Get Over It, April Evans

Clover Lake #2

by Ashley Herring Blake

A summer job at a lake-town resort brings together two women with an unlikely connection in this new contemporary romance by USA Today bestselling author Ashley Herring Blake.

April Evans’ life is in shambles. She’s had to close her tattoo shop in Clover Lake and she’s subletting her house just to make rent. And her love life? Nonexistent ever since Elena, her ex-fiancée, left her for a younger woman three years ago. When she is asked to teach a summer art class at the town’s new resort called Cloverwild, April jumps at the opportunity, especially since the job comes with boarding. She’s sure that this is the silver lining she needs . . . until she meets her Daphne Love, the woman who stole her ex-fiancée. And even worse, it’s clear Daphne has no idea who April is.

Daphne Love is cursed in, well, love. She thought she’d found the unconditional love she craved in her girlfriend, Elena, but now she’s single again and utterly brokenhearted. When her friend hooks her up with a summer gig as an art instructor at a swanky resort in New Hampshire, Daphne feels optimistic for once. If only she had a roommate and coworker who didn’t seem to hate her on sight.

Their already-tense relationship gets even shakier when April and Daphne find themselves competing for a rare opportunity to showcase their art in a London museum. But slowly, barriers begin to fall, and an inexplicable allure keeps drawing them closer, leaving them to wonder if the perfect picture they’re looking for can only be painted with each other.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary, Adult, Contemporary Romance

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 3, 2026

About the author

Ashley Herring Blake is a reader, writer, and mom to two boisterous boys. She holds a Master’s degree in teaching and loves coffee, arranging her books by color, and cold weather. She is the author of the young adult novels Suffer Love, How to Make a Wish, and Girl Made of Stars (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), the middle grade novels Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World, The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James, and Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea (Little, Brown), and the adult romance novels Delilah Green Doesn't Care and Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail (Berkley). Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World was a Stonewall Honor Book, as well as a Kirkus, School Library Journal, NYPL, and NPR Best Book of 2018. Her YA novel Girl Made of Stars was a Lambda Literary Award finalist. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @ashleyhblake and on the web at www.ashleyherringblake.com. She lives in Georgia.

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

falling for your exes ex while rooming & teaching together on a summer art course?? sign me up

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy. full review to come

Bookstagram | Blog

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, fun read!

This is my first book by the author but it won’t be my last!

The two FMCs give off opposites attract vibes but aren’t actually that different. They complement each other so well and the on-page chemistry was fantastic.

This book also had a fantastic 3rd act conflict that felt so real!

And the spice was hot.

Whats to love…
- age-gap sapphic romance
- two artist FMCs (tattoo + painter)
- Age-gap
- Ex’s ex
- forced proximity (same cabin)
- small-town setting
- bucket list

🌶️- open door and sprinkled throughout. 😏they go to a play party.

| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[BJ Lillis]

Yes, got the arc!!! Also this is easily my favorite AHB cover yet, so I may have to buy a hard copy too...

[Justine]

THIS COVER IS STUNNING!!!

Feb 3rd feels so far away 😭😭

Edit: Got the ARC!!! 😆😆

[Teddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sucked me right in. I liked the astrology angle and all the art and I especially liked Daphne’s journey. It was fun seeing Ramona and Dylan again, and Sasha seems like an interesting character I’m guessing we’ll see more of. Where I struggled was the ending and ultimately wanting a little more from both characters. On April’s side, I wanted more from her family story and her evolution- it seemed like her journey was to “get over it” like the title suggests instead of processing through it fully like Daphne seems to. That said, I definitely felt the chemistry and romance between them and enjoyed how their story unfolded as well as the author’s writing style.

Short summary: April has basically lost everything and to add insult to injury her new cabinmate is the woman her ex left her for. Worse, she’s undeniably hot. And nice. And talented. And now April has more to lose.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

“I don’t know how to love you without losing myself. I don’t know how to find myself and love you at the same time. I’ve never experienced that balance. I’ve spent my entire life loving other people and ignoring myself. And that’s not real love, is it?”

There were a lot of pros and cons to this story. It was super easy to fall in love with these characters, they were well written and had their own cute personalities. Opposite from one another yet eerily similar that fit the book perfectly.

Some of the storyline didn’t sit well with me. It’s obvious that they share an ex, and my heart hurt heavily for April. It felt as though April didn’t have a lot of love for herself, and that was clear with her interactions with Daphne even after Elena’s surprise visits. She really threw herself at Daphne and I didn’t love how easily she gave herself up.

The timeline itself was hard, with Daphne JUST getting out of a long term relationship she wasn’t over. It felt like she led April on just to leave her.

Sex scenes were a bit weird with the overly talking and the nickname April gave Daphne, “Ms. Love”, but that’s more a personal preference.

What I did enjoy was the growth both MCs had, this was probably my favorite part. But again, the timeline and set up of the storyline lowered the stars for me a bit. Some of it seemed not genuine because of this.

Overall it was another solid story by Ashley Herring Blake and I’m looking forward to the next one!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ashley Herring Blake's writing so this one was no different. I was in a bit of a romance slump so when I finally picked this one up I absolutely devoured it! I love that we get to see characters from book one in the Clover Lake series as well as nods to her Bright Falls series. It's not necessary to read any of the previous books before this one, but it add character depth to the characters and fun little nods to the previous books. 4.5/5 rounded up, my only problem was that I wish I had seen a little more character growth from both love interests. Can't wait for book three starring Sasha!

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good sapphic romance, and this one didn’t let me down.

This story completely pulled me in with its emotional depth and character driven focus. Both April and Daphne are at really low points in their lives when they meet, and I genuinely felt for each of them from the start. April is dealing with the fallout of losing almost everything she built, and Daphne is reeling from a breakup she thought was going to be forever. Watching two women who are hurting collide in such a complicated, unexpected way made their connection feel layered, tender, and real.

What stood out most to me was the heart in this book. The chemistry is there, but even more than that, I loved the emotional intimacy, the quiet moments, and the way art, grief, and healing are woven into the story. Their relationship unfolds in a way that felt natural and meaningful, and I found myself fully invested in both of their journeys.

Overall, this was a heartfelt, emotional sapphic romance with beautifully flawed characters, strong emotional beats, and a very satisfying love story. If you enjoy sapphic romances that focus on healing, self-discovery, and unexpected connection, I definitely recommend this one. Thanks to Berkley for the gifted ARC.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. There’s a recent nonfiction book called The Ex-Girlfriend of My Ex-Girlfriend is My Girlfriend, and that pretty much sums up the basic plot here. April got dumped three years ago by her fiancée, Elena. Since then her life has fallen apart. She’s taken a job as art instructor at a new lake resort, which comes with room and board. And a roommate. Who is the worst possible stranger to be stuck with—Daphne Love, the talented artist and younger woman her fiancée left her for. Who seems to have no idea who April is. Now they’ve got a whole summer of living in the same room and working together.

Ashley Herring Blake excels at pining, and this latest book is no exception. April and Daphne both have a lot to work through, and the two of them getting together would be a terrible idea. But that doesn’t stop either of them from being obsessed with the other.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute addition to the series, if you like steamy sapphic romance with age gap romance you should check this one out. We have the fmcs April who is a tattoo artist in financial trouble. The other fmc Daphne is a painter who stole Aprils ex fiancée. Art first both main characters relationship is not good and very tense as it should be, add in an art competition which makes the relationship even more strained. I loved how they both got closer to each other’s reservations and the heartbreak between them. I liked how both mcs at first seemed so different but as they got to know each other realized that they had more in common. There was so much tension and chemistry between the mcs especially as their relationship grew, those steamy scenes were 🔥 especially with all the forced proximity and the cabin life. I think the personal development between both characters was also great and liked how they grew which made the third act breakup more real and understandable. Overall a fun romance, thanks to Berkley for this arc for an honest review.

[alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

cue wi$h li$t by taylor swift in the most sapphic way possible

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book truly shined in terms of religious trauma and the chemistry between April & Daphne. I loved their banter right from the beginning and the ongoing sexual tension that only grew as the book progressed. I also appreciated how the Ashley handled the third act breakup/conflict. It perfectly fit the characters and in no way deterred from the romance, in fact it added to it!

My only complaint was how present their ex Elena was. I understand that she is a huge part of how they ultimately came to know each other and fall in love, but I just wasn’t a huge fan of how she loomed over them and made several appearances in the book. I would’ve preferred she never make an on page appearance personally haha.

Other than that, this is another truly delightful sapphic romance from Ashley!

*Huge thanks to the publisher for providing me an arc in exchange for my honest review*

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get Over It, April Evans is such a wonderful, unique sapphic romance that gives very much black cat x golden retriever mixed with goth and pastel vibes. I loved getting to know April and Daphne over the course of this book and their chemistry and dynamic were amazing!! They fit together so well and the angst towards the end was top notch. My only complaint was I didn't initially love the idea of a period of separation between April and Daphne so Daphne can find herself, but I do understand why the decision was made and believe both characters developed independently and realistically enough that it was for the best. Honestly, that choice was incredibly self aware and mature of Daphne, and I don't know if I could make such a choice when I have such big mutual feelings for someone, so I admire her discipline. The storyline featuring Ramona and April's friendship and the changes due to distance and resentment was a great addition and more well needed character growth on April's end. I've loved this interconnected series so far and can't wait to follow along with Sasha's story next!

Thank you to Berkley Romance, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early and free, finished copy!

[Stacee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I loved April in the previous book, so I was really excited to get inside her head. She's so loyal and loving and absolutely gooey. Daphne is sweet and charming and naive. Together they have flirting and a tentative friendship that very quickly turns to more.

Plot wise, it's okay. It definitely felt like Daphne was the main MC with April as the secondary and that's where I started to be a bit disappointed. I wanted April to work through everything on the page instead of her deflecting and being told later that she was doing better. Not that I wanted more conflict, but I did want better resolutions.

Overall, the story did keep me reading and I'm so excited to see what Sasha's story will be; however, I absolutely believe April deserved better.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

[Kathryn Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

AHB is my favorite author but i have to say this one fell flat for me.

I absolutely loved DORR so i was super excited but FOR ME it felt like nothing was happening. Truly the entire time i was like what is the plot here. It may be because there was so much happening but I don’t know it felt like no growth or anything happened.

I do truly adore April and Sasha. As far as Daphne she is sweet and a kind soul but she was very two dimensional.

THE GOOD

April and Ramonas relationship. It felt very real and authentic for both characters and for real life situations.

I urge you to give if a try when released but for me its not my favorite.

[Anne Hartley Pfohl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the title might have doomed this one. I just got the impression AHB didn't like April very much. She even calls April's story her "recalcitrant child" in the Afterword. Then bring that struggle to the story, don't back away and apologize for it! Don't blame April! You can't simply add astrology and tarot and make a personality. The cover art for this book promised magic and discovery. It did not deliver for me.

SPOILERS follow:

It turns out Daphne was all the magic April was allowed. That was her win. Not her art, not her sense of self or accomplishment, not healing, not her dreams. Where was April's victory? When Daphne finally said yes? No plan, no future, just walk away from life as you knew it, teach art for a summer, go on a road trip and hope some day Daphne is ready for her. This was Daphne's story, not April's.
The formula isn't working anymore. I haven't really enjoyed any of AHB's work since Iris Kelly. Step back, blow it up, and return to telling stories about multidimensional characters YOU believe in. Leave Clover Lake and Bright Falls behind (no, "Suck It Up, Sasha..." and what was she doing there, anyway?). Don't just keep churning out crowd pleasers because your publisher wants to sell them. What's the love story you're dying to tell? What's the story that's going to keep you up writing, not the one that makes you angsty and frustrated? The one you wake up in the middle of the night to get back to. The one that helps you find your joy again. That's the one I want to read.
AHB seemed much more interested in helping Daphne get over her stuff than In writing April's story. April actually got over Daphne and Elena's relationship pretty darn quickly! She seemed to get over everything she faced without much work or reflection at all. Including losing her big shot to Daphne! Wow! Maybe the author was simply avoiding her main character. It was Daphne that really struggled with her relationship with Elena, not April. And so much about the rift in Ramona and April's friendship was just glossed over. Planning her whole wedding without April? Then they finally talk and it's, "Oh, yeah, you ghosted me but it's okay. Let me go put on my pink dress that you knew I'd hate." No exploration of or growth in April's relationship with her parents. Why bring it up, then? Why have them show up, add nothing to the story except more parents for us to hate, and go nowhere with it? So many threads simply dangled out there adding little or nothing to April's life changes or choices (what were those, anyway?). What about the road trip? We learned more about Daphne's journey than April's, which really led...nowhere.
Everything was surface in this book. And I felt the introduction of some light BDSM was simply gratuitous to amp up the spice because there was no real investment here on the author's part.

[aura]

So when it comes to romances Ashley Herring Blake is definitely on my top 3 authors. No doubt. She’s up there with Emily Henry, my two geniuses in the romance genre, straight and sapphic, the perfect balance. It hits the perfect spot every freaking time, and this one wasn’t the exception.

April Evans is lost, after a very messy breakup with a very manipulative woman, she now finds herself not knowing where she wants to go, so of course she closes her tattoo shop and starts teaching art with a very interesting and random coincidence of life, the girl her ex cheated on, Daphne Love, what she doesn’t expect is that Daphne is as lost as she is, also having broke up with the infamous Elena, Cruella de Vil herself, apparently she has that talent, of sucking dry the life out of her partners, but now Daphne and April find themselves in a very unique situation.

With past religious traumas, and strange family relationships, both of them realized that they’re more alike than they thought, now besides the elephant in the room, they have to compete for a spot at the Devon, an art gallery where everyone makes their big debut, while also helping Daphne live the life she couldn’t enjoy when she was secluded by her family or completely overwhelmed by Elena, and maybe there’s something building between her and April, which wouldn’t be complicated at all right?

I completely adore all of these characters with all my heart, they all have very deep and interesting backstories, that I know for a fact everyone goes through at some point in their lives, they’re so relatable and not at all on the nose. As much as I loved Ramona and Dylan’s story, April and Daphne’s really took the higher place for now. Let’s see how Sasha Sinclair will go, I can’t wait to know more about these beautiful characters. Ashley, you did it again!

[Killian · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I pulled up the ARC to start reading and immediately ended up in tears and sent a picture of the dedication to my bff. His response? "OOF"

I knew I was in for it - but I've come to expect that from AHB. What I wasn't sure of was where this would fall into my ranking of the AHB books so far - especially after Dream On, Ramona Riley didn't hit as hard as the Bright Falls books - but we are SO back! I had no idea my ex's ex would be such an appealing trope, but I definitely enjoyed it, and watching April and Daphne sort through it all kept me hooked. Spoilers abound moving forward - you've been warned!

I've come to expect third-act breakups from AHB (to the point where it's what actively detracted from my enjoyment of Ramona Riley) but this finally wasn't a "we're mad at each other because we didn't talk and so we're running" situation but a "we love each other but we gotta figures some stuff out and can't fully do that if we cling to each other" moment and it worked SO much better.

April & Daphne have my heart <3

5/5

Thank you to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the eARC for review.

[Lesia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Thank you to Berkley for the advanced copy of this ebook!

I absolutely LOVED April Evans when I met her in Dream On, Ramona Riley, but found myself almost disliking her a bit in this one. While I do really like how this book ended and the direction that things took for Daphne and April, I really struggled with tone and pace at the beginning of the book. Certain language decisions felt out of place and almost immature for the characters, and the few instances of this felt quite jarring. I also felt like I didn’t really understand either main character until around 60% in, which made it difficult to empathize with them earlier in the book.

I do think AHB did a really great job showing how people and friendships change with time, and how that can be a really difficult thing to accept. Whole April’s treatment of Ramona drove me bonkers, I can also understand why she acted the way she did to an extent, and appreciated the perspective shift by the end of the book.

Overall, this wasn’t my favorite from Ashely Herring Blake, but I still enjoyed returning to the Clover Lake world!

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for this eARC! Ashley Herring Blake always crafts such beautiful friend groups and its so easy to slip into their stories and fall in love along side them. This one was a sweet, soft, heartbroken, artistic delight. I really liked that their ending wasn't easy. Love didn't solve all their woes, they needed time and space and to know who they were before they opened themselves to eachother. Daphne and April are both very delicate but also very strong and HOT. Truly some of AHB's finest work as far as the steam factor. A beautiful follow up to Ramona Riley and I can't WAIT to see more of Sasha's story!

[Kaitlyn Sitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moody little scorpio? Say less! April Evans is such a relatable character, and not just because she’s a moody little Scorpio. You can find yourself rooting for her throughout this book, even through her moodiness. One thing I’ve always loved about this author’s writing is her character work, and this book is no different. I fell in love with April and Daphne instantly, and I was so invested in not only their love story but also their art, their friendships, and their internal struggles. What a fun read!

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 stars

Rep: Pansexual MC, lesbian MC, unspecified BIPOC side characters, lesbian and queer SCs

Content warnings: Homophobia, religious trauma, neglectful parents, family estrangement, financial struggles, friendship problems, past cheating (not by a main character), on-page sex including a BDSM play party. Brief mentions of a panic attack, menstruation, and past parental deaths in a car wreck.

Hot take: This is easily Ashley Herring Blake's best work yet. Charming, funny, sweet, sexy, evocative -- I could keep going on. All the characters feel so realistic, as well as refreshingly mature. April and Daphne have become one of my all-time favorite fictional couples. They communicate! They can admit when they're wrong! They maintain their individuality! I love them so much.

I also love that Blake focuses on friendship and not solely romance. Watching April and Ramona figure out how to make long-distance friendship work is so, so true to how it feels in real life. And a new character introduced this book (whom I won't name in case people want to go in completely blind) is an utter delight. Between her and Ramona, Blake flawlessly captures just how important it is to have friends who truly see you, whether you've known them 20 years or 20 days.

Everything about this was excellent. People who loved "Delilah Green" are going to adore this one -- it's Blake at her absolute best. I can't wait to own a physical copy!

**HUGE thank you to Berkley for granting me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Returning to Clover Lake means meeting April Evans at a moment of profound upheaval. Her tattoo shop has closed, her house is sublet out of necessity, and the life she once imagined feels increasingly out of reach. Even her closest relationship—her decades-long friendship with Ramona—has shifted into something unfamiliar, marked by distance, unspoken tension, and diverging paths. When April accepts a summer position teaching art at the newly opened Cloverwild resort, it feels less like a fresh start and more like a last attempt to steady herself.

That fragile equilibrium shatters when April discovers her roommate is Daphne Love—the woman her ex-fiancée, Elena, left her for three years earlier. What initially reads as a classic setup for animosity quickly deepens into something far more layered. Daphne had no knowledge of April’s existence, and as the truth emerges, the novel thoughtfully interrogates the power imbalance between Daphne and Elena, casting their past relationship in an unsettling light. Daphne’s story becomes one of delayed self-discovery: after years shaped by religious repression and a relationship that demanded conformity, she is only now beginning to ask who she is and what she wants.

This novel is, at its core, about growing into oneself. April must redefine her identity outside of her profession and reconcile the ways her most important relationships—romantic and platonic—have changed. Daphne’s journey is more explicit and more fragile, expressed through her evolving art and her struggle to trust her own instincts after years of emotional erosion. Healing, for both women, is neither linear nor tidy. Parental wounds, romantic betrayal, and the ache of feeling unseen thread through the narrative, giving their growth real weight.

Ashley Herring Blake situates these personal reckonings within the familiar comfort of Clover Lake, revisiting beloved locations like Clover Moon Café, Moon Lovers Trail, and Mirror Cove. These settings anchor the story, offering continuity even as the characters themselves feel unmoored. The intimacy of place amplifies the emotional stakes, making the town feel like both a refuge and a mirror for unresolved pain.

The romance between April and Daphne unfolds with deliberate care, marked by an undeniable erotic charge that extends beyond explicit scenes. When the two finally come together, their chemistry spans tenderness, playful exploration, and moments of raw intensity. The sex scenes are unapologetically steamy, but more importantly, they underscore compatibility, trust, and mutual recognition—elements that feel hard-won and deeply satisfying.

While the novel is not without imperfections, it delivers a story rich in emotional honesty and sensual confidence. Get Over It, April Evans is ultimately about choosing vulnerability, trusting oneself as the best navigator of one’s own life, and allowing desire, creativity, and connection to coexist. It is a compelling addition to the Clover Lake series—and it leaves me eagerly anticipating Sasha’s story and whatever daring directions Herring Blake explores next.

[Amber D’Ambrosio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get Over It, April Evans is a sapphic romance that grabbed me by the feelings, shook me around a little, and then tucked me in with a soft blanket and a gentle reminder to go to therapy. It is dual POV despite what the title might suggest, and somehow I ended up equally obsessed with both April and Daphne, which almost never happens for me. These women are at absolute low points in their lives, and the emotional damage is delivered with precision.

April Evans is, to put it lightly, having a Time. Her tattoo shop closes, her finances are a mess, and her once rock solid friendship with Ramona is strained by distance. So when a summer job teaching art at a resort pops up, complete with room and board, she jumps on it. Enter emotional jump scare: her cabinmate and co instructor is Daphne Love. Yes, that Daphne Love. The woman her ex fiancée cheated on her with and left her for. And just to really twist the knife, Daphne has no idea who April is. Absolutely unhinged. No notes.

I will admit, I was briefly alarmed by how sharp April is at the start. But she is self aware, and once you see how much she is carrying, it makes sense. She is hurt, defensive, and running on fumes. Relatable, honestly.

And then there is Daphne, who I just wanted to wrap in a blanket and hand a warm beverage. She genuinely thought she was about to be proposed to, only to be dumped by her very first girlfriend. The way her heartbreak is written is devastating in that quiet, realistic way that sneaks up on you. Add the fact that she has no family or close friends to lean on, and suddenly I am side eyeing everyone in her life. Besties, this is your reminder to keep a support system that does not disappear when your relationship ends.

Watching April and Daphne slowly fall into orbit around each other was such a delight. There is tension, tenderness, awkwardness, emotional honesty, and actual communication. Their little quest with Sasha to give Daphne more life experiences adds much needed joy and levity, and the chemistry between them is undeniable. The spice is hot, the feelings are loud, and the balance between the two is chef’s kiss. They talk things through. They admit when they are wrong. They do not magically fix each other. I love them deeply and forever.

The side characters are just as strong, which is something Blake does exceptionally well. This book is as much about friendship and found family as it is about romance. Watching April and Ramona try to figure out long distance friendship felt painfully real.

There is also a new character introduced who is an absolute scene stealer, and the tease for the next book had me vibrating with excitement. Truly rude to do that to me.

All of this is wrapped up in a cozy queer package that includes play parties, diner food, surprise celebrations, Bob the Drag Cat, and a friend group I would sell my soul to be adopted into. It is charming, funny, sexy, emotionally rich, and somehow feels like free therapy disguised as a rom com.

[M. J. Wills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this in exchange for a review!

4.25/5 ⭐️


April Evans is not having a great time. Her best friend is across the country, her tattoo shop is closed for good, and she’s now sharing a cabin and teaching an art class with the woman her ex-fiancée cheated on her with and left her for. But she doesn’t know that Daphne Love is in Clover Lake to start over, and Daphne’s desperate to learn more about who she is outside of the expectations of those who loved her. The two, along with their new friend Sasha, are determined to give Daphne all the experiences she missed out on.



First and foremost, this was such a delightful read. It was silly and funny and joyful. It had tender moments and harsh truths and not always pleasant themes, but overall it was a phenomenal read and I will absolutely be making sure my friends get a copy.

Daphne’s upbringing in a small, judgmental town in Tennessee as a queer woman was… a little close to home. Her religious trauma and the grief she feels for her younger self was spectacularly handled. I got choked up several times knowing myself and others who had similar experiences. Daphne goes through a journey to find who she is and embracing herself, and it handled with so much care.


April’s story was a little bit tougher, because as someone who reads interconnected stand alones in order, my heart hurt for the relationship between her and Ramona in the book. I, too, can relate to having close friends settle down and find happiness and feeling like they’ve left you behind or are so consumed in their own bubble they leave you alone unintentionally. And April is incredibly valid in feeling hurt by Ramona’s actions, even if they seemed out of character from who Ramona was in her own book. On the other hand, I understand that it is April’s perspective and experiences and her feelings influence my feelings as the reader. But I loved April coming to the conclusion that despite the things in her life that have ended and changed, she can still look forward to the future, whether it is a certain future or something unplanned.


Sasha was such a great friend to both April and Daphne and her addition to this story was necessary. Not only to push the two together, but also to relieve the tension between all of the characters. I cannot wait to see if she gets her own installment.


Overall, another incredible queer romance from AHB and the characters will surely stick with me for a while.

[Maeve Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of “Get Over It, April Evans” in exchange for an honest review.

I found this to be another standard Ashley Herring Blake novel, hence the 3.5 star rating. I did enjoy it more than its predecessor. I thought that April and Daphne were well-matched with great chemistry, and I loved the idea of two women wronged by the same ex finding love with each other. I also enjoyed the focus on April’s fraying friendship with Ramona; it was refreshing to read about a character struggling with adult friendship issues, as that topic is so rarely represented past the YA genre, and certainly not in typical romance novels.

However, I also had a number of problems with the book. As usual with Ashley Herring Blake novels, I found the dialogue to be a bit cringe and preachy at times. I never was that fond of Sasha and felt she was shoehorned in so she could become the protagonist of the third novel. I honestly didn’t pay much attention to her in the chapter she was introduced because I didn’t think she’d become an important character. I also didn’t love the plotline of Daphne needing to discover her wild side. It felt secondary to the romance and Devon plotline and muddled the story. I think there were more subtle ways to explore Daphne branching out beyond an outlandish scheme to expose her to crazy experiences. I felt also that the spice was much more toned down in this novel compared to previous ones of Blake’s. Normally I wouldn’t complain, but a jumbled plotline really didn’t make up for the lack of spice.

Blake notes in her acknowledgments how she made several changes to the story and changed everything partway into writing, and I hate to say that it shows. I echo again that I still enjoyed “Get Over It, April Evans” more than “Dream On, Ramona Riley” as it still has all the makings of an enjoyable contemporary romance from Blake, but I’ve rarely been able to give Blake’s novels more than 3.5 stars, and this one was no exception.

“Get Over It, April Evans” was a fun and light read with an appropriate amount of drama thrown in, but it was nowhere close to a masterpiece, and I certainly don’t expect the third installment in the Clover Lake series to be one either.

[SullenSapphic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice Level: 2.5/5 Explicit Open-Door

April Evans’ life straight up sucks. She’s having to rent out her house for the summer just to pay her mortgage. She had to close her tattoo shop due to lack of work. Three years later, she still can’t get over the break-up with her ex, Elena. She’s asked to teach at a new resort for the summer and she jumps at the opportunity because she needs the money.

Daphne Love thought she had found her namesake, love, with Elena (yes, that Elena). Until her heart was shattered by the break-up. Things only get worse when she takes a summer teaching job at the new resort and is cabinmates with the woman who her ex left for Daphne. However, Daphne has no idea who April is because Elena claimed she was single but April knows who she is. Not only does this bring tension between the two, then both are given an opportunity to showcase their art to compete for a spot at a London Museum. Can these two find a way to make life work at the resort? Will Elena want to reconnect with someone?

I received this book from NetGalley and the Author in return for my honest review. Some people use brushes to paint their artwork. Ashley Herring Blake uses words to paint some of the most beautiful works of art to read. Her words to describe the scenes, a person’s description, frankly anything in her books just draws me into the story. The tension buildup between April and Daphne is **chef’s kiss.** This is one of those books where I found myself trying to talk to the character and to try to talk sense into them. When I start doing that, I know I’m invested and know the book has 100% re-readability. This is another book of the Author’s that does not disappoint.

One thing I love when reading one of Ashley Herring Blake’s books is trying to decide which side character is going to be the next main character in an upcoming book. I was able to pick out the character in this book that is going to have their own book and the type of character they are, it is going to be another fabulous book.

🖼️ Infidelity
🎨 Age Gap
🖼️ Mentions of Infertility / IVF
🎨 Homophobia
🖼️ Religioius Trauma
🎨 Sapphic Romance
🖼️ Slow Burn
🎨 Black Cat / Golden Retriever
🖼️ Light BDSM Scene

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎨 Bookish Thoughts
Get Over It, April Evans is a sapphic romance that hit all the feels! The title might center April but it was dual POV, and I loved Daphne just as much. Maybe even a tiny bit more. It's rare for me to be equally invested in both MCs, but this book pulled it off. Both FMCs were at such low points in their lives and I felt for each of them deeply.

I won't lie, at first I was alarmed by how mean April came across, especially since I adored her in book one. Thankfully she was self aware and it didn't last long. Still, her life situation was tough. Closing her tatoo shop, feeling like she lost her best Ramona, and then finding out her new roommate is her ex-fiancée’s girlfriend? BRUTAL. Obviously there was more to the story, and Daphne had no idea, but my heart hurt for April 😭😭😭

And Daphne... oh, I just wanted to give her a hug. Thinking she was about to get proposed to, only to be dumped by her very frist girlfriend, was devastating. The author capture her grief and sadness so well that it felt gut wrenching. Anyone who has gone through a breakup that turned their whole world upside down will relate. Add on the fact that Daphne had no family or friends to lean on, and it was a wonder she was functioning at all! Besties, let this be your reminder to always keep a support system outside of your partner.

I loved watching April and Daphne's relationship grow. Their quest with Sasha to give Daphne more expriences was sweet and added much need joy. And the ending was perfect! I was so proud of both April and Daphne for the ways they grew!

My only real gripe is with Ramona. She was a pretty crappy friend to April here. I don't care that it was "resolved," because to me it really wasn't. I loved Ramona in her own book, but damn she sucked in this book.

🩵 What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Tattoo artist FMC
• Artist FMC
• Forced proximity
• Summer resort
• Dual POV
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: February 3, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Allix · Rating 4 out of 5]

AHB’s books have so much heart in them, and this one is no different. April is incredibly relatable, a little bit lost in life and searching for a new way forward. Daphne’s religious upbringing and estrangement from her family is painfully familiar to so many queer folks. Their coming together is sweet and honest and I loved getting to know them. In particular, I loved the descriptions of the art April and Daphne made, and how pieces of it were tied to their relationship. I loved the journey April went on throughout the story, and the conclusion of the novel felt really earned, to me, because of that journey.

My main issue with this book is that I wished there had been more Daphne - more introspection, more narrative exploration of how her self-view, a result of her upbringing, led to her previous relationship and all of the feelings and drama associated with it. I don't think that all queer stories, even ones involving characters who have experienced trauma, need to necessarily be about that trauma, but I do think that a lot was left unsaid in Daphne's story and I wish it had been addressed more. I thought that her rebellious bucket list was a cute idea, but it wasn't executed in a way that I thought made a real impact on the story or on Daphne, and I think if we had heard more from Daphne about how she felt about doing those things (dyeing her hair, getting a tattoo, etc) it would've made more sense. I think a little extra time in her head would’ve made the conclusion of the novel hit harder. I love April, but I felt like I understood her a lot better than Daphne, and I was left wanting more. I love Ramona and Dylan, but I sort of think there was too much of them in this story; I know Ramona's relationship with April is an important one, and their conflict helps April move forward with some of the decisions she needs to make about her life generally, but I think it came at the cost of equal focus on April and Daphne.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Ashley Herring Blake book, and it lived up to my expectations. I really enjoyed this story and it was very emotional for me.

I loved the setting so much, and I wish I could go there. It sounds like the perfect peaceful retreat and I'm so sad it isn't real. I loved the side characters and their arcs. I think Ramona and Aprils friendship arc was a really good demonstration of what its like to grow up with someone and how sometimes life can get in the way, but its important you don't lose what matters most.

Out of everything in this book, what I enjoyed the most were the main characters. They were so nuanced and well developed and distinct and I just loved them. From the first chapters of each of their POV's, I felt like they were real and knew I would be encapsulated by them. I especially felt for Daphne, who struggles with religious trauma. I won't get too deep into it, but I think her experience with growing up religious and feeling the shame even after leaving is a very real queer experience. But she wasn't just focused on the lack of acceptance from her family, instead her story was focused on finding joy and learning to be comfortable with herself. There is something about queer stories like April and Daphne's that makes me warm and happy inside. Not everyone has other queer people in their life, and to watch a character encounter other people to support and relate to her made me happy.

This book, fortunately or unfortunately, found me at a place in life where I heavily related to April and Daphne. I have felt like I didn't know who I was before. And this book reminded me it was ok. One long journal session and some reflection aside, this book spoke to me in a way that not every book does.

Long story short, its ok to not know exactly who you are, its important to take the time you need to figure that out but you don't have to do it alone. What you do have to do, though, is read this book.

Thank you so much Berkley for the early review copy!