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Touch
Leah’s dreams of a happy ever after with her college boyfriend came crashing down when he left her to pursue his graduate studies on the other side of the state, far away from the school she has chosen. She moves into her new apartment alone, still holding on to the hope that he will realize his mistake and come back to her. She may have a broken heart, but she still believes in love that lasts.
Noah, Leah’s new neighbor, has spent the last three years studying the dissolution of couples for his doctoral thesis. He learned firsthand that love doesn’t always work out, and hopes to prove that touch is a predictor of success in relationships: when couples stop touching, they also stop loving. So far, his data supports his theory that it’s better to have a few nights of fun than to try to capture forever.
When one of Noah’s assistants drops out of his dissertation project, Leah agrees to fill in. She and Noah do their best to ignore their growing attraction—after all, she doesn’t do casual sex and he doesn’t do long-term relationships—but when a flood in Leah’s apartment puts them under the same roof for several weeks, they find it harder and harder to resist the physical connection they crave. Will the clinical evidence from Noah’s study convince Leah to stop believing in fairytale endings or will Noah come around to the idea that love is worth taking a chance? Can the two of them beat the odds and build a foundation for forever with each tender touch?
Sarah White was the 2013 Winner of Harlequin/WattPad SYTYCW Contest.
Be sure to check out other stories by Sarah available on WattPad:
ROOKIE IN LOVE
ROOKIE PLAYING FOR KEEPS
Noah, Leah’s new neighbor, has spent the last three years studying the dissolution of couples for his doctoral thesis. He learned firsthand that love doesn’t always work out, and hopes to prove that touch is a predictor of success in relationships: when couples stop touching, they also stop loving. So far, his data supports his theory that it’s better to have a few nights of fun than to try to capture forever.
When one of Noah’s assistants drops out of his dissertation project, Leah agrees to fill in. She and Noah do their best to ignore their growing attraction—after all, she doesn’t do casual sex and he doesn’t do long-term relationships—but when a flood in Leah’s apartment puts them under the same roof for several weeks, they find it harder and harder to resist the physical connection they crave. Will the clinical evidence from Noah’s study convince Leah to stop believing in fairytale endings or will Noah come around to the idea that love is worth taking a chance? Can the two of them beat the odds and build a foundation for forever with each tender touch?
Sarah White was the 2013 Winner of Harlequin/WattPad SYTYCW Contest.
Be sure to check out other stories by Sarah available on WattPad:
ROOKIE IN LOVE
ROOKIE PLAYING FOR KEEPS
159 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2014
About the author
Sarah L. White
25 books140 followersSarah White was born and raised in California. Graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Long Beach, she has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Counseling. In addition to being a mom, Sarah spends her days as a therapist and her nights and weekends reading and writing love stories. She currently lives in Southern California with her husband and two boys.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 1, 2015
4.5
This was seriously adorable as hell. I loved it. It was a quick and easy read, it wasn't based off drama, it wasn't about a couple fighting, it was a lovely little story about transitioning from friends to something else.
I loved Noah and Leah from the very beginning, and I am glad to have stumbled upon this sweet read.
"When life tries to push you apart, never let go of each other. A simple touch can heal a heart and join two souls. If you can remember that, even in times of darkness, your love can survive anything."
This was seriously adorable as hell. I loved it. It was a quick and easy read, it wasn't based off drama, it wasn't about a couple fighting, it was a lovely little story about transitioning from friends to something else.
I loved Noah and Leah from the very beginning, and I am glad to have stumbled upon this sweet read.
July 3, 2015
I was primarily drawn to this book because of its unique premise. A doctoral student who has been hurt by love is trying to prove that the lack of touch in a relationship is a sign that the relationship will not last. I found this to be such an intriguing concept for a romance novel – and it certainly did not disappoint.
Leah just moved to a new city to pursue her master’s degree. Her life wasn’t turning out the way she had originally envisioned. She was there by herself, instead of with her long-time boyfriend, Lyle. She was still reeling from the shock of their break-up and his declaration that he just didn’t love her anymore (yeah, he’s a real prize). Despite her broken heart, Leah is still a firm believer in true love and finding your soul mate.
When a flood in her apartment leaves her homeless, her charming neighbor Noah is there to offer her a place to crash while it’s being renovated. Even though they had only recently met, they seemed to hit it off pretty quickly. When she ends up filling in unexpectedly for his assistant, things get very interesting between these two friends. While he’s a firm believer that most relationships come to an end, she still wants to prove him wrong. It really was a refreshing approach to a romance book.
Their attraction to one another is undeniable, but she’s fresh out of a relationship and he doesn’t do the girlfriend thing anymore. As they live and work together, their relationship develops and grows into a lovely friendship. They look forward to seeing each other, to spending time together, and just doing what a normal couple would do. Except they’re not a couple.
I enjoyed the chemistry and the flirtatious banter between Leah and Noah. It was entertaining to witness their relationship unfold over time while they were living together. There was never a dull moment in this book. It had plenty of romance, a dose of angst, and plenty of fun moments. This was a quick read that I devoured in one sitting. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!
Leah just moved to a new city to pursue her master’s degree. Her life wasn’t turning out the way she had originally envisioned. She was there by herself, instead of with her long-time boyfriend, Lyle. She was still reeling from the shock of their break-up and his declaration that he just didn’t love her anymore (yeah, he’s a real prize). Despite her broken heart, Leah is still a firm believer in true love and finding your soul mate.
When a flood in her apartment leaves her homeless, her charming neighbor Noah is there to offer her a place to crash while it’s being renovated. Even though they had only recently met, they seemed to hit it off pretty quickly. When she ends up filling in unexpectedly for his assistant, things get very interesting between these two friends. While he’s a firm believer that most relationships come to an end, she still wants to prove him wrong. It really was a refreshing approach to a romance book.
Their attraction to one another is undeniable, but she’s fresh out of a relationship and he doesn’t do the girlfriend thing anymore. As they live and work together, their relationship develops and grows into a lovely friendship. They look forward to seeing each other, to spending time together, and just doing what a normal couple would do. Except they’re not a couple.
I enjoyed the chemistry and the flirtatious banter between Leah and Noah. It was entertaining to witness their relationship unfold over time while they were living together. There was never a dull moment in this book. It had plenty of romance, a dose of angst, and plenty of fun moments. This was a quick read that I devoured in one sitting. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!
June 10, 2017
- “Well, I believe in forever,” she says. “You just have to find the person you’re meant to spend it with. I’m not saying it’s easy, but I do think it’s possible.”
- The couples who continue to touch, or learn to use it as a tool when things get difficult, tend to make things work longer. Those who stop physically reaching out to each other are doomed to fail.
- The best way to get over an old love is to get under a new one.
- You might not be able to see it now, but he’s doing you a favor cutting you free. By letting you go—forcing a breakup—he’s stopping you from living your life for him when he doesn’t feel the same way. He may not be in love with you, but letting you go after seeing you flip that switch tells me he cares about you.
- “How do you get over it?”
“A long time. I don’t know if you ever truly get over it. You learn from it. You learn to live with the sting until it stops hurting, but the wound is always there. Get up every day and live your life. Try new things and rebuild a life on your own until all the little moments in your life that were filled with that other person become filled with something else.”
“I won’t promise you that you will forget him, but I can promise you that eventually thinking about him won’t hurt. There isn’t a lot of fanfare. One day you’ll think of him and find yourself surprised that the memory no longer comes with the sting.”
- “Today is one more day you’ve made it through without him. In a few hours you’ll start making it through another one. It’s just a matter of chaining the days together.”
“What if I don’t want to keep going without him?”
“Right now you think that because you don’t know any different. Since you’ve been with him, there hasn’t been a life without him. But trust me—the days will go by and the ache will lessen. You’ll learn that there is a life without him. Love is like a drug, and right now you’re like an addict in withdrawal. Your brain is so low on the feel-good neurotransmitters it is actually distressed. Give it time to heal.”
- When you lose someone through death there are always other people to grieve the loss with you. You know that the person is never coming back so your heart begins to heal. Breaking up with someone is different. You’re alone in your grief and you not only have to get over the loss of them in your life, but also come to terms with the idea that they are still out there living a life that doesn’t include you.
- The world is ugly and painful, full of tough lessons and lost love. I survived my first heartbreak; I don’t think I could survive another.
- “I thought you were supposed to tell me the answers. What kind of a psychologist are you, anyway?”
“A good one. We aren’t supposed to tell you the answers. Our job is to help you find your own. Imagine handing me a map and asking if you were going in the right direction. It’s not my job to show you which road to take, but I could help you see all the possible routes. If you’re unhappy where you end up, I can help you figure out how you got there and where you might have had the opportunity to make a different turn.”
“What happens if someone comes to you with a map but doesn’t even know where they are?”
“I would tell that person to stop pretending they don’t know where they are. Being ignorant to where you are in your life doesn’t get you anywhere except more lost. Look all around yourself and at every part of who you are. The signs are everywhere; they’ve been there all along.”
- “She told me that sometimes you need a little help understanding each other and she’d asked him to go to counseling several times, but he would never agree. She told me to remember that just like anything you cherish, you have to take care of it. A relationship is not any different.”
- When the right woman comes along I’ll be willing to put in the effort it takes to have the happy moments.
- I think maybe we’d just be falling back on our relationship because it’s familiar. I know you, or knew you. We don’t share the same dreams anymore and I’m not interested in starting over every time you think you want to take a break. You broke my heart, which was your first mistake. The second was breaking me down so far that I needed someone to help me pick up the pieces...
...We were finished a long time ago, Lyle. I just didn’t want to believe it. Our history is just that, history. I love the memories I have with you, but they’re not enough of a foundation to build a future.
- Life doesn’t always make love easy, but we don’t always have to make it so hard.
- We might not have all the answers, but we have the most important one. When life tries to push you apart, never let go of each other. A simple touch can heal a heart and join two souls. If you can remember that, even in times of darkness, your love can survive anything.
- The couples who continue to touch, or learn to use it as a tool when things get difficult, tend to make things work longer. Those who stop physically reaching out to each other are doomed to fail.
- The best way to get over an old love is to get under a new one.
- You might not be able to see it now, but he’s doing you a favor cutting you free. By letting you go—forcing a breakup—he’s stopping you from living your life for him when he doesn’t feel the same way. He may not be in love with you, but letting you go after seeing you flip that switch tells me he cares about you.
- “How do you get over it?”
“A long time. I don’t know if you ever truly get over it. You learn from it. You learn to live with the sting until it stops hurting, but the wound is always there. Get up every day and live your life. Try new things and rebuild a life on your own until all the little moments in your life that were filled with that other person become filled with something else.”
“I won’t promise you that you will forget him, but I can promise you that eventually thinking about him won’t hurt. There isn’t a lot of fanfare. One day you’ll think of him and find yourself surprised that the memory no longer comes with the sting.”
- “Today is one more day you’ve made it through without him. In a few hours you’ll start making it through another one. It’s just a matter of chaining the days together.”
“What if I don’t want to keep going without him?”
“Right now you think that because you don’t know any different. Since you’ve been with him, there hasn’t been a life without him. But trust me—the days will go by and the ache will lessen. You’ll learn that there is a life without him. Love is like a drug, and right now you’re like an addict in withdrawal. Your brain is so low on the feel-good neurotransmitters it is actually distressed. Give it time to heal.”
- When you lose someone through death there are always other people to grieve the loss with you. You know that the person is never coming back so your heart begins to heal. Breaking up with someone is different. You’re alone in your grief and you not only have to get over the loss of them in your life, but also come to terms with the idea that they are still out there living a life that doesn’t include you.
- The world is ugly and painful, full of tough lessons and lost love. I survived my first heartbreak; I don’t think I could survive another.
- “I thought you were supposed to tell me the answers. What kind of a psychologist are you, anyway?”
“A good one. We aren’t supposed to tell you the answers. Our job is to help you find your own. Imagine handing me a map and asking if you were going in the right direction. It’s not my job to show you which road to take, but I could help you see all the possible routes. If you’re unhappy where you end up, I can help you figure out how you got there and where you might have had the opportunity to make a different turn.”
“What happens if someone comes to you with a map but doesn’t even know where they are?”
“I would tell that person to stop pretending they don’t know where they are. Being ignorant to where you are in your life doesn’t get you anywhere except more lost. Look all around yourself and at every part of who you are. The signs are everywhere; they’ve been there all along.”
- “She told me that sometimes you need a little help understanding each other and she’d asked him to go to counseling several times, but he would never agree. She told me to remember that just like anything you cherish, you have to take care of it. A relationship is not any different.”
- When the right woman comes along I’ll be willing to put in the effort it takes to have the happy moments.
- I think maybe we’d just be falling back on our relationship because it’s familiar. I know you, or knew you. We don’t share the same dreams anymore and I’m not interested in starting over every time you think you want to take a break. You broke my heart, which was your first mistake. The second was breaking me down so far that I needed someone to help me pick up the pieces...
...We were finished a long time ago, Lyle. I just didn’t want to believe it. Our history is just that, history. I love the memories I have with you, but they’re not enough of a foundation to build a future.
- Life doesn’t always make love easy, but we don’t always have to make it so hard.
- We might not have all the answers, but we have the most important one. When life tries to push you apart, never let go of each other. A simple touch can heal a heart and join two souls. If you can remember that, even in times of darkness, your love can survive anything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2017
Absolutely brilliant.
I first found Sarah White on Wattpad and fell in love with her work. The series' she has written are excellent, I've read everything she's written so far and haven't been disappointed once, I can't wait to read more from her. I highly recommend this book and all of the others on Wattpad. But it, you won't regret it!!!
I first found Sarah White on Wattpad and fell in love with her work. The series' she has written are excellent, I've read everything she's written so far and haven't been disappointed once, I can't wait to read more from her. I highly recommend this book and all of the others on Wattpad. But it, you won't regret it!!!
October 29, 2015
Leah thinks her life is planned out. She is heading to complete her graduate degree at her school of choice and her long-term boyfriend, Lyle, will be as well. Lyle decides he wants something different that does not include Leah. Leah is holding out that Lyle will change his mind and she can find her happily ever after. She meets her new neighbor, Noah, while moving in. Noah is completing his doctoral thesis and the dissolution of couples. After a particularly difficult breakup, Noah concluded that all relationships are doomed to failure and a couple's lack of touch can predict the end of their relationship. Noah loses an assistant and Leah volunteers to take her place to assist him to complete his project for his thesis. There is a growing attraction between them. Noah wants to be convinced he is right and Leah struggles to overcome her breakup with Lyle. Leah also questions whether her and Lyle were even a good couple. Noah only has casual hook-ups and Leah still believes in long term, committed relationships.
I love psychology and the deep seated reasons behind people's actions. This was a great story touching on personal relationships and the struggles of maintaining the balance between being an individual and being a couple. Touching your partner and communicating honestly are two very important elements in any relationship. When these are not present, it is evident that the relationship has problems. A great story!
I love psychology and the deep seated reasons behind people's actions. This was a great story touching on personal relationships and the struggles of maintaining the balance between being an individual and being a couple. Touching your partner and communicating honestly are two very important elements in any relationship. When these are not present, it is evident that the relationship has problems. A great story!
November 29, 2015
Made Me Smile
This was a sweet story about Leah and Noah, two college students dealing with broken hearts. Leah's is a fresh break-up. Noah's is the years old. He is working on his doctorate in psychology studying couples who are having relationship issues to prove his theory that once couple stop touching each other, they relationship ends.
A couple circumstances bring Leah and Noah together wherein the spend a lot of time together and build a great friendship. They unknowingly help each other heal and fall in love. Despite her recent break-up, Leah still believes in people finding their "happily ever after". Her carefree romantic side turns Noah, who no longer believed in long term relationships, into a true romantic. He's so sweet and what he does in the end was so touching.
I loved that this was not an "instalove" story. They took the time to get to know each other. They were honest with each other and built trust in each other. They have fun together.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick, sweet, clean romance with likeable characters.
This was a sweet story about Leah and Noah, two college students dealing with broken hearts. Leah's is a fresh break-up. Noah's is the years old. He is working on his doctorate in psychology studying couples who are having relationship issues to prove his theory that once couple stop touching each other, they relationship ends.
A couple circumstances bring Leah and Noah together wherein the spend a lot of time together and build a great friendship. They unknowingly help each other heal and fall in love. Despite her recent break-up, Leah still believes in people finding their "happily ever after". Her carefree romantic side turns Noah, who no longer believed in long term relationships, into a true romantic. He's so sweet and what he does in the end was so touching.
I loved that this was not an "instalove" story. They took the time to get to know each other. They were honest with each other and built trust in each other. They have fun together.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick, sweet, clean romance with likeable characters.
September 1, 2015
I liked the underlying message of this story, but overall I was left feeling underwhelmed. The monotonous and similar tone of both Leah and Noah (story was told in dual POV) had me confused as to whose POV I was reading at times. They did not have their own unique "voice" and I felt often times how we should feel rather than let us readers feel the emotions brewing between these two. I also felt like there was no way something like this could happen in real life. I don't care how attracted or connected you feel to someone, you just don't start sharing beds and giving affectionate touches when you are brand new friends! Again, the message about touch in relationships was awesome and I totally agree with that assertion, but the delivery was lacking. Also, for those that care there was zero sexy time. I didn't mind but I know some do.
April 12, 2016
Leah's moving into a new apartment and meets Noah as she takes a tumble down the stairs. Of course he helps her and that's how their story begins.
This was smart and sweet but not necessarily sexy (which isn't a bad thing) given that this was called "touch" I kinda expected it. There's nothing heavy in this at all. Light, fun and quick.
Both main characters are smart, have had not so great relationships and begin a friendship that morphs over time. I was not necessarily crazy about Noah's one-night standish ways nor how we went about "proving" that he wasn't interested in Leah in the beginning. But I liked reading their journeys of discovery.
The HEA was sweet, not super cliche, but appropriate.
This was smart and sweet but not necessarily sexy (which isn't a bad thing) given that this was called "touch" I kinda expected it. There's nothing heavy in this at all. Light, fun and quick.
Both main characters are smart, have had not so great relationships and begin a friendship that morphs over time. I was not necessarily crazy about Noah's one-night standish ways nor how we went about "proving" that he wasn't interested in Leah in the beginning. But I liked reading their journeys of discovery.
The HEA was sweet, not super cliche, but appropriate.
February 1, 2016
Inspiring
Leah and Noah are about as far apart in their beliefs about love as two people can be. Leah believes in true love and is not the type to have a fling. While Noah pretty much has a revolving door where women are concerned. Fighting their attraction because they can't be what the other needs, they first learn to be friends. I don't know if the theory about touch in a relationship is true, but the premise seems correct. I enjoyed reading how this theory affected both Leah and Noah. Like everything else it's how you interpret and apply the results that will determine the outcome.
Leah and Noah are about as far apart in their beliefs about love as two people can be. Leah believes in true love and is not the type to have a fling. While Noah pretty much has a revolving door where women are concerned. Fighting their attraction because they can't be what the other needs, they first learn to be friends. I don't know if the theory about touch in a relationship is true, but the premise seems correct. I enjoyed reading how this theory affected both Leah and Noah. Like everything else it's how you interpret and apply the results that will determine the outcome.
December 1, 2016
Read this story and let it Touch you!
I just happened upon this book when I was looking through Cyber Monday specials and decided to take a chance and I am so completely happy that I did!
This story was engaging from the very beginning with the crash all the way to the map at the end. I could NOT put it down and was sad when it was over, oh don't worry it has a HEA ending but I was just sorry to see the book end. It takes you up and down and sideways and brings you safely home.
I have never read anything by this author but I decided to take a chance and so entirely glad that I did!!
You will not be sorry either, read Touch and it will touch you too!
I just happened upon this book when I was looking through Cyber Monday specials and decided to take a chance and I am so completely happy that I did!
This story was engaging from the very beginning with the crash all the way to the map at the end. I could NOT put it down and was sad when it was over, oh don't worry it has a HEA ending but I was just sorry to see the book end. It takes you up and down and sideways and brings you safely home.
I have never read anything by this author but I decided to take a chance and so entirely glad that I did!!
You will not be sorry either, read Touch and it will touch you too!
October 27, 2015
Perfect in its simplicity
The premise of this book is in its title. That if we physically keep touching the ones we love, if we want to hug them even if we are mad at them, if we squeeze their hand just to let them know we are there for them no matter what then we stand a good chance of keeping our relationships together. Noah and Leah's love story shows us there is hope in finding love and keeping love. I recommend this quick read to anyone who enjoys a love story with a few lessons on when to fight for love and when to say goodbye to it.
The premise of this book is in its title. That if we physically keep touching the ones we love, if we want to hug them even if we are mad at them, if we squeeze their hand just to let them know we are there for them no matter what then we stand a good chance of keeping our relationships together. Noah and Leah's love story shows us there is hope in finding love and keeping love. I recommend this quick read to anyone who enjoys a love story with a few lessons on when to fight for love and when to say goodbye to it.
December 5, 2015
'A simple touch can heal a heart and join two souls. If you can remember that, even in times of darkness, your love can survive anything.'
I fell in love with this book over and over again. Leah and Noah were such amazing characters and so great together!! I loved the different premise and I absolutely agree with Noah's dissertation about touch and I'm happy Leah was able to turn it positive. The whole book was spot-on. I felt like it touched me and connected with me so deeply which made the characters feel so real. I just loved the whole story and I'm so happy I read it.
I fell in love with this book over and over again. Leah and Noah were such amazing characters and so great together!! I loved the different premise and I absolutely agree with Noah's dissertation about touch and I'm happy Leah was able to turn it positive. The whole book was spot-on. I felt like it touched me and connected with me so deeply which made the characters feel so real. I just loved the whole story and I'm so happy I read it.
November 19, 2015
This was okay. I have to say I didn't love the writing style. It was just a little choppy. Grammatically it was fine, it just didn't flow effortlessly. Both main characters kinda annoyed me, especially Leah. She makes all these assumption and is so hurt because she sees because Noah kisses a woman on the cheek (drama, but the lame kind). It was entertaining and I did want them to get their happy ending I just wished it wasn't so predictable.
June 1, 2015
I Loved It!
I read some of your stories on Wattpad and I loved them. This story was just as good! As a fellow author, I can definitely say I love reading a good book that just sucks you right in. I enjoyed the storyline and the friendship between Leah & Noah. Great book! I will definitely continue reading more from you.
I read some of your stories on Wattpad and I loved them. This story was just as good! As a fellow author, I can definitely say I love reading a good book that just sucks you right in. I enjoyed the storyline and the friendship between Leah & Noah. Great book! I will definitely continue reading more from you.
June 30, 2015
Real Love
A beautiful healing relationship develops between two people who have sustained hard breakups. This is truly a romance. Many profound insights are given as the couple searches for a way to be close and safe. Highly recommended, sweet, no sex just intense sensitive love.
A beautiful healing relationship develops between two people who have sustained hard breakups. This is truly a romance. Many profound insights are given as the couple searches for a way to be close and safe. Highly recommended, sweet, no sex just intense sensitive love.
June 29, 2015
This one left me bored.
November 16, 2015
Absolutely loved. So so so much. GREAT READ.
October 28, 2016
I love this book! It is very well written. Noah and Leah had two very different views on relationships. Watching them come together was awesome. It's a sweet, easy, must read.
February 4, 2015
Awww... The story is light and yet romantic in every sense. ❤️
August 27, 2015
Cosita tierna y preciosa.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews