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The Soulmate Theory
When fate brings them back together, can their love survive the secrets that tore them apart?
Carter Edwards has always been a go-with-the-flow type of guy. Except when it comes to Penelope his childhood neighbor, and the only girl he's ever fallen in love with. When he finally gathers the courage to make his life-long love for Penelope known, he finds that she's already chosen a future for herself- one without him in it.
Penelope Mason is a planner by nature. She'd do just about anything to secure the future she imagined for herself, including leaving behind the boy she never planned on falling for. But at twenty-three, that future blows up in her face when she's expelled by her prestigious university and forced to move back in with her parents.
Things only seem to get worse for Penelope when Carter re-enters her life unexpectedly. She forces herself to keep him at arms-length in attempt to stop him from learning the truth of her past five years. Yet, Penelope can't ignore the realization that the one person who always made her feel most herself has walked back into her life at the time she needs him most.
Carter won't give up so easily on his second chance with the girl of his dreams. But is Penelope's past, and her looming secrets, too hard to overcome?
In this heartwarming second-chance romance, two childhood friends find themselves pondering fate, coincidence, and maybe even... the existence of soulmates?
Carter Edwards has always been a go-with-the-flow type of guy. Except when it comes to Penelope his childhood neighbor, and the only girl he's ever fallen in love with. When he finally gathers the courage to make his life-long love for Penelope known, he finds that she's already chosen a future for herself- one without him in it.
Penelope Mason is a planner by nature. She'd do just about anything to secure the future she imagined for herself, including leaving behind the boy she never planned on falling for. But at twenty-three, that future blows up in her face when she's expelled by her prestigious university and forced to move back in with her parents.
Things only seem to get worse for Penelope when Carter re-enters her life unexpectedly. She forces herself to keep him at arms-length in attempt to stop him from learning the truth of her past five years. Yet, Penelope can't ignore the realization that the one person who always made her feel most herself has walked back into her life at the time she needs him most.
Carter won't give up so easily on his second chance with the girl of his dreams. But is Penelope's past, and her looming secrets, too hard to overcome?
In this heartwarming second-chance romance, two childhood friends find themselves pondering fate, coincidence, and maybe even... the existence of soulmates?
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2025
23 people want to read
About the author
Sarah A. Bailey
19 books753 followersSarah fell in love with reading as a child, starting with the Magic Treehouse Series. She quickly learned that books can take her to all the places she always dreamed of going, and allow her to live endless lifetimes in the one that we are given.
Sarah believes that a good, fluffy romance novel can make even the darkest days a little bit brighter. She believes in love stories readers can root for, the kind that will make even the skeptics believe in all that cheesy stuff like soulmates. She longs to produce stories that readers can pick up, and regardless of what’s weighing them down in life, feel a little lighter when they finish.
Sarah was born in California and raised in Southern Oregon, and still considers herself a Pacific Northwest gal at heart; right down to being a coffee snob, collecting hydro flasks, adamantly believing in Sasquatch, and feeling like rain-drenched forests are a form of therapy. Sarah now resides in North Carolina with her husband, Mike, and their dog-baby, Rue. When she’s not writing, she’s likely reading, and if she’s not reading, odds are she’s out searching for a decent cup of coffee, or a rainy pine forest.
Sarah believes that a good, fluffy romance novel can make even the darkest days a little bit brighter. She believes in love stories readers can root for, the kind that will make even the skeptics believe in all that cheesy stuff like soulmates. She longs to produce stories that readers can pick up, and regardless of what’s weighing them down in life, feel a little lighter when they finish.
Sarah was born in California and raised in Southern Oregon, and still considers herself a Pacific Northwest gal at heart; right down to being a coffee snob, collecting hydro flasks, adamantly believing in Sasquatch, and feeling like rain-drenched forests are a form of therapy. Sarah now resides in North Carolina with her husband, Mike, and their dog-baby, Rue. When she’s not writing, she’s likely reading, and if she’s not reading, odds are she’s out searching for a decent cup of coffee, or a rainy pine forest.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 16, 2025
It was a sweet book and i love a great childhood friends to lovers book. Mostly because of the yearning and oh yearning we had.
The boy was head over hills for this girl. Although i don’t really understand why because i didn’t really connect to her (except for the part where she loved the boy, cause i did too). She was portrayed as an academic and intelligent woman but she acted quite childish sometimes. Or at least to me it seemed like it. They were a cute couple though. I liked their dynamic and connection.
The book also touched some harder topics, but overall it was romantic and lighthearted, focusing on the love rather than the trauma. It’s the kind of book i would’ve loved to read in my late teens cause it’s mature enough to be out of the ya category but has the typical ya romance vibe that we all love. I’d like to thank to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with an earc of this book.
The boy was head over hills for this girl. Although i don’t really understand why because i didn’t really connect to her (except for the part where she loved the boy, cause i did too). She was portrayed as an academic and intelligent woman but she acted quite childish sometimes. Or at least to me it seemed like it. They were a cute couple though. I liked their dynamic and connection.
The book also touched some harder topics, but overall it was romantic and lighthearted, focusing on the love rather than the trauma. It’s the kind of book i would’ve loved to read in my late teens cause it’s mature enough to be out of the ya category but has the typical ya romance vibe that we all love. I’d like to thank to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with an earc of this book.
August 7, 2025
This was my first Sarah A. Bailey book, and I do like her writing style. That said, there was too much inner monologue from Carter and Penelope and not enough actual dialogue between them and other characters. I prefer more banter and conversation to keep things moving.
Carter was a sweet and solid MMC, but I found Penelope a bit hard to connect with, her trauma, personality and storyline didn’t really click for me. That said, it was beautifully written! Honestly, Carter and Penelope would have been great as friends!
I’m still curious about the Macie and Dom's book in this series, so I might continue the series. But if it follows the same slow pace and heavy inner thoughts, I might DNF.
Carter was a sweet and solid MMC, but I found Penelope a bit hard to connect with, her trauma, personality and storyline didn’t really click for me. That said, it was beautifully written! Honestly, Carter and Penelope would have been great as friends!
I’m still curious about the Macie and Dom's book in this series, so I might continue the series. But if it follows the same slow pace and heavy inner thoughts, I might DNF.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews