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Under the Arbor: A Beginning of Goodbye Story
Marry the love of your life and live predictably ever after? That’s the plan. But what happens when you start to wonder if the love of your life might not be the person you’re marrying?
Two years ago, Haley Grayson made a choice. She would follow the expected path, keep peace within her family, and, just maybe, help her mother heal from her own broken past. It didn’t matter that for one night she thought her life could be different. When her boyfriend, Joe, proposes after securing the most sought-after wedding venue, it feels like fate. All she has to do is make it to the altar.
Alex Flores is happy. You know, aside from the fact that she slept with her best friend’s girlfriend and then had to run across the country to escape the guilt and heartache. But that’s all behind her now. She can easily avoid talking to Joey and never has to see or think about Haley again. That is, until news of the wedding turns into a plea to help plan it.
Alex’s reappearance throws Haley’s life into turmoil. How is she supposed to think, to plan her wedding to Joe, when Alex is always in her space with her insufferable smirk and cocky attitude? Alex, for her part, is just trying to fulfill a promise to her friend, and maybe ease the guilt that’s followed her for two years.
But amid picking out wedding dresses and handling an overbearing mother-of-the-bride, those pesky feelings Alex has been running from start to reemerge, and Haley finds herself once more drawn to the woman she turned her back on two years ago.
As the wedding day draws near, Haley must ask Is the life she’s planned really the life she wants?
Two years ago, Haley Grayson made a choice. She would follow the expected path, keep peace within her family, and, just maybe, help her mother heal from her own broken past. It didn’t matter that for one night she thought her life could be different. When her boyfriend, Joe, proposes after securing the most sought-after wedding venue, it feels like fate. All she has to do is make it to the altar.
Alex Flores is happy. You know, aside from the fact that she slept with her best friend’s girlfriend and then had to run across the country to escape the guilt and heartache. But that’s all behind her now. She can easily avoid talking to Joey and never has to see or think about Haley again. That is, until news of the wedding turns into a plea to help plan it.
Alex’s reappearance throws Haley’s life into turmoil. How is she supposed to think, to plan her wedding to Joe, when Alex is always in her space with her insufferable smirk and cocky attitude? Alex, for her part, is just trying to fulfill a promise to her friend, and maybe ease the guilt that’s followed her for two years.
But amid picking out wedding dresses and handling an overbearing mother-of-the-bride, those pesky feelings Alex has been running from start to reemerge, and Haley finds herself once more drawn to the woman she turned her back on two years ago.
As the wedding day draws near, Haley must ask Is the life she’s planned really the life she wants?
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
7 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Lark Sullivan
3 books6 followersLark has been writing in one form or another almost her entire life. Next to books, her great loves are diving and coffee...and her wife and son, of course. And cats.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 23, 2025
Since I am an angst and forbidden romance lover, I was clearly a target audience for this book. When I started reading and got the prologue from two years ago, it was confirmed that this was a book I would love to see unfold with lots of angst and pining. Alex and Haley had that night two years ago but despite all being so perfect Haley went back to Alex’s best friend Joe, and Alex left Philly for Seattle to get away from the hurt, a broken heart, she must try to block her from her mind.
It is quite frustrating but so entertaining to see how Alex and Haley for three months circle around the fact that they still want each other, everyone sees it, especially Haley’s little sister Ash. So much excruciating pining during all the wedding planning and events and during it all Joe is absent which should say something. That karaoke moment, ABBA’s Lay All Your Love on Me, made me swoon. Will they finally get their shit together and get their very delayed HEA?
I received a free ARC from the author and leave a review voluntarily.
It is quite frustrating but so entertaining to see how Alex and Haley for three months circle around the fact that they still want each other, everyone sees it, especially Haley’s little sister Ash. So much excruciating pining during all the wedding planning and events and during it all Joe is absent which should say something. That karaoke moment, ABBA’s Lay All Your Love on Me, made me swoon. Will they finally get their shit together and get their very delayed HEA?
I received a free ARC from the author and leave a review voluntarily.
September 30, 2025
I’m not a fan of straight to intimacy. I like to be have wooed by the mains chemistry first. Naturally that is not always the case for plot reasons! This book is one but the author did a pretty good job of showing the want and longing that had happened off page, prior to the first scene. A good start..... I have a secondary character I don't like, a few unanswered questions and plenty of tension.
Coming up to 40% and more past events are hinted at, the relationship between the mains continues to be difficult.
Almost 70%, and I'm enjoying being shown the chemistry and deepening relationship between the mains. I am also wondering how the fiancée will be dealt with.... a bit tense about that to be honest!
All handled beautifully! 4.5.
Coming up to 40% and more past events are hinted at, the relationship between the mains continues to be difficult.
Almost 70%, and I'm enjoying being shown the chemistry and deepening relationship between the mains. I am also wondering how the fiancée will be dealt with.... a bit tense about that to be honest!
All handled beautifully! 4.5.
October 2, 2025
3.75⭐️
I have to say that even though it took me a while to warm up to Haley it was a very entertaining book that I would recommend if you like forbidden romance, though I would have liked to see more pining and yearning but maybe that’s just because I enjoy a little angst!
I have to say that even though it took me a while to warm up to Haley it was a very entertaining book that I would recommend if you like forbidden romance, though I would have liked to see more pining and yearning but maybe that’s just because I enjoy a little angst!
January 1, 2026
Two years ago, Alex and Haley had a one night stand....but now, Haley and Joe are engaged. Her mom is thrilled, her sister Ash, who knows the score, is dubious. And SURPRISE Joe wants his best friend Alex as his best woman.
Awkward.
Complicating matters, a emergency has come up and Joe has to take off for two months. To keep things on track, he suggests Haley and Alex helps organize things, as he trusts Alex to do so.
Super awkward.
Ash sets up a meet between Haley and Alex, not warning Haley it was Alex coming. It goes as badly as you'd expect. Ash, that was kind of assholish.
Alex helps be a buffer between Haley and her awful Mom, and the two start to patch things up. But Alex is still in love with her....
Then Joe delays coming home, and the two trying to get everything going. Ash also knows about them, and is trying to get them together.
Joe returns, Haley confesses about the one night stand, he forgives her but yells at Alex. And she's out of the wedding.
The day arrives, Ash and Haley talk it out, and she calls off the wedding. Joe apologizes to Alex, having realized he was doing this out of obligation not love.
We find out what was up with Haley's Mom, she confesses her love to Alex, wrap up and epilog.
3.5 stars. Pretty good, not great, didn't blow me away
Awkward.
Complicating matters, a emergency has come up and Joe has to take off for two months. To keep things on track, he suggests Haley and Alex helps organize things, as he trusts Alex to do so.
Super awkward.
Ash sets up a meet between Haley and Alex, not warning Haley it was Alex coming. It goes as badly as you'd expect. Ash, that was kind of assholish.
Alex helps be a buffer between Haley and her awful Mom, and the two start to patch things up. But Alex is still in love with her....
Then Joe delays coming home, and the two trying to get everything going. Ash also knows about them, and is trying to get them together.
Joe returns, Haley confesses about the one night stand, he forgives her but yells at Alex. And she's out of the wedding.
The day arrives, Ash and Haley talk it out, and she calls off the wedding. Joe apologizes to Alex, having realized he was doing this out of obligation not love.
We find out what was up with Haley's Mom, she confesses her love to Alex, wrap up and epilog.
3.5 stars. Pretty good, not great, didn't blow me away
November 15, 2025
Alex has been in love with Haley for years but Haley always fought with Alex. Until, two years ago, on the very night Alex's best friend, Joe, told Haley he loved her, Haley and Alex had slept together. Haley had said she wanted Alex but in the morning, she changed her mind.
Brokenhearted, Alex moved from Philly to Seattle. She spent two years mourning Haley but still never got over her, not really.
Then Joe calls one day and tells Alex that he's getting married to Haley and can Alex be his best person? Alex agrees and goes east to help Joe with the wedding though she knows it will be torture. But Haley made her choice, right?
Except when she gets there, three months before the wedding, Joe suddenly has to leave the country to fill in for a colleague on a veterinary team in Ecuador? And he asked Alex to help Haley plan the wedding?
This book is old flames, forced proximity, and leaves you wondering if Haley will ever be honest about what she really wants."
I loved it and it will go into my list of "comfort books" for a re-read when that's what I need. I recommend it!
Brokenhearted, Alex moved from Philly to Seattle. She spent two years mourning Haley but still never got over her, not really.
Then Joe calls one day and tells Alex that he's getting married to Haley and can Alex be his best person? Alex agrees and goes east to help Joe with the wedding though she knows it will be torture. But Haley made her choice, right?
Except when she gets there, three months before the wedding, Joe suddenly has to leave the country to fill in for a colleague on a veterinary team in Ecuador? And he asked Alex to help Haley plan the wedding?
This book is old flames, forced proximity, and leaves you wondering if Haley will ever be honest about what she really wants."
I loved it and it will go into my list of "comfort books" for a re-read when that's what I need. I recommend it!
October 1, 2025
Well I wasn’t sure how this sorry was going to come to an end. A story about falling in love with you best friends girlfriend sounds like it can be a disaster. Haley is with joe whose best friend is Alex(Alejandra). This is a great story that keeps you reading to see what ends up happening. Can you fall in love with your best friends girlfriend and still find a way to stay friends? Once I finished this book I saw that you get a glimpse of these character in her book The Beginning of Goodbye. It’s a short story and I’m really glad she decided to write a story about Haley and Alex. I hope that maybe we could get more of them. Great read!!
October 2, 2025
So good
This was so angsty and messy AF and I loved every second of it. All the characters were so well rounded and (mostly) lovable. The story unfolded really well and it's just a great solid read
This was so angsty and messy AF and I loved every second of it. All the characters were so well rounded and (mostly) lovable. The story unfolded really well and it's just a great solid read
November 4, 2025
I enjoyed this! I love the angst and forbidden love trope. It was a slow burn. I liked the fact the author didn’t make Joey the villain. He was a good guy. Haley and Alex had great chemistry. Side characters were fun.
October 15, 2025
I loved everything about this book
Some forced proximity books feel a bit contrived but this one has a great air of believability about it. Alex can't tell Joe why she should not be the person to help him out and she tries very hard to be true to her word and help relieve the stress of planning a wedding in just 3 months for him and Hayley. She and Hayley have to see each other on a near daily basis which, when you factor in their back story, is literally playing with fire. The push and pull between them has been artfully done and keeps the tension on a high throughout the book. I truly fell in love with Alex but there are actually a whole host of other great characters who add to the flow of the story.
Some forced proximity books feel a bit contrived but this one has a great air of believability about it. Alex can't tell Joe why she should not be the person to help him out and she tries very hard to be true to her word and help relieve the stress of planning a wedding in just 3 months for him and Hayley. She and Hayley have to see each other on a near daily basis which, when you factor in their back story, is literally playing with fire. The push and pull between them has been artfully done and keeps the tension on a high throughout the book. I truly fell in love with Alex but there are actually a whole host of other great characters who add to the flow of the story.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews