Frankie Hale thought she was done with heartbreak—then it showed up wearing a tie and calling itself the high school principal.
Running Hale Hardware was always the plan. She just thought Roman Clarke would be running it with her.
It’s been more than a decade since he broke her heart and left for college, and she’s built a new life without him. Running the shop, raising a teenager, and skipping the whole social life thing . . . it’s not glamorous, but it’s hers, and she’s accepted it.
Until Roman walks back into town, looking at Frankie’s mini-me like he’s doing the math—and suddenly, old feelings and unanswered questions start testing the strength of everything she’s built.
Caught between the man who broke her heart and the one who’s never stopped believing in her, Frankie’s about to learn that love doesn’t always follow the rules.
Nicole Reeves lives in Texas, but grew up in Southeast Alaska, where she thought swimming in glacier-water and running from bears was a perfectly normal childhood. When she's not writing or chasing her kids around, you'll find her balancing book stacks on her high-heels and sharing the shenanigans on bookstagram. @nic_reeves_writes
Nicole Reeves' first adult novel, Hale Yeah, It's You is a sweet small town romance with a fun twist on high school sweethearts. This is the second book of hers I've read, and I don't know what it is, but I continue to feel a sort of kinship with her stories. There's always little details that feel so personal to me, whether it's small, like an off-handed comment about my own adolescent sweethearts, the Jonas Brothers, or the kind of residual nagging that comes from never understanding why something good came to an end. I also appreciated that Hale Yeah was smut-free, which feels increasingly hard to find these days!
DNF@42% Decent writing technically speaking—though, the book needs professional editing—but the story is so dang boring and contrived. It’s got the bones but no guts to set it apart. It’s got the depth and passion of a Hallmark movie.
I saw this book on TT, and the author made it seem as if the heroine and hero had a daughter together, who he didn’t know about. The girl isn’t even her daughter; it’s her niece, so why make it seem the opposite?? It reads like the author wanted it to be their kid but couldn’t commit to the idea. This is a terrible way to create tension, and it’s misleading to readers.
A few things:
—Upon their first meeting after not seeing or speaking to each other for 14 years, the fl allows the ml to think her niece is their daughter. She knows what he is assuming and lets him for pay back or some shit. Dumb. Embarrassing behavior!
—The second time they meet, which is another convo that probably lasts no more than 10 minutes, she tells him that the niece is not his child and that she didn’t cheat. Does she let him think that the girl is her daughter, who she supposedly had with the man she lives with but isn’t in a relationship with? Yes. Again, DUMB. I get that she was hurt by him, but this makes her look really freaking petty and weird.
—The third time they meet, after spending maybe a half hour in each other’s presence total since the ml returned after 14 YEARS, she confesses her lies about her niece and they kiss… Huh? I’m supposed to believe they have that much chemistry and passion for each other when they’ve barely said anything to each other? No. Sorry. This was poorly done. Seriously. Why would they kiss that soon?
This nonsense with the niece and allowing the ml to think she is with her niece’s dad served no purpose. It was supposed to create tension, and it didn’t. It’s contrived and pointless. And of course her niece’s dad is now interested in the her, and she let him kiss her before the ml does! The other man is supposed to create tension, but it’s just annoying. Of course this happens right when the ml moves back to town.🙄
Hale Yeah, It’s You is a heartfelt and engaging second-chance romance that I devoured in just two days. Nicole Reeves does a wonderful job blending themes of family, self-discovery, and love without dragging the story out.
Frankie is a devoted family woman who stepped in as guardian to her niece Alayna when her sister Tasha walked away. For years, she’s lived with her brother-in-law and helped raise Alayna, putting her own life on hold. Eleven years later, everything shifts when she runs into Roman—the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart right after high school and never looked back.
As Frankie reconnects with Roman, she also rediscovers herself. She continues to run her family’s hardware business, but after donating supplies to Alayna’s school play, she realizes how much joy she finds in teaching others. This inspires her to dream bigger with DIY classes—and with Roman’s encouragement, she even considers starting YouTube videos. What I loved most was how Frankie followed her gut and gave her old high school love a second chance, opening the door to her own happily ever after.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book: ✨ “History is a mirror and we’re all just older versions of ourselves; children disguised as adults.” ✨ “For every heart whose journey didn’t go as planned—may the twists and turns lead you to a love that feels like home.”
This book felt relatable, warm, and deeply satisfying. A sweet second-chance romance about learning to trust yourself, rediscovering your passions, and realizing it’s never too late to find love again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I had the honor of being a beta reader for this book and I can honestly say it is easily one of my favorite books I have read this year. The way Nicole writes is so heartfelt and captivating that you can't help but fall in love with her characters - they come to life on the page and feel like real-life friends that you want to root for just like you would for those you love.
In this book, Frankie is living with her brother-in-law and niece, having helped raise Alayna since she was 3 and her sister walked out on her family. She is content with life in her little bubble - working at her family's hardware store and being the best aunt she can be, but when the boy who broke her heart 14 years ago comes back into town, her whole world is turned upside down and she begins to question everything - from what she's doing with her life to who she is doing her life with.
If you love heartfelt, closed door romances that leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside, this book is one you absolutely need to read.
Took a chance on reading 2nd chance romance and fell in love with the characters! I was so curious about what was going to happen before I finished the first chapter that it was almost impossible for me to put the book down over the course of a weekend! I loved that Frankie was still trying to figure out what she wanted to be when she grew up, even though, at 32, she was already a grown up. As a 32 year old myself, it was relatable not only in that I sometimes have similar thoughts, (What am I doing with my life?), but also, her friendship with Sarah, and relationship with her parents made Frankie seem like so much more than words on a page.
I’m crying. I haven’t read a book this good in quite a while, and it’s just what I needed.
It will only take you pages to fall in love with Frankie Hale and her simple, yet wonderful story. Through the beautiful twists and turns of life, she learns who she truly is and always has been, yet there’s more to her story. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and it will feel like you’re there, feeling each raw emotion as it happens. Nic Reeves knocked it out of the park with another page-turning romantic novel, that will have you begging for a sequel.
I saw this book on TikTok and rushed to add it to my TBR
Turns out, I should have read the blurb more carefully. This book had a bit of other man drama, what feels like some Insta-love and no spice. All are just not my cup of tea. If you prefer spice-free or “cosy” romance, this would be a good choice for you.
Listen, did I enjoy the book? Yes but I went into this after seeing the author’s TT video of her trying to explain her book in hopes to get people to read it and as much as she succeeded in getting people to read it. The way she described it in the video compared to what you actually read is so far off from each other that I was disappointed
Nicole did it again! Hale Yeah, It’s You felt like a refreshing take on familiar themes. A perfect mashup of “the one that got away,” aching nostalgia, and the weight of unresolved family trauma. The story was the perfect balance between emotional depth and lighthearted fun. Highly recommend!
This is such a fun and sweet book! Characters and scenarios feel real and it keeps you smiling and laughing all the way through! Finished it in less than a day! Definitely need to read it!
A fun feel good novel that shows the importance of finding yourself and claiming your own space while showing care and appreciation for family and community. Small town, clean adult romance, fresh start, lovable characters, second chance romance, hilarious best friend, family and kids
I loved this book. Just under 300 pages it was a quick read. The story felt real, many romance novels are idyllic but this felt like someone’s real life story. Highly recommend.
This book was a sweet, second chance romance with an unconventional family. Who doesn't love a HEA? I loved the relationship between Frankie and Sarah!
Omg I adored every moment of this book. Roman and Frankie were everything and a 2nd chance romance I could get behind. It was so refreshing to read an adult romance that wasn’t focused around the spice. Let me tell you there was plenty of swoon worthy moments that spice would have honestly distracted from. Frankie as a character was so fun. I love that she knows her way around the tool box from working at the hardware store and how she was ready to step in and help the play be the best it could. I really enjoyed how Frankie and Roman’s growth stories complimented each other. Frankie needed to learn what she ultimately wanted and how to be her own person in life and Roman learned how to find who he was in his work and life. Overall this is one of the best romances I’ve read in awhile.