No One Else But You

by Georgina Coal

“Maya was sweet. Kind. Too nice for a man like me. Too good to end up rolling around on a carpet with an asshole that could get her in trouble.” When Maya Williams moves back to her home-town, she’s not looking for ‘complicated’. Not only is her dad unwell, there’s a new job to sink her teeth into, and a boring boyfriend she has to break up with.

But when she runs straight into Jeremy Sands, her childhood best-friend and the boy who broke her heart ten years ago, it seems like the world has other plans.

Jeremy Sands has spent the past decade trying to turn his ‘situationships’ into long-term romance and coming up short. He calls it a curse but, when Maya Williams moves back to Tolema with her brown curls and searching eyes, he starts to wonder whether maybe he’s been waiting for her all along.

And when she realizes a love note she left him ten years ago never got read and he realizes his calls never reached her, is there hope of a second chance?

Or will his violent job and her determination to fix things alone mean another missed shot at happily ever after?

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[Aubrey Hook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. I just loved Jeremy and how romantic he is. I felt so sad for him because he believed he was a horrible person! I also loved Maya and could relate to her at a lot of times. Such a good read!

[Mimi San Juan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this copy as an advance reader copy, and while I am so grateful to have read it ahead of publication, every thought here is entirely my own. No One Else But You was such a heartfelt, comforting read, and by the time I finished, it truly felt like I had spent the evening watching a Hallmark movie play out in my head.

This book worked so well for me because of the way it balanced sweetness with sincerity. Maya is relatable in her determination to manage everything on her own, and Jeremy’s vulnerability beneath his charm makes him feel grounded and real.

The connection between them is built on years of history, which gave their romance a natural depth that was easy to believe in. I enjoyed watching the tension between their unresolved past and their hope for something new unfold, and I thought the detail about the unread love note and the missed calls added a beautiful layer of poignancy to their story.

The pacing carried me smoothly through every chapter, and the romance struck just the right tone, tender with enough spark to feel alive without overshadowing the heart of their journey. It gave me exactly what I was looking for: a warm, steady, second-chance love story that leaves you smiling by the end.

I would recommend No One Else But You to anyone who enjoys small-town romance, second chances, and stories that bring a comforting sense of nostalgia alongside genuine emotion. It is heartfelt, kind, and romantic, with moments that will make you swoon and others that will remind you why stories about first loves rekindled can be so rewarding. I am glad to have read it early, and I look forward to seeing readers fall for Maya and Jeremy when it is officially released on September 30, 2025.

[HollyBerryBookDragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

No One But You by Georgina Coal ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

"How much of a f**kwad do you have to be to think about one woman while you’re nose-deep in another woman’s pussy?"

🖤Grey Golden Retriever MMC
🚫Hidden Romance
🤫Brothers Best Friend
🏡Small Town
❤️‍🔥Forced Proximity
🥈Second Chance Romance

When FMC Maya heads back home to keep an eye on her Dad & attend her High School Reunion, she never sees it as a permanent move - but when her childhood next door neighbour MMC Jeremy appears in her driveway offering a helping hand, will they have a 2nd chance at what they missed out on ... or will family drama, her brother & an unmended heart stand in the way?

“Love. It’ll bite you on the ass when you least expect it.”

Review -

This was a cute read full of suspense, interrupted moments, fun, family, hidden romance & a little bit of drama (the story covers some sensitive subjects so check the triggers⚠️).

I loved the dual POV of both Maya & Jeremy, which switched at just the right moments to allow insight into what each was feeling during key events ❤️‍🔥

The story overall had good pace, Maya was fun and fiesty with fab come backs & the open door spice was steamy 🫠 Jeremy had Golden Retriever energy with underlying morally grey tendencies, but being the big marshmellow he is you can't help but root & fall for him 🖤

And ofc there has to be a shout out for Dana 🫶 Everyone needs a loyal & fiesty bestie like her! Mixed with the energy of Mayas brother Andre & Jeremy's Bestie Lucas the banter and character dynamics hit just right 🙌

[Simran · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows a second-chance romance between Maya and Jeremy, built around a big misunderstanding that keeps them apart. At first, the story was really cute and had me invested in where things would go. However, after a while, the pacing slowed, and the plot started feeling a little boring. The writing style was also a bit on the complicated side, which sometimes pulled me out of the story instead of letting me sink in.

That said, the final resolution - when they finally came together after clearing the misunderstanding, was easily my favorite part and gave me that satisfying romance payoff.

Maya (the FMC) and Jeremy (the MMC) had potential to shine as leads, but for me, they fell a little flat. Their personalities weren’t as exciting or layered as I was hoping for, which made it harder to connect with them on a deeper level. At times, their chemistry felt underwhelming, and I wanted more spark or banter to keep me hooked.

Still, I did enjoy how their dynamic finally shifted once they faced the truth and let go of the misunderstanding. Their reunion showed genuine emotion and reminded me why second chance romances can be so heartwarming when done right.

[Kate Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ 2 🌶️
❤️ childhood best friend
🩷 second change romance
🩶 brothers best friend
🖤 bad boy | good girl

Maya is taking the world on her shoulders and won’t accept help from anyone even her brother. She left for college leaving a note for her childhood best friend with her true feelings to later find out he saw the notes. She is forced to head home due to family issues, but what she comes back to might have never left..
Jeremy is an all around bad boy, with a mafia style background. His work is dangerous and so is he. When the love of his life leaves for college and doesn’t look back. Until she is forced to come back to help deal with family things, he won’t let her get away for a 2nd time.
Find out how Maya will navigate her problems without allowing help from anyone & her new found love life all at the same time!
The spice hit on a few chapters but it was over the top 🌶️🌶️ they bad boy hit on so many levels 🥵
Oh & the drag show!! 🤭 this book is definitely fun, flirty & raw on the weight it takes up someone’s head space when you love someone who is ill.
Definitely worth the read!

[Nicci · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sorry not sorry for this review.

Characters 👩‍❤️‍👨

Maya- insecure and people pleasing. The “I’m fine” girl when she’s just holding it all in.

Jeremy- Definitely an egotistical, romantic at heart guy.

Setting 🏡🏘️

Tolema…WHERE IN NORTH AMERICA IS IT!?!? It’s so confusing where this Tomela is. Ok 14 hours within New York…north? South? West? Where!?!?

Plot 🧭

Clearly this is a romance book and the plot is them getting together… But you have Maya’s dad becoming an alcoholic and having that be the main focus. And you have Jeremy trying to get a promotion(which never got resolved). It just didn’t feel complete when you have one character’s story coming full circle and the other’s just going no where outside of the two of them.

The Writing 📝

It honestly some of the worst writing that I have read in a long time. The writer wasn’t consistent with unit of measurements, threw in lots of English/UK slang in the mix, when everyone lives in North America(and yes I know that Olivia is a Brit but she barely has dialog in this book).

I genuinely had hopes for these characters and the story line. But the inconsistency with the writing just killed it for me.

⭐️⭐️/ 5

[Alice Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be sent an early ARC of this book, the second in a series of interconnected standalone books. I have not read the first but it didn’t change my experience of this lovely experience.

A small town, second chance romance which ticks all the boxes for me. Maya and Jeremy, immensely close as teenagers and an argument gone wrong pulled them apart and missed messages kept them that way for 10 years. Now they meet again as Maya is back home to help her struggling father.

This story was so easy to read, had a lovely flow and pace to it and gave me everything I want in a book like this. A few spicy scenes with plot to match, what more could you want?

There was drama, emotion, fun and romance with a full group of well rounded side characters that felt comforting and balanced. Jeremy as a male main character was absolutely gorgeous in every way, the absolute dream man. And Maya has a relatable story that makes her very easy to care for.

This book was released yesterday, I highly recommend getting into it. A lovely read.

[rianne w · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have received this book as an eARC before publication release. This book comes out September 30th of 2025.

This book had so many story emotions that you could feel bubbling from the first page. When they then reached back to their childhood I literally watched the pot bubble over. the writing made them feel so connected whether they were together or not. I was truly impressed with the timeline and POV changes, they were done in a really impactful way.

The character dynamics were also so intertwined but so meaningfully connected. Everyone had some sort of relationship (whether it was good or bad) and you could tell through the writing. Along with that, the character development was really well done. Even though they’re all in their late 20s, it still shows that it’s okay to make mistakes and to learn new things about life. This book shows how important family and to depend on the people you love.

Overall I really enjoyed this read. it was easy and simple and made me giddy. Happy reading!

[Danielle McGrath · Rating 3 out of 5]

~ Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ~

This was a cute read overall, but I wish I had realised it was part of a series before jumping in. It definitely doesn’t work as a standalone - there are quite a few characters who are written as if the reader already knows them, which left me feeling a little out of the loop. Totally my fault for not checking first!

The romance was sweet, and the spice landed around a 2.5/5 for me - decent, but I kept feeling like something was missing. Jeremy’s job in particular felt a bit tacked on, almost as if it was included just to give him an edge rather than being an organic part of who he is.

One thing I do think should be mentioned up front: there’s a storyline involving alcoholism, and it felt a bit too close to home for me personally. I would have appreciated a trigger warning for that.

Still, an enjoyable read, but I think it would have hit harder if I’d read the first book in the series first.

[Chewybooks88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen, this book is basically a Hallmark movie that got drunk and downloaded Kindle Unlimited. The small-town vibes were cozy, but let’s be real—I was here for the forbidden “brother’s best friend” tension, and it delivered. Every “we can’t” was followed by a look that screamed “we absolutely will,” and I ate that up like free samples at Costco. I needed a doctor to remove all the butterflies I was feeling during this one!

Our MMC Jeremy. Hot, charming, ladies man and a little too perfect—like, sir, where are your flaws? Our FMC was the real MVP though, sassy enough to call him out and just bold enough to climb him like a tree once the slow burn finally combusted. And when it did… let’s just say, Phew man it was worth the wait!. Did the plot drag a little with all the “should we/shouldn’t we” angst? Absolutely. Did I care when they finally broke the rules? Not even a little. This book is predictable, messy, and sexy in all the right ways—and I loved every page.

[myTBRcorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes:
✔️Childhood bestfriends
✔️Brothers best friend
✔️Golden Retriever MMC
✔️Second chance Romance
✔️Found Family
✔️"it's always been you"

This book is a great in-between book. It's a quick, fun, easy read that's entertaining enough that I finished it in one night!

It's got all the good small town romance vibes. One of them leaves, goes back and rekindles their romance with an old flame.

I ate it all up because of the tropes. I'm a big fan of childhood friends to lovers and second chance romance but it's the banter amongst the found family members that really got me.

Although I'm not a fan of the whole miscommunication trope, everything the MMC did for the FMC really gave me all the feels. Argh, the 22 messages he left her? ❤️🗡️😭

It's got angst, sexual tension, comedy, banter and the perfect amount of spice👌I highly recommend it.

[Mama Sprout Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars
4/5 Spice - a few open-door scenes

Maya and Jeremy are best friends. Were. Were best friends in high school, until they broke each other's hearts. Now that Maya has returned to her hometown, will sparks fly this time?

Such a cute love story. I loved seeing the dark side of Jeremy when he was working for a crime boss. I loved that he fell harder and faster, that he's the one dreaming of a wedding, babies, a house with a white picket fence. I love that he's respectful and kind. Definitely a new fave book boyfriend.

Triggers: Violence, alcoholism

Tropes: second chance, best friends to lovers, touch her and die, sexually promiscuous before HER, let me help you

There is on-page sex between both MCs with other partners.

[Kayleigh Blakemore-Wardle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sent an ARC copy of this book, thank you for the opportunity to read this prior to release.

This had the cutesy feel of a small town Hallmark movie minus the little bit of spice and Jeremy’s job.

I didn’t love this book but I didn’t hate it. I felt like the first half was paced slowly. However once I hit half way through I flew through the rest of the book. So I’m rating it 3.5 stars.

Childhood friends become lovers, bad boy and good girl, bothers best friend vibes all wrapped in a small town romance.

It’s very relatable in the way that Maya feels like she has to take on everything herself and she then has the realisation after talking to her dad about his alcoholism that she can’t do it all alone. And Jez is there to support her even if she does push him away a little Jeremy is still there to support her throughout.

I also appreciated that Andre, Mayas twin brother and Jeremy’s best friends didn’t pitch a fit when he figured out that they were sneaking around behind is back.

I would recommend this book to people who like small town romances with a bit of spice.

[M. Radd · Rating 3 out of 5]

World building is this author's sweet spot. The characters in Tolema are quirky and fun.

After the 1st book in the series, I had high hopes or #2. While it was an enjoyable read, I found it a bit underwhelming. The vulnerabilities were spot on - THE TEXTS OMG!!!

But the will they / WHEN will they vs the spice levels left some to be desired. I wanted a bit more despair in the downtrodden times. Further his professional life was a bit of an afterthought in this book. The first in the series brought the family business into the story in meaningful ways, while this book it seemed like it was meant to go somewhere it never went.

All that being said, I did enjoy the book and will look forward to Dana's story!

[Leonnie Diplock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this little group of friends, Maya and Jeremy are so cute together! I’m excited they found their way back to each other!!

Part of the story did hit super close to home, and I could feel all of Maya’s emotion on a personal level but that just connected me more to the book!

Jeremy is a huge hunk of a puppy dog and honestly the big softy was dreamy!

I would of loved to see more of Jeremy’s job, I feel like it fizzled out after the first couple chapters and then we didn’t actually see his position he put forward be resolved or any additional agro with that other group!

Dana is feisty and fun so I’m excited for her book 💕

[VenusReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanna start off by saying this book was GREAT! It’s a second chance romance which follows Maya and Jeremy and a misunderstanding that keeps them apart.
At first I thought everything was so freaking cute, but after a while the plot kind of felt repetitive and boring.
Whilst I loved the writing style, in the times where the plot slowed it didn’t allow for the story to sink in.
I thought the story then picked up once they cleared the misunderstanding, and it put through a very sweet message about communication which I loved.
The ending was so sweet and genuine emotion was portrayed so well, such a sweet and heartwarming story. I definitely recommend ✨

[Sofi Claros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the ARC for this book! I'll sadly 4 days late but life happens😬
4.5⭐️ and 🌶️🌶️

I loved this story so much! I love childhood friends to lovers, it's one of my favorite tropes😩🤌🏼 The yearning, the 10 years waiting for that person? Ugh I love it!
In this book in particular, one of my favorite parts was when they noth realized that they could have been together all along? The letter and the texts? 😩 I love them
Also that ending? I loved how it ended, it made me so happy! Just two people just saying what they already knew, there wasn't any big declaration of love because THEY KNEW!!
This book was amazing! I will be trading a lot more from Georgina❤️

[Trysha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read and actually finished it in less than two days (which is VERY fast for me). This book is the second in a series but also acts as a standalone, and I actually haven’t read book one but now I plan to with how much I enjoyed this one. There were a couple parts of this story that felt a little rushed or not elaborated on quite as much as I would have liked, but the story never felt incomplete.

Overall, this one has banter, yearning, spice, a small town setting, and a second chance romance, and it hit the spot for me. 🙌🏻

[Francine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started off a little slow for me, but then it really picked up and I couldn’t put it down. This story has love, longing and family turmoil. It’s a story of a relationship many years in the making, that got deterred by distance and time. Jeremy wants to do whatever he can for Maya, but she’s not sure she is ready! No One Else But You is a slow burn romance that makes you fall in love with Jeremy and Maya and cheer them on!

[Kimberley_Reads_Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in about 12 hours and it is adorable. So wholesome, funny and we have YEARNING!

I loved this story, I loved the writing, the character development and the side characters. I can’t wait to read the next instalment.

I am not a fan of the “miscommunications” trope, I was reading it thinking “come on! Just talk!” As if they could hear me but I do love a HEA and this left me feeling warm and fuzzy 🥰

[Stephanie Routhier · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book as an ARC. This review and thoughts are mine alone.*

Rating: 4⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Maya and Jeremy were polar opposites in every way, but opposites attract and this was no different here.

Jeremy has a rough background. And has a dangerous job. But that won’t stop him from trying to get Maya back when she returns to help her family,

The spice was spicing, and the drag show was a GOOD time.


I thoroughly enjoyed the banter. I’m a huge fan of a one liner!

[Jen Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable romance. I liked the voices of Maya and Jeremy, as well as the other characters. Dana was hilarious! This hit some great tropes with the morally gray MMC and the hyper independent FMC. Pacing was good. The story was fun and enjoyable, easy to read. The plot with Maya‘s dad was emotional and handled very well. This was a good read. I would definitely recommend.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily providing a review.

[runofthemillwallflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Georgina Coal! The wit in this book is spectacular. The characters are great, I'd love to be friends with every one of them. No third-act break-up. Some sweet sweet second chance romance. Jeremy. Jeremy. Jeremy (enough said). At first, I couldn't get on board with Maya- too similar to me- but she grew on me. This book is sexy, sweet, funny, and unflinchingly realistic. I gave it four stars because I didn't get a scene where Jeremy gives Maya at least 4 orgasms (IYKYK).

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

4⭐️

Although I’m not the biggest fan on second chance romance books, I did like this one. I did enjoy reading about Maya’s and Jeremy’s story and thought it was cute.

Not gonna lie, I did skim from 70% and on, but that’s just because I wasn’t in the biggest mood to read the book anymore. It was still an enjoyable book and I felt as if it was worth the read!

[Megan Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love a friends to lovers and this was cute and cozy with all of the hallmark feels.

Jeremy and Maya were best friends when they were younger. Both were secretly in love with each other and ultimately both of their hearts were broken. Maya comes back to town to help her dad and her and Jeremy begin to renew their friendship.

Jeremy is such a romantic at heart. He wants to find true love and his pwrson. Their journey to finding each other was bumpy but also sweet.

[Aubrey Kwarta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was fortunate to read this as an ARC. It was a cute, small town second chance romance. The pacing was good, the characters were relatable and pretty grounded. All in all it was a nice, rekindled love tale.

[Stephanie Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeremy and Maya are best friends and this is a second chance cute love story romance. I’m so happy they found their way back to each other. If you love a best friend second chance romance this book is for you!

[Regan Pontius · Rating 3 out of 5]

No One Else But Youwas a good read.The characters felt underdeveloped. Their flaws were still on issue as adults. Both MCs where scared of losing their best friend. At the first sign of trouble, she ran away, especially coming home after an amazing weekend, when her dad wasn't home. The MMC tried to be there for her, but she pushed him away. In the end, there was an HEA

[Shannon Scherz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow burn? Second chances? Misunderstood lovers? Sign me up! Georgina Coal knocks it out of the park with her second installment in this series. The characters are relatable, sexy, and the dialogue is sweet and funny. I can’t wait for book 3!

[Marie Billings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Brother’s best friend who also is an oversized hottie? Sign me up. Maya and Jeremy brought me so much joy and I’m a little sad that the book is over. I enjoyed Georgina’s writing style and can’t wait to tear into more from her.