn't so much feel that I was reading about a girl who couldn't get over the past so much as I was right there with her, in that strange in-between where you know you have to move forward but doing so feels like a betrayal.
Brett was surprisingly understanding yet invariably human about the whole thing as well. It was obvious he loved Sophie, and getting to that point in their relationship was in many ways a laid-back ride. But where he could have blown up and pushed too hard for her to work through her grief, he was more understanding and accepting of her issues. Of course, that didn't help much when it was clear she would never move forward the way she was going, and when that happened, he didn't have a fit or rip her apart emotionally; he just stepped away. It was probably more powerful than any seemingly more dramatic way it could have gone.
I did take issue with Sophie avoiding therapy, though. Granted, I know that therapy generally sucks, and even at it's best, is entirely awkward and uncomfortable, but it just felt like any one of the many people who cared about her should have forced her hand a little. I mean, it was six years ago, and the pain was still as fresh as when she was living it, so it was only a matter of time before she wasted her life away or crashed and burned.
In the end, Can't Always Get What You Want is a funny, sweet, heartbreaking love story that had me cracking up and wanting to cry, sometimes all in just a couple of pages. There's a wealth of emotion to be lived in its pages, and as angsty as the plot may seem, it's surprisingly light. Brett's just incredible, and Sophie is refreshingly real, flawed, and quirky. I would say I can't imagine what it's like to bear that kind of loss, but having been in Sophie's mind, it's impossible not to understand. This is one book where the happily ever after is unrushed and well-deserved.
***FicCentral received this book from Random House LLC (via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2015
Can’t Always Get What You Want is the debut title from up and coming author, Chelsey Krause. We meet Sophie Richards who is a nurse, but struggles in her career choice. She’s not a bad nurse, but you get a sense that her heart really isn’t in it. After her best friend bails on going to see a Rolling Stones tribute band, Sophie finds herself on a blind date. Sophie immediately feels a connection with Brett, but she is still heartbroken from losing the love of her life six years ago. Sophie finds herself facing the very difficult choice of whether she wants to try for happily ever after with Brett or keep her heart locked away.
I always know a book is going to be outstanding when I get pulled into the story from the very first page. This book made me laugh out loud immediately, but what really makes it truly extraordinary is the way Ms. Krause creates characters the reader feels a strong connection with. As a reader, it is so important to me to really care about the characters, what they have gone through, what they are currently doing and where they are headed. Ms. Krause does an excellent job of taking the reader into Sophie’s life. Instead of putting us into information overload with all of the events that brought Sophie to where she is when we meet her, Ms. Krause takes us gradually through the process. I really enjoyed this because I got to see it through Sophie’s eyes as if I was there with her. It gave me a better understanding of what she went through and how it shaped her into the person she becomes and the person that Brett meets.
Along with the many laugh out loud moments, there were many moments of tears that made me want to read more and find out what happened in Sophie’s past and how it was affecting her future. There were also moments of anger at Aaron’s mother and Dr. St. Luke. They were both very difficult and unlikable characters and I enjoyed how Sophie responded differently to both.
This was such a well-written story. The author draws on her own personal nursing experience to make Sophie’s actions relevant and believable. The story moved at a very good pace, giving me time to process what was going on instead of getting lost in the details. As a fan of the Rolling Stones, I loved that each chapter is a song title and how their music plays such an important role in Sophie’s choices.
I wanted to be angry at Brett for making Sophie choose. Initially, I felt he was being unfair and selfish, but this story really focuses on forgiveness so I forgave him. Sophie has to find a way to forgive herself before she could move on in her life and live the life she is meant to. Sometimes, we have to be nudged, and not in a subtle way, before our eyes are opened.
My Final Verdict: If you are looking for a story that will pull on all of your emotions, filled with characters you feel a strong connection to, run, do not walk to your nearest book retailer and get this book. Not many people have the chance to find true love more than once in their lives and this story gives us a first row seat to see it happen. Kudos to Chelsey Krause for the many hours of laughter and tears. I will never look at Oreo cookies the same way again and I will be looking for more from this talented author.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Can’t Always Get What You Want from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I always know a book is going to be outstanding when I get pulled into the story from the very first page. This book made me laugh out loud immediately, but what really makes it truly extraordinary is the way Ms. Krause creates characters the reader feels a strong connection with. As a reader, it is so important to me to really care about the characters, what they have gone through, what they are currently doing and where they are headed. Ms. Krause does an excellent job of taking the reader into Sophie’s life. Instead of putting us into information overload with all of the events that brought Sophie to where she is when we meet her, Ms. Krause takes us gradually through the process. I really enjoyed this because I got to see it through Sophie’s eyes as if I was there with her. It gave me a better understanding of what she went through and how it shaped her into the person she becomes and the person that Brett meets.
Along with the many laugh out loud moments, there were many moments of tears that made me want to read more and find out what happened in Sophie’s past and how it was affecting her future. There were also moments of anger at Aaron’s mother and Dr. St. Luke. They were both very difficult and unlikable characters and I enjoyed how Sophie responded differently to both.
This was such a well-written story. The author draws on her own personal nursing experience to make Sophie’s actions relevant and believable. The story moved at a very good pace, giving me time to process what was going on instead of getting lost in the details. As a fan of the Rolling Stones, I loved that each chapter is a song title and how their music plays such an important role in Sophie’s choices.
I wanted to be angry at Brett for making Sophie choose. Initially, I felt he was being unfair and selfish, but this story really focuses on forgiveness so I forgave him. Sophie has to find a way to forgive herself before she could move on in her life and live the life she is meant to. Sometimes, we have to be nudged, and not in a subtle way, before our eyes are opened.
My Final Verdict: If you are looking for a story that will pull on all of your emotions, filled with characters you feel a strong connection to, run, do not walk to your nearest book retailer and get this book. Not many people have the chance to find true love more than once in their lives and this story gives us a first row seat to see it happen. Kudos to Chelsey Krause for the many hours of laughter and tears. I will never look at Oreo cookies the same way again and I will be looking for more from this talented author.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Can’t Always Get What You Want from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2015
~I received a copy of the book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.~
I thought Can’t Always Get What You Want was a fantastic debut novel from Chelsey Krause. There was plenty of steam, romance, and at times for me, tears. Sophie is a beautiful, young nurse who just seems to be going through the motions of life. She isn’t really sure if her job is truly her passion, even though, she is a great nurse who shows compassion for her patients. You see, she lost the love of her life years ago, and she just hasn’t been able to find passion or light in her life again. But, that all changes when her best friend, Samira, cancels a “girls night out” at a concert that is a tribute to the Rolling Stones. She suggests that Sophie ask Brett, a carpenter who works with Samira’s fiancé. From their first meeting, there is an indescribable pull between Sophie and Brett. He makes her laugh and makes her think of the possibility of loving and living again. But, it will be a struggle for her. Will she be able to let go of the past and learn to love again?
There are many romance novels with the theme of second chance love. But, this was different for me. In my opinion, it was two love stories in one book, and they were both beautiful!!! Sophie’s love story with Aaron was written in such a way that Aaron was a major character in the book even though he was deceased. It pulled so much on my heartstrings that I completely understood why Sophie was an emotional basket case in regards to her relationship with Brett. And, I also loved the relationship with Brett as well. Even though, they had such a powerful physical attraction to each other, they didn’t jump right into a sexual relationship. This component made this book very realistic to me because of Sophie’s emotional state for the past several years. In addition, Krause is great at character development. She writes them in such a way that really connects Sophie and Brett to the readers. They really pull at your emotions. On an added note, I loved Sophie’s parents. Again, what a way they were written. I could just picture her parents, especially her father who was obsessed with history. It was nice to see a book in which the main characters have a good relationship with their parents. I have to add one more thing…I think I have a never-ending list of the reasons I loved this book…the way she named the chapters after some of the Rolling Stones’ songs was genius.
Again, Can’t Always Get What You Want was a great debut. It was very well-written and really pulled me in to the point that I felt like I was close friends with the characters, especially Sophie. Give this one a chance if you like a sweet, steamy, emotional, and realistic romance. I really can’t wait to see what Chelsey Krause has in store for her readers in the future. She has definitely earned a place on my list of favorite debut authors. I will be waiting and watching when her new book comes out!
***Review Written for Devilishly Delicious Books***
I thought Can’t Always Get What You Want was a fantastic debut novel from Chelsey Krause. There was plenty of steam, romance, and at times for me, tears. Sophie is a beautiful, young nurse who just seems to be going through the motions of life. She isn’t really sure if her job is truly her passion, even though, she is a great nurse who shows compassion for her patients. You see, she lost the love of her life years ago, and she just hasn’t been able to find passion or light in her life again. But, that all changes when her best friend, Samira, cancels a “girls night out” at a concert that is a tribute to the Rolling Stones. She suggests that Sophie ask Brett, a carpenter who works with Samira’s fiancé. From their first meeting, there is an indescribable pull between Sophie and Brett. He makes her laugh and makes her think of the possibility of loving and living again. But, it will be a struggle for her. Will she be able to let go of the past and learn to love again?
There are many romance novels with the theme of second chance love. But, this was different for me. In my opinion, it was two love stories in one book, and they were both beautiful!!! Sophie’s love story with Aaron was written in such a way that Aaron was a major character in the book even though he was deceased. It pulled so much on my heartstrings that I completely understood why Sophie was an emotional basket case in regards to her relationship with Brett. And, I also loved the relationship with Brett as well. Even though, they had such a powerful physical attraction to each other, they didn’t jump right into a sexual relationship. This component made this book very realistic to me because of Sophie’s emotional state for the past several years. In addition, Krause is great at character development. She writes them in such a way that really connects Sophie and Brett to the readers. They really pull at your emotions. On an added note, I loved Sophie’s parents. Again, what a way they were written. I could just picture her parents, especially her father who was obsessed with history. It was nice to see a book in which the main characters have a good relationship with their parents. I have to add one more thing…I think I have a never-ending list of the reasons I loved this book…the way she named the chapters after some of the Rolling Stones’ songs was genius.
Again, Can’t Always Get What You Want was a great debut. It was very well-written and really pulled me in to the point that I felt like I was close friends with the characters, especially Sophie. Give this one a chance if you like a sweet, steamy, emotional, and realistic romance. I really can’t wait to see what Chelsey Krause has in store for her readers in the future. She has definitely earned a place on my list of favorite debut authors. I will be waiting and watching when her new book comes out!
***Review Written for Devilishly Delicious Books***
January 11, 2015
Can't Always Get What You Want
by Chelsey Krause
January 13, 2015
Amazon: http://amzn.to/14C4Ryc (SBJ link)
B&N: http://bit.ly/1xYR52m
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1tSHSu9
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1xY5gIi
** Provided by NetGalley in Exchange for an Honest Review. **
-- From the Cover --
Fans of Ruthie Knox, Rachel Gibson, and Molly O’Keefe will love this deeply romantic and uplifting debut novel about losing everything you thought you wanted—and getting exactly what you need.
Sophie Richards has been looking forward to a much-needed girls’ night out: a Rolling Stones tribute-band concert, a few drinks, a distraction from her grueling nursing shifts in acute care. But when her best friend bails, Sophie gets stuck with a blind date.
Although Brett Nicholson may be the hottest carpenter alive, and Sophie may technically be single, she isn’t exactly on the market. Six years ago she found The One. He was everything Sophie dreamed a man could be—and then she lost him. In an instant, her whole life changed, and she forgot all about happily ever after.
But as she gets to know Brett, Sophie starts to wonder about the future for the first time. With a broken heart still clouding her mind, jumping into a new relationship feels impossible. When she’s in his arms, walking away feels even harder. Now Sophie faces an impossible choice: living in the past or choosing love in the here and now.
----- ----- -----
-- My Thoughts --
:: DEBUT NOVEL :: First-person, present tense narrative with some flashback windows into the past.
Two not-so social people with common friends agree to go together to a concert. Neither have really dated in years. She's experienced a tragedy, he grew tired of casual dating. They defy the odds and find they have an easy, immediate connection and chemistry. The reader is provided ample backstory on Sophie, but not a lot on Brett, it's almost like he's a secondary character rather than a lead male. The characters are very feel-good and well-written. They are all very likable and the interaction is good. I just really wish there was more depth and background for Brett's character. The plot is sweet and flows nicely. The main conflict runs through the length of the book and is finally resolved in the last few chapters, which provides enough time to tie all loose ends and provide a solid and satisfactory conclusion. Predictability is virtually non-existent. Overall, this was quite a pleasant debut novel.
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Score: 4.0 -- Stars: 4
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Tina J @ Unbound Passion
Reviewing for:
Smut Book Junkie Reviews
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January 22, 2015
A lovely debut novel from Chelsey Krause: her writing is comfortable and familiar, and feels like you have developed a friendship with her as you travel through the story. Her strong writing voice keeps readers engaged even with the instances of over-shared interior monologue and perseveration that stalled the plot from moving forward.
Sophie has been dragging her sorrows along for several years now, Finding some odd sort of comfort in the ‘take no chances’ approach to life, she is stalled: a job that frustrates her, guilt and sorrow and fear about taking a chance only to suffer it all again. Something has to give, and Sophie has to learn to adjust, deal with and move forward or be stuck forever.
Cancelled plans with her best friend lead her into meeting Brett on a blind date set up. While Sophie isn’t expecting much, the connection that they have, and Brett’s oh so sexy smile send up sparks of hope. But, still caught in her past, we are really seeing only her side, despite Brett’s determination and consistent efforts to convince her to take a chance. You can’t help but cheer Brett on at first, then wonder if he’s up for sainthood: patient, and non-threatening he’s engaged in a battle with a ghost for recognition and satisfaction in the relationship, one that only foreshadows a disappointing loss.
Sophie’s obsession with the loss of Aaron is understandable, but her determination to keep the past alive with her continued reviewing and comparison of their relationship to the tentative connection with Brett is doing little but holding her hostage. And she spends far too much time inside her head overthinking: as we are privy to her interior monologue, we see every moment. While I appreciated Krause’s efforts to give a ‘fuller’ view of her thoughts, several sections of the interior monologue were unnecessarily long and detailed, with too much repetition. She isn’t moving forward, she’s guilt ridded by feeling for Brett is somehow showing her as unfaithful to her feelings for Aaron. These are recurrent themes that showed just how stalled in life she was: and her inability to give Brett an honest accounting of her feelings leaves him with the hard choices. Should he beat his head against the brick wall of Sophie’s inability to move on, risking more hurt or should he walk away now
I was up and down with the story – I found Krause was mostly successful in her use of first person, although not every moment of each day needed examination, and while Sophie was repeating and circling the same issues, some of those repetitive moments could have been tightened up or removed entirely. As a debut novel this was a rousing success, showing great promise for this author in the future.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Sophie has been dragging her sorrows along for several years now, Finding some odd sort of comfort in the ‘take no chances’ approach to life, she is stalled: a job that frustrates her, guilt and sorrow and fear about taking a chance only to suffer it all again. Something has to give, and Sophie has to learn to adjust, deal with and move forward or be stuck forever.
Cancelled plans with her best friend lead her into meeting Brett on a blind date set up. While Sophie isn’t expecting much, the connection that they have, and Brett’s oh so sexy smile send up sparks of hope. But, still caught in her past, we are really seeing only her side, despite Brett’s determination and consistent efforts to convince her to take a chance. You can’t help but cheer Brett on at first, then wonder if he’s up for sainthood: patient, and non-threatening he’s engaged in a battle with a ghost for recognition and satisfaction in the relationship, one that only foreshadows a disappointing loss.
Sophie’s obsession with the loss of Aaron is understandable, but her determination to keep the past alive with her continued reviewing and comparison of their relationship to the tentative connection with Brett is doing little but holding her hostage. And she spends far too much time inside her head overthinking: as we are privy to her interior monologue, we see every moment. While I appreciated Krause’s efforts to give a ‘fuller’ view of her thoughts, several sections of the interior monologue were unnecessarily long and detailed, with too much repetition. She isn’t moving forward, she’s guilt ridded by feeling for Brett is somehow showing her as unfaithful to her feelings for Aaron. These are recurrent themes that showed just how stalled in life she was: and her inability to give Brett an honest accounting of her feelings leaves him with the hard choices. Should he beat his head against the brick wall of Sophie’s inability to move on, risking more hurt or should he walk away now
I was up and down with the story – I found Krause was mostly successful in her use of first person, although not every moment of each day needed examination, and while Sophie was repeating and circling the same issues, some of those repetitive moments could have been tightened up or removed entirely. As a debut novel this was a rousing success, showing great promise for this author in the future.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
January 2, 2015
ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review.
I really liked this book.
This is the story about a young woman’s struggle to move on from a past love and enjoy the love that is standing in front of her in the present.
I didn’t realize that this is the first book by Chelsey Krause until after I finished the book. It is a great debut novel. I like the way this author writes and I expect more great books from her in the future.
There are many things that I like about the book and a few things that rubbed me the wrong way. Let me explain.
What I liked:
I love the premise of the book. I know people who have to move on from the past and struggle with ways to do that. I could feel Sophie’s pain and heartache and the guilt that she can’t let go.
I love the cast of characters—all of them. Sophie is believable in her struggle. She is funny and compassionate but hurting and full of guilt. I love her best friend, Samira and her family. They are a beautiful family who love Sophie and give her support in her struggle. Brett is a great man and someone that any girl would want. His kindness to Sophie’s parents is very touching and one of my favorite scenes in the book. The only person I didn’t like in the book is Aaron’s mother but I understood her actions.
I love that Samira’s family is from India. It was nice to get a glimpse into another culture especially the wedding.
I love the humor that runs through the book. It makes the characters and situations real and makes the reader laugh out loud.
I’m a Rolling Stones fan. I love the way their music is woven through the story.
I love the ending. The way Sophie works through her issues. The way she finds Brett to tell him what she wants. I love the epilog.
What I didn’t like:
The flashbacks are too much. It is confusing sometimes. I found myself wanting Aaron back instead of hoping Sophie found a way to give up the ghost and move on with Brett. I get that we need to know what Sophie had with Aaron to understand why her relationship with Brett isn’t progressing but it is just too much.
I hated Brett’s ultimatum. Who says something like that in Sophie’s situation? I know what he needed but, for me, it didn’t come across like something the character would do.
Not sure about:
Brett’s need to wait until marriage to have sex. I understand his change in philosophy but this just didn’t seem realistic. I wasn’t a big deal but it did make me a little frustrated with him.
All in all the likes far out weight the don't likes. If you need an easy read for a lazy day (or a not so lazy day) this is a good choice. I’m looking forward to reading more from Ms. Krause.
I really liked this book.
This is the story about a young woman’s struggle to move on from a past love and enjoy the love that is standing in front of her in the present.
I didn’t realize that this is the first book by Chelsey Krause until after I finished the book. It is a great debut novel. I like the way this author writes and I expect more great books from her in the future.
There are many things that I like about the book and a few things that rubbed me the wrong way. Let me explain.
What I liked:
I love the premise of the book. I know people who have to move on from the past and struggle with ways to do that. I could feel Sophie’s pain and heartache and the guilt that she can’t let go.
I love the cast of characters—all of them. Sophie is believable in her struggle. She is funny and compassionate but hurting and full of guilt. I love her best friend, Samira and her family. They are a beautiful family who love Sophie and give her support in her struggle. Brett is a great man and someone that any girl would want. His kindness to Sophie’s parents is very touching and one of my favorite scenes in the book. The only person I didn’t like in the book is Aaron’s mother but I understood her actions.
I love that Samira’s family is from India. It was nice to get a glimpse into another culture especially the wedding.
I love the humor that runs through the book. It makes the characters and situations real and makes the reader laugh out loud.
I’m a Rolling Stones fan. I love the way their music is woven through the story.
I love the ending. The way Sophie works through her issues. The way she finds Brett to tell him what she wants. I love the epilog.
What I didn’t like:
The flashbacks are too much. It is confusing sometimes. I found myself wanting Aaron back instead of hoping Sophie found a way to give up the ghost and move on with Brett. I get that we need to know what Sophie had with Aaron to understand why her relationship with Brett isn’t progressing but it is just too much.
I hated Brett’s ultimatum. Who says something like that in Sophie’s situation? I know what he needed but, for me, it didn’t come across like something the character would do.
Not sure about:
Brett’s need to wait until marriage to have sex. I understand his change in philosophy but this just didn’t seem realistic. I wasn’t a big deal but it did make me a little frustrated with him.
All in all the likes far out weight the don't likes. If you need an easy read for a lazy day (or a not so lazy day) this is a good choice. I’m looking forward to reading more from Ms. Krause.
January 14, 2015
This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.
**I received a copy from the publisher, but that did not influence the review**
3-3.5 stars What a cute, quick read. There were adorable main characters as well as great secondary ones that I had fun getting to know.
Only told from Sophie’s POV we got to see her love again, after she suffered a terrible loss years earlier. While she threw herself into her work it turned out that her career was not something that inspired her. So between her personal and professional life Sophie was due for things to shake up. As we took this journey with her we were treated to some hilarious inner dialogue. And when I say hilarious, I mean hilarious. It made me giggle out loud more than once, and I found her sense of humor fantastic.
Not only did Sophie have great internal thoughts, but her banter with Brett was almost just as entertaining. I could feel the ease they both had with each other and it was fun to watch them fall in love. Both of them felt the sparks, but both of them were a little gun shy. I was rooting for them and loved that they both couldn’t help but fall for each other.
Now, I want to talk more about the romance…the chemistry foundation was there but it never got off the ground. I’m talking about the stuff that makes my heart flutter. How they held hands, how they touched, breathed in each other’s essence. There were starts of that, but then the chapter would end or Sophie would say we had an “epic make out session”. I am greedy! I want to know: why was it epic? tell me tell me tell me Was he holding her waist? Could he feel her pulse in her neck? Were there sparks? Yes, all of that. Sophie’s thoughts were definitely hot but then she never told us about the stuff…like kissing, and I love me some good kissing!! The sexual tension was totally there, but it could have been developed so much more.
The ending was nice but I still never even got that kiss or big scene I was hoping for all along. However, it made me very happy inside and I found Can’t Always Get What You Want a sweet and loving read.
**I received a copy from the publisher, but that did not influence the review**
3-3.5 stars What a cute, quick read. There were adorable main characters as well as great secondary ones that I had fun getting to know.
Only told from Sophie’s POV we got to see her love again, after she suffered a terrible loss years earlier. While she threw herself into her work it turned out that her career was not something that inspired her. So between her personal and professional life Sophie was due for things to shake up. As we took this journey with her we were treated to some hilarious inner dialogue. And when I say hilarious, I mean hilarious. It made me giggle out loud more than once, and I found her sense of humor fantastic.
Not only did Sophie have great internal thoughts, but her banter with Brett was almost just as entertaining. I could feel the ease they both had with each other and it was fun to watch them fall in love. Both of them felt the sparks, but both of them were a little gun shy. I was rooting for them and loved that they both couldn’t help but fall for each other.
Now, I want to talk more about the romance…the chemistry foundation was there but it never got off the ground. I’m talking about the stuff that makes my heart flutter. How they held hands, how they touched, breathed in each other’s essence. There were starts of that, but then the chapter would end or Sophie would say we had an “epic make out session”. I am greedy! I want to know: why was it epic? tell me tell me tell me Was he holding her waist? Could he feel her pulse in her neck? Were there sparks? Yes, all of that. Sophie’s thoughts were definitely hot but then she never told us about the stuff…like kissing, and I love me some good kissing!! The sexual tension was totally there, but it could have been developed so much more.
The ending was nice but I still never even got that kiss or big scene I was hoping for all along. However, it made me very happy inside and I found Can’t Always Get What You Want a sweet and loving read.
January 1, 2016
Can't Always Get What You Want is a lovely heart-wrenching story of love and loss. Sophie hasn't gotten over what happened to Aaron years ago. She hasn't been able to let herself date someone for real. When her best friend Samira cancels on going to a concert with Sophie, Samira suggests she should take Brett, a man that works with Samira's boyfriend. Sophie is reluctant at first, but gives in and calls Brett. They start going out but Sophie can't let go of her first love, which puts a huge dent in her relationship with Brett.
I saw a few negative reviews on Goodreads but I actually enjoyed the story. I must say I did suffer a little when Sophie would flashback to her past with Aaron—I might have teared up a little. The loss and guilt she has felt over the years has pushed her to become guarded. Brett comes in the picture and he is a very nice and handsome man. Now, while sometimes I love the insta-love characters have, it really didn't do it for me with this story. I wish I had gotten more out of Brett's and Sophie's relationship because I couldn't really click with them. Now, with Sophie and Aaron, I really love those scenes in the book. It made the book come to life.
While I do get why Brett was upset when he found out the truth, at the same time, I wish he would have given more credit to Sophie. If I was in her shoes, I probably would still be devastated and hurt. But she also made a mistake: she didn't tell Brett the truth from the beginning.
I thought Sophie was going to be a fun and fiery kind of girl but I don't think she really got to shine in the story. The spotlight was more on her pain and struggle. While I understand it is necessary to show the readers the real pain Sophie was in, I think the focus should have been divided between her struggles and her relationship with Brett. As I mentioned before, there wasn't much of a connection between these two characters.
I am giving this story 3 stars mainly because of the flashbacks of Aaron and Sophie. Those moments were beautiful and heart-wrenching towards the end of their story. Overall, it is a fast read and at times emotional. I think many readers will enjoy it.
I saw a few negative reviews on Goodreads but I actually enjoyed the story. I must say I did suffer a little when Sophie would flashback to her past with Aaron—I might have teared up a little. The loss and guilt she has felt over the years has pushed her to become guarded. Brett comes in the picture and he is a very nice and handsome man. Now, while sometimes I love the insta-love characters have, it really didn't do it for me with this story. I wish I had gotten more out of Brett's and Sophie's relationship because I couldn't really click with them. Now, with Sophie and Aaron, I really love those scenes in the book. It made the book come to life.
While I do get why Brett was upset when he found out the truth, at the same time, I wish he would have given more credit to Sophie. If I was in her shoes, I probably would still be devastated and hurt. But she also made a mistake: she didn't tell Brett the truth from the beginning.
I thought Sophie was going to be a fun and fiery kind of girl but I don't think she really got to shine in the story. The spotlight was more on her pain and struggle. While I understand it is necessary to show the readers the real pain Sophie was in, I think the focus should have been divided between her struggles and her relationship with Brett. As I mentioned before, there wasn't much of a connection between these two characters.
I am giving this story 3 stars mainly because of the flashbacks of Aaron and Sophie. Those moments were beautiful and heart-wrenching towards the end of their story. Overall, it is a fast read and at times emotional. I think many readers will enjoy it.
June 25, 2016
4.5 Stars!
What a wonderful and sweet story from debut author Chelsey Krause! Can't Always Get What You Want grabs you right from the beginning and never lets go. The compelling plot is complete with laugh out loud moments, emotion, and a heroine that is truly warmhearted. Ms. Krause is a skillful storyteller and her words kept me engaged from the very first chapter.
This is the story of twenty-four year old Sophie Richards. In college, Sophie met her first love, Aaron, and lost him to brain cancer before she even earned her degree. Observing the nurses while they took care of him, led to her decision to become a nurse. Sophie lost a huge part of herself when Aaron died five years ago, and as result, she has been unable to move forward, meet new people, or have a romantic relationship.
Samira, Sophie's best friend from childhood who is also a nurse, remains her biggest supporter and confidant. Sophie's life finally takes a turn for the better, when Sam convinces her to take Brett Nicholson, her fiance's business partner, to an imitation Rolling Stones concert. Sophie and Brent hit it off immediately, and slowly get to know each other. Once Sophie is able to reconcile the past, she is able to find her happily ever after with Brent.
This book is filled with raw emotions from all the characters. To my surprise, Ravi, Sam's dad, played a major role in Sophie's ability to let go of the past, even though he played a very minor role throughout the story. I loved how Ms. Krause moved the plot effortlessly from the past to the present, and as a result, I never felt lost or questioned the story's timeline. In addition, lots of fun and exciting subplots are going on as well. Although Sophie and Brent's relationship is interesting and fun, I found the love between Sophie and Aaron to be beyond palpable, and I will never forget the one-of-a-kind relationship they shared. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to reading Ms. Krause's future works.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
What a wonderful and sweet story from debut author Chelsey Krause! Can't Always Get What You Want grabs you right from the beginning and never lets go. The compelling plot is complete with laugh out loud moments, emotion, and a heroine that is truly warmhearted. Ms. Krause is a skillful storyteller and her words kept me engaged from the very first chapter.
This is the story of twenty-four year old Sophie Richards. In college, Sophie met her first love, Aaron, and lost him to brain cancer before she even earned her degree. Observing the nurses while they took care of him, led to her decision to become a nurse. Sophie lost a huge part of herself when Aaron died five years ago, and as result, she has been unable to move forward, meet new people, or have a romantic relationship.
Samira, Sophie's best friend from childhood who is also a nurse, remains her biggest supporter and confidant. Sophie's life finally takes a turn for the better, when Sam convinces her to take Brett Nicholson, her fiance's business partner, to an imitation Rolling Stones concert. Sophie and Brent hit it off immediately, and slowly get to know each other. Once Sophie is able to reconcile the past, she is able to find her happily ever after with Brent.
This book is filled with raw emotions from all the characters. To my surprise, Ravi, Sam's dad, played a major role in Sophie's ability to let go of the past, even though he played a very minor role throughout the story. I loved how Ms. Krause moved the plot effortlessly from the past to the present, and as a result, I never felt lost or questioned the story's timeline. In addition, lots of fun and exciting subplots are going on as well. Although Sophie and Brent's relationship is interesting and fun, I found the love between Sophie and Aaron to be beyond palpable, and I will never forget the one-of-a-kind relationship they shared. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to reading Ms. Krause's future works.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
January 15, 2015
I got this book from Netgalley and was very excited to start it. The title caught me first.
I really enjoyed the story line, and the characters. Sophie tended to get on my nerves though and at times I wanted to shake her. Sophie has been in mourning for her lost love for 6 years, yes 6 years. She blames herself, him, and everyone else for his death.
How could she have missed he had cancer? Why didn't he go to the doctor sooner? Why couldn't they do more?
You get the idea. She is angry and hurting, and instead of getting Aaron go and move on to a new love she holds on to his ghost. That is until her bestfriend sets her up on a blind date to a concert where she meets Brett, beautifully handsome, sweet, and everything she needs rolled into one. But as she gets closer to Brett, Aaron starts to get in the way. Sophie starts to feel guilty about moving on, and memories of Aaron start popping up, until she is calling his name out in her sleep and Brett there to hear.
Things catch up fast to Sophie and she finally has to tell Brett about Aaron and what happened. Brett knew something was hold Sophie back from him but he never expected it to be a ghost. He wants all of her, her whole heart, and Sophie could only give him a part of it, because a part of it still belongs to Aaron. Can she let him go so that she can focus on the future? Or will she let her past and Aaron hold her back?
*** I enjoyed he concept of this book. I really didn't like the way EVERYTHING is spelled out with Sophie. Her inner talks got on my nerves and I skimmed through those, and the texting was a tad bit confusing to guess what is a text and what isn't.
Other than that I loved it all. Brett was by far my favorite. I loved him!
I really enjoyed the story line, and the characters. Sophie tended to get on my nerves though and at times I wanted to shake her. Sophie has been in mourning for her lost love for 6 years, yes 6 years. She blames herself, him, and everyone else for his death.
How could she have missed he had cancer? Why didn't he go to the doctor sooner? Why couldn't they do more?
You get the idea. She is angry and hurting, and instead of getting Aaron go and move on to a new love she holds on to his ghost. That is until her bestfriend sets her up on a blind date to a concert where she meets Brett, beautifully handsome, sweet, and everything she needs rolled into one. But as she gets closer to Brett, Aaron starts to get in the way. Sophie starts to feel guilty about moving on, and memories of Aaron start popping up, until she is calling his name out in her sleep and Brett there to hear.
Things catch up fast to Sophie and she finally has to tell Brett about Aaron and what happened. Brett knew something was hold Sophie back from him but he never expected it to be a ghost. He wants all of her, her whole heart, and Sophie could only give him a part of it, because a part of it still belongs to Aaron. Can she let him go so that she can focus on the future? Or will she let her past and Aaron hold her back?
*** I enjoyed he concept of this book. I really didn't like the way EVERYTHING is spelled out with Sophie. Her inner talks got on my nerves and I skimmed through those, and the texting was a tad bit confusing to guess what is a text and what isn't.
Other than that I loved it all. Brett was by far my favorite. I loved him!
January 16, 2015
This is Chelsey Krause’s debut novel, and all I can say is WOW! I absolutely LOVED it. If you read the book description, you know that this is the story of Sophie Richards and Brett Nicholson – and what a story it is. This book brought forth so many emotions. I laughed, I cried, and I laughed and cried at the same time. What a voice Chelsey Krause has in her story telling. She made the characters real – and oh so lovable. You just want to follow them around forever.
The story was heart wrenching. Due to her inner dialog, you always knew where Sophie’s emotions were coming from. This was very helpful to the reader. Through this dialog we got to know Aaron, Sophie’s first love. Brett is a sweetheart that you cannot help but fall in love with as the story develops. It’s easy to see why Sophie is falling for him, too. I really can't say more about the story without spoiling it. I will say that if you love an emotional romance, you won't regret reading Can't Always Get What You Want. I KNOW this book will be in my "Top 10 Favorites for 2015." It will stay with me.
The secondary characters are so much fun to get to know. I loved Ravi. He is the father of Sophie’s best friend, Samira (Sam). The banter between Ravi and his wife Nita is very entertaining. I was glad that Sophie had them in her life. She also had very supportive parents.
Chelsey Krause writes with a masterful balance of cutting wit and realistic dialogue. Deliciously romantic and often heartbreaking, this is a book you'll want to climb inside of and stay as long as possible. I will be waiting for future books from this author. Great debut, Ms. Krause! Brava!
*An advance reading copy was generously provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story was heart wrenching. Due to her inner dialog, you always knew where Sophie’s emotions were coming from. This was very helpful to the reader. Through this dialog we got to know Aaron, Sophie’s first love. Brett is a sweetheart that you cannot help but fall in love with as the story develops. It’s easy to see why Sophie is falling for him, too. I really can't say more about the story without spoiling it. I will say that if you love an emotional romance, you won't regret reading Can't Always Get What You Want. I KNOW this book will be in my "Top 10 Favorites for 2015." It will stay with me.
The secondary characters are so much fun to get to know. I loved Ravi. He is the father of Sophie’s best friend, Samira (Sam). The banter between Ravi and his wife Nita is very entertaining. I was glad that Sophie had them in her life. She also had very supportive parents.
Chelsey Krause writes with a masterful balance of cutting wit and realistic dialogue. Deliciously romantic and often heartbreaking, this is a book you'll want to climb inside of and stay as long as possible. I will be waiting for future books from this author. Great debut, Ms. Krause! Brava!
*An advance reading copy was generously provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2014
Sophie Richards is guarding her heart. She lost her first love five years ago and she has never truly moved on. At the insistence of her best friend she goes on a blind date with her best friend's boyfriend's partner, Brett.
Brett Nicholson is surprised to receive a phone call from Sophie inviting him to a concert. He's more surprised about agreeing to go out with her. Shockingly, they realized they have great chemistry. Soon, he wants more. He wants them to continue building a relationship together. Yet, Brett doesn't understand what's holding her up from doing the same.
I was very excited to read this book. The beginning of it got me intrigued. However, some of the choices Sophie made through the book had me shaking my head. I couldn't understand why she was treating Brett that way. I thought Brett was very understanding and a great guy despite Sophie hurting him with her silence. Her indecision to move on took away some of her likability. Brett did surprise me with his ultimatum. I want to say I understand why he did it but I felt it was completely out of character for him.
“I want you to want me more than anyone else in the world. I want to be the first person you think of in the morning, and the last person you think of when you fall asleep. I want to be the man of your dreams. You’re already the girl of mine.”
Cliffhanger: No
A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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Brett Nicholson is surprised to receive a phone call from Sophie inviting him to a concert. He's more surprised about agreeing to go out with her. Shockingly, they realized they have great chemistry. Soon, he wants more. He wants them to continue building a relationship together. Yet, Brett doesn't understand what's holding her up from doing the same.
I was very excited to read this book. The beginning of it got me intrigued. However, some of the choices Sophie made through the book had me shaking my head. I couldn't understand why she was treating Brett that way. I thought Brett was very understanding and a great guy despite Sophie hurting him with her silence. Her indecision to move on took away some of her likability. Brett did surprise me with his ultimatum. I want to say I understand why he did it but I felt it was completely out of character for him.
“I want you to want me more than anyone else in the world. I want to be the first person you think of in the morning, and the last person you think of when you fall asleep. I want to be the man of your dreams. You’re already the girl of mine.”
Cliffhanger: No
A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
January 8, 2015
Falling in love is never easy, but when you find it and it is everything you dreamed it would be it should last...right?!? Sophia has spent the last 5 years trying too figure that out. She has closed herself off living in the past and not moving forward.
Brett has stopped dating, not wanting to go through the motions he has closed himself off to the possibilities of something great. Leave it to his partners girlfriend to shake things up for him and Sophia when they meet their past is thrown out the window and the possibilities are waiting for them.
I loved this story! I was reading while waiting for the car rental attendant to come and help me and wouldn't you know it I started to cry! Yeah I was hoping and praying that no one would see the tears stream down my cheeks as I read this amazingly touching story. Fate why can't she tell you ahead of time that hey this is only temporary, because I have someone that is waiting for you but first you have to go through this. Why doesn't she come with warning labels!?!
Brett is the man of every woman's dreams a man that is looking for thee one person to keep and when he finds her makes her the center of his world.....SWOON.
The heart ache that Sophia goes through, trying to make sense of her life and heart is painful to read, only because Chelsey Krause draws you into the book and you literally become Sophia. You suffer the confusion, sadness, happiness and passion that she feels for Brett and her past. I my opinion when you can't help but let you emotions show while you are reading a book, well then that is one hell of a story! Yeah this is one hell of a story!
@NetGalley
#NetGalley
Brett has stopped dating, not wanting to go through the motions he has closed himself off to the possibilities of something great. Leave it to his partners girlfriend to shake things up for him and Sophia when they meet their past is thrown out the window and the possibilities are waiting for them.
I loved this story! I was reading while waiting for the car rental attendant to come and help me and wouldn't you know it I started to cry! Yeah I was hoping and praying that no one would see the tears stream down my cheeks as I read this amazingly touching story. Fate why can't she tell you ahead of time that hey this is only temporary, because I have someone that is waiting for you but first you have to go through this. Why doesn't she come with warning labels!?!
Brett is the man of every woman's dreams a man that is looking for thee one person to keep and when he finds her makes her the center of his world.....SWOON.
The heart ache that Sophia goes through, trying to make sense of her life and heart is painful to read, only because Chelsey Krause draws you into the book and you literally become Sophia. You suffer the confusion, sadness, happiness and passion that she feels for Brett and her past. I my opinion when you can't help but let you emotions show while you are reading a book, well then that is one hell of a story! Yeah this is one hell of a story!
@NetGalley
#NetGalley
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