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I Never Got Over You
I’ll do anything to prove to her that I never got over her.
I’ll have to tell him everything.
Ten years ago, high school sweethearts, Jaylen Wright and Anaya Green were college students who had their whole lives ahead of them. Rocked by a horrible tragedy, their once young love is torn apart.
Fast forward to present, they meet again by chance, and old feelings spiral out of control. Memories of the past come racing back, bringing a decade’s worth of pain and love with them.
For Jaylen, it’s a sign. The only thing on his mind is how he’ll do anything to win her back. But for Anaya? As far as she’s concerned, some things are better left in the past. Digging too deep uncovers truths that were regrettably buried.
Haunted by the actions of his past, there’s not a stone Jaylen will leave unturned to prove to her he’s not that angry, lost boy she remembers. He’s ready to show her that his love never went anywhere.
After begging for forgiveness and vowing to show her different, Jaylen learns that between love and pain, some things can never be the same.
His feelings and love have always remained true. But through the fire, pain, and stormy days, is his love enough to see them through?
I’ll have to tell him everything.
Ten years ago, high school sweethearts, Jaylen Wright and Anaya Green were college students who had their whole lives ahead of them. Rocked by a horrible tragedy, their once young love is torn apart.
Fast forward to present, they meet again by chance, and old feelings spiral out of control. Memories of the past come racing back, bringing a decade’s worth of pain and love with them.
For Jaylen, it’s a sign. The only thing on his mind is how he’ll do anything to win her back. But for Anaya? As far as she’s concerned, some things are better left in the past. Digging too deep uncovers truths that were regrettably buried.
Haunted by the actions of his past, there’s not a stone Jaylen will leave unturned to prove to her he’s not that angry, lost boy she remembers. He’s ready to show her that his love never went anywhere.
After begging for forgiveness and vowing to show her different, Jaylen learns that between love and pain, some things can never be the same.
His feelings and love have always remained true. But through the fire, pain, and stormy days, is his love enough to see them through?
420 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2025
107 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 29, 2025
The author is New to Me...The story was aggravating and also good. Women need to stand on their beliefs and not cave so quickly for their forever love. At least make him fight harder for the second chance.
October 15, 2025
Star level: 4 stars Spice level: 1/5 🌶️
Trope: second chance romance, high school sweethearts, forgiveness, groveling, learning to trust again, yearning, black love
Trigger warnings: mention on suicide and miscarriage
Fav quotes: “Don’t you ever question yourself either. It’s hard to heal from something when the person who hurt you never acknowledged the pain that they caused, intentional or not. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been. Time is not an apology.”
“Above all else, I thought you were my friend.” “I was your friend.” His eyes soften. I laugh as I cover my face with my hands. “It’s taking everything in me not to cuss you out right now.” He leans in close. “Cuss me out. If that’s the only way I can help make you feel better right now, do it.” I shake my head, frowning my face up in disgust. “You wouldn’t know a fucking friend if it hit you in the face.”
“Is there ever a good reason to hurt the one you love?”
““I know,” I whisper, remorse thick in my voice. “You made me question myself. You made me feel like I was the one who messed up. You made me feel like I was…like we were n-nothing. You know what hurts the most?” She waits for me to answer, and I shake my head no. “What hurts the most is I never even figured out what I did wrong. I was left to heal a heart that I didn’t even break.”
“Happy Mother’s Day to the mother of my child, I chose the flowers in this bouquet because I wanted them to mean something. Forget-me-nots represent the remembrance of a child lost to miscarriage or stillbirth. We’ll never forget Jayla. Pink carnations represent gratitude and love – a mother’s love. That’s you. I’ll always be grateful that you used your body to carry our baby, even if it was only for a short while. White carnations represent purity and innocence. She was pure, and she was innocent. She was the product of the pure love we made and shared. Anaya, I celebrate you today and every day. May our angel baby, Jayla, who was too good for this world, rest in heavenly peace. Forever yours, Jaylen”
About the book: Even though this book started off really slow it was really good! I love the fact she made him work to not only win her heart back but also trust. The book is about Anaya and Jaylen who were once high school sweethearts destined to get married until a tragedy happens in Jaylen family and everything changed. Instead of leaning on Anaya for comfort he pushed her away not knowing she was also dealing with something life changing she ended up moving away and for 10 years they didn’t communicate with each other not a peep. Then one day Anya comes back home and starts a business with her bestfriend. What happen when she bumps into him while at the grocery store and he basically confesses that he wants her back and is still in love with her she shut him down right there. From that moment on he did everything to prove to her that he was wrong and has grown up and she can give him another chance. For the longest she wasn’t going for it no matter how much her body wanted him her brain and heart could not forget the hurt. The way this man groveled was lovely more stories need to take notes on groveling like this. And once they had their heart to heart and everything come out they were able to come to an understanding. But Anaya being herself could not let go of that old feeling and tried to handle a secert on her own until I came out to bite her in the butt. But they worked it out and I really loved this story.
Trope: second chance romance, high school sweethearts, forgiveness, groveling, learning to trust again, yearning, black love
Trigger warnings: mention on suicide and miscarriage
Fav quotes: “Don’t you ever question yourself either. It’s hard to heal from something when the person who hurt you never acknowledged the pain that they caused, intentional or not. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been. Time is not an apology.”
“Above all else, I thought you were my friend.” “I was your friend.” His eyes soften. I laugh as I cover my face with my hands. “It’s taking everything in me not to cuss you out right now.” He leans in close. “Cuss me out. If that’s the only way I can help make you feel better right now, do it.” I shake my head, frowning my face up in disgust. “You wouldn’t know a fucking friend if it hit you in the face.”
“Is there ever a good reason to hurt the one you love?”
““I know,” I whisper, remorse thick in my voice. “You made me question myself. You made me feel like I was the one who messed up. You made me feel like I was…like we were n-nothing. You know what hurts the most?” She waits for me to answer, and I shake my head no. “What hurts the most is I never even figured out what I did wrong. I was left to heal a heart that I didn’t even break.”
“Happy Mother’s Day to the mother of my child, I chose the flowers in this bouquet because I wanted them to mean something. Forget-me-nots represent the remembrance of a child lost to miscarriage or stillbirth. We’ll never forget Jayla. Pink carnations represent gratitude and love – a mother’s love. That’s you. I’ll always be grateful that you used your body to carry our baby, even if it was only for a short while. White carnations represent purity and innocence. She was pure, and she was innocent. She was the product of the pure love we made and shared. Anaya, I celebrate you today and every day. May our angel baby, Jayla, who was too good for this world, rest in heavenly peace. Forever yours, Jaylen”
About the book: Even though this book started off really slow it was really good! I love the fact she made him work to not only win her heart back but also trust. The book is about Anaya and Jaylen who were once high school sweethearts destined to get married until a tragedy happens in Jaylen family and everything changed. Instead of leaning on Anaya for comfort he pushed her away not knowing she was also dealing with something life changing she ended up moving away and for 10 years they didn’t communicate with each other not a peep. Then one day Anya comes back home and starts a business with her bestfriend. What happen when she bumps into him while at the grocery store and he basically confesses that he wants her back and is still in love with her she shut him down right there. From that moment on he did everything to prove to her that he was wrong and has grown up and she can give him another chance. For the longest she wasn’t going for it no matter how much her body wanted him her brain and heart could not forget the hurt. The way this man groveled was lovely more stories need to take notes on groveling like this. And once they had their heart to heart and everything come out they were able to come to an understanding. But Anaya being herself could not let go of that old feeling and tried to handle a secert on her own until I came out to bite her in the butt. But they worked it out and I really loved this story.
October 25, 2025
Anaya and Jaylen
This was my first read by this author, and wow what a beautiful story. Jaylen and Anaya were the absolute sweetest. Reuniting ten years after their college breakup, both carried heavy emotional scars Jaylen battling anger and grief after losing his brother to suicide, and Anaya suffering through a miscarriage in silence. The way they rebuilt each other and spoke life into one another was powerful. Jaylen was a man through and through he took accountability, apologized, and proved his remorse through his actions. Now, I’ll be honest, toward the end Anaya started to get on my nerves a bit, but I appreciated how their friends, Malachi and Trinity, kept them grounded. They were honest and held everyone accountable, right or wrong. This story was raw, emotional, and beautifully written. I’m definitely looking forward to book two to see Trinity and Malachi’s story unfold.
This was my first read by this author, and wow what a beautiful story. Jaylen and Anaya were the absolute sweetest. Reuniting ten years after their college breakup, both carried heavy emotional scars Jaylen battling anger and grief after losing his brother to suicide, and Anaya suffering through a miscarriage in silence. The way they rebuilt each other and spoke life into one another was powerful. Jaylen was a man through and through he took accountability, apologized, and proved his remorse through his actions. Now, I’ll be honest, toward the end Anaya started to get on my nerves a bit, but I appreciated how their friends, Malachi and Trinity, kept them grounded. They were honest and held everyone accountable, right or wrong. This story was raw, emotional, and beautifully written. I’m definitely looking forward to book two to see Trinity and Malachi’s story unfold.
October 22, 2025
Nice slow burn
This was a nice slow burn.. I enjoyed the book, however at times, I got lost and didn’t feel as connected to the readings.. this was a second chance story.. Anaya and Jaylen were together in high school and some of college until tragedy hit.. Jaylen’s brother Brent committed suicide and he didn’t handle his pain and grief appropriately.. and ended things with Anaya.. she moves to LA to start fresh.. 10yrs later, she’s back home in Houston and bumps into Jaylen at the grocery store.. feelings were still present, but also unresolved hurtful feelings.. a slow burn to work at trust and build from there.. we also see the beginnings of a possible relationship between Trinity and Malachi.. who are both best friends to Anaya and Jaylen
This was a nice slow burn.. I enjoyed the book, however at times, I got lost and didn’t feel as connected to the readings.. this was a second chance story.. Anaya and Jaylen were together in high school and some of college until tragedy hit.. Jaylen’s brother Brent committed suicide and he didn’t handle his pain and grief appropriately.. and ended things with Anaya.. she moves to LA to start fresh.. 10yrs later, she’s back home in Houston and bumps into Jaylen at the grocery store.. feelings were still present, but also unresolved hurtful feelings.. a slow burn to work at trust and build from there.. we also see the beginnings of a possible relationship between Trinity and Malachi.. who are both best friends to Anaya and Jaylen
October 26, 2025
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
A phenomenal debut book. There was everything you ask for in a novel. A second chance at love, grief (that gets healed), true friendship, and undeniable bonds. Jaylen made a huge mistake during an extremely tough time in his life and he made a promise to fix it whenever the opportunity arose.
Anaya was broken hearted for good reason and 10 years later she decides to come back to leave her dreams out with her best friend. She bumps into Jaylen and all the hurt and pains comes tumbling back. But that man didn’t give up. Such a beautifully book!
A phenomenal debut book. There was everything you ask for in a novel. A second chance at love, grief (that gets healed), true friendship, and undeniable bonds. Jaylen made a huge mistake during an extremely tough time in his life and he made a promise to fix it whenever the opportunity arose.
Anaya was broken hearted for good reason and 10 years later she decides to come back to leave her dreams out with her best friend. She bumps into Jaylen and all the hurt and pains comes tumbling back. But that man didn’t give up. Such a beautifully book!
October 27, 2025
Finding our way home
Ellis pens a beautiful journey to home in the likeness of Anaya and Jaylen. She skillfully captures raw human emotions and allows the reader to journey with Anaya and Jaylen as they mature separately so that they can reunite. This book reminds us that the fairytale has to be actualized individually then collectively, and that healing is just as much a communal process as it is a personal responsibility. I cannot wait to read more. May Jaena Ellis’ pen be mighty and long lasting.
Ellis pens a beautiful journey to home in the likeness of Anaya and Jaylen. She skillfully captures raw human emotions and allows the reader to journey with Anaya and Jaylen as they mature separately so that they can reunite. This book reminds us that the fairytale has to be actualized individually then collectively, and that healing is just as much a communal process as it is a personal responsibility. I cannot wait to read more. May Jaena Ellis’ pen be mighty and long lasting.
October 14, 2025
This low review isn't a reflection of the author. It was well-written and engaging. I'm just realising this genre is extremely boring to me. I like a bit of action, suspense, etc. I can't stand a sickeningly sweet predictable romance🤢. I struggled to get to the end and wanted to DNF at many points but like I said it's well-written so I wanted to keep reading. But was disappointed when I realised it was the typical HEA. Don't let my review put you off. It's a good read just not for me 🤷🏾♀️
October 16, 2025
i literally didn’t know what to expect going into this but i loved it. so well written! there were parts where they had my chest hurtinggggg. i got attached and i wanted to see them happy. also love the split playlists at the beginning i think it was my first time seeing it done like that. i can’t wait for the second book!
October 17, 2025
Started off extremely strong and promising but fizzled out about halfway through. After the reconciliation the subplot wasn’t as intriguing and the 3rd act miscommunication had me side eyeing the FMC.
Malachi and Trinity were two bright spots throughout the story. I love when there’s characters that keep it real with the MMC/FMC and they were not afraid to call them out on their bullsh*t
Malachi and Trinity were two bright spots throughout the story. I love when there’s characters that keep it real with the MMC/FMC and they were not afraid to call them out on their bullsh*t
September 14, 2025
New To Me Author
Loved the storyline as I love second chance romances. I also don’t mind reading a 400+ page book. However, I would have loved for more of the HEA at the end of the book.
Loved the storyline as I love second chance romances. I also don’t mind reading a 400+ page book. However, I would have loved for more of the HEA at the end of the book.
October 11, 2025
A second chance romance based in my city (HTX)...yes ma'am! 👏👏 Jaylen & Anaya love story was complicated and beautiful. I definitely became misty eyed a few times while reading because they were dealing with some real life stuff! I'm exciting for what's to come in the series.
October 21, 2025
PERFECT ROMANCE .
Love how the two lovers found their way back into each other lives , shows how grief can be handled in different ways from different people . Definitely a 10000/10 . Cant wait for part 2 .
Love how the two lovers found their way back into each other lives , shows how grief can be handled in different ways from different people . Definitely a 10000/10 . Cant wait for part 2 .
November 22, 2025
Slow burn alert! I loved this book. The pace was perfect to me as a slow burn enthusiast. Jaylen worked for his second chance and earned it! Learning how they fell apart was heartbreaking, but seeing them come back together was heartwarming. This is a fantastic debut novel!
November 30, 2025
This book is AMAZING! Anticipation of what was to come kept my attention. I laughed and I cried throughout this book. I experienced a range of emotions. I can hands down say this is the most relatable and realistic book I have ever read. I can’t wait to read more books from this author.
September 21, 2025
Great read!!
I really enjoyed this book. I love a good second chance romance. This book was written beautifully. I can’t wait to read book 2.
I really enjoyed this book. I love a good second chance romance. This book was written beautifully. I can’t wait to read book 2.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews