When Birdie Banks returns to her hometown of Saddlebrooke after her life in the city doesn’t go quite as planned, the last thing she expects is to find a job—or comfort—with Dawsen Jones, her brother’s best friend and the boy who’s been etched into her heart for as long as she can remember.
But Dawsen isn’t the boy she once knew. Haunted by loss and convinced he doesn’t deserve happiness, he’s poured himself into running the business he inherited and the winery that holds an even deeper meaning to him.
As Birdie and Dawsen work side by side, friendship begins to blur into something deeper. And when old wounds resurface, they’ll have to figure out if the timing will ever be right.
I was given this book as a part of the ARC team and let me tell you…. This was the cutest fall rom-com — cozy, funny, and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! The perfect start to my fall reading list. 🍁 Dawson and Birdie are the ultimate grumpy-sunshine duo, and their chemistry had me smiling from page one. If you’re looking for a sweet, heartwarming read that gives you all the fall feels, this one’s it!
I was fortunate enough to be chosen as an ARC reader, thank you Daryn. As her first novel, this book was all the vibes for small town, brother's bestfriend, cozy, slow burn, cute banter. I loved everything about this book- the storyline, the characters, the town. It almost reminded me of the The Summer I Turned Pretty show, which just finished watching recently. So this was definitely a nice read after having withdrawals from that show.
If you're looking for a cute, warm and cozy read, and are a hopeless romantic, you're definitely gonna want to pick this book. Again, as her debut novel....this was amazing! Daryn, I hope that somehow you continue on because I want and can't wait to see what else you might have in store for Dawsen and Birdie, and maybe other characters too!
I’m not typically a cozy romance reader, but I loved this sweet story and totally fell in love with the characters and the setting. I breezed through the book, and it had me giggling out loud several times throughout. It was a good mix of romance, comedy, and heartbreak. Daryn, I love you girl and I’m so proud of you!!
Loved this one a lot. I enjoyed the entire book, but the last 25% really pulled on all the right heart strings to secure a high rating.
Brothers best friend done RIGHHHTTT!!!!! They had the emotional connection that many romances lack. Dawsen is a MAN & Birdie is so so relatable as a 30-y/o myself.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This has been one of my favorite books of the year. I enjoyed the down to earth personalities and the ability to connect with the characters. “I’ve decided to hurt my own feelings about the whole thing and give him the silent treatment. I’m a very mature woman, obviously.” Who couldn’t relate to Birdie? The story is entertaining and captures your attention. I enjoyed that it wasn’t following completely in the cliché tropes, but played upon them uniquely. There is no real spice to the story, but a sweet slow burn.
Wow. I absolutely loved this book. Birdie and Dawson feel like my best friends reading from their perspective felt so effortless and easy. The story wrapped you up and made you forget everything else going on. Until Next Time is written from dual perspectives helping you completely know the inner workings of both characters and I loved the inner monologue! I got an ARC of this book and already can’t wait for the sequel!!!!!
Potential spoilers!!! ^^^^^ *I was chosen as an ARC reader for this book :)*
Overall, I would give this book a 3.5/5 stars. Rounded up to 4 because it deserves more than a round down. The story was cute albeit a little fast paced. Starts off with MCF, Birdie, having her life turn on its head resulting in the need to leave the big city and head back to her cozy small-town home. MCM, Dawsen, is introduced very early on in the book and we get to see both sides of the story as the chapters are split POV. Dawsen is the best friend of Birdie’s older brother, but the three of them grew up in close-quarters. The story goes on of two people yearning to be with one another, thinking they’re both one-sided on their thoughts and feelings. After a quick trip and long night, Dawsen breaks news to Birdie that abruptly changes their relationship. This leads to an emotional rollercoaster all the way up to the HEA. Secret notes, cherished memories, heart break, and deep love. Cute and cozy story with characters you root for.
Why 3.5 stars then? Along with the fast paced nature of the relationship’s growth in the book, I found the MCF to be slightly unlikeable at times. Her personality involves being very self deprecating. Which, I do get that happens when your life falls apart and you have to rethink the entirety of what you want to do with it. However, I wish I saw more growth in her thoughts with how fast paced everything else was and less of the constant need for others to assure her in all life aspects. It simply just got repetitive. There was also the random throw-in of one of Steve Carell’s movies as a plot point. Conversations in the book related to this point weren’t my cup of tea, but I guess it shows the commitment she had to loving the MCM before he ever knew.
Would I read it again? Yes, probably. It was a short read and I was interested in the love story even with its unique turns. I’m happy to have been able to read it :)
Oh!! And there will 100% be a sequel to the book #myBestFriend’sBrother
book me a ticket to Saddlebrooke RIGHT NOW. the cozy small town, fall vibes are everything you could want and more. I love Birdie and everything that she is. And dawsen, the way he desires to take care of Birdie’s heart, but also had such deep rooted trauma. I laughed, I cried and I fell in love. A true swoon-worthy masterpiece. Also I am obsessed with River and Casey, if their story isn’t released ASAP, I will riot. Daryn Mae, you are a true talent. Thanks for sharing with us. 💖
also, side note…the way I need to see birdie’s mural is killing me.
I was chosen for ARC reading of this book, I overall thought it was a cute romance, feel good story. Deeeefinitely a slow burn between the main characters. A good book and I’m excited to see what else Daryn comes up with!!
Until Next Time brought comfort and warmth to these cold fall nights! This brother’s best friend, slow burn, small town romance was phenomenal! Birdie was so relatable and I just loved her from the first moment I met her. Dawsen and his yearning for Birdie was heartwarming! The fact that the whole town caught on before they did was chefs kiss! But honestly it was a good comfort book! Thank you for allowing me to be an ARC reader 💕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Huge thank you to Daryn Mae for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was so cute! Brothers best friend, plus a slow burn that kept you yearning right up til the end. I loved almost every single moment of this book and I ate it RIGHT up. It took everything in me to not squeal and kick my feet at how sweet this story was. Also absolutely adored the nerdy/weird girl rep! I cannot wait to see what comes next for this author!
In Until Next Time, Daryn Mae tells a story of a young woman, Birdie, who finds herself freshly thirty, jobless, and back home after losing what was supposed to be the job that would lead to the career of her dreams. As if that weren’t bad enough, she is surprised by her lifelong childhood crush - her brother’s best friend of all people – at her own breakfast table! My favorite broody male lead Dawsen is aloof but flirtatious and the two share their stories of pining for each other through the ups and downs of their lives. Neither of them are the wiser of how the other feels. Through this tale of love, loss, and waiting, Daryn Mae drives home the importance of a loving family, a great friend, and knowing your worth and not settling for anything less. The characters in this book are wide ranging. Birdie, the main character, is adorably quirky, creative, bright, sensitive, and maybe housing a little bit of self-doubt. I would say she is easy to relate to and adore for most women. Dawsen is a smoke show whose manly scent nearly wafts off the pages as you read. He is organized, well-dressed, well-mannered, extremely thoughtful and sentimental. Any man needs to take notes on this character! The reader is able to have some fun with him wondering what his issue is for most of the book! He doesn’t share everything forthrightly, and is fairly guarded in love because of his past. Best friend Casey is the honest, always there, never let you down best friend that supports Birdie throughout the whole journey while still letting Birdie live her life her way. More importantly, she plays the role of the sweet friend that we sometimes adopt as our own because they need us and we need them too. Brother River is a classic guy - says what he thinks, is a great friend to Dawsen, but wrapped up in getting a girl – perhaps the wrong one! Mom and Dad of Birdie are the sweetest parents and the prime example of how parents should be if they want to have a true lasting and meaningful relationship with their children. Their love is inspiring all on its own in this book. Lastly, Dawsen’s dad is a different character that not everyone can relate to if you haven’t undergone his type of loss. But he provides a model for how to view soul mates after they are gone and how to cope with loss in a healthy way. This book is an easy-to-read, get lost in the pages next to a fireplace with a glass of wine, kind of book. While the author uses some fun classic tropes found in romance novels, her personality comes through in the charm of the small town, homes, the winery, book store, and people. It is entertaining, sweet, and makes you wish for a second book about some of the other characters! I hope she has another one coming. Don’t wait to read Until Next Time, you’ll love having these characters in your heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
📜Quick Summary: Dawsen and Birdie may have grown up together in Saddlebrooke, but their stories took different paths. Dawsen, grieving over the devastating loss of his mother, has put himself on the back burner for love. But as he continually runs into Birdie, his best friend’s younger sister, he knows he cannot deny his feelings forever. Birdie, secretly harboring a crush on her older brother’s best friend, doesn’t feel she’s worthy enough. When she returns to her hometown, will things rekindle? Or will she be back to square one…jobless, alone, and unhappy?
❣️Initial Feels: This town is cozy and perfect and warm, and I want to book a ticket there now!
👀Trigger Warnings: loss of parent
🌶️Spice Level: 🌶️
📖Read if you want: slow burn, brother’s best friend, small town romance, adorable town of Saddlebrooke
🙋🏼♀️Moving Character: Although all of the characters have had their time to “shine,” I enjoyed watching Dawsen’s journey with grief and self love. When experiencing such a heavy loss, we all turn to healing in different ways. Watching Dawsen truly embrace the feelings and moments with his dad, was a heartfelt moment.
🗨️Touching Words: "What's the point of having any thoughts at all if they're just going to stay in your brain? Because then if you died, those thoughts would just die with you, and nobody would remember you by any of your good thoughts."
💡Final Sentiments: Overall this was a sweet and easy binge read! If you are someone who loves your happily ever after, small town romance vibes, this will be for you! It was a sweet dessert to eat up after reading so many thrillers, and Saddlebrooke seemed like your typical Hallmark town. It was a town though, that I wouldn’t mind visiting one day! Dawsen and Birdie’s love story was also a warm cup of coffee, like watching old friends settle into their rightful spots. I do wish I had more flashbacks of their childhood, to really see the emotions grow and build as they got older. There were little snippets of it, but a more detailed, all encompassing experience would have added depth to their story. One other thing that I think would have made this story even more touching would to have more showing, than telling. For example, when Dawsen described her mural after Birdie finished painting it… he said how beautiful the colors were, how great it was, how amazing it looked. But I couldn’t picture it. I would have loved to read about the image she created, what colors she used, the lines or curves in the painting. Details like that would really propel this book to have even more meaning. I think as a debut author the tropes were done well, and I’m looking forward to her sophomore novel.
🌟Overall Rating: 4 stars
🔉Special thanks to Daryn Mae for letting me read an early copy of Until Next Time!
3.5/5. SPOILERS BELOW!!!!!! ARC read, thanks Daryn Mae!! <3 The perfect cozy fall read with some surprising depth. I loved falling in love with Birdie and Dawsen's love story. What starts as a bit of a slow build with the most dreamy small town backdrop, grows into the most heartwarming ending. If spice and open door is not for you this will have just the right amount of tension and angst. I loved the little nuggets you got from other characters that paid off later as the story unravelled. I really appreciated the descriptions of the main character's outfits and style and of the town overall. I felt like I was transported right there with them! I also found MCF's thoughts super relatable, albeit a bit heavy on the self-deprecation. Sadly, I think that is reality for a lot of us!
I would have loved more flashbacks from the past to explain their feelings and crushes. I love a slow burn but the latter portion of the story moved a little quickly. I didn't quite grasp why everything was happening when it was. I really enjoyed the journey but found myself briefly thinking why now?! That was quickly forgotten amongst the backdrop of the town and the character development. I ended the book wanting to go on a small town fall vaca with my person who feels like home. Also excited to see what comes next from Daryn Mae! Will we be back in Saddlebrooke after all....best friend's brother perhaps?!
Until Next Time by Daryn Mae is a sweet, slow-burn brother’s best friend romance that completely pulled me in from the very first chapter. Birdie and Dawsen’s story is filled with heart, tension, and just the right amount of angst, did I mention the angst? The emotional buildup between them was perfectly paced, and the “one bed” motel situation added the perfect touch of heat and longing. What I loved most was how warm and cozy this story felt, even in its most emotional moments. Daryn Mae has a way of writing characters who feel real. Birdie and Dawsen were both wonderfully developed, and the supporting characters were just as well thought out, adding depth to the story without ever stealing the spotlight. The writing itself was smooth and engaging, making it an easy read that quickly hooked me and kept me turning the pages. It’s one of those books that leaves you smiling when you reach the end: a beautiful, heartfelt happily ever after that feels completely earned. If you love slow burns, emotional tension, and a romance that wraps around you like a warm blanket, Until Next Time is a must-read.
Fall in love with Best friend’s little sister? Say less. this book is everything and more?! I fell in love with this so quick. I love the tropes, writing style, characters, environment, etc. I really loved how you could connect with the characters and there was so much emotion. If I could read this for a second time like it was the first? I would. The small town feeling, the cheesy romance, the development. Ugh I could keep going. PLEASE pick this up
This was towards the end and it hit me so hard…
“There's a few things in life I've come to know. The first, is that life is precious. It's fragile, and it doesn't wait for anything. The second, pain can change you, but love and forgiveness can heal you. And arguably, the most valuable lesson-love is chosen. Love shows up in the small things. It's not something you fall into. It's the tiny choices. It's paying attention to details, and it's action. Above all else.”
Okay, let me just say I take forever to get into books. If I’m not obsessed within the first few chapters, I’m out. Total squirrel brain over here 🐿️. But Until Next Time by Daryn Mae? Oh my gosh, I was hooked instantly! I couldn’t stop reading. Every time I opened the book, I was completely zoned in, like the world around me just disappeared.
I felt every single thing Dawsen and Birdie felt. The heartbreak, the chemistry, the tension, it was all so real. Daryn did such an incredible job with not just the story but every single character. The writing, the emotions, the pacing… all of it was chef’s kiss.
This book easily made it into my top three favorites, and I’m honestly so sad it’s over. I’m already counting down the days until Daryn writes another one because I will 100% be first in line to read it! 💕📖
This story completely pulled me in from the very first page! Daryn has such a beautiful way of writing characters that feel real, relatable, and full of heart. I loved how the relationships unfolded naturally, it wasn’t rushed, just perfectly cozy and heartfelt. The small-town charm, the brother’s best friend romance, and all the little details made me feel like I was right there in the story. It gave me all the cozy love vibes I was hoping for; warm, tender, and full of emotion. A total feel-good read I’ll be thinking about for a long time!
This book hooked me from the very beginning and never let go. I absolutely loved every single character - each one felt vivid, engaging, and impossible not to care about. The writing is smooth and wonderfully easy to fall into, making it the perfect cozy afternoon read........which is ideal, because you genuinely won't want to put it down. I'm thrilled that there's going to be a second book. I can't get enough of this story, and I'm already counting down the days until I can dive back into this world again. Highly recommend!
I thought this book was so cute. I love a good small town romance.
I think the author did a great job making you feel the love between Dawsen & Birdie!
There was one flaw in the story where they confess their love for one another for the first time, and then a little bit later they do it again all over for the first time lol. It was funny because I was like wait, didn’t they already confess their love earlier?!
Overall I was very impressed for it being her first novel!! I can’t wait to read the next Casey & River book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
SPEECHLESS. I truly adored this book and you can see how much love and time was poured into it this book. This book is perfect for the dreamers and romantics coming from someone who spends most their time daydreaming. I loved how gentle and intentional the story was from every tiny detail you could tell there was so much intention placed behind it, then how Dawsen showed a kind of gentle and patient love with birdie that she had never experienced. I loved this book so much and I’m DYING to read more from Daryn Mae 💓💓💓
I cannot explain how much I loved this book. It was truly a feel-good read and I'm happy to have read it.I will miss the characters now that I'm done, but I'm hoping there may be another book- Maybe with River & Casey? One can only hope. There were two points I teared up and that says a lot, I guess I was fully invested in the characters! I'm surprised this is the author's first book and I look forward to more books by Daryn.
Daryn Mae sucked me in right away with this best friend’s little sister read! Birdie and Dawsen’s story had the perfect amount of angst. Not to mention the “one bed” motel situation. The characters Daryn developed for this story made me feel like I was reading about two people I personally knew. I could feel the love and tension between Birdie and Dawson from the start. If you’re looking for a cozy read, Until Next Time is it!
Cute and cozy small town romance! If you enjoy a good brother’s best friend, one bed or yearning tropes, then add to your TBR! I was fortunate to get an ARC of Daryn Mae’s debut novel, and I loved the warmth, chemistry and tension thought the story. The characters felt easy to root for, the pacing stayed smooth, and the setting gave it that comforting small town charm. A sweet, feel good read that leaves you smiling.
Well… I devoured this book! I read it in a few hours. I loved everything about it - it was cute, it was wholesome. I loved the main characters - you can’t help but fall in love with them. And the side characters are so great too. Honestly, this felt like the best fall read. Just cozy up for a feel-good story.
I read this book so fast and have 0 shame!! my favorite tropes -- small town romance, yearning, close proximity. the way dawsen wants to take care of birdie and she wants to take care of him .... obsessed. alsooooo, i want to visit the winery and see the mural so bad!! i cannot wait for the next read from this author.
Dawsen & Birdie's story quickly got me out of a reading slump. I've never been able to get through novels of this genre, but I didn't just get through this one... I flew through it. Daryn Mae's first book is full of coziness, banter, yearning, and has the perfect amount of depth & storyline to keep you hooked. I'm really looking forward to (hopefully!) more Saddlebrooke Ranch novels!
ARC Read! This has to be one of my top reads for 2025! This story talks about forgiveness and acceptance. How poor choices doesn’t mean you can’t live your life to the fullest. That dreams and aspirations are within reach. I absolutely loved the characters and the back story! It was so inspiring and just fell in love with the story😍
I really enjoyed the premise of the book and how easily it flowed. It was a very quick and easy read. I felt that everything moved way too fast, though. So much so that I didn’t feel like I had time to process any of the character’s emotions or the events that took place. The southbound/birdie connection was actually super cute.