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In Every Possible Way
Not yet published
Expected 23 Jun 26One 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.
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.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 23, 2026
About the author
Alicia Thompson
8 books1,556 followersAlicia 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/
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/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
May 1, 2026
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!!
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!!
March 18, 2026
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“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.
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.
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!!
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!!
March 25, 2026
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.”
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.”
March 21, 2026
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?!
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.
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?!
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.
March 22, 2026
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.
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.
April 27, 2026
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!
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!
May 20, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️
Thank you to Berkeley, NetGalley, and of course Alicia Thompson for the opportunity to read this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever read a book that felt so achingly familiar? Familiar in the sense that you understood the main characters motivations and feeling because they mimicked your own? That was this one for me. Jess is aimless and just wishes life could go the way she wanted. I loved her instantly for her scattered mind and dreamy view of life.
This novel opens to our hero— Jess — meeting her terrible date for the first time on her 37th birthday nonetheless. After this disastrous date is over Jess makes a wish but is then mugged and left unconscious (bummer right). She wakes up in Ireland in a small town where a man named Eamonn helps her get to sorts. The rest unspools from there.
I loved how dreamy this was, the element of magical realism only helped make this one more whimsical. Not to mention that Thompson must have done some extensive research on Irelands landscape, literature, folklore, and history. I felt like I was there living this dream like experience with Jess.
The overall story felt like a fever dream and so fleeting. I had a joyous time and laughed with our main characters and ached with them too (specifically with sweet Eamonn). Despite this the story started dragging for me around the 60% mark. I wanted more plot and kept getting sweet slice of life moments. Admittedly I loved these moments, but after a while I just kept waiting for her to wake up. I was equal parts excited for that but also dreading it like our main character.
I loved how inquisitive Jess was and how she really got Eamonn to open up. Their romance was built upon dreams but based in reality. It was grounded in mutual respect and childlike wonder. Jess and Eamonn learned in this that it’s okay to want things for themselves. I’ll admit I teared up at the epilogue and am leaving this story with a happy heart.
Should this spill into your TBR?
Yes— if you love romance and want to escape into magic this is for you. I wish I could get my hands on the audiobook because I am sure it’s even dreamier.
You’ll love this one if you enjoy…
Age Gap (she’s 8 years older)
FMC is 37+
Dreamy + Whimsical Writing
Magical Realism
Slow burn romance
Ireland setting
Thank you to Berkeley, NetGalley, and of course Alicia Thompson for the opportunity to read this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever read a book that felt so achingly familiar? Familiar in the sense that you understood the main characters motivations and feeling because they mimicked your own? That was this one for me. Jess is aimless and just wishes life could go the way she wanted. I loved her instantly for her scattered mind and dreamy view of life.
This novel opens to our hero— Jess — meeting her terrible date for the first time on her 37th birthday nonetheless. After this disastrous date is over Jess makes a wish but is then mugged and left unconscious (bummer right). She wakes up in Ireland in a small town where a man named Eamonn helps her get to sorts. The rest unspools from there.
I loved how dreamy this was, the element of magical realism only helped make this one more whimsical. Not to mention that Thompson must have done some extensive research on Irelands landscape, literature, folklore, and history. I felt like I was there living this dream like experience with Jess.
The overall story felt like a fever dream and so fleeting. I had a joyous time and laughed with our main characters and ached with them too (specifically with sweet Eamonn). Despite this the story started dragging for me around the 60% mark. I wanted more plot and kept getting sweet slice of life moments. Admittedly I loved these moments, but after a while I just kept waiting for her to wake up. I was equal parts excited for that but also dreading it like our main character.
I loved how inquisitive Jess was and how she really got Eamonn to open up. Their romance was built upon dreams but based in reality. It was grounded in mutual respect and childlike wonder. Jess and Eamonn learned in this that it’s okay to want things for themselves. I’ll admit I teared up at the epilogue and am leaving this story with a happy heart.
Should this spill into your TBR?
Yes— if you love romance and want to escape into magic this is for you. I wish I could get my hands on the audiobook because I am sure it’s even dreamier.
You’ll love this one if you enjoy…
Age Gap (she’s 8 years older)
FMC is 37+
Dreamy + Whimsical Writing
Magical Realism
Slow burn romance
Ireland setting
May 20, 2026
Ahhhhh this was so so cute and so dreamy! I’m such a sucker for magical realism romance and this was done so well! It’s so incredibly atmospheric all of the descriptions of Ireland make you feel like you’re really there! You can tell that Alicia did her research when right this book; it’s very well done!
I love books about books and that mention books! I love the mentions of Irish folklore and the importance it plays in the story! I feel like it added the much more to the story and I really enjoyed that edition!
Eamonn was a big sweetheart! He was so willing to drop everything to help Jess and it was so sweet! I genuinely think he’d do the same for anyone else and that it is just in his nature to help! We love a man who reads! I loved all the mentions of all of the books he has around!
Jess is tougher than me tbh. All of coworkers are booo the worst! I wish she would’ve just freaked out at them about not doing anything for her birthday she deserves better. ALSO the first date at the beginning of the book was sending me. Good for being like mmm I’m gonna date the brother instead 😂 I also love her “whatever happens, happens” attitude. Her whole thought process of I wouldn’t typically do this, but I might be in a coma so…. 🤷♀️ like yess queen I strive to be as free.
I loved their fun couple dynamic and how comfortable they were able to get with each other despite only knowing each other for a short amount of time! They were able to joke around together and it was so nice to see. They were a breath of fresh air and I really enjoyed them as a couple!
I highly recommend this book! If you need me I’ll be busy planning a trip to Ireland!
Read if you like:
🍀 magical realism
🍀 age gap
🍀 he falls first
🍀 strangers to lovers
🍀 forced proximity
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Alicia Thompson for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
I love books about books and that mention books! I love the mentions of Irish folklore and the importance it plays in the story! I feel like it added the much more to the story and I really enjoyed that edition!
Eamonn was a big sweetheart! He was so willing to drop everything to help Jess and it was so sweet! I genuinely think he’d do the same for anyone else and that it is just in his nature to help! We love a man who reads! I loved all the mentions of all of the books he has around!
Jess is tougher than me tbh. All of coworkers are booo the worst! I wish she would’ve just freaked out at them about not doing anything for her birthday she deserves better. ALSO the first date at the beginning of the book was sending me. Good for being like mmm I’m gonna date the brother instead 😂 I also love her “whatever happens, happens” attitude. Her whole thought process of I wouldn’t typically do this, but I might be in a coma so…. 🤷♀️ like yess queen I strive to be as free.
I loved their fun couple dynamic and how comfortable they were able to get with each other despite only knowing each other for a short amount of time! They were able to joke around together and it was so nice to see. They were a breath of fresh air and I really enjoyed them as a couple!
I highly recommend this book! If you need me I’ll be busy planning a trip to Ireland!
Read if you like:
🍀 magical realism
🍀 age gap
🍀 he falls first
🍀 strangers to lovers
🍀 forced proximity
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Alicia Thompson for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
April 20, 2026
☘️ 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.
☘️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.
May 25, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up
In the best way, I felt like I was following two people on a first date that ended up lasting two days.
Up to this point. Thompson has written pure romcoms, so the addition of a little magical realism was surprising and lovely! It reminded me of Ashley Poston's The Dead Romantics but if you were reading from the MMC's point-of-view. This romance was... comforting. Hopeful. Cozy. It felt like wrapping yourself up in a cocoon of blankets with a hot drink on a cool fall day. It felt like... falling in love. That's what the characters did, of course-this is a romance book, but it also felt like that's what I was doing. Falling in love with two people falling in love.
It also depressed me bc wdym I'm not ACTUALLY in love irl... but that's a personal problem. Lol
Thompson's romances always hit, but this is her most romantic book yet. <3
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc for review.
In the best way, I felt like I was following two people on a first date that ended up lasting two days.
Up to this point. Thompson has written pure romcoms, so the addition of a little magical realism was surprising and lovely! It reminded me of Ashley Poston's The Dead Romantics but if you were reading from the MMC's point-of-view. This romance was... comforting. Hopeful. Cozy. It felt like wrapping yourself up in a cocoon of blankets with a hot drink on a cool fall day. It felt like... falling in love. That's what the characters did, of course-this is a romance book, but it also felt like that's what I was doing. Falling in love with two people falling in love.
It also depressed me bc wdym I'm not ACTUALLY in love irl... but that's a personal problem. Lol
Thompson's romances always hit, but this is her most romantic book yet. <3
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc for review.
February 24, 2026
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
**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.
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.
January 3, 2026
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.
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.
December 25, 2025
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.
Want to Read
June 2, 2026WAITINGGGGG
March 24, 2026
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.
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.
April 27, 2026
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!
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!
May 5, 2026
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.
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.
March 13, 2026
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!
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!
March 28, 2026
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!
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!
May 16, 2026
Not me crying in a hair salon finishing this book… My heart!!
Thank you to Berkley for the ARC via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.
When Jess gets mugged and hits her head while leaving a failed date in her Florida hometown, she wakes up in the middle of nowhere to sunny blue skies and green grass, finding herself in Ireland with nothing but the outfit she was wearing for last night’s date.
Think Leap Year plus some fantastic magical realism, which is my favorite, and you have this book!
Jess & Eamonn are everything!! Their connection was effortless and made my heart explode! I inhaled this story and ended it with tears in my eyes and an ache in my chest. Did I mention Jess is 37 years old like me? I LOVED THAT.
I had so much fun reading In Every Possible Way and highly recommend it to anyone with a love of romance, kind and sexy Irish men, and magical realism.
Thank you to Berkley for the ARC via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.
When Jess gets mugged and hits her head while leaving a failed date in her Florida hometown, she wakes up in the middle of nowhere to sunny blue skies and green grass, finding herself in Ireland with nothing but the outfit she was wearing for last night’s date.
Think Leap Year plus some fantastic magical realism, which is my favorite, and you have this book!
Jess & Eamonn are everything!! Their connection was effortless and made my heart explode! I inhaled this story and ended it with tears in my eyes and an ache in my chest. Did I mention Jess is 37 years old like me? I LOVED THAT.
I had so much fun reading In Every Possible Way and highly recommend it to anyone with a love of romance, kind and sexy Irish men, and magical realism.
May 18, 2026
What is life if it doesn’t have a sprinkle of magic?
Jess has quite possibly one of the worst birthdays/dates/nights of her life but then it all ends with her hitting her head and waking up in Ireland!
There she meets Eamonn who is surly and grumpy but he begrudgingly helps her on her journey to try to get back to America.
They have honestly such a magical and whimsical time together where Jess brings Eamonn out of his shell and Eamonn makes Jess realize maybe she’s been stuck in her ways and approaching life in a way that is only perpetuating her unhappiness.
You’ll get:
•magically realism
•forced proximity
•he falls first
•strangers to lovers
Magical realism is always so fun for me to read and then you add in Ireland as a setting where we get to visit a bunch of famous landmarks around the country and it’s even better.
Thank you to Berkley for the early copy!
Jess has quite possibly one of the worst birthdays/dates/nights of her life but then it all ends with her hitting her head and waking up in Ireland!
There she meets Eamonn who is surly and grumpy but he begrudgingly helps her on her journey to try to get back to America.
They have honestly such a magical and whimsical time together where Jess brings Eamonn out of his shell and Eamonn makes Jess realize maybe she’s been stuck in her ways and approaching life in a way that is only perpetuating her unhappiness.
You’ll get:
•magically realism
•forced proximity
•he falls first
•strangers to lovers
Magical realism is always so fun for me to read and then you add in Ireland as a setting where we get to visit a bunch of famous landmarks around the country and it’s even better.
Thank you to Berkley for the early copy!
April 14, 2026
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.
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.
June 2, 2026
My heart is exploding after reading this book!!! The magical realism meets “Before Sunrise” in Ireland…it was incredible. The pacing for the bulk of the book having taken place over just 48 hours but feeling like they were together for weeks and months. It read so beautifully. Add in a little bit of an age gap (she’s older), a mini road trip and some incredible slow burn (but technically not really?!) spice and this book is an absolute winner.
Alicia Thompson will forever be an auto buy author for me and I cannot wait to get my hands I. A copy of this book on release day! “In Every Possible Way” publishes on June 23rd 2026. Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the early eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Alicia Thompson will forever be an auto buy author for me and I cannot wait to get my hands I. A copy of this book on release day! “In Every Possible Way” publishes on June 23rd 2026. Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the early eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
June 2, 2026**ARC Review**
In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson
This book had me hooked from the beginning. I could not put it down!
It was charming, romantic, and whimsical with a touch of magic.
Jess's 48 hours in Dublin with Eamonn were full of tension, chemistry, and longing. They were effortless and perfect together, even though they had just met. I was simply enchanted by them, and it killed me not knowing if any of it would be real in the end, or if would be just a life-changing hallucination. Though the romantic in me was certainly hoping for an HEA.
In the end, I think some things in life just can't be explained, but love is always worth wishing for.
5⭐️ 2.5🌶
Thank you to author Alicia Thompson and Berkley Pub forbthe eARC via Netgalley. These are my honest thoughts
In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson
This book had me hooked from the beginning. I could not put it down!
It was charming, romantic, and whimsical with a touch of magic.
Jess's 48 hours in Dublin with Eamonn were full of tension, chemistry, and longing. They were effortless and perfect together, even though they had just met. I was simply enchanted by them, and it killed me not knowing if any of it would be real in the end, or if would be just a life-changing hallucination. Though the romantic in me was certainly hoping for an HEA.
In the end, I think some things in life just can't be explained, but love is always worth wishing for.
5⭐️ 2.5🌶
Thank you to author Alicia Thompson and Berkley Pub forbthe eARC via Netgalley. These are my honest thoughts
March 31, 2026
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!
Did Not Finish
June 2, 2026dnf june 2026 @ 40%
thank you to Berkley for the arc through netgalley 💋
I was beyond excited for this book. It sounded so whimsical and magical and set in Ireland? I was READY.
I was invested for the first 20% and now I am so throughly bored i can’t even keep my eyes open when reading. So far, we are still in the same day and she is roaming Dublin, where she showed up after getting mugged (the magical realism piece that i was sooo excited for), and you’re telling me this man is just like ok cool i’ll show u around, and this whole thing has been one day. It’s a whole snooze fest because I haven’t felt myself caring for either of them and i’m just bored out of my mind
thank you to Berkley for the arc through netgalley 💋
I was beyond excited for this book. It sounded so whimsical and magical and set in Ireland? I was READY.
I was invested for the first 20% and now I am so throughly bored i can’t even keep my eyes open when reading. So far, we are still in the same day and she is roaming Dublin, where she showed up after getting mugged (the magical realism piece that i was sooo excited for), and you’re telling me this man is just like ok cool i’ll show u around, and this whole thing has been one day. It’s a whole snooze fest because I haven’t felt myself caring for either of them and i’m just bored out of my mind
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May 20, 2026I came in skeptical because magic isn’t really my thing in contemporary romance but I ended up really liking this one. the movie that keeps coming up is Leap Year (excellent taste) but in truth this feels more like Before Sunrise. two people who talk their way into falling in love. in my gemini heart this is a premise that will never fail! the magic by the end still didn’t compel me, but there is so much to love that i don’t even mind, really. i think i will always love what alicia thompson has to say about love
Read
March 21, 20264 stars; review to come June 2026
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