Snapshots of Sunlight

by Abbie Emmons

For Tessa and Weston, happily-ever-after is just the beginning.

Five stories. One unforgettable year. Snapshots of Sunlight follows the next chapters of Tessa and Weston's story as they navigate growing up, growing together, and finding the light in every season.

A first job that tests Weston's patience (and his punching restraint). A writing class that challenges Tessa's heart and self-confidence. A prom night full of yearning and heartbreak. A brotherly adventure that doesn't go as planned. And a small-town mystery with secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Filled with humor, heart, and a healthy dose of chaos, Snapshots of Sunlight is a cozy, feel-good continuation of the YA series 100 Days of Sunlight--perfect for readers who love low-spice romance, disability rep, and stories that remind you to find light even the darkest days.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 24, 2026

About the author

Abbie Emmons has been writing stories ever since she could hold a pencil. What started out as an intrinsic love for storytelling has turned into her lifelong passion. There's nothing Abbie likes better than writing (and reading) stories that are both heartrending and humorous, with a touch of cute romance and a poignant streak of truth running through them. Abbie is also a YouTuber, creative writing coach, traveler, filmmaker, big dreamer, and professional waffle-eater. When she's not writing or dreaming up new stories, you can find her reading a book or binge-watching BBC Masterpiece dramas in her cozy Vermont home with a cup of tea.

Reviews

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHH it’s finally here!!! 🎉✨
Snapshots of Sunlight is officially on Goodreads — which means you can now mark it as “Want to Read” and join Tessa & Weston for their next year of chaos, character growth, romance, and cozy small-town vibes. ☀️💛

This book has:
✨ five not-so-short interconnected stories
✨ slow burn + low-spice romance
✨ a cozy small-town mystery
✨ disability rep
✨ Tessa in her dark academia era
✨ Weston trying his best not to punch people (he tries… but fails.)
✨ brother banter + misadventures
✨ yearning. ANGST. more yearning.

If you loved 100 Days of Sunlight and Tessa & Weston: The Best Christmas Ever, this is the next chapter in their journey — a warm, heartfelt, slightly chaotic collection about love, change, and finding the light in every season.

This book is rated PG-13 (appropriate for ages 13+) but if you're concerned about the content, please read the official content guide BEFORE you read it!


➡️ Add it to your Want to Read shelf now! (and add a quick note in your post about why you're excited for this one!)

➡️ Pre-order before February 24 to unlock bonus goodies: click here to get your copy.

I can’t WAIT for you to read these stories. 💛

rock on,
Abbie

[Brooke Riley]

I cannot WAIT to read this glorious masterpiece!! This is so exciting!!

[Honora Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I rated the stories as I went! Overall I'm rating this short story collection 4 stars - I love Weston and Tessa so much (It's so fun seeing more of their relationship, and I really need to go read Tessa and Weston: Best Christmas Ever finally). I can't wait to read the final book of the series as well! 🤩

The Job

Very original title, but we'll go with it. There's definitely a lot more language than I remembered, so that was disappointing. But overall the story was very cute! I've never loved the trope of "girl hits on guy who has a girlfriend" but he actually reacted in a way that didn't make me mad, so we'll take it.

Overall I'd rate this story 4 stars! I loved the themes and how Weston grew as a person even in 42 short pages.

Prom and Principles

I ended up skimming a bit of this one, since I didn't necessarily appreciate the way certain topics were referenced, but the ultimate conclusion (on both Tessa's and Weston's sides) was definitely better than I expected. And the ending was adorable. 🥹 I'd rate this one 3.5 stars!

The Writing Class

Ahhhh I love this one the most so far. Maybe it's because I'm a writer, but oh well. 😂 I had forgotten how much I love Abbie Emmons' writing because she actually makes Tessa and Weston react like real people. Tessa's reactions to things are so similar to what my own would be like, but even better, I appreciate that Tessa and Weston talk things out and fight for each other.

I squealed at the end. The story was pretty much what I predicted, but it was written so well, and I absolutely loved it. I'd rate this one 4.5 stars! (Not 5 stars due to language)

Adventures In Chaperoning

Okay, I love the older sibling vibes from both Weston and Tessa. It's so cute and AHHH. There weren't any major themes in it though, so nothing super duper relatable.

Overall I'd rate this one 4 stars!

Fire On Forsythia Lane

Oh my word, I want Abbie Emmons to write more mysteries! This was such a cozy little mystery, and I loved Tessa and Weston being sleuths. 😂 There was minimal language and no dirty jokes in this story, so I really appreciated that as well!

I'd rate this one 4.5 stars!

[Keira Mueller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, I really, really wanted to like this. The first two books in the series were AMAZING, imbued with sunlight and Christmas magic, but that spark didn't quite translate to this one.

First, like the first two books, there is quite a bit of language, s-words and a-words, but not f-words (thank goodness). There is A LOT of kissing (Tessa and Weston cannot be together for more than two seconds without a full make-out session. That's not an exaggeration), and though there are no explicit scenes, the characters talk about it far more than necessary.

Even though short story collections have never been my jam, I thought I would love anything with Tessa and Weston. It provides plenty of snapshots and fun experiences, but is missing that sunlight. Tessa and Weston are both eighteen, which means more mature content. They both almost get seduced Again, they cannot be within six feet of each other before letting the hormones take over. In the prior books, their romance was sweet and something to be cherished, but it's much harder when they are constantly canoodling. Additionally, the book seemed to primarily focus on Weston, and I was missing some of Tessa's experiences.

However, I can see how some people might love this story. It just didn't hold the same magic as the first two. Nevertheless, I heard there will be one final instalment in this series, so I will be sure to read that.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I KID YOU NOT when I saw the email in my inbox, I screamed, and I am currently bouncing up and down in glee at my desk A DAY LATER. No doubt Abbie Emmons has made another brilliant masterpiece!

**Edited**

I received the immense honour of being able to ARC read this latest work of Abbie's, and it is very good! However, there are a few things I believe I should mention for sensitive readers and younger readers, and parents.

This book is amazing, do not mistake me! I laughed audibly more than once! However... Especially in the 'Prom' short story, there is a lot of talk of condoms (a protagonist ends up taking one and putting it in his pocket). Talk of losing virginity on prom night. Quite a few kissing scenes as well.
POSITIVES:
Tessa believes in saving herself for marriage, and Weston respects that. This is very admirable in modern society, and so I appreciate that.
Condoms are a big part of the plot in this short story, and in the story where Weston gets a job, a teenager tries to seduce him despite knowing he is in a relationship.

Overall, it's not severe sexual content, but speaking as a big sister, I had to mention it. I also have friends who are fairly sheltered and younger than me who love Abbie's novels, but I'm not too sure I'll be recommending this one to them just yet.

Abbie, if you see this, please know I greatly enjoyed ARC reading, and it is definitely very well written. It is evident how much heart you put into this latest addition the the WESTESS series.
Thank you very much for choosing me!

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

‿︵˓ʚ♡ɞ˓︵‿ if i could bottle this book up and send to future me when i'm sad, i would. snapshots of sunlight is the perfect short story collection if you are missing reading about our sunlight couple--tessa and weston. this is the dopamine boost that you need. each short story was a cute little plotline with enough boost to keep me reading. i fear i may have read this at 2am in the morning and wished that it was longer. but that's okay. i'll come back to this book. you ate abbie with this. need more asap. pick up snapshots of sunlight for a dopamine boost. 👏‍‍

𓂃⋆.˚ i received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts are my own.

[Moriyah Cordova]

The cover!!! I can’t wait to read this collection of short stories!

Edit: Ummm. The content concerns me a bit. I love Abbie’s writing but…I’m torn on reading this book. I do appreciate that Abbie has a link to a content guide (super helpful). It seems like the content jumped from book 1 to 3 and I’d be worried for young teen readers and those who are more sensitive. I tend to be a more sensitive reader. If you are similar, I highly recommend reading the content guide and trigger warnings on the other reviews. I’m still open to reading it but am wary to say the least.

[Aaron Comer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting off with a HUGE thank you for the ARC, which was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

The Job—5 stars!
I really, really liked this one. Writing a story completely from Weston’s perspective was a great way to add more depth to his character. Weston’s voice is so strong, and his character is so complex, that I always find myself caught in the middle of a wide range of emotions whenever I’m reading about him. Everything about this was great!

Prom and Principles—3 stars!
This story was good, but the content of the plot felt weird at times, and I didn’t really see how any of it was necessary. But as always, Abbie’s writing style was gorgeous and kept my attention the whole time.

The Writing Class—4 stars!
I would have given this one five stars, but Tessa and Weston both annoyed me at different times throughout the story. Despite that, I loved where they ended up. I think Abbie did a great job revealing some darker, more naive parts of both main characters. And of course, centering the main events of the story around a creative writing class was a genius move on her part.

Adventures in Chaperoning—5 stars!
This was BY FAR my favorite! I laughed out loud more times than I can count, and I loved seeing how Weston’s dynamic with Henry played out throughout the story. I really want to see more content like this from Abbie in the future.

Fire on Forsythia Lane—5 stars!
It’s safe to say I have never read what I would consider a “cozy mystery” before this book, but I loved it! I think Abbie should include mystery elements in all her books from here on out if I’m being honest. It was fun seeing the characters do something different than usual, even if the stakes weren’t incredibly high.

Overall, 4.5 stars! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read it!

[Alya Dorhmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOTE: contains mild spoilers.
I was so excited to receive the ARC and to be able to be an early reader for the amazing Abbie.

OVERALL:
over all rating was hard, it's not up there with some of my other 4 star reads but definitely wasn't as low as some of my 3 star reads. So I went with a solid 3 stars.

THE JOB:
I love the fast pace
Westonnnnn
Bruiser's back story in interesting!
---

Some cringy Wesstess dialogue
Why was Tessa cringe … 😬
---

4 stars.

PROM AND PRINCIPLES:
More Tessa
More Heather (I really like her)
---

Quote "He's not like other guys,"
Insurance policy????
More cringy Wesstess dialogue.
Why did the age rating bump up by like 2 in this one?????
They talked about It a lot like ….. a lot.
For someone who very much dosn’t believe in $@X before marriage she sure seems fine with some pretty hot handed necking like …
If Weston was dnd he would be a bard (for … reasons)
---

2.5 stars.

THE WRITING CLASS:
I really liked Grayson at the beginning
The opening line to Graysons book!!!!
More of Tessa's POV.
I love Weston beating people up.
---

I wanted Grayson to be a nice guy!
Weston was kind of possessive but also right.
---

3.5 stars.

ADVENTURES IN CHAPERONING:
The brother banter.
Henry being to good for his own good.
Only a game of monopoly!
---

4.5 stars.

FIRE ON FORSYTHIA LANE:
Wasn't expecting a mystery!
No cringy Wesstess dialogue!
Very different vibe.
---

Mystery wasn't very surprising (though It wouldn’t be easy to fit a full one into a short story)
---

4 stars.

Over all these were fast pace, addictive, funny, and very entertaining short story's and I am so glad I was on this ARC team and able to be one of the first to experience the snapshots of sunlight.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ARC review. (Sorry no better introduction, I guess smh)

To begin with, I enjoyed this book very much. It was a cozy collection of five sweet WesTess short stories that were quite genuine and heartwarming. (Look guys. I'm ARC; I can't be crazy and fangirl anymore. I'm a very very cool professional. Just... go with it.)

Trigger Warnings

Swearing, conversations about s*x, dirty jokes, a short story a peer of Tessa's wrote about s*icide, and infrequent violence, once including a gun (other than that it's mostly just Weston punching people.)

The Things I Didn't Like

The language in this book was noticeably more frequent than in the previous two books. There was significantly more innuendo and more dirty jokes, and the sheer amount of times Tessa and Weston were making out was nearly every few scenes. Because of this, despite the romance being incredibly sweet, it didn't feel the same as in the previous books due to the frequent caressing and kissing. It did get rather repetitive after a time, and I have to say that I really don't like their doing this ALL THE THE TIME. It was even worse than the last book. I very much preferred the romance of the first book because it was much more sweet and subtle.

It did bother me a bit in the conversations about s*x. Now, I know that nothing really did happen, but in the short story Prom and Principles, the conversations about this were very frequent, and the pressure from a certain boy in the school towards Weston to do such things with Tessa. It was good that in the end he learned to respect her boundaries and to not even pretend to do otherwise, and it did make sense for his character why he would pretend he intended to do it in order to prove himself, because sweet ol' Weston never seems to get over it. It's an ongoing struggle and I do appreciate how his need to prove himself doesn't magically disappear after just one book. HOWEVER. I did not like it that the extremity of Weston's act was resolved in something like a Pride and Prejudice themed ball (although that dance was amazing.) How is it okay for Weston to prove how irresponsible and untrustworthy he is, despite his intentions, and for all that to not matter anymore because he set up a great ball? I understand that it is a difficult plot to resolve, but I would say Tessa should have broke up with him over something so severe as a breach of trust. It didn't satisfy me. Also what was with the whole thing about Weston being "not like other guys"? I thought this whole cliche was something Abbie didn't like....ew.

Um. Wasn't Grayson's kiss in The Writing Class considered a s*xual *ssault?? Like.... I'm pretty sure that was......HELLO????? I'm not sure whether to add that to the TWs or not....

Ferg. Oh man, did Neil Ferguson grate on me. See, I know his purpose in the story was to be a bully and he did fulfill his role, but I do think that even as a side character, considering that this is a character-driven contemporary romance, he could have had some depth. At this point, he doesn't seem to have ANYTHING good about him, and that seems unfair to me considering how almost every single other character is incredibly well-layered and impressively REAL. I did feel that Marcus from Fire on Forsythia Lane was at least a slightly more well-written character, if not sympathetic. I like it when all the characters have at least some hint of realness, and...well yeah. I honestly am not entirely sure if it is my bias against the high school bully trope, but I did not care for Ferg.

As I noticed in Tessa and Weston: The Best Christmas Ever (well my friend kinda affirmed this and convinced me so...), this book as well did not seem to have as prominent of developing character development and it seemed to be replaced with a lot of fluff. This is fine; fluff can be really cute. But I do think that character development is more important, and while the characters' internal journeys were THERE and what's more in every short story, it was often buried by the fluff. So yah.

The Things I Loved

I loved how in nearly every short story, there was some element of subtle lesson or character development. Tessa and Weston both learned some things in almost every story, and it was subtle enough to feel natural considering how short the stories were, so I do appreciate that. I will now go through a list of my favorite aspects of each of the five short stories.

1. The Job. I enjoyed Weston's desire to prove himself with Bruiser and the way it was written just felt so realistic. Weston was obsessed with trying to show how his being an amputee didn't change anything about his abilities, and it nicely reflected Weston's struggles in 100 Days. Personally, I loved the part where Weston was trying to be all cool and tough and badass and determined when really Bruiser wanted someone who wasn't super arrogant and irresponsible and reckless. Oops, that isn't really a spoiler I guess. ;)

2. Prom and Principles. MY GOSH. Talk about a romantic prom invitation!! Like... I won't spoil it, but I promise it has to do something with the Sound of Music, and it was heartmeltingly sweet and just UGH. YES. Regardless, I appreciated how both Tessa and Weston learned a little more about each other-Tessa learned how Weston reacts to peer pressure and Weston learned how it is important to respect Tessa's boundaries regardless of what others think. Huh...btw I'm noticing that that seems to both be centered around Weston. I do notice that a lot of things are more focused on Weston's struggles than Tessa's.

3. The Writing Class. I loved this one so much because I watch Abbie Emmons' videos on Youtube and I'm a writer myself, so it was enjoyable to see little hints of Abbie in this story. (*wink wink* internal conflict *wink wink*) It was exciting to see Tessa writing her first novel. (*winks dramatically some more*). It did pique my interest to see the differences between writing for the sake of seeming intelligent versus writing for the sake of the love of it. That was a nice little theme that honestly did make me think and question my own perspective on writing. ALSO WHAT THE HELL I DID NOT KNOW I NEEDED TO SEE TESSA IN LIGHT ACADEMIA. About Grayson, ashamed as I am to say it, I found myself second-guessing whether Weston was right for Tessa when Grayson made that speech about Weston and Tessa sharing no interests, as opposed to Grayson. DONT KILL ME PLEASE IM SORRY. Also I liked how in this story Weston learned to not be overprotective/possessive of Tessa. I thought that was sweet, not to mention the adorable callback to the times Weston pushed Tessa outside of her comfort zone in 100 Days... now again when she's joining her first ever writing class. Gotta say that his teaching her how to punch was one of the cutest things I've ever read.

4. Adventures in Chaperoning. This was a sweet little story about stalking innocently watching one's little brother and making sure he is safe. :)

5. Fire on Forsynthia Lane. (I hope I spelled that right.) Well, this was quite the change of scenery, and quite frankly I enjoyed it very much. I didn't get the mystery right (incompetent, I know), but it was still fun! I loved the vibes of this one.

Thanks Abbie for this cute collection of short stories! I loved it and I am honored to be part of the ARC team. Can't wait to see what's next for Tessa and Weston!!! <33

[Faith Marshall]

Boxing gloves? Books? Flowers of all sorts? The cover has clues, and I can't wait!

[Isla Maye]

OMG OMG OMG!! I've been waiting for this announcement since the 100 Days of Sunlight 5-year anniversary video on YT! I'm so so excited to read this. Also, the cover is STUNNING. It matches the other covers and yet it's so different!
Can't wait to read more about Tessa and Weston—I love them and I love your writing!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

PRE-READ
I'm already obsessed I fear

thank you to Abbie Emmons for this arc copy!!!!

-the job-
Not my favorite but it definitely got me hooked.

-prom and principles-
I have a bit of a problem with Weston after this one. I see myself in Tessa but i don't agree with how she handled this

-The writing Class -
Oh my goodness you know it's good writing when it makes you hate a character * cough cough* Grayson .... also, this ones my favorite

- Adventures in Chaperoning-
Awwww i love the sibling bond

- Fire on Forsythia Lane-
Such a cute and cozy mystery and a perfect ending to this book


all in all I think its a perfect 3rd edition to Tessa and Westons story!

and I will always be a sucker for a collection of short stories :)

[Irmak · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Warning: Possibly very little spoilers*

First of all, I would like to thank Abbie for this privilege of receiving an ARC. I am so excited to get to be a part of Westess's new journey! I hope you enjoy my review.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5🌟

1-The Job:

3.5/5🌟

First things first, I'd like to start with the things I liked about this first story. I'm sure as everyone who has read the previous books will also agree, Weston is both such a lovable and a relatable character. And as always, the character arc in the story is really well-developed, which is something you can always count on Abbie to achieve. Lastly, I loved how not only Weston, but also Bruiser had his own motivation and disbelief behind his actions, which were revealed in the end. It felt really well thought-out.
Even though I loved the main plotline following Weston's new job, I don't like the incident with Leia as much. It was probably a way to give Devon a reason to become Weston's rival but for some reason, the trope where a person hits on another person who has a significant other never sat right with me. Maybe there could have been some other reason if Devon was also given a more detailed backstory. Other than that, I didn't have any issues with the story, I really liked it. But the reason I gave it 3.5 stars is it didn't make me feel much or impress me much either.
Overall, this was a cute story and an easy read. I think the part I liked best was the last two pages or so where Weston was talking about getting back up whenever life knocks you down. That whole part I was like "Yes, you go Weston!" We love our obnoxiously optimistic boy☀️

2- Prom and Principles:

3-3.5/5🌟

Okay so, before I get into the review, I just have to say: Somebody get me a boy who will throw me a Pride and Prejudice themed ball please. My standards have been raised way too high.
As a principle (pun intended), let's start with everything I liked about the story. As always, the beats of the story were very clear and it was an easy read. Weston was soo romantic especially with his promposal and the GRAND gesture at the end!!! (But not in the Neil Ferguson plotline. That one was not it, Wes. But you were really sorry and made up for it so it's okay in the end I guess.) I really like Tessa as well and relate to her character in some ways, like how she is a person of principle and an introvert. (Also our shared love of Pride and Prejudice!!)
Now for the parts I didn't like: I've seen some other people mention this as well and for me, the biggest issue was the constant emphasis on *the deed*, making out, and that kind of stuff. Now while I do get that that was kind of the whole point of the story, and how that subject was az big issue for Tessa's characters especially, it just felt a litte weird, unnecessary or even cringe at times. I found the character of Neil Ferguson also a little cliché as well, like your stereotypical high school bully guy. That was probably how he was intended to be anyway but still.
Overall, it was another sweet Westess story; I just didn't think it was quite up to par with Abbie's previous Westess books.

3- The Writing Class:

4/5🌟

This third story has definitely been my favorite so far! It met my expectations from this book and had quite a few elements that I loved reading about. So without further ado, let's get into it!
Honestly, the premise of the story was enough to draw my attention but on top of that, it had me hooked from the first page. I thought that both Tessa's and Weston's POVs were very well-written. I could feel, understand and relate to both of their emotions and thoughts. Moreover, as an aspiring writer myself, I LOVED the writing class Tessa attended and their writing group the Inklings. I wish I were part of such a group so bad. I also liked Grayson a lot up until he pulled that stunt with Tessa. He was about to be a perfect fictional crush but he just had to ruin it with that move. Oh and lastly, I loved the butterfly metaphor in Weston's POV! It was such a good way to describe Tessa's journey.
This is normally the part where I talk about the things I didn't like but I can't think of any at the moment. The only reason I didn't give this story five stars is that it didn't WOW me. (That's what I use five stars for) So yeah, overall it was a great story and I loved seeing how Tessa and Weston's individual character arc's progress throughout the story.

4- Adventures In Chaperoning:

3.5/5🌟

This was really fun to read! The lengths to which Weston and Tessa went to in order to watch over Henry just for that ending was hilarious.
One of the two things I'd like to mention which kind of bothered me is that moment during Nicky Savage's party where Tessa lashes out at Weston and then Weston starts flirting with her to change the subject. I get that that is probably how Weston deals with that kind of situation but it kind of felt a little... out of nowhere? It was hot, don't get me wrong, no complaints about that. It just felt unnecessary in that context. Like, one moment when Tessa first started complaining I thought we were going to get an argument scene or something like that but then suddenly Weston pins her to the wall, starts flirting with her and they start making out. And the other thing is the recurring themes of "doing the deed" or things related to that. Not that I think there is anything necessarily wrong with that topic, don't get me wrong. It's just that it has been the focus for many parts of this book that it just feels a bit repetitive and cliché, I guess.
Still, I thought it was a fun read overall! Maybe it didn't have me completely hooked but it was easy and fun to read nevertheless.

5- Fire On Forsythia Lane:

3.5-4/5🌟

This last story was different from the rest as it was a mystery— and a really fun one at that! I loved how the truth behind the mystery was plotted. I did feel like a good little detective as I guessed it right😄 (it was a couple of pages before the truth was revealed anyways but we're just going to ignore that fact) I really liked that Rubik's cube detail as well!
I guess the one thing I though would've made the story even better is if Weston had a stronger motive for why he was so against Marcus. At first, the reason for that didn't feel very clear to me. It just seemed like Marcus was just another jerk who Weston could've just ignored. But he really went out of his way to prove Marcus wrong. So maybe a deeper, more personal motive could've made things even more intruiguing and could've helped the story matter more to Weston.
But overall, I thought it was a great little mystery!

I am a bit emotional as I'm typing these words right now because I just finished the whole book a few minutes ago 🥲 It was honestly great readong about these characters again and it made me realize I had missed Westess🥹 So this is kind of bittersweet but I'm glad their story is not over yet!

[Umma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sighs
WARNING: Disappointment.

I feel like most fans of Tessa and Weston’s love story are waiting on their toes for this to be published so they can read it. But, truth be told, I think most will be disappointed by these short stories.

As said by my fellow first two-star reviewer: they couldn’t spend five minutes with each other without starting a make-out session. And I’m not dissing the romance, but this was bad… The amount of times I cringed at the dialogue and internal thoughts when they were around each other is ridiculous. In the first two books, them kissing felt exciting; like we, the readers, were being rewarded for reading their story. But they were making out so often it was annoying.

Reading the other reviews brought out a concern that I hadn’t been bothered by, but will share anyway. SWEARING—there was a lot more of it than in the first two books. Like, a lot. So just be warned if you don’t like that stuff (I was fine with it).

THE JOB
Not a very original name, but that doesn’t matter too much. I really liked this short story. I loved seeing a lot of Weston, and not too much Tessa (not her biggest fan), and I loved the pacing in this one, but I felt like the end got way too sappy, and the guys were just spilling their guts to each other so easily I didn’t appreciate that. And in this first short story, Tessa sounded so cringe I honestly felt she was being more of Weston’s mother than girlfriend. Having said that, we didn’t get too much of Tessa, so overall it was a good story.

4 stars.

PROM AND PRINCIPLES
I don’t even know where to start with this one. It was bad. Like, really, really bad. Not only did the age rating of the book go up by a year or two in this short story, it was the cringiest thing I’ve ever read and honestly didn’t make sense. They were talking about “IT” like they were an engaged couple waiting to do it on the wedding night. Like, come on, no—you’re not going to just say, “It’s okay, you have urges,” (and yes, she used the word urges) “I have them too, but we have to be married first.” Meanwhile, they were just having a really hot and heavy make-out session, and I’m not saying that making out and doing “IT” are the same thing (they’re very different). I’m just saying the whole thing felt very unrealistic. Might just be me, but I would not just spill out my guts about wanting to do the devil’s tango with you while saying we still have to wait till the wedding night as we are making out. The whole drama about the “protection” could have been resolved so quickly if Weston just fessed up quicker, but NOPE—we needed drama. The only redeeming part of this was Neil’s insults—those were funny and I enjoyed them. This short story felt like those inside thoughts you have about your characters and write just for you—but she forgot, and published it.

2 stars.

THE WRITING CLASS
Another disappointing name, but a not disappointing short story. Though I don’t like Tessa, I really enjoyed this short story. This one had a lot less cringey Westess things going on, so I appreciated that. I didn’t like how there were two ||near break-ups two short stories in a row. We just saw them make up, and now we’re gonna see them fighting again? I know this book goes over one year, but as readers we don’t get to feel that, so it just feels redundant||. I also hated how ||she made Grayson bad. I really liked him at first, and I like his story ideas.|| I do, however, love how Weston stood up for Tessa and punched ||Grayson||. I loved, in this short story, all the side characters. I loved Shoshanna and Dr. Travis. So this was nice to read after that terrible second story.

3.98 stars.

ADVENTURES IN CHAPERONING
I don’t want to spoil anything for this one because it was such a gem. I actually loved this short story. It’s one of the few times I laughed while reading and not because something was so cringey. I love the adventure they go on, and there was no CRINGY WESTESS in this at all. Their make-out scenes felt cute and fun to read, and Tessa felt like a girlfriend, and they didn’t ||nearly break up again||. This one was a little unhinged at some points, but in a Percy Jackson way where you’re like, “This is awesome.”

Almost 5 stars.

FIRE ON FORSYTHEA LANE
At this point in reading the book, I really wanted to finish it, so I was reading as fast as I could—and good thing I decided to, because this was a mystery story, and Abbie is very good with mysteries in the sense of pacing. For me, the plot of this one was very easy to figure out and didn’t feel that shocking. The main thing that got me was BIG SPOILERS ||that Marcus had a gun at the end||. But I liked the end fistfight—that was fun. Overall, this was very different from all the other short stories, but I liked it because there was no cringe whatsoever. No dirty jokes. All mysteries. It was such a palate cleanser.

3.98 stars.

With all these short stories, the one thing that stood out to me that I liked was the character relationships. Tessa + Heather—I love how her mum doesn’t just agree with everything Tessa says and how she gives Tessa advice and stuff. Weston + Bruiser—I loved their mentor–student vibe in a boss–employee setting. Tessa + writing class people—I loved all the people in her writing class. They felt like real people and talked about their work like real people. Weston + Henry—in Adventures in Chaperoning, we got to see all about Henry’s and Weston’s relationship, which was really nice. I enjoyed that a lot.

The final note I have to add to this review is that it felt unfinished. It felt, to me, in places, like it needed more editing and more time. I mean, Abbie announced that she was writing these short stories at the end of 2023, so she’s had a good long while to write these, let them sit, edit them, and get feedback and review again. But it felt like she skipped beta reading altogether, and her editor had kindness blindness. As a huge fan of Abbie’s writing and pacing, this was really disappointing for me to read. It felt like she put so much love into it, but it feels unrefined. Honestly, I think she chose the wrong file of the old version and now can’t go back.

In short: I think you should read this to get your own opinion, but be warned about everything. I was so nervous to write this review because I keep thinking I won’t get chosen to be an ARC reader in the future. But I have a job to do, so I’m going to do it well.

Thank you for choosing me, Abbie.
And readers: rock on.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to be chosen as a member of the ARC team for the 3rd book in the 100 Days Of Sunlight series! I absolutely loved the first two books of the “TessWes” romance and I so I was very excited to read this book!

I LOVE this book! And I think fans of the original books will not be disappointed! :-)

I was initially a little worried when I learned this was a collection of shorter stories about Tessa and Weston, rather than a full length novel like the other books, but after reading it I found that I LOVE this format, especially for these characters, and I see a lot of potential for the author writing several of these types of collections for the characters as they grow in their relationship, maybe eventually even writing stories about them getting married and starting a family of their own…(please Abbie! :-) that would be awesome!)

This collection of stories was an absolute delight! I was very interested in the characters and what they were doing. Every story was compelling and I finished them voraciously! I thought the stories were a little heavy on the Weston point of view of things, but you can tell the author really has fun writing from his point of view and it is fun to see him grow throughout these stories, so overall I was okay with it. It would have been fun to have had a few more stories or scenes from Tessa’s point of view though, and see her grow and mature some too (I know she tends to be more mature out of the two of them, but she has ways she can grow and explore and improve too that would be different than Weston, and it was explored some but could be done more).

One of the things I really liked about this story is how the characters ultimately stayed true to themselves and each other. That is one thing I really worry about in sequels in books and movies, it seems that lots of times to make a “compelling story” the author has to make the characters do something that seems out of character to the way they acted in the original story, and for romance themed stories this often involves breakups or cheating or lying or things like that. While Tess and Wes did face some tough and serious situations, for the most part, they handled their situations well, and they were honest with each other although sometimes not as quick to share/explain as I would have liked them to be, but hey, they’re only human! And most of the mistakes they made were either understandable or at least fixable. (Some of them I rolled my eyes at but overall most disagreements or mistakes Tessa and Weston had made sense from the story’s and characters’ perspectives). And they didn’t let misunderstandings or fights lead to them breaking up… you could tell that even when they were mad or upset with each other, their relationship was important to them! And that’s so rare to find in books I read with relationships!

What I also enjoyed and appreciated is that there were things the characters did that if it happened in the first book, they would have made the wrong choice but in this book they didn’t do that so the author let the characters grow and learn from previous experiences!

The personalities are so great for both Tessa and Weston and their friends and families! I really enjoyed how these stories helped highlight ways they’d grown, how strong their relationship is (and how it grows stronger) and other relationships and activities they enjoy! Their personal commentaries throughout the stories also made me laugh quite a bit, I did enjoy the fun personalities! :-)

I really enjoyed seeing the “slice of life” that Tess and Wes are experiencing in these stories. They make new friends and develop strong relationships with other people (who I hope to see more of in future stories! Bruiser and Marjorie Atwood I enjoyed especially!) and engage in new activities like new jobs for Weston and a new class for Tessa! I loved how they were involved in their community in new and interesting ways! The way these stories were written made me start to imagine how they might continue… how does Wes and Bruiser’s relationship grow? Does Tess continue to write with a writing group? Does she write for the newspaper? Do more of Wes’s brothers come to him for relationship advice? I’d love to know! I love it when a book gives me so much great content but also makes me yearn for more and start spinning “what-if” stories of my own… and this book did just that! :-)

For those wondering about the romance, there was a fair bit of kissing and cuddling and general romantic sappiness, and I’m all for that! It’s past the “will they/won’t they?” tension of the first book so that’s what I’d expect and want in a book with a stable relationship, so I appreciated that! For all that, though, the book doesn’t get too heavy in the physical relationship department, and it’s actually something the characters talk about and address especially in one particular story. I think it’s good and healthy that Tessa and Weston understand each others’ stance on the situation and are on the same page, and it results in all the stories being full of romantic fluff without filth, which I personally appreciate! Of course they’ve lovesick teenagers but it’s good they want their relationship to be strong before progressing to the next stages of their physical relationship, which is refreshing to me as a reader who loves a good romance, still heavy on the physical aspect with lots of kissing, hugging, cuddling and touching without it becoming explicit or filthy. And based on the way she’s handled the stories and romance so far, I’m sure that even if the author continues to write to the point of them getting married and beyond, she will find a way to write those stories where they still convey how much they love each other emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc… without being explicit.

I am so pleased with this installment of the 100 Days Of Sunlight series! This has me yearning for hundreds more TessWes stories like this book had! I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this for the ARC team, I’ll definitely be buying a physical copy of this book when it comes out, and, like the other two books, I will share this story with family and friends to enjoy as much as I did! I LOVE this book! :-)

[Liesl Young · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review is not for the author or friends and family of the author. My reviews are for consumers to make informed decisions about what they are purchasing with their time and money. If you are the author or know the author, please do not violate my space as a reader.

Trigger warning for mentions of sexual assault.

I went into this book with high hopes and expectations. Halfway through the first story, I knew it was only going to be a three-star read for me. Unfortunately, by the third story, I was pissed enough to downgrade it to one.

I liked 100 Days of Sunlight and The Best Christmas Ever well enough to be excited for the continuation of Tessa and Weston's story. The premise of an anthology intrigued me--I liked the idea of peeks into the daily life of these two characters.

What you have to realize is that Tessa and Weston are horny teenagers. I get it, I mean, I'm married, we've all been there. But the first red flag for me was just how far the characters, especially Weston, took it. In every single story, there were at least two instances of the characters making out, and it was VIVID.

It did have a place in the second story, "Prom and Principles". I actually appreciated the frank talk the teens were having about their temptations versus Tessa's principles and personal convictions. I think we need more characters with that kind of self-control and self-awareness, and I liked how Tessa's morals were a big part of the story. However, it could have been toned down for the other stories. Oftentimes, it didn't even feel like it had a place. In the fourth story, "Adventures in Chaperoning", they were arguing, and then all of a sudden they were making out. WHY? What was the point there?

And to make matters worse, Tessa and Weston weren't just kissing each other, either. Both the first story, "The Job", and the third story, "The Writing Class", featured characters who were attracted to AND SUBSEQUENTLY ACTED ON THEIR ATTRACTION TO Weston and Tessa, respectively. BOTH of them experienced nonconsensual kisses, which left me screaming, "WHY WAS THERE NO TRIGGER WARNING FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT??"

This is a BIG issue that I did NOT see coming in what I expected to be a fluffy, cute contemporary book about two people in a committed relationship. The fact that it happened in one story was bad enough, but then all of a sudden, it happened again in the next. When it happened to Weston, he DIDN'T EVEN TELL HIS GIRLFRIEND ABOUT IT!!

This was the point that I decided that I could not in good faith rate this book higher than two stars. The trauma that this would cause was forgotten as soon as the story was over, and I have a feeling that it won't be present in any future books as more than just a throwaway anecdote.

But what I think pissed me off the most out of this whole collection is just how much of an asshat Weston is the entire time. Dude is the picture of toxic masculinity. First he's mocking this dude for liking lattes and calling him a "pansy-ass" (a phrase that is used entirely too many times in this collection), then he's derisively saying that another man "strikes me as more of a Taylor Swift kind of guy". This is just perpetuating harmful stereotypes of a projection of masculinity. Not to mention a weird transphobic comment in "The Job" that had absolutely no reason to be there.

It was such a shocking twist after Weston's whole brand of being the sunshine to Tessa's grumpy. All of a sudden he's constantly horny and aggressive and this is absolutely NOT helped by Tessa literally telling him in "The Writing Class" "Possessive looks good on you." Excuse me, WHAT? WHAT??? Tessa acknowledges that his possessiveness is a bad thing, but the impact of this seems lessened if not forgotten entirely when it comes in handy later.

I have many problems with this collection. These are just the biggest ones. The conflicts felt repetitive and forced, then resolved so quickly as to be unrealistic. The fifth story, a mystery titled "Fire on Forsythia Lane", felt out of place in the collection of otherwise lower-stakes stories (though ironically it was probably my favorite). The characters felt too selfish and self-absorbed. I noticed so many negative stereotypes in the portrayal of Tessa being homeschooled.

And I didn't like how, for the most part, none of the stories carried over any real impact on the other ones--it felt more like several different AUs instead of a continuous storyline, like you could have jumbled up the order of the stories and it would have made basically no difference in the collection as a whole. This is especially noticeable when the characters go through MAJOR TRAUMAS that are NEVER ADDRESSED AGAIN (?????).

This could have been so good. I'm so disappointed. Don't waste your time or money. And don't judge a book by its cover, because I'm mad that a book so bad could have a cover so good.

I received a free ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review ahead of release. All thoughts are my own. I am not being compensated.

[Chiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars for me

I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to return to the world of Tessa and Weston with this collection of short stories because I really love these characters, and I had a great time reading the book. Abbie Emmons has once again managed to create incredibly immersive scenes with her writing style and hook me from the very first page. In these stories, we follow both Tessa and Weston and them as a couple in their everyday lives. The topics and how they deal with the conflicts that arise are very believable for their age, making the protagonists extremely relatable. In some places, I would have liked to see the two of them work on their communication and show slightly less drastic and existential reactions, especially when it comes to Tessa. However, Tessa's mum and Weston's dad take the more mature perspective and repeatedly help their children to reflect on their situation, which I found very positive.

Story 1 – The Job: 5/5
This story is told from Weston's perspective and follows him as he starts his first job at a boxing centre. I loved that we get to immerse ourselves in Weston's world and get to know him better as a character. The messages in this story are important and well developed. I really liked how Weston and Tessa deal with an unwanted female character here.

Story 2 – Prom and Principles: 3.5/5
In this story, we experience Weston's high school prom. Unlike some others, I think it's important that the topic of sexuality (in theory) is addressed here because Tessa and Weston are inevitably confronted with it at their age. Tessa's boundaries on this topic are an opportunity for Weston to demonstrate his remarkable character. At the beginning of the plot, I really liked the communication between the two, but later on, I unfortunately find that Tessa overreacts in her righteous anger. However, this is where her mother's reflective voice comes into play for the first time.

Story 3 – The Writing Class: 4/5
In this story, we follow Tessa as she attends a writing class. She forms a friendship there that makes Weston quite jealous. It was nice to accompany Tessa outside her home as she pursues a passion. I find both Tessa's and Weston's points of view in the interpersonal conflict very understandable and well written. In my opinion, both of them deal with the situation suboptimally and could have communicated better. Here, too, I really liked Weston's dad's adult perspective, which leads Weston to a more mature decision and attitude. The ending is a quite spectacular confrontation. It's a shame that Weston only refrains from a physical confrontation because Tessa is there. In my opinion, this sends the wrong message.

Story 4 – Adventures in Chaperoning : 4.5 / 5
In this story, Weston's brother Henry goes on his first date, while Weston and Tessa secretly accompany him. The story was short and very funny in places. Tessa and Weston have some heartwarmingly sweet moments together. Even though I don't think teenage parties need to be portrayed as the ultimate evil, I found the story very entertaining.

Story 5 – Fire on Forsythia Lane: 5/5
A mysterious fire breaks out in Rockford, and Weston and Tessa try to uncover the culprit. I loved having a little mystery story to puzzle over and had a great time! I particularly liked that Weston was so committed to not judging people based on their past. Towards the end, the plot even became quite dangerous, but at the same time it was so funny that the light-hearted mood was not lost. The story was my highlight of the book.

In general, this book conveyed some rather conservative values in places, but this fits well with the characters. Unfortunately, there were two instances where statements were made that did not align well with my personal values. At the very least, these were missed opportunities to make a statement about acceptance and equality for queer people. Since this book is clearly aimed at a fairly young, adolescent audience, I found that unfortunate.

Overall, I can highly recommend these short stories to anyone who has grown as fond of Tessa and Weston as I have and wants to sweeten the wait until the final novel is published. The two are getting older and new issues are becoming relevant to them. They argue, but they always learn to turn to each other and grow from their conflicts. The book is thoroughly entertaining and captivating, and has taken me through the entire spectrum of emotions

[Kayla Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was beyond honored to receive an ARC of Snapshots of Sunlight, 100 Days of Sunlight along with Abbie’s videos on writing is what inspired my own journey to begin writing, so I’m basically an ad for Abbie Emmons and this review might be a bit biased, but now lets talk about this wonderful new edition to the series.

Story One, The Job:
This is a Weston POV story so of course I loved it, as the title suggests he goes off to get his first official job. I really appreciate how Weston’s misbelief wasn’t simply ‘fixed’ after 100 days, it has continued to rear its ugly head, but from a new angle each time. Continuing to go back the same misbelief so many time with the same character could be a bit dangerous for story. But I think Abbie has done it well, because that’s real life. We don’t just have one moment of enlightenment then never struggle with that thing again. It attacks from every angle and we must defeat it from each one, maybe even the same angle multiple times, so I appreciate that.
I’ll leave a Weston quote from this story that sums it up well I think.
“When I go into bulldozer mode it’s like nothing else exists. I am the center of the damn universe.
Maybe self pity is the highest form of arrogance.”-Weston

Story Two, Proms and Principals:

So this is a WesTess story about their going to Prom incase you did guess, but I’m going to focus more on the ‘principles’ part of the story. I’ve seen people talk about how this book isn’t quite a ‘kid friendly’ as previous books, and as a fellow spice hater I get what they’re saying, even though this probably isn’t considered near spice for most lol. That being said, it is a realistic depiction, they are teenagers and while I could do with less of the make-out scenes, it’s nothing that bothered me to much.
But I love that Tessa’s boundaries have stayed strong throughout the books, though they are forced to talk about them in this book which I thought was good. But those conversations brought up this quote from Tessa;
“How my heart ached to think of us separated by something as important as the principles we live by.”
Because as a fellow Christian, dating a man who isn’t would, for me, never be able to happen lol, but I won’t rant about that here lol and I’ll let fiction be fiction. Now leaving all that aside the Pride and Prejudice line was enough to get me back on track, and the end of this story had me threatening to throw my phone across the room lol.

Story Three, The Writing Class:

So Tessa goes off to a writing class in this one, which I absolutely love the concept of, and we love an Abbie Emmons teaching moment in an Abbie Emmons book if iykyk. I won’t lie Tessa will sometimes annoy me but this did succeed in making me understand her a bit more, the misbelief she held about her writing and intellectualism I could relate to, she definitely still have that ‘righteous anger’ that gets in my last nerve and I can’t see it being entirely solved in this story. But I did love the angle she had for Weston this time he seems to be growing out of holding his legs as his identity. Overall I really like this one and it would be a favorite if Tessa could get her act together lol.
I loved Weston’s dad’s advice in this one, and the ways that Abbie worked with and intertwined the misbeliefs and concerns the characters had.
The ending was absolutely prescious and the thoughts Tessa had about finishing a story was so accurate.
“I don’t want the story to be over, but there’s a kindling fire of anticipation in my heart for all the other stories I’m bound to write.”-Tessa

Story Four, Adventures in Chaperoning:

This was a really fun story about chaperoning (stalking) Henry on a date. The brother dynamics that Westons has with all his brothers is my favorite this ever, though Weston gave some questionable advice to Henry. I also I loved seeing Tessa and Weston when there were no strains on their relationship and just having fun.


Story Five, Fire at Forsythia Lane:

This story starts with Weston waking up to firetrucks, and he goes with his dad to investigate and finds some suspicious things when he does. Watching Tessa and Weston solving a mystery is so adorable and somehow makes so much sense for the two of them, also there was more adorable brother moments in this one. Ans Weston bonding with old ladies of course.

Overall I loved this book, and plan on rereading it when I can get my hands on a physically copy on February 24th.

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got to have the amazing honor of being an ARC reader for Abbie's new book, it was super cool to be chosen like this.

( This review is just my thoughts about the book, it is just an opinion)

First off, i'd like to say it's sweet continuing the story of westess, I enjoyed the plot. The book in itself is okay. But I do have to be slightly negative about the characters, I don't like Tessa very much, I find her irritating and kind of spoiled. She treats weston badly when he's nothing but sweet to her and he's her first boyfriend, like girl....The whole condom incident was so cringe, Weston could've avoided the whole thing by just simple communication. Tessa didn't need to overreact like she did, she knows Weston, the fact she didn't trust him seems weird. Like All she had to do was stay in the car and say "Why do you have that?" *Weston explains* everything is all cleared up, there didn't need to be all the drama that happened. It's kind of a normal thing in this day and age to have. Tessa doesn't need to be a prude about everything involving $ex. It's not that deep.

Another thing about Tessa that I dislike is her whole homeschool thing. Like.....It seems super cliche, Tessa has no friends but she has a boyfriend....? It seems weird, she needs a friend, you learn about her friends in the first book and never really hear about them again. Just because you are homeschooled doesn't automatically mean you're introverted. I've been waiting for Tessa to have some character development, but she hasn't. She was the best in the first book.

Okay, Weston, the boyfriend that you are. He's a wonderful boyfriend, he's very sweet and kind to Tessa. I don't think he's ever really been mad at her....in all three books lmao. But, he has flaws too of course, he is very cocky.....Kinda annoying but it fits his character....His inner monologue is cringe sometimes, but maybe that's how boys think, I don't know. His character also like Tessa has been mostly the same since the first book, although I feel like Weston is more moody and cocky than the first story. His boxing job fit his character and it was cool seeing them both do something for themselves. Tessa with her writing club and him with his boxing.

The prom story really pmo, because Weston did not need to do that for his pouty moody teenage girlfriend, just because she was mad he had a condom. He wanted to do it with her, obviously but he never said that, and he didn't get the condom because he thought he was going too. He respected her boundaries and let her do her thing even when he didn't want it to be that way. Saving for marriage is usually a big dealbreaker for High School romances, and he stayed with her after that, which is admirable, because he really does love her. It made me upset how Tessa couldn't really see how good she has it.

All and all the book was a fun read, i'm not too attached to their characters but I do like they're cute romance. It was silly, cute, funny and it had those cringe moments as well. But all in all i'd give it a 4/ 4.5 The book was good, the characters just weren't my favorite.

Despite this semi-negative review, I will be buying the book, and reading it once again, I've read 100 days of Sunlight so many times, and nothing will beat the joy I feel reading that book, it's definitely a comfort read. I own all her other books and I love supporting lesser known authors, plus, as a writer myself, she has improved my writing with her awesome youtube videos.

Thank you so much Abbie!!

[Kaley Kriesel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One of the first things I learned as an English major was that the test of a great writer is often the short story. The constraints of space and the limit of scenes demonstrates clearly the author whose writing stands on its own and whose skills maintain attention, communicate clearly, and write strongly, effectively, and honestly. There is no room for filler or wasted space in a short story. Going in to this book, I was curious to see how Abbie would compare in skill in her short stories in contrast to her novels. Conclusion: Abbie Emmons is an excellent writer.

From the first page until the end, I was hooked. I read each story like I was eating a feast after a famine, though I occasionally paused for breath and to ask if it was too good to last, if the next page, scene, or story would still be this good. It always was. The character voice was good, the plot lines engaging, and the descriptions were vivid and living. And for everyone asking, I won’t keep you in suspense any longer: IT IS NO SPICE. Mini spoiler: we do discuss sex and how the characters feel about it, and it’s a big part of the dialogue in one story but there is no actual sex scenes. I was so nervous there would be, but Abbie kept it clean! I give this book a 4.5 star rating!

I did knock a half star off, for a few reasons. The first being the stories had a slightly repetitive feel. Certain scenes almost repeated with different characters, and there were two stories in particular that felt almost parallel to one another. They weren’t bad, and I didn’t hate it, but I did feel like a slight stretch. The second is that the writing didn’t feel quite as developed as it was in “100 Days of Sunlight” and “Tessa and Weston: the Best Christmas Ever.” It was still beautifully written and better than the majority of books I’ve read, but it was not quite up to the same quality as the first two books. I will give her credit, though, it is much easier to criticize a short story and often (for novelists) much more difficult to write one well.

I will also say this: I have never related more to a main character than I do Tessa. Tessa is me. She’s a blogger, writer, homeschooled girl exploring the bigger world, a Christian with values that may seem idealistic or annoying to others but that she won’t compromise on, and a hopeless romantic in love with books and poetry. And by extension, reading of a main character so much like me with a boy like Weston both made me feel exceptionally single and made me ask questions about what a healthy relationship is and where the lines between idealistic fiction and complex reality begin to blur and how it impacts my life. “100 Days of Sunlight” inspired and motivated me in countless ways, and this book gave me the same feelings for both Tessa and Weston but I came out with questions as powerful as the clarity I got from the first book.

Thank you, Abbie, for this incredible book! Thank you for all the work you put into your writing and the authenticity, hope, and light you bring to the YA romance genre! Everyone, go read this book!

[Bryan Laprise · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Abbie Emmons hooks you in right from the start. I first discovered her through her YouTube channel and I bought her first book, "100 Days of Sunlight" to see what her writing was all about. I quickly fell in love with the characters, Tessa and Weston, and devoured the whole novel in the span of one sunny day. Since then, I've been reading everything she has released.

When I got an ARC of this latest instalment in the Tessa & Weston series, I was really excited to dive in and see what Abbie cooked up for us this time. This collection of five short stories perfectly fits in with the other two novels. They neither overshadow the previous storylines nor do they take away from them. They are simply "snapshots" of their two lives—exactly what I wanted it to be.

Abbie doesn't write new life-shattering storylines. Instead, she carefully crafts small incidents that naturally fit with the lives both Tessa and Weston are living. From Tessa's writing to Weston's new job at a boxing studio and his internship at his dad's newspaper, these stories add depth and complexity to their characters.

I absolutely loved all five short stories, though I do have a penchant for "The Writing Class" and "Fire on Forsythia Lane" as they both include nods to writing and journalism. The former follows Tessa as she enrolls in a creative writing class to further her skills and abilities to work on a project. This story perfectly encapsulates the opposing personalities of the two protagonists of this book.

Fire on Forsythia Lane, on the other hand, is a story where Tessa and Weston come together to solve a mystery that has been the talk of the town. I really enjoyed seeing the problem-solving minds of the two characters come together, aspects of them we don't really get to see in other stories or books.

The first story, "The Job" was a great opening, creating a new dynamic between the two protagonists. The dynamic between the side characters introduced was really interesting and fun to read. The second story, "Prom and Principles," was also great, showing Tessa and Weston deal with social pressure and events that characterize high school and the coming of age experience. The fourth story, "Adventures in Chaperoning" was wonderful. Its plot was different from the others in the collection and the series, with a focus on Weston's family. It includes funny scenes while dealing with some more serious themes.

Overall, this book deserves five stars (just like all of Abbie's other books). The writing style is fluid, engaging, easy and fun to read. Abbie hooks you in from the very first line. I had to stop myself from devouring the whole book too quickly. It's the perfect addition to the series, building both Tessa and Weston's characters, giving them new events to navigate. I'm excited to have a copy of it on my bookshelf!

[Katelyn Farris · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHH!!! ARC reader here! Overall, I absolutely loved this book! The short stories created such a cozy collection, I couldn’t help but snuggle up with it. I was a little worried I wouldn’t enjoy it because of the short stories, but they were done so well. As an ARC reader, I was asked to give an honest review of the book. All opinions are my own. Here are some key takeaways:

- WESSTESS! I enjoyed seeing them navigate new aspects of their relationship and face real problems throughout each story. Although I didn’t enjoy areas that could lean into the cheating trope (by other side characters), I like how both MCs approached the issues with open communication.

- As someone who enjoys little to no-spice romances (I NEED yearning), I’d like to warn that the prom story discusses concepts within that realm in terms of peer pressure and insecurities, albeit without an actual spice scene. I wasn’t too bothered by this because I was glad to see Tessa stand up for what she valued and proud of Weston in respecting them. I feel like this story did a great job at showing you don’t have to feel like you’re behind in life just because your romantic journey might look different than the “norm.”

- BOXER AND WRITER! I loved how Abbie created a story that focused on each of their personal interests. However, I didn’t love that Weston’s story was only from his POV, whereas Tessa’s was from both. Perhaps this was because of the amputee perspective, which I appreciate and understand, but it would have been cool to be inside of only their heads for their story. It was nice to see them pursue their separate passions, yet intertwine them as a couple. I loved seeing Tessa especially begin her writing career and feel (what I perceived to be) some of Abbie’s own passion for story telling-beginnings shine through!

- BELIEVABLE SIDE CHARACTERS! I really enjoyed meeting new side characters/learning more about previous ones. They felt like real people. For example, I loved the multi-faceted layers of Bruiser. The fun girl’s girl energy of Shoshanna. The competitive edge of Marcus. It was fun to see more into Henry’s life, who is the opposite of Weston making the brother-sibling dynamic feel more realistic than books prior.

- I would like to have seen more prior side characters have more “screen time,” such as Tessa’s mother adapting to the move, more into how Tessa feels about her mother dating, etc. However, I understand this is more difficult with short stories.

- THE BEST PART OF THIS BOOK WAS THE FIRE ON FORSYTHIA LANE!!! All the stories are great and you should read them all, BUT if nothing else, GET THE BOOK FOR THIS ONE. As someone who keeps up with her YouTube content, I’ve heard Abbie mention her upcoming Victorian mystery novels, and this short story has me even more ecstatic to read those ASAP!!! Abbie has such a talent for crafting cozy mystery with fun tension and suspense, I can’t wait to see how she expands into this genre. ABBIE WE NEED MORE!!!

4.8 STARS, WELL DESERVED!!! THANK YOU ABBIE!

[Amanda Camin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thank you for choosing me to read the ARC! Here is my honest review.

I loved reading the continuation of Tessa and Weston's story--the mystery was my favorite. As always, Abbie does a fantastic job pulling me into each story and making me feel like they're friends of mine. The downside is this book contained more foul language and much more talk of sex (plus A LOT of kissing sessions) than the previous two--it didn't feel as light and innocent as the first ones, felt a bit dark in comparison. But I suppose that is to be expected since they've grown up?? Still, I was a bit disappointed, bringing it down to 4 stars over all. Still, I will definitely read books 4 and 5 when they come out because I love the characters!

The Job--I really enjoyed getting to know Weston better in this one. He feels even more authentic to me now. It might be cheesy, but I actually really like how he hears Tessa in his head--and she's always right! It was cute.

Prom and Principles--This read as a typical Hollywood version of prom. My least favorite of the short stories. I kept reading because I love Abbie's writing, but cringed at all the focus on sex. Redeeming quality: Tessa's values and Weston's chivalry in honoring her values.

The Writing Class--my second favorite of the five short stories! This one felt a bit more like the older books, probably because it was from Tessa's point of view. By the time I finished this one, I came to the conclusion that Tessa hasn't changed much, but Weston sure has. His character is darker (angrier?) than the previous two books. While the reactions of both Tessa and Weston to the scenario were realistic, I feel the two of them should've grown enough to trust one another more. That goes for Prom and Principles too. I thought Tessa would be more likely to give Weston the benefit of the doubt, but she really holds his mistake over him. Then again, I suppose they needed conflict to make it a story.

Adventures in Chaperoning-- The brotherly interactions in this one were great! I laughed at the running WesTess did to keep an eye on Henry and how it all played out--the misunderstandings kept the story rolling. I felt like this one ended a little soon...I wanted resolution to the party scene itself.

Fire on Forsythia Lane--Again, this one was my favorite. I loved the two of them working together on a project. Their personalities shine along with their differences and how they compliment one another. It was a fun story I could get into without worrying about the talk of sex. I would've loved a full novel version of this one!

[Evelin · Rating 3 out of 5]

MY RATING: 3⭐
BOOK FEATURES:
• Contemporary Romance
• Friends to Lovers
• He Falls First
• Opposites Attract
• Disability-rep
• Slow Burn Romance

MY THOUGHTS:
I’ve been waiting for so long to read this book after the first two books of the series. When I got accepted as an ARC reader, I was really excited to continue Tessa and Weston’s story through this story collection.
Since there are 5 short stories, I’m going to review them separately.

The Job
The first story was mainly about Weston. He wanted to get a job at a boxing gym, but as he was an amputee, he thought he was less than the others and he had to be excellent and overcompensate to get the job, but this led to his failure.
I thought he had already overcome his insecurities and learned from his mistakes in the second book – because that was basically the plot – but no. I felt like he forgot everything that happened there and started to question himself again. It was a bit frustrating, reading about him going through this all over again.

Prom and Principles
This should have been a Westess story, but it ended up being about Weston making everything about himself. He just couldn’t learn from the past and made the same mistakes again.
Tessa was also a little bit annoying as she overreacted to the whole thing and didn’t even listen to Weston’s side of the story. She acted rashly and came to false conclusions. I didn’t really like this story, because it felt repetitive compared to the first one.

The Writing Class
The summary of this story: it was all about Weston not being able to accept that Tessa had her own world and she had a life without him. It should have been Tessa’s story – finally – but Weston stole the spotlight. Again.
I could totally relate to Tessa as I have the same personality. I’m shy and reserved, especially if it’s about people. So if someone initiates a conversation with me, I’m happy to trust them immediately. Weston shouldn’t have questioned all of her decisions since she must discover the world on her own, make mistakes and learn from them.

Adventures in Chaperoning
This story was the first I really enjoyed. It was so adorable how Weston tried to be a great big brother and help his little brother, but all of a sudden he became so worried and overprotective, I loved it! Even though I don’t really support stalking someone on their first date, I would have looked out for my little brother, too.
Finally there were some cute scenes between the characters that made my heart flatter.

Fire on Forsythia Lane
This story felt a bit out of place but I still enjoyed it. It was interesting to see the characters in a unique situation and how they acted. Finally the main conflict wasn’t about Weston and his ego, but a more serious topic.
I also saved a few quotes and witty banter from Tessa because she was hilarious at the end.
This genre fits Abbie really well, she should write more mysteries in the future because I loved it!

Overall, it could have been a great collection but I just couldn’t stand Weston and his ego sometimes. I give this book 3 stars just because the last two stories were really great.
I hope their next adventure will be as eventful as these ones and we get to read more about them being together –without their constant fight.

Thank you Abbie Emmons for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review!

CONTENT WARNINGS:
• Mention of drugs
• Consumption of alcohol
• Mention of death
• Mild language
• Amputation
• Verbal Abuse
• Violence

[Alaya McGill · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, thank you Abbie for letting me be part of the ARC team! Genuinely was not expecting that!

While I LOVED 100 Days of Sunlight, my biggest overall problem with this book were the endless make-out sessions 😅. One or two I understand, but it got to the point where it really started to distract from what was really happening and just made me want to skip to the real stuff. While none of the kissing scenes were overly PG 13, they are described in quite a bit of detail. That being said, let's get into what I thought!

The Job: This story was for sure my favourite! I loved the boxing atmosphere and that the story was 100% from Weston's POV. He is by FAR my favourite character and is TOUGH AS NAILS. Next time I'm doing push-ups, I'll be keeping his record in mind 🤣. This was also the story I could relate to the most. What he goes through in his mind was literally so relatable, and that end scene with Bruiser was my favourite part of the whole book!!! 💛👊

Prom and Principles: Wasn't the biggest fan of this one do to some of the content, (again, a lot of kissing.) But!!! The theme was really good! Weston's speech on intimacy was very mature and VERY appreciated. I share the same beliefs on intimacy that were discussed and so I appreciated that.

The Writing Class: This one I think I laughed the most on 🤣, despite Tessa literally driving me crazy at times. The interaction between Weston and Grayson was 👌👌👌, and the ending had me TENSE!!!

Adventures in Chaperoning: TESSA!!! HOW DARE YOU NOT LIKE STAR WARS!!!! (As someone who showers to the Star Wars soundtrack, I took great offense!) The humor in this one was great! I love the dynamic between Weston and his brothers and it felt very real. But again... the make-outs 😭😭😭.

Fire on Forsythia Lane: To be honest, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I was expecting because I found it difficult to understand exactly why it was SO important to Weston that he solve the mystery. But it still had some good moments and the ending had me hyped and squealing!!!

Overall, I think most Westess lovers will really enjoy this short story collection. It's super fast paced, relatively chill, and has plenty of romance. And how is Weston THAT good a guy?? Like he's just the best.

[frank reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5⭐


The cringe was strong.

Let me do a break down of each story to make my thoughts more clear:

The Job:
Man, does Weston have an ego problem. My guy can't do anything without thinking he's the best. And also what was this common thread for both Weston and Tessa of someone kissing them out of the blue? I hated that plot and I hated how it was resolved. I did like Weston getting a job and working hard to 'prove' himself, I love his work ethic and seeing his passion for boxing!

Prom and Principles:
What even happened here. This story made me mad because why can't people just listen to each other and their wants/desires???? Why aren't you letting the person you love explain themselves before you jump into a blame game? I get that they are young but surely after dating for awhile they would be better at communication.

The Writing Class:
I was really enjoying this one and then BAM we have another random love interest. And also Weston made me mad (again) because assigned critique partners is something in almost every English class and you should not be mad at a girl for doing her homework. Why are we treating Tessa like she's 5 anyways? And why is she acting like it?

Adventures in Chaperoning:
I really liked this one and I was really excited to see more of the brother bond and then it ended like all of the stories thus far with a Tessa and Weston blame-game fight. Ugh.

Fire on Forsythia Lane:
BRO WHY ARE WE PLAYING DETECTIVE???? WHY??? I guessed the plot from the first page.

My biggest issues with this book were the repetitive nature of every plot. Their relationship was so gushy and physical and plain cringy, the characters can never work through their own issues- always going to friends for help and both characters act like babies. I think if the characters were younger than 18ish and I myself was younger, I would've eaten it up but I expect more from older characters, and more from characters who had maturity in the other books of the series.

I do look forward to reading more from Abbie Emmons in the future but I think my expectations were too high for this one which lessened my enjoyment.

Thank you Abbie for a EARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!!!

First off, it was such an honor and privilege to be chosen for Abbie's ARC team. I truly appreciate the opportunity (especially with big dreams as an author myself), and it's been so fun to watch Abbie grow as a writer!

I was excited to read this series particularly because I follow Abbie on YouTube for author advice. She is so knowledgeable and eloquent in her videos, I wanted to see if her skills matched up. I don't mean that harshly, but it's important to see what people are capable of when trusting their counsel. To be honest, YA romance is not my go-to genre. I read Twilight as a teenager and loved it, but when I read it again as an adult I cringed. I went into this with an open mind knowing it's geared towards younger crowds and follows the lives of two hormonal teenagers experiencing their first love. When I put myself into that mindset, it was fun to feel that young again and remember my own first love. I read the entire series, and I definitely think the first book was the best. The second book was cute and cozy for Christmas, and this third book was aesthetically enjoyable (I liked Weston's boxing era and Tessa's dark academia), but I felt like there were still some loose ends. I won't go into too much detail for spoiler sake, but there were a few characters that sort of just disappeared when they could've come back and caused some drama!

There were 3 parts to the "collection", which I was a bit confused about until the end. I thought it was going to be different POVs of their lives in the same storyline, but it seems to be an anthology instead. Which is maybe why some of the characters disappeared... but I still dislike feeling as though there are loose ends when I finish a book. The last part was sort of random as well, like Abbie just wanted to try dabbling in a new genre.

Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars. I definitely think it was well-written, and you can clearly see Abbie's progress as a writer across the three books. It's such a feat to write a series like this! I wish her luck and look forward to seeing her future endeavors <3

[Ella A · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: This review contains mild spoilers.

Thank you so much to Abbie Emmons for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for Snapshots of Sunlight in exchange for an honest review.


Overall rating: 4/5⭐️
Snapshots of Sunlight is a wonderful, heartwarming collection of short stories about Tessa and Weston on the brink of their adult years. It’s cosy, romantic and stuffed with first-love sweetness. I enjoyed myself from the first page to the last. Will read again!!
Below are ratings for each story in the collection.


The Job—4/5⭐️
We open with Weston getting his first ever job at a boxing gym, where he meets a challenge in both the gym owner and two of the students. It’s funny, vulnerable, and authentically Weston.
I was pulled into this story quickly, and it made me feel a lot. I love the character of Bruiser.
Abbie writes characters reacting in a way that actual people would, which makes them come to life in a different way and ultimately makes Weston and Tessa’s relationship all the more real and sweet.


Prom and Principles—5/5⭐️
My favourite of the collection. Weston and Tessa attend senior prom. I love the 2000s teen romcom feel, and it was full of drama and hormones and all the good stuff. This story was so cute my cheeks hurt from smiling toward the end.
I especially appreciate these topics being depicted and talked about — the first romantic partner, first times, freaking out about having to start your life and having figure out who you are. I think Abbie depicts teenagers in a very realistic way.


The Writing Class—4/5⭐️
The third story is about Tessa taking a writing class and ending up with a critique partner Weston’s not exactly thrilled about.
Plot-wise, it’s similar to the first story, but i didn’t mind. 

Weston’s jealousy is center stage, but I like the way it’s not overbearing and how he talks things out with Tessa. It feels right for his character.


Adventures in Chaperoning—3/5⭐️
Weston’s little brother Henry is going on a date, and Weston is assigned to keep an eye on him, dragging Tessa along.
This one read a bit unevenly for me, with a slow start and then suddenly fast-paced, with a midpoint that felt abrupt. That said, it’s ultimately a very sweet story and the banter was great.


Fire on Forsythia Lane—4/5⭐️
The final story is about Weston leading the investigation of a burnt-down Victorian house.
Mystery is not my favourite genre, but this one I liked! It was a very cosy read, and I kid you not when I say I did an audible gasp towards the end. I was so worried lol.
Westons brothers are so adorable. I love them so much <3.


Overall thoughts:
I was so excited to read this, and I was NOT disappointed! I couldn’t put it down — the romance is so sugary sweet, the humor is great and the pacing across the collection is punchy and fast without feeling rushed.

My main critique is that Tessa’s character arcs aren’t as strong as Weston’s, in that all the stories lean more into his internal struggles.
There’s also a lot of kissing, cuddling and a few dirty jokes. I've read some criticism regarding this. Personally though, I found it really cute and funny, and thought it to be a normal amount for two 18-year-olds.

I will go read this collection again now :D.

Before that though, I’d warmly recommend this to teenagers, anyone who has ever felt "different" or out of place, everyone in love with WesTess, and all fans of 100 Days of Sunlight and The Best Christmas Ever.

I am so excited for more adventures with Tessa and Weston in the future! <3

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Abbie's channel for a while and have learned a lot from her writing advice. I was so happy to be picked for an ARC review of this collection!

Snapshots of Sunlight had a strong and familiar YA voice. Tessa and Weston were endearing and they both had clear flaws and strengths. The way they grew through this book was relatable but not that surprising, though that may be because I've read so much YA in my time. I’m older than the demographic now but still like to come back to it. I did want more connective tissue between the stories - references to what happened, updates since then - but then again, these are “snapshots” of their lives.

Overall, this was a breezy comfort read that was substantial yet light on content, offering enough to keep you satisfied till the next one.

Various thoughts on each story below, non spoiler!

The Job: What a strong way to open with Weston’s POV. This was the standout story for me. The conflict between Weston and his gym trainer Bruiser was palpable and real-world.

Prom and Principles: Good messaging about relationships and pressures at a pivotal time in their lives. Tessa’s voice shined more as this collection went on, though I liked the Writing Class more than this.

The Writing Class: Tessa as a character really came into her own. Her writing ambitions, and how they contrasted from Weston’s interests, complimented the ensuing relationship drama. I loved, loved, loved the college campus setting.

Adventures in Chaperoning: The least compelling of the bunch to me. I liked the outcome of the story, and Tessa and Weston’s comedic mission, but the stakes weren’t high.

Fire on Forsythia Lane: I loved the Nancy Drew mystery vibes! Pieces like this show off Abbie's ability to mesh her writing style to the tone/type of story she wants to tell. It was fun to see the same characters in a completely different situation. One of my favorite lines - my only spoiler, turn away if you don’t want to know - is, “He has all the style of a New York stockbroker and all the charm of a colonoscopy.”