In Every Possible Way

by Alicia Thompson

One woman’s luck changes in an instant when she hits her head and wakes up in Ireland, in this whimsical, whirlwind romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.

After yet another disastrous date where Jess is too awkward, too earnest, too whatever, she’s ready to put her romantic daydreams aside. Other than an enchanting Irish accent, her latest date is no prince charming. Then the night goes from bad to worse when she’s mugged in the parking lot and hits her head. Hard.

Hard enough that when Jess wakes up, she’s in Ireland.

The first person she meets is Eamonn, a quiet, gruff mechanic. Since Jess is stranded with no passport, cell phone, or way to get home, Eamonn becomes her reluctant knight in shining armor.

Over the next forty-eight hours, they meander through the cobblestone streets of Dublin and explore the Irish countryside, sharing their deepest fears, quiet hopes, and softest aches. It’s a connection that is as electrifying as it is terrifying, because what if Jess falls asleep and Eamonn vanishes like a dream? But a love like this—touched by magic and a little bit of luck—is never quite as it seems.

Genres: Romance, Magical Realism, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Ireland, Adult, Magic

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

Alicia Thompson is a writer, reader, and Paramore superfan. As a teen, she appeared in an episode of 48 Hours in the audience of a local murder trial, where she broke the fourth wall by looking directly into the camera. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.

Annotations:

Also currently under consideration for other superfan distinctions, including but not limited to: Juliet, Naked (the movie), Phoebe Bridgers, Crash Bandicoot, Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Tegan and Sara, the audiobook for Sophie Kinsella’s I’ve Got Your Number, and taking really long naps

Does this sound creepy? You should’ve seen my face. It was really creepy.

Yes, I’ve seen an alligator in a neighborhood retention pond.
https://www.aliciathompsonbooks.com/

Reviews

[ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you netgalley for providing this arc!!

oh this was so, so sweet. i absolutely adored the magical realism side to this story (as an avid ashley poston fan), and the romance was absolutely adorable. it was definitely cheesy and silly in places but i feel like that added to its charm. this was super quick to read and gorgeously paced, and the atmosphere of a cold, rainy ireland was perfect. loved this!!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh he has a whole collection of silvia moreno-garcia books? i’m proposing hand in marriage (and not just for the irish citizenship)

hottest thing a man can be: whatever eamonn has going on fr

manifested so hard on a date in which you said “i wish i was on a date with your brother” in jest because it was just so terrible, that you woke up on front of his apartment in ireland

for the real rom com enjoyers

thank you to edelweiss for providing the advance review copy. full review to come

Bookstagram | Blog

[cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I love you,” he said. “All the way, in every possible way.”

This ended up being a completely different reading experience than I expected—softer, stranger, and way more dreamlike. Magical realism isn’t usually my thing at all, but this one did it so well that I barely questioned it; it just felt so hazy and intimate.🫶🏼🫶🏼😌

Jess brought this nervous, rambling, overly earnest energy that made everything feel more real. She asks the questions you’d actually ask & reacts the way a normal person would. There’s something endearing about how unpolished she is.

Eamonn, however, almost single-handedly kept me emotionally invested. 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ The way he kept coming back to Jess, noticing tiny things about her, caring even when he didn’t really know why… it was oddly tender.

“But I saw those flowers in your hair, and I wanted … I don’t know, I wanted. Your hair looked so soft, and I wanted to know what it would feel like. I wanted to help you, to make something better for you, even if in a small way.”

THISSSS. It was such a small confession but somehow one of the most intimate ones. It made all Eamonn’s actions before that click into place. He wasn’t just helping her out of obligation, he was already emotionally in too deep.

And when the romance actually hit, it HIT. After going through the slow burn of the getting to know each other, it wasn’t too loud or flashy. More like soft and aching and a little desperate.

“He kissed me like I was the dream he didn’t want to wake up from.”

Every moment felt so fragile, almost sad, because you could feel how temporary everything was. 😭

Unfortunately, somewhere in the middle, the pacing MAJORLY started to drag for me. I understood why those slower moments were there—to build the connection—but I could feel myself drifting instead of being completely immersed.

Jess and Eamonn’s connection is the kind that makes you hold your breath, wondering if it’s real or just a moment suspended in time… and honestly, I can’t tell you if it all works out. I guess you’ll just have to read it to find out. 🫣🫠

Overall, this was tender, dreamy, and quietly swoony. Even when the pacing slowed, the soft longing and the way Eamonn cared stuck with me. It’s the kind of story that leaves a faint, wistful feeling, like waking from a really nice dream.😴🩷💜

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

things to know about the book ↓

✨ slow burn romance
✨ magical realism
✨ life-changing encounter
✨ strangers → lovers
✨ single pov (hers)

spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes

Thank you Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Alicia Thompson for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.

⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read

Love me some Alicia Thompson!! Never Been Shipped was a top read for me last year so I’m looking forward to this one!!

[Erica Hilts · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review- preview received from Netgalley (ty!)

The magic of birthday wishes really comes alive in this book! Itwas everything I hoped for from her and more. I laughed out loud so many times, mostly because of how relatable the main character’s inner conflicts were—messy, funny, and completely human. This is a sweet, slow-burn romance that I’d absolutely recommend. It’s the kind of story you want to sink into and stay with for a while!

I really loved the music references sprinkled throughout the story as well as the poetry and books. Even the song of Molly Malone had me smiling! One of my favorite parts was how vividly Dublin was brought to life—I felt like I was walking the streets right alongside the characters, so shoutout for the immersive setting and the free tour ;)

“It’s hard to feel jaded when the daffodils are out.”

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alicia Thompson likes to take risks with her writing and I'm here for it. This is an unconventional magical contemporary romance. I went into this expecting Before Sunrise but in Ireland...and it is, to a large degree. But it's also not because Jess is mugged after a bad date where she lives in Florida and when she comes to, she's somehow been transported to Dublin. She doesn't seem to be dreaming but she doesn't have an explanation for her whereabouts either.

Luckily for her, she runs into Eamonn, a gruff mechanic with a heart of gold, who can't help but make sure she's okay after their initial encounter. Thus ensues a ramble around Dublin during St. Patrick's Day weekend. Ireland is my favorite country so this quite the various treat for me. I adored watching them get to know each other better whether they were popping into a bookstore or visiting Eamonn's childhood home.

At the same time, I was worried about the pacing and how this could have a satisfying HEA. If they're together but she's really in a coma, then is she imagining all this? How will she find Eamonn again once she wakes up? If he doesn't know her then, are they going to have to fall in love all over again?!

She comes out of coma at 86%. She's heartbroken to have been separated from Eamonn but also questioning her reality and doesn't know how to find him or what she'd do if he doesn't know who she is. I found this resolution to ultimately be satisfying–it was magic!—but they reconnect so close to the end that I felt robbed. I needed to see them together for longer now that she's not grievously ill and magically transported. The epilogue helped but I needed more before that point. Or maybe I just desperately want a non-magical version of Before Sunrise in Ireland. Two things can be true!

In any case, Jess and Eamonn are well-suited for one another and all's well that ends well.


Characters: Jess is a 37 year old white American law firm receptionist and artist. Eamonn is a 29 year old white Irish mechanic and vegetarian. This is set in Florida and Dublin, Ireland.

Content notes: panic attack, MC in coma, tourists grope statue of Molly Malone, mugging, physical assault, past incarceration (car theft and arson), minor skin burn, past abortion, sexism, diet culture, past death of MMC's mother, past parental divorce (MMC's father was alcoholic), past shoplifting, unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussion of STI or pregnancy prevention; MMC says he'll pull out), on page sex, boss-employee role play, restraint, edging, alcohol, past recreational drug use, gendered pejoratives, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction

Disclosure: I received a free advanced copy from Berkley.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Straight off the bat I have never read a more accurate representation of going on a first date with an Irish man than in the first chapter of this book. Insane and diabolical. It had me nodding away 🙂‍↕️

Also I think it’s extremely obvious that Alicia did some great research when it came to geography and history. She has an amazing way of being accurate but bringing fun and colour onto the pages. I really appreciated this as an Irish person because more often than not the representation leaves more to be desired. I also think she did a really great job at not making us into stereotypes or upping the irishness and accents to fit the book. There also some gaeilge thrown in which is always appreciated.

The romance. First of all I want to say that I absolutely love that the fmc was 8 years older than the mmc. It was a breath of fresh air and all too often we see an fmc in her early 20’s with an older man and never the opposite (even though the age gap isn’t even that massive). While I do think Jess and Eamonn had chemistry I think the timeframe for these two just didn’t work for me. I know there would have had to be time constraints because of the fact she was literally in a coma in America but I think I was nearly too aware of that fact and things moved too quickly. Instead of progressing the romance, at times it felt like we were going through a tour of Dublin I think we could have been doing without half of the tourist attractions and more time spend building tension and the bond between the two.

The characters. I really enjoyed Jess. Despite everything that happened to her she kinda took everything in her stride. I like how open she was even during her failed first date at the start and how she kept her personality and slowly opened up to Eamonn throughout the day.
Eamonn. I won’t lie I still feel like I don’t know much about him and I think it’s just down to not having dual pov (which I don’t think works all of them time but I do think it could have been utilised here). We never get to see what he’s his thoughts on the whole speculative element were, which brings me to why I didn’t fully enjoyed this book…

I’m not a massive speculative/magical realism element reader so I do think that’s why I maybe didn’t gel with this too much which is 100% on me but I thought we might have gotten a bigger declaration from Eamonn and what it meant to him at the end. I did pick this up because I wanted to try out the sub genre, I’m not sure I totally bought it with this book but I know a lot of readers who love that element will adore this.

The sex. I think the explicitness was fine, I do think there was some randomness of where it was placed though the last sex scene was probably my favourite as it felt like narratively it fit where both characters seemed to be at. It wasn’t gratuitous or cringe!

All in all a great book, I know a lot of readers will love this even if it didn’t 100% work for me. I’ll continue picking up Alicia’s book in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for sending me the arc. All opinions are my own.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️
This story grabbed my attention immediately and from the first chapter I knew that we were in for something special. In Every Possible Way delivered a fun, emotional, and deeply profound story about love and the ordinary lives we all tend to live.
Our FMC, Jess, finds herself alone in the unfamiliar land of Ireland with no knowledge of how she ended up there after an unfortunate birthday accident. Convinced she is in some kind of coma induced dream, she explores the sights and sounds of the city with our MMC, Eamonn. Their connection is immediate and neither of them can fathom just how much they care about one another in such a short amount of time. It has to be some sort of magical fluke in the timeline. But the more time they spend together and learn about one another, it’s obvious something cosmically different is happening here. Eamonn is the sweetest, gentlest, and most kind MMC I’ve read in quite a while and he immediately feels like a safe space not only for Jess, but for the reader. He is also very different from the FMC in the way they see the world and how they approach it after dealing with their own hesitations and misfortunes. The growing love between the two of them is the easiest thing to believe in because of how strongly they started in friendship. It felt simple and natural, which lent itself beautifully to the entirety of the story. Plus their humor and silly dynamic was a breath of fresh air. I also really admire stories that center around an older FMC. I related to Jess so much as she explains how stuck she felt in her life after having to take alternate routes in her career and future. The author makes you feel like no matter where you are in your personal journey, you could also find yourself in the same unexpected love story and happy ending as Jess and Eamonn.
In the end, I took away so many good things from this book. It teaches you that life is not linear, and it's big and grand and nothing should be taken for granted. Our FMC & MMC find their bigger purposes in life and learn to embrace everything they have been given to the fullest in a conclusion that had me in tears. The magical realism, the humor, the tension, the adventure, and the pure love in this book really made me enjoy it so much and I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on it!

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

☘️ I was “lucky” to have the chance to ARC read one of my favorite author’s new books.

☘️A poor dating history, an unexpected weekend in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day, doing the things that make you happy, human connection, stories about fairies, and lost and found love. Yep, this story is right up my alley.

☘️This book made me want to plan a visit to Ireland. It felt like I was whisked away and now I wanna go! The use of poems, books, and familiar songs (from one of my favorite bands from the 90’s), makes the story feel like it has extra layers and care to detail.

☘️ Thompson’s ability to bring characters to life is my favorite ring another her writing. These characters are flawed and feel very real.

☘️ I highly recommend this book when it comes out. In fact, every book Alicia Thompson has published so far has been a highly enjoyable read for me. She has become quite the automatic read for me.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was SO CUTE! The beginning tripped me up a bit bc it starts with her saying something cringe but it quickly became a book I devoured!!!

I am so obsessed with Eamonn. I loved the premise of this! I want to live inside of this book. Alicia hit this out of the park.

The moral of the story is never let anyone gaslight you no matter how insane you sound

[LauraxChristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC REVIEW**
Thank you Alicia Thompson, Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

It's so hard to do a review without quoting when the book is this good!
There are so many scenes that were described beautifully with the perfect dialog to match.

This whole book from Jess' bad date to Eamonn's flawless epilogue captured my heart and held onto it. The build up of their evolving relationship from strangers to lovers was the kind of angst I always look forward to in a romance book. Eamonn was *chefs kiss* troubled youth and all
The Molly Malone scene, I wish I could live in this book! The little places he showed her. The man is a dang treasure and Jess is more than worthy of him.

I dont have a single critique on this book and immediately recommended it to my best friend. I cannot wait to buy this for my shelf. The cover is GORGEOUS and after finishing the book it makes it even better (there's a connection). I feel like I fell in love in this book right alongside Eamonn and Jess. Perfection. Absolute beautiful love story perfection.

And now I need to go to Ireland.

[Annie K · Rating 5 out of 5]

After experiencing the worst date of her life, Jess gets mugged on the way to her car. She wakes up in Ireland with an oddly familiar man named Eamonn, and after a failed trip to the embassy, he shows her around the country. Sparks fly… but it’s just a dream, right?

This book is utterly whimsical, and I’m obsessed. Fairies, folklore, poetry, and a hot Irish man? Sign me up! I thought based on the synopsis it would be a little more lighthearted, but I didn’t mind the depth. Jess and Eamonn bare their souls to one another within the first 48 hours of meeting, which I thoroughly enjoyed, though it touches on some heavy topics like grief, family tension, and loneliness.

The setting was delightful, and I loved the “local shows tourist around” vibe — it gave a rich exploration of Ireland through Jess’s eyes. And the romance… chef’s kiss. Eamonn is the sweetest, most tender man ever, with the coziest sweaters. The chemistry and slow burn? Absolutely to die for. There’s a bit of miscommunication early on (I’m a stickler for that), but it’s handled so well and feels very realistic.

This book is perfect for readers who love magical realism and aren’t afraid of a little depth! I’m so glad this was my first read of the year — utterly charming and completely immersive.

As always, I was thrilled to receive a Berkley title. Thank you, Berkley Romance and NetGalley, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[A.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m pretty sure it’s in Alicia’s DNA that she can only write bangers. This one is for those of us who still believe that it’ll happen.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alicia Thompson has become an auto buy author for me. Even better to get to read this one early, I will absolutely be buying it as well. It was so delightful.

Magical realism, Ireland, books and folklore. A hero who is obsessed with dogs? What more do you need?

Jess and Eamonn are so freaking cute. I love how they help each other grow. I love their adventure.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC and thank you to Alicia Thompson for writing the best things, I even look forward to reading her newsletter every time it’s in my inbox.

P.S. They are 29 and 37! My favorite.

[Erica Resenbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a giveaway (my second win), although I was going to read it anyways. I was very surprised that it showed up months before release as my first giveaway win arrived the day before publication.

I really enjoyed this story. There is obviously an element of magical realism and if that's not your thing, then you should consider giving this one a skip. Given that the main character believes that she's in a coma/dreaming, the relationship with the MMC feels a little rushed/insta-love. Who would waste their dream developing a relationship with the hot, Irish guy? No, they have an instant connection and go on an adventure that feels like it takes longer than the two days it took. I would have been so tired, even in my dreams.

If you like Ireland or Irish history, there's a lot there for you, as they go on their tour of the island. It added a layer to the plot and gave the FMC a chance to experience life outside of where she'd lived her entire life. It's a testament to the idea that you can start doing something you want or enjoy at any age. Jess is thirty-seven, which my mind immediately thought was "too old" and then I caught myself. She's not that much older than me and I don't consider myself old. That's society for you, convincing women that once you reach thirty, you're useless.

After waking up from her coma, Jess decides to take her life into her own hands. She quits the job she doesn't like and isn't appreciated at. She decides to take up painting. She's living her life on her own terms, which we all should. Then Eamonn reappears--he remembers her too and somehow it wasn't all a coma dream.

I loved that aspect of the book, that just because it was a dream doesn't mean it wasn't real.

Eamonn isn't your normal contemporary romance MMC, which I feel like Alicia Thompson excels at. Her MMCs aren't cookie cutter or carbon copies of a guy you've read about a bunch of times. They're real and different. Eamonn has a criminal past that he's served his time for but still faces discrimination from people for. It's something I rarely read about in contemporary and it was something fresh.

Thank you Berkeley for sending me and ARC and allowing me a chance to read this before it releases in June!

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the gifted ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up. This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me and I struggled a little getting through the first half. It’s very slow burn, and for me it felt really slow in that first 50–55%. The mystery element also didn’t feel super present or explored in a way that kept me hooked.

The romance is definitely a slow burn, but almost to an extreme. There was basically nothing happening for most of the book, and then once it finally did start… it moved fast. Especially considering the entire story takes place over about 48 hours, which made the pacing of the relationship feel even more intense once it kicked in.

I did like the setting and the overall idea though. The Ireland backdrop was really nicely done and gave it that dreamy, slightly magical feel, which worked well with the story’s vibe. There were times where it felt like I was getting more Irish history than a romance book though.

Jess and Eamonn had moments where I could see the connection, especially once things finally started moving, but I wanted a bit more buildup to really feel invested in them. And then the ending felt pretty rushed after everything built up so slowly, which made it feel a bit unbalanced overall. I just think the concept was stronger than the execution for me.

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m happy to report I have a new all time favorite from Alicia Thompson it’s this book right here!!! And I’m going to be totally honest I’m shocked by that. Because I thought nothing could top her book The Art of Catching Feelings. But In Every Possible Way quite literally said hold my beer.

First, I want to say to anyone reading this review go into this book blind. Don’t read the description just literally jump in. For some unbeknownst reason I did that exact thing with this and I went on such a devastating beautiful journey filled with magic, love and self discovery. You 100% will not regret it. The book will captivate you from the very first page and keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end. Which is still wild to me to say about a romance novel. But trust me it works.

Jess and Eamonn story is genuine and real. Their connection and tension is electric. And their story ultimately was what I was searching for and what I’ve been missing in the romance genre lately.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough. And I can’t wait for Alicia to do her signing in Orlando later this year so I can buy myself a trophy copy! Big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Cara Niehoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is 100% going in my top books of 2026!!

Jess is mugged after a bad first date and wakes up in Ireland without any personal belongings. There she meets Eamonn and has a whirlwind 48 hours in Ireland.

I adored both Jess and Eamonn from the first moment they met! Eammon is such a good guy and is determined to help Jess find her way home, even without knowing the full story of how she got there. Their chemistry is so dang good and the romance development was perfectly paced! Their steamy scenes were also top tier (especially the car scene!!) and totally had me blushing.

Every bit of culture and history in the story was well written and had me fully immersed. Any book that has me learning more about another place makes me so happy! I also loved some of the pop culture references from the Cranberries to Leap Year, and related to Jess’s appreciation for them.

I already can’t wait to reread this book and cannot recommend it enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[anovelaccount (Kayla) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debating between 3.5-4 ⭐️

Honestly I’m a little upset this wasn’t a 5 star read for me because truly the bones are there. Emotionally, I loved a lot about this book. Logistically, the pacing was very off. The middle just completely dragged and while the characters are talking, there isn’t much romantic tension imo. And I was desperate for there to be because there is obvious chemistry. Then at the end there’s a big uptick in spice, which was well written and had a place in the story…I just wished their Dublin tour had been less about Irish history and more focused on the characters’ emotional connection.

That said, I did really like this book; I will absolutely never not read about an Irish MMC if given the opportunity.

[Ashley Zimpel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
Jess has just ended a really bad date with an Irishman, and is contemplating giving up on men altogether, when she is mugged and wakes up in Ireland. Eamonn takes Jess around town to try to help her, and it quickly becomes more than just a tour around Ireland. Their journey may be ~magic~ but it isn’t fake!

I enjoyed Jess being an older FMC. The spice hit well, reverse age gap was fun, and the slow burn (sort of, it’s only 2 days) did its thing. Ireland is on my bucket list so I enjoyed getting a slight peek into what it could be like. The magical realism was sort of new thing for me to read and was whimsy at times. The ending was sweet but I wish we had more time with them together in “real life”. This was my first read for Alicia, and after meeting her and hearing about this book on the LoveLit Cruise earlier this year I knew I wanted to check it out!

Thank you to Berkeley Romance, Alicia Thompson, and NetGalley for the early copy!

Releases June 23rd!

[Liralen]

4 stars; review to come June 2026

[Elysse Applebaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read the description I was like, how does that work, how does she just end up in Ireland?? But she does, it does work! This was such a dreamy read infused with Irish folklore, Before Sunrise vibes, and a super sweet love story between two people dealing with like, real-people problems and regrets. There’s a lovely hopefulness to this story… and a lovely setting, too. You’ll walk away wanting to fit the word “grand” into your vocabulary. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for making this available to read early!

[Jen's Bookbag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my heart! I loved this so much! I haven’t read Alicia Jacobs before but I’m a fan after reading this book and I will definitely read more from her.

What a beautiful romance! I love the premise of the story – a woman gets injured and is in a coma, falls in love with someone she’s never met in a country half-way around the world, and then wakes up from the coma with a perfect memory of a relationship that feels 100% real. When she wakes up everyone is quick to discount her feelings of sadness and loss, saying that it was all a delusion and that to soothe her while she was healing it was likely that her mind just conjured up the kind of relationship she’d been desperately wanting. That all makes sense, but she feels deep down that it was real. After she wakes up she sees the love bite he left on her skin and the tie to her dress is missing. Of course these are things that can be explained away, yet she wants to believe they are proof that she wasn’t imagining her time in Ireland with Eamonn.

I felt like everything in this novel worked, from how she met Eamonn to the time he spent showing her around Dublin and other places in Ireland to the slow burn. And when they actually sort themselves out and get together it’s worth the wait!

The description of the time they spent visiting his childhood home was gorgeous. Their stop at the seaside, their visits to sites in Dublin, and their visit to Yeats’ grave (oh, and him quoting that poem to her…*sigh*…) – they were all described so well that I felt like I was right there with them!

I think since I loved this so much I find myself wishing we could have gotten more of a glimpse into their lives after they finally got together. I also would like to know more about what he went through to find her. The way he ended up finding her seemed a little far-fetched. Plus I feel like there might have been some hurt feelings on his part at first since he didn't understand what she left. And I wanted to know more about Niall and how his relationship with Eamonn evolved. I just wanted more! But I guess that's a good thing -- better to be left wanting more than wish you'd had less. 😂 But maybe, nudge nudge, the author would make this into a series and give us books about Niall and Mari...?? 🙏

I think listening to this on audio would be amazing with his Irish accent! Dang it—now I want a comatose romance with a gorgeous Irishman that turns out to be real! (I don’t think my husband would like that so much, though. 😂) One way or another please read this book. It’s really just a lovely story. ❤️🍀❤️🍀

A huge thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is based on an advanced copy received from NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book was a perfectly crafted, character-driven book. The development occurs while visiting various beautiful places across Ireland. The characters were believable and relatable. I really enjoyed the Irish history and folklore sprinkled throughout the book, too.

Our story follows Jess, who is meeting up with Niall, a man she met on a dating app, for a first date on her birthday. The date doesn't go exactly as Jess would have hoped. Things get even worse when she's mugged after that date, and is knocked down so hard she ends up in a coma. But when Jess wakes up, she finds herself in Ireland. She finds herself outside the garage of Niall's younger brother, Eamonn. He helps her navigate Ireland while waiting for the embassy to open up after the weekend. Jess is trying to figure out if all of this is real or just a coma dream. The lines start to blur as the pair spend about 48 hours together exploring various places in Ireland and sharing the secrets of their hearts.

I found Jess to be a very relatable FMC. As a woman who is also in her 30's, I still get very sentimental about my own birthday and tend to romanticize the smaller things in my life. I appreciated the way she was able to view the world and not have any regrets. I do see how this can be seen as a bit on the childish side of things, but it was nice to see her be a little soft and find someone who appreciated the softness.

That leads us into the romance. I enjoyed the fun little twist about her landing with Niall's brother after they spoke about him during their dinner date. I appreciated that Niall was wrong about his brother, and Eamonn absolutely wanted to waste time with Jess. The slower pace of the book really allows our characters to speak and bond together. While the connection perhaps developed from a place of insta-love, it quickly became something softer and more pure. The chemistry and tension were felt on the page. I appreciated how Eamonn also grew as a character. The way they both opened up to each other as he showed her around Ireland was just perfectly executed in my opinion.

This story came at a good time for me, too, I think. I finished it on my actual birthday. What a treat this book was. I did not think magical Realism was something I liked, but it is quickly getting up there for me, as the books I've read with it this year have been fantastic.

Overall, if you are looking for a slower-paced, cozy romance read, this one is for you!

[Megan Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Plot
Jessica just went on just about the worst date she could imagine, and on her birthday of all days. At 37, it's become increasingly hard for her to see the bright side of things. Her career, dating, day to day life just all seems, boring? However on her way home from said date, she experiences an accident, leaving her in a coma, and entering a dream like reality where she is faced with just how much her life really does have to offer.

What worked
I genuinely could relate to Jessica's inner thoughts. After feeling like she has fallen short time and time again, and being disappointed by men for years and years, its hard to accept good things when they come your way. Also, the way she is experiencing these things is quite unbelievable, so I can really understand why she's having so much trouble accepting Eamonn and how good he actually is, without ill intentions.
Eamonn was amazing. I loved every single thing about him and his character. Due to some mistakes he made when he was young, he doesn't believe that he really deserves much good in his life, so when Jessica essentially falls into his life, he truly thinks it's all too good to be true for him. However, he is relentless is his pursuit of her and the pull that they both feel towards one another, cannot be ignored. Their quick, whirlwind romance was truly pure, hot, and adorable, all at the same time

What didn't work for me personally
I truly did love the magical journey that Jessica and Eamonn were on throughout this book. It was obvious that they both needed one another in order to realize what they were missing in their lives and what they deserves. There were just things throughout the story that threw me off a little and took away from the overall feeling of the book.
The way that Jess found the receipt in Eamonn's jacket for flea shampoo and how that somehow lead to him just wanting a dog ? That whole idea was so strange to me. I know it was such a small part of the story, but I think that opportunity could have been used for so much more.
Also, my biggest "gripe" with this story was the ending. From when she woke up to when and how the book ended just seemed soooooo rushed and unfulfilling to all the time they spent falling in love with one another over the 48 hours they were together while Jess was in her coma. They did get their happy ending, but I just wanted more.

For me, a 3 star book is still a GOOD book, and I know there is an audience out there for this book. If you loved books like Seven Year Slip, then I know you will truly enjoy this book as well!

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

I made the mistake of starting this hours after I should've gone to bed, thinking it'd take me a few chapters to really get into it anyway but was immediately gripped by the first page and kept reading until I physically could not.

In many ways, In Every Possible Way was a surprise. I'd downloaded it on a whim when it was "Read Now" on Netgalley and promptly forgot about it. I love contemporary romance, but because I have trust issues and because 2026 has been a rough reading year, I didn't have high hopes when I started reading. Alicia Thompson has such a distinct voice that pulled me in from the opening line and had me in a chokehold until my body gave up and forced me to stop reading.

In Every Way Possible is the kind of romcom that could easily become someone's comfort movie; it has heart and humor and a love interest with an accent. I could practically see the movie version play out in my mind while I was reading it--the rolling green hills, the rain-soaked cathedral, the lively pub, and the cozy bookshelves in Eamonn's shop, his house, the bookstore. It was the perfect palate cleanser for my recent disappointing reads and the spark I needed to cure my writer's block, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

But I didn't love it as much as I thought I would, which is weird because there was so much to love--the tropes, the travel, and the small, tender moments. I loved the protective girl's girls Jess meets at the bar. I loved the elderly couple living in Eamonn's childhood home. I loved the sharp dialogue and the witty banter. I loved the story, conceptually. I'll read magical realism, but it's not my favorite. But I honestly think In Every Possible Way might be my favorite use of the subgenre. I thought the way Alicia Thompson wove the magical elements in was so well done, and the story felt grounded despite the fantastical element of, well, magically landing in Ireland. (I felt like I had to suspend more disbelief during the sex scenes than I did with the travel.)

Which brings me to the one issue I did have with the story: the pacing. I'll all for increasing attention spans and fighting back against the instant gratification brought on by short-form content and social media, but I do feel like the story stagnated in some places. I didn't mind it initially and thought a cozy, leisurely tone might be the perfect fit for a forty-eight-hour romance set in Ireland, but the actual romance didn't feel developed enough for me. I get it. Two strangers falling in love in short amount of time requires some suspension of disbelief. Thompson tried her best by having Jess and Eamonn get personal pretty quickly, but for some reason, I had a hard time connecting to either of them. On the surface, it was a cute romcom--exactly what I'd signed up for--but I wasn't rooting for them to get together the way I wanted to. I wanted to be fully invested in their love story, to be kicking my feet and squealing with every look and touch. Instead, I felt like I was observing their relationship from a distance, objectively appreciating it, without having any stake in whether or not it came to fruition.

Still, I wouldn't have minded a slow-burn romance (it's an underrated trope, in my opinion,) but it felt like Jess and Eamonn went from zero to a hundred. The first sex scene felt so sudden and out-of-place and from that point on, it felt like that was the main focus of the romance. It's hard to believe true love came out of the forty-eight hours, when eight of them were spent having sex. It felt especially disappointing because I felt like it ended up detracting from the deeper connection Thompson was trying to build between the two.

I still think In Every Possible Way is a solid story; I just feel like it had the potential to be more. I do think there's an aspect where the book just didn't work for me, personally, for whatever reason, but I do also think the pacing could be tightened and that the character arcs and romance could be developed a little more. That being said, I'm a massive fan of Alicia Thompson's voice and will definitely be reading more from her!

Thank you Berkley for providing the eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Alicia Ceasar · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson is a contemporary romance with a speculative element. It follows 37 year old Jess as she goes on a horrible first date on her birthday only to be mugged and knocked out afterwards. But when she wakes up in a different country, things take a completely different turn for her.

I cannot emphasize enough how much of a “exactly for me” book this is! One of my absolute favorite things in a romance is when there is something a little magical happening. Everything else is perfectly normal except for that one thing. In this book, that one thing happens to be somehow transporting across the globe. Is she actually there? Is she dead? Is she dreaming? I loved it.

Another thing I love is when a romance book takes place in a short amount of time. This one takes place over 48 hours for the most part but it never feels instalove to me because you get sooooo many pages of character development. There is something about a short period of time in a romance book that feels like the romance movies I watched growing up and it gives me this sense of nostalgia while reading it. Also kicking my feet at the possibility of meeting exactly the right person at exactly the right time.

You only get Jess’ POV in the book which really works best for this story but I’m also someone who prefers a single POV romance. I don’t need to be in the other character’s mind if I can feel the chemistry between them without it. Eamonn was such a great love interest. He has a rough past that he isn’t trying to hide but he carries a lot of grief from it and seeing him open up to Jess really tugged on my heartstrings. He also reads Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Octavia E Butler so he gets bonus points.

I honestly feel like I could talk about this book endlessly. This will end up being on of my favorite romances of the year because of how much it felt directly written for me to enjoy. It is on the longer side. There are lots of bits of Irish history and folklore that some people may think is pointless but I loved it! I think it added so much to the atmosphere and I could have easily read another 100 pages.

I would recommend this book to people who like a magical element in their romance books, Ashley Poston fans, and people who love the movie Leap Year.

[Bianca (biancamoodreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, we definitely needed a book inspired by a Cranberries song, thank you very much. I absolutely devoured In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson, and this book has officially moved her into auto-read territory for me. I love traveling through books, and this one delivers that feeling in a big way. The story follows Jess, who is in a coma and finds herself in an alternate plane of existence in Ireland. There she meets Eamonn, the only person willing to help her avoid being homeless or freezing to death. He takes it upon himself to act as Jess’s unofficial tour guide as they travel through the country, including time in Dublin, and the sense of place makes the journey feel vivid and immersive. What starts as Eamonn simply trying to help Jess quickly grows into something more.

The first half was my favorite. Watching Jess and Eamonn get to know each other felt like one long first date. Because they believed they had nothing to lose, their conversations turn open and personal very quickly. Jess suddenly wants to know everything about Eamonn, and the connection between them feels like a true soulmate situation. Some readers may see it as insta-love, but if you liked A Love Song for Ricki Wilde, the tone and emotional pull will likely feel familiar. It reminded me of the early conversations I had with my husband when we first started dating.

The magical realism element is strong and asks you to go along with some things that aren’t meant to be taken too literally, especially toward the end where it starts to feel a bit like a plot hole. The second half dragged a bit for me and became somewhat repetitive, though that’s also when the story turns spicier. If the pacing had stayed as strong as the first half, this would have easily been a five-star read.

This book leans more firmly into contemporary romance, unlike Alicia Thompson’s earlier books, which felt more like rom-coms (of course still with emotional depth). It’s just as good, if not better. I’d recommend it to almost any romance reader, especially those who enjoy magical realism or the feeling of traveling through a story, like in A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams or Every Step She Takes by Alison Cochrun.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of Alicia Thompson, I've been reading her books since her debut released in 2022 and I always have such a good time with them. This was no exception. For the first time we get to see a little bit of a speculative element in her writing. Jess goes on a disastrous first date on her birthday and is mugged after leaving. When she wakes from being knocked unconscious she finds herself in Ireland outside the workplace of the estranged brother of her date. With no idea how she's gotten there when her last memory is leaving her date in Florida and with no money or passport she finds herself at a loss for what to do when Eamonn steps in. I was immediately ride or die for Eamonn, a tall Irish mechanic, who has books in the waiting room of his shop, could there be a more perfect man? Oh yeah, he's also a complete goner for dogs. I also loved Jess as a protagonist. She's 37 and realizing she's stuck in a job where she's not really thriving and is struggling with being tired of dating but wanting companionship. There's also a great discussion in the book where she's let go of a lot of her hobbies and things that brought her joy throughout the years and she realizes she needs to start prioritizing these things to find happiness in herself.

I'm a little torn on Jess and Eamonn as a couple. Sometimes they had such amazing chemistry that was simmering my e-reader but other times I struggled a bit with their awkward conversation. When Eamonn and Jess first meet and are just starting to know each other Jess keeps going off on these non sequiturs of deep questions or comments. She even comments on it and how strange and random it is but it was genuinely so awkward to read when my brain was like, you just met this man what on earth are you saying? They do eventually find their footing with each other and thankfully the flow of conversation between starts to feel more natural. I can't wait for my preorder to arrive so I can add this to my bookshelf with the rest of Alicia Thompson's books.

[Sharon Olding-Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Palate Cleanser

This was a bit of a mixed read for me, but there’s definitely an audience that will really enjoy it. Especially those who enjoy the quick fall in love kind of story

The premise is fun and a little chaotic in a good way. Jess, the FMC, goes on a bad date with a guy from a dating app, gets hurt leaving the date, and somehow wakes up in Ireland...where she ends up meeting his brother, Eamonn. It’s a wild setup that leans into coincidence and a touch of storytelling that is borderline a stretch considering it is a modern setting. If you enjoy books that don’t take themselves too seriously and lean into whimsical, slightly unbelievable situations, this will likely work better for you.

I wanted to love it! I liked the idea, but I had a hard time getting past the whole “hit your head and magically end up in another country” situation. It just took me out of the story more than I expected because I found myself more caught up thinking while I was reading "how did she jump from one place to the other" instead of truly focusing on what I was reading.

While I liked the premise and found parts of it enjoyable, I do wish there was more plot development and momentum. It didn’t quite give me that “can’t put it down” feeling, and I wanted a bit more depth or stakes to keep me fully invested. I just wish there had been more plot and momentum to keep me hooked. It just didn’t quite give me that “can’t put it down” feeling.

However, it would be a great palate cleanser before diving into a series or heavy world building/plot deep book. That said, it is a cute, easy read with some enjoyable moments. There’s also a bit of spice, which added to the romance and made things more engaging.

Overall, this is a cute, trope-filled romance that didn’t fully land for me but still has plenty of appeal for readers who enjoy whimsical setups and steamy, feel good love stories.

I want to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for giving me the wonderful opportunity to read this ARC and give my honest review.

[Mikaela T (mikaelabooks_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this review is WAY too early... but I binged it on Boxing Day.

I’m a little bummed that I read this so far in advance that I have no one to talk to about it. But I’m mostly just grateful I got to read it at all. (When you read it, you'll be asking for my ninety–ten split, but apparently no one in my life is that nerdy.)

This is my second Alicia Thompson book after absolutely inhaling "Never Been Shipped", and they’re very different in tone. Thompson has said "In Every Possible Way" is her least cynical book, and that really comes through. It’s a single-POV romance that keeps its focus tight and trusts the relationship to do the heavy lifting. There’s backstory and a bit of Dublin sightseeing, but the story stays centered on the connection between these two people.

I’m no stranger to magical realism, but this is one of the rare times where the realism is what took my breath away. The setup is interesting—bad date in Florida, wake up in Ireland—but the real power lies in the connection between Jess and Eamonn. He’s a mechanic who’s used to being on his own and doesn’t see himself as particularly heroic. Jess can tell he doesn’t like to get involved, but he helps her anyway. That’s where the real magic lives.

Their time together wandering Dublin felt cozy and tender. Fans of romances set in Ireland will enjoy the recognizable names. They fall for each other as strangers, and somehow it never feels rushed or unbelievable. Eamonn’s quiet, practical care for Jess—drying her off, ordering her food—puts the emphasis on small moments over grand gestures. It doesn’t get too heavy, but it felt so special that I stayed nervous until the author sneaks in a moment about how she hates romances that end in tragedies (phew!).

If you appreciate intimate moments and want to watch two people reshape how they see themselves, this one is absolutely worth your time.