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Seasons of the East Coast #3
Springing Back Together
I wasted so many years wondering how his life turned out.
Now he’s in the doorway with an answer I don’t want to hear.
Three years after she lost the love of her life, Tania’s dreams are dead. She’s certain her heart is broken for good—and she’s been fired. Now she’s back in Roxton Falls, Québec, helping her parents run their sugar shack.
It’s a far cry from being a Montréal pastry chef.
As if having her dessert experiments vetoed by her mother wasn’t bad enough, Tania discovers the sugar shack is the subject of a new documentary. The filmmaker? Her high-school ex, Nolan, who left Tania for the “safe” job, and then finally got the guts to follow his dreams…without her.
Grieving and frustrated, Tania tries to bury herself in work. But she does have “needs”—and Nolan hasn’t got any less attractive.
Agreeing to a strictly-casual fling, Tania can’t help thinking there’s more to Nolan than his happy-go-lucky facade. And when the past catches up with them both, Tania and Nolan discover the only way through…is together.
Now he’s in the doorway with an answer I don’t want to hear.
Three years after she lost the love of her life, Tania’s dreams are dead. She’s certain her heart is broken for good—and she’s been fired. Now she’s back in Roxton Falls, Québec, helping her parents run their sugar shack.
It’s a far cry from being a Montréal pastry chef.
As if having her dessert experiments vetoed by her mother wasn’t bad enough, Tania discovers the sugar shack is the subject of a new documentary. The filmmaker? Her high-school ex, Nolan, who left Tania for the “safe” job, and then finally got the guts to follow his dreams…without her.
Grieving and frustrated, Tania tries to bury herself in work. But she does have “needs”—and Nolan hasn’t got any less attractive.
Agreeing to a strictly-casual fling, Tania can’t help thinking there’s more to Nolan than his happy-go-lucky facade. And when the past catches up with them both, Tania and Nolan discover the only way through…is together.
347 pages, ebook
Published July 10, 2025
28 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Charlène Boutin
8 books42 followersCharlène Boutin writes swoon-worthy stories that will make you laugh, cry, but most of all, warm your heart.
Originally from Val-d’Or, Québec (Canada), she spent 6 years in Red Lake, Ontario and 6 more years in Montréal, Québec, which has given her fodder for both small-town AND city-driven love stories. She now lives in Granby, Québec, with her partner, son, and cat.
When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her boulder climbing or spending quality time with her family.
Originally from Val-d’Or, Québec (Canada), she spent 6 years in Red Lake, Ontario and 6 more years in Montréal, Québec, which has given her fodder for both small-town AND city-driven love stories. She now lives in Granby, Québec, with her partner, son, and cat.
When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her boulder climbing or spending quality time with her family.
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August 6, 2025I’m very thankful to have received an advance copy of this book. The story showed a lot of promise, and I truly appreciate the care and creativity the author put into crafting it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to connect deeply with the characters, which made it challenging for me to stay fully engaged. As a result, I made the difficult decision to DNF the book. Sometimes, despite the effort and potential in a story, it just doesn’t resonate in the way we hope, and that’s completely okay. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read it and wish the author the very best moving forward!
July 12, 2025
This one definitely brought out all feels. Charlene Boutin created two delicate characters that have a richness and heartbreaking past that show us the many layers of grief and just how difficult and very different each person may deal and fight through their grief.
The authors weaves in the strong dynamics of family tradition, the feeling of never feeling seen, dealing with a loss so devastating the ability to heal seems impossible when a simple song on the radio, or a particular phase can be all it takes to be pulled downward again
We also see the growth and depth of these different types of relationships, the strength to overcome, welcome change and maybe even rebuild if the heart is willing to open up. I also enjoyed learning more of the history of indigenous tradition to collecting and making maple sugar, an important part of the culture once lost but found again.
This is the third book in the Seasons of the East Coast Series and one that will stay with you. Chapter 37 is a testament to that 🥺.
Thank you again to the author for sharing this touching story with us.
The authors weaves in the strong dynamics of family tradition, the feeling of never feeling seen, dealing with a loss so devastating the ability to heal seems impossible when a simple song on the radio, or a particular phase can be all it takes to be pulled downward again
We also see the growth and depth of these different types of relationships, the strength to overcome, welcome change and maybe even rebuild if the heart is willing to open up. I also enjoyed learning more of the history of indigenous tradition to collecting and making maple sugar, an important part of the culture once lost but found again.
This is the third book in the Seasons of the East Coast Series and one that will stay with you. Chapter 37 is a testament to that 🥺.
Thank you again to the author for sharing this touching story with us.
July 4, 2025
Thank you, Charlène for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book.
This is the first book in the series I’ve picked up, and wow—I’m officially obsessed! From giggles to full-on laughter, swooning to (many) tears, this book had me feeling everything. The way grief is portrayed is heartbreakingly honest and beautifully written—it tore my heart up in the best way.
The writing style? Impeccable. I was hooked from page one and couldn’t put it down. And let’s talk about Tania—she’s an absolute baddie, and I loved the fat representation. It felt real, powerful, and so refreshing to read.
In short: this book is a gem. Emotional, funny, heartwarming, and raw—I’m already itching to read the rest of the series!
This is the first book in the series I’ve picked up, and wow—I’m officially obsessed! From giggles to full-on laughter, swooning to (many) tears, this book had me feeling everything. The way grief is portrayed is heartbreakingly honest and beautifully written—it tore my heart up in the best way.
The writing style? Impeccable. I was hooked from page one and couldn’t put it down. And let’s talk about Tania—she’s an absolute baddie, and I loved the fat representation. It felt real, powerful, and so refreshing to read.
In short: this book is a gem. Emotional, funny, heartwarming, and raw—I’m already itching to read the rest of the series!
July 8, 2025
This is the second book I’ve read in the series, but the third book overall. About halfway through this one, I went back and bought the first just so I could get the full story. Each book works well as a standalone, but it’s so fun to see the characters show up in each other’s stories. And honestly, I can already tell book four is going to wreck me.
Charlene’s writing is so good. The emotions hit hard and all the way through. I was mad at the mom from chapter one, and from there I laughed, giggled, swooned, and cried. The way grief is written in this book is just, wow. Painfully beautiful. I really felt the loss right along with the characters.
The FMC is such a badass, kind of the black sheep of her family, just trying to figure herself out. And the MMC? Where do I sign up for one of him?
I also loved that this is set in Canada. I’m on the West Coast, but this book made me want to head East and explore more. The representation is amazing—Indigenous and Franco-Quebecois culture (songs, slang, books), a confident plus-sized FMC who fully owns who she is, and an asexual brother written with so much care. It’s also super sex-positive, which I really appreciated; casual hookups, toys, one-night stands, all treated as they should be, like normal parts of life.
I really liked Falling Into You (book two of the series) and the dual POV, and while I get why Charlene didn’t include that in this book, though I did miss being in Nolan’s head. That said, this one is hands down my favorite of the two I’ve read so far. Emotional, raw, funny, and heartwarming. I loved it.
Thank you to Charlène Boutin for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book!
Charlene’s writing is so good. The emotions hit hard and all the way through. I was mad at the mom from chapter one, and from there I laughed, giggled, swooned, and cried. The way grief is written in this book is just, wow. Painfully beautiful. I really felt the loss right along with the characters.
The FMC is such a badass, kind of the black sheep of her family, just trying to figure herself out. And the MMC? Where do I sign up for one of him?
I also loved that this is set in Canada. I’m on the West Coast, but this book made me want to head East and explore more. The representation is amazing—Indigenous and Franco-Quebecois culture (songs, slang, books), a confident plus-sized FMC who fully owns who she is, and an asexual brother written with so much care. It’s also super sex-positive, which I really appreciated; casual hookups, toys, one-night stands, all treated as they should be, like normal parts of life.
I really liked Falling Into You (book two of the series) and the dual POV, and while I get why Charlene didn’t include that in this book, though I did miss being in Nolan’s head. That said, this one is hands down my favorite of the two I’ve read so far. Emotional, raw, funny, and heartwarming. I loved it.
Thank you to Charlène Boutin for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book!
July 10, 2025
My ARC Review!
4.25 ⭐️ 2🌶️
Tropes:
❤️Second-chance romance
❤️Friends-to-lovers-to-strangers-to-lovers ❤️Forced Proximity
❤️I never stopped loving you
❤️Slow burn
❤️Emotional healing
If you love emotional, second-chance romances with characters who have real history and a lot to work through, Springing Back Together will absolutely pull you in. Charlene Boutin brings us a powerful story about reconnection, healing, and the hard conversations that come with trying to fix something that once broke you.
Tania is strong, guarded, and carrying more than her share of pain, she's the definition of a bad a** FMC and what's she's been through will make her stronger! Nolan is honestly the sweetest MMC and has been through a lot of heart break. He will truly steal your heart.
Tania returns back home to help with her family's sugar shack, her family also invited Nolan who is her ex from high school! This reunion will change their life's for ever 🫶
This book isn’t just about rekindling a romance, it’s about emotional growth, facing past wounds head-on, and figuring out if love really can survive the damage. It’s raw, honest, and speaks about death, grief, trust and mental health. Of course theres a good amount of spice too 😏
Overall I really loved this book but it was really hard for me to read with everything I've been going through. Please read the trigger warnings prior to reading 🫶 I would like to read more on Nolan and his experiences!
Thank you Charlene for having me on your ARC team!
4.25 ⭐️ 2🌶️
Tropes:
❤️Second-chance romance
❤️Friends-to-lovers-to-strangers-to-lovers ❤️Forced Proximity
❤️I never stopped loving you
❤️Slow burn
❤️Emotional healing
If you love emotional, second-chance romances with characters who have real history and a lot to work through, Springing Back Together will absolutely pull you in. Charlene Boutin brings us a powerful story about reconnection, healing, and the hard conversations that come with trying to fix something that once broke you.
Tania is strong, guarded, and carrying more than her share of pain, she's the definition of a bad a** FMC and what's she's been through will make her stronger! Nolan is honestly the sweetest MMC and has been through a lot of heart break. He will truly steal your heart.
Tania returns back home to help with her family's sugar shack, her family also invited Nolan who is her ex from high school! This reunion will change their life's for ever 🫶
This book isn’t just about rekindling a romance, it’s about emotional growth, facing past wounds head-on, and figuring out if love really can survive the damage. It’s raw, honest, and speaks about death, grief, trust and mental health. Of course theres a good amount of spice too 😏
Overall I really loved this book but it was really hard for me to read with everything I've been going through. Please read the trigger warnings prior to reading 🫶 I would like to read more on Nolan and his experiences!
Thank you Charlene for having me on your ARC team!
July 23, 2025
Fantastic spring romance!!
One thing I've learned through reading this series - expect life to be hard. Charlène writes in a way that is raw and real, and it will pull at all of your heart strings. Just like in real life, this book is filled with difficult decisions and conversations, but also overwhelming joy, support, and gratitude.
Highly recommend this book and series!!
One thing I've learned through reading this series - expect life to be hard. Charlène writes in a way that is raw and real, and it will pull at all of your heart strings. Just like in real life, this book is filled with difficult decisions and conversations, but also overwhelming joy, support, and gratitude.
Highly recommend this book and series!!
June 13, 2025
This book follows Tania as she moves back to her family run maple syrup shack after leaving Montréal behind and trying to cope with the loss of her boyfriend. While back home, Tania runs into high school ex-boyfriend Nolan, who pours himself into his work to cope with the loss of his wife. With flirtatious comments and lustful looks, Nolan and Tania start to become closer. But Tania swears she will never open her heart for anything more than a fling ever again.
I really loved this book! This book made me laugh in some spots and tear up in other parts. Tania's grief can be felt throughout the book, and seeing her work through it and realize she can be happy again after incredible loss was well written. As a Canadian we are known for out maple syrup and our sugar shacks but reading this book really opened my eyes more about the historical significance behind the harvesting and how it connects to the First Nation Community and how so many different things canadians take for granted that origniate and have deep cultural meanings for First Nation communities.
Second Chance Romance
Friends with Benefits
Black Cat 🐈⬛️ golden retriever 🐕
Shared grief
Canada 🇨🇦
Plus size FMC
I really loved this book! This book made me laugh in some spots and tear up in other parts. Tania's grief can be felt throughout the book, and seeing her work through it and realize she can be happy again after incredible loss was well written. As a Canadian we are known for out maple syrup and our sugar shacks but reading this book really opened my eyes more about the historical significance behind the harvesting and how it connects to the First Nation Community and how so many different things canadians take for granted that origniate and have deep cultural meanings for First Nation communities.
Second Chance Romance
Friends with Benefits
Black Cat 🐈⬛️ golden retriever 🐕
Shared grief
Canada 🇨🇦
Plus size FMC
June 30, 2025
In this second chance romance novel Tania moves back home to help out at the family maple sugar shack after the death of her husband. A couple years have passed and Tania is still struggling with her grief. Meanwhile her family business is also struggling as her parents are getting older and the economy is changing. In hopes of bringing more tourists in, they hire Nolan to do a documentary about the history and traditions of maple sugar shacks. The catch is he is also the one who broke Tania's heart in high school when he moved away after graduation. Also overcoming his own grief they decide that a friends with benefits situation might help them both, but absolutely no feelings allowed.
As Tania tries to breathe new life into the maple business with her pastry creations, her mom keeps shutting her down telling her that's it's not tradition. Nolan is there as a source of comfort and understanding, I mean there's a friends part to friends with benefits right?! What will they do when they realize no matter how much they deny it, feelings are impossible to keep out of the mix.
I love this novel so much. Nolan is a truly exceptional MMC, hello new book boyfriend for me! And I found Tania really easy to relate to. I was definitely cheering them both own as I enjoyed my coffee sweetened with homemade maple syrup collected from trees on my property, the unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik. And like young Charlie in the book one of my son's first homemade desserts he made all by himself was traditional sugar pie!
As Tania tries to breathe new life into the maple business with her pastry creations, her mom keeps shutting her down telling her that's it's not tradition. Nolan is there as a source of comfort and understanding, I mean there's a friends part to friends with benefits right?! What will they do when they realize no matter how much they deny it, feelings are impossible to keep out of the mix.
I love this novel so much. Nolan is a truly exceptional MMC, hello new book boyfriend for me! And I found Tania really easy to relate to. I was definitely cheering them both own as I enjoyed my coffee sweetened with homemade maple syrup collected from trees on my property, the unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik. And like young Charlie in the book one of my son's first homemade desserts he made all by himself was traditional sugar pie!
November 13, 2025
You cannot convince me Tania and Nolan didn’t settle for each other especially Nolan cause other than friendship and sex there was no real connection. These two were genuinely over each other, they genuinely fell in love with other people if their partners didn’t die I can confidently say Nolan and Tania would never have even ended up together, even if they didn’t die and both Isabel and Miguel lived I don’t even think there would be any type of cheating cause they clearly were over each other. Even when Nolan and Tania reunite and he tries talking to her she tells him he really hurt them when he chose his career over her and you know what he did? He acts all annoyed cause what they had was JUST a high school relationship I don’t get the vibe he was serious at all about her. Also for most of this books Tania hasn’t been able to move on from Miguel but then after a few hookups with Nolan she’s suddenly in love with Nolan, and Nolan he had to be comforted by Tania during the last 30% cause he was breaking doe cause he still missed his late wife but then two pages, not two chapters , two pages he’s suddenly in love with her but was just in denial it was crazy random. Maybe if I got his pov id buy his feelings for her but the author did a terrible job at making their feelings for each other believable cause it’s obvious they only ended up together cause the actual love of their lives died
June 19, 2025
Thank you, Charlène, for the opportunity to read an early copy of this beautiful book. It was clearly a heartfelt labour of love, deeply enriched with both Quebecois and Indigenous culture. The way these cultural elements were woven into the narrative felt authentic and grounding, adding depth and richness to the story. I especially loved learning about sugar shacks—the vivid descriptions were so engaging, they had me craving maple syrup throughout the entire read!
Tania’s vulnerability after losing the love of her life was portrayed with such raw honesty. Her grief was palpable, and I truly felt the weight of her pain and the quiet strength it took to keep moving forward. Her emotional journey was powerful and relatable, making it easy to connect with her from the very beginning.
I was also drawn to the way both Tania and Nolan processed their individual losses—so different in their responses, yet their grief carried similar threads of longing, resilience, and eventual healing. Their dynamic was compelling, especially within the forced proximity setup, which allowed their relationship to unfold naturally and with emotional intensity. It was satisfying and heartfelt, just the way I like it.
This story stayed with me long after I finished the final page, and I’m already looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
Tania’s vulnerability after losing the love of her life was portrayed with such raw honesty. Her grief was palpable, and I truly felt the weight of her pain and the quiet strength it took to keep moving forward. Her emotional journey was powerful and relatable, making it easy to connect with her from the very beginning.
I was also drawn to the way both Tania and Nolan processed their individual losses—so different in their responses, yet their grief carried similar threads of longing, resilience, and eventual healing. Their dynamic was compelling, especially within the forced proximity setup, which allowed their relationship to unfold naturally and with emotional intensity. It was satisfying and heartfelt, just the way I like it.
This story stayed with me long after I finished the final page, and I’m already looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
June 19, 2025
Yet another fantastic romance by Charlène Boutin! I really loved Sophie and Will from the second book of the Seasons of the East Coast series and thought I couldn’t possibly love another couple as much as I loved them. I was so wrong! Tania and Nolan now own a piece of my heart and I really hope we get to see more glimpses into their future in the next book of the series. Nolan was such a sweetheart - it was hard not to fall in love with him. Tania was so relatable, and although there were times that I wanted to have a good, long chat with her about her actions and choices, I was cheering her on the entire way. Springing Back Together was a beautiful story about second chance love, about grief & loss, about living life, about complicated family relationships, about the struggles of the current economy and even touched on truth and reconciliation regarding life in Canada with the Indigenous people.
Thanks for allowing me to be an ARC reader for the third time, Charlène! I can’t wait for book 4!
Thanks for allowing me to be an ARC reader for the third time, Charlène! I can’t wait for book 4!
June 9, 2025
Love, loss, trauma and family drama. This book had me laughing, sweating and crying. What a beautiful story as Tania and Nolan navigate life after loss in two different yet slightly similar ways. Tania is back home to help with her family’s sugar shack while Nolan, her high school ex, is here filming his next documentary. The sexual tension is hot between these two and I loved watching them help each other cope and overcome stages of grief. You don’t want to miss out on this small town, swoon worthy romance.
🍁Small Town
💕Second Chance Romance
❤️🩹Grief
🔥 Friends with Benefits
🐈⬛Black Cat/ 🦮Golden Retriever
July 8, 2025
4.5✨
First of all I want to thank Charlène for the opportunity to read this in advance.
This book is probably the most heartbreaking of the whole Seasons of the East Coast series. It portrays grief in such a beautiful and heartfelt way. The author really did an amazing job showing how grief can present itself in different ways to different people.
I wish I could've seen more of Nolan, what he's been through and his journey through grief.
Overall it's a great book, my favorite is still Fall Into You, but I'm excited for the next and final book.
I'm proud of you and your work Charlène, I'm excited to see everything you'll create. 🩷
First of all I want to thank Charlène for the opportunity to read this in advance.
This book is probably the most heartbreaking of the whole Seasons of the East Coast series. It portrays grief in such a beautiful and heartfelt way. The author really did an amazing job showing how grief can present itself in different ways to different people.
I wish I could've seen more of Nolan, what he's been through and his journey through grief.
Overall it's a great book, my favorite is still Fall Into You, but I'm excited for the next and final book.
I'm proud of you and your work Charlène, I'm excited to see everything you'll create. 🩷
July 12, 2025
Thank you to Charlène Boutin for the opportunity to read an ARC of this incredible book.
Tania and Nolan are high school exes who are reunited while they are each grieving the loss of their partners. This emotional story takes you through the journey of how Tania and Nolan are able to find themselves - and each other - again. It also follows the journey of Tania’s family’s Sugar Shack business and some of the struggles of running a family business, which was an aspect I really loved.
I laughed, I cried, I even wanted to throw my kindle at one point. I have never lost a partner but I was able to empathize and go through the emotions with both Tania and Nolan as they were so well written.
I rate this book 5 stars and look forward to the continuation of the series!
Tania and Nolan are high school exes who are reunited while they are each grieving the loss of their partners. This emotional story takes you through the journey of how Tania and Nolan are able to find themselves - and each other - again. It also follows the journey of Tania’s family’s Sugar Shack business and some of the struggles of running a family business, which was an aspect I really loved.
I laughed, I cried, I even wanted to throw my kindle at one point. I have never lost a partner but I was able to empathize and go through the emotions with both Tania and Nolan as they were so well written.
I rate this book 5 stars and look forward to the continuation of the series!
June 17, 2025
4.75 ✨
thank you so much Charlène for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
this might be the most emotional book of the series until now, the grief was portrayed in a beautiful and emotional way, showing all the different ways you can suffer lost.
i wished i got to see more of nolan and his own experience but overall this book was so good and so amazing.
i cannot wait to see the next (and final) couple!
thank you so much Charlène for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
this might be the most emotional book of the series until now, the grief was portrayed in a beautiful and emotional way, showing all the different ways you can suffer lost.
i wished i got to see more of nolan and his own experience but overall this book was so good and so amazing.
i cannot wait to see the next (and final) couple!
July 3, 2025
I absolutely loved this book.
Charlene knows how to write a story that pulls you in & gets you so invested into her characters.
Amazing, simply amazing.
Charlene knows how to write a story that pulls you in & gets you so invested into her characters.
Amazing, simply amazing.
July 19, 2025
I loved this book! Charlene’s writing is beautiful and immersive—she has such a unique way of making us feel the atmosphere, and this time she transports us right into the cozy, rich world of the sugar shack. Once again, she delivers a love story that’s both tender and powerful. It’s an emotional roller coaster from start to finish—in the best possible way. Charlene never disappoints!
January 20, 2026
Springing Back Together
Charlene Boutin-ARC Review- Released July 10th 2025
What an honour to have read this ARC, Charlene does it again…. She captures you from the very first page. This is book 3 of the Seasons Of The East Coast Series. It’s a wonderful small town romance set in Northern Quebec. This book highlights the culture, small town vibes and has amazing character development. It touches on grief, hard times and the importance of family. I would highly recommend!! 5 Star Review!! I was blown away by this one!
Charlene Boutin-ARC Review- Released July 10th 2025
What an honour to have read this ARC, Charlene does it again…. She captures you from the very first page. This is book 3 of the Seasons Of The East Coast Series. It’s a wonderful small town romance set in Northern Quebec. This book highlights the culture, small town vibes and has amazing character development. It touches on grief, hard times and the importance of family. I would highly recommend!! 5 Star Review!! I was blown away by this one!
August 20, 2025
Reading this story brought me back to a time in my early 20’s when I was visiting my sister who lived in Montreal at the time. She took me to a fabulous Cabane à Sucre (sugar shack) in Quebec near the Vermont border. We had a blast, and I remember it like it was yesterday. We ate baked beans with ham smothered in maple syrup, while sipping on the most delicious mulled cider. We listened to traditional Québécois Music while we ate and after our meal we walked amongst the snow covered maple trees. It really was a magical time. But I digress. You didn’t come here to read about my memories you came to hear my thoughts on Springing Back Together. So I’ll get on with my review.
I adored Springing Back Together by Charlène Boutin. It made me feel all the feels. I laughed and cried and felt every emotion in between. While Springing Back Together is book three in the “Seasons Of The East Coast Series”, it can be read as a standalone book. I have read book 2, Fall Into You, and loved it. I definitely hope to read book 1 soon.
Synopsis: Tanya‘s life is falling apart! She’s lost her job and is struggling with the tragic death of her fiancé. With nothing to lose, Tanya leaves city life behind and moves back home to her parents’ house and Sugar Shack. The sugar shack business is struggling, and Tanya hopes that she can put her skills as a baker to good use and start creating and selling pastries year-round to attract new customers. Tanya and her brother also want to make a documentary about their families sugar shack business and the history behind it. Tanya is looking forward to her new, quiet simple life and finally feels hope for her future. But that vision crumbles when she discovers her parents have invited her ex-boyfriend Nolan, who broke her heart years ago, to move into their home. What ensues is an emotional journey of healing, second chance romance, family love and lots of spice.
Read this if you like:
•Second chance romance
•Forced Proximity
•Small town vibes
•Family traditions
•Strong & Resilient FMC
•Learning about Québécois and Indigenous Culture
Thank you so much to Charlène Boutin for sending me an e-arc of your beautiful book.
I adored Springing Back Together by Charlène Boutin. It made me feel all the feels. I laughed and cried and felt every emotion in between. While Springing Back Together is book three in the “Seasons Of The East Coast Series”, it can be read as a standalone book. I have read book 2, Fall Into You, and loved it. I definitely hope to read book 1 soon.
Synopsis: Tanya‘s life is falling apart! She’s lost her job and is struggling with the tragic death of her fiancé. With nothing to lose, Tanya leaves city life behind and moves back home to her parents’ house and Sugar Shack. The sugar shack business is struggling, and Tanya hopes that she can put her skills as a baker to good use and start creating and selling pastries year-round to attract new customers. Tanya and her brother also want to make a documentary about their families sugar shack business and the history behind it. Tanya is looking forward to her new, quiet simple life and finally feels hope for her future. But that vision crumbles when she discovers her parents have invited her ex-boyfriend Nolan, who broke her heart years ago, to move into their home. What ensues is an emotional journey of healing, second chance romance, family love and lots of spice.
Read this if you like:
•Second chance romance
•Forced Proximity
•Small town vibes
•Family traditions
•Strong & Resilient FMC
•Learning about Québécois and Indigenous Culture
Thank you so much to Charlène Boutin for sending me an e-arc of your beautiful book.
August 2, 2025
This is the third book in the Seasons Of The East Coast series and oddly, it's only the second book that I've read.
Somehow, I went from reading Summer Kind Of Love last summer to completely missing book 2 - but I still couldn't wait to dive into this read, so will definitely be catching up with that as soon as possible.
I don't think that missing out on book 2 really spoiled my enjoyment of this read as we follow a new couple and this story is whole and complete.
I loved getting to know Tania and Nolan. Their backstory was heartbreaking because it was clear to see that they were meant to be, it was just that their paths didn't align back then.
It always makes me sad for the time lost in a relationship - but actually here, I think this couple needed that time to get them to where they finally belonged together.
I really enjoyed learning about the town culture and the heritage of the Quebecois people.
I have recently read another book set here, but this one really had me looking up more information as I read along.
Tania was the perfect FMC to really get behind. Finding herself back home was a struggle but I loved the family dynamic which felt realistic and believable and this meant I could really invest in the story more.
This does get a little spicy in places and it was great to see these dealt with in a positive, natural and modern way.
There are also some tough topics explored here which definitely brought a few tears to the eye.
I think that this hits harder because the whole read feels authentic and I was so invested in this couple's lives that it really did feel like an emotional rollercoaster.
This said, this was so beautifully written again.
I'm really looking forward to filling in a couple of blanks in terms of returning characters and diving into book 2 so that I'm all good and ready before the next book in the series is released.
Somehow, I went from reading Summer Kind Of Love last summer to completely missing book 2 - but I still couldn't wait to dive into this read, so will definitely be catching up with that as soon as possible.
I don't think that missing out on book 2 really spoiled my enjoyment of this read as we follow a new couple and this story is whole and complete.
I loved getting to know Tania and Nolan. Their backstory was heartbreaking because it was clear to see that they were meant to be, it was just that their paths didn't align back then.
It always makes me sad for the time lost in a relationship - but actually here, I think this couple needed that time to get them to where they finally belonged together.
I really enjoyed learning about the town culture and the heritage of the Quebecois people.
I have recently read another book set here, but this one really had me looking up more information as I read along.
Tania was the perfect FMC to really get behind. Finding herself back home was a struggle but I loved the family dynamic which felt realistic and believable and this meant I could really invest in the story more.
This does get a little spicy in places and it was great to see these dealt with in a positive, natural and modern way.
There are also some tough topics explored here which definitely brought a few tears to the eye.
I think that this hits harder because the whole read feels authentic and I was so invested in this couple's lives that it really did feel like an emotional rollercoaster.
This said, this was so beautifully written again.
I'm really looking forward to filling in a couple of blanks in terms of returning characters and diving into book 2 so that I'm all good and ready before the next book in the series is released.
June 25, 2025
Unfortunately this was my least favorite of the books in this series so far, I have absolutely loved the previous ones.
Let’s start with the good stuff. I love that Charlene has set this book in Quebec and I got to learn a lot of things about Quebec throughout the book. I could tell that this was very clearly passionately written and I loved the very considerate inclusion of indigenous culture. I also really enjoy Charlene’s writing style. It’s very easy to read and certainly not one of those books where you have to keep going back and rereading things.
Now, for my personal “negative” points. I really hated the FMC Tania. I found her to be really judgmental of how other people handle their grief and emotions. I’m sure this makes me sound like a horrid person but her being stuck in her grief and using that as an excuse for everything just made me literally shout at the book “get over it already”. I just found her to go on and on and on moaning and complaining which gave a lot of the book a negative vibe and also made it really repetitive.
Will this stop me reading any of Charlene’s future books? Absolutely not! As I mentioned earlier, I loved her previous ones, this one just wasn’t for me
Let’s start with the good stuff. I love that Charlene has set this book in Quebec and I got to learn a lot of things about Quebec throughout the book. I could tell that this was very clearly passionately written and I loved the very considerate inclusion of indigenous culture. I also really enjoy Charlene’s writing style. It’s very easy to read and certainly not one of those books where you have to keep going back and rereading things.
Now, for my personal “negative” points. I really hated the FMC Tania. I found her to be really judgmental of how other people handle their grief and emotions. I’m sure this makes me sound like a horrid person but her being stuck in her grief and using that as an excuse for everything just made me literally shout at the book “get over it already”. I just found her to go on and on and on moaning and complaining which gave a lot of the book a negative vibe and also made it really repetitive.
Will this stop me reading any of Charlene’s future books? Absolutely not! As I mentioned earlier, I loved her previous ones, this one just wasn’t for me
July 28, 2025
I am honoured to have received an ARC of Springing Back Together by Charlène Boutin. This is the third standalone book in Seasons of the East Coast. The following is a description of my honest review, feelings and opinions of the story.
The Seasons of the East Coast books are romance stories, with very relatable characters and plot. The author encompasses a romantic character driven story, set in a Canadian culture. This romance has a cozy hallmark movie feel, but also has realistic emotional moments that make the characters feel very relatable. From the setting to the themes, as a reader, you can experience several different emotions, as you dive deeper into the characters lives. The story explores themes of family dynamics and traditions, relationships, heartbreaking moments and trauma. Be sure to check trigger warnings, as the story does mention difficult subject matter.
I really enjoy reading Charlène Boutin’s East Coast romance stories for the accurate Canadian representation and cultural diversity that she incorporates into the narrative.
I thoroughly enjoyed Springing Back Together and look forward to reading more of Charlène Boutin’s work, especially if she continues to write more in the Seasons of the East Coast series.
The Seasons of the East Coast books are romance stories, with very relatable characters and plot. The author encompasses a romantic character driven story, set in a Canadian culture. This romance has a cozy hallmark movie feel, but also has realistic emotional moments that make the characters feel very relatable. From the setting to the themes, as a reader, you can experience several different emotions, as you dive deeper into the characters lives. The story explores themes of family dynamics and traditions, relationships, heartbreaking moments and trauma. Be sure to check trigger warnings, as the story does mention difficult subject matter.
I really enjoy reading Charlène Boutin’s East Coast romance stories for the accurate Canadian representation and cultural diversity that she incorporates into the narrative.
I thoroughly enjoyed Springing Back Together and look forward to reading more of Charlène Boutin’s work, especially if she continues to write more in the Seasons of the East Coast series.
June 22, 2025
Springing Back Together - Charlène Boutin
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
“You will be much happier if you stop living in the past.”
Please make sure to read the trigger warnings prior to reading this novel. There is mentions of death.
This novel takes a bit of a darker turn where both our MC’s have lost their partners and are now on a path of recovery. The struggles they face together unknowingly and then rebuilding their lives.
Tania lost her partners Miguel to an accident and to “clear” her mind, she returns home to her families sugar shack. Once home she notices how exhausted her father is and stuffs her own problems away so that she can work on eliminating his endless hours of work.
Nolan has lost the love of his life Isabelle and has begun traveling around filming for businesses. He is asked to come to Tania’s family’s sugar shack to help film footage so they can hopefully bring in more revenue.
Nolan and Tania had dated in the past but both moved on when separating paths. Now that they have both lost someone they loved more than anything, they lean on each other to help through the dark times.
This was an emotional read but nonetheless was moving. To watch the two slowly learn that they both need each other more than anything else. 🥹
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
“You will be much happier if you stop living in the past.”
Please make sure to read the trigger warnings prior to reading this novel. There is mentions of death.
This novel takes a bit of a darker turn where both our MC’s have lost their partners and are now on a path of recovery. The struggles they face together unknowingly and then rebuilding their lives.
Tania lost her partners Miguel to an accident and to “clear” her mind, she returns home to her families sugar shack. Once home she notices how exhausted her father is and stuffs her own problems away so that she can work on eliminating his endless hours of work.
Nolan has lost the love of his life Isabelle and has begun traveling around filming for businesses. He is asked to come to Tania’s family’s sugar shack to help film footage so they can hopefully bring in more revenue.
Nolan and Tania had dated in the past but both moved on when separating paths. Now that they have both lost someone they loved more than anything, they lean on each other to help through the dark times.
This was an emotional read but nonetheless was moving. To watch the two slowly learn that they both need each other more than anything else. 🥹
June 27, 2025
Thank you so much to Charlène Boutin for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am so proud of Charlène for how much her writing has evolved in each of her stories so far. "Springing Back Together" is by far her best work yet. Her characters were written in a way that felt raw and real. Tania and Nolan were high school sweethearts until Nolan left to chase his filmmaking fdreams. They haven't see each other until they both return to the sugar shack that Tania's family owns and runs. Nolan is employed to use his film making skills to drum up more business to the sugar shack. Both Tania and Nolan are struggling with grief as both have lost their partners recently. Both of their griefs felt papabile and real; the emotions bleed onto the pages (or in the e-reader).
We learn so much as readers about the Quebecois and Indigenous history of maple syrup and the traditions surrounding it- how so much of it was lost to settlers. The playlist for each chapter is going to be something I dive into and hopefully recreate on my music platform of choice.
All in all this was so great. I cannot wait for the next installment from Charlène. This is a must-read.
I am so proud of Charlène for how much her writing has evolved in each of her stories so far. "Springing Back Together" is by far her best work yet. Her characters were written in a way that felt raw and real. Tania and Nolan were high school sweethearts until Nolan left to chase his filmmaking fdreams. They haven't see each other until they both return to the sugar shack that Tania's family owns and runs. Nolan is employed to use his film making skills to drum up more business to the sugar shack. Both Tania and Nolan are struggling with grief as both have lost their partners recently. Both of their griefs felt papabile and real; the emotions bleed onto the pages (or in the e-reader).
We learn so much as readers about the Quebecois and Indigenous history of maple syrup and the traditions surrounding it- how so much of it was lost to settlers. The playlist for each chapter is going to be something I dive into and hopefully recreate on my music platform of choice.
All in all this was so great. I cannot wait for the next installment from Charlène. This is a must-read.
October 21, 2025
DNF
Personally this is zero stars for me. The writing itself seemed fine. This just wasn’t for me. I’m rating it higher than I normally would to be more fair. A second chance romance doesn’t really work for me personally unless there’s some element of “it’s always been you”. After the conversation where he tells her leaving her was worth it because he met his wife, there was no coming back for me.
There is nothing romantic about:
1. a guy leaving you
2. Him marrying someone else
3. His wife dying
4. Him coming back and telling you that leaving you was worth it because he met his wife with hearts and stars in his eyes
5. Him getting back with you after 1-4.
While I can understand what the point was here, I didn’t feel it. I’m sure it was meant to be a wonderful story of two people overcoming their grief to find love again but for me, it just wasn’t. The two main characters are together, break up, end up in serious other relationships, and both partners die. Maybe it would have worked better for me if the hadn’t been together before but as it played out, she seems like a consolation prize.
Personally this is zero stars for me. The writing itself seemed fine. This just wasn’t for me. I’m rating it higher than I normally would to be more fair. A second chance romance doesn’t really work for me personally unless there’s some element of “it’s always been you”. After the conversation where he tells her leaving her was worth it because he met his wife, there was no coming back for me.
There is nothing romantic about:
1. a guy leaving you
2. Him marrying someone else
3. His wife dying
4. Him coming back and telling you that leaving you was worth it because he met his wife with hearts and stars in his eyes
5. Him getting back with you after 1-4.
While I can understand what the point was here, I didn’t feel it. I’m sure it was meant to be a wonderful story of two people overcoming their grief to find love again but for me, it just wasn’t. The two main characters are together, break up, end up in serious other relationships, and both partners die. Maybe it would have worked better for me if the hadn’t been together before but as it played out, she seems like a consolation prize.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2025
This is book 3 in the Seasons of the East Coast series and I was hooked from the start. Tania is one of the strongest FMCs I have read lately. After suffering the heartbreak of losing her high school love when he moved away she picked up her life and lived it as best she could. But life wasn’t kind to her as she then loses her husband as well. She returns home to help her family with their Sugar Shack and who does she end up having to work with? None other than her high school ex-boyfriend, Nolan.
Nolan is a sweet as pie MMC, who has experienced his own pain with losing his wife. He is helping Tania’s family by doing a documentary. After getting his rental cancelled on him, Nolan is invited to stay with Tania’s family much to her dislike. There’s some spice in this story but there’s also some heavy subjects discussed which I advise to check trigger warnings prior to starting this story. I absolutely love Charlène’s writing and this story did not disappoint at all. I rate it 4.5 stars and highly recommend it!
Nolan is a sweet as pie MMC, who has experienced his own pain with losing his wife. He is helping Tania’s family by doing a documentary. After getting his rental cancelled on him, Nolan is invited to stay with Tania’s family much to her dislike. There’s some spice in this story but there’s also some heavy subjects discussed which I advise to check trigger warnings prior to starting this story. I absolutely love Charlène’s writing and this story did not disappoint at all. I rate it 4.5 stars and highly recommend it!
July 10, 2025
Received as an ARC for an honest review.
Springing Back Together was such a great read! I really enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers angle, especially because of the characters shared history from high school. It added real depth and tension to their relationship.
As someone with Mohawk heritage, I loved seeing Mohawk people and culture mentioned. It felt respectful and meaningful. Charlene’s writing style is also a highlight authentic, cozy, and very Canadian. The Ontario setting felt so real, and the playlists were a fun touch that made the story feel even more personal.
I also really liked the “save the family business” storyline. The book has a great balance of emotion, comedy, and that classic Hallmark vibe. The way grief and trauma were written felt incredibly real and powerful.
Her family definitely drove me nuts until the last 30% of the book, but it made the ending more satisfying.
Some favorite moments: the tattoo scene (so cute), the grand gesture, and the epilogue, it was all adorable. And Charlie, was absolutely precious by far one of my favourites.
Springing Back Together was such a great read! I really enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers angle, especially because of the characters shared history from high school. It added real depth and tension to their relationship.
As someone with Mohawk heritage, I loved seeing Mohawk people and culture mentioned. It felt respectful and meaningful. Charlene’s writing style is also a highlight authentic, cozy, and very Canadian. The Ontario setting felt so real, and the playlists were a fun touch that made the story feel even more personal.
I also really liked the “save the family business” storyline. The book has a great balance of emotion, comedy, and that classic Hallmark vibe. The way grief and trauma were written felt incredibly real and powerful.
Her family definitely drove me nuts until the last 30% of the book, but it made the ending more satisfying.
Some favorite moments: the tattoo scene (so cute), the grand gesture, and the epilogue, it was all adorable. And Charlie, was absolutely precious by far one of my favourites.
November 28, 2025
Tania and Nolan are high school sweethearts who both left their small town for big adventures and big loves but now that they’ve both lost them they’re back and trying to put back the pieces. Maybe this is their chance to make it work together.
This story is so beautiful. So much about grief and family dynamics and trauma and living and even indigenous history. I’m not going to lie, it did lose me in the middle but I came back to it and loved the ending. You have to be emotionally ready to take this one on though. Very deep emotional development and relationship development with not only the MCs but also siblings and friends and parents. I was surprised how well the spice worked too, second chance and friends with benefits made it a really interesting dynamic to come out of. The Canada culture is super strong with this one and you will want to ingest copious amounts of maple syrup while reading this book so beware!
This story is so beautiful. So much about grief and family dynamics and trauma and living and even indigenous history. I’m not going to lie, it did lose me in the middle but I came back to it and loved the ending. You have to be emotionally ready to take this one on though. Very deep emotional development and relationship development with not only the MCs but also siblings and friends and parents. I was surprised how well the spice worked too, second chance and friends with benefits made it a really interesting dynamic to come out of. The Canada culture is super strong with this one and you will want to ingest copious amounts of maple syrup while reading this book so beware!
June 12, 2025
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
Springing Back Together is a charming and heartfelt second-chance romance that kept me turning pages from start to finish. Tania’s struggles to find herself again after a painful past felt raw and real, and I liked how the Charlène blended those struggles with a sweet love story filled with hope and renewal.
Nolan’s return adds just the right amount of sparks, regret, and temptation, and their undeniable chemistry made their reconnection feel earned and believable. The small town setting of Roxton Falls and the rich details about the family’s sugar shack were a wonderful backdrop for their love story.
I especially liked how the book highlights the importance of letting go and taking a chance on happiness again. Springing Back Together is a warm, charming read that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a well-paced second-chance romance.
Springing Back Together is a charming and heartfelt second-chance romance that kept me turning pages from start to finish. Tania’s struggles to find herself again after a painful past felt raw and real, and I liked how the Charlène blended those struggles with a sweet love story filled with hope and renewal.
Nolan’s return adds just the right amount of sparks, regret, and temptation, and their undeniable chemistry made their reconnection feel earned and believable. The small town setting of Roxton Falls and the rich details about the family’s sugar shack were a wonderful backdrop for their love story.
I especially liked how the book highlights the importance of letting go and taking a chance on happiness again. Springing Back Together is a warm, charming read that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a well-paced second-chance romance.
June 28, 2025
Charlene, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy of your newest book. This story follows Tania as such navigates life after the loss of her partner, dealing with her family and their family business and discovering who she is & what she wants her for her future. Enter Nolan, her first love, who is also dealing with the loss of his partner. They discover together that they can love again. I loved the inclusion of Québécois and Indigenous culture, language, music and traditions. The only thing I was looking for more of was more banter and tension between Tania and Nolan before they jumped into bed. Overall, It was a great story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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