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And I Love You
ANDI
Love, and I mean real love, is the exception. I know most of us never find it. For me, life is about surviving, keeping my head above the water while I tell lie after lie so people don’t realize how bad it really is.
Something changes when his eyes lock on mine. Something in me stirs. He’s steady where I wobble. He’s quiet where my mind screams. He’s a flirt and, for the first time, I’m finding myself wanting to be one right back.
But I know better than to get close. I’ll only weigh him down.
MERIT
She’s warmth like I’ve never felt. I don’t date and I don’t do love. Most of the time, one night is plenty for me. So why have I been mesmerized from the moment she walked through that door?
She’s everything I won’t let myself have because she’s everything I’ll destroy. She’s soft, kind, and blushes with the innocence of woman entirely unaware of her perfection. She’s everything I need and everything I’ll ruin myself to protect.
Love, and I mean real love, is the exception. I know most of us never find it. For me, life is about surviving, keeping my head above the water while I tell lie after lie so people don’t realize how bad it really is.
Something changes when his eyes lock on mine. Something in me stirs. He’s steady where I wobble. He’s quiet where my mind screams. He’s a flirt and, for the first time, I’m finding myself wanting to be one right back.
But I know better than to get close. I’ll only weigh him down.
MERIT
She’s warmth like I’ve never felt. I don’t date and I don’t do love. Most of the time, one night is plenty for me. So why have I been mesmerized from the moment she walked through that door?
She’s everything I won’t let myself have because she’s everything I’ll destroy. She’s soft, kind, and blushes with the innocence of woman entirely unaware of her perfection. She’s everything I need and everything I’ll ruin myself to protect.
476 pages, Paperback
Published November 4, 2025
About the author
Lexa Bobenic
2 books11 followersLexa Bobenic writes with the intention of holding space for tenderness and trauma. Her words explore the journey of life and what it can mean to survive and heal. Her books tackle raw and sometimes unspoken or unrecognized feelings. Finding her inspiration at the intersection of beauty and destruction, she is drawn to resilient characters and her writing dives into how pain can transform and connect us.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 18, 2025
Fear, healing, and friendship wrapped up in an intense love story.
This book has what feels like 3 parts, starting with a spark, a slow burn, and then catches fire as we get to see Merit and Andi navigate their complex childhoods and trusting each other. Pacing ebbs and flows with emotional moments gently explored and intense scenes, while reminding you that broken things can be mended.
Love the his/hers perspective and the past/present style of writing that makes this intricate story almost impossible to put down!!
This book has what feels like 3 parts, starting with a spark, a slow burn, and then catches fire as we get to see Merit and Andi navigate their complex childhoods and trusting each other. Pacing ebbs and flows with emotional moments gently explored and intense scenes, while reminding you that broken things can be mended.
Love the his/hers perspective and the past/present style of writing that makes this intricate story almost impossible to put down!!
December 22, 2025
And I Love You is one of those stories that quietly wraps itself around your heart and refuses to let go. From the very first pages, I was completely captivated—not just by the story itself, but by the way the author so beautifully and tenderly told the love story of Merit and Andi. Every emotion felt intentional and honest, creating a deep connection that made these characters feel real, familiar, and impossible not to love.
The emotional depth of this book is what truly sets it apart. The author has a rare gift for storytelling, using emotion in a way that bonds the reader to the characters and lingers long after the final page. I found myself savoring each chapter, not wanting it to end.
I’m genuinely envious of anyone who gets to read this book for the first time. Stories written with this much heart, beauty, and care are rare, and And I Love You is one of those unforgettable reads you wish you could experience all over again.
April 16, 2026
Couldn’t put the book down!
From the outset, this book captivated me, unleashing my imagination in a manner unparalleled. Loved the author’s choice of allowing its readers full freedom of envisioning their own Merit and Andi, plus all the other characters. It really allowed me to be immersed while reading. Can’t wait to read the next one!
From the outset, this book captivated me, unleashing my imagination in a manner unparalleled. Loved the author’s choice of allowing its readers full freedom of envisioning their own Merit and Andi, plus all the other characters. It really allowed me to be immersed while reading. Can’t wait to read the next one!
November 10, 2025
Wow! Great characters in a beautiful, slow burn love story. I was cheering for Andi and Merit from the start. Lexa’s beautiful writing style portrays heartbreak, self-doubt, resilience, and loyalty with grit and tenderness. Can’t wait for Book 2 of the Mako Bay duet!
January 27, 2026
And I Love You is the kind of book that makes you feel everything. There were moments I was genuinely kicking my feet and smiling, and others where I had to pause to wipe away tears. It pulls you fully into the emotional world of its characters and stays with you long after you put it down.
What I loved most is that this isn’t a typical romance. The story between Merit and Andi explores the complexity of love - how past experiences shape us, how relationships can be both messy and tender, and how choosing someone isn’t always simple. The characters feel deeply human and that’s what makes their connection so compelling.
One of the most beautiful choices the author makes is never describing what the characters look like. Instead, the focus stays on who they are rather than their physical appearance, allowing the reader’s imagination to fill in the gaps. It’s an intentional and thoughtful decision that made me feel even more connected to the story.
I also found myself completely invested in the side characters, especially Amelia and Will. Their relationship and friendship dynamics added so much depth that I kept wanting to know more about their story beyond the pages.
This book is beautifully written and you can feel the care and love put into every line. I highlighted countless passages that made me think ‘this is the kind of love I hope to experience someday’. It captures not only romantic love, but also the importance of friendship and emotional connection in such a meaningful way.
I’m already highly anticipating what comes next. If this book is any indication, Lexa Bobenic has so much more to say - and I can’t wait to read it.
What I loved most is that this isn’t a typical romance. The story between Merit and Andi explores the complexity of love - how past experiences shape us, how relationships can be both messy and tender, and how choosing someone isn’t always simple. The characters feel deeply human and that’s what makes their connection so compelling.
One of the most beautiful choices the author makes is never describing what the characters look like. Instead, the focus stays on who they are rather than their physical appearance, allowing the reader’s imagination to fill in the gaps. It’s an intentional and thoughtful decision that made me feel even more connected to the story.
I also found myself completely invested in the side characters, especially Amelia and Will. Their relationship and friendship dynamics added so much depth that I kept wanting to know more about their story beyond the pages.
This book is beautifully written and you can feel the care and love put into every line. I highlighted countless passages that made me think ‘this is the kind of love I hope to experience someday’. It captures not only romantic love, but also the importance of friendship and emotional connection in such a meaningful way.
I’m already highly anticipating what comes next. If this book is any indication, Lexa Bobenic has so much more to say - and I can’t wait to read it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews