Like We Used To

by Jamie Cluff

When Quinn Clark pictured her life at fifteen, she didn't imagine she'd be a widowed mother of two, moving back to the same small town of Pine Grove she always used to resent. She didn't imagine that she'd constantly feel like she's never doing enough and that she's doing too much all at once. After five years of grieving, she's finally ready to make a fresh start and open herself up to new experiences for herself, and for her kids. Six weeks after moving home, none other than Rivers Thomas, her high school best friend, and let's be honest, first real love comes waltzing back into her life, placing Quinn in the center of a crossroads she didn't ask to be in. Does she take the road with the man whose tan skin, blue eyes, dimpled smile, and a tattoo to drool over are somehow the least attractive things about him? Or does she cement herself in her life as a widow, despite the pull inside her urging her to move forward?



For Rivers Thomas, involving himself with Quinn, the woman he's been in love with for half his life, comes with a lot more baggage now than it did when they were young. She has two kids, trauma, and the guilt of other people's expectations weighing on her shoulders, but Rivers has always been up for a challenge, and, maybe more importantly, ready to be whoever Quinn needs him to be. Told between the past and present, Like We Used To explores the complicated dynamic of grief and guilt, love and forgiveness, and how the people and experiences that shape us etch themselves into the constellations of our lives.

394 pages, Paperback

Published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[Sicilyreadsalot]

I enjoyed this small town romance. Flips back and forth between the past and the present. Quinn and Rivers are best friends but will they ever be more?
Quinn Clark and her two kids move back to her hometown after her husband dies tragically. When her son gets a black eye at school, the last person she expected to see is his eye doctor. It’s none other than her childhood best friend and first love, Rivers Thomas.

I do wish we got Rivers POV, but I just love a dual POV book. I love a miscommunication trope! I thought the spice was really well done. Loved the tension and yearning. I do feel like the twist at the end just kind of came out of no where though. Maybe there will be another book that explains it?

[Tifany Hampton]

This book was definitely giving hallmark movie vibes, which is exactly what I was needing. Very cutesy but with some sprinkled in heavy topics to keep it interesting. This book was dual timelines. I especially loved in the past timelines, the many pop culture references of that era, ie Thats so Raven, the wedding singer, weezer, limewire, iPod mini, etc. it was definitely a blast from the past and as a millennial, I ate it up. As a Kansan, I also particularly enjoyed the references to Kansas. I hope Dani gets her own book one day!! She was hilarious!

[Shelbi Self]

Holy moly (or as Quinn would say, DAMN)

All of the emotions for this beautiful story. It was witty, emotional, thought-provoking, and so so sweet. I laughed out loud and loved the whole cast of characters. Quinn is brave and I love the openness she has with her children. Rivers is a dream. And Dani’s penchant for violence and protectiveness for her friend is truly just 10/10. I loved the flashback scenes and it was so fun seeing the characters grow together through it all.

The author handles the topics of grief and moving on after the loss of a spouse incredibly well, and the way the characters come together (both emotionally and physically 😮‍💨🌶️) is so very satisfying.

Also…. Can we talk about that epilogue?!? 👀

[Margo Coltrane]

This escape to Pine Grove is everything the heart could want — nostalgia, romance, family, and gut-wrenching twists. The descriptions of Quinn Clark’s emotions and thoughts throughout the whole book are so tangible and thought-out that you can’t help but also feel the same things, even though many of the experiences of the character have not been seen/felt in my own life. It’s a book where characters communicate in a healthy way and can feel guilt for the repercussions of the past (finally!), but the communication also happens in a way that is realistic. The whole time I was screaming in my head, “Yes, that’s exactly what should be said!” Only, it’s even better?? The allusions to early 2000s/present-day were so fun and purposeful, but not too over my head to where I felt left out. The playlist to accompany the book = perfection. Cluff has created a world of her own that is unique and beautiful, and I finished the book with a desire to see my own world as a place of possibility and beauty so I never take it for granted.

Not only do you fall in love with Quinn and Rivers, but with the people they keep in their circle, too. Which is why I am desperate for book #2! What a cliffhanger! Or should I say, CLUFF-hanger! 🤪

[Maddy]

Amazing! I absolutely LOVED this book! The dual timeline was very well done. I loved all of the nostalgia feelings I got from the teenage years, made me feel like I was apart of the story. Also we need more men like Rivers, he is EVERYTHING. Quinn is also amazing, I love her! I can’t wait for more books!

[Alex | reader_mama]

So many things to love in this one! Quinn moves back to her small hometown several years after her husband’s passing. Raising two young teens, she has not even thought about dating again. Enter Rivers: Quinn’s first love.

I adored how the story was told in the “then and now” timeline because it gave the reader the back story needed to root for the love story. Quinn and Rivers were always best friends, but readers saw how they each had feelings for each other as they grew into teens. Small town romances have something unique that makes me want to keep reading, and I enjoyed watching Quinn and Rivers navigate both the past and their present. Read this if you enjoy friends to lovers, second chance romance (always a great trope IMO), small town setting, and family love.

Thank you to the author for my eARC . 🥰

[Audrey Mower]

So nostalgic and cute! I loved that the characters were relatable and made me reflect on all the teenage feels. I cried with and for Quinn a few times and am definitely looking forward to the next book! I can’t decide if I want it to be Junes story or Dani’s or just more of all of them!

[Ashley Szofer]

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel by Jamie Cluff. The characters are fun and engaging and the story weaves time together beautifully. Cluff’s attention to detail rally helps set the atmosphere of Pine Grove and her story handles sweet romance with heavy realities with authentic perspective. Great read!

[Nathan Birkett]

I’m only five chapters in, and I’m loving the trope already and where this is going. I grew up in a very similar setting while reading this, and I didn’t want to stop where the chapter ends. I love a good cliffhanger at the end.
It’s been enjoyable, and eye-opening to read the author’s perspective growing up in a very familiar small town.
Can’t wait to see where this series takes us!

[Alpharius]

I picked up Like We Used To by Jamie Cluff knowing it was completely outside my usual reading habits. Most of my bookshelf is filled with Warhammer 40,000 novels—grimdark battles, impossible odds, and chainswords solving most problems. Because of that, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I’m really glad I gave it a chance.
Jamie Cluff has a writing style that feels incredibly natural and inviting. The story drew me in almost immediately, and I found myself invested in the characters in a way I hadn’t anticipated. Rather than relying on huge action sequences or constant spectacle, the book succeeds by making the relationships and emotions feel genuine. It was a refreshing change of pace from the universe I’m used to reading.
One of the things I appreciated most was how easy the book was to read without ever feeling shallow. The pacing kept me engaged, and the dialogue felt authentic. Even though this isn’t a genre I normally gravitate toward, I never felt like I was forcing myself to keep reading. Quite the opposite—I wanted to know what happened next.
If you’re someone who usually sticks to science fiction or fantasy like I do, don’t let that stop you from giving Like We Used To a chance. It reminded me that a good story doesn’t need power armor, alien invasions, or galaxy-spanning wars to be compelling. Strong characters and engaging writing are enough.
This was an enjoyable read, and I was excited to learn that there is already a second book.

[Rachel]

Like We Used To is a nostalgic ode to growing up in the 90's and early 2000's and the childhood references made me smile so many times thinking of such a simpler time and a simpler life before adulthood. The references to music struck such a chord for me as this story showed over and over how music can change thoughts, feelings, actions, and how we use music to cope with the challenges of life. I loved how Rivers and Quinn used music to help tell their story.

The altering POV between past and present was really enjoyable and I loved the glimpses of these two in their teenage years as the foundation for their relationship was built. It truly showed how solid it was from the start. While I hated all of the grief and pain Quinn and the kids had to go through, I loved the way that Rivers steps in and assumes responsibility for each of them. Not to take Preston's place, but to be another person to love them, which made me love him even more!

This is a solid debut novel and I was really impressed with the emotional depth of each of these characters. Loved the set up at the end to learn more about Dani and to see her get her own HEA too.

TROPES:
Small Town
Childhood Friends to Lovers
Its Always Been You
Single Mom
Second Chance

[Amanda]

What do you get when you mix the best tropes (small town, second chance) with a giant dose of millennial nostalgia? This adorable book! I loved the setting and the characters, the mains and the sides (please can Dani be my best friend?!), and the pacing felt great. I also loved the absence of the very popular manufactured conflict in the 3rd act. I wish we’d had slightly more *emotion* attached to a couple of parts, like I knew intellectually it was a very emotional moment, but I didn’t FEEL it as much as I could have. But overall, this was a stellar debut novel and I can’t wait for book 2!!

[Destiny]

Five stars, without question.
This book put me through the wringer. I laughed, I cried, I felt some PTSD, I wanted to smack some sense into some characters, and I wanted to hug even more.
I fell in love with so many characters, their growth, the emotions from them all…. I want these amazing people as my friends, as my village!
My only complaint is that there aren’t more books in the series yet!
No, wait. I take that back. I have another complaint - why isn’t Quinn’s famous lemon bars recipe in the back of the book? That’s the only thing that would have made it better.

Gimme more…. Please. 😅

[Erin Anderson]

Such a cute first novel! I loved it from the start, as a former teacher, I connected with Quinn. I liked the fact that these were real adults and not a story between young adults, which you also got the perspective of in the throwbacks. I also enjoyed all of the pieces of Kansas in the book too! Chiefs, KState etc!

Hoping that the we have a Dani book in the series because I think every girl needs a Dani in their corner!!

[Danielle M]

This story is very, very sweet. It will make you smile, make you sad, maybe even irritated a bit HaHa, because boys are boys ; especially irritating in their teens.
This story brought to vision some great memories of the small town that I grew up in and all the chaos, drama, love and light along the way.
I feel it focuses more on the teenage relationship memories than it touches base with where they are now as adults.Which I personally wanted more of.
Overall though, great job Jaime!!

[Nicole Gubler]

Wavered between a 4 and 5 but rounded up for this debut author. 🙌🏻 Reading a few light reads to offset a heavy read and this is definitely the best of the ones I picked up. Quinn is a little too perfect for me (makes me feel like I have sooo much to improve on 😅) but I loved her personality and relationship with her kids, her friends, her family, and Rivers. Read this book….if only to guarantee I’ll get to see what happens in the next. 😁

[Karen Buckalew]

Before you read-- check the playlist of songs in the back! I loved listening along to the music mentioned on the page. The past timeline was so nostalgic with the sweetest childhood sweetheart vibes. Rivers and Quinn might be my favorite book couple of the year. I'm also a sucker for well-written kid characters, and this book knocked it out of the park with Sawyer and Wyatt. Funny, tender, and a perfect cozy romance read.

[Kristina Brownell]

There were soooo many things to love about this debut novel and I will definitely be following the series. I loved BOTH the main characters and the way they communicated as adults was such a relief!. The dual timelines were genius and added so much to the story. I felt like the ending wrapped up a little too quickly, but I’m really wishing the rest of the series were already available so I could just read on to solve that problem! Haha.

**sex and f-words

[Soren Blake]

This story completely wrecked me in the best way possible. Quinn’s journey through grief and rediscovery felt so raw and real. The chemistry between her and Rivers had me rooting for them from the very beginning. It’s not just a love story, it’s a story about healing, forgiveness, and learning that you’re allowed to be happy again.

[Erin Tingey]

I could not put this book down! Loved Quinn and Rivers and loved the dual timeline. There was so much nostalgia for me as a millennial mom now Quinn’s age, and all the teenage love (and teenage cringe) were captured so well! I can’t wait for the next book!

[Reagan McHargue]

This book just wasn’t y favorite. Not sure if it was the writing style or the fact that the boy and girls names were switched in my brain. The spice scenes also were not my style which turns me off on a book. I think the story and author has potential just needed some attention.

🤬
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Emily]

Loved it, the characters become lovable so quickly. Can’t wait for her next book.

[Kattizzzle James]

Talk about a man with all the green flags! Rivers is swoon worthy in all the right ways! Except communication! Not my typical genre but I was sucked in and really enjoyed it!

[Cynthia Soffiantini]

Romance is absolutely not my genre, but this was really charming. The author masterful avoids or manages the tropes that keep me out of romance (bad communication is fine for middle schoolers!)

[Reader]

Enjoyed this story! Loved getting to know all of the characters and can’t wait to see what their future holds. I read these pages through tears, laughter, anger and happiness. Bring on #2!!!!

[Lauren Wideman]

A millennial time capsule and dream. Beautiful story and captured such a deeply profound connection. Rivers is top tier book boyfriend material. Loved.

[Steph]

4.5 stars

This was absolutely beautiful, emotional, had me rooting for them the whole time, had me believing in their connection, and wrecked me in the best way (I cried like 10 different times).

[Kylee Gyger]

The perfect companion for Taylor Swift's Ruin the Friendship but with a MUCH happier ending!! I can't wait for the next book in the series, and to maybe join a book club for it! <3

[Rebecca Price]

Teenage Rivers & Quinn drove me absolutely crazy! Glad they reconnected because they deserved to find their way back to each other at a more mature age.

This was a quick easy read I stayed up way too late because I just had to know where the story was heading.

[Heather Millwater]

This book was so cute and the perfect mix of funny, romantic, heartfelt and hopeful. I loved young Quinn because she reminded me of myself so much. (The throwbacks to the music and fashion definitely put us around the same age.) She was such a relatable character! The lack of communication between her and Rivers was also so frustratingly relatable, especially at that age. Someone else's review stated "...all the teenage love (and teenage cringe) were captured so well" and I couldn't agree more!
Rivers was such a lovable, dreamy character. He was the best friend to Quinn, but also so frustrating at times, that I couldn't blame her for her reactions (most of the time). I LOVED Dani and definitely want more of her and her story. Everyone needs a friend like her.
I love a second chance romance, and this one was captured so well. Showcasing Quinn's heartbreak, grief, and trauma was so real. I also very much enjoyed the dual timelines. It kept me wanting more, and made it hard for me to put the book down because I HAD to know how things originally ended with Quinn and Rivers. There were enough twists and turns without the storyline become overwhelming or confusing.
And that ending!? Did anyone else's jaw drop at the end when we found out who Quinn was talking to!? Not at all what I was expecting! I can't wait for the next book to find out more. I'm so curious how the story will continue!