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Meet Me at the River
HUDSON
I’ve been in love with my best friend since I was thirteen—since the day I saved him from drowning in the Jones River. Five years later, he’s dating my twin sister, and my heart hasn’t gotten the memo. I’ll take his friendship over losing him, which is why he’ll never know how deep my feelings go. And if that secret isn’t enough, my talent for pretending everything is fine helps me hide my panic attacks and depression from the world. I overachieve, smile, perform—anything not to be a burden.
But just as my wildest dreams start to come true, an obsessive secret admirer threatens everything I’ve longed for. And when the darkness closes in, even Cullen’s light isn’t enough to pull me back from the ledge.
CULLEN
Things aren’t going well with my girlfriend, my best friend’s sister, and I’m starting to think I may be with the wrong twin. One night at a party, jealousy hits me harder than I want to admit, and suddenly I can’t ignore the feelings for Hudson I’ve been shoving down for years. As he starts to open up to me about his struggles, I can’t help but want to wrap him up and protect the man who’s becoming my everything.
But the closer we get, the more someone seems determined to tear us apart. I’m trying to keep him steady, keep him safe, keep us—but the pressure is building, and I’m terrified this will crash before we ever have a real chance.
This book is intended for audiences 18+. It contains explicit scenes between two consenting adults (18 years old).
I’ve been in love with my best friend since I was thirteen—since the day I saved him from drowning in the Jones River. Five years later, he’s dating my twin sister, and my heart hasn’t gotten the memo. I’ll take his friendship over losing him, which is why he’ll never know how deep my feelings go. And if that secret isn’t enough, my talent for pretending everything is fine helps me hide my panic attacks and depression from the world. I overachieve, smile, perform—anything not to be a burden.
But just as my wildest dreams start to come true, an obsessive secret admirer threatens everything I’ve longed for. And when the darkness closes in, even Cullen’s light isn’t enough to pull me back from the ledge.
CULLEN
Things aren’t going well with my girlfriend, my best friend’s sister, and I’m starting to think I may be with the wrong twin. One night at a party, jealousy hits me harder than I want to admit, and suddenly I can’t ignore the feelings for Hudson I’ve been shoving down for years. As he starts to open up to me about his struggles, I can’t help but want to wrap him up and protect the man who’s becoming my everything.
But the closer we get, the more someone seems determined to tear us apart. I’m trying to keep him steady, keep him safe, keep us—but the pressure is building, and I’m terrified this will crash before we ever have a real chance.
This book is intended for audiences 18+. It contains explicit scenes between two consenting adults (18 years old).
437 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 17, 2026
i blame jen for this heartbreak cause what the actual fck this ending?!?!?! and now we gotta wait for book 2 holy shit this is insanityyyy
Read
July 14, 2026This book left a lasting impression on me. For a debut author, Kenzie delivers a powerful and beautifully written story. Cullen and Hudson are incredibly tender, fully realized characters, and witnessing everything they endure together is both heartbreaking and deeply moving.
This story made me feel so many things. I laughed, I cried (a lot), and I sat with the emotions long after I turned the final page. That ending stayed with me, and I’m eagerly waiting for part two of their journey.
Those two boys have a permanent piece of my soul
✔️ mental health representation
✔️ best friends to lovers
✔️ awakening
✔️ stalker subplot
✔️ first times
✔️ young love
I won’t list content warnings to avoid spoiling important elements of the story, but readers should be aware that the book contains heavy mental health themes and may be triggering.
This story made me feel so many things. I laughed, I cried (a lot), and I sat with the emotions long after I turned the final page. That ending stayed with me, and I’m eagerly waiting for part two of their journey.
Those two boys have a permanent piece of my soul
✔️ mental health representation
✔️ best friends to lovers
✔️ awakening
✔️ stalker subplot
✔️ first times
✔️ young love
I won’t list content warnings to avoid spoiling important elements of the story, but readers should be aware that the book contains heavy mental health themes and may be triggering.
April 15, 2026
I regret finishing this book. The protagonist Hud is absolutely unlikable, even though he’s portrayed as this deep suffering soul. He has very few redeeming qualities despite his so-called suffering. And I was stunned by the depiction of the teenage girls in this. All of them are portrayed as narcissistic, vindictive, and even physically violent out of control teenagers. Not a single female teenage character is portrayed in a positive light. I don’t know what the author is trying to work out here, but it’s within the domain of misogyny.
What a waste of my time.
What a waste of my time.
January 27, 2026
“I love him. I love him in a way I never loved Hadley. And he loves me. I’ve already seen him at rock bottom. Before we were together—I stayed. I held him through the darkness because that’s what you do when you love someone. I know it will be hard, but it’ll never be as hard as what he faces. He’s not a burden. He’s my everything. I know, deep down in my bones, that Hudson is my forever.”
I just finished reading this for 7 hours straight and, woah I'm so blown away.
Hudson and Cullen, two best friends falling in love -but its nowhere near simple.
Cullen would rather be hanging out with his best friend than his girlfriend, the latter relationship fizzling out and full of toxic problems but he has a hard time letting go of because 1) its what he's known for the past 3 years and 2) she's his best friends sister. But boy, once he starts really noticing how attached he is to his best friend, he's an all in kind of guy. And I loved him, he was so determined to love Hudson in every way and wanted to protect him.
Hudson, I really just want to wrap in a blanket and fight off all the world and his demons, but we'll leave that to Cullen. His mental struggles resonate so loudly, and the angst will sucker punch you a couple of times throughout this book.
This was written so well, I had to read it in less than a day. The pacing was a good medium speed as we got into the boys' romantic relationship, and the spice felt perfectly situated throughout the entire book. The twists and subplots had me on edge; stalker, bitchy girls, and pill problems? Yeah I didn't forget about that missing pill bottle.
But that cliffhanger? I saw it coming a mile away but still wasn't prepared. The first person POV really hit deep into understanding Hudson's mental anguish and I'm livid about how he was treated by a number of the side characters.
Meet Me at the River will have you on an emotional roller-coaster filled with lots of all the pining, angst, grief. Definitely check your trigger warnings if you have them, I can read all kinds of angsty things but my blood is still pumping after finishing this. I can't wait to see how this will all work out in the 2nd book.
____________________________________
If I have a gripe, its with the female secondary characters. Its going to take a lot to redeem Hadley and Ella for me. Now I know they're also angsty 18 year old girls with problems, but come on damn. I had a some choice words with my kindle notes about them. Maybe its the lack of seeing how close Hudson's relationships with each of them we got to see, but I didn't feel like Hadley was a good sister at all, like there wasn't a whole lot of sibling connection outside of them living in the same house and her dating his best friend.
And Ella is supposed to be this longtime best friend but her and Cullen haven't gotten along since he came into the friendship picture so we don't see much of her relationship with Hudson either except when she's high most of the time, carrying around her bag of pills, and acting shifty af.
Now it looks like Hadley is getting her own book, but there needs to be some deep soul searching before I can forgive her for all her nonsense
I just finished reading this for 7 hours straight and, woah I'm so blown away.
Hudson and Cullen, two best friends falling in love -but its nowhere near simple.
Cullen would rather be hanging out with his best friend than his girlfriend, the latter relationship fizzling out and full of toxic problems but he has a hard time letting go of because 1) its what he's known for the past 3 years and 2) she's his best friends sister. But boy, once he starts really noticing how attached he is to his best friend, he's an all in kind of guy. And I loved him, he was so determined to love Hudson in every way and wanted to protect him.
Hudson, I really just want to wrap in a blanket and fight off all the world and his demons, but we'll leave that to Cullen. His mental struggles resonate so loudly, and the angst will sucker punch you a couple of times throughout this book.
This was written so well, I had to read it in less than a day. The pacing was a good medium speed as we got into the boys' romantic relationship, and the spice felt perfectly situated throughout the entire book. The twists and subplots had me on edge; stalker, bitchy girls, and pill problems? Yeah I didn't forget about that missing pill bottle.
But that cliffhanger? I saw it coming a mile away but still wasn't prepared. The first person POV really hit deep into understanding Hudson's mental anguish and I'm livid about how he was treated by a number of the side characters.
Meet Me at the River will have you on an emotional roller-coaster filled with lots of all the pining, angst, grief. Definitely check your trigger warnings if you have them, I can read all kinds of angsty things but my blood is still pumping after finishing this. I can't wait to see how this will all work out in the 2nd book.
____________________________________
If I have a gripe, its with the female secondary characters. Its going to take a lot to redeem Hadley and Ella for me. Now I know they're also angsty 18 year old girls with problems, but come on damn. I had a some choice words with my kindle notes about them. Maybe its the lack of seeing how close Hudson's relationships with each of them we got to see, but I didn't feel like Hadley was a good sister at all, like there wasn't a whole lot of sibling connection outside of them living in the same house and her dating his best friend.
And Ella is supposed to be this longtime best friend but her and Cullen haven't gotten along since he came into the friendship picture so we don't see much of her relationship with Hudson either except when she's high most of the time, carrying around her bag of pills, and acting shifty af.
Now it looks like Hadley is getting her own book, but there needs to be some deep soul searching before I can forgive her for all her nonsense
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2026
Way over the top
I DNF’d this book at the 90% mark. This book is way more over the top than a Mexican telenovela. I went from interested, to eye roll, to annoyed within two chapters. I think the author took this plot too far and ruined what was a good book about dealing with mental health. I was too annoyed and frustrated to finish this story and the only reason this book is Gerri f three stars is because the first half is good and the writing/editing was well.
I DNF’d this book at the 90% mark. This book is way more over the top than a Mexican telenovela. I went from interested, to eye roll, to annoyed within two chapters. I think the author took this plot too far and ruined what was a good book about dealing with mental health. I was too annoyed and frustrated to finish this story and the only reason this book is Gerri f three stars is because the first half is good and the writing/editing was well.
February 3, 2026
Blown away!!
I don’t even know where to start!!
My mind is blown away just by the essence of this book. It is captivating, it pulls at your heart strings and you won’t be able to put it down.
To watch Cullen and Hudson go from best friends to boyfriends is outstanding. We have all had that kind of friendship and to know that they found love and home in one another, is something I didn’t realize I was missing! Kenzie’s ability to conveys such love between Hudson and Cullen is remarkable
There are a few characters I would like to grab by the collar and shake, but I think those characters added so much humanity to this book.
Kenzie is definitely an auto buy author for me!!!
I don’t even know where to start!!
My mind is blown away just by the essence of this book. It is captivating, it pulls at your heart strings and you won’t be able to put it down.
To watch Cullen and Hudson go from best friends to boyfriends is outstanding. We have all had that kind of friendship and to know that they found love and home in one another, is something I didn’t realize I was missing! Kenzie’s ability to conveys such love between Hudson and Cullen is remarkable
There are a few characters I would like to grab by the collar and shake, but I think those characters added so much humanity to this book.
Kenzie is definitely an auto buy author for me!!!
July 16, 2026
DNF @ 7%
The prologue action scene was a little choppy. When Cullen's drowning, he's talking full sentences while he supposedly keeps dipping beneath the water. And when Hudson dives to try and rip Cullen's shorts from whatever it's caught on, Cullen's struggling until he suddenly stops as if he just ran out of battery. Ignoring the fact that Cullen basically starts off "spent" for some reason, his exhaustion setting in needed a transition, not "Cullen's thrasing, kicked me" then "He's motionless, limp" a sentence later.
Yipee, the tropey "vile female character" exists in this book. I don't mind having villainous characters, but man, the concept of a "bitchy, emotionally unstable, high strung GF" is so played out and honestly comes across as misogynistic. Hadley literally slaps Cullen then pulls "I'm not in the wrong here" then comes onto him... Then they have sex despite all that??? Wtf?
Why exactly does Hudson love his sister? He literally says on page 18, "I love my sister" but the books gives us evidence saying that he should hate her guts? Not only did she literally just slap his best friend (AKA THE GUY HE WAS JEALOUS ABOUT he should be fucking pissed that she pulled that shit), he's also well acquainted with her manipulativeness ("Hadley always knows how to twist things, to dodge blame, and play the victim). What exactly does he "love" about that? It feels like this author just wrote that "I love my sister" line without actually considering what saying something like that meant. That's not a throwaway line, it's a statement about a dynamic, and as it is, the statement and the actuality of how the relationship between Hadley and Hudson and Cullen were so wildly out of sync.
I had to DNF right then and there. I do not understand why Cullen was with Hadley. I do not understand why Hudson "loved" his sister. This disconnect between how characters act and how they respond to each other being THIS bad so early on completely turned me off the story. It doesn't help that Hadley's literally just all the worst female tropes seemingly mixed into one character. 1 star.
The prologue action scene was a little choppy. When Cullen's drowning, he's talking full sentences while he supposedly keeps dipping beneath the water. And when Hudson dives to try and rip Cullen's shorts from whatever it's caught on, Cullen's struggling until he suddenly stops as if he just ran out of battery. Ignoring the fact that Cullen basically starts off "spent" for some reason, his exhaustion setting in needed a transition, not "Cullen's thrasing, kicked me" then "He's motionless, limp" a sentence later.
Yipee, the tropey "vile female character" exists in this book. I don't mind having villainous characters, but man, the concept of a "bitchy, emotionally unstable, high strung GF" is so played out and honestly comes across as misogynistic. Hadley literally slaps Cullen then pulls "I'm not in the wrong here" then comes onto him... Then they have sex despite all that??? Wtf?
Why exactly does Hudson love his sister? He literally says on page 18, "I love my sister" but the books gives us evidence saying that he should hate her guts? Not only did she literally just slap his best friend (AKA THE GUY HE WAS JEALOUS ABOUT he should be fucking pissed that she pulled that shit), he's also well acquainted with her manipulativeness ("Hadley always knows how to twist things, to dodge blame, and play the victim). What exactly does he "love" about that? It feels like this author just wrote that "I love my sister" line without actually considering what saying something like that meant. That's not a throwaway line, it's a statement about a dynamic, and as it is, the statement and the actuality of how the relationship between Hadley and Hudson and Cullen were so wildly out of sync.
I had to DNF right then and there. I do not understand why Cullen was with Hadley. I do not understand why Hudson "loved" his sister. This disconnect between how characters act and how they respond to each other being THIS bad so early on completely turned me off the story. It doesn't help that Hadley's literally just all the worst female tropes seemingly mixed into one character. 1 star.
January 27, 2026
WOW THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING. 5 STARS HUDSON AND CULLEN WERE EVERYTHING. THAT ENDING GUTTED me BUT I trust the process and I know we will get the healing in part two. I can‘t wait to see these two get their happy ending because god do they deserve it!!!
Also ella and hadley gave me so much aggression not gonna lie, I really did not like them at all, they pissed me off.
I just wanted cullen and hudson to be left alone bc they got blow after blow my poor babies. They could not take a break especially hudson. But the way cullen was always there for him even when hudson tried to make him believe that he‘s not worth it was everything. The way he reassured hudson and calmed him down was just heartwarming. These two were just beautifulll and so right for each other.
I CANT WAIT FOR JUNE, I need the next book right now. I wanna see them happy soo badd.
I‘m still on edge with everything left unsaid and not knowing who the stalker is. I need to know bc I hate that person with my life.
I need them free from that fr stalker plss and all the toxic people.
Also ella and hadley gave me so much aggression not gonna lie, I really did not like them at all, they pissed me off.
I just wanted cullen and hudson to be left alone bc they got blow after blow my poor babies. They could not take a break especially hudson. But the way cullen was always there for him even when hudson tried to make him believe that he‘s not worth it was everything. The way he reassured hudson and calmed him down was just heartwarming. These two were just beautifulll and so right for each other.
I CANT WAIT FOR JUNE, I need the next book right now. I wanna see them happy soo badd.
I‘m still on edge with everything left unsaid and not knowing who the stalker is. I need to know bc I hate that person with my life.
I need them free from that fr stalker plss and all the toxic people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2026
OH. 😭 no it’s okay. I’m completely fine.
January 22, 2026
Omg
I can't believe it ended like that....I just bawled my eyes out. This was such a good book. Hudson broke my heart.
I can't believe it ended like that....I just bawled my eyes out. This was such a good book. Hudson broke my heart.
Did Not Finish
July 10, 2026The casual and underlying misogyny… no
January 29, 2026
I wish I had looked further before I started reading. It ends on a cliffhanger and the second book isn’t released yet. 😭
June 17, 2026
This is part one of a duet and Kenzie Ford’s debut. Words are not enough to express the array of emotions I felt reading Hudson and Cullen’s story. The story opens with Hudson and Cullen being best friends since childhood. Hudson begins noticing his best friend in a romantic way and has harbored an insane love stricken crush on him since they were 13. Hudson saved Cullen from drowning at the river that day.
Present day brings us to Cullen dating Hudson’s twin sister Hadley. Meanwhile, Hudson continues to be friends with Cullen all while pushing his growing feelings down further and further. Hudson also struggles with mental health in the form of anxiety and depression. He’s hidden this from everyone except his parents and he feels like he’s a burden on them. Not only has he hidden his mental health, but he has hidden his sexual identity from everyone. Hudson carries a lot of secrets and tends to keep everything bottled up inside.
Cullen loves hanging out with this best friend, Hudson. He’s also dating a very self absorbed Hadley. Their relationship is rocky at best but they’ve been dating for a while and Cullen is trying to do what feels right. They eventually break up because Cullen no longer feels like he can keep hiding his true self and his growing feelings.
There’s a shift in Cullen and Hudson’s relationship which causes both boys to admit their feelings to each other. They keep their romantic relationship hidden due to Cullen’s recent breakup with Hadley as well as Hudson’s growing mental health concerns. There is also a deep concern regarding Hudson’s creepy stalker.
There are so many sweet moments and sob-inducing moments in Cullen and Hudson’s story before it erupts into a penultimate cliffhanger that will have you racing for book 2. Please check your trigger warnings because this duet has strong mental health themes. Your mental health and safety are important.
Tropes: MM, best friends to lovers, twin sister’s boyfriend, coming out, bi-awakening, stalking, virgin mc, unrequited love, ‘I saved you, you saved me’
Quotes:
Part of me wishes he knew. That I was the twin he took on dates and made out with over homework. But then I’m knocked down from that dream and remember that life never gives us what we want. Just a bunch of pain and misery.
It’s probably a red flag that seeing him first thing feels better than anything I did with Hads yesterday. Way better than the sex.
“You smell like evergreen trees and happiness.” “You already told me that tonight, so it must be a good thing,” I chuckle. “It’s the best thing,” he mumbles.
Present day brings us to Cullen dating Hudson’s twin sister Hadley. Meanwhile, Hudson continues to be friends with Cullen all while pushing his growing feelings down further and further. Hudson also struggles with mental health in the form of anxiety and depression. He’s hidden this from everyone except his parents and he feels like he’s a burden on them. Not only has he hidden his mental health, but he has hidden his sexual identity from everyone. Hudson carries a lot of secrets and tends to keep everything bottled up inside.
Cullen loves hanging out with this best friend, Hudson. He’s also dating a very self absorbed Hadley. Their relationship is rocky at best but they’ve been dating for a while and Cullen is trying to do what feels right. They eventually break up because Cullen no longer feels like he can keep hiding his true self and his growing feelings.
There’s a shift in Cullen and Hudson’s relationship which causes both boys to admit their feelings to each other. They keep their romantic relationship hidden due to Cullen’s recent breakup with Hadley as well as Hudson’s growing mental health concerns. There is also a deep concern regarding Hudson’s creepy stalker.
There are so many sweet moments and sob-inducing moments in Cullen and Hudson’s story before it erupts into a penultimate cliffhanger that will have you racing for book 2. Please check your trigger warnings because this duet has strong mental health themes. Your mental health and safety are important.
Tropes: MM, best friends to lovers, twin sister’s boyfriend, coming out, bi-awakening, stalking, virgin mc, unrequited love, ‘I saved you, you saved me’
Quotes:
Part of me wishes he knew. That I was the twin he took on dates and made out with over homework. But then I’m knocked down from that dream and remember that life never gives us what we want. Just a bunch of pain and misery.
It’s probably a red flag that seeing him first thing feels better than anything I did with Hads yesterday. Way better than the sex.
“You smell like evergreen trees and happiness.” “You already told me that tonight, so it must be a good thing,” I chuckle. “It’s the best thing,” he mumbles.
May 13, 2026
This was a really good debut; very gripping, like it had ZERO issues holding my attention from the get-go. Cullen and Hudson are both very unique and endearing characters. I was honestly really happy that the sister's boyfriend plotline didn't go on to long as they got together earlier than I was anticipating, but the progression of their relationship didn't feel rushed and actually felt quite reasonable given what you know about already existing friend and dynamic.
The stalker subplot also added an extra layer of tension that I really liked, especially towards the end. I will say though it did feel a tad convoluted at times; there is just so much happening but strangely it kind of works. Like adds to the reading experience because ultimately when everything starts hitting the fan you start to feel just as overwhelmed as the main characters do. Which allows you to be a bit more understanding when their actions start to feel a bit crazy.
Though the book in general did just feel over the top at times; there are a lot of character that just feel cartoonish along with a number of things you kind of had to suspend your belief especially under the scope of them technically being high schoolers. The women in this book are the biggest weak point. Aside from their own mothers; there is not a single female character that is not an evil, melodramatic, whiny b*tch. Which is unfortunate to say the least, it would have been nice for them to have a female friend/acquaintance that was not a horrible person. I'm not going to hold it against the author since this is their 1st book, and I know they have a book planned for Hadley so this is hopefully not going to be a trend in all their future works.
Speaking of Hadley, I actually hated her the least. She is annoying - but I can kind of see her side of things. Especially because she is lied to/kept in the dark about so much and from her own family too! Like yeah that'd probably be my villain origin story as well. I'm curious of what Kenzie is going to do with her character in the future.
Cullen's parents were the stars of the supporting cast. Every kid deserves parents like them. I just loved every scene they were in.
And lastly, this book ends off on a juicy cliffhanger — one that left me super excited for the second part. I have my own theories about who the stalker is, and I am also intrigued about how some of their problems are going to play out in book 2. Definitely give this a read!
The stalker subplot also added an extra layer of tension that I really liked, especially towards the end. I will say though it did feel a tad convoluted at times; there is just so much happening but strangely it kind of works. Like adds to the reading experience because ultimately when everything starts hitting the fan you start to feel just as overwhelmed as the main characters do. Which allows you to be a bit more understanding when their actions start to feel a bit crazy.
Though the book in general did just feel over the top at times; there are a lot of character that just feel cartoonish along with a number of things you kind of had to suspend your belief especially under the scope of them technically being high schoolers. The women in this book are the biggest weak point. Aside from their own mothers; there is not a single female character that is not an evil, melodramatic, whiny b*tch. Which is unfortunate to say the least, it would have been nice for them to have a female friend/acquaintance that was not a horrible person. I'm not going to hold it against the author since this is their 1st book, and I know they have a book planned for Hadley so this is hopefully not going to be a trend in all their future works.
Speaking of Hadley, I actually hated her the least. She is annoying - but I can kind of see her side of things. Especially because she is lied to/kept in the dark about so much and from her own family too! Like yeah that'd probably be my villain origin story as well. I'm curious of what Kenzie is going to do with her character in the future.
Cullen's parents were the stars of the supporting cast. Every kid deserves parents like them. I just loved every scene they were in.
And lastly, this book ends off on a juicy cliffhanger — one that left me super excited for the second part. I have my own theories about who the stalker is, and I am also intrigued about how some of their problems are going to play out in book 2. Definitely give this a read!
April 16, 2026
o m g
Oh. My. God. Is all I can say. This book is HEAVY. The plot is so thick I can barely read straight. This is such great work. It’s definitely one that will stick with me forever. I am so beyond hooked I can’t wait for Save me by the river. Prior to starting my kindle journey, I read an extremely similar F/M story through one of those apps similar to wattpad and this is hitting all of the same heavy & spicy notes. I cant wait to continue Hudson & Cullen’s character arcs and see how they grow from this book. Jaw slacked by the end of this story. Seriously! So good. HEAVY on the triggers if you have any. One of those books that you’d like so much after trudging through all of the tough sh** they go through that if this were to ever become paperback/hardback series I will be purchasing. Amazing! Must read!
Oh. My. God. Is all I can say. This book is HEAVY. The plot is so thick I can barely read straight. This is such great work. It’s definitely one that will stick with me forever. I am so beyond hooked I can’t wait for Save me by the river. Prior to starting my kindle journey, I read an extremely similar F/M story through one of those apps similar to wattpad and this is hitting all of the same heavy & spicy notes. I cant wait to continue Hudson & Cullen’s character arcs and see how they grow from this book. Jaw slacked by the end of this story. Seriously! So good. HEAVY on the triggers if you have any. One of those books that you’d like so much after trudging through all of the tough sh** they go through that if this were to ever become paperback/hardback series I will be purchasing. Amazing! Must read!
August 4, 2026
WHAT. DID. I. JUST. READ?! 😭💔
I am NOT okay. Like… at all. I’ve cried over books before, but this one absolutely wrecked me. I’m talking deep-in-my-soul, staring-at-the-wall-after-finishing-it kind of wrecked. 😭
⚠️ Content warning: This book deals heavily with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts/attempts, so please check the warnings if those are triggering for you.
Meet Me at the River follows best friends Hudson and Cullen as they become something more, but getting their happily-ever-after is anything but easy. Every time you think they might catch a break, life says NOPE. 😭
And THAT CLIFFHANGER?! Kenzie Ford, why would you do this to me?! My heart is pounding, my eyes are leaking, and I AM DIVING INTO THE NEXT BOOK. 🥺💔
5 ⭐️ because apparently I enjoy emotional destruction.
I am NOT okay. Like… at all. I’ve cried over books before, but this one absolutely wrecked me. I’m talking deep-in-my-soul, staring-at-the-wall-after-finishing-it kind of wrecked. 😭
⚠️ Content warning: This book deals heavily with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts/attempts, so please check the warnings if those are triggering for you.
Meet Me at the River follows best friends Hudson and Cullen as they become something more, but getting their happily-ever-after is anything but easy. Every time you think they might catch a break, life says NOPE. 😭
And THAT CLIFFHANGER?! Kenzie Ford, why would you do this to me?! My heart is pounding, my eyes are leaking, and I AM DIVING INTO THE NEXT BOOK. 🥺💔
5 ⭐️ because apparently I enjoy emotional destruction.
January 23, 2026
I don't review often, so apologies for being rusty. This was the first book I read in 2026, and I made the unfortunate mistake of starting it late at night on a workday. I got hooked immediately and went to work tired and then ended up finishing it that day because I couldn't put it down.
This had the angst, the spice and the plot that I needed. I loved Hudson, who is the sweetest and needs to be protected at all costs (and his sarcasm is on point). Cullen is the best boyfriend, and his humour and self-acceptance had my heart melting.
Plus, the spice was GOOD.
The last pages made me cry, but I know all the pain is going to be so worth it. This was an amazing debut for an author, and I'm looking forward to all of their future work.
This had the angst, the spice and the plot that I needed. I loved Hudson, who is the sweetest and needs to be protected at all costs (and his sarcasm is on point). Cullen is the best boyfriend, and his humour and self-acceptance had my heart melting.
Plus, the spice was GOOD.
The last pages made me cry, but I know all the pain is going to be so worth it. This was an amazing debut for an author, and I'm looking forward to all of their future work.
July 1, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
This is a debut novel, and it shows. The author has a lot of potential. I’ll definitely keep an eye on their future releases because I’m sure they’ll become a great MM author in the future.
Unfortunately, this book had many things I didn’t like, although there were also aspects I really enjoyed. I genuinely liked the relationship between the main characters. I love the friends-to-lovers trope; it’s my favorite romance trope, and I’ll never get tired of reading it. They had some really beautiful moments together that I absolutely loved.
The book deals with some very heavy topics, and honestly, I’m not sure how well they were handled. Still, I’ll continue following the author to see what they publish next.
This is a debut novel, and it shows. The author has a lot of potential. I’ll definitely keep an eye on their future releases because I’m sure they’ll become a great MM author in the future.
Unfortunately, this book had many things I didn’t like, although there were also aspects I really enjoyed. I genuinely liked the relationship between the main characters. I love the friends-to-lovers trope; it’s my favorite romance trope, and I’ll never get tired of reading it. They had some really beautiful moments together that I absolutely loved.
The book deals with some very heavy topics, and honestly, I’m not sure how well they were handled. Still, I’ll continue following the author to see what they publish next.
May 12, 2026
Hudson and Cullen were simply wonderful I love how they finally admitted their feelings and fell in love they way cull was there for him when Hudson was struggling with his mental health even when he pushed him away he never stayed far and loved supportive Their family was of them except Hudsons sister I did not like her at all the things she said was not okay I get she was hurt because her and cull dated first they were not good together toxic that needed to end hopefully she can be redeemed and get forgiveness that cliffhanger at the end broke my heart I cried my eyes out 😭😢💔 I definitely need the next book and how they deal with the aftermath of everything that happened
March 9, 2026
Gut wrenching beautiful
This book was on my recommended book list and I didn’t even realize that it was the authors first book.
I’m glad I didn’t realize because if I’m being honest I normally wait to see what others think before diving in.
This book gives you all the feels. It’s a friends to lovers mm with mental health tropes and a side of mystery.
The spice level is a 3/5 and appropriately done without overdoing it.
Check trigger warnings for sure as there are mental health issues that could trigger you.
Can’t wait for the second book!!!!
This book was on my recommended book list and I didn’t even realize that it was the authors first book.
I’m glad I didn’t realize because if I’m being honest I normally wait to see what others think before diving in.
This book gives you all the feels. It’s a friends to lovers mm with mental health tropes and a side of mystery.
The spice level is a 3/5 and appropriately done without overdoing it.
Check trigger warnings for sure as there are mental health issues that could trigger you.
Can’t wait for the second book!!!!
July 1, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
Things I liked about this book:
- the relationship between Hudson & Cullen
- mental health rep
- mysterious underlying plot
Things I didn’t really care for:
- insta love vibes despite them being best friends for years and dating the sister for a few years. Kinda felt like there was no need for this trope to begin with.
- the stalker situation dragging on and on and clearly pointing to the same character all of book 1 then completely shifting book 2
- the MMC’s personalities starting to blend where I’d have to remind myself whose POV I was even reading
Things I liked about this book:
- the relationship between Hudson & Cullen
- mental health rep
- mysterious underlying plot
Things I didn’t really care for:
- insta love vibes despite them being best friends for years and dating the sister for a few years. Kinda felt like there was no need for this trope to begin with.
- the stalker situation dragging on and on and clearly pointing to the same character all of book 1 then completely shifting book 2
- the MMC’s personalities starting to blend where I’d have to remind myself whose POV I was even reading
May 13, 2026
I devoured it in one evening
Wow this book is a hot mess.. and it works.. seriously so good!
I couldn't put it down there is stalkers.. dating the wrong twin.. weird crazy girl who is obsessed with bring a fake girlfriend, and tw9 guys who just can't deny there attraction and love anymore.
Spice lvl is 3.5/5 and it does end in a cliff hanger and its HUGE so be prepared. I need book 2 to be written faster!!
Wow this book is a hot mess.. and it works.. seriously so good!
I couldn't put it down there is stalkers.. dating the wrong twin.. weird crazy girl who is obsessed with bring a fake girlfriend, and tw9 guys who just can't deny there attraction and love anymore.
Spice lvl is 3.5/5 and it does end in a cliff hanger and its HUGE so be prepared. I need book 2 to be written faster!!
June 10, 2026
What an absolute heart wrenching story. I love giving debut novels a chance, but I never walk in with high expectations. But Meet Me at the River blew me away. It was a mix of heartbreaking, heartwarming, and introspective in a way I didn't expect but was delighted to read. I'm on the edge of my seat for the conclusion of Hud and Cull's story...these boys deserve the happiest ever after. <3
June 26, 2026
outstanding!!
I cannot wait until tomorrow for the rest of the story. Writing is fabulous, story is beautiful , suspenseful, heartbreaking and so much more. I love debut authors like this. I am hooked. Kenzie Ford is now one of my favorite authors and I will be there for any and everything she writes.
I cannot wait until tomorrow for the rest of the story. Writing is fabulous, story is beautiful , suspenseful, heartbreaking and so much more. I love debut authors like this. I am hooked. Kenzie Ford is now one of my favorite authors and I will be there for any and everything she writes.
February 16, 2026
amazing beautiful book but it loses one star because if I had of known it would end on a cliffhanger while I was in the middle of bawling my eyes out I would have waited for the next book to be written first.....how DARE you Kenzie Ford? You better write quick 😘
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2026
What an exceptional book the characters in this went through such a journey. This is the debut novel from this author and what a beginning. I feel that there are great things coming their way and I am excited to see what happens next in this series.
July 2, 2026
This duet is everything! I just loved the book from the first page to the last one. Hudson and Cullen have my heart and my soul. The story is beautifully written but also left me heartbroken. Without spoiling anything, I can’t recommend both books enough!!! Kenzie Ford’s debut books will live in my head rent free!
July 30, 2026
5 stars!!
RIPPED MY HEART OUT. I swear, them cliffhangers are NO joke. But my heart broke for Hudson, and Cullum was there for him every step of the way.
Hadley had gotten on my nerves, I get her pain and feelings are hurt but smh.
RIPPED MY HEART OUT. I swear, them cliffhangers are NO joke. But my heart broke for Hudson, and Cullum was there for him every step of the way.
Hadley had gotten on my nerves, I get her pain and feelings are hurt but smh.
Did Not Finish
August 8, 2026DNF at 28%
I just can’t keep reading. I think I'm just too old for all of this stupid teenage drama.
In addition, I don’t like how the female side characters are shown: all of them manipulating, self centered bitches, Ella with a serious drug problem. The only nice people were the parents.
I just can’t keep reading. I think I'm just too old for all of this stupid teenage drama.
In addition, I don’t like how the female side characters are shown: all of them manipulating, self centered bitches, Ella with a serious drug problem. The only nice people were the parents.
February 10, 2026
heavy... but good
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