*THIS REVIEW HAS MINOR SPOILERS. Read at your own risk😜*
Man, oh man.
Before I start, I want to thank Lizzie, the author, for (a) writing this book and (b) for letting me be able to have it as an ARC read yet again. Let me tell you, you did not disappoint with this one. (So happy I was the first to finish as AN ARC READER, not early (Lilly))🤭
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
OMG AHHHHHH Lizzie omg you amazing, amazing writer. This book. . . omg it was so good. Like it was actually so good. It was a little longer than I'm used to, but I knew it would be long so that's why it took me an extra day to finish it (plus I was in school when I first started reason). I actually had a lot of expections for this book only because it was set in NYC and that's literally across the country from the original setting in the book, but LIZZIE YOU WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND. I haven't been to NYC in literal years, but you made me remember what it's like to be there for the first time, it literally felt like I was there. The plotline was amazing, the characters were CHEFS KISS, and everything was just amazing. THOUGH THIS BOOK WAS ABSOUTELY AMAZING, THE SECOND BOOK IS STILL MY FAVORITE SO FAR, BUT THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY MY SECOND FAVORITE (I love them all so much, I can't have favorites).
NOWWWW FOR MY BABIES CALEB AND GRACELYNN,
Caleb, my baby, MY JOKESTER, AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I LITERALLY LOVE HIM SO FREAKING MUCH. My poor baby has been through so much with Gracelynn and Rory and his arm. Ugh. I cried for him. I literally cried five times for him and they were all for Caleb. Like, what he's been through was so ugh heartbreaking, and he was trying to hide it with his jokes, which are hilarious, but I felt so bad, like I wanted to junp into my ipad screen and hug him (and maybe kidnap him for myself). BUT CALEB HE WAS SO FUNNY AND PROBABLY THE MOST RELATABLE CHARACTER IN THE SERIES, HE'S GONE THROUGH SO MUCH AND HE'S LITERALLY SUCH A GENTLEMAN TO GRACELYNN. I GIGGLED SO MUCH WHEN HE AND GRACELYNN WERE TOGETHER, especially that car tour around the city, ALL THE SONG WRITING SCENES, THE DISNEY SCENE, the CENTRAL PARK scene, the TIMES SQUARE SCENE, ALL OF IT WAS AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I LITERALLY WANTED TO SCREAM INTO MY PILLOW FROM HOW SWEET THIS MAN IS OMFG. Yall, just don't understand how much I love Caleb and all Lizzie's MMC's, like, there's always that ONE THING that they do for the FMC and it makes me love them so much. The disabilty with Caleb's arm was so well done, I honestly do not know how you did that Lizzie. Like actually, that sounded like it was hard to write but it came out perfect, though the accident is questionable but this is also fiction so yk lollll. But overall, I love Caleb freaking Branch so much. He's the most relatable, funniest, goofiest character ever. At multiple points in the story I just wanted to jump into the story and tell him that everything was gonna be fine because I hated him overthinking so much (but obviously it's understandable) I just wanted to hug him😔😖
GRACELYNN, MY BABY, MY ICON, MY FAVORITE GIRL OMG.
So when I read the first book (Before We're more than friends), I always so curious about Gracelynn. Because she wasn't shown that much in the first book and when she first showed up I immedately loved her so much. Although, I wanted to punch her in the face multiple times for what she did to my poor boy, Caleb, but once I got to the middle of the story, it all started making sense on why she ignored/hated him. But still, girl don't disrespect my husband Caleb. He deserved so much better after what happened, but it's okay, Gracelynn also deserved better after everything too. She was just as heartbroken as Caleb and plus her mother (who I sincerly think should be punched in the face UGHHHHHH) was so freaking demanding "Do this," "Make sure you do that" like HONEY SHUT THE FREAK UPPPPP UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH just shut up, she's your daughter who is talented as hell, be grateful she wants to even talk to you again. She's an icon from top to bottom and I'm so happy that Lizzie gave me her, she created Gracelynn, who is now one of my favorite female leads ever to exist, and yall know there's a lot of books out there, but Lizzie, if you're reading this, which I know you are, PLEASE GIVE US MORE CALEB AND GRACELYNN BECAUSE OMGGGGGGG THIS BOOK WAS ABSOUTELY AMAZING IN EVERY WAY SHAPE OR FORM. But yeah:) Gracelynn was amazing, i loved her so much.
Rory, ugh Rory.
I lokey hated him so much in the beginning. Especially after that one flashback (Ifyky), but then he got better and met SCARLETT WHO, BY THE WAY IS THE BEST SIDE MAIN CHARACTER EVER YOU BETTER GIVE US MORE OF HER TOO LIZZIE BC I SWEAR. There's nothing rlly much more to say about Rory. He's funny and I hated him at first but he got better at the end and now I love him. His bromance with Caleb was top tier I loved them as best friends omg
BUT ANYWAYSSSSS, Lizzie this book was absoutely amazing. All the scenes were incredible and I ABSOUTELY LOVEDDDDDDDDDDDDD AND ADORED ALL THE DISNEY REFRENCES/MOVIES THAT WERE INCLUDED. I literally giggled so much at that one scene with Gracelynn and Caleb because oh, my god how could two fictional characters have so much damn chemistry and be so damn cute omfgggg.
Guys I know it might seem a little long but trust me, I know everyone who read this review has read a longer book before SO GIVE THIS SERIES A CHANCE YOU WON'T REGRET IT I PROMISE YOUUUUU (This is coming from someone who doesn't read long books a lot)
Lizzie give us more please