Crave

Willowbrook #2

by Lily Anh Nam

A rising star hits rock bottom…

It was supposed to be her next big break—the kind of dream role that would make actress Gia Lien a household name, but a predatory producer turned it into a nightmare. With her career and sobriety hanging in the balance, Gia leaves Los Angeles for the hometown she fled a decade before.

An old flame brings new fire…

Jake West screwed up his life a long time ago, and he’s been making the best of it ever since. He’s a lawyer now and the adoptive dad to a daughter with a mischievous streak. But when it comes to love—his heart belongs to a woman he only sees on big screens and supermarket tabloids. Until she walks back into Willowbrook like she never left.

A second chance at first love…

Jake is the very last person Gia wants to see, but somehow he’s everywhere she looks—hanging out in her family’s restaurant, being called uncle by her nieces, taking care of the daughter he adopted. He’s no longer the boy she remembers, but she’s also not the girl who naively handed over her heart. No matter how tempting…some cravings are too dangerous to indulge.

Dive into the delicious slow burn of the second installment in the Willowbrook series—CRAVE is a standalone, angsty romance about childhood friends turned first love followed by the worst heartbreak. Can a second chance breathe new life into ancient history?

410 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 5, 2026

About the author

Lily Anh Nam is an Asian American contemporary romance author. She lives in a quiet New England town with her family and her feline writing companions. Her cats are often featured in her stories. Though she grew up on a tropical island, her favorite season is fall. Caramel lattes and mint chocolates keep her running. When not writing, Lily likes to spend time with her family. She rarely leaves the house without bribery.

Reviews

[Kimberly]

After reading Crash, I was so excited to continue this series… and wow, this book absolutely did not disappoint.

Crave delivered everything I love in a small town romance: emotional moments, beautiful family dynamics, healing, tension, and characters that genuinely felt real.

I especially loved the way grief and healing were handled throughout the story. It was written in such a heartfelt and emotional way that it really pulled me into the characters’ struggles and emotions.

The pet center and Tuna completely stole my heart. As an animal lover, those moments made me incredibly happy.

And Jake… seeing him as an adoptive father honestly melted my heart. The love, care, and patience he showed were one of my favorite parts of the entire book.

The family dynamics in this series continue to be one of the strongest aspects for me. The Liens felt so warm and lovable, and they made Willowbrook feel even more like home.

This is definitely a recommendation from me, and I already know this series will stay with me for a long time 💜

[Kourtney Gorka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will preface that I didn't read the first book before I read this one. Not because I didn't want to, but lowkey forgot to! I do think I missed a few things after I read the synopsis of the first and plan to go back to read it but also feel this book can stand on its own two feet!

Potential spoilers!

This book grabbed my attention from the first page. It went straight into action for the FMC, Gia and really gave good background as to why she went home in the first place. I immediately felt for her and wanted nothing but to protect her (obviously knowing full well she's fictional). I could never imagine what she was going through personally but still resonated with her internal struggles!

Now for our golden boy MMC, Jake. He's selfless, overall kind, and the kind of guy every girls dream of! He protects those that mean the world to him and will stop at nothing to make sure nothing happens to them (even if it's a tad morally gray). Overcoming his childhood to become who he is I think will hit home for readers who have been dealt the same kind of hand. He handles single 'fatherhood' like a champ, even if it wasn't what he imagined for himself.

The second chance at love, enemies to lovers in this book is well done! It captures what can happen when you let your walls down and don't give up on the person you love, even if you screwed up.

10/10, easily recommend, especially if you've read the first!

I was given an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

[♡Angelique♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake and Gia were the cutest! I loved their backstory and how they have been so intertwined with each other since they were young.

There were so many odds against them. Jake's relationship with Gia's twin, Thao. His really horrible family life. The summer that changed everything. Then later, Gia's newfound fame, her previous addiction history and they incident that caused her to run.

Despite all the hurt feelings, the pain of loss and the changes that happened in the decade Gia was gone, Jake still held a hope for her to finally make her way back to him. His never ending love and desire to protect Gia from forces he didn't have the resources to fight as a small town lawyer was so swoon worthy.

I also really loved Jake's relationship with Marley. He was able to give her the childhood he didn't have and the support he wished for. I loved the bond she built with Gia.

I really, on a personal level, enjoyed the incorporation of growing up in an Asian household. It was nice to relate to characters this much. I understood Thao's need to go into a field his parents wanted for stability, rather than chasing the dream that was less stable. I also related to a household not filled with words of affection but rather acts of love through food. Food has always been a way my family shows love and care and it was nice to see that on page.

I really enjoyed this story and can't wait for the next story in this series!

[pages in pyjamas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small towns really do remember everything 😭

Second chance romance / small town romance / first love / grief / emotional baggage / protective MMC / light spice

📖 Synopsis
Gia returns to Willowbrook after her life in LA falls apart, hoping home will help her heal and find herself again. Instead, she’s forced to face old memories, unresolved grief, and Jake — the one person she never truly left behind emotionally.

💭 My Feels
What worked best for me in this story was the emotional history between Gia and Jake. Their relationship felt messy in a believable way, and the unresolved tension between them carried through the entire story.

I also liked that the book focused more on healing, grief, forgiveness, and rebuilding trust instead of relying only on romance or spice. The emotional side of the story definitely stood out more for me.

Marley was also such a good addition to the story and brought warmth into some of the heavier moments.

🌶 Spice
More emotional than super spicy for me. The chemistry was there, but the connection between the characters carried the story more than the spice itself.

⭐ Overall
A heartfelt small-town romance filled with unresolved feelings, complicated history, healing, and finding your way back to yourself after life completely knocks you sideways.

Thank you to the Lily Anh Nam and IRIS Influencer Society for the ARC copy 🤍

[Tisha Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Even though this is book two in the series, I truly feel like it can be read as a standalone without feeling completely lost. The story immediately pulled me in emotionally, and I became so attached to the characters and everything they were going through.

One of my favorite parts was the second chance romance between Gia and Jake. Their history together, the tension, the hurt, and the love that still remained underneath everything felt so real and emotional. Jake was honestly such a swoon-worthy MMC… protective, caring, loyal, and willing to do absolutely anything for the people he loves. I also loved how Marley fit into the story and the emotional depth she brought to their journey.

I loved that the romance wasn’t perfect or easy. It felt messy, emotional, and genuine in a way that kept me fully invested the entire time. Beyond the romance, I really appreciated the deeper themes involving family, healing, grief, and personal struggles. The characters felt layered and believable, and I loved seeing how much their pasts shaped who they became. If you’re an animal lover, this book is definitely for you too 🥰🐾

Overall, this story had the perfect balance of romance, emotion, tension, and heartwarming moments. I flew through it and already can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Miranda Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author continues to impress me with her ability to write short romance novels that never feel repetitive. Each story stands on its own, with its own voice, its own struggles, and its own kind of love, and book two in this series is no exception.

While this book does deliver a hard-earned HEA, it does not get there without emotional weight and real-life struggles that give the story depth. What stood out to me most was the way the author once again chose to incorporate meaningful representation around difficult but important topics.

Domestic violence and sexual assault are still heavily stigmatized in many spaces, and survivors are too often viewed through the lens of victimhood rather than strength. I truly appreciate how this story acknowledges that reality while also centering healing and resilience. It feels intentional, respectful, and necessary.

This was not just a romance, but a reminder of survival, growth, and the importance of telling these stories with care.

I can't wait to see what else comes from this series in the future.

[Ivana Loustalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Lily Anh for this ARC ✨
Crave was an unexpected surprise. But don’t let the pretty cover fool you.. though it’s really stunning, this story has a lot of drama, trauma, and grief. It was beautiful and sad, hopeful and tense, with childhood friends, heartbreaks, and second chances.
I really enjoyed being in Willowbrook, the picturesque small town with friendly neighbors and a beautiful mountain lake. And reading about Gia and Jake’s story, their friendship and their new relationship, or lack of it. I cried a lot.
Lily Anh wrote such beautiful words, it was hard not to cry.

These are the Tropes you'll find inside this book:
▫️Small Town Vibes
▫️Slow Burn
▫️Second Chances
▫️Childhood Best Friends
▫️Loss & Grief
▫️Single Dad
▫️Mental Health Rep
▫️Black Cat x Golden Retriever

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was heartwarming and easy to read. I loved the characters and the heavy themes the book dealt with in a respectful way. It was a great read and I couldn't put it down!

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Really enjoyed it. Has some great tropes in it ⭐️brothers best friend ⭐️second chance romance ⭐️golden retriever/black cat ⭐️small town ⭐️single dad ⭐️meddling/match making ⭐️slow burn