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Always Been You #2
The Winter We Chose Us
Is love enough to keep someone from drowning?
Tobias is trying his best. Therapy. Staying busy at work. Focusing on the life he and Elijah are building together. But healing isn’t a straight line, and the thoughts he’s buried only grow louder under the weight of stress.
Elijah is doing everything he can to hold them both together. Navigating a new relationship isn’t easy, especially with distance between them, but he’s determined to prove to Tobias that he’s not going anywhere. Not this time.
When the winter grows cold and the ghosts of Tobias’s past creep into the present, they realize they have a choice: face the shadows together or risk slipping under and losing everything they’ve fought for.
Tobias is trying his best. Therapy. Staying busy at work. Focusing on the life he and Elijah are building together. But healing isn’t a straight line, and the thoughts he’s buried only grow louder under the weight of stress.
Elijah is doing everything he can to hold them both together. Navigating a new relationship isn’t easy, especially with distance between them, but he’s determined to prove to Tobias that he’s not going anywhere. Not this time.
When the winter grows cold and the ghosts of Tobias’s past creep into the present, they realize they have a choice: face the shadows together or risk slipping under and losing everything they’ve fought for.
425 pages, Paperback
Published December 9, 2025
About the author
Ella Kit
5 books228 followersElla Kit is a writer of LGBTQA+ romance novels who loves giggling and kicking her feet over charming characters, crying happy tears over love declarations, and celebrating those hard-earned happily-ever-afters.
Through her stories, she brings to life heartfelt romances that dive deep into love, growth, and self-discovery.
When Ella isn’t writing, you can find her reading, exploring new adventures, and chatting with readers who adore sweet love stories as much as she does.
Through her stories, she brings to life heartfelt romances that dive deep into love, growth, and self-discovery.
When Ella isn’t writing, you can find her reading, exploring new adventures, and chatting with readers who adore sweet love stories as much as she does.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
March 10, 2026
3.5⭐️
they are so cute😭🙏
they are so cute😭🙏
May 16, 2026
So glad my babies are finally free and able to enjoy life together because they have been through enough 😭
Can’t wait for Gabe and Wyatt’s story🫶🏾
Can’t wait for Gabe and Wyatt’s story🫶🏾
December 9, 2025
4/5 stars 3.5/5 spice
I’m delighted to see Elijah and Tobias get their happy ever after. These two were so in love with each other. Their love language was definitely touch/intimacy. Whenever they had an intimate moment you could feel just how much they needed one another.
Elijah had some personal growth in this book. He had his moments where we acted a little selfish and impulsive but once he got his head on straight and realised he needed to fight for Tobias he changed for the better. Tobias was sweet as always, treating Elijah like his entire world. He did make some stupid decisions in regard to his father and lying to Elijah about it but he was also under a lot of stress and pressure at such a young age. I’m glad they both decided to put the work in to make their relationship last and be more healthy.
I really liked Gabe’s character (minus his mistake) and the little hints we were given about him and his foster brother. That’s a story I’m really looking forward to reading.
- Found family
- Long distance relationship
- Restaurant co-owners
- Codependency
- Grief
- Dangerous father on the run
- Traumatic past
I’m delighted to see Elijah and Tobias get their happy ever after. These two were so in love with each other. Their love language was definitely touch/intimacy. Whenever they had an intimate moment you could feel just how much they needed one another.
Elijah had some personal growth in this book. He had his moments where we acted a little selfish and impulsive but once he got his head on straight and realised he needed to fight for Tobias he changed for the better. Tobias was sweet as always, treating Elijah like his entire world. He did make some stupid decisions in regard to his father and lying to Elijah about it but he was also under a lot of stress and pressure at such a young age. I’m glad they both decided to put the work in to make their relationship last and be more healthy.
I really liked Gabe’s character (minus his mistake) and the little hints we were given about him and his foster brother. That’s a story I’m really looking forward to reading.
- Found family
- Long distance relationship
- Restaurant co-owners
- Codependency
- Grief
- Dangerous father on the run
- Traumatic past
May 6, 2026
I loved this book. While I still felt that some of the writing choices carried over from the previous book, it definitely flowed better overall. This was my first book by Ella Kit, and I’m looking forward to exploring more of her work. I feel like it really expanded on Elijah and Tobias as characters, making them genuinely believable as twenty-somethings navigating life and trying to figure out what they want not just individually, but from each other.
I especially appreciated how the author made me sit with the frustration of some of Elijah’s choices. There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake him and make him open his eyes to what was actually going on, so credit to the author for pulling that kind of reaction out of me. I went from feeling frustrated, to doubting the relationship, to fully rooting for them.
Even Tobias’s actions had me conflicted at times I found myself thinking about how naive he could be, while also feeling the full weight of everything he’s been through. His trauma and the way he’s still dealing with it, all while trying to make Elijah’s life a little easier, added so much depth to his character.
It’s easy to forget that they’re both very young men, just trying to figure life out while carrying the weight of everything they’ve been through and this book captures just how difficult and messy that can be.
By the end, I wasn’t just invested in their relationship I believed in it.
I especially appreciated how the author made me sit with the frustration of some of Elijah’s choices. There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake him and make him open his eyes to what was actually going on, so credit to the author for pulling that kind of reaction out of me. I went from feeling frustrated, to doubting the relationship, to fully rooting for them.
Even Tobias’s actions had me conflicted at times I found myself thinking about how naive he could be, while also feeling the full weight of everything he’s been through. His trauma and the way he’s still dealing with it, all while trying to make Elijah’s life a little easier, added so much depth to his character.
It’s easy to forget that they’re both very young men, just trying to figure life out while carrying the weight of everything they’ve been through and this book captures just how difficult and messy that can be.
By the end, I wasn’t just invested in their relationship I believed in it.
January 20, 2026
❄️You're all I've ever wanted. It's always been you. It will always be you🐦⬛
"As long as I'm his best friend, I'll make sure I'll always be there to pull him out of the deep end. Every. Single. Time."
"He has this overwhelming effect on me that makes me numb to everything else. My mind, my soul, and my body don't want him to leave. He can't leave. Not now. Not ever."
"It's like he's an anchor. When he's near, it doesn't feel like I'm floating away."
"Every second away from you hurts."
"My home is a pair of blue ocean eyes, and a warm solid chest. Everything else will figure itself out. Right now, I need to be home. Right now, I need Tobias."
"I love you, Tobias. All of you. Every single part. Even the parts you hate about yourself. I almost love those the most."
"This is what love is supposed to feel like. Terrifying. Fragile. And completely unconditional. This is real love. Flaws and all."
"He keeps choosing me again and again, even when it's hard. Even when it's down right painful. As much as I wanted to keep my pain away from him, it caught up to us. And yet, he's still here."
"You're all I've ever wanted. It's always been you. It will always be you."
"Life hasn't always been kind to me. There were days, a lot of days, I thought I wouldn't make it through. Days I felt small, or broken, or like I wasn't built for this world. But then there was you. And you saw me...all of me...and you loved me anyway. Loving you has never hurt. It's never been hard. It's the easiest thing I've ever done."
What a perfect ending to this duet. This was a gut-wrenching and wild ride that kept me engaged until the very last page. I cried a lot, laughed, screamed, had anxiety, smiled, and swooned. I love this author's writing style, flow, and the emotions she evokes in her stories. There was so much trauma, darkness, and pain in this duet. But there was also love, growing, and so much healing. These boys were everything and are definitely now one of my favorite couples ever written. I love how we got flashbacks of when they were kids. The prologue alone made me emotional 😭. The mental health aspects in this story were handled so well. I truly felt these characters' struggles. I was on the edge of my seat towards the end. I was terrified how this would end. Thankfully it has an HEA! The spice in this was delicious and spicin 🔥🔥🔥🔥.
This story picks up at the end of the last book. We follow the relationship between Tobias and Elijah. Elijah goes back to school, so we see them struggle with being apart and long distance. Tobias is still getting threats from his father and he hides it from everyone. Tobias is so stressed with the lies he tells, his father breathing down his neck, struggling to maintain the business by himself that he falls into depression badly. He hides it so well from Elijah. Elijah is busy with school, so he doesn't see through Tobias as much as he should. Elijah lets his jealousy get the better of him and he takes space from Tobias, which makes everything even worse. Can these two survive between the lies and miscommunication? Will Derrick finally destroy everything Tobias loves? Can the promises these two make still hold true?
I love these broken boys so much. Tobias ugh, my heart and soul bled for this boy 😭. He continues to struggle and deal with so many demons. I understand why he kept things from Elijah, but at the same time, I'm like Nooooo tell him! I love how these boys love each other so fiercely. Yes, they're codependent, but they have grown so much from the first book. I love how Elijah took the caretaker role in this book. He stepped up and really knew what Tobias needed. I loved how Elijah accepted and supported Tobias unconditionally. Seeing both of these boys heal and grow together was everything. This was one of the most hard earned HEAs I've ever read. I was scared towards the end, not gonna lie 😂😂. The epliogue made me smile and made my heart so happy. These boys were truly best friends at the heart of their relationship. I will be thinking about these boys for a while.
I loved the side characters in this book. Gwen was my favorite side character. She did everything for her boys and continued to support them 🥹. Gabe and Wyatt. I need that book now! I feel their story will have so much pain and tears 😫. I loved the found family they created with their restaurant. I also love how they kept Jude's memory alive. Anything with Jude made me bawl 😭. And Derrick. I'm glad that mf finally got his! I've never hated a villain so much in my life! If you're looking for a book that's filled with broken boys, trauma, crying, healing, lots of growth, spice, and all the swoony/pining moments, then this duet is for you. 🏞🌻🪻📸🐦⬛🍋🎶🎄❄️💙🤎
"As long as I'm his best friend, I'll make sure I'll always be there to pull him out of the deep end. Every. Single. Time."
"He has this overwhelming effect on me that makes me numb to everything else. My mind, my soul, and my body don't want him to leave. He can't leave. Not now. Not ever."
"It's like he's an anchor. When he's near, it doesn't feel like I'm floating away."
"Every second away from you hurts."
"My home is a pair of blue ocean eyes, and a warm solid chest. Everything else will figure itself out. Right now, I need to be home. Right now, I need Tobias."
"I love you, Tobias. All of you. Every single part. Even the parts you hate about yourself. I almost love those the most."
"This is what love is supposed to feel like. Terrifying. Fragile. And completely unconditional. This is real love. Flaws and all."
"He keeps choosing me again and again, even when it's hard. Even when it's down right painful. As much as I wanted to keep my pain away from him, it caught up to us. And yet, he's still here."
"You're all I've ever wanted. It's always been you. It will always be you."
"Life hasn't always been kind to me. There were days, a lot of days, I thought I wouldn't make it through. Days I felt small, or broken, or like I wasn't built for this world. But then there was you. And you saw me...all of me...and you loved me anyway. Loving you has never hurt. It's never been hard. It's the easiest thing I've ever done."
What a perfect ending to this duet. This was a gut-wrenching and wild ride that kept me engaged until the very last page. I cried a lot, laughed, screamed, had anxiety, smiled, and swooned. I love this author's writing style, flow, and the emotions she evokes in her stories. There was so much trauma, darkness, and pain in this duet. But there was also love, growing, and so much healing. These boys were everything and are definitely now one of my favorite couples ever written. I love how we got flashbacks of when they were kids. The prologue alone made me emotional 😭. The mental health aspects in this story were handled so well. I truly felt these characters' struggles. I was on the edge of my seat towards the end. I was terrified how this would end. Thankfully it has an HEA! The spice in this was delicious and spicin 🔥🔥🔥🔥.
This story picks up at the end of the last book. We follow the relationship between Tobias and Elijah. Elijah goes back to school, so we see them struggle with being apart and long distance. Tobias is still getting threats from his father and he hides it from everyone. Tobias is so stressed with the lies he tells, his father breathing down his neck, struggling to maintain the business by himself that he falls into depression badly. He hides it so well from Elijah. Elijah is busy with school, so he doesn't see through Tobias as much as he should. Elijah lets his jealousy get the better of him and he takes space from Tobias, which makes everything even worse. Can these two survive between the lies and miscommunication? Will Derrick finally destroy everything Tobias loves? Can the promises these two make still hold true?
I love these broken boys so much. Tobias ugh, my heart and soul bled for this boy 😭. He continues to struggle and deal with so many demons. I understand why he kept things from Elijah, but at the same time, I'm like Nooooo tell him! I love how these boys love each other so fiercely. Yes, they're codependent, but they have grown so much from the first book. I love how Elijah took the caretaker role in this book. He stepped up and really knew what Tobias needed. I loved how Elijah accepted and supported Tobias unconditionally. Seeing both of these boys heal and grow together was everything. This was one of the most hard earned HEAs I've ever read. I was scared towards the end, not gonna lie 😂😂. The epliogue made me smile and made my heart so happy. These boys were truly best friends at the heart of their relationship. I will be thinking about these boys for a while.
I loved the side characters in this book. Gwen was my favorite side character. She did everything for her boys and continued to support them 🥹. Gabe and Wyatt. I need that book now! I feel their story will have so much pain and tears 😫. I loved the found family they created with their restaurant. I also love how they kept Jude's memory alive. Anything with Jude made me bawl 😭. And Derrick. I'm glad that mf finally got his! I've never hated a villain so much in my life! If you're looking for a book that's filled with broken boys, trauma, crying, healing, lots of growth, spice, and all the swoony/pining moments, then this duet is for you. 🏞🌻🪻📸🐦⬛🍋🎶🎄❄️💙🤎
December 2, 2025
This was an enjoyable read. I liked finishing up Tobias and Elijah’s story.
Tobias and Elijah were likable. Both young adults navigating what’s already a difficult time in life with added challenges like grief of losing a parent/parent figure, another parent’s criminality, and being thrown into restaurant management and college on top of it all. Initially the first few chapters felt very spice heavy, but once the plot picked up it caught my attention. Especially towards the end of the book when things finally started ramping up with Derrick. He got the ending he deserved.
While overall I did like this there were a few things that I didn’t enjoy so much. Some bits felt added for dramatizing the story and didn’t add much to the plot or story itself. A few times things happen that should be red flags for Gwen and Elijah in regard to Tobias and it gets glossed over. It just doesn’t fit Gwen’s mother hen character to ignore these red flags (fainting, asking about legal advice). Also it was never brought up that Tobias stole money from the restaurant. It was not a small amount of money (not a duffle bag full with enough to obtain a car) and doesn’t seem realistic that it’s just forgotten about without consequence.
I also personally didn’t like the miscommunication bits with Gabe and Elijah it felt forced. I did like Gabe’s character so I’m disappointed we didn’t get more of his and his foster brother’s story in this. While
I’m glad they’ll get their book I wish there had been a bit more added to this one of them.
Thank you Ella Kit for this arc!
Tobias and Elijah were likable. Both young adults navigating what’s already a difficult time in life with added challenges like grief of losing a parent/parent figure, another parent’s criminality, and being thrown into restaurant management and college on top of it all. Initially the first few chapters felt very spice heavy, but once the plot picked up it caught my attention. Especially towards the end of the book when things finally started ramping up with Derrick. He got the ending he deserved.
While overall I did like this there were a few things that I didn’t enjoy so much. Some bits felt added for dramatizing the story and didn’t add much to the plot or story itself. A few times things happen that should be red flags for Gwen and Elijah in regard to Tobias and it gets glossed over. It just doesn’t fit Gwen’s mother hen character to ignore these red flags (fainting, asking about legal advice). Also it was never brought up that Tobias stole money from the restaurant. It was not a small amount of money (not a duffle bag full with enough to obtain a car) and doesn’t seem realistic that it’s just forgotten about without consequence.
I also personally didn’t like the miscommunication bits with Gabe and Elijah it felt forced. I did like Gabe’s character so I’m disappointed we didn’t get more of his and his foster brother’s story in this. While
I’m glad they’ll get their book I wish there had been a bit more added to this one of them.
Thank you Ella Kit for this arc!
December 3, 2025
✨ARC Review✨
My girl Ella has done it again with this one. This is the ending that Tobias & Elijah deserved.
I’ve read many books with a villain, however, Derrick Voss was written in the way that instilled fear in me. Knowing the damage he has cause, the fear he has induced, nothing made me happier than reading the end of this book knowing that my boys were safe. Although this book contains one of my least favorite tropes (keeping secrets for safety), understanding the kind of awful human Derrick was made it sooo much more believable.
It’s nice to read an MM romance that the primary focus is the love that these two have for each other and not purely smut (although there is a good bit of that too). I often times become bored with MM romances that push the narrative that men are simple sex obsessed, but this book was not that.
Overall, I loved this book, and am so glad these boys got their happily ever after.
As a Patreon member too, I can’t wait to see what Ella cooks up for Gabe & Wyatt! 🩷
My girl Ella has done it again with this one. This is the ending that Tobias & Elijah deserved.
I’ve read many books with a villain, however, Derrick Voss was written in the way that instilled fear in me. Knowing the damage he has cause, the fear he has induced, nothing made me happier than reading the end of this book knowing that my boys were safe. Although this book contains one of my least favorite tropes (keeping secrets for safety), understanding the kind of awful human Derrick was made it sooo much more believable.
It’s nice to read an MM romance that the primary focus is the love that these two have for each other and not purely smut (although there is a good bit of that too). I often times become bored with MM romances that push the narrative that men are simple sex obsessed, but this book was not that.
Overall, I loved this book, and am so glad these boys got their happily ever after.
As a Patreon member too, I can’t wait to see what Ella cooks up for Gabe & Wyatt! 🩷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2025
This is an ARC review.
The Winter We Chose Us - Can love be enough?
Throughout this book, you see how hard Tobias tries to show how he’s changing and trying to stay afloat.
We’ve almost all been there in some fashion.
Bless him, Elijah keeps pushing them forward. The insecurities are THERE, ok!?
They have to choose each other every single time.
The miscommunication was hard to get through but it’s my least favorite trope.
I think this book shows how sometimes love is hard but worth it. And fun in the bedroom 🤭
Great book!
The Winter We Chose Us - Can love be enough?
Throughout this book, you see how hard Tobias tries to show how he’s changing and trying to stay afloat.
We’ve almost all been there in some fashion.
Bless him, Elijah keeps pushing them forward. The insecurities are THERE, ok!?
They have to choose each other every single time.
The miscommunication was hard to get through but it’s my least favorite trope.
I think this book shows how sometimes love is hard but worth it. And fun in the bedroom 🤭
Great book!
November 25, 2025
I have been waiting for the rest of their story and this book did not disappoint! I received at ARC of this book and I could not put it down. Ella Kit is such an awesome author and a pleasure to communicate with. This author will forever be on my automatic read list!
March 14, 2026
The Winter We Chose Us
After finishing the first book, I wasn’t entirely convinced this story needed to be a duet. Now that I’ve read The Winter We Chose Us, I’d say my feelings are pretty much the same. Like the first book, I’d give this one 4 stars. It was good and I enjoyed it, but there was definitely room for improvement.
One of the biggest issues for me—again—was the editing. There were quite a few sentences that felt messy or confusing, to the point where I had to reread them several times just to understand what the author meant. I noticed the same thing in book one, and it honestly felt at times like the rough drafts made it to publication without a thorough edit.
That said, I still genuinely enjoyed Tobias and Elijah’s love story. They really are great together, and their connection still feels strong and believable. However, this book didn’t really add much that felt essential to their story. After finishing the first book, everything already felt pretty well wrapped up, and this sequel mostly reinforced that feeling.
There were also moments in this book where both Tobias and Elijah became a little unlikable, which was frustrating at times. Thankfully, they were redeemed and ultimately found their way back to the people we rooted for in the first book.
The emotional core of this book really centers around Tobias and the trauma he endured from Derrick. Even after the fire, Tobias was still trapped in that control psychologically. That aspect of the story felt incredibly raw and real. Trauma like that doesn’t disappear overnight, and watching him struggle to break free from it was one of the more powerful parts of the book.
In the end, I was happy to see Tobias and Elijah get their HEA and find peace together. After everything they went through, they absolutely deserved it.
I’m also really curious about where the author might go next. The epilogue hints that Gabe and Elijah may actually be on friendly terms now, which was interesting to see after everything that happened earlier in the story. And Wyatt remains a complete mystery, which makes me even more intrigued. I’d definitely be interested in seeing a future book exploring Gabe’s story and learning more about Wyatt.
Overall, this was a solid conclusion to the duet, even if it didn’t entirely feel necessary. Still, if you enjoyed Tobias and Elijah in the first book, it’s worth reading to see them finally get the happiness they fought so hard for.
After finishing the first book, I wasn’t entirely convinced this story needed to be a duet. Now that I’ve read The Winter We Chose Us, I’d say my feelings are pretty much the same. Like the first book, I’d give this one 4 stars. It was good and I enjoyed it, but there was definitely room for improvement.
One of the biggest issues for me—again—was the editing. There were quite a few sentences that felt messy or confusing, to the point where I had to reread them several times just to understand what the author meant. I noticed the same thing in book one, and it honestly felt at times like the rough drafts made it to publication without a thorough edit.
That said, I still genuinely enjoyed Tobias and Elijah’s love story. They really are great together, and their connection still feels strong and believable. However, this book didn’t really add much that felt essential to their story. After finishing the first book, everything already felt pretty well wrapped up, and this sequel mostly reinforced that feeling.
There were also moments in this book where both Tobias and Elijah became a little unlikable, which was frustrating at times. Thankfully, they were redeemed and ultimately found their way back to the people we rooted for in the first book.
The emotional core of this book really centers around Tobias and the trauma he endured from Derrick. Even after the fire, Tobias was still trapped in that control psychologically. That aspect of the story felt incredibly raw and real. Trauma like that doesn’t disappear overnight, and watching him struggle to break free from it was one of the more powerful parts of the book.
In the end, I was happy to see Tobias and Elijah get their HEA and find peace together. After everything they went through, they absolutely deserved it.
I’m also really curious about where the author might go next. The epilogue hints that Gabe and Elijah may actually be on friendly terms now, which was interesting to see after everything that happened earlier in the story. And Wyatt remains a complete mystery, which makes me even more intrigued. I’d definitely be interested in seeing a future book exploring Gabe’s story and learning more about Wyatt.
Overall, this was a solid conclusion to the duet, even if it didn’t entirely feel necessary. Still, if you enjoyed Tobias and Elijah in the first book, it’s worth reading to see them finally get the happiness they fought so hard for.
April 20, 2026
A great improvement in writing and pacing if you compare with book 1!
This is soo good (though there are some lagging points here and there) I like all of it!!. It got deep into each (MC) character's feelings, MC's breakpoints and development took another level. All well connected!
As for Tobias & Elijah- who I really got to love more n more - made some stupid choices creating some disturbances but they solve them, fight the demons and stand for each other. Especially , Tobias struggled a lot & deserve more; I am really happy that he got Elijah and they both got the ending they deserve. 🥰🥰
The ending - that's soo perfect!!
-----------------------------------------------------
POV: Dual (Tobias, Elijah)
Spice: 3/5 (they're really good though)
HEA: Yes
Fav quotes:
-----------------------------------------------------
HAd great-gut wernching-heart warming reading time !!
P.S.: I really curious about Gabe and Wyatt’s story.🤩🤩
This is soo good (though there are some lagging points here and there) I like all of it!!. It got deep into each (MC) character's feelings, MC's breakpoints and development took another level. All well connected!
As for Tobias & Elijah- who I really got to love more n more - made some stupid choices creating some disturbances but they solve them, fight the demons and stand for each other. Especially , Tobias struggled a lot & deserve more; I am really happy that he got Elijah and they both got the ending they deserve. 🥰🥰
The ending - that's soo perfect!!
-----------------------------------------------------
POV: Dual (Tobias, Elijah)
Spice: 3/5 (they're really good though)
HEA: Yes
Fav quotes:
I replay Gabe's hand rubbing his back. That's my back. Mine. And I'm going to do whatever I can to get it back.
Add a note...
“God, look at you. Such a good boy on your knees for me.”
I need him.
He’s my home.
Tobias. My angel. My precious angel.
I can’t live without Tobias Voss. Not a decision, not a choice — a fact.
“You—you want me?” His eyebrows pinch, making my heart swell.
“Are you kidding me? You’re all I’ve ever wanted. It’s always been you. It will always be you.”
Come to me, baby. I’m right here, Angel.
-----------------------------------------------------
HAd great-gut wernching-heart warming reading time !!
P.S.: I really curious about Gabe and Wyatt’s story.🤩🤩
My little Scaredy Cat.
April 10, 2026
WOW WOW WOW!! I didn’t think that this book could possibly be any better than the first one, but boy was I wrong! I connect so much with Tobias it isn’t even funny. I understand what it is like to feel like you are drowning and to feel like you will never escape the traumas that you have lived through of the voices that have been placed in your head. And the fact that this was written so well, it not only breaks my heart but it is also part of the reason that I love this series so much! I loved seeing Tobias growth in this story and seeing him fight those internal battles. However I think I enjoyed Elijah’s growth just as much if not more because it shows that someone like me and Tobias can be loved and that we deserve to be loved even when it’s hard or we feel like we don’t. While I hate everything that went down with Derrick and Tobias I’m so glad that it has a good ending. The same goes for everything that happens with Gabe and I love that we get to see the Christmas part incident from his point of view at the end. (I cannot wait to read his and Wyatt’s story!) I also love that we get to read Elijah and Tobias vows at the end because unfortunately I have read too many books especially mm books where we don’t get that so I really appreciated it in this story!! Overall I absolutely loved this book and think that it was perfectly written. The characters are so real and portrayed perfectly. This book hurt my heart in places but it also healed my heart and gave me hope. It was an emotional roller coaster but it was so worth it and I’m so glad that I found it. Now I have to find out more about Gabe and Wyatt’s story!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2026
⭐️5
Just like Tobias and Elijah have been through it, I’ve been through it as well. I felt EVERY. SINGLE. EMOTION. while reading this book, in the good way.
The emotions you feel for those boys make this book so intense. There’s ANGST, and A LOT of it and Tobias is forreal going through it.. I’ve never hated a character more than I hate Derreck.. but the love between Tobias and Elijah keeps winning and getting them through everything, which is honestly so beautiful and a ‘real’ depiction of how love is: not always perfect.
The miscommunication trope between them actually works in this book, bc it makes so much sense for them to want to be strong for each other and not be a burden.
This book is sad, painful and incredibly powerful all at once. Between all this, there are little moments of joy which makes it even better. And their happily ever after, it’s so deserved. They’re more than perfect for each other.
Idk what else to say except for well freaking done Ella. You’ve possibly written the best queer story I’ve ever read.
Just like Tobias and Elijah have been through it, I’ve been through it as well. I felt EVERY. SINGLE. EMOTION. while reading this book, in the good way.
The emotions you feel for those boys make this book so intense. There’s ANGST, and A LOT of it and Tobias is forreal going through it.. I’ve never hated a character more than I hate Derreck.. but the love between Tobias and Elijah keeps winning and getting them through everything, which is honestly so beautiful and a ‘real’ depiction of how love is: not always perfect.
The miscommunication trope between them actually works in this book, bc it makes so much sense for them to want to be strong for each other and not be a burden.
This book is sad, painful and incredibly powerful all at once. Between all this, there are little moments of joy which makes it even better. And their happily ever after, it’s so deserved. They’re more than perfect for each other.
Idk what else to say except for well freaking done Ella. You’ve possibly written the best queer story I’ve ever read.
May 8, 2026
Můj problém s navazujícím pokračováním většinou je v tom, že dějová linka se typicky skládá z toho, že:
1. rodič jedný z hlavních postav (typicky otec, v tomto případě otec Tobiase) je pyčus a rozhodne se škodit svýmu dítěti (z 99 % je to homofobní kokotko, alkoholik, drug addict, nezaměstnanej, broke) a vydírá ho
2. to děcko o tom nikomu neřekne bo to “vyřeší samo” (až na to že vůbec)
3. dalším typickým znakem je to, že spolu mm couple najednou zase tolik nekomunikuje, je tam šum (typicky se objeví na obzoru potenciální pokušitel) a stane se mezi nima nějakej argument.
4. Do toho tam hoďme to, že nakonec se pokusí ten rodič děcko zabít, ale nepodaří se to a nakonec plave s rybičkama sám no a potom už je HEA.
Well…toto vše se tu stalo, podobnej příběh jsem četla na jiný způsob víckrát, ale over all i dont mind.
Moje výtky: Tobias ik že tvůj otec sucks af, ale říkat Judovi taky dad, když datíš s jeho synem…kdyby to tam bylo zmíněny jednou, ale ono se to opakovalo dost často a bylo to divný prostě (když o něm mluvili jako our dad…)
1. rodič jedný z hlavních postav (typicky otec, v tomto případě otec Tobiase) je pyčus a rozhodne se škodit svýmu dítěti (z 99 % je to homofobní kokotko, alkoholik, drug addict, nezaměstnanej, broke) a vydírá ho
2. to děcko o tom nikomu neřekne bo to “vyřeší samo” (až na to že vůbec)
3. dalším typickým znakem je to, že spolu mm couple najednou zase tolik nekomunikuje, je tam šum (typicky se objeví na obzoru potenciální pokušitel) a stane se mezi nima nějakej argument.
4. Do toho tam hoďme to, že nakonec se pokusí ten rodič děcko zabít, ale nepodaří se to a nakonec plave s rybičkama sám no a potom už je HEA.
Well…toto vše se tu stalo, podobnej příběh jsem četla na jiný způsob víckrát, ale over all i dont mind.
Moje výtky: Tobias ik že tvůj otec sucks af, ale říkat Judovi taky dad, když datíš s jeho synem…kdyby to tam bylo zmíněny jednou, ale ono se to opakovalo dost často a bylo to divný prostě (když o něm mluvili jako our dad…)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2026
5 ⭐
Continuation of Tobias x Elijah
High angst and the biggest emotional roller coaster EVERRRR!!!☹️☹️
The romance between both MMCs was just beautiful!
The sex scenes were beautiful too, the consent and intimacy was so sweet to see, and how much care they show towards each other.
I fully thought i was reading a horror towards the end! my heart dropped when Tobias and Derrick fell through the ice!
TW
Abuse (physical, verbal, sexual)
neglect
mental health discussion
homophobic language (mild)
somewhat cheating (mmc stays faithful)
death of parent
grief/loss
Continuation of Tobias x Elijah
High angst and the biggest emotional roller coaster EVERRRR!!!☹️☹️
The romance between both MMCs was just beautiful!
The sex scenes were beautiful too, the consent and intimacy was so sweet to see, and how much care they show towards each other.
I fully thought i was reading a horror towards the end! my heart dropped when Tobias and Derrick fell through the ice!
TW
Abuse (physical, verbal, sexual)
neglect
mental health discussion
homophobic language (mild)
somewhat cheating (mmc stays faithful)
death of parent
grief/loss
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2026
THIS WAS SO GOOD UGH MY HEART!! so much damn happened in this and poor Tobias what the fuck 😭😭😭 i felt like their love for each other in this was friggin palpable. i’ve never read a book where i felt like i genuinely could FEEL how much these two loved each other. Elijah definitely frustrated me at some points, but Tobias def did too. either way in the end the way they were there for each other and really showed up for each other was so sweet 😭 and the friggin epilogue. DONT GET ME STARTED. so so so sweet 🥹💗 also really excited for Gabe’s book?? i’m assuming she’s writing one for him cause his story was teased so much through this ???
March 20, 2026
This duet just solidified that trauma and hurt/comfort is my jam.
Tobias was going THROUGH IT. My poor boys. And Derrick….DERRICK🤬 I don’t think I’ve ever been so pissed at a character.
Tobias and Elijah are at the top of my favorite MM couples. Right with Bran and Niko, Kyran and Avi and Devon and Maddox🥹
Tobias was going THROUGH IT. My poor boys. And Derrick….DERRICK🤬 I don’t think I’ve ever been so pissed at a character.
Tobias and Elijah are at the top of my favorite MM couples. Right with Bran and Niko, Kyran and Avi and Devon and Maddox🥹
March 16, 2026
Ok this part stressed me. How much more can Tobias take!
Yeah no I didn’t want to live with him all those BS.
Elijah character development was amazing. You see the kid who became a young adult then realizing his flaws and making thinks right.
Their happy ending is lovely and gosh yes I love them!
Yeah no I didn’t want to live with him all those BS.
Elijah character development was amazing. You see the kid who became a young adult then realizing his flaws and making thinks right.
Their happy ending is lovely and gosh yes I love them!
March 17, 2026
A good continuation, but not much more than that for me. I still feel a lot for the main characters’ love story, but unfortunately it felt like there was a lot of repetition in the same types of conversations throughout, and at times it dragged a bit. However, it had a beautiful ending.
May 2, 2026
It wasn't a easy road but finally finally did Elijah, and especially, Tobias got their HEA🥹
I adore them both even with their flaws but my heart feels just a bit more for Tobias ❤️🩹
And excited for Gabe and Wyatt's story that we got tested with
I adore them both even with their flaws but my heart feels just a bit more for Tobias ❤️🩹
And excited for Gabe and Wyatt's story that we got tested with
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2026
I don't know why I finished it
These two are a mess, I can't stand Elijah. Tobias deserved better. The whole relationship is a codependent mess! I enjoyed the scenes with Gabe, I fear his book will be similar to this which is a pity.
These two are a mess, I can't stand Elijah. Tobias deserved better. The whole relationship is a codependent mess! I enjoyed the scenes with Gabe, I fear his book will be similar to this which is a pity.
March 11, 2026
Didn’t really care by the end. Beautiful story tho.
March 11, 2026
Borderline 4.5 stars. Oh. My. God. Gorgeous. Angsty. FULL of love and boys being DUMB. I loved it.
April 20, 2026
This series book broke my heart and made me cry so much. I love them, love the way they love, and the way they face their challenges. They are so strong, and their love inspired me.
May 17, 2026
my poor tobias didn’t deserve all that suffering
May 17, 2026
Wonderful
What a fabulous duet this was. This one was heavier than the first book but in no way better or worse. Just different. The twist made me GASP trust me. Great great read
What a fabulous duet this was. This one was heavier than the first book but in no way better or worse. Just different. The twist made me GASP trust me. Great great read
March 3, 2026
Like the first book in the series, this one also blew my mind. The depth of emotion you feel for these characters is incredible. It’s an emotional roller coaster throughout the whole book. It truly couldn’t have ended better.
April 30, 2026
I’m reading it, I love it, but every time T lies to E and hides his pain and fear breaks my heart damn, I just wanted to see if I’d find some sisters in distress too lmao
March 1, 2026
3.75⭐️
The writing in this book is so much better than in the first it flows so much better
The writing in this book is so much better than in the first it flows so much better
February 18, 2026
I had the absolute pleasure of doing an ARC read for this amazing book!! I cannot recommend it enough.
The Winter We Chose Us is the second installment in the Always Been You Series. Please read The Summer We Found Us first to understand how Tobia and Elijah found their way back to each other.
In Winter We Chose Us we once again fall in love with Eli & Tobias. Eli is away at school and Tobias is at home running Jude's Place and trying to hold it together to be strong for Eli while he is away. However, in the midst of trying to protect Elijah, Tobias' demons from the past are trying to ruin his happiness and it is beginning to take a toll on him physically and mentally. This book is absolute perfection it has hurt/comfort troupes, found family, great friends and mental health struggles and of course an HEA.
The Winter We Chose Us is the second installment in the Always Been You Series. Please read The Summer We Found Us first to understand how Tobia and Elijah found their way back to each other.
In Winter We Chose Us we once again fall in love with Eli & Tobias. Eli is away at school and Tobias is at home running Jude's Place and trying to hold it together to be strong for Eli while he is away. However, in the midst of trying to protect Elijah, Tobias' demons from the past are trying to ruin his happiness and it is beginning to take a toll on him physically and mentally. This book is absolute perfection it has hurt/comfort troupes, found family, great friends and mental health struggles and of course an HEA.
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