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The Bridge Back to You
"Riss M. Neilson writes tender, vibrant, breath-stealing romance.”—Emily Henry
Exes discover they’ve both inherited the restaurant they love in this sparkling, emotional new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of A Love Like the Sun.
Olivia owes everything to Celia's Place. It’s where she learned how to be a great chef. It’s also where she first fell in love. But at nineteen, Olivia had a wanderlust she couldn’t deny. And Carmello, whose mother owned the restaurant, couldn’t leave Celia's Place behind any more than he could force Olivia to stay.
Now, ten years later, Olivia is a successful personal chef. Her job allows her to travel the world, and she has never stayed in the same place for too long. When Carmello learns that his mother left shares of her beloved restaurant to both him and Olivia, he plans to buy her portion of the shares back quickly and painlessly.
That is until Olivia shows up at the restaurant, ready to help run it. Carmello sees an drive Olivia away from his restaurant so that she will want to sign over her shares. But Olivia sees things a bit differently. She finally has the chance to stay in one place and build a home after years on the move, and perhaps now is the right time to explore whether that home can be with the one who got away.
Soon enough, sparks begin to fly, but can Olivia and Carmello avoid the mistakes of the past?
Exes discover they’ve both inherited the restaurant they love in this sparkling, emotional new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of A Love Like the Sun.
Olivia owes everything to Celia's Place. It’s where she learned how to be a great chef. It’s also where she first fell in love. But at nineteen, Olivia had a wanderlust she couldn’t deny. And Carmello, whose mother owned the restaurant, couldn’t leave Celia's Place behind any more than he could force Olivia to stay.
Now, ten years later, Olivia is a successful personal chef. Her job allows her to travel the world, and she has never stayed in the same place for too long. When Carmello learns that his mother left shares of her beloved restaurant to both him and Olivia, he plans to buy her portion of the shares back quickly and painlessly.
That is until Olivia shows up at the restaurant, ready to help run it. Carmello sees an drive Olivia away from his restaurant so that she will want to sign over her shares. But Olivia sees things a bit differently. She finally has the chance to stay in one place and build a home after years on the move, and perhaps now is the right time to explore whether that home can be with the one who got away.
Soon enough, sparks begin to fly, but can Olivia and Carmello avoid the mistakes of the past?
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2026
157 people are currently reading
19860 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
April 20, 2026
4/5
The writing in this book reminded me so much of Cara Bastone’s writing. Something you really need to sit with and chew on. Almost a mix between a romance and contemporary fiction vibe. Love the endometriosis representation and getting the see the characters love bloom throughout the story.
The writing in this book reminded me so much of Cara Bastone’s writing. Something you really need to sit with and chew on. Almost a mix between a romance and contemporary fiction vibe. Love the endometriosis representation and getting the see the characters love bloom throughout the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The book has such an interesting premise! After his mother’s death, the MMC learns that she left part of her shares in their joint restaurant to his ex-girlfriend—the woman he hasn’t seen in ten years. Carmello wants to buy out that share, but Olivia isn’t in a hurry to agree.
I really appreciated how the author addressed topics like mental and chronic health—for example, the FMC has ADHD and endometriosis. The cultural aspect was also beautifully explored: both main characters are chefs, and we get to learn about elements of Dominican and Filipino cuisine. The food descriptions were so vivid that they genuinely made me want to taste everything!
The beginning of the story was strong, impressive, and engaging, but later on it started to feel a bit slow for me. I felt like it lacked conflict and emotional tension. I was especially interested in the storyline involving Carmello’s son—he’s such a sweet boy—but I would have loved to see more interaction between him and Olivia. I’ll also add that I didn’t like the mother’s actions, even though the second time she acted with good intentions.
Overall, I’d describe this book as a cozy, calm romance without excessive drama—perfect for a relaxing evening read.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓second chance
✓forced proximity
✓they’re both chefs
✓ mental and chronic health rep
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I really appreciated how the author addressed topics like mental and chronic health—for example, the FMC has ADHD and endometriosis. The cultural aspect was also beautifully explored: both main characters are chefs, and we get to learn about elements of Dominican and Filipino cuisine. The food descriptions were so vivid that they genuinely made me want to taste everything!
The beginning of the story was strong, impressive, and engaging, but later on it started to feel a bit slow for me. I felt like it lacked conflict and emotional tension. I was especially interested in the storyline involving Carmello’s son—he’s such a sweet boy—but I would have loved to see more interaction between him and Olivia. I’ll also add that I didn’t like the mother’s actions, even though the second time she acted with good intentions.
Overall, I’d describe this book as a cozy, calm romance without excessive drama—perfect for a relaxing evening read.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓second chance
✓forced proximity
✓they’re both chefs
✓ mental and chronic health rep
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 8, 2026
3.7 Stars
One Liner: It was sweet
Everything Olivia achieved as a chef is what she learnt at Celia's Place. At nineteen, her wanderlust didn’t let her stay where she first fell in love. Carmello couldn’t leave his mother and their restaurant, nor could he ask her to stay.
Ten years later, Olivia is a personal chef traveling around the world, never settling anywhere. When Carmello learns his mother left the restaurant’s shares to him and Olivia, he plans to buy them back quickly. For Olivia, it is a chance to stay and build her home.
Can they find a way to build a future without repeating the past?
The story comes in Olivia and Carmello’s first-person POVs.
My Thoughts
While the book is very much a standalone, it has the main lead from A Love Like the Sun (the author’s debut) in a guest appearance. Both books are set in the same place (like the author’s other works, since it happens to be her home) at different times. You don’t have to read the other book (I didn’t), but I could tell the characters had their own book and went searching for it.
This is a second-chance romance, so we get a few chapters from the past (these are titled). They give us a glimpse of who the MCs were, how they met, their relationship, etc., which supports their present interactions.
The side characters (three) are interesting, but their stories are left midway, so I’m guessing if they would each have a book of their own. Young Teddy was really cute. The dog barely gets any space, though.
Since it is in the first-person POVs, the voices didn’t always feel distinct enough. The names were mentioned with the chapter head, but still.
Filipino and Dominican cuisines have a prominent role in the story. Sadly by lack of knowledge about these made it hard to actually feel the vibe. I did understand the sense of belonging and pride that comes from owning one’s culture.
The romance has some spice, which was okay. I somehow didn’t connect with it much. I do like the character learning to communicate. Also, the book shows healthy co-parenting, which is lovely to read.
The epilogue is quite good, too.
To summarize, The Bridge Back to You deals with some important themes but doesn’t let any of them overwhelm the reader. Instead, the story stays low-stakes throughout. This may not work for some readers, but I prefer them to be gentler like this.
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheBridgeBackToYou
NGL, I have to mention the author’s glorious hair! I’m in love with those tight, bouncy curls. So, so pretty!
One Liner: It was sweet
Everything Olivia achieved as a chef is what she learnt at Celia's Place. At nineteen, her wanderlust didn’t let her stay where she first fell in love. Carmello couldn’t leave his mother and their restaurant, nor could he ask her to stay.
Ten years later, Olivia is a personal chef traveling around the world, never settling anywhere. When Carmello learns his mother left the restaurant’s shares to him and Olivia, he plans to buy them back quickly. For Olivia, it is a chance to stay and build her home.
Can they find a way to build a future without repeating the past?
The story comes in Olivia and Carmello’s first-person POVs.
My Thoughts
While the book is very much a standalone, it has the main lead from A Love Like the Sun (the author’s debut) in a guest appearance. Both books are set in the same place (like the author’s other works, since it happens to be her home) at different times. You don’t have to read the other book (I didn’t), but I could tell the characters had their own book and went searching for it.
This is a second-chance romance, so we get a few chapters from the past (these are titled). They give us a glimpse of who the MCs were, how they met, their relationship, etc., which supports their present interactions.
The side characters (three) are interesting, but their stories are left midway, so I’m guessing if they would each have a book of their own. Young Teddy was really cute. The dog barely gets any space, though.
Since it is in the first-person POVs, the voices didn’t always feel distinct enough. The names were mentioned with the chapter head, but still.
Filipino and Dominican cuisines have a prominent role in the story. Sadly by lack of knowledge about these made it hard to actually feel the vibe. I did understand the sense of belonging and pride that comes from owning one’s culture.
The romance has some spice, which was okay. I somehow didn’t connect with it much. I do like the character learning to communicate. Also, the book shows healthy co-parenting, which is lovely to read.
The epilogue is quite good, too.
To summarize, The Bridge Back to You deals with some important themes but doesn’t let any of them overwhelm the reader. Instead, the story stays low-stakes throughout. This may not work for some readers, but I prefer them to be gentler like this.
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheBridgeBackToYou
NGL, I have to mention the author’s glorious hair! I’m in love with those tight, bouncy curls. So, so pretty!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 / 5 Stars
I had heard such great things about “A Love Like the Sun” so I was excited to read the author’s new book. Unfortunately, it did not work for me. I was actively hoping that the two main characters would not get together because they seemed so incompatible.
I think second chance romances are the hardest to pull off because 1) the original reason for the break-up has to be valid enough for a break-up but not so insurmountable that they can’t get back together and 2) I have to believe they have both changed since their last relationship so that this time things can actually work out. The reason for their break-up should have involved a pretty easy conversation (and the fact that the reason was revealed at 90% is kind of wild). And I don’t think either of them have changed significantly enough since they were teenagers to make their relationship work now.
Beyond that, I had a hard time tracking how Olivia and Carmello felt from moment to moment. Carmello was really hot and cold and Olivia was really impulsive so I couldn’t get a good sense of why they felt the way that they did when they did. And Carmello’s mom’s reasoning for writing Olivia into the will was selfish and unkind (but everyone just said, “oh she’s a trickster!). I would have been so mad at her.
There were also lots of little details that didn’t seem to have much payoff and I wasn’t sure what they were supposed to add to the story. Why was Olivia recently divorced? Why did Carmello have a dog that was never present? Why was Veronica in an open relationship? Why did we just gloss over Teddy’s selective mutism? I think all of those could have added something really interesting to the story but they didn’t feel developed enough.
I think that there is important representation in the story with both main characters being mixed race (Carmelo is Dominican and Filipino; Olive is Italian, Filipino, and Cape Verdean) and Olivia having ADHD and endometriosis representation, while Carmello has OCD. It feels important and necessary to tell more stories with these elements. The writing just confused me and I wish there was more show than tell.
If you are interested in any of the following, I would highly recommend reading some positive reviews to see if this book might be for you.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🌉 Chef MMCs
🌉 Mixed race leads
🌉 Second chance romances
🌉 Dual timeline
🌉 He’s a single dad
🌉 OCD, ADHD, Endometriosis rep
Thank you to Kelsey for the buddy read! Bless her for listening to me trying to figure out what was happening. And thank you to Sherry and Sarah for also listening to me complain to this book.
Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: March 31, 2026
ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
I had heard such great things about “A Love Like the Sun” so I was excited to read the author’s new book. Unfortunately, it did not work for me. I was actively hoping that the two main characters would not get together because they seemed so incompatible.
I think second chance romances are the hardest to pull off because 1) the original reason for the break-up has to be valid enough for a break-up but not so insurmountable that they can’t get back together and 2) I have to believe they have both changed since their last relationship so that this time things can actually work out. The reason for their break-up should have involved a pretty easy conversation (and the fact that the reason was revealed at 90% is kind of wild). And I don’t think either of them have changed significantly enough since they were teenagers to make their relationship work now.
Beyond that, I had a hard time tracking how Olivia and Carmello felt from moment to moment. Carmello was really hot and cold and Olivia was really impulsive so I couldn’t get a good sense of why they felt the way that they did when they did. And Carmello’s mom’s reasoning for writing Olivia into the will was selfish and unkind (but everyone just said, “oh she’s a trickster!). I would have been so mad at her.
There were also lots of little details that didn’t seem to have much payoff and I wasn’t sure what they were supposed to add to the story. Why was Olivia recently divorced? Why did Carmello have a dog that was never present? Why was Veronica in an open relationship? Why did we just gloss over Teddy’s selective mutism? I think all of those could have added something really interesting to the story but they didn’t feel developed enough.
I think that there is important representation in the story with both main characters being mixed race (Carmelo is Dominican and Filipino; Olive is Italian, Filipino, and Cape Verdean) and Olivia having ADHD and endometriosis representation, while Carmello has OCD. It feels important and necessary to tell more stories with these elements. The writing just confused me and I wish there was more show than tell.
If you are interested in any of the following, I would highly recommend reading some positive reviews to see if this book might be for you.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🌉 Chef MMCs
🌉 Mixed race leads
🌉 Second chance romances
🌉 Dual timeline
🌉 He’s a single dad
🌉 OCD, ADHD, Endometriosis rep
Thank you to Kelsey for the buddy read! Bless her for listening to me trying to figure out what was happening. And thank you to Sherry and Sarah for also listening to me complain to this book.
Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: March 31, 2026
ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
April 6, 2026
Done well, I’m a sucker for second‑chance romances, and The Bridge Back to You delivers a sweet, cozy story wrapped in a gorgeous cover. With a strong, determined heroine, a grumpy‑but‑endearing single dad, his adorable son Teddy, and forced proximity in a restaurant, I often found myself reading with a big smile.
When they meet again, Olivia and Carmello’s connection is still unmistakably alive, and the flashbacks show how their relationship first blossomed. I enjoy when characters truly long for each other, and these two definitely do. At times, though, their yearning leaned a bit too heavily into the sexual side for my taste. I would have loved to see more moments where the longing was rooted not just in physical attraction but in who they are as people.
Despite this, and the slower pacing in the middle of the book, The Bridge Back to You is a great romance that I highly recommend.
Thank you, Berkley Publishing and NetGalley, for this lovely ARC!
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When they meet again, Olivia and Carmello’s connection is still unmistakably alive, and the flashbacks show how their relationship first blossomed. I enjoy when characters truly long for each other, and these two definitely do. At times, though, their yearning leaned a bit too heavily into the sexual side for my taste. I would have loved to see more moments where the longing was rooted not just in physical attraction but in who they are as people.
Despite this, and the slower pacing in the middle of the book, The Bridge Back to You is a great romance that I highly recommend.
Thank you, Berkley Publishing and NetGalley, for this lovely ARC!
Follow me on Instagram
March 3, 2026
3.5 ★ I really enjoyed this for the most part. It started off quick and engaging and sucked me right into the story. The writing was fast paced and got me into the story easily. I'm a sucker for a second chance romance, especially with a dual timeline, so I really enjoyed that this book had some "past" chapters and important moments for the reader to get a better understanding of the couple's relationship and where it went wrong. I really loved the premise of the two main characters being chefs and co-owning a restaurant together and that being the reason they reconnect. It was also really cool to see Carmello and Olivia in the past vs the present to see how they had grown as individuals when they were not together. I think that really added to the character depth for me. Olivia was such a strong FMC that I honestly would love to be more like. I loved how she acknowledged her endometriosis, was up front about it, and made changes to her life but did not let it slow her down. I also thought Carmello was such a sweetly soft MMC that I had no problem rooting for. I think him being a single dad and showing all the different aspects and (healthy) relationships that it added to his life was so great. I ESPECIALLY appreciated and loved the mental health and chronic illness rep. As someone with diagnosed OCD, I think it was handled with care and described accurately and carefully. I think my biggest disconnect from this book and why I gave it 3.5 stars is that I did not feel much for the romance. I felt a LOT for these characters individually, but the romance fell flat for me. It felt like they reconnected and there was little development after that. It felt almost purely physical. When they got together again I found that I hadn't been anticipating it, and when the romance was on the page I was not as invested. While these two were super sweet together and had a lot of growth individually, I did not feel much for the romance on its own. While the writing was fast paced, it felt a little unnatural and choppy at times. I always find that that takes me out of a story just a little. There are so many elements to this story that make it such a heartfelt, impactful read: mental health rep, chronic illness rep, grief, celebrating and sharing culture, and more. Truly overall a beautiful story that I would recommend, and I'll definitely be reading this author in the future. Thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review!
March 11, 2026
This was really sweet! This is a story about Olivia and Carmello who are former high school sweetheart. After 10 years apart, Olivia learns that she is the partial owner of Celia's, Carmello's restaurant (Not a spoiler). This discovery begrudgingly brings them back together.
I flew through this book. It had good romance, tension, and warmth. It was really fun to watch Olivia and Carmello grow closer again through a place that they bonded over. It felt like red string theory. They were always meant to be. This was definitely a slow burn, but the pacing of the story made it fly by. The story was very low-stakes even with the discussions of parental loss, mental health, and chronic illness. Olivia and Carmello both had issues from their youth that they kind of brought into adulthood and had to work through and it was nice to see them gradually work through it together in the story. Over the years I'm sure they matured in different way, but I believe that their reunion allowed to mature even more and allowed them to navigate their relationship a lot better than when they were teenagers.
I also really like the ratio present day POV and past POV. We got to see their relationship a lot more in the present than in the past. I love second-chance and I definitely don't mind flashback, but sometimes I feel like we get a lot more of the flashbacks compare to the present in some books. Sometimes it works, but I do like to see how the relationship is growing and flourishing in the present a little more. I think Riss did a great job with that balance.
Thank you Berkley Romance for the ARC!
I flew through this book. It had good romance, tension, and warmth. It was really fun to watch Olivia and Carmello grow closer again through a place that they bonded over. It felt like red string theory. They were always meant to be. This was definitely a slow burn, but the pacing of the story made it fly by. The story was very low-stakes even with the discussions of parental loss, mental health, and chronic illness. Olivia and Carmello both had issues from their youth that they kind of brought into adulthood and had to work through and it was nice to see them gradually work through it together in the story. Over the years I'm sure they matured in different way, but I believe that their reunion allowed to mature even more and allowed them to navigate their relationship a lot better than when they were teenagers.
I also really like the ratio present day POV and past POV. We got to see their relationship a lot more in the present than in the past. I love second-chance and I definitely don't mind flashback, but sometimes I feel like we get a lot more of the flashbacks compare to the present in some books. Sometimes it works, but I do like to see how the relationship is growing and flourishing in the present a little more. I think Riss did a great job with that balance.
Thank you Berkley Romance for the ARC!
March 26, 2026
4.25 stars. i will always be second chance romance’s biggest fan and of anything Riss writes. this was heartfelt, well written, and felt extremely real between both Carmello and Olivia. one of the things that took me by surprise was how much i loved the relationship between Carmello’s mother, him, and Olivia — i will always be soft for an immigrant mother 🥹🫶🏽 also i need to visit Providence more for sure hello
December 21, 2025
This was too sweet!!!! I loved all the second chance vibes, small town setting, forced proximity, low stakes romance, and no 3rd act break up 🤭💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
Watching Olivia and Carmello find their way back to each other while working at his late mother’s restaurant had me in my feels 🥲🫶🏽 it was def a slow burn but you could just feel all the angst and tension building as chapter went on. What really got me though was how emotional and tender the buildup was. Olivia and Carmello both had their own issues that stemmed from their childhoods and ended up playing a bigger role in the downfall of their first relationship. But I’m so glad Riss let them identify those feelings, work through them, and grow together. It made their reunion feel so earned 🥰
The Bridge Back to You was beautifully written, emotionally layered, and just really heartwarming to read tbh 🙂↕️💕🥲
Watching Olivia and Carmello find their way back to each other while working at his late mother’s restaurant had me in my feels 🥲🫶🏽 it was def a slow burn but you could just feel all the angst and tension building as chapter went on. What really got me though was how emotional and tender the buildup was. Olivia and Carmello both had their own issues that stemmed from their childhoods and ended up playing a bigger role in the downfall of their first relationship. But I’m so glad Riss let them identify those feelings, work through them, and grow together. It made their reunion feel so earned 🥰
The Bridge Back to You was beautifully written, emotionally layered, and just really heartwarming to read tbh 🙂↕️💕🥲
April 12, 2026
I have to say that I was a teensy bit disappointed in this one. I had heard such wonderful things about Riss and was expecting this to be a five star read for me, but it ended up being 3.5 stars. I think I just wanted a little more. I did enjoy the second chance aspect- that might be my kryptonite in a book. Though I had a hard time feeling the chemistry between Olivia and Carmello, I did enjoy the build up. This one was a TRUE slow burn. I also loved the dual timeline with dual POV. It helped give context to why Olivia and Carmello were where they were. I liked how much they both helped each other. I liked the mental health rep and that it was Carmello who suffered from anxiety. I liked how Olivia helped him through it without judgment. I liked how Olivia had been a wanderer but was immediately called back to her OG first love. She was scared to but eventually wanted to drop some roots with Carmello.
Olivia has been everywhere in the world. She absolutely loves to travel, but when a situation from her past pops up out of nowhere she finds herself wondering what could have been. See Olivia left her first love, Carmello, all those years ago and never looked back. But now his mom has added a clause in her will where Olivia and Carmello are split owners in her restaurant. Olivia decides she has to go. She finds herself wanting to know if there is still anything between her and Carmello. Not to her surprise, he is beyond cold when she gets there. But to his dismay, she says she isn't giving him her shares. She wants to stay. She wants to work at the restaurant with him. This restaurant has so many memories. It's where she learned her love for cooking. It's where she learned how to cook. It's where she fell in love with Carmello. She isn't going to walk away from that again. And she can still feel the thing between her and Carmello. It's on a low simmer from what it used to be, but could it reignite fully? Olivia realizes she will have to prove to Carmello her intentions. And slowly but surely he starts to lower his walls. He lets her meet his son. He lets her help him in the kitchen. He lets her help with a glowup for the restaurant. The whole while they are dancing around this tension between them. And when they finally give in, Olivia realizes she really hasn't been LIVING the way she wants to. She just has to prove to Carmello that she isn't going to run like she did last time which means she has to tell him what happened all those years ago and hope he believes her.
Carmello knew his mom was a meddler, but this is next level. Somehow his life has completely taken a turn in a day. His mom has added his ex girlfriend, his first love, to her will. Not only that but Olivia (his ex) is now a part owner of his restaurant. The restaurant she walked away from years ago and never looked back. Carmello braces himself for seeing her. He works through what a conversation would look like where he asks for her shares. Of course nothing goes to plan. How can she look better than she did when they were younger? She has grown into herself. She is more confident which is such a turn on to him, but he keeps his walls strong. She left him. She didn't even say bye and now she is here. He is going to have to figure out another way for her to leave. So he gives her the grunt jobs of the restaurant. He makes her work a little for everything. He knows she will get bored and leave, but to his surprise she seems even more excited to stay. She wants to explore the town. She wants to cook with him. She wants to help glow up the restaurant. And Carmello finds himself in. He can't help but still feel this pull towards her. And seeing her in her element, makes the pull stronger. But he has to resist right? But she is so good with his son. She makes him feel safe again which he hasn't felt in a long time. So he decides to go for this. Maybe being with her again will help him finally move on. But then Olivia says she is saying, and he wants to believe her. Because he feels like they could be even better now than they were when they were young.
The setting and the second chance aspect really made this one for me. I also loved how Olivia and Carmello's son interacted. She was a safe space for dad and son. I enjoyed the side characters and am thinking that Riss will continue to write stories in this world. I am planning on going back and reading Love Like The Sun. This was sweet and entertaining but again I was hoping for a little more.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Olivia has been everywhere in the world. She absolutely loves to travel, but when a situation from her past pops up out of nowhere she finds herself wondering what could have been. See Olivia left her first love, Carmello, all those years ago and never looked back. But now his mom has added a clause in her will where Olivia and Carmello are split owners in her restaurant. Olivia decides she has to go. She finds herself wanting to know if there is still anything between her and Carmello. Not to her surprise, he is beyond cold when she gets there. But to his dismay, she says she isn't giving him her shares. She wants to stay. She wants to work at the restaurant with him. This restaurant has so many memories. It's where she learned her love for cooking. It's where she learned how to cook. It's where she fell in love with Carmello. She isn't going to walk away from that again. And she can still feel the thing between her and Carmello. It's on a low simmer from what it used to be, but could it reignite fully? Olivia realizes she will have to prove to Carmello her intentions. And slowly but surely he starts to lower his walls. He lets her meet his son. He lets her help him in the kitchen. He lets her help with a glowup for the restaurant. The whole while they are dancing around this tension between them. And when they finally give in, Olivia realizes she really hasn't been LIVING the way she wants to. She just has to prove to Carmello that she isn't going to run like she did last time which means she has to tell him what happened all those years ago and hope he believes her.
Carmello knew his mom was a meddler, but this is next level. Somehow his life has completely taken a turn in a day. His mom has added his ex girlfriend, his first love, to her will. Not only that but Olivia (his ex) is now a part owner of his restaurant. The restaurant she walked away from years ago and never looked back. Carmello braces himself for seeing her. He works through what a conversation would look like where he asks for her shares. Of course nothing goes to plan. How can she look better than she did when they were younger? She has grown into herself. She is more confident which is such a turn on to him, but he keeps his walls strong. She left him. She didn't even say bye and now she is here. He is going to have to figure out another way for her to leave. So he gives her the grunt jobs of the restaurant. He makes her work a little for everything. He knows she will get bored and leave, but to his surprise she seems even more excited to stay. She wants to explore the town. She wants to cook with him. She wants to help glow up the restaurant. And Carmello finds himself in. He can't help but still feel this pull towards her. And seeing her in her element, makes the pull stronger. But he has to resist right? But she is so good with his son. She makes him feel safe again which he hasn't felt in a long time. So he decides to go for this. Maybe being with her again will help him finally move on. But then Olivia says she is saying, and he wants to believe her. Because he feels like they could be even better now than they were when they were young.
The setting and the second chance aspect really made this one for me. I also loved how Olivia and Carmello's son interacted. She was a safe space for dad and son. I enjoyed the side characters and am thinking that Riss will continue to write stories in this world. I am planning on going back and reading Love Like The Sun. This was sweet and entertaining but again I was hoping for a little more.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
April 2, 2026
જ⁀➴ 3.5 stars
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and Riss M. Neilson for the NetGalley widget I received through the Berkley Influencer Hub for Underrepresented Voices in exchange for an honest review. The Bridge Back to You is out now!
⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡
WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK WHILE YOU'RE HUNGRY. Seriously, I'd be eating while reading this book, and then even after I finished eating, I'd keep reading, and I'd get hungry again.
This story was a celebration of so many things: food, culture, diversity, mental health awareness, women's health representation, and the ways that fate can bring people together again. Despite all of this, I also believe that there were a lot of moving parts in the story that never fully got fleshed out, and made me feel a bit disconnected from Olivia and Carmello and believing in their second-chance romance.
✎𓂃Full review to come soon!
⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and Riss M. Neilson for the NetGalley widget I received through the Berkley Influencer Hub for Underrepresented Voices in exchange for an honest review. The Bridge Back to You is out now!
"When our mouths meet, there's no other word I can think of to describe it but magic. Carmello's kisses call me home. Time after time. And I think I'll have that feeling from him for the rest of my life."
⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡
WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK WHILE YOU'RE HUNGRY. Seriously, I'd be eating while reading this book, and then even after I finished eating, I'd keep reading, and I'd get hungry again.
This story was a celebration of so many things: food, culture, diversity, mental health awareness, women's health representation, and the ways that fate can bring people together again. Despite all of this, I also believe that there were a lot of moving parts in the story that never fully got fleshed out, and made me feel a bit disconnected from Olivia and Carmello and believing in their second-chance romance.
✎𓂃Full review to come soon!
⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡ ⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡
April 22, 2026
The Bridge Back to You by Riss M. Neilson
Rating: 4/5⭐️
“I’ve never stopped loving you, Olivia. It’s been a decade without you, so I’m pretty sure I always will.”
Synopsis:
Olivia owes everything to Celia’s Place. It’s where she learned how to be a great chef. It’s also where she first fell in love. But at nineteen, Olivia had a wanderlust she couldn’t deny.
My Overall Thoughts:
This book was written beautifully and perfect. The writing style was just literal perfection in my opinion. I loved how the author represented both of the main characters mental health situation as one has OCD and the other has ADHD. In the author’s note at the back, Riss mentioned that she also was diagnosed with ADHD as well as OCD in her early twenties. I, overall, enjoyed the storyline and just everything about this book. I will for sure read this author’s backlist of books she has written now. This is everything I needed and more. As the main characters are both chefs in the book, there were some food mentioned that are from the Filipino culture which I loved about this book. I loved how the author wrote Carmello as a half Filipino and half Dominican.
Rating: 4/5⭐️
“I’ve never stopped loving you, Olivia. It’s been a decade without you, so I’m pretty sure I always will.”
Synopsis:
Olivia owes everything to Celia’s Place. It’s where she learned how to be a great chef. It’s also where she first fell in love. But at nineteen, Olivia had a wanderlust she couldn’t deny.
My Overall Thoughts:
This book was written beautifully and perfect. The writing style was just literal perfection in my opinion. I loved how the author represented both of the main characters mental health situation as one has OCD and the other has ADHD. In the author’s note at the back, Riss mentioned that she also was diagnosed with ADHD as well as OCD in her early twenties. I, overall, enjoyed the storyline and just everything about this book. I will for sure read this author’s backlist of books she has written now. This is everything I needed and more. As the main characters are both chefs in the book, there were some food mentioned that are from the Filipino culture which I loved about this book. I loved how the author wrote Carmello as a half Filipino and half Dominican.
March 26, 2026
4.5 - Riss is one of my FAVORITE autobuy romance authors and The Bridge Back to You absolutely solidified her as a top romance author in my heart ☺️ I fell in love with Olivia and Carmello and this special restaurant and love story!! Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the free book! 🤍 The Bridge Back to You is out on March 31st so make sure to add it to your tbr!!
The Bridge Back to You follows Olivia and Carmello who are chefs and were childhood best friends to lovers. They haven’t spoken or seen each other in 10 years since Olivia left town and they broke up as teens. But when Olivia finds out that Carmello’s mom, Ceila, has left them both shares of her beloved restaurant, Celia’s Place, she is forced to face Carmello again and figure out if they can work together and be in each other’s lives.
This book radiates comfort and happiness and felt like a warm safe shelter I could go to escape the outside world and be with these characters. I loved the setting of the restaurant and how comfortable these characters were with each other, despite the current conflict and their baggage.
I absolutely loved Olivia and Carmello’s story. Riss writes second chances romance SO WELL!! I could feelllll the tension the whole way through, as they fight their feelings for each other and their history. Childhood friends to lovers and second chance romance are some if my favorite tropes and this book is a new favorite!!
As always, Riss writes chronic illness and mental illness representation soooo well. I felt so seen by Olivia’s struggle with her endometriosis and how she made practical changes to her life to live with her illness and wasn’t afraid to ask for what she needs. Olivia’s character is going to be relatable to sooo many women. I also LOVED the OCD rep with Carmello and his son’s character, I think it was handled so delicately.
This is a beautiful second chance romance and I cannot wait for everyone to read it!! Perfect for a spring or summer romance read :)
The Bridge Back to You follows Olivia and Carmello who are chefs and were childhood best friends to lovers. They haven’t spoken or seen each other in 10 years since Olivia left town and they broke up as teens. But when Olivia finds out that Carmello’s mom, Ceila, has left them both shares of her beloved restaurant, Celia’s Place, she is forced to face Carmello again and figure out if they can work together and be in each other’s lives.
This book radiates comfort and happiness and felt like a warm safe shelter I could go to escape the outside world and be with these characters. I loved the setting of the restaurant and how comfortable these characters were with each other, despite the current conflict and their baggage.
I absolutely loved Olivia and Carmello’s story. Riss writes second chances romance SO WELL!! I could feelllll the tension the whole way through, as they fight their feelings for each other and their history. Childhood friends to lovers and second chance romance are some if my favorite tropes and this book is a new favorite!!
As always, Riss writes chronic illness and mental illness representation soooo well. I felt so seen by Olivia’s struggle with her endometriosis and how she made practical changes to her life to live with her illness and wasn’t afraid to ask for what she needs. Olivia’s character is going to be relatable to sooo many women. I also LOVED the OCD rep with Carmello and his son’s character, I think it was handled so delicately.
This is a beautiful second chance romance and I cannot wait for everyone to read it!! Perfect for a spring or summer romance read :)
April 1, 2026
Thank you PRH Audio and Berkley Romance for the advanced copies!
I love a second chance! And I love anything that involves food! So I was immediately sold on the premise - Olivia returns home after ten years, when her ex boyfriend’s mother leaves a percentage of her restaurant to her. The tension between Olivia and Carmello is literally chef’s kiss. I was happy to get to know their history through a dual timeline. His mother, Celia, played a huge role in their story, and it added an interesting and emotional dynamic between them. Carmello is a single dad to his sweet son, Teddy, and I loved everything that added as well. Overall I really enjoyed this story and the feelings it evoked, the characters, and the author’s writing style. I’m looking forward to reading more from her!
🎙️𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 ⇣
Narrated by Imani Jade Powers & Art Bautista - I love Imani’s voice! She is incredibly talented and brings so much emotion and personality to the characters she portrays. She made this an enjoyable experience.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
Rhode Island setting
They’re both chefs
Second chance
Returning home
Single dad
Forced proximity
Found family
Slow burn
Endometriosis rep
ADHD & OCD rep
Dual timeline
Dual POV
Spice
I love a second chance! And I love anything that involves food! So I was immediately sold on the premise - Olivia returns home after ten years, when her ex boyfriend’s mother leaves a percentage of her restaurant to her. The tension between Olivia and Carmello is literally chef’s kiss. I was happy to get to know their history through a dual timeline. His mother, Celia, played a huge role in their story, and it added an interesting and emotional dynamic between them. Carmello is a single dad to his sweet son, Teddy, and I loved everything that added as well. Overall I really enjoyed this story and the feelings it evoked, the characters, and the author’s writing style. I’m looking forward to reading more from her!
🎙️𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 ⇣
Narrated by Imani Jade Powers & Art Bautista - I love Imani’s voice! She is incredibly talented and brings so much emotion and personality to the characters she portrays. She made this an enjoyable experience.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
Rhode Island setting
They’re both chefs
Second chance
Returning home
Single dad
Forced proximity
Found family
Slow burn
Endometriosis rep
ADHD & OCD rep
Dual timeline
Dual POV
Spice
March 11, 2026
thank you so much to netgalley & berkley pub for the arc 💘
rep + tropes:
* filipino + dominicana rep
* endometriosis rep, ocd rep
* second chance, childhood lovers to estrangement to lovers
* single dad + family dynamics with shared custody
* lots of yummy soul food descriptions
* slowwwwww burn TENSION
* dual timeline / dual pov
* spice at the PERFECT TIME
* grief journey
This shit was GOOOOOOD. I was so sucked in from the very beginning!!! if i wasn’t traveling, ik i would’ve binged this so quick. It is one of those second chance stories that just sucks you in from the jump. I loved this authors writing, loved both of the main characters AND the side characters as well, and hearing about the resturaunt, the MC’s working together & the meddling mother (from the grave might i add) was just all so fun.
I was so happy with how slow burn this was. I had a chance to feel their connection and I truly did feel it. Especially because the one major spice scene was at the perfect timing in their connection and in the book. So good!!!!
rep + tropes:
* filipino + dominicana rep
* endometriosis rep, ocd rep
* second chance, childhood lovers to estrangement to lovers
* single dad + family dynamics with shared custody
* lots of yummy soul food descriptions
* slowwwwww burn TENSION
* dual timeline / dual pov
* spice at the PERFECT TIME
* grief journey
This shit was GOOOOOOD. I was so sucked in from the very beginning!!! if i wasn’t traveling, ik i would’ve binged this so quick. It is one of those second chance stories that just sucks you in from the jump. I loved this authors writing, loved both of the main characters AND the side characters as well, and hearing about the resturaunt, the MC’s working together & the meddling mother (from the grave might i add) was just all so fun.
I was so happy with how slow burn this was. I had a chance to feel their connection and I truly did feel it. Especially because the one major spice scene was at the perfect timing in their connection and in the book. So good!!!!
December 9, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this one.
To my core, I am a lover of forced proximity second-chance romances (one of my favourite niches!). So imagine my delight when I happened upon The Bridge Back to You, in which Olivia and Carmello, previous first loves, are forced together a decade after their break-up, when she is named a partial owner of Carmello's mother's restaurant in her will. The restaurant that belongs to Carmello, or... 75% of it does.
I adored Olivia and Carmello. They are mature, intentional, and emotionally intelligent, which feeds into the development of their relationship. Olivia and Carmello's communication, affection, and individuality were well-defined. As was Olivia's wanderlust, in contrast to Carmello's hearthbound nature, and how these intrinsic traits divided their paths from one another. The mental health representation was thoughtful and considerate. I adored the cultural components that were core to these characters and central to the story. It made this novel feel like an ode to Filipino and Dominican ancestry in such a beautiful way.
Sadly, I struggled to feel the connection between the main characters. The progression of their relationship and feelings felt offhand. I also struggled with the amount of contextualizing. There was a lot of background information packed into this one, in both the past and present timelines. I enjoyed the dual timelines, but when the present is still overloaded with resurging memories, side character backstories, and oddly placed flashbacks, it throws off the progression. I prefer when the past timeline is used for this purpose, to help contextualize and illuminate the status of the current relationship for the reader, but that's a subjective take. This is my first read by this author, so I may not be used to this writing style, but it unfortunately did not work for me.
There is a beautiful, touching story here. I'm disappointed I couldn't connect to it, but suspect I'll be the odd one out here.
To my core, I am a lover of forced proximity second-chance romances (one of my favourite niches!). So imagine my delight when I happened upon The Bridge Back to You, in which Olivia and Carmello, previous first loves, are forced together a decade after their break-up, when she is named a partial owner of Carmello's mother's restaurant in her will. The restaurant that belongs to Carmello, or... 75% of it does.
I adored Olivia and Carmello. They are mature, intentional, and emotionally intelligent, which feeds into the development of their relationship. Olivia and Carmello's communication, affection, and individuality were well-defined. As was Olivia's wanderlust, in contrast to Carmello's hearthbound nature, and how these intrinsic traits divided their paths from one another. The mental health representation was thoughtful and considerate. I adored the cultural components that were core to these characters and central to the story. It made this novel feel like an ode to Filipino and Dominican ancestry in such a beautiful way.
Sadly, I struggled to feel the connection between the main characters. The progression of their relationship and feelings felt offhand. I also struggled with the amount of contextualizing. There was a lot of background information packed into this one, in both the past and present timelines. I enjoyed the dual timelines, but when the present is still overloaded with resurging memories, side character backstories, and oddly placed flashbacks, it throws off the progression. I prefer when the past timeline is used for this purpose, to help contextualize and illuminate the status of the current relationship for the reader, but that's a subjective take. This is my first read by this author, so I may not be used to this writing style, but it unfortunately did not work for me.
There is a beautiful, touching story here. I'm disappointed I couldn't connect to it, but suspect I'll be the odd one out here.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a lovely, cozy read 🥰
Second-chance romance, food setting, small-town vibes, the one who got away… this story follows the tropes we all know and love, and honestly? That’s exactly why it worked for me. The plot is fairly predictable, but in a comforting, satisfying way rather than a boring one.
Olivia and Carmello’s history added just the right amount of emotional depth without tipping into unnecessary angst. I really appreciated how low-drama this was, no over-the-top misunderstandings, no exhausting conflicts, just two people who needed time to grow before finding their way back to each other.
Celia’s Place felt like a character in its own right, and the food elements made everything even more charming. Watching Olivia finally allow herself to stay, to build a home, and to confront her past was quietly heartwarming.
If you’re in the mood for a cute, feel-good romance with familiar tropes, gentle emotions, and a happy, comforting vibe, this one is a great pick. Perfect for when you want something sweet and easy to fall into.
Thank you NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the ARC!!!
Second-chance romance, food setting, small-town vibes, the one who got away… this story follows the tropes we all know and love, and honestly? That’s exactly why it worked for me. The plot is fairly predictable, but in a comforting, satisfying way rather than a boring one.
Olivia and Carmello’s history added just the right amount of emotional depth without tipping into unnecessary angst. I really appreciated how low-drama this was, no over-the-top misunderstandings, no exhausting conflicts, just two people who needed time to grow before finding their way back to each other.
Celia’s Place felt like a character in its own right, and the food elements made everything even more charming. Watching Olivia finally allow herself to stay, to build a home, and to confront her past was quietly heartwarming.
If you’re in the mood for a cute, feel-good romance with familiar tropes, gentle emotions, and a happy, comforting vibe, this one is a great pick. Perfect for when you want something sweet and easy to fall into.
Thank you NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the ARC!!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5⭐️
[arc review]
i can't really explain why, but i kept thinking about the bear when i read this book. i think the show sort of helped me visualize the kitchen in celia's place and olivia and carmello spend a good amount of time cooking in this book.
this isn't a plot i've read before so i had a lot of fun with olivia and carmello. i really enjoyed the emphasis on celia's place being a small, family owned restaurant that serves filipino food. the restaurant holds a lot of meaning for both characters, as they both spent a significant portion of their teen years there. but after olivia leaves without a word, carmello is reasonably closed off. but he's a great dad and is determined to refresh celia's place to bring it back to its former glory.
i loved how vivid the descriptions of the restaurant, the bridge and the food were. i've never been one to struggle imagining things but the images of the locations and food in this book were so clear for me.
olivia and carmello's story is a cozy feel-good one. i loved watching them fall in love the first time as kids and then again as adults. olivia has always been a traveler and carmello might look like he'd hurt you but he's such a cinnamon roll. riss also took care when writing olivia's endometriosis and carmello's ocd.
[arc review]
i can't really explain why, but i kept thinking about the bear when i read this book. i think the show sort of helped me visualize the kitchen in celia's place and olivia and carmello spend a good amount of time cooking in this book.
this isn't a plot i've read before so i had a lot of fun with olivia and carmello. i really enjoyed the emphasis on celia's place being a small, family owned restaurant that serves filipino food. the restaurant holds a lot of meaning for both characters, as they both spent a significant portion of their teen years there. but after olivia leaves without a word, carmello is reasonably closed off. but he's a great dad and is determined to refresh celia's place to bring it back to its former glory.
i loved how vivid the descriptions of the restaurant, the bridge and the food were. i've never been one to struggle imagining things but the images of the locations and food in this book were so clear for me.
olivia and carmello's story is a cozy feel-good one. i loved watching them fall in love the first time as kids and then again as adults. olivia has always been a traveler and carmello might look like he'd hurt you but he's such a cinnamon roll. riss also took care when writing olivia's endometriosis and carmello's ocd.
Did Not Finish
April 7, 2026dnf @ 19%: unfortunately i'm just not very charmed by the story or the concept of them as a couple. maybe i'll try again another time i dunno
March 11, 2026
Hi, catch me getting another Berkley approval that was not a good time (imo).
This is a second chance romance about high school sweethearts, Olivia and Carmello, who break up and reunite under tenuous circumstances a decade later: his mom has died and left Olivia partial ownership of the family restaurant.
Listen, I didn’t get it.
First of all, there was so much extraneous detail, telling instead of showing, that I found reading to be tedious. Secondly, I have no idea why half of the things included were deemed necessary. Why have a dog if it’s inconsequential? Why put a character in a poly relationship if it’s not to be integral? Why have a serious gas leak no one detects until it’s almost too late?
And finally, I struggle when major parts of a plot don’t make sense. This book is centered around a restaurant. He is the owner. Clearly, anyone who has worked in a restaurant knows that you’re lucky to be home by midnight. And yet there were so many inconsistencies regarding this that I went from cringing to being annoyed. He mentions going home to put his young child to bed - does the kid stay up until 1am? On more than one occasion, his child is dropped off at the restaurant after it closes and they head home to watch a movie. In the middle of the night?
Guys, no.
Also, I didn’t believe the romance and the ending really made me mad.
Yes. Rage.
Maybe you’ll like it?
This is a second chance romance about high school sweethearts, Olivia and Carmello, who break up and reunite under tenuous circumstances a decade later: his mom has died and left Olivia partial ownership of the family restaurant.
Listen, I didn’t get it.
First of all, there was so much extraneous detail, telling instead of showing, that I found reading to be tedious. Secondly, I have no idea why half of the things included were deemed necessary. Why have a dog if it’s inconsequential? Why put a character in a poly relationship if it’s not to be integral? Why have a serious gas leak no one detects until it’s almost too late?
And finally, I struggle when major parts of a plot don’t make sense. This book is centered around a restaurant. He is the owner. Clearly, anyone who has worked in a restaurant knows that you’re lucky to be home by midnight. And yet there were so many inconsistencies regarding this that I went from cringing to being annoyed. He mentions going home to put his young child to bed - does the kid stay up until 1am? On more than one occasion, his child is dropped off at the restaurant after it closes and they head home to watch a movie. In the middle of the night?
Guys, no.
Also, I didn’t believe the romance and the ending really made me mad.
Yes. Rage.
Maybe you’ll like it?
February 1, 2026
3.5
This was my first book from this author and I will happily pick up other titles from her because I think she does a phenomenal job with delivering heartfelt messaging around her stories. The Bridge Back to You is a powerfully impactful testament to mental health, chronic illness, identity exploration, parenthood and second chances at love.
What initially drew me to this book was the second chance trope with a dual timeline which is my exact recipe for loving a book and while this was executed, I found myself feeling like there was more storytelling around the individual characters of the main leads as opposed to their development together. almost like their relationship was playing a supporting role in their own love story. this doesn’t make it a bad book by any means but i think people with certain expectations for a sweeping redemptive round of romance might come to this conclusion as well. i felt like there was a lot blank space in their relationship because a conversation was due here, a few more interactions that centered their growth towards each other there. i just wanted them to have more on page time together.
i loved how the fmc was crafted to be a strong independent individual that also is navigating her journey with endometriosis. i don’t think i’ve ever read a contemporary romance where this element was present so it’s nice to know where i can direct someone who wants to see their experience documented in a realistic and thoughtfully intentional way.
lastly, i rly enjoyed the found family dynamics especially as it applied to the ethnic groups represented in this book. discussions around hair care, the value of family recipes that carry culture, certain traditions being upheld…this was all truly so beautiful and i think brings a refreshing space of solidarity for all readers, especially those who are able to identify with the groups represented in The Bridge Back to You.
all my thanks to Berkley romance for a gifted digital arc in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌
This was my first book from this author and I will happily pick up other titles from her because I think she does a phenomenal job with delivering heartfelt messaging around her stories. The Bridge Back to You is a powerfully impactful testament to mental health, chronic illness, identity exploration, parenthood and second chances at love.
What initially drew me to this book was the second chance trope with a dual timeline which is my exact recipe for loving a book and while this was executed, I found myself feeling like there was more storytelling around the individual characters of the main leads as opposed to their development together. almost like their relationship was playing a supporting role in their own love story. this doesn’t make it a bad book by any means but i think people with certain expectations for a sweeping redemptive round of romance might come to this conclusion as well. i felt like there was a lot blank space in their relationship because a conversation was due here, a few more interactions that centered their growth towards each other there. i just wanted them to have more on page time together.
i loved how the fmc was crafted to be a strong independent individual that also is navigating her journey with endometriosis. i don’t think i’ve ever read a contemporary romance where this element was present so it’s nice to know where i can direct someone who wants to see their experience documented in a realistic and thoughtfully intentional way.
lastly, i rly enjoyed the found family dynamics especially as it applied to the ethnic groups represented in this book. discussions around hair care, the value of family recipes that carry culture, certain traditions being upheld…this was all truly so beautiful and i think brings a refreshing space of solidarity for all readers, especially those who are able to identify with the groups represented in The Bridge Back to You.
all my thanks to Berkley romance for a gifted digital arc in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌
Read
May 6, 2026in a surprise to no one, Riss M. Neilson does it again!!! this time with a trope that is one of my favorites (2nd chance!! ahh!!!!) and tropes i normally don’t love but the way they’re handled makes them not only palatable but also super enjoyable (🫵🏽 single dad i’m looking at you!).
she also handles being mixed with such care and understanding that it really felt almost like a love letter to being multiracial and not ever feeling like you’re enough of any part of you, the feeling that your two halves don’t actually equal a whole. part of this book felt like Riss was talking directly to me and i’m literally tearing up thinking about it right now. there’s not a ton of mixed race rep in books, so when it’s there and it’s done with such love it’s just something else, something special 🥹.
the romance in this was soooo good, i loved how emotionally mature our two main characters, Olivia and Carmello, were!! the history felt so lived in and easy to buy into!! their banter in the flashbacks and present was so cute!! and also the tension?? yuh it was there for sure lol.
i know A Love Like the Sun has many fans (🙋🏽♀️ me being one of them!!) and Laniah and Issac make more than just a lil cameo in this book! i loved seeing them again, in their settled and comfortable love!!
lastly! i can’t end this review without talking about THE FOOD. this book made me so hungry, and i’m literally googling vegan/vegetarian versions of sinigang rn.
thank you to Berkley Romance for the free copy!!
she also handles being mixed with such care and understanding that it really felt almost like a love letter to being multiracial and not ever feeling like you’re enough of any part of you, the feeling that your two halves don’t actually equal a whole. part of this book felt like Riss was talking directly to me and i’m literally tearing up thinking about it right now. there’s not a ton of mixed race rep in books, so when it’s there and it’s done with such love it’s just something else, something special 🥹.
the romance in this was soooo good, i loved how emotionally mature our two main characters, Olivia and Carmello, were!! the history felt so lived in and easy to buy into!! their banter in the flashbacks and present was so cute!! and also the tension?? yuh it was there for sure lol.
i know A Love Like the Sun has many fans (🙋🏽♀️ me being one of them!!) and Laniah and Issac make more than just a lil cameo in this book! i loved seeing them again, in their settled and comfortable love!!
lastly! i can’t end this review without talking about THE FOOD. this book made me so hungry, and i’m literally googling vegan/vegetarian versions of sinigang rn.
thank you to Berkley Romance for the free copy!!
March 20, 2026
4.5⭐️
We're in our second-chance romance era, baby! Now just add in superb bipoc representation, exploration of the culinary world, tender moments to make your heart flutter and you've got Carmello and Olivia's beautiful story in The Bridge Back to You. ✨
There is so much to love about Riss M. Neilson's upcoming release. First, the diverse representation is *chefs kiss*. I loved how Filipino and Dominican culture was reflected in the food that was prepared, cooked, and served at Celia's Place (the primary setting). And I really appreciated the main character's conversations regarding their experiences balancing mixed identities, which I think a lot of readers might be able to relate to.
Second, the mental health and chronic illness rep is 10/10 - the social worker in me loved that ADHD, OCD, and endometriosis were all written with the care and understanding they deserve.
And lastly, I loved the different portrayals of family and friendship, including those between Olivia and Carmello's mom, Carmello and the mother of his son, as well as the workers at Celia's Place. There's even cameos of certain characters from A Love Like The Sun that Olivia forms bonds with and was so endearing to read about. 🫂❤️
This author is a unique writer and story-teller. That being said, I do have a love/hate relationship with her writing. There are things that take me out of the story but it's more of a me thing. And lastly, it took me longer than usual to warm up to our hero, but once I did, I was all in! Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this one and highly recommend The Bridge Back to You 💗
We're in our second-chance romance era, baby! Now just add in superb bipoc representation, exploration of the culinary world, tender moments to make your heart flutter and you've got Carmello and Olivia's beautiful story in The Bridge Back to You. ✨
There is so much to love about Riss M. Neilson's upcoming release. First, the diverse representation is *chefs kiss*. I loved how Filipino and Dominican culture was reflected in the food that was prepared, cooked, and served at Celia's Place (the primary setting). And I really appreciated the main character's conversations regarding their experiences balancing mixed identities, which I think a lot of readers might be able to relate to.
Second, the mental health and chronic illness rep is 10/10 - the social worker in me loved that ADHD, OCD, and endometriosis were all written with the care and understanding they deserve.
And lastly, I loved the different portrayals of family and friendship, including those between Olivia and Carmello's mom, Carmello and the mother of his son, as well as the workers at Celia's Place. There's even cameos of certain characters from A Love Like The Sun that Olivia forms bonds with and was so endearing to read about. 🫂❤️
This author is a unique writer and story-teller. That being said, I do have a love/hate relationship with her writing. There are things that take me out of the story but it's more of a me thing. And lastly, it took me longer than usual to warm up to our hero, but once I did, I was all in! Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this one and highly recommend The Bridge Back to You 💗
April 13, 2026
Food descriptions that made me starving? Check! Tension and yearning so thick you could feeeel it? Check! Phenomenal mental health rep? Check!
“You're looking at me like I might bite. You can if you want to, he says.”
On top of all of these already wonderful qualities of The Bridge Back to You, it’s a second chance romance. The story is delivered through dual POV & timeline which allows the story to peel away like the layers of an onion.
There were so many complexities to this story. Whether discussing OCD and ADHD habits or traits, the grieving process after losing a loved one, or small businesses management TBBTY highlights “small town living” and how it can fill the “bigger than life” moments.
As a society, we should normalize divorce parties. Just saying.
Pub Date March 31 2026
Thanks so much to Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley Romance and Netgalley for sending me an eARC copy!!
review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads
“You're looking at me like I might bite. You can if you want to, he says.”
On top of all of these already wonderful qualities of The Bridge Back to You, it’s a second chance romance. The story is delivered through dual POV & timeline which allows the story to peel away like the layers of an onion.
There were so many complexities to this story. Whether discussing OCD and ADHD habits or traits, the grieving process after losing a loved one, or small businesses management TBBTY highlights “small town living” and how it can fill the “bigger than life” moments.
As a society, we should normalize divorce parties. Just saying.
Pub Date March 31 2026
Thanks so much to Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley Romance and Netgalley for sending me an eARC copy!!
review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads
March 15, 2026
I love the way Riss M Neilson writes love stories. They are always so full of love and history between the characters that just have hooked from page one! I have only previously A Love Like the Sun, and it is one of my favorite books ever so I was really excited to get to read this book in advance. And I am so happy! I loved it, and can’t stop thinking about it. This book is a second chance romance between Olivia and Carmello, they are reunited when Carmello’s mom leaves part of her restaurant to Olivia. With this change of events in Olvia’s life, she decides she wants to go back to her culinary roots and help uplift Celia’s restaurant along side Carmello, and of course, he has issue with it. And from here, their love story takes off as their lives intertwine again.
Carmello is a wonderful father, his character is one that I think about often since reading this book because he is loving and patient and would do anything for his family, but he is not without flaws, he is scared of getting hurt again by his first love, which understandable and makes him feel even more human.
Olivia is a traveller chef, she’s yet to put down roots given her upbringing and her coming back to Celia’s has given her a new sense of purpose. Adding to that already existing experience in that restaurant but also adding her own touch to it.
This book shows a very interesting journey between these characters and also has like a found family and friends aspect to it that I also loved!
Thank you so much to Berkley for this arc!
Carmello is a wonderful father, his character is one that I think about often since reading this book because he is loving and patient and would do anything for his family, but he is not without flaws, he is scared of getting hurt again by his first love, which understandable and makes him feel even more human.
Olivia is a traveller chef, she’s yet to put down roots given her upbringing and her coming back to Celia’s has given her a new sense of purpose. Adding to that already existing experience in that restaurant but also adding her own touch to it.
This book shows a very interesting journey between these characters and also has like a found family and friends aspect to it that I also loved!
Thank you so much to Berkley for this arc!
March 24, 2026
Thank you to Berkley for entrusting me with an early copy!
The Bridge Back To You by Riss M. Neilson
Releases 3/31
Second chance romance
Dual POV, young love, both are chefs, diverse main characters, endometriosis rep, mental health rep (ADHD and OCD), single dad, dual time lines, slow burn, made me hungry for the food, no third act break up!
Olivia is celebrating her divorce when her past comes crashing in on her. Her ex calls to let her know his mother left her a share of the restaurant where she met him and spent the better part of two years in. Carmello has no interest in Olivia coming back and wrecking his heart again. He first tries ignoring her, then decides giving her monotonous jobs will spark her wanderlust into signing over her shares. But Olivia believes in signs and also his mother and she wants to help with the restaurant before she goes. Can she and Carmello learn to work together again? Can Carmello keep her at arm's length to protect his heart?
Oh, what a great story! I adored the mental health and chronic illness rep so very much. I also loved how the characters communicated even when things were hard. So good! Carmello is such a cinnamon roll and the way he treated Olivia's endometriosis was so wonderful. I also enjoyed seeing the flashbacks to their first love story. Carmello's adorable also neurospicy son is charming and it was refreshing to see the great co-parenting that takes place. I'm excited to go read A Love Like the Sun now that has two characters that popped up again in this story! And maybe there will be some more stories to come for some of the other characters! (I'm keeping my fingers crossed!)
The Bridge Back To You by Riss M. Neilson
Releases 3/31
Second chance romance
Dual POV, young love, both are chefs, diverse main characters, endometriosis rep, mental health rep (ADHD and OCD), single dad, dual time lines, slow burn, made me hungry for the food, no third act break up!
Olivia is celebrating her divorce when her past comes crashing in on her. Her ex calls to let her know his mother left her a share of the restaurant where she met him and spent the better part of two years in. Carmello has no interest in Olivia coming back and wrecking his heart again. He first tries ignoring her, then decides giving her monotonous jobs will spark her wanderlust into signing over her shares. But Olivia believes in signs and also his mother and she wants to help with the restaurant before she goes. Can she and Carmello learn to work together again? Can Carmello keep her at arm's length to protect his heart?
Oh, what a great story! I adored the mental health and chronic illness rep so very much. I also loved how the characters communicated even when things were hard. So good! Carmello is such a cinnamon roll and the way he treated Olivia's endometriosis was so wonderful. I also enjoyed seeing the flashbacks to their first love story. Carmello's adorable also neurospicy son is charming and it was refreshing to see the great co-parenting that takes place. I'm excited to go read A Love Like the Sun now that has two characters that popped up again in this story! And maybe there will be some more stories to come for some of the other characters! (I'm keeping my fingers crossed!)
March 31, 2026
I'm sad to say this one didn't hit for me!
I love how Riss combined mental and physical health representation in her previous book, and I think that was the strongest part of The Bridge Back to You. It was subtle at time, and more obvious at others, but both worked in tandem to create Carmello's and Olivia's narration and lived experiences. I also loved Celia's Place—I want to go there! The homey feel of it, and of Carmello and Olivia's Rhode Island in general, was well done.
What didn't work quite so well for me overall was the writing itself. It never quite gripped or transported me. It felt very heavy-handed, and more "tell" than "show." The pacing was also disjointed to me, and created a book that had a slower pace. Which, would have been fine, expect that I found Carmello and Olivia's relationship progressing in a strange way. It felt like they were simultaneously moving too fast and too slow. And finally, I wish there was more in the book about Olivia's relationships with her friends! We get this interesting look at her friendship with Vero, but we don't get resolution really on how that closes out. I also loved the Laniah and Issac cameos (I'm just a girl!) but wished Olivia's friendship with Laniah was more part of the book, if the relationship with Vero wasn't going to be. Olivia is just very much by herself, while we see Carmello interacting with more people, and I wanted to see how she would adapt to being in Rhode Island with other people.
I do hope and believe this one will find its readers, but ultimately this time around, it wasn't for me.
I love how Riss combined mental and physical health representation in her previous book, and I think that was the strongest part of The Bridge Back to You. It was subtle at time, and more obvious at others, but both worked in tandem to create Carmello's and Olivia's narration and lived experiences. I also loved Celia's Place—I want to go there! The homey feel of it, and of Carmello and Olivia's Rhode Island in general, was well done.
What didn't work quite so well for me overall was the writing itself. It never quite gripped or transported me. It felt very heavy-handed, and more "tell" than "show." The pacing was also disjointed to me, and created a book that had a slower pace. Which, would have been fine, expect that I found Carmello and Olivia's relationship progressing in a strange way. It felt like they were simultaneously moving too fast and too slow. And finally, I wish there was more in the book about Olivia's relationships with her friends! We get this interesting look at her friendship with Vero, but we don't get resolution really on how that closes out. I also loved the Laniah and Issac cameos (I'm just a girl!) but wished Olivia's friendship with Laniah was more part of the book, if the relationship with Vero wasn't going to be. Olivia is just very much by herself, while we see Carmello interacting with more people, and I wanted to see how she would adapt to being in Rhode Island with other people.
I do hope and believe this one will find its readers, but ultimately this time around, it wasn't for me.
March 14, 2026
"Exes discover they’ve both inherited the restaurant they love in this sparkling, emotional new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of A Love Like the Sun."
When Celia passes away, she leave her shares of the restaurant she owns with her son, Carmello split evenly between Carmello and his ex, Olivia, who he hasn't seen in ten years. Carmello wants to buy out Olivia's shares, but she surprises him by showing up in person and not rolling over quite so easily.
I love a second chance romance and I was really excited to read this one, but it fell flat for me. Dual POV in the present felt necessary to see how both of our MCs were dealing with this reconnection, but the flashbacks didn't build up their relationship and breakup in a way that made this current timeline as dramatic as Carmello, his dad, and his cousins were treating it. There were just a few too many plot holes and inconsistencies in the character developments for this one to feel cohesive to me while reading.
While the romance and the friendships may not have been what I was hoping for out of this read, I can say the representation was top tier. It's clear that Neilson wrote these characters with a lot of heart!
Thanks, Berkley, for the ARC in exchange for my review.
When Celia passes away, she leave her shares of the restaurant she owns with her son, Carmello split evenly between Carmello and his ex, Olivia, who he hasn't seen in ten years. Carmello wants to buy out Olivia's shares, but she surprises him by showing up in person and not rolling over quite so easily.
I love a second chance romance and I was really excited to read this one, but it fell flat for me. Dual POV in the present felt necessary to see how both of our MCs were dealing with this reconnection, but the flashbacks didn't build up their relationship and breakup in a way that made this current timeline as dramatic as Carmello, his dad, and his cousins were treating it. There were just a few too many plot holes and inconsistencies in the character developments for this one to feel cohesive to me while reading.
While the romance and the friendships may not have been what I was hoping for out of this read, I can say the representation was top tier. It's clear that Neilson wrote these characters with a lot of heart!
Thanks, Berkley, for the ARC in exchange for my review.
March 30, 2026
I’m very much on a second chance romance kick and this one was absolutely phenomenal. Carmello and Olivia reunite a decade after their teenage relationship ends when it’s discovered that Carmello’s recently deceased mom left some of her shares to her restaurant to Olivia. What unfolds, then, is a beautiful story of redemption and second chances. We get to watch Carmello and Olivia enter each other’s orbit once more and it’s loaded with lots of pining and yearning.
I loved how we got flash back scenes of their time together as teens and thought it helped create some suspense for their feelings towards one another in present day. Carmello was very hot and cold and it became apparent why. We also got a glimpse as to why Olivia felt like she needed to jump from place to place.
I felt like I was holding my breath the last 80% of the book due to how stressed I was feeling with how intense the story was getting (in the best way possible, of course) and felt so happy and satisfied with the ending and thought their story was finished perfectly. Siri play Invisible String by Taylor Swift please!
The secondary characters were also very memorable and I will miss reading about them. I wouldn’t complain if we got to come back to this universe in the future.
I also want to add that the author did a great job handling some of the heavier topics in this book. Some of these include grief, due to the loss of a parent, ADHD, Endometriosis, and OCD. I think these topics are very important and they were handled with care. I also loved seeing the healthy co-parenting between Carmello and his son’s mom. It was refreshing to see that sometimes a family unit isn’t traditional, but it can still be loving and caring. You could tell that a lot of thought went into this book and I cannot recommend enough.
Everyone please read this book!!
Thank you so so so so much to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I loved how we got flash back scenes of their time together as teens and thought it helped create some suspense for their feelings towards one another in present day. Carmello was very hot and cold and it became apparent why. We also got a glimpse as to why Olivia felt like she needed to jump from place to place.
I felt like I was holding my breath the last 80% of the book due to how stressed I was feeling with how intense the story was getting (in the best way possible, of course) and felt so happy and satisfied with the ending and thought their story was finished perfectly. Siri play Invisible String by Taylor Swift please!
The secondary characters were also very memorable and I will miss reading about them. I wouldn’t complain if we got to come back to this universe in the future.
I also want to add that the author did a great job handling some of the heavier topics in this book. Some of these include grief, due to the loss of a parent, ADHD, Endometriosis, and OCD. I think these topics are very important and they were handled with care. I also loved seeing the healthy co-parenting between Carmello and his son’s mom. It was refreshing to see that sometimes a family unit isn’t traditional, but it can still be loving and caring. You could tell that a lot of thought went into this book and I cannot recommend enough.
Everyone please read this book!!
Thank you so so so so much to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this book overall - loved the physical health & mental health representation! Especially towards the end as it really made me felt seen. That’s a special feeling when you feel seen in a book! I really loved the parents and how they were choosing to parent their son, and the place of love where it all came from.
I also really loved the female friendships in this story and the discussion of how vital they really are - especially when they aren’t really had before. I really loved being able to see Olivia develop those relationships and how pure they felt. I loved all of the scenes with Olivia and Carmello as well - from seeing the glimpses of their past, to their current relationship, it really all melded together beautifully and made them stronger and easier to root for!
The pacing was the biggest issue for me - the beginning and middle of the book dragged and there was too much filler in there. It flowed cohesively but made for some slow reading. The ending picked up more and is what led to giving this book another star in my rating.
This is a really good one for fans of second chance romances with ones that truly want to dig in deep to the history and feel all of the emotions.
I loved this book overall - loved the physical health & mental health representation! Especially towards the end as it really made me felt seen. That’s a special feeling when you feel seen in a book! I really loved the parents and how they were choosing to parent their son, and the place of love where it all came from.
I also really loved the female friendships in this story and the discussion of how vital they really are - especially when they aren’t really had before. I really loved being able to see Olivia develop those relationships and how pure they felt. I loved all of the scenes with Olivia and Carmello as well - from seeing the glimpses of their past, to their current relationship, it really all melded together beautifully and made them stronger and easier to root for!
The pacing was the biggest issue for me - the beginning and middle of the book dragged and there was too much filler in there. It flowed cohesively but made for some slow reading. The ending picked up more and is what led to giving this book another star in my rating.
This is a really good one for fans of second chance romances with ones that truly want to dig in deep to the history and feel all of the emotions.
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