Inside Out: Willow Springs #2

by Isla May

Rowan

l've been in love with Natalia Davis-Jeong since we were teenagers, hoping she'd notice me. Hoping, one day, she'd feel some of what I feel. But it only takes one night and a kiss to lead us into a messy agreement. And it's one of the worst things anyone can do when you're in love a the person who says she can't love you back.

Natalia

I thought the plan was flawless. I thought I could get away with it and have no feelings involved. There is too much going on in my head to let myself love him, too much at risk. But Rowan Asher is a light in my darkness and I should have known that falling in love with him was inevitable.

436 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2025

About the author

With a brain too big for her head and living somewhere in the world, Isla May writes the stories that come to her mind and keep her awake at night. She loves traveling and claiming it’s “research.” She loves sitcoms way more than people should and is a mom to over 400 books in her home. Her favorite thing to do is write wholesome scenes with her characters just vibing, crafting flawed characters who grow within themselves, and strong hispanic and Latina leads.

For more, follow Isla May on social media and find the playlists on Spotify

Reviews

[romi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been so excited for their book since the first one of the series and it did not disappoint! Nat and Rowan are
such beautiful, relatable and meant for each other characters… the chemistry, the banter, the angst the YEARNING it was all there !!! like what do you mean Rowan has been obsessed with Nat since forever and all he has ever wanted was just a chance to be with her and love her just like she deserves ?!

And don’t get me started with Nat (i need to protect at all costs) she was so sweet but so guarded at the same time, throughout the book you can feel her struggles and fears and understand why she feels that way you sympathize with her and relate to her, which leads me to say that mental health is such an important topic in this book and I feel it was treated with so much caution and respect, at the beginning Nat was scared of what she was feeling and not being able to reciprocate the feelings towards Rowan however he was patient, attentive and treated with thoughtfulness just what she needed to understand that her feelings are valid and it’s okay to have good and bad days because he would never dropped her hand my babies 🤏🏻😭

Their story was sweet and thoughtful, she baked his favorite dessert and he decorated his restaurant with the theme of her favorite movie it has always been them i miss them already:,)

Last but not least the found family, the friendship’s dynamics, the small town shenanigans is all immaculate i can’t wait for what’s coming next omg !!! ☺️

thank you Isla for the ARC <3


Here’s what you can expect:
🐈‍⬛ brief fake dating
🐈‍⬛ “it’s always been you”
🐈‍⬛ friends with benefits
🐈‍⬛ mental health representation
🐈‍⬛ small town shenanigans
🐈‍⬛ found family

If you read it hope you enjoy it, like i did <3
xx, romi.

[a · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this world and have been waiting not so patiently for this book since I read Stained Glasses two years ago. The fact that I've been struggling to finish a book for months but I finished this one should tell you how much I enjoyed it. Was it perfect? Def not, but there is something about how real Isla May's characters are that I just really enjoy and can never get enough of. I also love how rich in diversity this book is!

[iara ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for Nat and Rowan’s book since I’ve read Stained Glass and let me tell you something: it did not disappoint!!!

I never thought i would love them this much but here we are. I kept falling in love with Rowan and Natalia but honestly, how could i not? They’re such amazing characters, so easy to love and to care for 🤍

Mental health is such an important topic in this book, both Natalia and Rowan deal with it. Isla knew how to show all the ups and downs, she was able to treat it the right way! It was raw, sometimes hard to read, but so real and that’s what made me appreciate it even more ❤️‍🩹

My sweet, beautiful Natalia. Just thinking about her makes me feel so many emotions. She’s such a special character. All throughout my reading, i kept wanting to reach through the book and take her in my arms, to protect her at all costs. She definitely left her mark on me

Rowan is one of my favorite MMC ever!! He was so so SO sweet and I truly love him with my whole heart. I loved how patience he was with Nat, how he kept showing her that he would always be there for her, showing and telling her how much he loves her without pressuring her to do or to feel a certain way! He was honestly pretty perfect and their relationship made so much sense. They were made for each other

Couldn’t end this review without mentioning the found family ofc! Their friendship is to do die for 🤧 I miss them already and can’t wait to go back to Willow Springs and be read about these amazing characters once again!

Thank you so much Isla for this ARC! I’m so so proud of you and I can’t wait for what’s coming next 🫶🏼

[Just.agirl.and.herbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside Out
Isla May
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was such an emotional read with an equally beautiful and heartbreaking romance between two amazing characters that deserve the world and each other. To see the growth, love, and support they had for each other throughout the book made this read even more special, and I absolutely loved it. Natalia and Rowan, throughout the book, had me feeling every emotion from the happy ones down to the heart shattering moments.

I felt so much for Natalia and related to the overthinking and anxiety and just all the self-doubt she felt. To see how she works through those feelings and especially with the absolute devotion, love, and support Rowen gives her was beautiful and inspiring.  She was able to start working through and feeling  that she is so loved by all her friends and family, and that just filled me with so joy.

Rowan is the type of friend and partner everyone deserves their life. He loves and cares so much for everyone, but Natalia definitely has his whole heart, and he would do anything for her. He made sure she knew that her feelings were valid and important. He was always in her corner and giving her the support she needed. Even when she was trying to push him away, he never once wavered in his love for her.

Willow springs is such a breath of fresh air in that while we get a beautiful romance we also get the privilege of going on emotional and healing journeys with the characters and we as the reader get to experience emotions that in the long run will make us more understanding and empathetic towards others. Isla May is a talented writer, and i am so glad that i have been able to read and experience her beautiful world of Willow Springs and Inside Out.

[Gemmia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m obsessed!

I love that book because it’s so raw and emotional, you’re motivating me to write my own raw book and I can’t wait for your next book so I can read it!