Chasing After More: Aberdeen Ranch Book 1

by Elle F. Sun

“An emotional and endearing start to the Aberdeen Ranch series that gives readers a glimpse into what it's like to navigate things such as empathy and grief amidst life itself. With characters from all stages of life, there is a realness within this book that will make you laugh, cry, and feel seen."
Delia Fairchild is no stranger to letting her feelings guide her choices, and that’s exactly how she ends up in Wyoming for the summer, working for the Aberdeen family and living on their ranch. She’s hopeful this change will help her understand why she’s had this longing for more out of life. But, of course, it’s never that simple, and her trip of self-discovery is derailed when she meets her boss’ brooding younger brother.

Griffin Aberdeen has pushed everyone away–except for his grandmother, sister, and niece. The few friends he does have, know not to talk about the losses that led him to shut off his emotions and close off his heart. But that’s all jeopardized when he meets Delia, who seems to see right through his tough exterior. And he’ll do anything to make sure she can’t get close enough to see all the cracks.

As Delia’s empathy clashes with Griffin’s grief, they’re left wondering why their paths crossed. Could they help each other in ways they never planned for?

Sensitive topics such as death, grief, and loss, explicit language, sexual content, therapy and mental health, panic attacks, alcohol, and self-harm are discussed within this novel.

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2025

About the author

Elle is an indie author in Charleston, SC.



She loves writing about intense emotions, heavy feelings, and things that make her heart feel alive. When she reads, she enjoys supporting other indie authors, and loves dark romace, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity.



Elle uses her passion for mental health, trauma recovery, and emotional healing in her writing with the hopes of nurturing other reader's souls. Her dream is to restore hearts she didn't break and make the lost feel seen.



When she isn't spending time writing, shopping for more books, or working her way through her TBR, she is snuggling her two pit rescues or shopping for her next outfit to wear downtown for dinner.

Reviews

[alice ✧.* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming soon oh yes 🙂‍↕️🤭
i’m gonna be so unbearable when i can talk about this book publicly

[sads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the privilege of getting the arc for chasing after more and dear god I LOVE THIS BOOK, it was such a warm story about healing and grief. The found family in the book was literally everything and more, I LOVE ALL OF THE CHARACTERS 😭 The entire friend group was so welcoming and GODDDDD

Delia is such a precious character 😭 I found myself really connecting with her throughout the entire story, gosh she Is the SWEETEST and GRIFFIN MY CLOSED OFF KING, he just needs someone to break down those walls 😭 their few hugs in the book had me crashing out too 👩‍🦯 👩‍🦯👩‍🦯

I CANNOT WAIT FOR BOOK TWO HEHE

[Shay Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a romance in the typical sense of the word. It’s a story of growth and healing. It’s learning to let go of the past in order to move forward, and accept that life’s circumstances are often out of our control.

Delia and Griffin are dislike to kind of friends by the end of book one. These two clash and their dislike is confusing but completely understandable.

The humanness and relatability of these characters was incredible. This story perfect encapsulates what it means to feel everything, while also what it means to feel too much that you shut everything out. It shows grief and the non-linear healing of it. It shows the rawness of self-discovery and what it means to find comfort in a place and people while also feeling like an outsider.

Delia emulates what being an empath is. The constant state of feeling so much while also not being able to fully understand why. It’s taking on and hoarding the past hurt, while being the rock for everyone around them. Her want of belonging and searching for what is out there. Feeling like you’re not quite where you belong. But thinking you’ll find it in something new.

Griffin is hurt and grief incarnate. He has trapped himself away in a box to avoid the possibility of getting hurt again. He denies himself the luxury to feel because he has felt too much and could not handle it. He wants to avoid the uncomfortable because it’s easier to keep on under the guise that nothing can penetrate the walls he’s built.

Delia challenges Griffin in so many ways and confronts the feelings he has tried to bury for years. Watching the two of them dance around each other and finally have an honest conversation felt honest and real. They’re not quite friends but they’re heading towards something along that line.

[Julie Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elle knows how to put you right in your feels with her writing. The dedication alone just makes my heart soar. Delia feels like she’s stuck in her life, and wants to make a change, hoping that it will make her feel like she’s on the right path. And when grumpy, closed-off Griffin enters her life, she can’t help but feel drawn to him. The way Griffin holds his grief, and pushes down all his feelings, really made my heart break for him. He wants to push her away, but yet all these little signs and incidents happen between them, and he panics , literally. His relationships with his friends and family were the same way, but it was important to show that he is like that with everyone. But Delia comes in and says, hold my beer, you’re gonna be friends with me whether you like it or not. The hugs!!!

While this is a contemporary romance, it’s also a contemporary women’s fiction, and I really enjoyed the no spice element to this first duet book. With their story, it wouldn’t have felt right to jump into this instant love connection and jump into something right away. Their relationship unfolds in a natural way. Their tension towards the end though is soooo good! And I love how everyone around them sees their chemistry and tries to push them together. I can’t wait to read the second part!

[Brynley Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Found family
✨Self-discovery
✨Grumpy x sunshine
✨Strong fmc
✨Slowest burn you could imagine

I loved this! It was like a love letter to empaths, and oh boy do I feel seen! The friendships & slow burn were giving boys of tommen vibes. You can always count on Elle to deliver transformational and emotionally driven stories. I'm loving the character arc of Griffin and how he managed his feelings about Delia. I can't wait for the second book of his duet & more of Griffin & Delia venturing into romance, I have a feeling they are gonna blow my mind 🤩

Huge thanks to Elle F. Sun for letting me read an ARC 🫶🏼

[Mary Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming in the best way!

Loved every minute of Delia and Griffin’s story! I loved getting to see Griffin work through his feelings and emotions. I feel like it’s something we don’t often see with a MMC and it was so refreshing. I can’t wait to read the ending to see where they end up.

[Maeghen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It will come as no surprise that I loved this book. Elle was in her element, and I felt very connected to her characters. I always feel so connected to all of the characters that she writes.

I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of the Aberdeen Ranch and seeing more of Griffin and Delia

[Bea Morelandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I didn’t know this was an indie author, I’d think it was trad!
Chasing After More is a refreshing read that sets up the perfect romance to come! I love that this is contemporary women’s fiction but has so much playfulness to it. The tension, banter, found family, it was all so well rounded and enjoyable. The grief and empathy contrast was so beautiful and left me feeling seen in so many ways. I can’t wait to read the rest of Delia and Griffin’s story!!! Easy 5 stars!