Echoes

by Riley Angulo

Seven years ago, Clara pushed away her childhood best friend--and first love--Jasper to protect him from her violent father, a man responsible for her mother's death. Now a middle school language arts teacher trying to rebuild a quiet life, Clara never expects her past to come crashing back, especially when she unexpectedly ends up roommates with Jasper, the one person she's never stopped thinking about.

Jasper, now a firefighter, has never stopped loving her and is determined to uncover the truth behind her sudden disappearance years ago. But Clara isn't the girl he once knew. She's guarded, scarred, and terrified that the darkness she escaped will destroy them both.

As old wounds reopen and buried secrets rise, Clara and Jasper must decide if love can truly heal what was never broken...only stolen.

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

Reviews

[Aida Rivero · Rating 5 out of 5]

ECHOES
BY: RILEY ANGULO
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Riley Angulo’s Echoes is a masterclass in atmospheric romance, blending the "best friend’s brother" trope with a high-stakes mystery that kept me hooked from the very first chapter. Set against the backdrop of a shared past and the forced proximity of being roommates, the chemistry between the main characters is a delicious slow-burn. Angulo perfectly captures that bittersweet feeling of seeing someone from your childhood through adult eyes, especially when there are dangerous secrets lurking just beneath the surface. 
What truly sets this book apart, is its emotional depth; it isn't just a romance, but a story about healing and rediscovery. The dual POV allows for a gut-wrenching look at their internal struggles as they navigate the "echoes" of their history while trying to survive the present. If you are looking for a read that combines the tension of a thriller with a swoon-worthy second-chance romance, this is an absolute must-add to your shelf. 

10/10 Would recommend this book to all family and friends.

[Alyssa Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this small-town romantic suspense novel! Our main FMC Clara has been through it. She has a deep emotional past and a childhood sweetheart who loved her through it all (the MC Jasper). The story is a mixture of present day events and the shared backstory of the two main characters. It has a sweet love story woven into the pages and an emotional arch centered in overcoming trauma and who your parents are. You’ll find tropes such as:

-childhood sweethearts
-forced proximity/roommates
-Firefighter MC
-Elementary Teacher FMC
-He comforts her after nightmares

This book does end on a slight cliffhanger I assume to set up events for the next book in the series! Overall super fun read with a satisfying ending!

[Makayla Pilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO good. I tore through it in 5 days which is pretty quick for me. I loved the pacing, the depth of the characters, just everything about this book. I really loved how Riley portrayed the trauma and PTSD that Clara deals with on a daily basis. I also experienced some DV and I can say that her portrayal is spot on, and it made it so much easier to relate to Clara. Also, Jasper is so sweet. He’s been yearning over Clara for 17 years, and he never gave up. So freaking sweet. Gonna need the next book soon though, that ending was WILD.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh ****


Ms Angulo sit down and don’t get up again till I have book 2 in my hands

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ended up staying up late so I could finish this book, I could not pull myself away!