Ancient History Between Us

by Kaitlyn Hill

Three years since they last saw each other. Two months to untangle their complicated past. One unforgettable Italian summer.

As kids, Cammie Lovett and West Jacobs ran wild on dig sites around the world with their respective archeologist parents. But they haven’t spoken since three summers ago, when their first kiss was swiftly followed by a heartbreaking goodbye . . . This summer, though, an anniversary celebration of their parents’ most famous discovery will bring them back together under the same Italian villa’s roof.

Secretly, Cammie plans to make some discoveries of her own. She has her mom’s journal from the year she was born, and she’s determined to use it to find the father she’s never met. Though West doesn’t know where he stands with Cammie, he insists on joining the search. He’s never been able to let her take on a risky scheme alone, especially not one that takes them across the southern Italian coast—from the stunning cliffs of Capri to a Naples pizza kitchen, even to the ruins of Pompeii.

As the pair digs deeper into Cammie’s mom’s past, their own can’t help but resurface. Feelings are rekindled, truths are unearthed, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll discover that their own history isn’t as ancient as it seems.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary

Unknown Binding

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

Kaitlyn Hill is a writer who lives to tell love stories and make people laugh. While books make up most of her personality, Kaitlyn also enjoys messy reality TV, has never met a tea she didn't like, and thrives on overly ambitious home improvement projects. She resides in Kentucky with her real life romance hero. Find her on Instagram and TikTok @thekaitlynhill and at thekaitlynhill.com.

Reviews

[siri megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

childhood friends to enemies to lovers is fully my brand, so i was already on board going into this book!

cammie and west grew up together, traveling to dig sites with their families, slowly developing feelings that ended abruptly after one bittersweet kiss and a very messy goodbye. three years later, cammie heads to italy with her mom for the summer, determined to track down her unknown father, only to immediately run into west, who ends up joining her on the search.

i didn’t expect the main mystery to focus so heavily on cammie’s paternal search, but that storyline ended up driving most of the plot. following her mother’s journal across italy as cammie checks off potential fathers made the book so much fun to read. some of it is a little far-fetched, but the payoff was surprising and really wholesome.

cammie is closed off at first, and the miscommunication… oof, but once they start actually talking, west and cammie are irresistibly sweet together. he’s patient and endlessly supportive, and the way he still let her lead the search, despite his anxiety, was so sweet. i saw that third-act break-up coming from a mile away, but it was handled so tenderly, i kind of even enjoyed it haha.

coastal towns, ruins, gelato stops, and little adventures between cities bring the story to life. it is the perfect beach read, and i am left craving summer more than ever!! a special thank you to random house children's books and delacorte romance for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 1 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts are my own.

🔹🇮🇹🍊

if a hot italian man could run me over in his vespa really quickly i would so appreciate that. that's not at all directly related to the book itself but it directly translates to how i felt about said book. in other words, i genuinely would love to put a lot of ancient history between me and this work of fiction. how about that.

cami

oh gosh she was insufferable. and i don't mean because she had the vague outline of a personality, no just her internal dialogue was genuinely horrendous. because honestly her personal issues of "let's find my dad" to "oh no wes is looking at me i "hate" him" back to "i NEED to find my dad" and everything revolving around her was genuinely awful.

wes
selfish anxiety king. as a girlie with anxiety let me just be the first person that him ABANONDING CAMI in a brand new city when he was just giving her a lecture on being safe and that's the whole reason he was there in the first place was the most immature thing he could have ever done. he had no personality aside from having abs and wearing glasses. can we get men who have a personality, abs, and glasses? he gave the insufferably of those guys who posts cringe pov's because they look hot but they have no substantial value. just an instant "block"

romance
i don't understand how these two characters were my age. i texted a friend that watching their relationship was like watching two toddlers fight for playground territory with one hand in a bag of cheerios and the other who knows where. they had the emotional maturity of a squirrel on drugs. there was no value to their releationship.

and just when i would have a "hah! that was kinda...good" moment, it'd be ruined with a line like this it all started in AD 79, my Italiana alter ego continues yeah no just kill me now. because that would follow into the most cringeworthy moment or scene. at this point cami and west have a kink for traumatizing embarrassing moments.

like the fact that they had a deep talk while both showering in the communal showers. (not as bad as it sounds but imagine trying to wash your hair and jeremy five doors down is like "hey...so about our childhood....") so like no now is not the time.

plot-ish

not to mention that the whole book and the entire plot and side characters were genuinely horrendous and held no value. esp with her dad being a certain character plot. i wanted to pitch myself off a fricking cliff having to read that scene. it was so bad a wattpad story about a girl being sold to one direction is probably better.

not to mention the whole reason for cami and west "argueing" was the most stupid thing i've ever seen. grow a back. grow a spine. grow some vocal chords and grow the f up. you guys are 19/20. you need to learn real life skills and communicate.

the writing itself wasn't horrible but it also wasn't good enough to warrent this any higher than the rating i gave it. i wish it was.

🍊

shoutout to the italian taxi driver (who is in the beginning chapter and then ending chapter) being the most likeable character. you truly made it worth it (not). please marry me.

[aundrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

ahh idk who my dad is
ahhh i have anxiety
ahhh we have unresolved issues that we’re about to do a take 2 on because third act conflicts need to be annoying instead of interesting ahhhhh

i will admit there were some funny and enjoyable moments but they don’t come close to making this book something to look forward to

i felt like these characters read the webmd article on how to deal with emotions bc everything they said was so stilted and straight out of a textbook

i couldn’t care less about these characters issues and the constant back and forth between west and camila was genuinely insufferable.

and like i get the anxiety west, but you can be anxious and still have a strong personality. so what if he has glasses and a six pack ? this dude literally RAN away from his issues, aka leaving camilla in the middle of a foreign city alone bc he couldn’t handle an argument.
ig camilla is into that but i am not ty and goodnight

*thank you to netgalley for the arc, all opinions are my own*

[hannah! (lowkey gone)]

did someone say 2026 most anticipated?

I WILL READ ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING KAITLYN HILL WRITES MARK MY WORDS THIS WILL BE AMAZING

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The gorgeous Italian setting provided the perfect backdrop to this summery contemporary!

I’ve read quite a few books set in Italy recently and this was another fun one, full of breathtaking views, delicious gelato, and plenty of ancient ruins. It also had vibes of Mamma Mia, with the main character searching for the father she never knew.

This is Upper YA (the main character has completed her first year of college) but it was pretty clean and the romance was very sweet. It’s second chance, friends to more, and I liked seeing Cammie and West figure out where they went wrong 3 years prior.

There’s a lot of the miscommunication trope with both Cammie and her mother and Cammie and West, but I still liked the story overall. The setting was a win for me, and overall this was an enjoyable, breezy contemporary.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars rounded down

This was sooo cute!!! All the Mamma Mia vibes with her trying to find her dad through her mom’s journal entries, but her childhood best friend/second chance romance was with her on the expedition to find him. It was adorable. I loved that I could have theories. The romance was cute af, and they didn’t make me wait forever for it. The banter and HUMOR were SO SO GOOD. I thought they were genuinely funny. But I also felt so much for these BBs. West’s anxiety was so relatable, and I love him and Cammie so much. <3

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Kaitlyn Hill's YA romcom Not Here to Stay Friends, so her upcoming title set in Italy immediately grabbed my attention. The gorgeous cover and Mamma Mia-inspired plot made this a must read!

Cammie Lovett and West Jacobs grew up together on archaeological dig sites across the world. However, they haven't spoken since a misunderstanding blew up their friendship three years ago. Now, Cammie is fresh off her first year of college and heads to her mother's current dig in Naples, the location where Cammie was famously born 20 years ago. Even though they can't stand each other, West gets roped into Cammie's latest scheme: discovering the identity of her unknown father, Mamma Mia-style.

I studied abroad in Italy, so it was a treat to return to Naples, Sorrento, and Pompeii and relive my college dreams. The settings and culture felt well-researched. I enjoyed the historical and cultural tidbits woven in to the narrative (the underground caves in Naples! gelaterias!) It made me want to book a flight to Naples.

West and Cammie made an interesting pair. Cammie is an ambitious go-getter with a bold personality, and West is a quiet tech wizard. I appreciated the thoughtful depiction of West's anxiety; male mental health is so rarely addressed. Their romance is closed door/kisses only. I loved their side quests to find Cammie's dad. Once I started to put the pieces together, I couldn't put the book down! I wonder if the adult characters could have had a book of their own because I was so invested.

I ultimately had two issues that keep this at 3.5 stars rather than 4 stars. First, the pacing in the middle felt off. The beginning and end moved quickly, but the middle dragged and it made me not want to pick it up. Second, I feel like some of the side characters could have been fleshed out more.

Something else to note: the author has presented this book as New Adult/Young Adult on her page, but the publisher seems to be marketing it exclusively as Young Adult. I'm still a little confused on where this book falls, but I'm glad that the New Adult category is growing.

Thank you to Random House Children's Books for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Julianna Gartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5! Wild about You by KHill was one of my top books of 2024 so I was not-so-patiently waiting for her next book! Baby’s first NetGalley ARC - thank you Delacorte Romance and RHCB!

All the Mamma Mia vibes, but set in Italy *crowd oooooohs*, as our girl Cammie returns to her birthplace which just so happens to be a famous archeological site discovered by her mom. She’s never known who her father was, but accompanied by her mom’s cryptic old journal, she’s determined to make the most of this summer as the site’s discovery 20th anniversary kicks off. Also, her childhood bestie turned crush turned nemesis, West, is along for the adventure too. What could go wrong?

I enjoyed the KHill signature humor/quirky quips I’ve come to love from her other books, and the setting was great! I am owed some gelato immediately!!! The miscommunication trope and pacing of this were not my favorite, though. It got a little slow there in the middle for me. The ending was fun and made me feel warm and fuzzy! 🪩🕺🏼🎂

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute and did make me laugh a few times. I’m glad that they didn’t have too much miscommunication and that it wasn’t a stupid issue. But I also just…didn’t care? About the plot? Which seems ridiculous but like…you obviously knew it wasn’t the first two men she met so I didn’t care about the interactions and I DEFINITELY didn’t care about her architecture ramblings.

I appreciate people wanting to give more than a fun summer romance but the history and descriptions of buildings is not my idea of a good read.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was like a combination of Mamma Mia (the epilogue solidified this for me) and a more fun version of Love & Gelato. 4/5 stars. Technically, it's a 9/10 stars, but unfortunately, neither Goodreads nor NetGalley are out of 10 yet.

Firstly, and most importantly, I would like to make a complaint directly to Kaitlyn Hill: You owe me a trip to Italy and a pizza-making class😭😭😭 Do you understand how hungry I was reading that part?

Like I said above, this was the standard "looking for unknown parent" book, a la Mamma Mia and L&G. Low-angst, fun, humorous, trecking around Italy. Writing was good too.

I overall really enjoyed this book. I think the archaeology aspect was cool (though I wish we could've seen more of it) and it was fun watching West and Cammie skirt around Italy doing touristy things (TM). It lowkey made me mad I wasn't in Italy at the moment though lol.

West!!!!!!! I love you West. Maybe it's the whole math and anxiety thing, but I feel like I really connected with him. I hope I find someone exactly like him in the future. I love his math/comp sci project, and I was so happy with his decision at the end. And I know, I know, what he did 3 years ago was pretty bad, but come on! He was SIXTEEN!!! Who wasn't a total butthead at 16? Frankly, if you told me you were a great person at 16, I'd assume you were a. lying or b. didn't have much self-awareness. And with all the other factors going on in his life...

Also really enjoyed the mom, West's dad, pizza-making dude, and the PhD instructor. Not much to say about them, but considering I've read so many books that were ruined by the side characters, I was grateful for them.

Normally, I’m not a huge book playlist type of person, but I’d loooooove a playlist for this book! Give into the Mamma Mia vibes.

Now for the complaints. Cammie. My gooooooooooood. I couldn't stand Cammie. She spent like, 75% of this book grating my nerves. I can't say I hated her, but I didn't particularly like her at all. She just. She blew up at EVERYTHING. Especially at the end??? I wanted to slap her so bad... I honestly don't see what West saw in her at all. It was sweet when he told her about his anxiety and she was really supportive though.

My other thing was. I feel like the answer to the dad mystery was so obvious... and she just completely ignored it??? It was literally STARING YOU IN THE FACE. But then again, if she'd done the logical thing and reached out to him first. there'd be no book I guess... But it really bothered me. And yes, I know, her excuse. But it was a. an awful excuse and b. why wouldn't you look into it anyways? This could've been a novella lol.

Anyways. I will be off to plan my Italian vacation now.

Thank you to RHCB and NetGalley for the ARC!

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a single, dual POV second chance, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story set against an Italian backdrop. It's YA, but both mains have completed freshman year of college.

If you're not a fan of miscommunication in second chances, you should skip this one. Because if one of them had just set their ego aside and talked to the other for five seconds, this whole book would've been very different. Instead, Cammie comes across as too self-centered and West comes across as too meek to do anything to explain the situation to each other.

I'm bought in to "we were friends who kissed and messed up our friendship" in YA, but it still felt too drawn out and immature to the point of me not being fully bought into them as a couple moving forward.

Kaitlyn Hill has a talent for writing unlikable and prickly FMCs, and Cammie is no exception. I think, though, the dual POV damped the effect of this because West was not unlikeable nor prickly and, in fact, had some anxiety issues that the reader is let in on pretty immediately. So, personally, right off the bat, I was sympathizing with West and uncertain why Cammie was coming across so ice cold and rude, even though it firmly made sense in her character arc. It just made it harder to read her. Even 20% in, she wasn't really winning me over. And given the two other Kaitlyn Hill novels I've read, I wasn't holding out hope. (I love an unlikable FMC, and that alone is never a deal breaker for me as a reader.) I honestly keep trying Ms. Hill in hopes that the unlikable FMC will someday be more justified and I'll end the book thinking "yeah BUT omg I love her so much!"

The writing and story are solidly Contemporary, meaning that if you're not a fan of Cammie and aren't bought into West, it's going to be a bit of a boring, slow go ride because there's a lot of emphasis on developing the plot forward (Cammie trying to find her dad) rather than immediately setting out to fix anything for the second chance plot. Cammie has no interest in reconciling. And West seems to be just coming out of survival mode and is ultra respectful to Cammie's desires.

The quest for Cammie's dad was a really interesting plot to have in YA. It was fun to go along that journey. Even though, again, she could've just asked her mom to start with.

I loved the setting of an archeology dig in Italy even though I know nothing about either of those things. I love reading books about topics I don't know, and admittedly, I always assume the author has done their research fully. I wish there had been more history/archeology in the story.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me, and I am forever bummed by that.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ — A sun-soaked, second-chance romance wrapped in secrets, history, and first love 🇮🇹✨

Ancient History Between Us is a tender, nostalgic, and emotionally rich romance that blends first love, buried secrets, and the magic of an unforgettable Italian summer. Kaitlyn Hill crafts a story that feels warm and wistful, filled with quiet yearning, unresolved heartbreak, and the ache of everything left unsaid. 🌞💔

Cammie and West’s history is the heartbeat of this book. Once inseparable childhood companions on dig sites around the world 🏺, their bond fractures after a first kiss and a sudden, painful goodbye 💋➡️💔. Three years later, being thrown back together under the same Italian villa roof 🇮🇹🏡 forces them to confront everything they never got closure on. Their connection is soft, slow-burning, and heavy with the kind of tension that only comes from loving someone you never truly moved on from. 💞

Cammie’s search for her unknown father adds depth and emotional weight to the story. Following her late mother’s journal across the breathtaking Italian coast—from Capri’s cliffs 🌊 to the streets of Naples 🍕 to the haunting ruins of Pompeii 🏛️—makes the novel feel cinematic and deeply personal. West joining her on this journey, despite his own uncertainty and hurt, shows just how deeply rooted his loyalty and love for Cammie still are. 💕

What makes this story so moving is how gently it explores grief, identity, unfinished love, and the courage it takes to face the past. As old feelings resurface and long-buried truths are uncovered 🔍, the emotional stakes rise in quiet but powerful ways. The romance never feels rushed—it unfolds with patience, vulnerability, and meaning. ✨

A heartfelt, beautifully atmospheric second-chance romance full of history, hidden truths, and love that refuses to fade 🌅📖. Ancient History Between Us is perfect for readers who crave emotional depth, slow-burn tension, and stories where the past and present collide in the most romantic way 💕.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘈𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘜𝘴 is a sweet, multi-dimensional second-chance romance set on the stunning Italian coastline.

Cammie and West were once childhood friends, exploring global archaeological dig sites and slowly developing feelings. But it all fell apart three years ago with an abrupt goodbye. Now, Cammie plans to spend the summer in Italy alongside her mother while she secretly digs up her own past searching for her unknown father, and the last thing she expects is to find West upon her arrival, forcing her to confront unresolved feelings.

Hill pens a story rich with wanderlust, exploring breathtaking Italian scenery and dig sites full of undiscovered secrets. It packs an emotional punch, providing immense character development. Fans of Mamma Mia will adore Cammie's paternal investigation!

The romance plotline adds a heartfelt touch, developing naturally and providing readers another reason to root for Cammie. While her treatment of West is harsh in the beginning, she's clearly protecting herself and her own heart, and it allows her to grow throughout the story.

I adored this adventure, experiencing swims in Italian waters, cups of fresh gelato, and mouthwatering bites of pizza with Cammie and West. What a fun, quick read!

Thank you to Delacorte and NetGalley for the advance reading copy!

[Alyssa Knappenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a romance that follows friends to lovers and comedic moments that will make you laugh, this book is for you!

This book follows Cammie and West, children of archeologists who were childhood friends. After not speaking for 3 years, they reunite in Italy at an archeological site their parents are at for the summer. By the, West is a math nerd who wears glasses when he remembers to put them on.

Cammie's goal while in Italy is to find her biological father. She finds her mom's journal from around the time she was born and creates a list of "potential father candidates", in true Mamma Mia fashion. West ends up joining her on this journey. I lived Wild about You by this author, so I knew I had to read this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me missing parts of Italy I had never visited and definitely missing the parts that I HAVE visited (aka the fanciest McD’s I’ve ever seen, iykyk).

I’ve enjoyed Kaitlyn Hill’s backlist and this book has only cemented my infatuation with her work!! The MCs are both so lovable and I couldn’t get enough of the way that they fell right back into their normal dynamics like it hadn’t been three years since their last encounter.

I enjoyed watching each of them heal themselves and their inner children as their relationship and this book developed. There was a kind-of third-act breakup, but it definitely did not last long.

Thank you Underlined for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebekkah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a cute book! The title and description had me hoping that a bit more Italian history or archaeology would be incorporated into the plot, but it is primarily about Cammie's search for her unknown father. I enjoyed Cammie and West's adventures through Italy as they sought out Cammie's various parental prospects, even if the plot, at times, felt a bit far-fetched. And I wasn't completely sold on the chemistry between them, especially considering their history. It still was an enjoyable read. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to Random House Children's Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[betsy gentry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet, summery second-chance romance with more depth than I expected!! I really appreciated that the story wasn’t purely romance-driven, but also centered on Cammie’s search for her father! That storyline added emotional weight and kept the plot moving.

Cammie and West’s relationship is a soft, slow burn, and watching them fall for each other again felt natural and tender. The Italian setting was also a highlight. Very vivid, fun, and perfect for a beach read.

My main drawback is personal preference: I’m starting to tire of dual POV romances, which pulled me out of the story at times. Still, this was an enjoyable, heartfelt read overall❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, easy read that gave me strong Mamma Mia vibes—in the best way. It follows a young woman trying to figure out who her father is, using clues from her mom’s past while spending the summer in Italy. I liked the mix of mystery and family story, and the childhood friends turned enemies-to-lovers dynamic added some tension and heart. The characters felt real, and I found myself rooting for them. Overall, an enjoyable and light read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Johnna Wilford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A YA romance that made me both laugh out loud and cry at the gym (the parking lot of the gym at least). This gave me Mamma Mia vibes but with an archaeology setting. And since I have an Anthropology degree I LOVED that. I also loved the anxiety rep!!! Definitely a must read!

Thanks to Random House/Delacorte through NetGalley for the ARC!

[Talynn Najjar]

I NEED THIS BOOK
KAITLYN ONLY MAKES MASTERPIECES

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute!!

[Katie Cambron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaitlyn’s best book yet!