What do you think?
Rate this book
Some Kind of Whole
Do two halves always make a whole?
Kinley is intelligent, driven, beautiful, and broken. All she wants to do is focus on her future — finishing school and landing her dream job. There is no time for anything else, especially a relationship. Parker is tall, dark, and handsome. Already very accomplished in his career, he wasn’t looking for a relationship. But then he saw Kinley. Their chance encounter at a club will change the direction of both their lives. Will this turn into a one-night stand or can Parker make Kinley see her true worth? Can Kinley put her past behind her and truly focus on healing and moving on with Parker? Can Parker navigate his own past without making Kinley feel betrayed? Will they be able to put their past skeletons aside to make a new life together? Will these two halves truly be able to become Some Kind of Whole?
Kinley is intelligent, driven, beautiful, and broken. All she wants to do is focus on her future — finishing school and landing her dream job. There is no time for anything else, especially a relationship. Parker is tall, dark, and handsome. Already very accomplished in his career, he wasn’t looking for a relationship. But then he saw Kinley. Their chance encounter at a club will change the direction of both their lives. Will this turn into a one-night stand or can Parker make Kinley see her true worth? Can Kinley put her past behind her and truly focus on healing and moving on with Parker? Can Parker navigate his own past without making Kinley feel betrayed? Will they be able to put their past skeletons aside to make a new life together? Will these two halves truly be able to become Some Kind of Whole?
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2026
4 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Copy received from IRIS Influencer Society
What an absolute gem of a debut!
This book is wonderful, and honestly reads like the author has written dozens of novels!
This has so much to savour- the characters, the plot, the spice, the dialogue. I could go on. I cannot wait to read more from this author. One to watch.
What an absolute gem of a debut!
This book is wonderful, and honestly reads like the author has written dozens of novels!
This has so much to savour- the characters, the plot, the spice, the dialogue. I could go on. I cannot wait to read more from this author. One to watch.
August 16, 2025
I cannot believe this is Maegan Ashley’s debut! I loved this story so much. These characters healed me a little bit. I loved our sweet and spunky FMC and our strong, caring and protective MMC. The minor characters that were introduced stood out and I can’t wait to read their stories as the series progresses. The mental health rep was handled extremely thoughtfully. I can’t wait to read book two! 🩷
I am sincerely thankful to Maegan Ashley for providing me with a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.
I am sincerely thankful to Maegan Ashley for providing me with a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.
January 19, 2026
Such a sweet, heartfelt story between Parker and Kinley. Kinley’s story is one of great heartbreak, being left to pick up the pieces, and trying to learn how to heal, how to form real connections with people. Throwing herself in her studies, she successfully obtains an internship at a prestigious law firm. Prior to starting, she and her roommate go out to celebrate the end of the semester, where Kinley meets Parker and an instant attraction ignites. To Kinley’s horror, she discovers that he is her new boss and is in line to own the firm. The story is written from both Kinley’s and Parker’s POV, allowing insight into background events that become relationship-altering once they come to light. Kinley must determine if she is willing to let her walls down to let Parker in, or if she will continue to allow her past to keep her trapped in her old ways of thinking. Truly a heartfelt ride as you feel the internal wars going on within Parker and Kinley. The plot twist near the end of the novel is wonderful as Kinley finds her peace and is forced to make a final decision about her future.
Favorite Quotes:
“Just like me, she had demons in her closet, and I would be damned if they kept my girl away from me. We would conquer them together.”
“You were always whole love, you just needed the right person to see it.”
“’You feel like home….You are home.”
“You deserve all the love in the world, and to see you smiling again – truly smiling, makes my heart so happy.”
Favorite Quotes:
“Just like me, she had demons in her closet, and I would be damned if they kept my girl away from me. We would conquer them together.”
“You were always whole love, you just needed the right person to see it.”
“’You feel like home….You are home.”
“You deserve all the love in the world, and to see you smiling again – truly smiling, makes my heart so happy.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
This author masterfully crafts a story that captures the intensity of a single eye contact through words on a page. The story follows Kinley, a curvy and career-driven FMC navigating the aftermath of a sudden break up with her high school sweetheart. Along comes Parker, the MMC with captivating green eyes who spots her at a club and is hooked from the moment she looks into his eyes. As their story unfolds, the character development is organic and expertly paced, showcasing the duo's individual struggles with pain and trauma. They find solace in each other, healing and growing together. Leila's unwavering loyalty as Kinley's best friend resonated deeply, reminding me of my own friendships. This book was impossible to put down, and the plot twists left me breathless, tearful, and screaming for more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Some Kind Of Whole is a strong debut from Maegan Ashley that delivers an emotional, steamy romance centered on healing, trust, and finding love when you least expect it. Kinley is a sharp, driven FMC with scars from her past, while Parker brings confident, possessive male energy that never crosses the line—protective, attentive, and deeply invested. Their connection is intense, chemistry-filled, and layered with emotional growth as both characters confront old wounds to build something real together. Equal parts heartfelt and spicy, this story balances vulnerability with passion and makes their journey toward love incredibly satisfying. A delightful, feel-good read and the perfect way to kick off the new year.
January 19, 2026
First of all congratulations to Maegan for her debut novel!!!
I truly enjoyed this book! Kinley & Parker had instant chemistry and everyone could see. I personally loved how they each had their struggles & were afraid to be vulnerable but eventually all the pieces fell together. This was just a fun, fast paced, easy, read. The SPICE tho WAS SPICINNNN 🥵 Parker is a bad boy in those sheets. Kinley was super sweet, and although she went through alot with her ex Tyler I still felt as if she was slightly dramatic, butttt it was necessary for the plot. There wasn’t too much depth to these characters but I liked them and was okay with it for this book.
Also Veronica bye girl 👋🏼
Thank you so much to Maegan for this ARC 🩷
I truly enjoyed this book! Kinley & Parker had instant chemistry and everyone could see. I personally loved how they each had their struggles & were afraid to be vulnerable but eventually all the pieces fell together. This was just a fun, fast paced, easy, read. The SPICE tho WAS SPICINNNN 🥵 Parker is a bad boy in those sheets. Kinley was super sweet, and although she went through alot with her ex Tyler I still felt as if she was slightly dramatic, butttt it was necessary for the plot. There wasn’t too much depth to these characters but I liked them and was okay with it for this book.
Also Veronica bye girl 👋🏼
Thank you so much to Maegan for this ARC 🩷
December 29, 2025
Some Kind of Whole by Maegan Ashley completely stole my heart. Parker and Kinley’s love story is incredibly inspiring—Parker’s unwavering love, care, protection, and support for Kinley is everything, and it was beautiful to watch Kinley grow and find the strength to trust and love again after heartbreak. The way the book handles themes of depression and anxiety is honest and well written, making them feel deeply relatable. This story is emotional, comforting, and unforgettable—I truly adored every moment of it.
January 4, 2026
Author Maegan Ashley delivers an amazing debut novel - I was hooked from the minute I started reading and couldn’t put it down.
The story was written so beautifully and captured the raw emotion the characters experienced: the heartache is something that so many of us can relate to and the author put words on the page as if she was pulling from someone’s personal diary.
The personal growth of the characters proves that we can all overcome our struggles when we have a strong support system and aren’t afraid to seek help for our mental health needs.
The spice was spicing and had me giggling and blushing.
The story was written so beautifully and captured the raw emotion the characters experienced: the heartache is something that so many of us can relate to and the author put words on the page as if she was pulling from someone’s personal diary.
The personal growth of the characters proves that we can all overcome our struggles when we have a strong support system and aren’t afraid to seek help for our mental health needs.
The spice was spicing and had me giggling and blushing.
January 12, 2026
This was such a cute story! I read it in less than a day. I love that it touches on the messy parts of a relationship. The mental health rep was perfect. Also love how possessive, dominate, and soft Parker is with Kinley.
P.S. Can we all pls get a friend like Leila?!?!
P.S. Can we all pls get a friend like Leila?!?!
January 4, 2026
ARC REVIEW
Fable Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Goodreads Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes:
🖤age gap
🖤mental health rep
🖤possessive mmc
🖤curvy fmc
Format: ebook
Pages: 321
Spice: 3 🌶️
S/S:
Check trigger warnings for any book
Parker and Kinley. This is the first book I’ve read from this author. It’s good. Rated 4 stars.
Lillian - @lillianbookreviews on instagram
Fable Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Goodreads Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes:
🖤age gap
🖤mental health rep
🖤possessive mmc
🖤curvy fmc
Format: ebook
Pages: 321
Spice: 3 🌶️
S/S:
Check trigger warnings for any book
Parker and Kinley. This is the first book I’ve read from this author. It’s good. Rated 4 stars.
Lillian - @lillianbookreviews on instagram
Review of advance copy received from Author
Some Kind of Wonderful has definitely lived up to its title for me! The chemistry between the leads is 🔥, and I love how the male lead is all about protecting his girl while also letting her shine! And let's talk about our girl. she's a BOSS! I need more strong, relatable female leads like her, and this book didn't disappoint! It's got all the feels, all the romance, and all the heart. If you're looking for a book with a kickbutt heroine, look no further!
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ BOOK TOUR + REVIEW ✨
Some Kind of Whole by @maeganashleywrites
📅 Coming January 14th
⭐️ Rating: 4.5 Stars (Rounded to 5 Stars)
Some Kind of Whole gave me everything I love in a romance: a guarded heroine, a possessive MMC with a soft heart, emotional depth, and chemistry that jumps off the page. Watching these two broken halves find their way toward something real was such a rewarding experience. Highly recommend!
If you’re craving a romance that brings the feelings—the messy healing, the real-life baggage, and the kind of connection that sneaks up on you—this one is absolutely worth the read.
Kinely and Parker start with a chance meeting at a club that feels small and simple… and then it slowly (but surely) escalates into something deeper. The pacing of their relationship worked for me because it wasn’t instant “I’m cured by love” energy—it felt like two people learning each other, choosing each other, and figuring out how to be safe together.
What really stood out is how the story handles healing and mental health with care. Kinely is guarded for a reason, and Parker doesn’t bulldoze his way into her past. He shows up, stays consistent, and gives her room to speak when she’s ready—on her terms. That quiet patience made their romance feel even more earned, especially as both of them navigate their own wounds.
And yes: the tropes are troping in the best way. The age gap/workplace tension adds that delicious edge, the MMC is possessive without steamrolling consent, and the curvy FMC rep is such a plus. Add in friendships, emotional depth, and a little twist to keep things interesting? Consider me hooked.
💋 Tropes / What to expect: 💋 Age Gap ♥️ Possessive MMC 💋 Love after heartbreak ♥️ Workplace romance 💋 Guarded FMC ♥️ Mental Health Rep 💋 Curvy FMC
P.S. I made a post and said 4 stars and after more contemplation and analyzing the story with a friend I decided that it was more like a 4.5 star.
Huge thank you to @iris.influencer.society for the ARC and having me on this tour! 💖
Some Kind of Whole gave me everything I love in a romance: a guarded heroine, a possessive MMC with a soft heart, emotional depth, and chemistry that jumps off the page. Watching these two broken halves find their way toward something real was such a rewarding experience. Highly recommend!
If you’re craving a romance that brings the feelings—the messy healing, the real-life baggage, and the kind of connection that sneaks up on you—this one is absolutely worth the read.
Kinely and Parker start with a chance meeting at a club that feels small and simple… and then it slowly (but surely) escalates into something deeper. The pacing of their relationship worked for me because it wasn’t instant “I’m cured by love” energy—it felt like two people learning each other, choosing each other, and figuring out how to be safe together.
What really stood out is how the story handles healing and mental health with care. Kinely is guarded for a reason, and Parker doesn’t bulldoze his way into her past. He shows up, stays consistent, and gives her room to speak when she’s ready—on her terms. That quiet patience made their romance feel even more earned, especially as both of them navigate their own wounds.
And yes: the tropes are troping in the best way. The age gap/workplace tension adds that delicious edge, the MMC is possessive without steamrolling consent, and the curvy FMC rep is such a plus. Add in friendships, emotional depth, and a little twist to keep things interesting? Consider me hooked.
💋 Tropes / What to expect: 💋 Age Gap ♥️ Possessive MMC 💋 Love after heartbreak ♥️ Workplace romance 💋 Guarded FMC ♥️ Mental Health Rep 💋 Curvy FMC
P.S. I made a post and said 4 stars and after more contemplation and analyzing the story with a friend I decided that it was more like a 4.5 star.
Huge thank you to @iris.influencer.society for the ARC and having me on this tour! 💖
January 7, 2026
Firstly I’d like to thank Maegan for allowing me this opportunity to ARC read Some Kind Of Whole🫶🏼
Secondly… OMG!!😭😭 what a beautiful read! I tried as hard as I could to drag this book out a little bit to make it last but I ended up finishing it in 2 days because I LOVED it so much. I couldn’t put it down from start to finish. The FMC Kinley was perfection. It’s so refreshing to have a curvy FMC who has trust issues and insecurities. I can definitely relate to Kinley so much in this book. Parker was every MMC dream, omg he is the most perfect book boyfriend! He’s loyal, loving, supportive and is dominant in the bedroom.. yep ticked all my boxes ✔️
Maegan has written this book so beautifully. The style is so easy to follow, it’s engaging, relatable, flows well and was so well executed!! Not to mention the bombshells that gets dropped in not once not twice but a few times!😱 oh and the spice was top tier!!😮💨🌶️🌶️ definitely felt my cheeks blush a little bit 🤏🏼🤭 I’m hooked! I loved each and every single character in this book, so much so I’m not ready for this to be over😭 Can we also take a minute for the queen of best friends that is Leila! I adore her! Shes a sassy, sharp tongue beautiful soul. Everyone needs a best friend like Leila. I am praying praying and PRAYING we get more books 👀 because I’m not ready for this to be over. I need more of Leila, Everett, Cole and even Tyler!!! Oh Tyler’s redemption would be👩🏼🍳💋
A really amazing read! I highly recommend this book to anyone. It was absolutely phenomenal and definitely made me feel some kind of whole💗
Secondly… OMG!!😭😭 what a beautiful read! I tried as hard as I could to drag this book out a little bit to make it last but I ended up finishing it in 2 days because I LOVED it so much. I couldn’t put it down from start to finish. The FMC Kinley was perfection. It’s so refreshing to have a curvy FMC who has trust issues and insecurities. I can definitely relate to Kinley so much in this book. Parker was every MMC dream, omg he is the most perfect book boyfriend! He’s loyal, loving, supportive and is dominant in the bedroom.. yep ticked all my boxes ✔️
Maegan has written this book so beautifully. The style is so easy to follow, it’s engaging, relatable, flows well and was so well executed!! Not to mention the bombshells that gets dropped in not once not twice but a few times!😱 oh and the spice was top tier!!😮💨🌶️🌶️ definitely felt my cheeks blush a little bit 🤏🏼🤭 I’m hooked! I loved each and every single character in this book, so much so I’m not ready for this to be over😭 Can we also take a minute for the queen of best friends that is Leila! I adore her! Shes a sassy, sharp tongue beautiful soul. Everyone needs a best friend like Leila. I am praying praying and PRAYING we get more books 👀 because I’m not ready for this to be over. I need more of Leila, Everett, Cole and even Tyler!!! Oh Tyler’s redemption would be👩🏼🍳💋
A really amazing read! I highly recommend this book to anyone. It was absolutely phenomenal and definitely made me feel some kind of whole💗
January 14, 2026
A fantastic and enjoyable debut novel!
This is Maegan Ashley’s first book and lemme just say that it was fantastic and stole my heart. The story drew me in and I could not put it down, with its loveable characters, heartwarming, feel good plot and unexpected twists.
Parker and Kinley were the epitome of a perfect match. Kinley, was such a relatable character. She was focused on her career and future and was not interested in a relationship, that is until Parker came into her life.
Kinley and Parker’s connection was instant and undeniable. Parker was openly drawn to Kinley and made his interest in her very clear, but Kinley's past experience made her hesitant.
I loved how Parker knew what he wanted and did not give up. He was patient, sweet, swoony and oh so sexy. When it came to Parker it was definitely hotness overload, his thoughtful demeanor mixed with his filty mouth gave me goosebumps and I couldn't get enough.
Parker slowly broke down Kinley's walls and it was fun to see Kinley coming to terms with her feelings and taking a chance on love.The emotional growth of the characters made me root for them deeply. They understood each other and filled that void that they each had.
The side characters were loveable and added to the humor of the book. The friendships were heartwarming and nicely set the stage for more books in this series.
Overall, this book was a fun, heartfelt story with strong chemistry, lovable characters, and a promising start for this new author. I’m definitely looking forward to what Maegan Ashley writes next.
This is Maegan Ashley’s first book and lemme just say that it was fantastic and stole my heart. The story drew me in and I could not put it down, with its loveable characters, heartwarming, feel good plot and unexpected twists.
Parker and Kinley were the epitome of a perfect match. Kinley, was such a relatable character. She was focused on her career and future and was not interested in a relationship, that is until Parker came into her life.
Kinley and Parker’s connection was instant and undeniable. Parker was openly drawn to Kinley and made his interest in her very clear, but Kinley's past experience made her hesitant.
I loved how Parker knew what he wanted and did not give up. He was patient, sweet, swoony and oh so sexy. When it came to Parker it was definitely hotness overload, his thoughtful demeanor mixed with his filty mouth gave me goosebumps and I couldn't get enough.
Parker slowly broke down Kinley's walls and it was fun to see Kinley coming to terms with her feelings and taking a chance on love.The emotional growth of the characters made me root for them deeply. They understood each other and filled that void that they each had.
The side characters were loveable and added to the humor of the book. The friendships were heartwarming and nicely set the stage for more books in this series.
Overall, this book was a fun, heartfelt story with strong chemistry, lovable characters, and a promising start for this new author. I’m definitely looking forward to what Maegan Ashley writes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
First, congratulations on this author’s debut novel❤️👏
I have so much love and respect for all authors, but especially new authors for taking the risk of showcasing their work.
I’m giving this book four stars!
Tropes in this book are:
Insta-attraction/love
Age-gap (8 years)
Boss/employee
Insecure FMC with Trust issues
Dominant/possessive MMC
We have Kinley (FMC), who is just finishing up her second year as a law student and Parker (MMC), a lawyer, who eventually becomes her boss.
For Parker it was attraction/love at first sight. Omg he came on soo strong! But this is exactly what Kinley needed, someone who knocks down all of her insecurities and is just completely obsessed with her.
Loved the connection between Kinley and Parker. Loved reading all of the scenes where Parker cherished and worshipped Kinley. The spice was spicy and perfectly written. The author’s writing style was creative and easy to follow.
Why I couldn’t give this book 5 stars:
Like I said before I absolutely loved everything about Kinley and Parker, I was just not a big fan of the conflicts in the story with other characters. I won’t go into too much detail because I don’t want to spoil it for any future readers. This is just my opinion, but I think one focused conflict would have been enough for this story.
I will definitely be recommending this book for anyone looking for an easy to follow and relatable love story.
Hope you give this book a chance, Happy Reading❤️
First, congratulations on this author’s debut novel❤️👏
I have so much love and respect for all authors, but especially new authors for taking the risk of showcasing their work.
I’m giving this book four stars!
Tropes in this book are:
Insta-attraction/love
Age-gap (8 years)
Boss/employee
Insecure FMC with Trust issues
Dominant/possessive MMC
We have Kinley (FMC), who is just finishing up her second year as a law student and Parker (MMC), a lawyer, who eventually becomes her boss.
For Parker it was attraction/love at first sight. Omg he came on soo strong! But this is exactly what Kinley needed, someone who knocks down all of her insecurities and is just completely obsessed with her.
Loved the connection between Kinley and Parker. Loved reading all of the scenes where Parker cherished and worshipped Kinley. The spice was spicy and perfectly written. The author’s writing style was creative and easy to follow.
Why I couldn’t give this book 5 stars:
Like I said before I absolutely loved everything about Kinley and Parker, I was just not a big fan of the conflicts in the story with other characters. I won’t go into too much detail because I don’t want to spoil it for any future readers. This is just my opinion, but I think one focused conflict would have been enough for this story.
I will definitely be recommending this book for anyone looking for an easy to follow and relatable love story.
Hope you give this book a chance, Happy Reading❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you IRIS and Maegan Ashley for the eARC of this book!
What do you get when you cross a guarded FMC with a possessive MMC? You get a beautiful romance that will take you on a journey of self love, self worth, and second chances as they find their way to eachother. This book is sweet and spicy and everything in between.
Kinley is a boss! She is a confident, hardworking law student who is healing from heartbreak. Her struggles with mental health were handled beautifully!
Parker is a man OBSESSED from the moment he lays eyes on Kinley! He is one of my new favorite book boyfriends! He will have you swooning one moment and blushing the next!
Kinley and Parker have a chance meeting where sparks fly and then she finds out she will be working for him. I loved watching them spend time together and I loved how committed and reassuring Parker was throughout it all. Both of them have their pasts and their demons, and Maegan had me shocked a couple of times with some interesting twists!
An extra special shoutout needs to go to Leila! Everyone deserves a best friend like her. A rock, a cheerleader, someone who is there for you at your worst! ( and who books you a girls trip to Vegas) I really hope we see our girl have her own happily ever after!
What an amazing debut for Maegan! This book was just want I needed after reading a whole lot of heavy romantasy books. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the rest of this series.
Thank you IRIS and Maegan Ashley for the eARC of this book!
What do you get when you cross a guarded FMC with a possessive MMC? You get a beautiful romance that will take you on a journey of self love, self worth, and second chances as they find their way to eachother. This book is sweet and spicy and everything in between.
Kinley is a boss! She is a confident, hardworking law student who is healing from heartbreak. Her struggles with mental health were handled beautifully!
Parker is a man OBSESSED from the moment he lays eyes on Kinley! He is one of my new favorite book boyfriends! He will have you swooning one moment and blushing the next!
Kinley and Parker have a chance meeting where sparks fly and then she finds out she will be working for him. I loved watching them spend time together and I loved how committed and reassuring Parker was throughout it all. Both of them have their pasts and their demons, and Maegan had me shocked a couple of times with some interesting twists!
An extra special shoutout needs to go to Leila! Everyone deserves a best friend like her. A rock, a cheerleader, someone who is there for you at your worst! ( and who books you a girls trip to Vegas) I really hope we see our girl have her own happily ever after!
What an amazing debut for Maegan! This book was just want I needed after reading a whole lot of heavy romantasy books. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the rest of this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Some Kind of Whole is Book 1 in The Kind We Are series, and it was such a sweet, emotional, and fun read that pulled me in from the very beginning. The story is fast-paced, the writing is sharp, and the characters are wonderfully developed. Maegan Ashley did an amazing job with this debut, especially in how thoughtfully and respectfully mental health representation is handled.
Kinley is a strong, brave, and deeply relatable FMC. I loved watching her grow and slowly learn how to trust and love again after heartbreak. Her healing journey was deeply moving.
Parker is everything you want in an MMC — caring, protective, and emotionally supportive. The way he loves Kinley and all her curves, consistently showing her that she is worthy of love, was beautiful to read. His patience and support made their relationship feel safe and genuine.
Their chemistry is electric, the spice is just right, and the banter is fun and engaging. I loved watching them help each other heal from past trauma. The twist at the end completely caught me off guard, but I’m glad Kinley finally got the answers and closure she deserved.
The side characters were fantastic — especially the heartwarming bond Kinley shares with her dad and her best friend, Leila. I’m really hoping we get her story next!
I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
Thank you to Maegan Ashley for the ARC!
Kinley is a strong, brave, and deeply relatable FMC. I loved watching her grow and slowly learn how to trust and love again after heartbreak. Her healing journey was deeply moving.
Parker is everything you want in an MMC — caring, protective, and emotionally supportive. The way he loves Kinley and all her curves, consistently showing her that she is worthy of love, was beautiful to read. His patience and support made their relationship feel safe and genuine.
Their chemistry is electric, the spice is just right, and the banter is fun and engaging. I loved watching them help each other heal from past trauma. The twist at the end completely caught me off guard, but I’m glad Kinley finally got the answers and closure she deserved.
The side characters were fantastic — especially the heartwarming bond Kinley shares with her dad and her best friend, Leila. I’m really hoping we get her story next!
I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
Thank you to Maegan Ashley for the ARC!
January 19, 2026
Please read the trigger warnings as this book does deal with and talks about some issues that may trigger someone. Your mental health matters!
I am so glad that I was fortunate enough to receive an arc of this book. Thank you @maeganashleywrites and @iris.influencer.society
This book was a delight to read. This follows MMC Parker, a lawyer, and FMC Kinley, who applied for Parker's assistant. They met at a bar and Parker was a gentleman, he refused to do anything with her because she had been drinking. So when sher shows up for the interview they both are surprised.
Kinley has baggage from her past relationship and went through a big struggle mentally and does want to let Parker in. Parker is able to get Kinley to open up and tell him what she went through and just when they are finally going strong something/someone from Parker's past comes back to bite him. He's been keeping a secret from her and it almost devastated her. Thankfully that issue is finally taken care of and Kinley is able to trust Parker again.
I am being very vague because You Really Need To Read This Wonderful story! However, I thoroughly enjoyed and was moved by this story. I cannot give Maegan enough props for how she had the FMC Kinley doing therapy and getting the help she needs!
Quotes:
“I don’t care who has hurt you in the past, Kinley.”
“What I care about is the very woman standing in front of me now. The girl that walked through fire and then healed herself. The girl that took a chance on me, letting me in when she didn’t have to. That’s who I care about, babe.”
“You don’t know what it took to let you in,” I “You don’t know what it took to let you in,” I breathed. “I do,” he whispered. “I saw the work you put in, and I didn’t make it easy on you. I know exactly what it costs to allow someone in, to trust them, to love them, and you did it anyway. For me, Kinley. That makes me the luckiest man in the world.” He cleared his throat, “ Not because of what you have given, but because I have the absolute honor and privilege of loving you wholly.”
Hopefully we will be getting Leila and Ev's (Everett) book next....
Story: 6⭐️
Characters: 6⭐️
Character Growth: 6⭐️
Spice: 3🌶️
I am so glad that I was fortunate enough to receive an arc of this book. Thank you @maeganashleywrites and @iris.influencer.society
This book was a delight to read. This follows MMC Parker, a lawyer, and FMC Kinley, who applied for Parker's assistant. They met at a bar and Parker was a gentleman, he refused to do anything with her because she had been drinking. So when sher shows up for the interview they both are surprised.
Kinley has baggage from her past relationship and went through a big struggle mentally and does want to let Parker in. Parker is able to get Kinley to open up and tell him what she went through and just when they are finally going strong something/someone from Parker's past comes back to bite him. He's been keeping a secret from her and it almost devastated her. Thankfully that issue is finally taken care of and Kinley is able to trust Parker again.
I am being very vague because You Really Need To Read This Wonderful story! However, I thoroughly enjoyed and was moved by this story. I cannot give Maegan enough props for how she had the FMC Kinley doing therapy and getting the help she needs!
Quotes:
“I don’t care who has hurt you in the past, Kinley.”
“What I care about is the very woman standing in front of me now. The girl that walked through fire and then healed herself. The girl that took a chance on me, letting me in when she didn’t have to. That’s who I care about, babe.”
“You don’t know what it took to let you in,” I “You don’t know what it took to let you in,” I breathed. “I do,” he whispered. “I saw the work you put in, and I didn’t make it easy on you. I know exactly what it costs to allow someone in, to trust them, to love them, and you did it anyway. For me, Kinley. That makes me the luckiest man in the world.” He cleared his throat, “ Not because of what you have given, but because I have the absolute honor and privilege of loving you wholly.”
Hopefully we will be getting Leila and Ev's (Everett) book next....
Story: 6⭐️
Characters: 6⭐️
Character Growth: 6⭐️
Spice: 3🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Strong Foundation That Loses Its Way
I have incredibly mixed feelings about this book. For the first 70%, I was completely hooked. The characters are well-drawn and the initial story arc felt engaging and purposeful. I found myself genuinely invested in where the story was heading.
However, once the primary conflict reached its peak, the narrative momentum shifted significantly. From the 70% mark to about 95%, the story felt like it was "treading water" with unnecessary filler. This was compounded by frustrating continuity and timeline errors that pulled me out of the experience.
The final 5% introduced a secondary conflict that actually had a lot of potential and I was waiting for to happen. Unfortunately, because it was introduced so late, it felt rushed and lacked the depth it deserved. What could have been a very emotionaland well deserved closure for Kinley, felt more like a hurried conclusion to wrap up the book.
Final Thoughts: I loved the characters and the setup, but the execution of the final act let them down. It’s a story with a lot of heart that would have benefited from tighter editing and a more consistent timeline.
I have incredibly mixed feelings about this book. For the first 70%, I was completely hooked. The characters are well-drawn and the initial story arc felt engaging and purposeful. I found myself genuinely invested in where the story was heading.
However, once the primary conflict reached its peak, the narrative momentum shifted significantly. From the 70% mark to about 95%, the story felt like it was "treading water" with unnecessary filler. This was compounded by frustrating continuity and timeline errors that pulled me out of the experience.
The final 5% introduced a secondary conflict that actually had a lot of potential and I was waiting for to happen. Unfortunately, because it was introduced so late, it felt rushed and lacked the depth it deserved. What could have been a very emotionaland well deserved closure for Kinley, felt more like a hurried conclusion to wrap up the book.
Final Thoughts: I loved the characters and the setup, but the execution of the final act let them down. It’s a story with a lot of heart that would have benefited from tighter editing and a more consistent timeline.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved this book so much! it had me swooning, crying, going red in the face with the spicy scenes.
Parker, the MMC, is swoon worthy material and a walking green flag. While he does have his problems that do get resolved, he is still so understanding and attentive to Kinley, the FMC.
Despite the age gap between the two (which really isn't that big) you can tell they truly love each other even though it takes some time for them to realize that.
Kinely and Parker's relationship starts off small with them meeting at a club and then slowly bit surely escalates. Throughout the story you read about the issues and the healing that Kinely goes through as well as the same with Parker.
But besides all that Parker is understanding and doesn't push Kinely to speak about her problems, he let her do it on her own terms. And while Parker's problem was a little harder and still kinda new to talk about, he did eventually end up telling Kinely about it because said problem showed up at his office, harassing both Parker and Kinely but we won't touch base on that lol. You'll just have to read the book.
I highly recommend this story.
Parker, the MMC, is swoon worthy material and a walking green flag. While he does have his problems that do get resolved, he is still so understanding and attentive to Kinley, the FMC.
Despite the age gap between the two (which really isn't that big) you can tell they truly love each other even though it takes some time for them to realize that.
Kinely and Parker's relationship starts off small with them meeting at a club and then slowly bit surely escalates. Throughout the story you read about the issues and the healing that Kinely goes through as well as the same with Parker.
But besides all that Parker is understanding and doesn't push Kinely to speak about her problems, he let her do it on her own terms. And while Parker's problem was a little harder and still kinda new to talk about, he did eventually end up telling Kinely about it because said problem showed up at his office, harassing both Parker and Kinely but we won't touch base on that lol. You'll just have to read the book.
I highly recommend this story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a story about Parker and Kinley who have a chance meeting with an undeniable spark, and are surprised to see each other later in the most unexpected place. Their hearts somehow spoke to each other from the beginning, despite being really cautious to trust another person again since their past issues had a profound, lasting impact on them.
I really appreciated that the author didn’t describe an immediate 'sunshine and roses' relationship between Parker and Kinley. They had so many sweet times and delicious spicy experiences, but the mental health issues were also represented, individually and as a couple. Parker and Kinley were a valuable support system to each other, and everyone really needs a Parker! The support and encouragement he constantly gave to Kinley helped remind her of how truly remarkable she was.
The author included a few surprises with some characters having unexpected connections, but it added intrigue and it turned out so well. And the epilogue was the sweet icing on the cake!
Thank you to Maegan Ashley and Iris Influencer Society for the ARC copy of this book!
I really appreciated that the author didn’t describe an immediate 'sunshine and roses' relationship between Parker and Kinley. They had so many sweet times and delicious spicy experiences, but the mental health issues were also represented, individually and as a couple. Parker and Kinley were a valuable support system to each other, and everyone really needs a Parker! The support and encouragement he constantly gave to Kinley helped remind her of how truly remarkable she was.
The author included a few surprises with some characters having unexpected connections, but it added intrigue and it turned out so well. And the epilogue was the sweet icing on the cake!
Thank you to Maegan Ashley and Iris Influencer Society for the ARC copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I received an ARC of this book; All opinions are my own.
Some books reopen old wounds... only to help you heal them.
This was one of those reads for me.
This story is filled with raw and honest emotion that pulls you in from the start. The FMC, Kinley, is strong yet vulnerable in a way that felt so real. Her emotions regarding her past relationship felt painfully relatable.
Reading this felt like being taken back to the ache of your first heartbreak, the one that teaches you how to guard your heart, even from one who may be worthy of your love. The spiral of emotions breaking through, the “what if” moments, and unresolved feelings, are written so well in this story and it stirred up many emotions within myself. This helped me truly feel connected with the characters.
The author wrote just the right amount of backstory adding depth without taking away from the overarching story of Kinley and Parker. This book explored ‘young first love’ and the lasting impact of choices in relationships and how feelings can still linger even when years have passed. The book focuses on emotional, mental, and physical healing and is one I recommend.
5/5 ⭐️
3.5/5 🌶
Some books reopen old wounds... only to help you heal them.
This was one of those reads for me.
This story is filled with raw and honest emotion that pulls you in from the start. The FMC, Kinley, is strong yet vulnerable in a way that felt so real. Her emotions regarding her past relationship felt painfully relatable.
Reading this felt like being taken back to the ache of your first heartbreak, the one that teaches you how to guard your heart, even from one who may be worthy of your love. The spiral of emotions breaking through, the “what if” moments, and unresolved feelings, are written so well in this story and it stirred up many emotions within myself. This helped me truly feel connected with the characters.
The author wrote just the right amount of backstory adding depth without taking away from the overarching story of Kinley and Parker. This book explored ‘young first love’ and the lasting impact of choices in relationships and how feelings can still linger even when years have passed. The book focuses on emotional, mental, and physical healing and is one I recommend.
5/5 ⭐️
3.5/5 🌶
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
4.5 ⭐ 3.2 🌶️
Some Kind of Whole gave me everything I love in a romance: a guarded heroine, a possessive MMC with a soft heart, emotional depth, and chemistry that jumps off the page. Watching these two broken halves find their way toward something real was such a rewarding experience. Highly recommend!
Kinley loves deep and hurts big. She thought she had everything figured out young, but as we often find out, our lives tend to change quickly. She manages to put herself back together with the help of her devoted friends and family and is working hard on her career, but not really living. Until work and life clash in one epic collision that is Parker. Her dreamy, yet tender boss. He obviously has past trauma too, but is hesitant to share... Kinley couldn't possibly let things go anywhere with her boss, could she? But he's so persistent, so magnetic, so everything she never knew she could yearn for again... Can she take the leap and trust him, can she trust herself?
I am so excited to see where this series goes and how the characters keep developing! It's not just the main characters that you get attached to in this book, and it really is a testament to the writer that it's so easy to fall in love with the cast.
Thank you so much to Maeghan and the Iris Influencer Society for giving me the change to ARC for you
4.5 ⭐ 3.2 🌶️
Some Kind of Whole gave me everything I love in a romance: a guarded heroine, a possessive MMC with a soft heart, emotional depth, and chemistry that jumps off the page. Watching these two broken halves find their way toward something real was such a rewarding experience. Highly recommend!
Kinley loves deep and hurts big. She thought she had everything figured out young, but as we often find out, our lives tend to change quickly. She manages to put herself back together with the help of her devoted friends and family and is working hard on her career, but not really living. Until work and life clash in one epic collision that is Parker. Her dreamy, yet tender boss. He obviously has past trauma too, but is hesitant to share... Kinley couldn't possibly let things go anywhere with her boss, could she? But he's so persistent, so magnetic, so everything she never knew she could yearn for again... Can she take the leap and trust him, can she trust herself?
I am so excited to see where this series goes and how the characters keep developing! It's not just the main characters that you get attached to in this book, and it really is a testament to the writer that it's so easy to fall in love with the cast.
Thank you so much to Maeghan and the Iris Influencer Society for giving me the change to ARC for you
January 14, 2026
This was such a great debut for this author. It was written so well and the characters were very relatable.
Kinsley is a curvy, spunky, sweet, and career focused FMC. She has been hurt in the past and she is not looking for love, she just wants to finish law school and focus on her career.
Parker is a very handsome, charming, possessive, and successful MMC. He is focused on his job, but he is open to new love. I loooove the way he does not give up pursuing the FMC, he knows what he wants and he isn’t afraid to go after it, but he is also very patient with her.
This story had some very hard subjects, butt hey we’re handled so well. And Leila, everyone needs a best friend like her. You can’t help but fall in love with all of these characters. And then my mouth dropped at the bomb of one of the side characters. I was not prepared.
The character development was done so well. Watching Kinsley heal a part of herself was so beautiful and Parker was there along the way fighting and not giving up.
Kinsley is a curvy, spunky, sweet, and career focused FMC. She has been hurt in the past and she is not looking for love, she just wants to finish law school and focus on her career.
Parker is a very handsome, charming, possessive, and successful MMC. He is focused on his job, but he is open to new love. I loooove the way he does not give up pursuing the FMC, he knows what he wants and he isn’t afraid to go after it, but he is also very patient with her.
This story had some very hard subjects, butt hey we’re handled so well. And Leila, everyone needs a best friend like her. You can’t help but fall in love with all of these characters. And then my mouth dropped at the bomb of one of the side characters. I was not prepared.
The character development was done so well. Watching Kinsley heal a part of herself was so beautiful and Parker was there along the way fighting and not giving up.
January 14, 2026
This book is a must read!
What a fantastic debut story! In this story we have Kinley, our MFC, she is a law student, she is focused and determined, being a lawyer is her dream, but she is also broken hearted. We then have Parker, our MMC, the co-head of the law firm Donovan Fields, he’s controlled, confident, the boss… in all aspects.
Kinley thought she’d be spending the rest of her life with her high school sweetheart, but he breaks her heart instead. Parker slowly starts to win Kinley’s trust, it’s slow and steady, he shows her she’s worth it by showing up and worshiping the ground she walks on, but he’s keeping a secret. Add in the high school sweetheart that broke her heart and things come to an angsty head.
The depth of emotion in this book is brilliant! It is a rollercoaster that is written so well, it’s easy to relate with the characters, understand their viewpoints, feel their feelings and get swept up in the story.
I love, love, loved this book, it’s my first must read recommendation of 2026!
What a fantastic debut story! In this story we have Kinley, our MFC, she is a law student, she is focused and determined, being a lawyer is her dream, but she is also broken hearted. We then have Parker, our MMC, the co-head of the law firm Donovan Fields, he’s controlled, confident, the boss… in all aspects.
Kinley thought she’d be spending the rest of her life with her high school sweetheart, but he breaks her heart instead. Parker slowly starts to win Kinley’s trust, it’s slow and steady, he shows her she’s worth it by showing up and worshiping the ground she walks on, but he’s keeping a secret. Add in the high school sweetheart that broke her heart and things come to an angsty head.
The depth of emotion in this book is brilliant! It is a rollercoaster that is written so well, it’s easy to relate with the characters, understand their viewpoints, feel their feelings and get swept up in the story.
I love, love, loved this book, it’s my first must read recommendation of 2026!
January 20, 2026
It's a cozy romance with all the feels. A fantastic story about heartbreak and ride or die friendships that have the ability to help heal and help one find
oneself again after that heartbreak. The friendships and relationships felt so real and relatable that I found myself smiling and just happy.Some Kind of Whole is about finding love again and allowing walls you built to come down. An age gap, workplace romance where the sexual tension is extreme in the best ways and professional and personal lines are blurred. And let's not forget the spice in this book. It definitely had me blushing. I kinda got the ick from the number of times Parker called Kinley "baby," but otherwise, the chemistry between him and Kinley was hot and explosive! I actually found myself hysterically laughing at one incident between the two! The mental health trope was well developed throughout the book, showcasing both Parker and Kinleys jouneys through healing and knowing they are worthy of love. Overall, this was a fun read for me, and it was nice to finish a book with a HEA and no cliffhanger.
oneself again after that heartbreak. The friendships and relationships felt so real and relatable that I found myself smiling and just happy.Some Kind of Whole is about finding love again and allowing walls you built to come down. An age gap, workplace romance where the sexual tension is extreme in the best ways and professional and personal lines are blurred. And let's not forget the spice in this book. It definitely had me blushing. I kinda got the ick from the number of times Parker called Kinley "baby," but otherwise, the chemistry between him and Kinley was hot and explosive! I actually found myself hysterically laughing at one incident between the two! The mental health trope was well developed throughout the book, showcasing both Parker and Kinleys jouneys through healing and knowing they are worthy of love. Overall, this was a fun read for me, and it was nice to finish a book with a HEA and no cliffhanger.
January 11, 2026
Kinley + Parker
Phew this one is a heavy book. It starts off with Kinley and Ty taking some time apart to actually breaking up. Thing is.. some people need closure and others don't. Kinley got nothing but silence from Ty which sometimes is more powerful than a conversation.
Years later Kinley is still dealing with the trauma and abandonment from people in her life. She is in therapy but it's not linear (we know that). I will say that Maegan did a great job of showcasing the therapy sessions and also the communication between our MCs. Not to mention the healing conversations near the end of the book.
Some Kind of Whole dives into dealing with abandonment, secrets from our MMC and some drama.
The drama is good though. I felt like I was sitting in on an episode of Jerry Springer without the physical fights.
Thank you to the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Phew this one is a heavy book. It starts off with Kinley and Ty taking some time apart to actually breaking up. Thing is.. some people need closure and others don't. Kinley got nothing but silence from Ty which sometimes is more powerful than a conversation.
Years later Kinley is still dealing with the trauma and abandonment from people in her life. She is in therapy but it's not linear (we know that). I will say that Maegan did a great job of showcasing the therapy sessions and also the communication between our MCs. Not to mention the healing conversations near the end of the book.
Some Kind of Whole dives into dealing with abandonment, secrets from our MMC and some drama.
The drama is good though. I felt like I was sitting in on an episode of Jerry Springer without the physical fights.
Thank you to the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed Some Kind of Whole. The spice, the emotion, the drama, everything worked so well together. The forbidden relationship added an extra layer of tension, and while I did see some of the twists coming, they were written so well that they still packed a punch. The way almost everyone is somehow connected to someone else in this world created so much drama.
At its core, this book explores healing from past relationship trauma, learning to trust again, and finding love in the most unexpected places. Those themes were handled thoughtfully and with heart, balancing the intensity of the drama beautifully.
Kinley is a fantastic FMC, driven, smart, focused, and easy to root for. Parker is very much the slightly dominant, high-powered, rich MMC, and their dynamic was compelling from the start. Together, they brought both heat and emotional depth.
Overall, this was a strong and impressive debut novel, and I’m definitely keen to see what Maegan Ashley does next. 💙✨
At its core, this book explores healing from past relationship trauma, learning to trust again, and finding love in the most unexpected places. Those themes were handled thoughtfully and with heart, balancing the intensity of the drama beautifully.
Kinley is a fantastic FMC, driven, smart, focused, and easy to root for. Parker is very much the slightly dominant, high-powered, rich MMC, and their dynamic was compelling from the start. Together, they brought both heat and emotional depth.
Overall, this was a strong and impressive debut novel, and I’m definitely keen to see what Maegan Ashley does next. 💙✨
January 7, 2026
ARC Review: Kinley is clawing her way out of trauma, Parker is hiding enough skeletons to fill a graveyard, and then they both get tossed into a messy workplace dynamic in this slow, emotional burn that feels way too real. It’s emotional, triggering, and so painfully human. I loved how the she made the main characters flawed and scared while still reaching for something better. It’s heavy in all the right ways but still hopeful, and I was rooting for them the entire time. Maegan Ashley doesn’t give you neat healing, she gives you two broken people trying anyway, and I devoured every red flag, heart wrecking second! What an amazing debut book! Thank You SO Much for letting me be a part of this amazing story! ♥️
January 14, 2026
Where's my spicy romance book besties????
I just finished this last night and I want you to check out:
📚Some Kind of Whole by Maegan Ashley
It is officially out today.
This heartfelt contemporary romance explores healing after heartbreak, guarded hearts, and the kind of love that proves two broken halves can still build something beautiful together.
⚠️ Caution, this is not a book to read in front of the family! 🥵🫣 This is an 18+ with LOTS of smut!!
I really enjoyed getting to know Kinley and Parker. The storyline and the chemistry between the characters will keep you from putting the book down.
If you love age gap tension, workplace sparks, mental health representation, and a possessive MMC who knows her worth even when she doesn’t, this one deserves a spot on your TBR!
I just finished this last night and I want you to check out:
📚Some Kind of Whole by Maegan Ashley
It is officially out today.
This heartfelt contemporary romance explores healing after heartbreak, guarded hearts, and the kind of love that proves two broken halves can still build something beautiful together.
⚠️ Caution, this is not a book to read in front of the family! 🥵🫣 This is an 18+ with LOTS of smut!!
I really enjoyed getting to know Kinley and Parker. The storyline and the chemistry between the characters will keep you from putting the book down.
If you love age gap tension, workplace sparks, mental health representation, and a possessive MMC who knows her worth even when she doesn’t, this one deserves a spot on your TBR!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews