Baby, Grow Old With Me

by Caitlin Klassen

I think growing old with her would be the greatest honour of my life.

Rosie has been working towards this moment for years— becoming a Recreation Manager. At twenty-six years old, she picks up her life and moves to the small town of Brinley Falls, ready to start the next chapter of her life.

James loves his grandma greatly, especially since she raised him after his parents died. She loves to meddle almost as much as she loves to talk about bingo and the new Recreation Manager.

When Rosie falls into James' arms–literally– both of them have no idea what the next year of their life will have in store for them.

James may run into fires for a living, without even blinking, but some things cannot be faced on their own. He finds himself leaning on Rosie and what starts as a grandma trying to play matchmaker ends in something much greater than either of them could have planned for.

Genres: Romance

273 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2026

About the author

Caitlin Klassen is a Contemporary Romance Writer from a small town in Southern Ontario, Canada.

Caitlin enjoys writing books that include representation of real life topics such as infertility, chronic illness, abuse, mental illness, neurodivergence and beyond.

When she isn’t writing, you can find her having kitchen dance parties with her family, reading books or baking cookies. But most of the time, you can find her drinking a cup of tea while mentally crafting her latest writing inspiration.

You'll enjoy her work if you're looking for novels that ground you and make you feel seen, while also pulling at your heart strings.


Find the author on Instagram/Threads & Tiktok: @authorcaitlinklassen

Reviews

[Eryn Salhany · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW: Thank you to Caitlin Klassen for the advance copy of this book.

Once again, Caitlin’s storytelling kept me up way past my bedtime. The mix of raw emotion between Rosie and James, along with the meddling grandmother, made for such an enjoyable story.

Rosie has just taken on her dream role as the Recreation Manager at a small-town seniors’ home. There, she quickly befriends a spunky resident, Rita, who immediately starts plotting to have Rosie meet her firefighter grandson, James. Ever the loving grandson, James faithfully visits his grandmother each week, so arranging a chance meeting doesn’t take long.

Once Rosie and James meet, the chemistry is instant, and what follows is a romance so swoony you won’t be able to help but fall for them as quickly as they fall for each other. That said, this story isn’t without depth, as James navigates life after loss and learns to feel safe letting Rosie all the way in. Knowing this, Rosie is patient with James, never trying to fix him.

If you love a slow-burn firefighter romance with underlying themes of grief and loss, you will certainly enjoy this book as much as I did. Caitlin knows how to pull her readers in and make them feel like part of her stories.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 rounded up to 5/5

Probably Klassen’s most emotional book yet. BGOWM had me “in my feels”.

I really enjoyed the fact that we have different loves in this story: the love Rosie has for her seniors; the love James has for his grandmother, his best friends and fellow firefighters, and the romantic love between Rosie and James.

Rosie and James were an adorable couple. Right from their meet-cute - she literally fell on him; to the slow burn and the building of their friendship; to letting themselves live out their growing feelings and transitioning into a couple; to the hard times, where their patience and commitment to each other are tested. They were sweet and protective and caring. Just what they each needed and of course, his grandmother knew it from the get go.

As always, Klassen writes a beautiful and heartwarming found family trope. The grief rep is intense and I recommend you have tissues on hand but it's done with beauty and care - a life coming full circle.

This is one of those that will probably rip your heart out but then put it back together again and hug you in the process.

Also, James is the fire chief and Rosie's surname is Ember - they couldn't be more "meant to be".

[Spice: 2.5/5]

[Seershhhhh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This was such a beautiful read. I definitely found myself crying so many times throughout this story.

Rosie was a really lovely FMC, she genuinely was a kind, caring person and it warmed my heart that she was so amazing with the elderly community. It is the bare minimum of course to treat people well, but she always went above and beyond for them and she genuinely loved her job. She was perfect for that job.

James was a great MMC, he was amazing, more than he would ever give himself credit for. He is a green flag. Respectful, supportive, kind, loving, and knows how to properly communicate.

I really liked all of the other side characters, just the group of friends that you want. Friends who truly love and support you, but also friends who will hold you accountable. It is a very mature friend group.

“Ain’t no shame holding onto grief, as long as you make room for other things” from Bubbles in The Wire is a quote that came to my mind when thinking about James and Rosie working through grief together, carrying it with them, James who has experienced the loss of his parents and then his grandmother, and Rosie, who has also experienced grief a lot in her career working with the elderly.

Obviously Rita is James’ grandmother, Rosie and Rita had a very special relationship, but they both were faced with grief due to their passing. It made them stronger together, knowing that they had one another.
James also has experienced the loss of his parents, it’s something that has shaped him to not necessarily seek more in different aspects of life.

His grandmother has been the best grandmother to James, always showing her love and support, she had started the journey to healing James, in the sense of opening himself up to the idea of being in love, and that being something he wanted from his life. I do think that James and Rosie would have got together, but I think James really looked up to Rita and that gave him that push. Then it’s James and Rosie navigating through their grief, and I loved how they supported each other. It felt like they were truly meant to be together, the way they showed up for one another, and the unspoken understandings. They both provided a safe space and provided space to process their emotions. I really liked how they communicated, they were always respectful, mature and genuinely supportive of each other. There was no toxic behaviours, and I truly enjoyed to see a healthy relationship, especially during big traumatic moments in life, you really see who the people around you are, even a significant other. Navigating Rita’s loss together, helps them to make room for other things in life. That’s just how I saw it, and I truly thought this was beautiful.

I would have liked for the pacing of their relationship themselves to have been a little more on page, I wanted more moments between them, I just wasn’t ready for it to be over. The epilogue and the bonus epilogue… OH MY GOD. I cried and just sat there sad but it was a great read, and I loved to see they truly made it through it all together, side by side.

I loved the dual POV, and that there was no third act breakup! It was slow burn, but they truly built their foundation together, able to stick together through difficult times.

Thank you so much Caitlin Klassen for providing me with an advanced readers copy.

[Juani Louw · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW: Baby grow old with me by @authorcaitlinklassen

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This firefighter romance had me reading wayyy too late into the night!!!

Rosie arrives in town like a breath of fresh air. She’s new, a little unsure of her footing, and working at a retirement home where her kindness immediately makes her unforgettable. The way the residents adore her isn’t just a cute detail, It’s a reflection of who she is at her core. Rosie has a heart of absolute gold, the kind that listens, shows up, and loves without expecting anything in return. You can’t help but fall for her right alongside everyone else.

James, the fire chief, is carrying deep grief from a devastating loss, and that weight is written into every quiet moment he has on the page. He’s steady, guarded, and a little emotionally closed off.

Their love story is tender and soft, built on patience and understanding. Rosie never tries to “fix” James. She simply offers warmth, consistency, and space for him to grieve and heal at his own pace. Watching James let her in little by little is both heartbreaking and beautiful. It’s romantic, yes, but also quietly sad in the best way, the kind of sadness that comes with hope and healing

This is a story about love after loss, about finding light in a new town, and about two people meeting each other exactly where they are. Sweet, emotional, and deeply human.

If you love slow-burn firefighter romances with heart, depth, and just the right ache, this one is absolutely worth the read. 💛🔥

Tropes

* 🔥 Firefighter / Fire Chief MMC
* 🏡 Small-town romance
* 💔 Love after loss
* 🐢 Slow burn
* 🤍 Soft healing romance
* 🌱 New girl in town
* 🫶 Gentle, emotionally guarded hero

[SwoonAndScroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Because I think growing old with her would be the greatest honour of my life."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I don't know how she does it, but every single Caitlin Klassen book I read tops the previous one.
I say it every time, but I know the second I open up a CK book, I'm going to have an absolute blast.
She wraps up everything I love about Hallmark movies and wraps it in a nice little bow with the perfect man who makes me swoon, kick my feet, and giggle like crazy.

I truly loved James and Rosie's story. I could not put it down - it's been a little bit since I've felt like this about a book.

The natural development of James and Rosie's relationship was absolutely everything. From meddling Grandma Rita, to their newfound friendship, to their blossoming great love.

"That girl is incredible. I love seeing you happy." I love being happy.

The raw emotions that both James and Rosie feel throughout the course of the book are so real, and I honestly felt them all alongside them.
James' overprotectiveness of Rosie is swoon-worthy, and he's just my baby boy who can't lose someone else. I love him.

"My dad once told me that to fight fires, you need a reason to come home. A reason to be brave. a reason to stay strong. Someone who is the first and last thought. You are that to me."

Caitlin, thank you again for the opportunity to read this eARC.
You put a piece of yourself in every book you write, and this one might have the biggest piece.
It's legitimately an honour that you chose little ol' me to help you share this story.
Thank you for sharing parts of yourself with the world.

[Shelby Lessard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book broke me, then put me back together again. The story is such an emotional ride, but I loved it so much! I cried more times than I can count while reading Baby, Grow Old With Me. Caitlin Klassen’s writing has a way of pulling you in and keeping you hooked until the very end. You can tell that she poured her heart into this story.

Baby, Grow Old With Me takes place in a small town called Brinley Falls, set in Ontario. The story follows Rosie, a recreation manager working with seniors, and James, the town's chief firefighter. James’ grandma, Rita, is a resident at the care facility where Rosie works. Becoming very fond of Rosie, Rita is determined to get Rosie and James together. Throughout the story, we see their feelings for each other grow. You feel James and Rosie’s chemistry from the beginning, and I found myself desperately waiting for the moment they became something more. When they did, I was rooting for them through and through. They are a perfectly matched couple, and their love story is super sweet.

I really enjoyed Rita as a character, and she reminded me a lot of my grandma. She provides a lot of comic relief throughout the book, and I found her to be really endearing. I also love her relationship with James. Rita raised James after the loss of his parents, causing them to be very close. Because of this, I found their connection very touching.

I was very impacted by this book. It’s the perfect combination of heartbreak and healing. If you want a heartfelt read with tenderness, passion, and some humour, I think you will really enjoy this book!

[readerchaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! I loved Baby, Grow Old With Me!! It was such a cute little story. It was very, very cheesy at times, but I still enjoyed it and it was so heartwarming. I know what it's like to feel such a deep connection to your grandparents and lose one of them. I connected to alot of what Rosie and James were feeling and went through. It was so cute to see James' grandmother care and just dote on him. They also had a beautiful relationship. I loved how passionate and caring Rosie is, you can just tell she truly loves what she does. I enjoyed the flow and pace of the story, I thought it was easy to follow. I also enjoyed the Dual POV, it was nice to get into the heads of each character. It was clear that they were both head over heels for each other from the start. I thought the whole sentiment of growing old together was just beautiful. I thought the spice was good, 4/5. This is my first read from Caitlin Klassen but not my last, I look forward to reading more of her in the future. I read this ARC in one day!

Hit: I absoutely LOVED the bonus epilouge. It brought tears to my eyes, it was so incredibly sweet. I don’t really look up song suggestions when authors put it in their books, I think it's because sometimes I like picking out my own but, the epilouge was so good I just had to look it up AND OMG I CRIED AGAIN. Just wait until you read Baby, Grow Old With Me!
Miss: The slow burn was definitely slow, but still very worh it.

Fave Quote: “I'm so happy that this is my life, that you are my whole heart. I'm just so lucky to have you."

[Leah Pretty Pistolz · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨My Rating:
5⭐️ 1🌶️

✨Tropes:
💞 Soulmates
🔥 Slow burn
💔 Emotional rollercoaster
🏡 Found family
💌 Second chance at love
🌿 Healing & growth
✨ Small town vibes
❤️ Deep emotional connection

✨My ARC Review✨

I honestly didn’t stand a chance with Baby, Grow old with me! From the very first page, I was completely hooked. This is one of those stories that pulls you in instantly and refuses to let go, and I found myself thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading.

Caitlin Klassen has such a beautiful way of writing, her stories always feel deeply emotional, genuine, and full of heart. Every book she writes leaves an imprint, and this one is no exception. But what truly made this story unforgettable for me were the characters. They felt so real and layered, like people you could actually know. Their emotions, their struggles, their growth - it was all written in such an authentic way that I couldn’t help but become completely invested in them. I laughed with them, hurt for them, and rooted for them every step of the way.

The connection between the characters was absolutely everything. It felt natural, powerful, and deeply emotional, and watching their relationship unfold was such a beautiful experience. The chemistry, the tension, the quiet moments - it all just worked so perfectly.

I couldn’t put this book down, and honestly, I didn’t want to. It’s heartfelt, captivating, and full of characters that will stay with you long after you finish. This is exactly why Caitlin Klassen’s stories will always have such a special place in my heart.

[Jacey Denis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caitlin Klassen’s Baby Grow Old with Me is a heartfelt, quietly moving novel that explores love and the complexities of commitment with sincerity and warmth. Centered on characters navigating relationships shaped by both hope and uncertainty, the story leans into emotional authenticity rather than dramatic twists—and for the most part, that works in its favor.

Klassen’s writing style is gentle and approachable, making the book easy to settle into. She has a particular strength in capturing internal conflict, especially when it comes to questions of timing, trust, and long-term devotion. The emotional stakes feel real, even when the plot itself unfolds in a fairly predictable way. Readers who appreciate character-driven stories will likely find themselves invested in the protagonists’ journey.

One of the highlights for me was the meddling grandmother, whose presence added humor and charm while also gently nudging the story forward. I also really enjoyed the firefighter romance element—it brought an extra layer of warmth and appeal to the relationship at the center of the book.

Additionally, while the themes of love are thoughtfully handled, they occasionally come across as overly idealized, smoothing over some of the messiness that might have added depth.

Still, Baby Grow Old with Me succeeds as a comforting, reflective read. It doesn’t try to reinvent the genre, but it offers a sincere and uplifting take on what it means to build a life with someone. Fans of clean romance and emotionally grounded storytelling will find plenty to appreciate here.

[Ashley Arsenault · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

“𝙄'𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄'𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚.”

Rosie moves to small town Brinley Falls, to become the new recreation manager at a long term care home.
James is the fire captain in Brinley Falls. He comes from a family of firefighters, and after losing his parents he grew up under his grandmothers care.

Rita is James’ grandmother, she’s a bingo enthusiast and all time meddler as she insists on james meeting the new recreation manager.

"𝘿𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙤,”

I read all types of books, including dark romance, and sometimes instead of the dark morally grey, you want a green flag MMC.
Caitlin is the queen of green flag MMC’s. She writes them so beautifully and sweet.

I loved all the characters in this book. I laughed so much at Rosie’s internal monologue/comments.
Can never go wrong with a meddling grandmother.

This book was also very emotional. I cried as much as I laughed. I connected with it on a different level as I have worked in long term care for almost 16 years myself.
It was beautifully written and tugged on the heart strings.
Found family and supportive characters helped build a beautiful story line.
It wrapped up so nicely 🥹

"𝙈𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚, 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜. 𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩.”

[Meesh Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I even start a review for a book that genuinely had me sobbing from the beginning?

In true Caitlin fashion, I knew this was going to tug at the heartstrings, but this one was one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful stories she’s ever written.

Rosie is this absolute shining light, yet firecracker of a human, whose job is helping those who are at the end of their life in a retirement home.

James is the grandson of Rosie’s favorite(sh, don’t tell the others) resident, and the a multi generational firefighter in the small town of Brinley Falls.

Watching their flirtations and jokes turn into deep love and forever was so beautiful, and as a girl who’s grown up with military and firefighters, I know what it’s like to watch them leave and fear they may never return. So those scenes Rosie is breaking felt so close to home.

Absolutely beautiful. 5⭐️

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“I don’t know how long we stand there, kissing with The Kinks as our soundtrack. All I know is that in the
middle of my living room, Rosie just took another piece of my heart.” - James

“My dad once told me that to fight fires, you need a reason to come home. A reason to be brave, a reason to stay strong. Someone who is the first and last thought. You are that to me.” - James

“Captain Safety strikes again, and like always, he strikes right in the heart”

[Chrystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might read too much smut but I couldn’t help the blush that rushed to my cheeks when James thinks “Good girl. Nice to see she’s learning already”😬

That has to have been the sweetest ‘f*ck it’ moment I’ve ever read. Usually expect ravaging and passion after someone says ‘f*ck it’ but James is a cutie patootie and it was the most wholesome transition ever.

I loved James’s relationship with Rita, it reminded me a lot of my own with my grandmother. And then the worst happened. I felt that to my core. Two years later and I still find myself drowning in the grief some days. I didn’t think this book would bring me back there, but I’m not mad that it did. I’d rather think of her and cry than not think of her.

I’m grateful there was no third-act breakup, those always spike my blood pressure. Although what DID happen was almost just as bad but thankfully the transition was quick and I could breathe easy quicker than Rosie could 😬

Thanks to the epilogue, that was the saddest HEA everrrrr but it truly was beautiful. When I have to go, that’s how I want it.

This was such a sweet, sweet story. Even the spice was sweet. Everything about it felt like a beautiful movie that would make me cry more than A Walk To Remember did, and that movie made me sob — like snot bubble, choked up sobbing. Such a good read!

[Jennifer Wiertel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby, Grow Old With Me by Caitlin Klassen

Canadian author Caitlin Klassen has a way to involve your emotions along this read. This story follows Rose Elmer, affectionately known as Rosie, who moves to Brinley Falls to pursue a promotion to Recreation Manager at Valleyfields Retirement Home. One of her senior residents, Rita has been meddling trying to introduce Rose to her grandson, James.

James O’Reilly is the local Fire Chief, who was raised by Rita after his parents died. James visits Riya every Wednesday evening and absolutely adores her. When he attends Rosie first planned event at the residence, he notices Rosie and actually catches her when she falls off of a ladder.

When the fire department attends the retirement residence for an interactive training, James and Rosie notice each other. This story follows the tension of two people who are getting to know each other, and will leave you rooting for them to fall in love! It will have you emotionally invested, feeling loss, fear, connection and love. Love of friends and family, the dangers of firefighting and heart wrenching loss. Be prepared to feel it all, and cry with the characters of this amazing story.

This is the first of Caitlin Klassen’s stories that I have read, but I can guarantee it won’t be the last! You won’t want to miss out on this story coming April 24.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Yashna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to begin with this one. I waited a whole day hoping the words would come, but all I’m left with is a full heart and a story I’m not ready to let go of. Caitlin, what have you done to me? How do I move on from James and Rosie?

From the very first page, I was completely hooked. Give me a meddling grandma and I’m already invested. Rita was everything. Sassy, loving, and just the right amount of chaos. The way she nudged fate along while building her own beautiful bond with Rosie made my heart so soft.

Rosie is sunshine wrapped in resilience. She gives so much of herself, whether it’s to the senior residents or to James. And James… I was still recovering from Walker Barlow and then he walks in. This man is the greenest forest. Strong, protective, but quietly carrying his own battles. With Rosie, you see him open up, heal, and become something even stronger.

Together, they are everything. Love, trust, communication. The kind of relationship that makes you smile without realizing it. I was kicking my feet, fully gone over how much they adored each other.

And that ending… I was not ready. Not even a little bit. It broke me and healed me all at once.

If you’ve ever loved stories like The Notebook or Me Before You, this will stay with you long after the last page.

[Ash [Ginggercakes] · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

I received this book as an ARC from the author, all thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

TW: death of a parent/ grandparent, medical setting, grief, fire/ fire injury, alcohol, anxiety, panic attack/ disorder, sexual content.

”To fight fires, you need a reason to come home. A reason to be brave, a reason to stay strong. Someone who is the first and last thought. You are that to me.”

This was one of the best romances I have ever read. It was well written, the pacing was consistent, and the characters really carried the story forward. The characters had great chemistry, not only with each other but with the side characters as well — whose stories I would also be very interested in reading — and their depth of emotion was beautifully written and felt very honest without becoming boring or strained. I thought the story was not only easy to consume, but was emotional and heartwarming all the way through to the end. My only wish was that there were more interactions around and about the town and that the story wasn’t so condensed in setting, just to give the small town vibes a stronger presence. I had a wonderful time reading this book, and I cannot wait to read more by this author in the future.

[Kaleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You are the reason.”

Synopsis✨
Rosie has been working towards this moment for years—becoming a recreation manager. At twenty-six years old, she picks up her life and moves to the small town of Brinley Falls, ready to start the next chapter of her life.
James loves his grandma greatly, especially since she raised him after his parents died. She loves to meddle almost as much as she loves to talk about bingo and the new recreation manager. 

When Rosie falls into James' arms (literally)both of them have no idea what the next year of their lives will have in store for them.


Thoughts✨
I made it to the epilogue then sobbed! As usual Caitlin creates a beautiful love story with interesting and loveable characters. I was invested in Rosie and James’s story. It was a very slow burn..so at times it felt a bit frustrating as the reader but overall you could definitely feel their chemistry!

It’s emotional, vulnerable and heartbreaking in the best way.

James’s grandma, Rita totally stole the show for me! I loved her matchmaking and meddling and she brought a lot of humour and warmth to the story.

What to expect:
❤️Firefighter MMC
❤️Overcoming Grief
❤️Small Town Love
❤️Found Family
❤️Ice Cream for Dinner

I know Caitlin said it was a standalone.. but I need Taylor’s story!

[Cindy J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Caitlin Klassen for this ARC! I knew from the dedication that this book would make me cry. I was hooked from start to bonus epilogue. This book was also a window into the community of a long-term care home. It’s a unique insight into the found family that’s fostered here and the way people care for each other that the author has weaved into the story well.

Rosie and James both work in (different) emotional, stressful professions. It was an emotional experience to see these characters navigating their own challenges and grief together. Their first meeting though? SWOOOONNNN!!!!! 🥰 Their interactions had me kicking and giggling!!!

This story speaks to taking leaps of faith, being vulnerable and cherishing every moment and don’t be afraid to make memories.

What I love about this story:
🇨🇦 Takes place in northern Ontario, Canada!
🚒 He is the Chief Fireman in town
🏠 She works at his grandmother’s long-term care home
🧩💭 mental health, dementia, PTSD
😍 cute first meeting
💘 they both fall hard
👵🏼🧓🏼 meddling side characters
❤️‍🩹 grief and loss
🫂 found family
spice level: 🌶️🌶️

[Sarah | sarahssharedshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐ bumped to 4⭐

This book was super adorable and emotional. I did find most of it to be super cheesy, and I found myself saying "what are the chances of this happening". It was a super easy read, and was a really nice palate cleanser.

Things I liked:
-Rita and her meddling
-Caitlin's writing style: it's very straight forward and easy to follow
-Representation of the elderly and those that work with them (your work is so important!)
-The acknowledgements: you could really see the parallels between aspects from Caitlin's life and this book. It brings a lot more meaning to the story.
-Dual POV
-The friendship between Shane, Taylor, and James
-Firefighters 🔥
-We got to see what happened throughout their lives which was nice

Things I disliked:
-Insta-love
-Some aspects seemed unrealistic
-Lots of trauma dumping towards the end (centered around death - which I don't mind. It was just a lot at times)
-Felt like there was no real plot at times

Tropes:
-Insta-love
-Dual POV
-Firefighters
-Sad happily ever after

[Kyla T · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ | 2 🌶️


Rosie moves to a small town to chase her dream job as a recreation manager, ready for a fresh start. When she quite literally falls into James - a firefighter with a big heart and an even bigger soft spot for his matchmaking grandma - their lives quickly intertwine. What begins as a push from grandma turns into a deeper connection as both Rosie and James learn to lean on each other through life’s challenges.

I’m going to start by saying how much I enjoyed Rosie and James’ story, and how they connected and grew together (right to the end). Their story had me giddy from the start, laughing throughout, and ugly crying at the end - I was truly feeling every emotion with the characters. ⏳ it left me wanting more of them! Additionally, the side characters were EVERYTHING - the friendships that each had, the folks at Rosie’s work (James’ grandma 🫶🏼😭) truly took the book to the next level … Caitlin I know you said it’s a standalone but I need more of Mona & Shane or a prequel of Rita 🤭

Thank you for the opportunity to read this as an ARC, Caitlin!!

“𝘞𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘐’𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵, 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”

[Brittany T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book that I read of hers, I fall in love with. Someone how she always seems to find the perfect characters for each of her books. Her writing is impecable and so are the way that she intertwines the characters emotions and insecurities into every page of her book. This book was no different Rosie is the most kind and caring person, the kind of person that you could only hope to have your loved ones looked after by. Her heart just shines bright and all the elderly love her, she truly takes the time with them, they get treated more like a family than just her job. Now James, his grief is written into every line of his in this book, you can feel it, you can feel the way he guards himself, but though he is guarded he is so caring and compassionate and truly cares about people. This book made me cry so much, and I stayed up way to late reading, but the store just grabs you and wont let go. Her books are absolutely amazing and this one is another one to add to the list. Definately check it out!

[Samantha Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨NEW FAVORITE✨

“I love this,” he whispers with a smile. “You love what?” I stammer. His finger brushes my cheek, and it feels like fireworks explode around me. “Knowing how easily I make you blush.” 

SO BEAUTIFUL. James & Rosie’s love is so tender. It’s deep and they both fall fast. I love how they became best friends. I loved everything. My heart broke over & over and Caitlin made it all better.

“Your last name is Ember and you’re sitting next to a firefighter. Isn’t that kind of cute?” - SO CUTE 🥰

I loved the town. I loved all the side characters. Love the guys being gossipy.

“Yeah, can’t miss out on all the gossip, I hear Shane has a movie theater date tomorrow.” “Mhm, and I heard you kissed Miss Rosie on the cheek tonight, you little minx!” Shane teases, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Who said that?” “My hot date tomorrow.” Rosie told the girls about the kiss. “Ah, look at him blushing!” Taylor pinches my cheeks.

It made me cry so so much. I didn’t want it to end.

“Baby, grow old with me. You promised.”

AND Here’s me BEGGING for a Taylor book. 😉

[Courtney ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first romance with a firefighter and I think it’s my new favourite 👀

Tropes :
✨Firefighter x new girl in town
✨Small town romance
✨Slow burn
✨Grief
✨Dual POV

Rosie Ember is new in town and the new recreation manager working at the retirement home in Brinley Falls. You can tell from first meeting Rosie that she has a absolute heart of gold. She listens, shows up and loves with her whole heart. Her caring nature is very evident in the way the residents care so much for her.
James, is the Fire Chief of the Brinley Falls Fire department. On one side he is kind, caring and loves his job. On the other side he is battling with grief after the loss of his parents and because of it he is very closed off emotionally.
From the first time these two meet you can automatically see the spark between them. The chemistry between these two is on fire. They support eachother whiteout being suffocating, and offer comfort and warmth to eachother.
This book was more than just a romance. It was full of raw emotions, highlighting love after loss and learning how to let someone in.

[Extraspicybooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby, Grow Old With Me by Caitlin Klassen

What a beautiful, emotional book this was to read! Prepare for the tears, this what is gut wrenching!
I fell in love with Rosie instantly. She’s a ray of sunshine and works in a rewarding but heartbreaking industry. Working with seniors is Rosie’s calling she’s just simply amazing at it. The residents love her and she truly loves them. But falling in love with her favourite patients grandson was definitely not on her bingo card. Oh and Rita what an absolute darling side character.
James the hot firefighter with a huge caring heart. Rita his grandmother is his constant. The love these two show each other is indescribable and also quite hilarious.
James and Rosie go through it in this book. Oh my goodness the heart break, the emotions 🥺 their love doesn’t waver though.
The friend group in this one was purely true friendship. They kind that will be there no matter what but also call you out for your actions.
The epilogues will ruin you! BUT oh my heart this book is just everything!

[Melissa Steadman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have spent the past few hours, reading this book straight through. This is a ROMANCE!! There is so much yearning and flirting and taking it slow, but once they jump in it is just fireworks.

As a girl from a firefighter family, who has also dated a firefighter, the description of their unique work lives and the fear that constantly exists was on point. Both of these characters have such difficult and rewarding careers, and I love that they have each other to lean on when they need it.

My favorite character was Rita, of course. Who doesn’t love a sassy and meddlesome granny? I had/have two of them and they were/are my favorite people ever. This book deals with death and grief in some really hard ways, but I think it also showed some really healthy ways of working through the hard times too. I was crying for like half the book, sometimes happy tears and sometimes sad, but isn’t that life.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆｡°✩ 4/5 Stars ✩°｡⋆
**ARC REVIEW**

🔮

Wow...this one genuinely took my breath away. I had a lovely time throughout this little tale.

This was special to read, not only cause I always love a fierce, sexy firefighter MMC, but also because my best friend is a recreational therapist herself, so in a way, I feel like I got a bit of insight of how tough but rewarding of a career that is. Rosie was an excellent FMC. She was very caring and looked after everyone around her, and James was so incredible.
Their relationship felt organic and natural, despite our sweet, meddling Rita. I felt so much for both of our mains throughout, and their struggles truly seemed to morph them into better people.

The ending utterly broke me. It was so beautiful, but FUUUUCK. I had to wake up my husband and give him all of the hugs and kisses and thank him for vowing to grow old with ME.❤️ I will definitely be reading more of Caitlin Klassen's work. Thank you so much for letting me be part of your ARC team.💕⏳️🧭⏱️

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

"Chase your dream, be the sunshine to those who need it most."

That is the overall theme of this amazing book. That and unconditional selfless love. I finished Rose and James's story in just a few hours because of good it was. Not only is Rose a kind and caring person but her connection with James was so evident from the second they met. I loved their back and forth and nicknames for each other. Also all the fire related symbolism and themes throughout the book? GENIUS. The way the two main characters love and can be vulnerable with each other was so endearing. James was obsessed with his girl. I found myself laughing a lot as well with the quips between them and James' firefighter friends haha. I am planning to read this again because of how wholesome it was. You get not only romance, humor, heart, but also sexy firefighters? (I'm looking at you James :P) What else could you ask for? <3 <3 <3

[Lani ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you, Caitlin Klassen, for the Arc read.

I had mixed thoughts about this book when I first finished it.
After sitting with my thoughts, I've concluded that my Scoville is clearly Carolina Reaper level. lol

Not everything is about the spice, and after reading this book, I'm reminded that there is romance without spice. I'm used to the fast-paced romance in this book, and at first, it frustrated me how slow things were moving. But after the story grew, I grew to enjoy the slow pace.

Rosie and Captain Safety's story is a sweet romance built to last.
Both are brought together from a past in which they both experienced a great loss and built walls to protect themselves. From the first time they met, a spark was lit, and the slow burn commenced.

This book was an evolution of both characters forced to confront their feelings for one another and learn to be vulnerable with one another to grow old together.

The two epilogues are a bonus to complete the HEA ♡

[Victoria S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Caitlin for an advanced copy of this book.

I loved this cosy little small town romance. It has everything you want, kind and caring main characters, fun and interfering grandmother, and an amazing friend group.

Rosie arrives in Brinley Falls for a new role at a senior retirement home. She loves the elderly, their banter, their stories and how they like to meddle. She is new in town and makes friends with a co worker and one of the seniors.

James is the fire chief and the grandson of the senior Rosie has befriended. They meet at an event at the home and hit it off.

This story is warm and cosy and a very very slow burn. It focusses more on the building of a relationship, a friends to lovers. There were a few occasions where I thought it could have sped up a little, and definitely a few occasions where some may find the need to grab the tissues, it’s a tear jerker!

It was such a lovely read and very cosy for something light between those darker romance books.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is comfort food for me. Caitlin is definitely the queen of HEA and cozy stories.
I’ve read two of her other series and if you’re looking for a feel-good book, main characters to fall in love with and secondary characters that I‘d also love to be friends with , this is your book and your writer.
Rosie loves to work with seniors, it’s her call, and when a great job opportunity appears in Brinley Falls, she took it. There she found friendship, camaraderie and, the love of her life. James has lost lot a people in his life, the most important. Nos he’s cherishing his grandma, Rita, who’s determined to meddle with his lovelife.
This story is about healing, grief, trust and love. I absolutely love it
Tropes you can find in this book:
- love at first sight
- ⁠firefighter & retirement home worker
- ⁠grief & healing
- ⁠found family
- ⁠dual 1st person POV
- ⁠no 3rd act break-up
This book has two open door scenes, full of love and not very explicit.

My ratings:
4,5/5⭐️
1/5🌶️

I’d like to thank the author, Caitlin Klassen for this arc and allowed me to give my sincere opinion.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW: Thank you Caitlin Klassen for the advance copy of your newest book!
4.25⭐️

This book had it all, I giggled, teared up and felt solemn while reading. Rosie and James' story was the epitome of a small town romance, what a way to meet the love of your life in an unlikely place.

Their story was such a sweet and fluffy read. I'm so glad there wasn't any unnecessary drama or overbearing meddling. The pacing was great and easy to follow. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every side character, they added so much life outside of the FMC/MMC.

I know this story was about Rosie and James but I'd love a story about Taylor stat LOL
he was the perfect friend to both Rosie and James. BGOWM was a first, for chapters/epilogues taking me so far into the characters lives and I really enjoyed that detail. You can tell their book was written with intention.

Overall thoughts💭
A book I'll most likely go back to when I need a pick me up or a good cry!