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What We Choose
PAUL
I cheated on my fiancée.
Sophie and I were building our future. In love, happy, peaceful. Then she found a lump in her breast, and I made the worst I numbed my fear by sleeping with someone else. My worst mistake and my biggest regret. Now I see Sophie around town with him. She's radiant and laughing with people who actually show up. I'm trying to learn how to be a man who does. If she lets me, I'll spend the rest of my life proving I can choose her when it's hardest. If she lets me...
SOPHIE
I thought the promise was in sickness and in health.
But he buried his fear in someone else. On the same night, I walked into a bookstore and met the gentle giant owner, who invited me to his book club full of misfits.
I'm laughing again, I'm smiling more than I ever have, and I'm healing my heart.
My bookstore owner keeps showing up like it's as easy as breathing. I don't know what the future holds; I don't know if I'll win this battle against cancer, but I do know I'm done wasting time on people who love only when it's easy.
CALLUM
She came into Rivers & Rhodes Bookstore and asked for books with happy endings only.
I gave her a recommendation, an invitation, and an offer of friendship. Now, this beautiful, brave woman is completely under my skin. I'm not here to win a competition against him. I'm here because choosing someone, second by second, is the only way I understand love.
I cheated on my fiancée.
Sophie and I were building our future. In love, happy, peaceful. Then she found a lump in her breast, and I made the worst I numbed my fear by sleeping with someone else. My worst mistake and my biggest regret. Now I see Sophie around town with him. She's radiant and laughing with people who actually show up. I'm trying to learn how to be a man who does. If she lets me, I'll spend the rest of my life proving I can choose her when it's hardest. If she lets me...
SOPHIE
I thought the promise was in sickness and in health.
But he buried his fear in someone else. On the same night, I walked into a bookstore and met the gentle giant owner, who invited me to his book club full of misfits.
I'm laughing again, I'm smiling more than I ever have, and I'm healing my heart.
My bookstore owner keeps showing up like it's as easy as breathing. I don't know what the future holds; I don't know if I'll win this battle against cancer, but I do know I'm done wasting time on people who love only when it's easy.
CALLUM
She came into Rivers & Rhodes Bookstore and asked for books with happy endings only.
I gave her a recommendation, an invitation, and an offer of friendship. Now, this beautiful, brave woman is completely under my skin. I'm not here to win a competition against him. I'm here because choosing someone, second by second, is the only way I understand love.
694 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2025
25 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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January 5, 2026
This book was such an emotional ride! It made me laugh, cry, and even get frustrated at times. It’s heartwarming and sweet (maybe a little cheesy), yet some parts were heartbreaking. It’s quite long (over 900 pages) so I got a bit bored here and there, but overall, it was an enjoyable read.
What to Expect:
✔️ The MMC1 cheats on the FMC after her cancer diagnosis
✔️ The truth comes out early (he confesses in chapter two)
✔️ FMC meets a new MMC (and he’s absolutely incredible)
✔️ A sweet and heartwarming romance between the FMC & MMC2 (most of the book is about them)
✔️ The cheater and his mistress get what they deserved
✔️ HEA for the FMC & MMC2
⚠️ Very Important:
The FMC has breast cancer throughout the entire book, so the story follows her journey with the disease. There are a few chapters that include the chemotherapy, and the fatigue that comes with it. This may be a sensitive topic for some readers, so please make sure you know what you’re signing up for.
SPOILERS‼️
•
•
•
FMC: Sophie
MMC1/Ex-fiancé: Paul
MMC2: Callum
OW: Elise
— The MMC1 (Paul):
I’ve read about a lot of pathetic, loser “MMCs,” but Paul… he takes it to a new level.
Paul and Sophie had been together for six years, happy and in love, until Sophie was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was scheduled to have a double mastectomy, and even with all the pain and struggle she went through, she was still kind and cheerful, and was always the one comforting her fiancé, trying to make him feel better.
But Paul was selfish and pathetic and only cared about himself. He made Sophie’s illness and suffering all about him. At some point, he just couldn’t handle it anymore and started complaining to everyone—his family, and friends. They told him that he and Sophie would get through it together, but that wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
Eventually, he found the words he wanted to hear from a coworker, Elise. He had an emotional affair with her for a few months and told her everything about Sophie’s cancer and what he was going through. He found comfort with OW and never opened up to Sophie about his fears. The OW kept telling him that he deserved rest and happiness too, and that he should put himself first.
After a few months, he decided to cross the line and pursue her, and they started sleeping together. Since then, they’d been having an affair for two months. He developed some feelings for OW and was constantly comparing her to Sophie—how she was healthy and had perfect breasts.
His “reasons” for cheating:
- He said he cheated because he was worried about Sophie and scared she might die, and the OW was his escape.
- He didn’t like the fact that Sophie was going to have a mastectomy, and that was a problem for him, so he found someone else with perfect breasts instead of fighting for the person he supposedly loved.
He enjoyed cheating and didn’t really feel guilty while doing it. When he finally reached the point where he couldn’t handle Sophie’s disease anymore, he told her that he had been cheating on her for two months with Elise, and that he had feelings for his mistress. He also told her all the awful reasons for his cheating, including that he was struggling with the fact that she wouldn’t have breasts anymore.
Sophie kicked him out immediately and told him it was over. He left as fast as he could, with some pathetic tears, lame apologies, and telling her that he loved her. He never fought for her, and he told her about his cheating just to get rid of her, because he knew she wouldn’t stay with him after that.
That same night, he moved in with his mistress, and they started having sex like rabbits, which went on for three weeks. He felt relieved because he no longer had to hide.
Thankfully, the author spared us the sexual details with the OW, so there’s nothing graphic besides kissing, but it still gives me the biggest ick.
Anyway, my blood boiled during MMC1’s chapters, especially at the beginning. Then he just became the most pathetic thing I’ve ever read about.
— The FMC (Sophie):
My heart broke for her when she heard the awful reasons why her fiancé cheated on her. She thought she had found the right man who would be there for her in the tough times, but it turned out he was just a selfish loser who loved himself more.
Over time, as her feelings for him started to fade, she realized their relationship had always been one-sided. She gave everything to the relationship, while he didn’t really do anything for her. But I’m happy that this experience didn’t leave her shocked or afraid of relationships, or drowning in sadness over a man who didn’t deserve her. Sure, she loved her ex-fiancé with all her heart but that didn’t stop her from setting a goal to find love again with a better man (go for it, girl!).
Luckily, she moved on fast 🤣.
She’s always been softhearted but strong, and she’s still the sweet, smiling woman she’s always been, despite all the terrible stuff that happened to her. It’s great that she found MMC2 during the hardest times of her life and finally felt what it’s like to be loved and wanted for who she really is.
— The MMC2 (Callum):
He is perfect book-husband material ❤️.
On the same day Sophie’s world fell apart and her fiancé dumped her, she met Callum, the library owner. He was so amazing, kind, and thoughtful, and there was an immediate attraction between them. It was so nice to see how he made her laugh in a way she never had before, especially on the worst day of her life. Then he invited her to join his book club, and that’s how their friendship started.
The connection between them was good. I loved seeing their easygoing dynamic, the banter, and how they became best friends. He looked out for her and took care of her. It was so wonderful to see him supporting her and always being there, especially during the toughest times. He carried her in his arms, showing her that someone who truly loves her will be there through both the good and the bad.
PS. I loved every time he blushed 🫠.
— The FMC’s new friends:
Sophie met them at MMC2’s book club, and they became close. There are a lot of them, so you might forget some names at first, but they’re all amazing and supportive. The part where they were coming up with ways to kill her ex was funny 😂—one of them was actually the reason MMC1’s life was ruined.
— The MMC1’s family and friends:
Paul’s family really loved Sophie and treated her like one of their own. When his mom found out he cheated, she was so mad at him and told him how ashamed she felt of him. But he had the nerve to act like the victim, then he went on blaming his mom for not raising him to handle stuff like this. (He didn’t take any responsibility for his cheating and put all the blame on the FMC and his mom).
I liked that Paul’s parents told Sophie she would always be like a daughter to them and that they’d support her. They didn’t make any excuses for their son, and they didn’t try to convince Sophie to forgive him or get back together to him.
He also lost the respect of his friends, and they were all disgusted with him. It was hilarious how he showed up with his mistress as his “new girlfriend” and shocked everyone, lying about the cheating… but they eventually found out. He kept trying to make them believe he was the victim, that he suffered while Sophie was sick, but everyone just called him out on his nonsense, which he totally deserved.
— The karma & MMC1’s regrets:
⇒ In the first 40% of the book:
Three weeks after abandoning Sophie, Paul didn’t really feel any regret. He kept trying to convince himself that he had made the right choice and that he had feelings for OW. He moved in with her, slept with her constantly, went on dates, and bought her gifts. He said he still loved Sophie, but he didn’t actually care about her or even check on her, even though he knew she had surgery and had started chemotherapy. He also never stopped comparing the two women, noticing how different they were. He was completely immersed in all this to escape responsibility for his cheating and the fact that he had broken Sophie’s heart.
Then his world turned upside down, and he lost everything—his family, his friends, the respect of others, and his job. He no longer had a home either (he and OW were kicked out of her apartment). After all this happened, he realized his mistake: he hadn’t truly loved OW and had always loved Sophie. He felt regret and guilt for what he had done to her. But actually, he didn’t like the “consequences” that followed his cheating, and he didn’t like that he was no longer the golden boy in everyone’s eyes. He also realized that OW was just a manipulative person who had used him for his reputation and money, but by then, it was too late, and he was no better than her, since he had used her too, so both of them deserved each other.
⇒ After 40% :
He saw Sophie by chance for the first time since the breakup and she was glowing and happy without him. She was also with Callum, and they were intimate and happy together… he felt jealous, lost, and he even puked. The fact that Sophie was looking at Callum in a way she never looked at Paul made it even more satisfying.
This time, he truly felt regret and started to realize that he had ruined the best thing that ever happened to him because of his ego. Now, he had to face the consequences of his bad choices alone. He couldn’t stop thinking about Sophie or how good they were together, and he admitted that cheating on her was his biggest regret.
So, he took responsibility for what he did and started seeing a therapist to change himself and work through his issues.
If anyone thought he was going to try to win Sophie back or fight for her, that never happened.
First, he was completely consumed by self-pity, and everyone told him it was better for him to stay away from her, so he did.
Second, he believed he didn’t deserve her (which was true), so he kept his distance.
In the end, he finally got his shit together and apologized to everyone. His relationships with his family and friends were restored, and then he met Sophie, apologized to her, and they got closure.
He decided to move away and start over somewhere else, partly because he couldn’t stand seeing Sophie and Callum together.
At some point in the story, I stopped caring about him, so it really didn’t matter what happened to him or whether he changed or became a better person.
Honestly, I enjoyed the scenes where he cried his heart out because Sophie was happy with another man. It was satisfying to watch his successful life fall apart and see him leave the town he had loved because of his selfishness and bad choices. He got exactly what he deserved, and that was enough for me.
______
Book info:
— H (32) / h (29~30)
— Multiple POVs:
* FMC (21 chapters from her POV)
* MMC1 (10 chapters from his POV)
* MMC2 (11 chapters from his POV)
* OW (3 chapters from her POV)
— Second chance in love (she finds the love of her life/soulmate)
— Strangers to friends to lovers (H2 & h)
— So sweet, thoughtful, and caring MMC2
— Found family
— Small town
Safety:
➥ (H2&h):
— Past/experience:
⤷ The h had a healthy and active sexual past.
⤷ She had two boyfriends before her ex-fiancé.
⤷ She has been celibate for a few months (maybe around three or four months).
⤷ The H2 had limited experience (sexually and in dating), and the h got some of his firsts.
⤷ He had a few girlfriends in the past but he didn’t stay with anyone for long. Also, he had never loved anyone before the h.
⤷ He has been celibate for a couple of years.
— OW:
After the H1 abandoned his mistress, she tried to seduce H2. But unlike H1, he didn’t give her any attention at all. When the h told him that the OW was her ex’s mistress, he got really mad and put OW in her place.
— No cheating/scenes with other people
— HEA ❤️ (12 years later with a daughter)
➥ (H1):
— Cheating (no sex scenes of him with OW)
— No HEA:
Six years later, he’s still trying to move on in a different place. His relationship with his parents and friends has gotten better, and he found a new job, but he never really got over the h and still misses her. He even has nightmares about the day he broke her heart. He tried dating, but he kept comparing every other woman to her, so he ended up sticking to casual relationships. Maybe he moved on with his life, but he lost the love of his life, and I don’t think he’ll find love again, or at least not like what he had with the h.
I also loved the scene when he ran into the h for the first time after those years. Seeing her happy, healthy, and even pregnant was a painful reminder of everything he lost
Trigger :
— The h has breast cancer
— Loss of loved one (the H2’s father - past)
— Parental neglect (the h’s parents - past)
What to Expect:
✔️ The MMC1 cheats on the FMC after her cancer diagnosis
✔️ The truth comes out early (he confesses in chapter two)
✔️ FMC meets a new MMC (and he’s absolutely incredible)
✔️ A sweet and heartwarming romance between the FMC & MMC2 (most of the book is about them)
✔️ The cheater and his mistress get what they deserved
✔️ HEA for the FMC & MMC2
⚠️ Very Important:
The FMC has breast cancer throughout the entire book, so the story follows her journey with the disease. There are a few chapters that include the chemotherapy, and the fatigue that comes with it. This may be a sensitive topic for some readers, so please make sure you know what you’re signing up for.
SPOILERS‼️
•
•
•
FMC: Sophie
MMC1/Ex-fiancé: Paul
MMC2: Callum
OW: Elise
— The MMC1 (Paul):
I’ve read about a lot of pathetic, loser “MMCs,” but Paul… he takes it to a new level.
Paul and Sophie had been together for six years, happy and in love, until Sophie was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was scheduled to have a double mastectomy, and even with all the pain and struggle she went through, she was still kind and cheerful, and was always the one comforting her fiancé, trying to make him feel better.
But Paul was selfish and pathetic and only cared about himself. He made Sophie’s illness and suffering all about him. At some point, he just couldn’t handle it anymore and started complaining to everyone—his family, and friends. They told him that he and Sophie would get through it together, but that wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
Eventually, he found the words he wanted to hear from a coworker, Elise. He had an emotional affair with her for a few months and told her everything about Sophie’s cancer and what he was going through. He found comfort with OW and never opened up to Sophie about his fears. The OW kept telling him that he deserved rest and happiness too, and that he should put himself first.
After a few months, he decided to cross the line and pursue her, and they started sleeping together. Since then, they’d been having an affair for two months. He developed some feelings for OW and was constantly comparing her to Sophie—how she was healthy and had perfect breasts.
His “reasons” for cheating:
- He said he cheated because he was worried about Sophie and scared she might die, and the OW was his escape.
- He didn’t like the fact that Sophie was going to have a mastectomy, and that was a problem for him, so he found someone else with perfect breasts instead of fighting for the person he supposedly loved.
“The thought slices in, jagged and so fucking cruel. Sophie’s body sliced open, breasts gone, drains and scars. The image of her perfect chest carved away.
Right behind it is Elise and her perfect body.
Elise with no ports or scars or poison running through her veins to kill cancer cells.
I hate myself for it, for even letting the comparison exist.”
He enjoyed cheating and didn’t really feel guilty while doing it. When he finally reached the point where he couldn’t handle Sophie’s disease anymore, he told her that he had been cheating on her for two months with Elise, and that he had feelings for his mistress. He also told her all the awful reasons for his cheating, including that he was struggling with the fact that she wouldn’t have breasts anymore.
“So, when you were going to the bar with Brian and Chris, you were..."
"With her," I whisper. Relief I don't deserve slips in—two seconds of air—followed by agony. Her face—oh God—Sophie's perfect little face folds in devastation.
The look breaks me, and the words shoot out of me unbidden. "Sophie... I was scared, and you were so—everything was so serious, and Elise—she... she let me—just—god—breathe for a second. Because I just... needed something easy."
The word makes me sick, and I force it out anyway. "She was... there. She listened and... with her, there wasn't cancer."
The betrayal cracks her face even more, "You were talking about my cancer with her?"
"Yes."
"Since the beginning?"
"Yes.”
“And the surgery—losing your breasts—it's—" My voice drops, useless, and I choke out through a closed throat. "That's… it's a problem for me."
Silence detonates like a bomb between us. I hear the clock, the refrigerator hum, my heart slamming against my ribcage.
And Sophie...
Sophie looks wrecked, absolutely wrecked.
Sophie kicked him out immediately and told him it was over. He left as fast as he could, with some pathetic tears, lame apologies, and telling her that he loved her. He never fought for her, and he told her about his cheating just to get rid of her, because he knew she wouldn’t stay with him after that.
That same night, he moved in with his mistress, and they started having sex like rabbits, which went on for three weeks. He felt relieved because he no longer had to hide.
Thankfully, the author spared us the sexual details with the OW, so there’s nothing graphic besides kissing, but it still gives me the biggest ick.
“It was easy to allow myself to escape into the fantasy Elise had been crafting for a cancer-free, worry-free life. A fantasy of us being together fully.
A fantasy of leaving Sophie because that was the right thing to do, since I was cheating on her. I would free both Sophie and me from the shackles of this relationship. I would free myself from this fight against cancer, which I was wholly unprepared for.
I did the one thing she would never forgive me for, and I can’t think about it anymore without my stomach twisting itself into an agonizing knot.”
Anyway, my blood boiled during MMC1’s chapters, especially at the beginning. Then he just became the most pathetic thing I’ve ever read about.
— The FMC (Sophie):
My heart broke for her when she heard the awful reasons why her fiancé cheated on her. She thought she had found the right man who would be there for her in the tough times, but it turned out he was just a selfish loser who loved himself more.
“The way he said Elise was easy and there—that's why he had sex with her.
He confided in her about my cancer, and she helped him breathe.
As if I were the one suffocating him.
The implication in his words was clear as day.
Elise is beautiful, easy, and comforting.
I'm difficult, sick, and inconvenient.
And the worst part—the part that knocks the air out of my lungs if I think about it too hard—is that I have to get my breasts cut off because they're literally killing me, and that's a problem for him.
Apparently, over the last six years, he didn't actually fall for me—the person with thoughts and hopes and feelings—just the package. The soft curves and the comforting routine I could provide for him.
But Sophie, the person? She's not enough without her tits and health.”
Over time, as her feelings for him started to fade, she realized their relationship had always been one-sided. She gave everything to the relationship, while he didn’t really do anything for her. But I’m happy that this experience didn’t leave her shocked or afraid of relationships, or drowning in sadness over a man who didn’t deserve her. Sure, she loved her ex-fiancé with all her heart but that didn’t stop her from setting a goal to find love again with a better man (go for it, girl!).
Luckily, she moved on fast 🤣.
She’s always been softhearted but strong, and she’s still the sweet, smiling woman she’s always been, despite all the terrible stuff that happened to her. It’s great that she found MMC2 during the hardest times of her life and finally felt what it’s like to be loved and wanted for who she really is.
— The MMC2 (Callum):
He is perfect book-husband material ❤️.
On the same day Sophie’s world fell apart and her fiancé dumped her, she met Callum, the library owner. He was so amazing, kind, and thoughtful, and there was an immediate attraction between them. It was so nice to see how he made her laugh in a way she never had before, especially on the worst day of her life. Then he invited her to join his book club, and that’s how their friendship started.
The connection between them was good. I loved seeing their easygoing dynamic, the banter, and how they became best friends. He looked out for her and took care of her. It was so wonderful to see him supporting her and always being there, especially during the toughest times. He carried her in his arms, showing her that someone who truly loves her will be there through both the good and the bad.
PS. I loved every time he blushed 🫠.
“Callum Rhodes has completely changed my life, not with grand gestures, but with his gentle smile and steady presence. He stayed, he listened, he cared. His support let me find my own way, while he held the light so I could see ahead.”
— The FMC’s new friends:
Sophie met them at MMC2’s book club, and they became close. There are a lot of them, so you might forget some names at first, but they’re all amazing and supportive. The part where they were coming up with ways to kill her ex was funny 😂—one of them was actually the reason MMC1’s life was ruined.
— The MMC1’s family and friends:
Paul’s family really loved Sophie and treated her like one of their own. When his mom found out he cheated, she was so mad at him and told him how ashamed she felt of him. But he had the nerve to act like the victim, then he went on blaming his mom for not raising him to handle stuff like this. (He didn’t take any responsibility for his cheating and put all the blame on the FMC and his mom).
My mom is staring at me just like Sophie did—like I'm a stranger. Like I'm not the boy she gave birth to, not her son of thirty-three years.
It hurts.
The woman who's supposed to love me unconditionally is looking at me with such potent disappointment.
"You didn't raise me to deal with this kind of thing, Ma," I say, my voice somewhere between accusation and confession.
She blinks and something shifts in her face—her anger folding inward, turning quieter, sharper. "You're blaming me?"
"No—yes—I..." I bite the words out, frustrated, stumbling over the truth like broken glass. "I'm saying... maybe if you hadn't always shielded me from everything, I'd know how to handle this. I've never had to deal with this before, with any of this. You're healthy, dad is healthy, everyone in our family is healthy and cancer-free, and I just didn't know what to do, I didn't know how to act... I don't know how to be the man Sophie needs right now.”
I liked that Paul’s parents told Sophie she would always be like a daughter to them and that they’d support her. They didn’t make any excuses for their son, and they didn’t try to convince Sophie to forgive him or get back together to him.
He also lost the respect of his friends, and they were all disgusted with him. It was hilarious how he showed up with his mistress as his “new girlfriend” and shocked everyone, lying about the cheating… but they eventually found out. He kept trying to make them believe he was the victim, that he suffered while Sophie was sick, but everyone just called him out on his nonsense, which he totally deserved.
“Sophie is the one who has to suffer through cancer," he bites out, "and instead of standing beside her, instead of holding her hand and being the man who loved her—the man you claimed to be—you slept with someone else?"
"I wasn't happy!" I yell, louder than I meant to. I feel the shift, the sudden stillness of the bar as the dam breaks.
“I was miserable and drowning, and none of you helped me!" I rant, sounding half-crazed. "All you kept telling me was to hang in there and be there for Sophie. I was doing that, and I was terrified. I was so fucking scared, I was drowning in it, and none of you helped me..."
Everyone is looking at me, and Elise places her hand on my arm, trying to get me to calm down. I feel as though I'm choking, yet I'm the one tightening the noose around my neck.
Brian stares like he doesn't recognize me. "Because, Paul, it wasn't about you," he says slowly, like he doesn't think I'd hear it otherwise. "You weren't the one with cancer.”
— The karma & MMC1’s regrets:
⇒ In the first 40% of the book:
Three weeks after abandoning Sophie, Paul didn’t really feel any regret. He kept trying to convince himself that he had made the right choice and that he had feelings for OW. He moved in with her, slept with her constantly, went on dates, and bought her gifts. He said he still loved Sophie, but he didn’t actually care about her or even check on her, even though he knew she had surgery and had started chemotherapy. He also never stopped comparing the two women, noticing how different they were. He was completely immersed in all this to escape responsibility for his cheating and the fact that he had broken Sophie’s heart.
Then his world turned upside down, and he lost everything—his family, his friends, the respect of others, and his job. He no longer had a home either (he and OW were kicked out of her apartment). After all this happened, he realized his mistake: he hadn’t truly loved OW and had always loved Sophie. He felt regret and guilt for what he had done to her. But actually, he didn’t like the “consequences” that followed his cheating, and he didn’t like that he was no longer the golden boy in everyone’s eyes. He also realized that OW was just a manipulative person who had used him for his reputation and money, but by then, it was too late, and he was no better than her, since he had used her too, so both of them deserved each other.
⇒ After 40% :
He saw Sophie by chance for the first time since the breakup and she was glowing and happy without him. She was also with Callum, and they were intimate and happy together… he felt jealous, lost, and he even puked. The fact that Sophie was looking at Callum in a way she never looked at Paul made it even more satisfying.
“In my nightmares, that image of her and Callum looking so at ease with each other on her birthday plays on a loop. I had pictured Sophie alone on her birthday, maybe at the apartment, talking to Tess on the phone.
Instead, I stood outside that bookstore and watched the love of my life, happy with another man, my parents, and a group of people, all celebrating her.”
“the way they looked at each other keeps taunting me.
It was intimate, like they existed in their own little world, and it cuts me right to the bone. Her giving him that teasing look, him kissing her hand, her smiling at him like he's her hero, him gazing at her like she's everything...
I had that. I had her.”
This time, he truly felt regret and started to realize that he had ruined the best thing that ever happened to him because of his ego. Now, he had to face the consequences of his bad choices alone. He couldn’t stop thinking about Sophie or how good they were together, and he admitted that cheating on her was his biggest regret.
So, he took responsibility for what he did and started seeing a therapist to change himself and work through his issues.
If anyone thought he was going to try to win Sophie back or fight for her, that never happened.
First, he was completely consumed by self-pity, and everyone told him it was better for him to stay away from her, so he did.
Second, he believed he didn’t deserve her (which was true), so he kept his distance.
In the end, he finally got his shit together and apologized to everyone. His relationships with his family and friends were restored, and then he met Sophie, apologized to her, and they got closure.
He decided to move away and start over somewhere else, partly because he couldn’t stand seeing Sophie and Callum together.
At some point in the story, I stopped caring about him, so it really didn’t matter what happened to him or whether he changed or became a better person.
Honestly, I enjoyed the scenes where he cried his heart out because Sophie was happy with another man. It was satisfying to watch his successful life fall apart and see him leave the town he had loved because of his selfishness and bad choices. He got exactly what he deserved, and that was enough for me.
______
Book info:
— H (32) / h (29~30)
— Multiple POVs:
* FMC (21 chapters from her POV)
* MMC1 (10 chapters from his POV)
* MMC2 (11 chapters from his POV)
* OW (3 chapters from her POV)
— Second chance in love (she finds the love of her life/soulmate)
— Strangers to friends to lovers (H2 & h)
— So sweet, thoughtful, and caring MMC2
— Found family
— Small town
Safety:
➥ (H2&h):
— Past/experience:
⤷ The h had a healthy and active sexual past.
⤷ She had two boyfriends before her ex-fiancé.
⤷ She has been celibate for a few months (maybe around three or four months).
⤷ The H2 had limited experience (sexually and in dating), and the h got some of his firsts.
⤷ He had a few girlfriends in the past but he didn’t stay with anyone for long. Also, he had never loved anyone before the h.
⤷ He has been celibate for a couple of years.
— OW:
After the H1 abandoned his mistress, she tried to seduce H2. But unlike H1, he didn’t give her any attention at all. When the h told him that the OW was her ex’s mistress, he got really mad and put OW in her place.
— No cheating/scenes with other people
— HEA ❤️ (12 years later with a daughter)
➥ (H1):
— Cheating (no sex scenes of him with OW)
— No HEA:
Six years later, he’s still trying to move on in a different place. His relationship with his parents and friends has gotten better, and he found a new job, but he never really got over the h and still misses her. He even has nightmares about the day he broke her heart. He tried dating, but he kept comparing every other woman to her, so he ended up sticking to casual relationships. Maybe he moved on with his life, but he lost the love of his life, and I don’t think he’ll find love again, or at least not like what he had with the h.
I also loved the scene when he ran into the h for the first time after those years. Seeing her happy, healthy, and even pregnant was a painful reminder of everything he lost
“Sophie’s left hand—fingers painted that soft, light pink she always loved, two rings glinting on a very deliberate finger—rests protectively over her very pregnant belly.
A complicated mix of feelings runs through me—jealousy, regret, bitterness, disappointment, hurt, and heartbreak—all swirling together until I feel dizzy. And I have no right to feel a single damn one of these things. I haven’t seen her in six years.
Of course, she’s grown an entire life inside that time.
She’s living the future I once envisioned for us... the one I could have given her if I hadn’t destroyed everything. Little boys and girls with my eyes and her smile. We had plans—our wedding, maybe start trying for a baby on the honeymoon, then come back to buy a house here in Starling Cove.
We would start our life together.
Then I ruined it with my carelessness, with my cowardice. I made choices I will regret until I die.”
Trigger :
— The h has breast cancer
— Loss of loved one (the H2’s father - past)
— Parental neglect (the h’s parents - past)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 9, 2026please read my friend mora's review, im too disorganized to write it rn, i agree with her review completely one thing i will add is way way more OW than i would have liked esp in detail.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 11, 2026
3.75 but I’m rounding up, obviously
it would literally be so perfect, but it was waaaaaay too long… because, seriously, what’s the point of monologues lasting pages?? most of those paragraphs could be cut out, since they were about nothing 🥴
I wasn’t interested in Paul’s chapters at all. like, okay, I’m glad to see him getting his karma (as he should), but those chapters could be shorter (and appear less)
and meanwhile Elise’s (OW) story was interesting, it could be shortened to one, max two chapters
sometimes the book was also quite repetitive, and I didn’t enjoy some of the flashbacks, and how often the author chose to go back to tell about sth that happened, when the plot had already moved forward
BUT
the story was great, that didn’t bore me, I was bored by those long paragraphs;
I loved the main and most of the secondary characters;
romance between the fmc and the mmc was everything;
Callum ❤️;
I also loved Sophie’s journey when it comes to her breast cancer, I felt moved often
overall, it is such a good book!!! I just wish it was shorter
(and please go read Mora’s wonderful review if you haven’t already done it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
it would literally be so perfect, but it was waaaaaay too long… because, seriously, what’s the point of monologues lasting pages?? most of those paragraphs could be cut out, since they were about nothing 🥴
I wasn’t interested in Paul’s chapters at all. like, okay, I’m glad to see him getting his karma (as he should), but those chapters could be shorter (and appear less)
and meanwhile Elise’s (OW) story was interesting, it could be shortened to one, max two chapters
sometimes the book was also quite repetitive, and I didn’t enjoy some of the flashbacks, and how often the author chose to go back to tell about sth that happened, when the plot had already moved forward
BUT
the story was great, that didn’t bore me, I was bored by those long paragraphs;
I loved the main and most of the secondary characters;
romance between the fmc and the mmc was everything;
Callum ❤️;
I also loved Sophie’s journey when it comes to her breast cancer, I felt moved often
overall, it is such a good book!!! I just wish it was shorter
(and please go read Mora’s wonderful review if you haven’t already done it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
January 12, 2026
i want to kiss every single character in this book ( apart from paul and Elise they can eat shit).
FINALLY a book where a cheater is treated like he deserves by friends and family.
dear authors, if you ever want to write about a cheater and redeem him THIS is how you do it,
Sophie and Callum were PERFECT, usually i would get bored after a couple get together, but this two were so stinking cute that i just wanted more and more of them. especially that the build up for the relationship was gradual and not immidiate, it was a very well written friends to lovers.
the book club was my personal favorite part, all the members were AMAZING friends, so loyal and protective and the literal meaning of found family .
special mention to all the scenes where Paul's family and friends told him to fuck off and absolutely read him to dirt for cheating🤭🤭🤭🤭 i LOOOOOVED how his friends were never close to Sophie yet they absolutely annihilated him for what he did.
Tanya is my hero, Karma has a name and it's freaking Tanya, she singlehandedly ruined Paul and Elise's life all for the sweet woman she met a couple of times 🥺🥺 it warmed my heart the way she looked out for Sophie. and my heart broke when she spoke about her late wife 💔💔
god this book was amazing, not only did the cheater get what he deserved ( even if he was redeemed and forgiven), it's a story about a STRONG woman, she not only overcame heartbreak and betrayel ( i would personally dig a hole and burry myself if my fiancé of 6 years cheated), but she also overcame it WHILE BATTLING CANCER.
she lost a cheating fiancé whom she thought was the love of her life ( good riddance), and instead she found real pure unconditional love, both romantic and platonic and she deserved everything good that happened to her after her break up with Paul.
Paul's chapters NAUSEATED me at first, i wanted to knock his teeth out, but after his life started falling apart, his parents kicking him out, his friends dumping him, losing his house, time out on his job, after the misery started his chapters were delicious lol i loved every single time he cried and was in pain😂😂😂 especially whenever he saw how happy sophie was with callum. i loved how he imagined sophie to be sick and withering away from cancer but when he saw her she was glowing and stunning, EAT SHIT LOSER.
even after 6 years in the epilogue he was still paying the price for his cheating while Callum and Sophie were happy and pregnant 🤭🤭
there is a line that paul said after he saw again after 6 years of not being able to move on that i loved
We once were something, and now we’re not. It stings, because I couldn’t seem to let go of the love I have for her, but it feels as though I was just a footnote.
A stepping stone on her way to Callum.
Maybe I was.
I know the point of the book was at the end we're supposed to feel bad for Paul or at least understand him or even forgive him even though sophie never took him back, but I personally could not care less about him. Or if he lived or died 😂 BUT i'm so happy one author at least redeemed a cheater the RIGHT way, by having him turn his life upside down and complete change WITHOUT having the fmc take him back , bonus points for never getting over her and living with regret forever
the reasons i didn't give this 5 stars, were:
1- the LONNGGG chapters about the background of every single side character, like unless they're future MCs i don't need to read that much about 10 people.
2- Elise's chapters : she got 3 or 4 chapters and i skimmed through all of them. i couldn't care less about her life sob story or that her mommy and daddy were cheaters who didn't love her. i'm glad she ended up in the gutter.
i read most of this book during my commute and boy did i get very weird and concerned looks for the tears i cried😂😂😂
safety:
- cheating : Paul cheats on Sophie with Elise.
No cheating between Sophie and Callum ( he would NEVER)
- owd : skanky hoe elise with Paul and ALSO she tried to seduce Callum but didn't even look at her
-omd: not really but Paul does want sophie back but she doesn't want his cheating ass and they don't really interact for most of the book just the start and the end
- no virgins and no manhoes : Callum is less experienced than Sophie, he had sex with a few girlfriends but never did or receive oral and has been celibate for a few years
FINALLY a book where a cheater is treated like he deserves by friends and family.
dear authors, if you ever want to write about a cheater and redeem him THIS is how you do it,
Sophie and Callum were PERFECT, usually i would get bored after a couple get together, but this two were so stinking cute that i just wanted more and more of them. especially that the build up for the relationship was gradual and not immidiate, it was a very well written friends to lovers.
the book club was my personal favorite part, all the members were AMAZING friends, so loyal and protective and the literal meaning of found family .
special mention to all the scenes where Paul's family and friends told him to fuck off and absolutely read him to dirt for cheating🤭🤭🤭🤭 i LOOOOOVED how his friends were never close to Sophie yet they absolutely annihilated him for what he did.
Tanya is my hero, Karma has a name and it's freaking Tanya, she singlehandedly ruined Paul and Elise's life all for the sweet woman she met a couple of times 🥺🥺 it warmed my heart the way she looked out for Sophie. and my heart broke when she spoke about her late wife 💔💔
god this book was amazing, not only did the cheater get what he deserved ( even if he was redeemed and forgiven), it's a story about a STRONG woman, she not only overcame heartbreak and betrayel ( i would personally dig a hole and burry myself if my fiancé of 6 years cheated), but she also overcame it WHILE BATTLING CANCER.
she lost a cheating fiancé whom she thought was the love of her life ( good riddance), and instead she found real pure unconditional love, both romantic and platonic and she deserved everything good that happened to her after her break up with Paul.
Paul's chapters NAUSEATED me at first, i wanted to knock his teeth out, but after his life started falling apart, his parents kicking him out, his friends dumping him, losing his house, time out on his job, after the misery started his chapters were delicious lol i loved every single time he cried and was in pain😂😂😂 especially whenever he saw how happy sophie was with callum. i loved how he imagined sophie to be sick and withering away from cancer but when he saw her she was glowing and stunning, EAT SHIT LOSER.
even after 6 years in the epilogue he was still paying the price for his cheating while Callum and Sophie were happy and pregnant 🤭🤭
there is a line that paul said after he saw again after 6 years of not being able to move on that i loved
We once were something, and now we’re not. It stings, because I couldn’t seem to let go of the love I have for her, but it feels as though I was just a footnote.
A stepping stone on her way to Callum.
Maybe I was.
I know the point of the book was at the end we're supposed to feel bad for Paul or at least understand him or even forgive him even though sophie never took him back, but I personally could not care less about him. Or if he lived or died 😂 BUT i'm so happy one author at least redeemed a cheater the RIGHT way, by having him turn his life upside down and complete change WITHOUT having the fmc take him back , bonus points for never getting over her and living with regret forever
the reasons i didn't give this 5 stars, were:
1- the LONNGGG chapters about the background of every single side character, like unless they're future MCs i don't need to read that much about 10 people.
2- Elise's chapters : she got 3 or 4 chapters and i skimmed through all of them. i couldn't care less about her life sob story or that her mommy and daddy were cheaters who didn't love her. i'm glad she ended up in the gutter.
i read most of this book during my commute and boy did i get very weird and concerned looks for the tears i cried😂😂😂
safety:
- cheating : Paul cheats on Sophie with Elise.
No cheating between Sophie and Callum ( he would NEVER)
- owd : skanky hoe elise with Paul and ALSO she tried to seduce Callum but didn't even look at her
-omd: not really but Paul does want sophie back but she doesn't want his cheating ass and they don't really interact for most of the book just the start and the end
- no virgins and no manhoes : Callum is less experienced than Sophie, he had sex with a few girlfriends but never did or receive oral and has been celibate for a few years
January 6, 2026
I read this on Wattpad and I really like this author!
She has 2 other WIP that I’m following and they are good as well…like I said on another review, I’m really into betrayals right now and this fits the bill.
This poor girl gets devastating news and what does her bf do….cheats on her😡
I love that she doesn’t take him back and gets a new H. The new H is just wonderful🥰It does drag at times but this book was just so real to me. If you have ever had someone you love go through chemo or diagnosed with cancer this one really hits hard😢
Cheating fiancé or bf 🤮
Disgusting ow😡
New H❤️
Cancer😢
Very HEA❤️🥰
She has 2 other WIP that I’m following and they are good as well…like I said on another review, I’m really into betrayals right now and this fits the bill.
This poor girl gets devastating news and what does her bf do….cheats on her😡
I love that she doesn’t take him back and gets a new H. The new H is just wonderful🥰It does drag at times but this book was just so real to me. If you have ever had someone you love go through chemo or diagnosed with cancer this one really hits hard😢
Cheating fiancé or bf 🤮
Disgusting ow😡
New H❤️
Cancer😢
Very HEA❤️🥰
Want to read
January 5, 2026tbr: my girl mora did a wonderful review! the story is right up my alley
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 2, 2026
Okay.
I really liked this one..... but.
Possible triggers for some as the heroine has cancer and the story at times does focus on that, fortunately its a successful story for her but obviously not a subject for everyone depending on experiences in life.
I think what made it so enjoyable was the Hero, new man for the heroine, he is amazing.
It's multiple POV. Hero heroine, cheating ex and other woman. Predominantly the Hero and heroine.
HEA.
Lots of potential for stories from the small town.
I really liked this one..... but.
Possible triggers for some as the heroine has cancer and the story at times does focus on that, fortunately its a successful story for her but obviously not a subject for everyone depending on experiences in life.
I think what made it so enjoyable was the Hero, new man for the heroine, he is amazing.
It's multiple POV. Hero heroine, cheating ex and other woman. Predominantly the Hero and heroine.
HEA.
Lots of potential for stories from the small town.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2026
This book was amazing in the betrayal, angst, recovery and romance plot line. I personally don’t like cancer in any books I read for many reasons and this hasn’t changed my preference on that. While the cancer is the catalyst for everything that happened to the FMC in this book it was also an idealized portrayal of a smooth and successful cancer journey. Which I felt trivialized it a bit. The author absolutely put a lot of heart into this story. There was so much depth of characters and subject matter. Deep dives into each character’s choices and their own struggles. It was just so great to read this book and I honestly can’t wait for more by this author.
This book has four POV’s. It opens to the FMC going over her cancer treatment options. She is doing this with her then fiancé/OM right next to her in his POV. He is struggling and she is comforting him while his thoughts are ping ponging back and forth over her, her cancer, and his guilt over his betrayal with the OW, and a lot of thoughts on the sex he has had and is eager to get back to with the OW. It’s a lot going on in his head here. Once the FMC is done with her planning he blurts out his thoughts and it is revealed his affair and all his truly heinous feelings towards what the FMC will have to go through to hopefully save her life and how he can’t handle it. This was rough and I cried but I loved the pain of it all. The author was truly stellar here!
So the FMC kicks him out, breaks down, gets help from her long distanced sister and starts to prioritize things so she can stay focused and positive while she continues the worse fight for survival experience anyone could ever have. She also meets the MMC on this same night. It was one of a few points in the book that was so ridiculously contrived. I mean it’s absolutely possible to meet the love of your life on the worse day of your life but I would have preferred if it had been a few days later imo. Just saying.
The book then plays out as the MMC is struck on first sight over the FMC. We get his POV which I throughly enjoyed because he is absolutely book boyfriend goals! lol. Anyway, it continues on with the FMC meeting a bunch of sweet side characters and revealing her diagnosis and her betrayal to the MMC and company and this sets up a wonderful yet unrealistic immediate support system for the FMC’s upcoming struggles. We then get back to the cheating now ex-fiancé/OM and his utter stupidity when his family finds out what he did. When some people fuck up they definitely follow the premise of “Go big or go home!”, which is what he did with his mother next. The things he said had me laughing at how hilariously absurd it was. I loved his betrayal of his parents because it was so epically insulting.
Obviously, he goes to live with the OW. It was a choice that felt like not a choice but this author does an amazing job of exploring this numbnut’s non-choices and his choices and I loved all of his POV chapters. I wished there had been more even though he wasn’t the MMC. His story is was so good. We see him spiral because of the fear he felt at the cancer diagnosis for the woman he deeply loved. But it’s slowly revealed that even if the cancer hadn’t come up he was a flawed person who was already straying emotionally on the FMC with the OW. The cancer situation just made him act sooner than he probably would have. He was selfish and a weak willed person. He had a childhood quasi friendship with the MMC that revealed the same flaws he still had as an adult that would have always been an issue if the cancer had not blown him up for all to see the choices he makes.
Honestly, his character was so interesting to read because he was so shocked at himself for his poor decisions. Like he really couldn’t believe who he was being. He did have another semi betrayal scene with his college friends next when he tried to act like nothing had changed except the OW was now substituted for the FMC in their friend group. I LOVED how they all chewed him and the OW out for their actions. It was such a delightful comeuppance scene. That’s when his situationship with the OW really ended for me. He thought his friends would just ignore his bad behavior and stand by him, to support his struggles with the cancer diagnosis and they didn’t. That means he not only lost the FMC, his parents, but now his friends too. The next day his final remaining straw was the loss of his job alongside his reputation.
I could go on and on about this characters story arch but it really is worth reading for yourself.
As for the FMC/MMC, the story around them is sickeningly sweet. I enjoyed every second of it even though it came off as too fast in a short time frame all while the cancer treatment was happening slowly but rushed at the same time. It’s really hard to explain this, lol. So much was happening but it really was all happening in like two weeks to a couple of months. I have to say time continuity felt off in this book. They met, she started her treatments, they hang out/date, he gives her rides to her treatments and other cancer support, she starts losing her hair, she is having self image trauma but her new friend group and her ex’s family are all helping her in numerous ways so she gets over all her feelings easily and healthily. The MMC/FMC become an official couple. They have sex on a night of a fundraiser gala for cancer patients. It’s all very romantic and sweet, exactly what a romance should have.
The FMC then falls deathly ill and they all have a heartbreaking moment when the ex fiance is called in because he was still listed as her emergency contact with the hospital. It was such an OTT dramatic scene for the purpose of adding a little excitement to this story that it felt forced even though it was very well written. This all gets resolved easily but the angst and anger from the MMC having to deal with the cheater/OM still having a position of authority in the FMC’s life over him was so good to read.
Anyway, the rest of the FMC’s cancer journey is time skipped over but apparently has no further bumps in the road and she is cured with no lasting side effects. Yay! This is why I felt the cancer story was trivialized and used primarily as a plot device. It was absolutely pivotal for the purpose of being the catalyst for all the betrayals by the ex fiancé, and it was great on helping the FMC move forward with her life with the new mindset that life is too short to stay traumatized by one man’s failures in a relationship with her. But the use of the cancer was definitely underwhelming for the reader. Which I totally appreciate! It was vital for this story without completely becoming the story even though it was in a lot of the story too. Again, another thing I can’t explain well.
The FMC/MMC get their HEA and at least one kid in a six(?) year epilogue. I can remember how long later it was and while I could go and check for this information it really is relevant so I won’t bother with it. The OM gets a lonely life because I don’t think the author wanted him to get over himself. Like his character accepted that he had messed up and that he had huge character flaws, but instead of moving on to someone else and doing better next time, he just fixated on the FMC being the one that got away and he just didn’t want to let her go. In this one area I was disappointed with the author. There was so much positivity in this book for nearly everything that I felt like this is one place it needed it. I felt that he damaged himself so much that he was basically a pariah from his family and home town. He could have still grown from his failures. He could have had a family as well. Also, I truly didn’t feel like a selfish person like him would have stayed single for long, let alone have lived a life of lonely self reflection or hung up on his own fuck ups. It was just out of his character is all I’m saying.
The OW was the last POV we got and she was just such a sad vile person that I could have done without it. She ends up not growing as a person and basically, fades to black, dies. I really wouldn’t have figured that out based on how this chapter reads if it wasn’t for the author putting a disclaimer on it being a suicide scene. It just left me with the question, what was the point of her POV’s? It served no purpose to the story other than trying to make her the “villain” of the story, when she really wasn’t. She was just the NPC the cheating/OM used to blow up his life with. If it wasn’t her or the cancer it would have been something or someone else eventually. The cheating ex fiancé/OM was the only villain here. He was the villain to everyone including to himself. Especially to himself. So the OW’s POV’s were completely unnecessary and honestly can be skipped unless you like morbidity.
As I mentioned at the very beginning I can’t wait to read more by this author. I will probably reread this book because I loved so much about it. I’ll try to add highlights the next time around. So if you like romance with cheating ex’s and cancer survivors then this is for you.
Enjoy! :-)
This book has four POV’s. It opens to the FMC going over her cancer treatment options. She is doing this with her then fiancé/OM right next to her in his POV. He is struggling and she is comforting him while his thoughts are ping ponging back and forth over her, her cancer, and his guilt over his betrayal with the OW, and a lot of thoughts on the sex he has had and is eager to get back to with the OW. It’s a lot going on in his head here. Once the FMC is done with her planning he blurts out his thoughts and it is revealed his affair and all his truly heinous feelings towards what the FMC will have to go through to hopefully save her life and how he can’t handle it. This was rough and I cried but I loved the pain of it all. The author was truly stellar here!
So the FMC kicks him out, breaks down, gets help from her long distanced sister and starts to prioritize things so she can stay focused and positive while she continues the worse fight for survival experience anyone could ever have. She also meets the MMC on this same night. It was one of a few points in the book that was so ridiculously contrived. I mean it’s absolutely possible to meet the love of your life on the worse day of your life but I would have preferred if it had been a few days later imo. Just saying.
The book then plays out as the MMC is struck on first sight over the FMC. We get his POV which I throughly enjoyed because he is absolutely book boyfriend goals! lol. Anyway, it continues on with the FMC meeting a bunch of sweet side characters and revealing her diagnosis and her betrayal to the MMC and company and this sets up a wonderful yet unrealistic immediate support system for the FMC’s upcoming struggles. We then get back to the cheating now ex-fiancé/OM and his utter stupidity when his family finds out what he did. When some people fuck up they definitely follow the premise of “Go big or go home!”, which is what he did with his mother next. The things he said had me laughing at how hilariously absurd it was. I loved his betrayal of his parents because it was so epically insulting.
Obviously, he goes to live with the OW. It was a choice that felt like not a choice but this author does an amazing job of exploring this numbnut’s non-choices and his choices and I loved all of his POV chapters. I wished there had been more even though he wasn’t the MMC. His story is was so good. We see him spiral because of the fear he felt at the cancer diagnosis for the woman he deeply loved. But it’s slowly revealed that even if the cancer hadn’t come up he was a flawed person who was already straying emotionally on the FMC with the OW. The cancer situation just made him act sooner than he probably would have. He was selfish and a weak willed person. He had a childhood quasi friendship with the MMC that revealed the same flaws he still had as an adult that would have always been an issue if the cancer had not blown him up for all to see the choices he makes.
Honestly, his character was so interesting to read because he was so shocked at himself for his poor decisions. Like he really couldn’t believe who he was being. He did have another semi betrayal scene with his college friends next when he tried to act like nothing had changed except the OW was now substituted for the FMC in their friend group. I LOVED how they all chewed him and the OW out for their actions. It was such a delightful comeuppance scene. That’s when his situationship with the OW really ended for me. He thought his friends would just ignore his bad behavior and stand by him, to support his struggles with the cancer diagnosis and they didn’t. That means he not only lost the FMC, his parents, but now his friends too. The next day his final remaining straw was the loss of his job alongside his reputation.
I could go on and on about this characters story arch but it really is worth reading for yourself.
As for the FMC/MMC, the story around them is sickeningly sweet. I enjoyed every second of it even though it came off as too fast in a short time frame all while the cancer treatment was happening slowly but rushed at the same time. It’s really hard to explain this, lol. So much was happening but it really was all happening in like two weeks to a couple of months. I have to say time continuity felt off in this book. They met, she started her treatments, they hang out/date, he gives her rides to her treatments and other cancer support, she starts losing her hair, she is having self image trauma but her new friend group and her ex’s family are all helping her in numerous ways so she gets over all her feelings easily and healthily. The MMC/FMC become an official couple. They have sex on a night of a fundraiser gala for cancer patients. It’s all very romantic and sweet, exactly what a romance should have.
The FMC then falls deathly ill and they all have a heartbreaking moment when the ex fiance is called in because he was still listed as her emergency contact with the hospital. It was such an OTT dramatic scene for the purpose of adding a little excitement to this story that it felt forced even though it was very well written. This all gets resolved easily but the angst and anger from the MMC having to deal with the cheater/OM still having a position of authority in the FMC’s life over him was so good to read.
Anyway, the rest of the FMC’s cancer journey is time skipped over but apparently has no further bumps in the road and she is cured with no lasting side effects. Yay! This is why I felt the cancer story was trivialized and used primarily as a plot device. It was absolutely pivotal for the purpose of being the catalyst for all the betrayals by the ex fiancé, and it was great on helping the FMC move forward with her life with the new mindset that life is too short to stay traumatized by one man’s failures in a relationship with her. But the use of the cancer was definitely underwhelming for the reader. Which I totally appreciate! It was vital for this story without completely becoming the story even though it was in a lot of the story too. Again, another thing I can’t explain well.
The FMC/MMC get their HEA and at least one kid in a six(?) year epilogue. I can remember how long later it was and while I could go and check for this information it really is relevant so I won’t bother with it. The OM gets a lonely life because I don’t think the author wanted him to get over himself. Like his character accepted that he had messed up and that he had huge character flaws, but instead of moving on to someone else and doing better next time, he just fixated on the FMC being the one that got away and he just didn’t want to let her go. In this one area I was disappointed with the author. There was so much positivity in this book for nearly everything that I felt like this is one place it needed it. I felt that he damaged himself so much that he was basically a pariah from his family and home town. He could have still grown from his failures. He could have had a family as well. Also, I truly didn’t feel like a selfish person like him would have stayed single for long, let alone have lived a life of lonely self reflection or hung up on his own fuck ups. It was just out of his character is all I’m saying.
The OW was the last POV we got and she was just such a sad vile person that I could have done without it. She ends up not growing as a person and basically, fades to black, dies. I really wouldn’t have figured that out based on how this chapter reads if it wasn’t for the author putting a disclaimer on it being a suicide scene. It just left me with the question, what was the point of her POV’s? It served no purpose to the story other than trying to make her the “villain” of the story, when she really wasn’t. She was just the NPC the cheating/OM used to blow up his life with. If it wasn’t her or the cancer it would have been something or someone else eventually. The cheating ex fiancé/OM was the only villain here. He was the villain to everyone including to himself. Especially to himself. So the OW’s POV’s were completely unnecessary and honestly can be skipped unless you like morbidity.
As I mentioned at the very beginning I can’t wait to read more by this author. I will probably reread this book because I loved so much about it. I’ll try to add highlights the next time around. So if you like romance with cheating ex’s and cancer survivors then this is for you.
Enjoy! :-)
January 14, 2026
This is about Sophie, who feels her world is crumbling when she gets cancer and then finds out her fiance cheated on her because he couldn’t take it.
She faces her future with bravery and finds a new support system and love of her life.
This story had a lot of elements I liked but it was so long! The first time I thought oh this is cute and will wrap up soon, I looked and saw I was only 50% in. 😂
For the positives, I liked Sophie’s bravery, Callum was an elite book boyfriend, and there’s a lot of cute romance moments.
For the negatives, as I mentioned it was super long. I don’t think we needed so many chapters of her ex-fiancee or some other details that felt repetitive.
I was happy to see them get their happy ending!
safety: mention of parent death in the past, heroine has breast cancer and they mention chemo, radiation, mastectomy, etc.
romance wise: her ex fiancee cheats on her in the beginning, but the new hero is unwavering and only has a little relationship experience
She faces her future with bravery and finds a new support system and love of her life.
This story had a lot of elements I liked but it was so long! The first time I thought oh this is cute and will wrap up soon, I looked and saw I was only 50% in. 😂
For the positives, I liked Sophie’s bravery, Callum was an elite book boyfriend, and there’s a lot of cute romance moments.
For the negatives, as I mentioned it was super long. I don’t think we needed so many chapters of her ex-fiancee or some other details that felt repetitive.
I was happy to see them get their happy ending!
safety: mention of parent death in the past, heroine has breast cancer and they mention chemo, radiation, mastectomy, etc.
romance wise: her ex fiancee cheats on her in the beginning, but the new hero is unwavering and only has a little relationship experience
January 12, 2026
the monologues were a bit too long, and too many unnecessary characters but great writing and a beautiful story
January 12, 2026
Originally read on Wattpad.
Cheating = h's boyfriend flat out tells the h he cannot be with her because he can't deal with her cancer diagnosis...and that he had been cheating with co-worker.
h sees H with OW = not the H but her ex-boyfriend, she sees them at a bar all cozy and giggly
OW drama = OW manipulates the boyfriend so easily as she wanted the town's golden boy and wrangled him away from the h. When the boyfriend doesn't work out, OW sets her sights on the H...which DOES NOT work out for her and she gets shut down hard by the H. Comeuppance? OW basically runs herself out of town.
When h was at her lowest, she meets the H who falls instantly head over heels for the h. H is a total golden retriever for her and her knight in shining armor. h has a grueling journey with her cancer treatment and the H is there for her every step of the way. h finds her family with new friends and it was awesome.
Story full of angst, betrayal and redemption. Absolutely fantastic read.
Cheating = h's boyfriend flat out tells the h he cannot be with her because he can't deal with her cancer diagnosis...and that he had been cheating with co-worker.
h sees H with OW = not the H but her ex-boyfriend, she sees them at a bar all cozy and giggly
OW drama = OW manipulates the boyfriend so easily as she wanted the town's golden boy and wrangled him away from the h. When the boyfriend doesn't work out, OW sets her sights on the H...which DOES NOT work out for her and she gets shut down hard by the H. Comeuppance? OW basically runs herself out of town.
When h was at her lowest, she meets the H who falls instantly head over heels for the h. H is a total golden retriever for her and her knight in shining armor. h has a grueling journey with her cancer treatment and the H is there for her every step of the way. h finds her family with new friends and it was awesome.
Story full of angst, betrayal and redemption. Absolutely fantastic read.
January 8, 2026
This is a tale of heartbreak and new beginnings.
Sofia finds out some life changing news and is hoping for strength to stay strong only for her fiancé Paul to break her heart further. Paul starts an affair with a coworker and decides he’s had enough and leaves Sofia to face a life and death situation on her own after years of love and support the she has given him. Sofia picks up the pieces of her life and faces everything good and bad with courage and determination to see it through. At her lowest she decides to find happiness and finds herself outside a bookstore. She goes in and comes face to face with the man that will change her life for the better. Callum has always been shy and keeps his circle of friends small, but the minute Sofia walks in his bookstore he knows she was meant to be his. Together they face hardships, new friendships are formed and a love so strong that death doesn’t stand a chance. A love story so beautifully written it will warm your heart.
Sofia finds out some life changing news and is hoping for strength to stay strong only for her fiancé Paul to break her heart further. Paul starts an affair with a coworker and decides he’s had enough and leaves Sofia to face a life and death situation on her own after years of love and support the she has given him. Sofia picks up the pieces of her life and faces everything good and bad with courage and determination to see it through. At her lowest she decides to find happiness and finds herself outside a bookstore. She goes in and comes face to face with the man that will change her life for the better. Callum has always been shy and keeps his circle of friends small, but the minute Sofia walks in his bookstore he knows she was meant to be his. Together they face hardships, new friendships are formed and a love so strong that death doesn’t stand a chance. A love story so beautifully written it will warm your heart.
December 29, 2025
This novel had been feeling so many emotions, tons of heartbreak, but then lots of love. I loved Sophie and seeing how strong a character she had to be through betrayal while dealing with her health. Callum was such a beautiful soul, the way that man stood by her (hot tamale!)
I very much enjoyed reading how Sophie found support that she had never had before and at such a difficult time in her life. Reading Paul’s POV helped me to understand why he did what he did even though I still didn’t agree with his actions.
I appreciate the effort and research the author put in to make sure she was accurate, the health issues the main character went through could be a sensitive topic for some. Knowing the author put forth the time to get it right made this story so much more believable. MJ Allen did a great job, I was on the edge at the end of every chapter.
I very much enjoyed reading how Sophie found support that she had never had before and at such a difficult time in her life. Reading Paul’s POV helped me to understand why he did what he did even though I still didn’t agree with his actions.
I appreciate the effort and research the author put in to make sure she was accurate, the health issues the main character went through could be a sensitive topic for some. Knowing the author put forth the time to get it right made this story so much more believable. MJ Allen did a great job, I was on the edge at the end of every chapter.
January 13, 2026
Let me just start by saying, this book was such a well needed break from the 10-12 shitty ass books I read before it. M.J. Allen is a fantastic new author!! I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.
The subject matter is heartbreaking but real. What happens to Sophie is quite common, even if no one wants to talk about it. I think I cried through most of this book. It is very emotional. Sophie and Callum were the type of main characters that you root for with all your heart. Callum was a prince among men. I want my very own Callum. I think everyone who reads this will feel the same way. Their HEA was so beautiful and well deserved. Even Paul, who for quite a while I wanted to murder, managed to pull a little compassion from me in the end.
Congrats on a fantastic first book published!
The subject matter is heartbreaking but real. What happens to Sophie is quite common, even if no one wants to talk about it. I think I cried through most of this book. It is very emotional. Sophie and Callum were the type of main characters that you root for with all your heart. Callum was a prince among men. I want my very own Callum. I think everyone who reads this will feel the same way. Their HEA was so beautiful and well deserved. Even Paul, who for quite a while I wanted to murder, managed to pull a little compassion from me in the end.
Congrats on a fantastic first book published!
January 15, 2026
Rollercoaster of emotions
I loved this book. I went through every emotion from devastation to happiness and everything in between. M J Allen paints a very real picture of the devastation of betrayal, coupled with a cancer diagnosis and impending treatment which had me sobbing. These moments were balanced by anger (OW and ex MMC chapters) and happiness (involving FMC, new MMC and her new found ‘book club’ friends (and a very grumpy cat!)
It is quite a long book but stick with it, it’s worth it. I know some readers didn’t like the OW chapters, however, I think her backstory is important to us understanding how she turned out to be so selfish plus sets the scene for the story of Claire and Grant which I know the author is outlining now.
Although I read this on Wattpad when it was a WIP, I had to buy a physical copy as I expect to re-read this more than once.
I loved this book. I went through every emotion from devastation to happiness and everything in between. M J Allen paints a very real picture of the devastation of betrayal, coupled with a cancer diagnosis and impending treatment which had me sobbing. These moments were balanced by anger (OW and ex MMC chapters) and happiness (involving FMC, new MMC and her new found ‘book club’ friends (and a very grumpy cat!)
It is quite a long book but stick with it, it’s worth it. I know some readers didn’t like the OW chapters, however, I think her backstory is important to us understanding how she turned out to be so selfish plus sets the scene for the story of Claire and Grant which I know the author is outlining now.
Although I read this on Wattpad when it was a WIP, I had to buy a physical copy as I expect to re-read this more than once.
Read
January 1, 202617% DNF
It was so immortal in the beginning that I felt like I was living the character but then too many characters got added into the mix after the second male lead's introduction and it was a classic case of the plot running helter skelter. It is funny that I posted about this book on my bookstagram earlier today and I have to unfortunately admit that it is going to be the first book that I dnf this year but it is okay because you shouldn't read that which is no longer enjoyable even if the book was very good initially.
It was so immortal in the beginning that I felt like I was living the character but then too many characters got added into the mix after the second male lead's introduction and it was a classic case of the plot running helter skelter. It is funny that I posted about this book on my bookstagram earlier today and I have to unfortunately admit that it is going to be the first book that I dnf this year but it is okay because you shouldn't read that which is no longer enjoyable even if the book was very good initially.
January 2, 2026
ughhh my heart
This book, this book, this book! It goes straight for the jugular at the beginning but puts you back together nice and perfect in the end.
I first read this story on wattpad and waited for the updates religiously. Im so happy I can re-read it on my kindle.
MJ Allen had true gift and im so happy she wrote Sophie and shared her beautiful story with us.
Callum is a dream and we all deserve our own Callum.
This book, this book, this book! It goes straight for the jugular at the beginning but puts you back together nice and perfect in the end.
I first read this story on wattpad and waited for the updates religiously. Im so happy I can re-read it on my kindle.
MJ Allen had true gift and im so happy she wrote Sophie and shared her beautiful story with us.
Callum is a dream and we all deserve our own Callum.
January 2, 2026
Absolute perfection!
I read this initially on WP but was so excited when it was published and I could read it as many times as I want now that I own it. Callum is the ultimate bbf and Sophie is an amazing heroine. There’s nothing to not adore in this book other than Paul & Elise but even then you still get drug into their stories and get invested. This is my third reread and this will forever be a comfort read for me.
I read this initially on WP but was so excited when it was published and I could read it as many times as I want now that I own it. Callum is the ultimate bbf and Sophie is an amazing heroine. There’s nothing to not adore in this book other than Paul & Elise but even then you still get drug into their stories and get invested. This is my third reread and this will forever be a comfort read for me.
January 3, 2026
excellent writing!
Spoilers for my memory
- fiancé cheats with coworker due to h getting “potential” cancer diagnosis. (Later diagnosed with breast cancer) He cheats the first time physically when it was the day of the biopsy. So she didn’t even get diagnosed yet. I think he would have cheated without the “potential” diagnosis though. He was already having an emotional affair.
Super cute read. I loved the new H. He really was a gentle giant
Spoilers for my memory
- fiancé cheats with coworker due to h getting “potential” cancer diagnosis. (Later diagnosed with breast cancer) He cheats the first time physically when it was the day of the biopsy. So she didn’t even get diagnosed yet. I think he would have cheated without the “potential” diagnosis though. He was already having an emotional affair.
Super cute read. I loved the new H. He really was a gentle giant
January 3, 2026
Beautiful
Honestly, though the blurb mentions cheating, this book is so much more and it was nothing more than what needed to happen. As a breast cancer survivor, I felt so seen and understood. It was beautifully handled, and the love story was icing on the cake.
I wish everyone who has, or had, cancer, or a medically complex diagnosis a Calcium in their life. Such an unbelievably beautiful story. Highly recommend.
Honestly, though the blurb mentions cheating, this book is so much more and it was nothing more than what needed to happen. As a breast cancer survivor, I felt so seen and understood. It was beautifully handled, and the love story was icing on the cake.
I wish everyone who has, or had, cancer, or a medically complex diagnosis a Calcium in their life. Such an unbelievably beautiful story. Highly recommend.
January 4, 2026
I think I read parts of this on WP. overall not bad, but too long.. i honestly got bored. the gut punch at the beginning had me, the angst the heartbreak, oof I felt it, then it dropped off the deep end. Of course you hate the cheating ex, such a douchebag. I liked the new mmc, but honestly I skipped and skimmed. I got bored. ending wrapped up nicely. easy to read but again.. felt a little purple prosey at times.
January 9, 2026
Otter Love ❤️
I love this couple sooo much. Paul learned the true meaning of fafo when it came to grown up love and I felt no remorse for him and the fall out. Sophie & Callum were an amazing couple and I loved watching them build their life together. Sophie's struggles were real and they felt real.... I felt every ounce of grief, lose and healing this book brought to the table. MJ is an author I will be following as I look forward to more of her work. ❤️❤️❤️
I love this couple sooo much. Paul learned the true meaning of fafo when it came to grown up love and I felt no remorse for him and the fall out. Sophie & Callum were an amazing couple and I loved watching them build their life together. Sophie's struggles were real and they felt real.... I felt every ounce of grief, lose and healing this book brought to the table. MJ is an author I will be following as I look forward to more of her work. ❤️❤️❤️
January 16, 2026
I read this on Wattpad. It’s a good story if you like cheating stories. There’s a range of everything from comeuppance to grovel in this. I remember liking this and thinking it was well written, and the FMC was portrayed as a strong and fierce survivor. I generally dislike stories with cancer, but thankfully the author uses it sparingly to progress the story and as a tool of growth instead of despair.
3.5 stars no rounding
3.5 stars no rounding
Review of advance copy
Her fiancée cheats on her when she undergoes treatment for breast cancer.
This is a story of a strong woman overcoming betrayal and finding a lasting love. Sophie deserves all the happiness she finds with Callum. The OW and her former fiancée gets what they deserve.
This was a page turner and heartwarming book. I hope the author will write Claire and Grant’s story next.
This is a story of a strong woman overcoming betrayal and finding a lasting love. Sophie deserves all the happiness she finds with Callum. The OW and her former fiancée gets what they deserve.
This was a page turner and heartwarming book. I hope the author will write Claire and Grant’s story next.
Review of advance copy
I really enjoyed this book, it’s a beautifully written story that will have you on an emotional rollercoaster:) Loved Sophie as a strong main character and Callum is the ultimate green flag, I read on Wattpad as it was being released
January 6, 2026
Love this Book!!
I read it on Wattapad and ran to purchase over here when it became available. The author keeps the reader hanging on by their seat and love the character developments. Must read!!
I read it on Wattapad and ran to purchase over here when it became available. The author keeps the reader hanging on by their seat and love the character developments. Must read!!
Review of advance copy
read on Watttpad
4.5/5
feel good comfort read 🫶🏻
4.5/5
feel good comfort read 🫶🏻
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