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Where you've always been
At eight years old, they promised they would be best friends forever.
Ella seems to have it all, beauty, brains, and lifelong friends. Her best friend Noah has always been by her side. There to pick up the pieces when she falls apart.
Best friends since a childhood tragedy bound them together, Ella and Noah have spent thirteen years navigating life, loss, and the blurred lines between friendship and love.
Now in college, surrounded by their tight-knit found family, they must confront their shared past and unspoken feelings. Will Ella's past hold her back and will her fear of losing her best friend stop her from missing out on her forever love.
Can Noah convince her that their love is worth the risk. But as old traumas and new insecurities surface, they risk destroying the one relationship that has always been their anchor, forcing them to decide if their forever is worth the fall.
Sometimes you find your soulmate at eight years old. The question is, are you strong enough to risk the friendship for what might be a forever love.
Tropes to Friends to loversChildhood friendsSports romanceCollege romanceGrief and healingMental health representationSlow burn
Ella seems to have it all, beauty, brains, and lifelong friends. Her best friend Noah has always been by her side. There to pick up the pieces when she falls apart.
Best friends since a childhood tragedy bound them together, Ella and Noah have spent thirteen years navigating life, loss, and the blurred lines between friendship and love.
Now in college, surrounded by their tight-knit found family, they must confront their shared past and unspoken feelings. Will Ella's past hold her back and will her fear of losing her best friend stop her from missing out on her forever love.
Can Noah convince her that their love is worth the risk. But as old traumas and new insecurities surface, they risk destroying the one relationship that has always been their anchor, forcing them to decide if their forever is worth the fall.
Sometimes you find your soulmate at eight years old. The question is, are you strong enough to risk the friendship for what might be a forever love.
Tropes to Friends to loversChildhood friendsSports romanceCollege romanceGrief and healingMental health representationSlow burn
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
12 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Skye Daniels
2 books12 followersWife, Mom, and Dog-mom. Depends on the day for what order that falls in :) I've been writing for years more for myself and finally decided to write a book that I could publish. If I'm not writing, then I'm reading.
I think falling in love with a good story can make anyone's day go from sad to happy. That's what I want to do. Entertain people and make them smile when they get done reading one of my books.
I think falling in love with a good story can make anyone's day go from sad to happy. That's what I want to do. Entertain people and make them smile when they get done reading one of my books.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 31, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Where You’ve Always Been by Skye Daniels
Noah and Ella’s story is the kind of coming-of-age, slow-burn romance that sticks with you. Childhood best friends turned college roommates, they’ve been quietly pining for each other for years — too scared to risk the friendship, too tangled in their shared past to speak the truth. The tension is real, the longing is palpable, and the emotional payoff is worth the wait.
But this book isn’t just about romance. It dives deep into mental health — anxiety, depression, grief — and how those struggles shape relationships, identity, and everyday life. As someone who lives with anxiety and depression, I found the representation honest and relatable. It’s written with care, never dramatized, and woven seamlessly into the characters’ growth.
The found family vibes are strong here this friend group is so supportive, chaotic, loyal — they add warmth and humor to the heavier moments and make the story feel lived-in.
Skye Daniels’ writing flows effortlessly. I read this in a day and a half and didn’t want to put it down. It’s emotional, romantic, and quietly powerful. Highly recommend for fans of slow-burn friends-to-lovers with real heart and real healing.
Noah and Ella’s story is the kind of coming-of-age, slow-burn romance that sticks with you. Childhood best friends turned college roommates, they’ve been quietly pining for each other for years — too scared to risk the friendship, too tangled in their shared past to speak the truth. The tension is real, the longing is palpable, and the emotional payoff is worth the wait.
But this book isn’t just about romance. It dives deep into mental health — anxiety, depression, grief — and how those struggles shape relationships, identity, and everyday life. As someone who lives with anxiety and depression, I found the representation honest and relatable. It’s written with care, never dramatized, and woven seamlessly into the characters’ growth.
The found family vibes are strong here this friend group is so supportive, chaotic, loyal — they add warmth and humor to the heavier moments and make the story feel lived-in.
Skye Daniels’ writing flows effortlessly. I read this in a day and a half and didn’t want to put it down. It’s emotional, romantic, and quietly powerful. Highly recommend for fans of slow-burn friends-to-lovers with real heart and real healing.
January 3, 2026
Friends to lovers
INDIE JANUARY BOOK REVIEW
I really enjoyed the story of Ella and Noah. There are quite a few funny, chaotic moments that I could totally see happening if a group of friends this large lived together. It almost gave me the same chaotic vibes as the TV show Shameless, in a good way!
I love that our main characters put each other first, even before they were willing to admit their feelings for each other and risk their friendship for something more. I also love that the conflict didn't immediately and miraculously resolve instantly. The reconciliation felt real and earned.
Overall an easy, day-in-the-life style read with a sweet love story that also brought the spice.
INDIE JANUARY BOOK REVIEW
I really enjoyed the story of Ella and Noah. There are quite a few funny, chaotic moments that I could totally see happening if a group of friends this large lived together. It almost gave me the same chaotic vibes as the TV show Shameless, in a good way!
I love that our main characters put each other first, even before they were willing to admit their feelings for each other and risk their friendship for something more. I also love that the conflict didn't immediately and miraculously resolve instantly. The reconciliation felt real and earned.
Overall an easy, day-in-the-life style read with a sweet love story that also brought the spice.
January 24, 2026
Noah and Ella ❤️
Where You’ve Always Been is an emotional friends-to-lovers story where actions speak louder than words. Noah and Ella’s connection is built on years of friendship, quiet support, and deep understanding, and I appreciated how the book handled anxiety, PTSD, and emotional reliance with care. The characters felt real, the conflict was honest, and the growth felt earned. I loved the banter between the friends group. Any book with banter is always a plus. It was a really sweet book to read. I would definitely recommend it.. If you havent gotten it yet, consider this your sign to read it.
Where You’ve Always Been is an emotional friends-to-lovers story where actions speak louder than words. Noah and Ella’s connection is built on years of friendship, quiet support, and deep understanding, and I appreciated how the book handled anxiety, PTSD, and emotional reliance with care. The characters felt real, the conflict was honest, and the growth felt earned. I loved the banter between the friends group. Any book with banter is always a plus. It was a really sweet book to read. I would definitely recommend it.. If you havent gotten it yet, consider this your sign to read it.
January 10, 2026
Sweet and Spicy
Skye Daniels book reminded me so much of being in college. I’m 70 years old now and I’m glad those days are behind me, but I remember through this book that intensity of all of your relationships.
Daniels has done a great job of giving romance readers who want more than simple spice what you’re looking for.
The characters are all relatable, which is more important than likable. They are all loveable in their ways. Of course, Noah and Ella are the stars of this book. And their backstory is rich and beautifully written.
I really like the alternating POV chapters. It gives such a fresh perspective on everything that is going on.
I found a dialogue, really realistic, especially for that age group. It was really funny sometimes.
The book delves into more serious issues with great sensitivity and authenticity.
I felt a lovely connection with these characters, all of them, including the supporting characters are so well drawn.
This is a lovely book if you are looking for a romance that has such a great foundation and for relationships between characters that ring true.
Great read!
Skye Daniels book reminded me so much of being in college. I’m 70 years old now and I’m glad those days are behind me, but I remember through this book that intensity of all of your relationships.
Daniels has done a great job of giving romance readers who want more than simple spice what you’re looking for.
The characters are all relatable, which is more important than likable. They are all loveable in their ways. Of course, Noah and Ella are the stars of this book. And their backstory is rich and beautifully written.
I really like the alternating POV chapters. It gives such a fresh perspective on everything that is going on.
I found a dialogue, really realistic, especially for that age group. It was really funny sometimes.
The book delves into more serious issues with great sensitivity and authenticity.
I felt a lovely connection with these characters, all of them, including the supporting characters are so well drawn.
This is a lovely book if you are looking for a romance that has such a great foundation and for relationships between characters that ring true.
Great read!
January 22, 2026
This is a really sweet story about finding the love of your life at a young age and being afraid to take that next step towards something more than friendship due to not wanting to change what they have... but both knowing that their love is true and inevitable.
The lead characters faced real life serious issues related to mental health and dealing with anxiety, PTSD and loss the author deals with all of these issues in a thoughtful way.
The lead characters are easy to love and I also loved their friend group who were loud, sometimes meddling and borderline obnoxious but always true friendship goals.
There were some truly laugh out loud moments that I could see happening when you are living with that many people at that age group in a big house.
The story was heartfelt and I truly enjoyed it! I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series which comes out later this month.
book blog: https://elbyslibrary.blogspot.com/202...
*2026 read *State challenge- Texas *Friends to more *childhood best friends *slow burn
*spice *college romance *Indie author *mental health representation *grief
*dual POV *mutual long term pining *she's more experienced *soul mates
The lead characters faced real life serious issues related to mental health and dealing with anxiety, PTSD and loss the author deals with all of these issues in a thoughtful way.
The lead characters are easy to love and I also loved their friend group who were loud, sometimes meddling and borderline obnoxious but always true friendship goals.
There were some truly laugh out loud moments that I could see happening when you are living with that many people at that age group in a big house.
The story was heartfelt and I truly enjoyed it! I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series which comes out later this month.
book blog: https://elbyslibrary.blogspot.com/202...
*2026 read *State challenge- Texas *Friends to more *childhood best friends *slow burn
*spice *college romance *Indie author *mental health representation *grief
*dual POV *mutual long term pining *she's more experienced *soul mates
December 3, 2025
Cute, Romantic & Spicy
This was such a sweet story of two childhood sweethearts finding they had always loved one another after failed relationship attempts with others. There were a lot of relationships happening in this story! I really liked the way Noah was always so sweet and understanding of Ella, even when they fought. The therapy and mental health aspects of this story are such important topics to touch on too! What a heart warming and great read!
This was such a sweet story of two childhood sweethearts finding they had always loved one another after failed relationship attempts with others. There were a lot of relationships happening in this story! I really liked the way Noah was always so sweet and understanding of Ella, even when they fought. The therapy and mental health aspects of this story are such important topics to touch on too! What a heart warming and great read!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews