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The Rewrite
How long would you hold a grudge?
If you’re Eloise Hendrickson, the answer is twenty-five years. After being humiliated by her overseas pen pal in seventh grade, Eloise, now a successful writer, has never quite let go of that one mortifying moment. One bad breakup, a late night of drunken internet sleuthing, and a half-baked excuse to bust through writer’s block send her straight into the path of the boy she’s hated her whole life.
Her plan? Turn him into the villain of her next novel.
The plot twist? He’s not the jerk she remembers.
Instead, he’s a charming chocolatier, a devoted family man, and awkwardly, a huge fan of her books. But as Eloise reconnects with the past, it’s not him who captures her attention, it’s someone else entirely. Someone unexpected. He’s rude, infuriating, and gets under her skin like no one else. He’s the exact opposite of the heroes she creates and the men she dates.
With new friends, a fresh perspective, and possibly the beginnings of something romantic—Eloise must decide if she’s finally ready to let go of the perfection she’s always demanded from herself as well as everyone around her, and embrace the unpredictable, wonderfully flawed life waiting for her. Maybe her next bestseller won’t be about righting the past after all. Maybe it will be about rewriting the future instead.
This book may contain chocolate and possibly a happily ever after.
If you’re Eloise Hendrickson, the answer is twenty-five years. After being humiliated by her overseas pen pal in seventh grade, Eloise, now a successful writer, has never quite let go of that one mortifying moment. One bad breakup, a late night of drunken internet sleuthing, and a half-baked excuse to bust through writer’s block send her straight into the path of the boy she’s hated her whole life.
Her plan? Turn him into the villain of her next novel.
The plot twist? He’s not the jerk she remembers.
Instead, he’s a charming chocolatier, a devoted family man, and awkwardly, a huge fan of her books. But as Eloise reconnects with the past, it’s not him who captures her attention, it’s someone else entirely. Someone unexpected. He’s rude, infuriating, and gets under her skin like no one else. He’s the exact opposite of the heroes she creates and the men she dates.
With new friends, a fresh perspective, and possibly the beginnings of something romantic—Eloise must decide if she’s finally ready to let go of the perfection she’s always demanded from herself as well as everyone around her, and embrace the unpredictable, wonderfully flawed life waiting for her. Maybe her next bestseller won’t be about righting the past after all. Maybe it will be about rewriting the future instead.
This book may contain chocolate and possibly a happily ever after.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 29, 2026
4 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Beth Rinyu
22 books580 followersEver since I can remember, I've always had a passion for Creative Writing. There's something special about being able to travel to a different place or become a different person with just the stroke of a pen--or in today's world a touch of the keyboard. Maybe it all started with the soap opera-level drama I used to script for my Barbie dolls. Plot twists, emotional arcs, surprise twins—it was basically a writer’s room before I even knew what one was. Whatever the spark, storytelling quickly became my favorite way to explore, create, and shake up reality just a little. I love stories that keep me on my toes. The kind that push me outside my comfort zone and introduce me to characters I either want to be friends with... or dramatically argue with in a fictional diner.
I love traveling to scout out new and exciting settings for my books—but nothing beats a peaceful walk in the woods or a seat by the ocean close to home. Turns out, plot twists and inspiration show up just fine with a sea breeze and squirrels.
I love traveling to scout out new and exciting settings for my books—but nothing beats a peaceful walk in the woods or a seat by the ocean close to home. Turns out, plot twists and inspiration show up just fine with a sea breeze and squirrels.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Can I still kiss you like this...as your friend?"
This book is going to live in my head rent free for a good while. I absolutely loved it.
I saw so much of myself in the over-thinking Ella. It's been a long time since I've felt so in tune with a protagonist and her story.
This is a funny, beautiful, heartfelt story about friendship, love, forgiveness, and healing old wounds.
I really don't want to give any spoilers, so I'm reluctantly not shouting from the rooftop about the romance that unfolds. But oh, I want to! This has left me smiling and content.
Well-written, engaging characters with witty dialogue, and just the right pacing. A solid five star read for me. I love a spicy romance, but I wasn't even missing it in this book. It just felt right.
Read it if you love:
- Closed door romance
- Enemies to lovers
- Second chances
- Grumpy/sunshine
The Rewrite will be available from 29 January. Let me know what you think!
Thank you to Beth Rinyu and Xpresso Book Tours for the complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This book is going to live in my head rent free for a good while. I absolutely loved it.
I saw so much of myself in the over-thinking Ella. It's been a long time since I've felt so in tune with a protagonist and her story.
This is a funny, beautiful, heartfelt story about friendship, love, forgiveness, and healing old wounds.
I really don't want to give any spoilers, so I'm reluctantly not shouting from the rooftop about the romance that unfolds. But oh, I want to! This has left me smiling and content.
Well-written, engaging characters with witty dialogue, and just the right pacing. A solid five star read for me. I love a spicy romance, but I wasn't even missing it in this book. It just felt right.
Read it if you love:
- Closed door romance
- Enemies to lovers
- Second chances
- Grumpy/sunshine
The Rewrite will be available from 29 January. Let me know what you think!
Thank you to Beth Rinyu and Xpresso Book Tours for the complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
(I received this book as an ARC)
I would rate this book anywhere beteeen 3.5 - 4 stars.
The book had me intrigued from the first chapter.
I really enjoyed the humor throughout the book as well as the short chapters and fast pace.
I loved how Ella and Max's relationship grew from bickering to actually catching feelings. Oh! And I love their mutual bond with my favorite old lady - Marion.
At the end, when Max wrote that letter to her as a 38-year-old, it just went full circle and my heart melted. 🫶
I would rate this book anywhere beteeen 3.5 - 4 stars.
The book had me intrigued from the first chapter.
I really enjoyed the humor throughout the book as well as the short chapters and fast pace.
I loved how Ella and Max's relationship grew from bickering to actually catching feelings. Oh! And I love their mutual bond with my favorite old lady - Marion.
At the end, when Max wrote that letter to her as a 38-year-old, it just went full circle and my heart melted. 🫶
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beth Rinyu’s The Rewrite is one of those warm, quietly powerful stories that sneaks up on you. What begins as a mission of long delayed closure turns into a heartfelt exploration of memory, forgiveness, and the unexpected ways life can surprise us.
Eloise “Ella” is a successful writer on the surface, but beneath that polished exterior sits a wound she’s carried since middle school. After twenty five years of replaying the same painful memories, she decides it’s finally time to confront the boy who made her life miserable, the bully she’s never been able to forget. Her journey takes her across the ocean to England, where she expects to find a villain. Instead, she finds something far more complicated.
Rinyu handles Ella’s emotional unraveling with a light, engaging touch. As Ella connects with new friends, the story gently challenges the idea that our memories are fixed truths. Ella’s assumptions begin to shift, and the narrative blossoms into a thoughtful look at how perspective—and time—can completely rewrite the past.
Along the way, the book delivers plenty of laughter, charming moments, and a cast of characters who bring warmth and humor to Ella’s journey. The friendship that develops, the slow burn of trust rebuilding, and the spark of something deeper all feel natural and deeply satisfying.
At its heart, The Rewrite is about second chances—at understanding, at healing, and at love. It’s a feel good read with emotional depth, perfect for anyone who enjoys stories where personal growth and romance intertwine.
Eloise “Ella” is a successful writer on the surface, but beneath that polished exterior sits a wound she’s carried since middle school. After twenty five years of replaying the same painful memories, she decides it’s finally time to confront the boy who made her life miserable, the bully she’s never been able to forget. Her journey takes her across the ocean to England, where she expects to find a villain. Instead, she finds something far more complicated.
Rinyu handles Ella’s emotional unraveling with a light, engaging touch. As Ella connects with new friends, the story gently challenges the idea that our memories are fixed truths. Ella’s assumptions begin to shift, and the narrative blossoms into a thoughtful look at how perspective—and time—can completely rewrite the past.
Along the way, the book delivers plenty of laughter, charming moments, and a cast of characters who bring warmth and humor to Ella’s journey. The friendship that develops, the slow burn of trust rebuilding, and the spark of something deeper all feel natural and deeply satisfying.
At its heart, The Rewrite is about second chances—at understanding, at healing, and at love. It’s a feel good read with emotional depth, perfect for anyone who enjoys stories where personal growth and romance intertwine.
February 5, 2026
I always adore a good Beth Rinyu novel. Her books are mature with a great emotional storyline.
Rewrite is written in the POV of Ella, she is a famous author that is going through a breakup and decides to take an extended trip to London to write her next novel, but more importantly she tracked down a pen pal from her childhood that betrayed her with cruel words when she was 12 years old. She discovered he now lives in London and wants to meet the man that caused her so much pain and really re-shaped who she is as an adult.
In London she meets this childhood pen pal but he doesn’t know who she is. Ella becomes friends with not only his wife but VERY close with his cousin Max. Max and Ella begin a friend with benefits situation. Max is a good character; he is a blue-collar guy and a single father. They agree to this relationship since Ella is returning to the States.
Unfortunately, there is not a lot to this book. While I did like all the minor characters and found each character to be very well developed, the story itself was just a bit boring and was not really going anywhere. I really wish the end was not wrapped up so quickly. I was 97% in and thought maybe there will be a second book…. But nope. The book ended in just pages wrapping up the “main event” in the book. It was too rushed.
I give Rewrite by Beth Rinyu 2.5 stars
Rewrite is written in the POV of Ella, she is a famous author that is going through a breakup and decides to take an extended trip to London to write her next novel, but more importantly she tracked down a pen pal from her childhood that betrayed her with cruel words when she was 12 years old. She discovered he now lives in London and wants to meet the man that caused her so much pain and really re-shaped who she is as an adult.
In London she meets this childhood pen pal but he doesn’t know who she is. Ella becomes friends with not only his wife but VERY close with his cousin Max. Max and Ella begin a friend with benefits situation. Max is a good character; he is a blue-collar guy and a single father. They agree to this relationship since Ella is returning to the States.
Unfortunately, there is not a lot to this book. While I did like all the minor characters and found each character to be very well developed, the story itself was just a bit boring and was not really going anywhere. I really wish the end was not wrapped up so quickly. I was 97% in and thought maybe there will be a second book…. But nope. The book ended in just pages wrapping up the “main event” in the book. It was too rushed.
I give Rewrite by Beth Rinyu 2.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Being bullied as a child leaves marks, and for Ella, it changed everything. She worked hard to be accepted, changing her looks and chasing success - now she’s a famous author with movies based on her books. But the hurt never fully went away. When she hits writer’s block, she decides to visit the boy who once made her feel small, hoping to show him how well she’s done.
In London, things don’t go as planned. Instead of proving a point, Ella meets his family, makes new friends, and starts to enjoy a life she never expected - especially after meeting a handsome plumber who wasn’t part of the plan.
This is an easy, enjoyable read. The romance grows slowly, and I liked that the usual big drama wasn’t overdone. The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall, it’s a sweet story about love, friendship, and how the past shapes us. If you like romance with a found-family twist, this one’s worth a try.
I received an advance review copy for free , and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In London, things don’t go as planned. Instead of proving a point, Ella meets his family, makes new friends, and starts to enjoy a life she never expected - especially after meeting a handsome plumber who wasn’t part of the plan.
This is an easy, enjoyable read. The romance grows slowly, and I liked that the usual big drama wasn’t overdone. The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall, it’s a sweet story about love, friendship, and how the past shapes us. If you like romance with a found-family twist, this one’s worth a try.
I received an advance review copy for free , and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 12, 2026
She's back!
Beth Rinyu is back with a fresh new story! The Rewrite is a wonderful tale of how things we experience in childhood impact us as adults and how to let go of them. This author has a true talent for creating relatable characters, and Ella is definitely a woman I feel like I could chat with while sharing a bottle of wine. I'd give this book more stars if I could!
Beth Rinyu is back with a fresh new story! The Rewrite is a wonderful tale of how things we experience in childhood impact us as adults and how to let go of them. This author has a true talent for creating relatable characters, and Ella is definitely a woman I feel like I could chat with while sharing a bottle of wine. I'd give this book more stars if I could!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of The Rewrite
I was drawn to the title(I love a good "play on words" so having Ella "rewrite" everything she thought was true about the man she dubbed her enemy for all these years was rewarding.
This was a cute and overall enjoyable read!
I was drawn to the title(I love a good "play on words" so having Ella "rewrite" everything she thought was true about the man she dubbed her enemy for all these years was rewarding.
This was a cute and overall enjoyable read!
Read
January 29, 2026Available now! If you like an enemies to lovers romance, with a long lost penpal them. Then this romcom set in London is for you! It’s a feel good read that will have you missing the characters when you reach the end. Grab your copy today and be sure to add it to your TBR list!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beth Rinyu is back with this heartfelt story! She never misses. The Rewrite is a remarkable love story that starts out as one goal but ends in the complete opposite. And what a journey we go on. Ella’s journey to confront a bully from her childhood ends up being the best thing she could have ever done. The grudge she’s been holding onto changes as she finds friends and love on her trip. And what a wonderful story we were given.
I don’t want to say too much more because I don’t want to give anything away. Just know that you need to read this sweet story.
Highly recommended.
I don’t want to say too much more because I don’t want to give anything away. Just know that you need to read this sweet story.
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews