You, Always

by Luci Woodbury

She’s running from her past. He’s chasing his. Could one night together change everything?

Gianna is a good little Italian girl, she could never actually follow through with being an escort for a night, could she? But then how could she turn down an offer of fifty thousand dollars?

From the outside looking in, Gianna had the perfect life. Married to her high school sweetheart, professional football player Daniel Sanders, she had lived a life of luxury without having to lift a manicured finger. But underneath the surface, there were cracks that Gianna had meticulously been ignoring, and after they become a gaping, unavoidable chasm, she had to flee. Facing a future with no qualifications, no job prospects, and running out of designer handbags to sell for money, Gianna did the one thing she could think of to support herself: she signed up as an escort. Now, she wonders who is the mysterious man crazy enough to spend fifty thousand on one night with her? And, is she crazy enough to accept?

468 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2026

Reviews

[Irenes Dragon Nest · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read was tender, heavy, and quietly emotional. The depiction of abuse felt painfully relatable as someone who has been in a similar situation, the all-consuming nature of it, the way you can’t see any exits or alternatives, was written incredibly well and with a lot of care. That aspect of the story really stood out to me. In fact I will say that this part of the story stayed with me long long after finishing the book.

The part where the FMC doesn’t recognize the MMC felt a bit unbelievable at first, but when viewed through the lens of her trauma, I guess there could be parts that make sense. Overall, this was a reflective, intimate read that handled difficult themes with sensitivity and haunting care.

Thanks to The Berry Agency and Luci Woodbury for this ARC read.

[Krystal Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC READER**

This story was an emotional roller coaster. Gianna and Zayn are truly meant to be with one another, he shows her what love truly means.

I will say, Gianna’s character development was very disappointing and really slow. She didn’t change until the very end which was rather disappointing.

Aside from that, it was a really good Melbourne based read.

⭐️ 3.5 stars
🌶️ 1 chilli for spice

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this read! what a fantastic book! Gianna is relatable and very likeable and Zayne is an absolute dream boat! I really liked the slow burn of this one, the flashback chapters were done beautifully and made sense, the side characters like Anna and Sam were perfect editions too! solid solid read I loved it!

[Ellie Rodger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Luci does a great job at making Gianna a very relatable character. The flashback chapters were done really well and the change in tone from the characters made it easy to tell you were reading a flashback.

I loved the slow burn of this book and the character development was great too. I’d really love to see how Anna and Percy’s story develops.

[Nicole Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh I loved this so much! The character depth was so amazing I really connected with Gianna, the emotion was written so well and the heavier topics were done really respectfully. I laughed out loud so many times and felt every feeling while reading! This does not feel like a debut book, the writing is beautiful! Thank you so much Lucy for the chance to read an eARC of your book 😍

[Tanika Millington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a good read!!!
Gianna is relatable and very likeable which made it to be a easy read and kept me so interested. And then our MMC being an absolute dream boat! It was a beautifully written slow burn, giving us the tension that is needed. I really felt like the heavy topic’s were done so well, very respectfully and with so much care.
Thank you so much Lucy for the chance to read an eARC of your book

[Book Hooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars - I was lucky to receive an advanced copy of "You, Always, and it completely owned me. Luci manages to capture the intensity of first love with such honesty that you feel every butterfly and heartbreak all over again. The dual timeline is beautifully done, the characters feel real and layered, and the handling of domestic violence is thoughtful and grounded. A nostalgic, emotional, beautifully written debut.

[Steph Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel so honoured that I got this as an ARC! What an amazing story, one I can hands down say captures what an abusive relationship can be

[Emily Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to describe this book, because it is both a sweet romance where a high school lovers reunite after the FMC separates from her husband, while also a story of heart break, trauma and a desperation to survive. I was hooked from the start, reading the entire (very long) book in one day and nearly one reading session! Picture me, curled up under a beach umbrella telling myself "just one more chapter" as the UV slowly turned me as pink as the cover of this book 🤣 But I just couldn't stop reading because I was cheering on this second chance romance while also begging for justice to come to her ex husband.

This is not a light and fluffy romance, but I found the heart wrenching moments were perfectly balanced by the romance and the story of Gia getting her life back. I also really appreciated how the MMC was written, because while he was possessive and willing to do anything to protect her, he also wasn't controlling which was so important in the context of Gia's abusive ex.

If you love emotional contemporary romances, I am begging you to read You, Always - but please check the trigger warnings! There is little (but still some) on page abuse, but there is a lot more discussed throughout the book that may be triggering. I definitely cried a couple times

Thank you to Luci and The Berry Agency for gifting me an eARC of this book.

[Mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a European Australian descendant I loved the nods to Italian cultural and how those roots run deep within your person and soul. The descriptive language of a cafe as a place where the urgent business of the outside world doesn’t exist set the tone. Luci had me hook line and sinker from the moment Gianna walked into that hotel room. This book had the best case of mistaken identity I’ve seen in a long time. The emotional scars that plagued the characters run deep. We got to experience first hand the growth that all these characters go on in this journey. Everyone dreams of being the girl on the end of the it’s always been you trope. This one has you following the characters through their ups and downs. I love a dedication to the characters and I think this book does them the perfect justice. She did what I find near the impossible and tied the characters endings up in a perfect bow. ARC READ

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Bookfunnel for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

I could not put it down. From the start i wanted to know of G's background and what she was running from, only for her to run start into her first love and his protective nature.

The past 10 years have not been easy on her and we learn more of this as the story progresses, from emotional, financial and even physical abuse from her ex

She starts to find herself again, volunteering, going back to school and even standing up for herself finally to her mother who was constantly support her ex coming back to her life.

This story will have you yelling at your book or phone depending on how you read it, but you will always be rooting for G

[Cass.Loves.2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely incredible! I started reading it yesterday and I’ve already finished it.

I cried, smiled, yelled out loud and cringed while I was reading this book and I really didn’t want to put it down! There were so many beautiful moments and also some heartbreaking parts.

This was an easy story to read but only because it’s so well written. The characters were so well developed and seemed so real. I can’t believe that this is a debut release because the storytelling was so, so good!

Tropes include ~

🩷 Second Chance Romance/First Love
🩷 Mistaken Identity
🩷 It’s Always Been You
🩷 Emotional Scars

I highly recommend this book, I absolutely loved it and didn’t want it to end.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel very lucky to have been selected as an ARC reader for You, Always by Luci Woodbury. From page one, this book completely captured my attention. I loved how unpredictable the story is — just when you think it might follow a familiar romance path, it takes a different and refreshing direction.

The writing is beautiful and engaging, and the story bravely touches on heavy themes such as emotional, physical, and financial abuse, handled with sensitivity and depth. Both the main and secondary characters are memorable and well developed.

The subtitle says it all: “She is running from her past, He is chasing his.” Perfectly accurate and impossible to put down.

[Ashlee Muldoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. The story line was written beautifully and touched on different forms of DV and breaking away and finding happiness again.

Gianna is such a strong character with a big personality! She’s smart, witty, feisty and someone who’s finding their own.

I love how Luci writes what topics with so much respect and kindness. She also shows dark sides and how there is light and justice can be served.

Thank you so much to The Berry Agency and Luci for the ARC I enjoyed this so much.

[Tong Ly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Read!

I completed the book in a very short amount of time. I’m still shock about Zayn. I didn’t even suspect it! Wow. Her first love? And her one night stand? This book got me hooked from the first chapter. I cried a few times. Happy tears!
I love how Zayn was written in the story where he let Gianna shines in her own story. I love love second chance and it was written pretty well!
The plot was good, the spice was even better!

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVED this book. Could not put it down read it within 24 hours staying up way to late to finish it. Connected so well to the character emotionally. 10/10 can not wait to read many more book to come from Luci Woodbury. Amazing debut book 👏👏👏

[Emma MacLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book…..This romance thriller delivers a compelling mix of heart pounding suspense and emotionally charged romance, keeping me hooked from the first page to the final twist.
Can’t wait for the next book xx

[Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible!!! From the second I started this book I was so hooked I could not put it down! Such a cleverly written book that had me feeling every single bit of emotion - the ending having me in tears.
What an amazing debut book by Luci Woodbury I can’t wait to read more 👏👏👏

[Claire Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy and had me hooked the whole book! Read it over two days when I had time to read it, as I’m on holidays. Couldn’t recommend high enough!

[buveurdencre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful and promising debut. I can’t wait to read more from this author and series!

[Rafaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a romance with lots of tension, a bit of spice, authentic characters, and a plot with a lot of depth and heart, then you will love this book!

[samreadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘎𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢. 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵.

If you love a second chance romance with it’s always been you then you NEED to read this!

gianna and zayn were high school sweethearts, when zayn left gianna was heartbroken.

fast forward gianna is married (unhappily) and just trying to live day to day when she is presented with something unexpected where she meets this mysterious man where they sleep together and then afterward she leaves whilst he is in the bathroom

gianna sees her mysterious man again and they start to form a relationship when something unexpected happens

I did not see the plot twist coming but I was so here for it! I loved the second chance element and honestly their relationship was just what she needed after dealing with her ex