You Were Never Not Mine

Lancaster Prep Next Generation #3

by Monica Murphy

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE NEXT INSTALMENT IN THE LANCASTER PREP SERIES.

Sexy, swoony and very spicy, the international bestselling sensation, Monica Murphy, is back with an emotionally charged novel bound to set pulses racing . . .

The tables turn when the girl August Lancaster couldn’t stand at Lancaster Prep shows up at the same university he attends.
She is suddenly everywhere.
And is determined to remind him exactly who she is . . .

Monica Murphy 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, College, New Adult, College Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

Audible Audio

First published June 3, 2025

About the author

New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author. A believer in kissing. A believer of love.

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Reviews

[veerali · Rating 3 out of 5]

⁀ ⊹ ₊ “It’s kind of fun, right? This whole enemies thing we’ve got going on?”

the premise was pretty fire. august and sinclair, destined to be rivals from day one, practically spitting venom at each other across crowded rooms. we've got the classic rich kid drama, simmering resentments, and enough shared history to make things messy. the beginning was okay and interesting. i was expecting fireworks, explosions of pent-up feelings, the whole shebang. i was READY to be emotionally compromised.

but then crickets.

honestly, the middle of this book just kinda fizzled. the plot started feeling like it was dragging its feet, and i found myself fighting the urge to just dnf. like, where was the angst i was promised. the simmering hatred that slowly morphs into something more? It felt like the tension just deflated like a sad balloon animal.

⁀ ⊹ ₊ Maybe, hopefully we’ll run into each other again someday. Years from now. And if we do? She’d better watch out.

this is where things really went south for me. august and sinclair were supposed to be this explosive, magnetic pair. but their interactions felt forced. there were no butterflies, no palpable attraction, no anything that made me believe these two were actually drawn to each other.

i need my enemies-to-lovers to be believable. i need to feel the conflict, the push and pull, the underlying attraction that simmers beneath the animosity. but with august and sinclair, it just felt like they were going through the motions. their interactions lacked the depth and nuance that makes this trope so appealing. and it makes me want to scream.

now, i don't want to sound like i hated this book. it wasn't terrible, just disappointing. there were glimpses of potential, moments where i thought things might finally click. but those moments were fleeting, overshadowed by the overall lack of chemistry and tension.

⤿ enemies to lovers
⤿ second chance
⤿ slow burn
⤿ he falls first
⤿ bully
⤿ anti-hero mmc

thank you monica murphy and valentine pr for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

౨ৎ ⋮ more by monica murphy
─ lancaster prep series
─ lancaster prep next generation series

[rosie · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS THIS HORRIBLE BOOK. no this book HAS to be rage bait. When tf would I EVER allow a BOY to tell me wtf to do with MY FUCKING BODY‼️ he goes down on her and sees hair FUCKING NORMAL and tells her to wax that shit. and what does she do? she doesn't ask herself if she likes it like that or wtv SHE FUCKING WAXES THAT SHIT. and then in his pov he's thinking "everything was perfect except that her pussy was hairy and I hope she waxes" EX FUCKING CUSE ME⁉️ and she fucking goes and WAXES omg this was ASS before but that just made it- I NEVER rate dnf but THIS SHIT⁉️ NO FUCKING WAY IVE NEVER HATED A BOOK AS MUCH AS I HATE THIS FUCKING STUPID UGLY DISGUSTING PATHETIC BOOK THAT DOESNT SESERVE TO BE CALLED A BOOK.

[jessicaaaaaa]

i know how this will end, but i’m tuned in for auggie.

(fingers crossed your book is better than your dads.)

[ً · Rating 1 out of 5]

a loser just like his dad

also pmo so bad when he told her to be bare after eating her out and she does it?? like why tf are you listening to what a MAN says??? set the feminist movement back by like 50 years

[Hannahhh ;) [free palestine]]

Have I read book two of this yet? Nope. Am I still so excited for this? YES. Monica is doing her best to get as much money from this series as possible and idc because im in support of that. I eat up these Lancaster books- they’re everything to me ✨

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

EEEE OMG ITS OUT!! I need to get my hands on this asap (I still haven’t read book 2 lol)

[Shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect bully romance troupe read. Loved how much this correlates with their parents love story from Things I Wanted to Say. August lived up to be just like his father. I could read about the Lancaster's & never get tired of their individual love stories <3

[Anjalee Sawant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait for this one.... August you better prove yourself to be Whit and Summer's Bratty Boy!

It's perfect for a one time read!

[Angela An · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not good. Why do the female characters never have a goddamn backbone??? Girl…that is your high school bully stand up!!!!!!!! Pacing was not good, the characters are boring and cliche, and I was just uninterested.

[Tiffany's TBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read a book by Monica Murphy, I swear it's my new favorite-and You Were Never Not Mine is no exception. I couldn't put it down! Monica has this magical way of pulling you into a story and not letting go. This one? Pure perfection.

I'm completely obsessed with August and Sin. Like, seriously obsessed. There's just something about a broody, fiercely protective man who would burn the world down for the one he loves-chef's kiss. August is intense in all the best ways, and I was swooning nonstop.

Honestly, I think Monica might be putting something addictive in these books, because I can't get enough. If you love angsty, all-consuming romance with unforgettable characters, you need this book in your life. 10/10 recommend. Prepare to be obsessed.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

August Lancaster typical player of course until he sets his eyes on Sinclair, then he just can’t stay away from her. He doesn’t realize she’s the girl he tormented back in high school but that still does nothing to deter the magnetic pull towards each other.

[Kelsey-rose&#x1f498; · Rating 1 out of 5]

Update to 1 star cus I can !!
The more I think for his book I think of how bad it is compared to keep me in your heart. Monica did so well with Arabella and Rowan and then she wrote this slop. I also wanna be honest what made people love the Lancaster universe was not WHIT !!! We wanted less Whitt . With Rowan we got an mmc who truly was a Lancaster who felt different to the rest and then we got August. Who I’m 99% sure was described to be a hacker like character in keep me in your heart .

WHERE WAS THAT HERE ??

Edited rating: 4 days after reading it cus the 2nd epilogue made me go wtf ?? I did really enjoy this book though. - but that epilogue knocked a star off

Thank you Valentines pr for the arc

If you know me you will know my obsession with this universe ( the Lancaster universe) so when I got an email the other day saying “you’ve been picked for this arc “ it was a very good surprise.

Honestly I absolutely loved Sinclairs and augusts chemistry - the romance , the sex , the whole “I hate you vibes “ it was fun seeing these two interact and obviously see august Lancaster fall so fucking hard and he so obsessed with SINCLAIR . I fucking loved it . And i honestly feel like at the end of the day I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE FINAL BOOK IN THIS SERIES & that this is the perfect book to wrap up this series . But if you know me you will know that I will never say no to another Lancaster book if there happens to be one

This book won’t be for everyone - especially for those
Who will see the dedication that this book is to Whitt Lancaster lovers & they absolutely hate him with burning passion - but I do wanna say give it a try . AUGUST ISNT WHITT ( thank god) it’s not Whitt 2.0 : but I do know unfortunately this won’t be a book for everyone & that’s okay .

This unlike the other books in this series ( because there’s like 4 other books in this universe that doesn’t take place at Lancaster prep ) it’s set in college - it’s the first Lancaster universe book set at uni !!

This book like the other 2 has no 3rd act breakup and a lack of drama ( thank god) like it was fun .

This book was so hilarious in a fun way - was august somewhat a red flag ? ( yes) but tbh he was meant to be that way - the point was he’s whits son & he’s meant to be just like Whitt ( kinda ) so any crazy moment was something I could go and say - well hes whits son. Now would I want to meet august Lancaster in real life ? ( nope) but god he was a good boyfriend in this book

Now I was kinda nervous about whether I’d like this book when I knew it was about whitts son ( especially since I’m a whit Lancaster hater through & through . However , his son August felt like him but without all the rapist ( like) qualities that WHITT SOMEWHAT HAS( actually does have). - he was a a high school bully though & that screamed Whitt - we get to see scenes from the past ( when august bullied Sinclair in her freshman year at Lancaster prep.

I loved Sinclair a lot - she did kinda give me Arabella vibes to some degree but not fully ( I do feel like her and Arabella would truly be good friends . I was not the biggest fan of Sinclairs friend cus girl …… - I don’t hate her she’s just not my fave !!

God I’m not a fan of Sinclairs parents they’re the classic shitty parent of the fmc that often appear in the Lancaster prep universe.!!

Is August an asshole ? Yes !! However does he do things that make me swoon ? ( also yes).

I recently have had my mind fucked with via the news happening in this world and it’s fucking terrifying and i couldn’t sleep - so I picked this up and knew it would distract me .

The writing in this book has that usual Monica Murphy / Lancaster universe writing & I do eat that up - because I love the Lancaster world . I loved seeing Iris again ( AUGUSt’s sister ) I am still salty she didn’t get her one book but the crumbs of her and brooks keep
Me going/ sane!!

I do wanna say that the 2nd epilogue felt icky ( kinda) considering it was a past chapter from his pov - he would’ve been17/ 18 & Sinclair would’ve been 14/15 and he was like “ oh SHES NOT FOR ME YET” . Like I feel like we could’ve done without that 2nd epilogue wasn’t needed .

There were also some inconsistencies in this book about ( the past book) that made me go what?? Like ARABELLA AND ROWAN STILL BEING IN HS EVEN THOUGH THAT WOULDNT MAKE ANY SENSE OR EVEN FIT WITH THE TIMELINE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST BOOK - SO THEY WOULDNT BE IN hs . They’d be graduated yet in this book they are still in hs. Or maybe it’s just that August doesn’t care enough to know if his cousin is still in HS OR NOT .

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will FOREVER be enamored with the world of the Lancasters- and of course forever in love Whit, the alpha hole reformed jerk who stole all our hearts and kicked off my mad obsession with this entire family and their soapey, delicious elite world. So, of course, I was over the moon to get the story of August- Whit and Summer’s son, and turns out he’s got A LOT of Whit in him. He’s a jerk, he’s stubborn and brooding and mercurial and chock full of alpha BDE. He’s got all of those alluring bully vibes that made Whit so intoxicating, and like his father HE FALLS HARD. I love so much seeing the Lancaster leading men getting so smitten with the leading lady that brings them to their knees- and like his father before him, August has an epic falling….for the girl he used to bully back in their elite school days.

I loved Sinclair and August together- and it was so fun to see college aged Lancaster fun. Their chemistry and tension keep the pages turning, and I love when a Lancaster bully turns into a swoony over the top protector and woo-er. And woo he does. You have all of the Hallmarks here I adore about Monica’s new adult- that brazeness and vitality of youth, the nostalgia of the bigness of first love, young people figuring out who they are people, and all that alluring Lancaster elite world charisma. The second gen series has been a lot lower angst/lower drama, which I've appreciated, and even with a prior bully dynamic here, it's not hard to fall for August and his down bad energy. A fantastic edition to the Lancaster world and the second generation series, perhaps my favorite second gen story of the batch!

Looking forward to checking this one out on audio too- I just love this series so much!

💄College (freshman x senior)
🎀Enemies to lovers
💄Bad boy × good girl
🎀 Second generation
💄He falls First
🎀Boy Obsessed
💄Protective Hero
🎀 Bully romance
💄Banterific
🎀Rich people ish

[Sam_books18 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rate: 5/5 Spice: 5/5

What happens when your ex bully in high school doesn’t recognize you four years later? Sinclair is starting college and her roommate convinces her to go to a frat party. She is nervous about running into the boy that ruined her freshman year of high school. August Lancaster is bored with his life until her spots a girl who he can’t stop thinking of. This book has jealousy, bad boy/good girl, virgin FMC, and MMC falls hard. I adored this book and once I started I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend!💛

[aferdita]

ive prayed for times like this. August Lancaster i know you won’t disappoint.

[Paige · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m gonna be so honest right now, every single character in this book lowkey pissed me off.

I audibly groaned every single time August had a pov. He loved to tell you how much of an arsehole he was. Bro was definitely in the middle of his emo phase during this book.

Sinclair was the BIGGEST push over EVER. At the start of the book, I liked her. She was great! But then as soon as she and August started shagging that was it. I despised her. She completely changed just to be everything he wanted and more. Which sure, relationships should have change. But not your entire personality for a man who literally harassed you completely provoked for years.

Also the fact they kept hinting towards him ‘being in love’ with her or ‘infatuated’ with her when she was FOURTEEN and he was EIGHTEEN is lowkey insane. And then it just gets confirmed in the second epilogue had me baffled.

They already bring up how much of an age gap they have ALL THE TIME. To me, it’s not that bad. But August and literally everyone in his group loved to call her ‘a baby’ which irked me. Especially since in the next sentence he’ll just go on and on about how much he wants to sleep with her.

There was also a HUGE jump between. ‘We’re hardly dating’ to ‘I wanna get married’ that came out of absolutely no where. It was so unbelievably random I just didn’t get it at all.

Sinclair and August keep going on about how ‘terrible’ Sinclair’s mother is, but she’s literally not that bad. She was perfectly nice to her daughter majority of the time. There was one scene where she was embarrassing Sinclair in the Lancaster house but that is literally it. She goes on about how this ‘traumatised’ her… but.. literally how..? She was being dramatic, sure, but she definitely didn’t do enough to traumatise her. And then she later goes on to say she says ‘parental trauma’ like girl.. no you don’t..? You and your mother are just different people. You don’t HAVE to be exactly like her or get along with her to have a normal family.

And could not take ANYTHING in this book seriously AT ALL! It was SO unserious it was actually unreal.

Maybe it was because I started this at the END of this series or maybe it’s because this is my first ever Monica Murphy book and I just don’t get the style or whatever, but this book just was not for me. But that is just my personal opinion.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

More 4 1/2 🌟 I’m sad this series has ended and I’m glad we finished with August. I think we needed just a bit more with this storyline and another epilogue much further on so we knew exactly what everyone was up to!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️

Gosh I wanted to like this story so much - I had such high hopes for my first Monica Murphy book. And sadly, I can’t say that I did & I can’t say that I would read this author again 🫣

I’m normally a sucker for an enemies to lovers storyline - throw in a dash of bullying & I’m here for it. But August & Sinclair? Meh…it was immature, chaotic (fitting for their ages?), and thin. Their background with one another felt rushed and over hyped. The distraction of “Tim” & her roommate Elise? Thin.
And the dynamic in the bedroom between Sinclair & August — raging hormones aside at their ages — felt awkward, forced, & over the top/unbelievable.

All in all - not my cup of tea. Lacked a number of stronger elements to really bring it home. While it appears to be the last book in this particular universe (& I realize that I may have missed some key elements tying into other stories), I can’t say I’m real inspired to dig into her backlog unfortunately. Honestly, a testament that not every author & story is for every reader.

[jordane · Rating 2 out of 5]

so cringe

[Celeste · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not rating any New York Times bestselling authors more than 1 star if they manage to screw up “could care less” and “couldn’t care less” in EVERY. SINGLE. BOOK. Beyond embarrassing.

[Taylor&#x1f9f8; · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for You Were Never Not Mine!

ARC Review!
This story follows August Lancaster (son of Whit Lancaster from the first series) and Sinclair. August was an absolute terrible bully to her in high school and made his power known as King of Lancaster Prep. Now flash forward, they are both are at the same university. August sets his sights on her at a frat party, without even realizing it is the girl he used to bully in high school-- and he becomes OBSESSED! Running into each other everywhere, there is only a short amount of time that Sinclair can resist August.

This is a true enemies to lovers where you can't tell if you love August or hate him.. but want them together anyways, truly toxic like them🤣

I devoured this book in 24 hours, I could not put it down! Honestly though it is 4 stars from me because I am not a huge bully fan, and the FMC seems a bit like a doormat to me at times for continuing to give in to him when he was TERRIBLE to her! But hey thats enemies to lovers for you.

I do recommend this book though, especially for those who like bully, anti hero, utterly obsessed men! And if you have read his parent's story and enjoyed it! But for me personally, it was okay and not one I would probably re- read!

Some quotes below!

“I hate you,” I hiss at him through clenched teeth. “I know.” His grin doesn’t falter. “It’s kind of fun, right? This whole enemies thing we’ve got going on?” Enemies? We’re enemies? He’s got to be kidding me.

“That you care, that you hate me, that you like me okay. That you’re in love with me and want a future with me and you can’t live without me. That you want me gone, banished from your life like I never existed. Whatever it is, however you’re feeling, I need to hear it. The words. I need them.”

“You were never not mine, Sinclair Miller. You belong to me. You always have. Even when you hated me. You were mine.”

Despite how every time I see her, I feel like I got struck by a lightning bolt...Reminds me of what my father has warned me about over the years. Once you find the woman you’re meant to be with, you’ll know, son. It’ll hit you like a lightning bolt. You’ll be struck dumb and you won’t be able to see or think about anyone else. Just her.

[Briana smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶🌶🌶🫑 3.5/5

Thank you Valentine pr & Monica Murphy for an ARC copy🩷

Now we love a Enemies to Lovers right? Well you got true Enemies when the guy is your bully from the start!!!!🤭

When you say "like father like son" August is a copy of his dad. And we love a man who can show change!! August set eyes on Sinclair Freshman year and made it his mission to make her year miserable. Flash forward to college and August has eyes for her in a new kinda way🤭😉

The tension and the way August fights feelings for Sin but quickly becomes obsessed?! 😫 Punching the ground. The banter and the jealousy got me feeling some type of way 😈 Giving me all those "touch her & die" feels!!!

I love seeing the first Gen Lancasters featured and getting to see how they have grown! The book was full of raw feelings and hardships from the two main characters, seeing them fight for what's right for them and making sure everyone stays happy.

Tropes-
🎀 Enemies to lovers
💄 He falls First
🎀 Boy Obsessed
💄Protective mmc
🎀 Bully romance
💄 bad boy × good girl

[Cristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why I keep trying this series. The MCs are very young 18/21 and it shows.

[diecora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monica has ruined all other men for me. My standards get higher and higher with every book she writes.
August is something else - red flag but green flag at the same time. The way he opened up about his feelings was refreshing.
I loved the chemistry between August and Sinclair. The communication, the gestures, THE SPICE - 10/10.
The book made me giggle and kick my feet almost the entire time. I really really enjoyed reading You Were Never Not Mine.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monica Murphy has done it again 🤯—every time I pick up one of her books, I swear it becomes my new obsession, and You Were Never Not Mine is no different 😍. I devoured this in one sitting because I physically couldn’t stop reading 📖🔥. There’s something about the way she writes that makes you feel like you’re living inside the story ✨.

August and Sinclair? Whew 😮‍💨 The chemistry is unreal 💥. August is that perfectly unhinged, overprotective bad boy who falls so hard, so fast—and I was eating it up 😮‍💨💘. Sinclair is sweet, guarded, and trying to stay invisible, but August zeroes in on her like she’s the only girl in the room 🥹🖤. And once he sees her? Game over 🎯.

It’s got all the tropes I love: ex-bully redemption 🖤, bad boy/good girl 🧸🔥, jealous MMC 😤, and that slow unraveling of feelings that makes you feel everything 🥲. If you’re into angsty college romance with just the right amount of spice 🌶️ and heart 💓, add this to your TBR immediately 🛒📚. You won’t regret it 😮‍💨🙌.

[reading_for_romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Oh my heart! A book following Whit Lancaster’s eldest son August Lancaster?! Yes please! I was such a fool for August and Sinclair’s story! Anything Monica Murphy writes, I eat it up. Especially if it’s a Lancaster Prep book! 🫶🏼

I loved how this book switched from past to present, showing how August Lancaster was Sinclair’s high school bully, to being absolutely obsessed with her in college. When I say obsessed, I mean he doesn’t know what to do with himself and his feelings! Jealous, possessive, and obsessive? Like father, like son! I lived for August’s POV! 🤗

And Sinclair, well she makes August work for it, but secretly she can’t help but want him. Even if he did make her freshman year at Lancaster Prep a living hell. She can’t deny he’s always been the most gorgeous boy to her.

The attraction, the teasing, the tension, the spice! This book had everything I love in an enemies to lovers romance. August reminded me so much of his father in this book! Reading these Next gen Lancaster Prep books are my new obsession and I need more!

“I hate you.” “I know.” His grin doesn’t falter. “It’s kind of fun, right? This whole enemies thing we’ve got going on?”

Enjoy a good bully romance? Read this one! 🩷

Thank you to Monica Murphy and Valentine PR for another amazing ARC! 🥰

[Lucy Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review 🤍
i’m so grateful to have received an arc copy!
Wow wow wow!!! every time monica writes something i EAT IT UP!
August is literally a carbon copy of Whit and i’m so here for it!
this book is definitely up there in my top 3 fav lancaster prep books for sure.
i cannot believe that this is the last one, when i read it in the acknowledgments i wanted to sob so bad.
“tell me his name and i’ll ruin him” 😍😍😍😍
i actually don’t know what to do now like im sad it’s over :/

[Ylenia Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars. It was good but there were a few inconsistencies. Like where was the part where he tells her he now remembers her from their school years? And the second epilogue 'the past' was creepy. Him talking about already wanting her when he would've been 17/18 and she would've been 14???

[Isa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so dissapointed, i was so excited

[Jess - Reader of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Were Never Not Mine by Monica Murphy 💛
Lancaster Prep Next Generation, Book 3
Interconnected Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
NA • Romance
ARC Review
402 Pages
🗓️ June 3

💛enemies to lovers
💛bvlly
💛academic setting
💛boy obsessed
💛billionaire romance
💛no 3rd act breakup

📌”What would she say if I told her she’s burrowed herself so deeply under my skin I’m afraid I’ll never be able to let her go?”

📌”You were never not mine, Sinclair Miller. You belong to me. You always have. Even when you h*ted me. You were mine.”

Okay, I know. I say this every time. But I promise this time it’s true. I really think this is my favorite Monica Murphy book 😍😭

Is it the enemies (bvlly)? The mean banter? I don’t know. It would say a lot about myself. But been a functional mess is not new news 😂

Where to start. Where to start with this beautiful, amazing, spicy pie of a book. August. Or maybe everything starts and ends with Sinclair (loooove the name btw). With the young new girl he can’t like. So he will h*te. Or maybe not h*te. He definitely didn’t h*te her. He just h*ted feelings. And she was always the one to make him feel.

The banter is off the charts with this one, the chemistry between our lead stars palpable, and the story is just flawless.

I inhaled this book. And I will hold my breath forever. 💛

[Izzy | _bookstage_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, there isn’t a Monica Murphy book that I don’t like!

I love the Lancaster books and this one was so good too. We love a enemies to lovers, right?!

In the beginning I hated August so muchhhh, he irritated me, but I learned to love him with Sinclair.

She deserves the world. She is a sunshine ray honestly. It’s so cuteee and smart. He is always irritated but with her he learned what it’s true love.

And it’s not a Monica Murphy book without some family problems. Sinclair mother is just horrible with her, it’s the true example of someone who just see money and money.
But I love Sinclair, the girl has an awful mother but it’s the sweetest.

August and her work so good together after all that happened between them too. And I loved to see them fall in love.

It was so addictive and easy to read! I just love this family and this series so much.