"If only as her friend, I'll be there for her as long as she'll have me. Always."
At her lowest, he walks in. When Ren meets Soren, sparks fly in ways neither of them can ignore. Their connection is undeniable—messy, magnetic, and impossible to resist. But fate and timing are rarely kind. Secrets, betrayals, and the weight of the past threaten to tear them apart, testing the limits of love and trust. Ren and Soren must decide if what they have is worth fighting for… even when letting go might be easier.
Two strangers. One elevator. A moment that changes everything.
The story of Ren and Soren had me captivated from the very first chapter. I love the idea that strangers can recognize something within each other almost immediately, a gravitational pull that can't be ignored. Their story has many highs and lows, all of which kept me turning pages. I loved every second of this book and highly recommend.
Those Between Us is a beautifully raw and deeply human story. It's emotional, heartfelt, and impossible to forget.
Gia Chung writes with such honesty and precision that every page feels intimate and captivating. The characters are relatable, messy, and real, mirroring the rawness of the story as it unfolds, and the disability representation was done really well. I also loved that this doesn't just read like any old love story. It's so much more than that. It feels like a story that highlights the invisible threads that bind and separate us, the things unsaid, the memories that linger, and the people we meet in our lives who ultimately help shape who we become.
The prose is beautiful, lyrical yet grounded, and the emotional tension builds so naturally that you almost don’t notice your chest tightening until it hurts. By the final chapters, I felt like I’d lived these tension-filled, raw moments right alongside the characters.
If you love stories that explore the spaces between love and loss, forgiveness and fate, this book will stay with you long after you finish it. I highly recommend.
*** I received an ARC of this book from the author, and I'm so grateful to the author and absolutely thrilled to have been given the opportunity to receive an early copy of this wonderful story. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions. ***
***First - thank you to the author for the ARC! I enjoyed the first book so much and was so happy to get chosen as part of the ARC team for the second book!***
Messy connections, passionate love, and magnetic chemistry. Need I say more?
This was an emotional read for me – high stakes intro with intense attraction. A dramatic love story that reminds me of my fav K-dramas (love love love!). Ren and Soren are so intensely drawn to each other, but they just cannot catch a break!
If you like your stories messy and heartfelt – grab a tissue b/c this story will hit the spot. You don’t have to read book one in the series to enjoy book two (can be standalones), though I noticed some very cute easter eggs hidden throughout.
Loved that the author included trigger warnings – mind the tags.
I’m waiting with bated breath for book three. Fingers crossed that it comes out soon!
The start of this book was great it kept you guessing on what was going to happen within the book. It unlocked my fear of being trapped in an elevator. This was definitely not your typical love story as each individual faces their own obstacles however with the struggles they face they find their way back to one another. There are some trigger warnings within the book such as domestic violence and assault for people’s discretion. However, the book kept you guessing what comes next and how they are going to overcome their hardships they faced within their life. I loved that each person had support from the people that were around them as they wanted the best for them and cared for them. If you would want to read not a typical love story would definitely recommend and the author is also an amazing person which makes the book a bonus!
A truly compelling read that had me captivated from.start to finish! Gia's characters are relatable, messy, intense and so beautifully connected. Similar to her first book (Love In The Realms of Time), Gia weaves a complex narrative between her characters who are fiercely connected despite many challenging obstacles. What starts out as a simple elevator ride builds effortlessly into a story that pulls at your heartstrings, makes you scream at the characters for their decisions and then hold back tears moments later - a true roller coaster of emotions!
If you are looking for a real page turner, this one's for you! I finished the whole book on a flight overseas - it was that good!
When I say this book had me reeling, I mean it. Those Between Us took me on an emotional rollercoaster—I was happy, angry, heartbroken, and completely hooked. Ren and Soren’s connection is messy, magnetic, and impossible to ignore, pulling you in from the very first moment.
The story is fast-paced and chaotic at times, but in a way that mirrors the emotions perfectly. Secrets, betrayal, and undeniable chemistry kept me turning pages nonstop—I finished it in just two days because I had to know more.
Raw, emotional, and unforgettable, this book proves that love is rarely easy but always worth fighting for. I absolutely loved it. 💔✨
This book is emotional right from the start, with their lives on the line the moment they meet.
It feels like one of those dramatic, high-stakes K-dramas where everything keeps pulling the characters apart even though they’re clearly meant to be. Ren and Soren’s connection is so intense, and the world just won’t give them a break.
If you love your romance stories a little chaotic and beautifully messy, this one’s for you.
Some parts didn’t fully work for me personally, but that’s more about me than the book itself.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Another amazing book by Gia. I don’t even know where to start with this book because there is so much packed into this book. It had me hooked right from the first couple pages and it just got better from there. Suspense, tragedy, missed opportunities, emotional, love, danger, and of course 🌶️🌶️🌶️. Highly recommend for fans of Colleen Hoover, Ana Huang, Tessa Bailey, Emily Henry and aspects of Freida McFadden. Gia is an amazing author, person and is becoming one of my favourite individuals.
What an intense love story with lots of highs and lows, keeping the reader hooked! It starts off with the characters thrown into a traumatic event and needing to instantly trust each other. This moment of early contact between them was perfect:
"I pulled her in close, her back pressed against my chest as I wrapped my arms firmly around her waist, leaving no space between us."
And then we are on an emotional journey with the main characters, Ren and Soren, from there. Really enjoyed it and think this would be a great read for fans of Colleen Hoover.
This story is a raw, emotional slow-burn that lingers long after the final page. Ren and Soren’s connection feels achingly real—imperfect, intense, and shaped by timing that never quite cooperates. The author beautifully captures what it means to love someone at their lowest, where staying can be braver than walking away. Secrets and betrayals add depth without overshadowing the tenderness at the core of their bond. That elevator moment? Electric. This is a poignant reminder that some love stories aren’t about grand gestures, but about choosing each other again and again—even when it hurts.
Those Between Us is an emotional love story about fate, time, and the hard truths that come between two people. It’s heartfelt and honest, showing how love can survive through pain, mistakes, and second chances. With the intensity and twists of a K-drama, every scene pulls you in deeper until you can’t look away. The writing feels deeply human and genuine, making every emotion hit exactly where it should. A powerful, unforgettable story of love and resilience.
This book hooked me from one single moment — an elevator, a stranger, and a spark that changes everything. Ren and Soren’s connection is magnetic, messy, and full of heart.
Gia Chung delivers a beautifully emotional romance about timing, trust, and choosing someone even when the past gets loud. Soft, aching, tender… and impossible to put down.
If you love strangers-to-lovers vibes, vulnerability, and quiet intensity, this one’s a must-read.
The love, distance and invisible space that exists between two people trying to hold on to one another. This book drew me into a relationship that was shaped by longing, timing and unspoken truths. The characters depths felt so achingly real along with all their doubts, hopes and quiet heartbreaks that this story captured, was not rushed but so thoughtful and fragile full of romance. Such an incredibly powerful read.
A beautiful story of a couple that is strongly drawn together while the world keeps ripping them apart. I enjoyed the raw intensity of the characters, their love and their journey. I really appreciate the different perspective do you could see the full picture.
The love, distance and invisible space that exists between two people trying to hold on to one another. This book drew me into a relationship that was shaped by longing, timing and unspoken truths. The characters depths felt so achingly real along with all their doubts, hopes and quiet heartbreaks that this story captured, was not rushed but so thoughtful and fragile full of romance. Such an incredibly powerful read.