Before the Exhale

by Alyssa Wilde

Ivy Combs wants to disappear…

Halfway through her freshman year of college, all Ivy wants is to fly under the radar. Stay quiet, stay invisible. Putting up walls is the only way she knows how to cope with the trauma she’s been carrying since that horrible night in high school. But no matter how hard she tries to compartmentalize the past, it seeps into everything—her classes, her friendships, her sense of self. Withdrawn and anxious, she’s barely holding it together as second semester starts with the worst class imaginable: Public Speaking.

Then she meets Wes.

Smart, athletic, and effortlessly charming, senior Wes Tucker is the kind of guy everyone notices—and the kind of guy she’ll do anything to avoid. When a class project throws them together, Ivy braces for the worst. Wes isn’t what she expected, though. He’s kind, he’s patient, and Ivy finds herself wanting to believe in someone for the first time in a while.

Too bad learning to trust again seems impossible. She knows she can’t move forward without confronting her past; yet, tragically, healing isn’t linear. It’s raw, messy, and rarely ever simple…but maybe it’s not something she has to do alone.

Genres: Romance, College, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, He Falls First, Contemporary Romance, College Romance

482 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2026

About the author

Alyssa Wilde has an obsession with forbidden romance and doesn’t care who knows. Designer by day and writer by night, she currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with her amazingly supportive husband and their cat, Kevin. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys watching reality TV, consuming an insane amount of sushi, and occasionally stepping out into the light of day. Her new book, Before the Exhale, is coming March 10th!

Reviews

[Rain · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5* Exhale is exactly what I did when I finished this one. This is a tough read, it is filled with visceral social anxiety, severe depression, and panic attacks.

Ivy has zero support, no friends, selfish parents, and terrible roommates. Ivy is the only one with a POV in the story, and it can be difficult spending almost 500 pages in her head.

It is her freshman year in college, and she is a ghost of who she used to be. This story is the unpacking of her trauma, meeting the most perfect man, and slowly coming to terms with healing.

Wes, is the hero that every girl needs. I found him completely unrealistic for a college senior, star football player, but I absolutely loved what he stood for.

This book is full of second chances, false starts, lots and lots of fears and anxiety. There is one intimate scene between the two MCs at 97% point, and I really wished we had gotten more of an opportunity to spend time with this couple somewhat healed.

Tropes/themes:
NA contemporary
Cinnamon roll/golden retriever H
Traumatized/anxiety ridden h
SA (on-page)
Bullying
PTSD
Severe depression
Social anxiety
Panic attacks
HFN

This would have been an easy 5 star had the characters been more developed. Overall, the story read like a love letter to women who have dealt with this trauma, giving them the gift of a perfect man, and the chance to rediscover themselves.

TW / spoilers: Ivy is raped her junior year of high school by a friend’s boyfriend. It sounds like he put something in her drink at a party, as some of the details were fuzzy. She doesn’t tell anyone, but spirals into a deep and severe depression. She is bullied by her previous friend, who thinks she was trying to steal her boyfriend.

Ivy picks a college that she knows he will not be attending, but inevitably, she runs into him again. At the end of the story, we are told that he has raped other young women.

[elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

i did like the beginning of the story but it dragged way too much and it made me uninterested in it after 300ish pages :/

[Sue Miz · Rating 3 out of 5]

my Playlist for this book

Creep by Brian Justin Crump
What was I made for - cover by Kelly Clarkson
Speechless - Naomi Scott
Save Me - Jelly Roll

3.5🌟🌟🌟 🔅
I delved into this ARC because of its sensitive subject
so trigger warning: heavy on-page SA -bullying - PTSD - depression

I love reading "healing journey" books
we need more of those, especially these days

The book is told solely from Ivy's POV. We know from the beginning that something unspeakable happened to her. She did not get any support from family or friends. She becomes depressed and closed off to herself.
Enters Wes, the confident golden retriver athlet, to symbolise hope and happiness.

The last 30% of the book is exactly how a healing journey should be, and it is because of this percentage I have pumped my rating to 3.5 - though I do not like basing a rating on the last part of a book, however, the seriousness of the topic demands it

I loved that we did not get spice scenes until the very last chapter. I hate books that show how sex is the remedy for SA. Add to that, the scene was very tasteful and suitable.

Wes was exactly what Ivy needed. Since we did not get his pov, I tended to look at him symbolically.
He is hope that survivors could look forward to.
He is the happiness that they deserve
He is the support system they need

Having said that, after we are introduced to Ivy, the story took a somewhat dull pace.
we just see the day to day interaction between Wes and Ivy.
The conversations are not that deep to understand why they clicked
Because we didn't get his POV, I did not feel the chemistry between them

For chapters, we get that there is a disconnected relationship with her family, but suddenly, it was casually and speedily resolved in a couple of chapters! Then we don't hear of them again!

I understand the traumatic situation Ivy was in, but she was so cliched presented
She is:
the girl with trauma
barely accomplished
no support system
thinks she's broken
hangs on to the guy like a pick-me girl
insecure

Suddenly, gets the attention of the hot 6,4 athlete who's studying medicine and has the perfect parents
he is good at everything even figuring out how to "fix" this broken girl

it took them 80% to even entertain the idea of therapy

I think this book needed a bit of reconstruction

Thank you to Booksiren and the author for the eARC

[Alyssa Wilde]

COVER REVEAL & PRE-ORDER

I’m so excited to finally share the cover, blurb, and release date for my next book, Before the Exhale.

📖 Releases March 10
✨ Pre-order now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GHZG9W3X
📚 Add to your TBR today

What to expect from Wes and Ivy’s story:
🖤 College Romance
🖤 Friends to Lovers
🖤 He Falls First
🖤 Golden Retriever Hero
🖤 Trauma/Healing
🖤 Slow-Burn

BLURB

Ivy Combs wants to disappear…

Halfway through her freshman year of college, all Ivy wants is to fly under the radar. Stay quiet, stay invisible. Putting up walls is the only way she knows how to cope with the trauma she’s been carrying since that horrible night in high school. But no matter how hard she tries to compartmentalize the past, it seeps into everything—her classes, her friendships, her sense of self. Withdrawn and anxious, she’s barely holding it together as second semester starts with the worst class imaginable: Public Speaking.

Then she meets Wes.

Smart, athletic, and effortlessly charming, senior Wes Tucker is the kind of guy everyone notices—and the kind of guy she’ll do anything to avoid. When a class project throws them together, Ivy braces for the worst. Wes isn’t what she expected, though. He’s kind, he’s patient, and Ivy finds herself wanting to believe in someone for the first time in a while.

Too bad learning to trust again seems impossible. She knows she can’t move forward without confronting her past; yet, tragically, healing isn’t linear. It’s raw, messy, and rarely ever simple…but maybe it’s not something she has to do alone.


💌 ARC sign-ups are currently open for a limited time for readers interested in an early copy.
(Details and application can be found here: https://linktr.ee/alyssawildeauthor)

Before the Exhale took a long time to perfect, and it is deeply close to my heart. I can’t wait for you to read it and become immersed in Ivy's story.

xo,
Alyssa

[Mika Auguste · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!! i read this in a few hours as i always do with alyssa wilde’s books. my favorite of hers will always be the highlight, but this one dragged me out of an AWFUL reading slump so thank you for that

[Sybrenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ I genuinely loved this book. To dive in deep, I related to our FMC with the trauma, the anxiety, the over thinking, the fear of big crowds, and I think that Alyssa Wilde wrote what it’s like to experience these things perfectly. (At least for me)

I absolutely adored the romance of this book. Strangers to friends to lovers, with a cinnamon roll mmc who showed the FMC that it’s okay to trust people and open up. I loved the burn of this book too, go into this book expecting tons of yearning and patience and healing and comfort, and ROMANCE.

The road to healing, found family, and romance was just sooooo well done in this. This is a book that hurts so much but also feels so good to have read by the end. I loved, and I’m so grateful to have received an ARC of this book. Alyssa Wilde is 3 for 3 with me, every single one of her books eat down and this one was no different. I binged this and didn’t want to put it down.

CHECK TRIGGERS!

[mew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, this book has a lot of potential but it dragged more than it needed to. The additional 10-15 chapters are to my opinion just page fillers and can’t believe I wasted my time on this.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 🌟 This was silly 🤪 went back to my silly goofy roots but this one she had a little depth to her. This book brought me back to a place where I could not set down this book hehe. Wes my man!!! He was like a little spot of sunshine throughout this book and man he made me GIGGLE 🤭 thank you to Sophia for also buddy reading this with me through the podcast length voice memos she endured through while I was reading this.

[dev ivy feeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cliche and classic, I enjoyed it a lot, though I prefer The Highlight. The plot was just very “done-before” and I would’ve loved to see more to Wes. He needs more depth. 4.75 ⭐️

[Gwen Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from the author. To be clear, however, Alyssa Wilde generously allowing me to read an early copy of her novel is not the reason for my 5 star review.

I've read both Crash Course and The Highlight and loved both, but Alyssa's writing is aging like fine wine. She improves with every novel, and Before the Exhale is her best yet.

I think Ivy is a character that, unfortunately, a lot of women can relate to. There were so many moments reading this novel that felt like they were ripped from my own college experience. The social anxiety, familial issues, guardedness,and self-isolation that Ivy experiences were so articulately and devastatingly written that I felt every emotion. Some of the things she went through throughout the course of the novel were tough to read, but Alyssa Wilde handled the very difficult subject matter with compassion and grace.

As much as I loved Ivy though, I really loved Wes. I pictured him as Jesse from Pitch Perfect for much of the novel, because the two characters share the same jubilant nature. Wes was the epitome of human sunshine, and he was exactly the type of person Ivy, along with many other survivors, needed. Alyssa did a great job of fleshing out the two characters, and handled their slow burn relationship with the grace that a character like Ivy needed.

Check the trigger warnings before diving in, but otherwise, this was a fantastic read.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from author

I’m no stranger to Alyssa’s books so when I saw the opportunity to read this early arose I took it and let me tell you I’m so glad I did. This did not disappoint. It’s a college romance that follows Wes & Ivy and you can’t help but fall in love with them both. They were written so perfectly.

[Kasey Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨


Alyssa Wilde is 3 for 3 with me. The Highlight is one of my absolute favorite books and Before the Exhale just goes to show Alyssa’s range. At over 500 pages, this is longer for a contemporary romance but it never dragged. The pacing was spot on. This is a very character-focused book with such great development for both main characters. Would absolutely recommend!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alyssa has done it again, another 5 star read.
The writing is compelling, the characters are loveable and can we talk about Wes, golden retriever MMC is exactly right 🥹 he is the perfect book boyfriend!
I also had a lot of love for the friends; Quinn, Ben & Kaden.
Ivy was a lovable narrator, you could really feel all of her anxiety and pain alongside her heart.

I love the way this author writes, even the moments that move at a slower pace are impactful and keep you hooked. You are truly immersed into the storytelling and into the world of these characters.

I’ve adored the other two books Alyssa has released so I had high hopes for this one and was not disappointed, it was a beautiful, and deeply emotional, story of healing and love.

I was lucky enough to get access to this book via an ARC.
It also happens to be the first arc I’ve ever signed up for because I just couldn’t wait to read another book by this author so I’m very grateful for the opportunity to read and review it.

[alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Before the Exhale☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★

⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´

🎶 “I was a flight risk, with a fear of fallin' Wondering why we bother with love, if it never lasts” 🎶

Ivy Combs (h) starts her freshman year of college determined to stay invisible, burying the trauma she has carried since high school behind carefully built walls. But when she is forced into a public speaking class and paired with senior Wes Tucker (H), her quiet routine begins to unravel. Wes is patient, kind, and nothing like she expected, slowly earning a trust she is not sure she can give.

🤍•.¸✿¸.•💌•.❀•THOUGHTS •❀.•💌•.¸✿¸.•🤍

”Me, on the other hand? I have difficulty making eye contact (not to mention conversation) with one person.”

Ivy is so special to me as a character. She felt real, vulnerable, and just the essence of everything I love in a character. I saw so much of myself in her. She struggles with anxiety, panic attacks, and social anxiety, and constantly feels awkward and unsure of why someone like Wes would even want to be around her. That’s what made me love her even more. And honestly, I loved her friendship with Wes more than anything. 💌💗🤍✨💗 He showed up as a friend first. He never pushed for more, never rushed her, and was always patient and understanding. Even when she pulled away, got distant, or shut down because she was triggered, he never lashed out. He gave her space when she needed it but still checked in, still made sure she was okay. He cared about her in such a steady and genuine way. And Ivy… I’m so proud of her. Even when she was going through a mental health crisis, she chose to seek help. She dropped the class because it was what she needed, and that mattered. Seeing her go to therapy, talk through her feelings, and eventually work toward helping others who went through sexual assault like she did was so powerful. And when she finally told Wes the truth, the way he immediately believed her, no hesitation, no doubt, just support, and even felt guilt for unknowingly bringing Mason around… that meant everything.

“At some point my brain stops rattling around in my skull long enough for me to fall asleep. When I wake up in the morning, it starts again like an engine, revving up and shifting my thoughts from carefree to anxious to high alert.”

I think this book had such a deeper message beyond romance. The family dynamics especially stood out, because her home life wasn’t supportive at all. Her mom felt judgmental and critical, and Ivy always felt like she had to be more, to be better, especially compared to her brother who was clearly favored. So when she met Wes, it was the first time she really had someone in her corner. Someone she could just exist with. And what I loved most is that he didn’t just see her as shy or awkward, he saw her as a person. At the same time, Ivy saw him beyond being the football player, beyond the athlete everyone praised. There was so much more to him, and I loved that she recognized that. He was intelligent, charismatic, a great listener, and just genuinely good in a way that Ivy needed in her life. 💌💖🤍✨Their relationship building from friendship into something more felt so natural. They were opposites, but they understood each other in a way no one else did. And I loved how they became inseparable, bonding over something as unexpected as public speaking. It felt so real.

“I crave him too much. His attention, his affection, his light. His smile makes my day, and don’t get me started on his laugh. I can’t cut him out. At this point, it would be like cutting off a limb. It would be detrimental to my health, and I really, truly mean that.”

Their growth together and individually was what made this story so great. It hurt when Ivy pushed Wes away, but it wasn’t just her shutting him out, she was dealing with real trauma, especially after seeing Mason again. It overwhelmed her to the point where she shut down, and honestly, that distance between them felt necessary. They had been so attached, but she needed time to figure things out on her own before she could fully be with him. And when they finally came back to each other, it felt right because she had started her healing process. Not perfectly healed, but in a place where she was trying, and that mattered. I also loved how Wes’s friends became hers. Quinn, Remy, Ben, and Kaden welcomed her in a way she never expected, especially because she struggled so much socially and couldn’t understand why people would like her. That part felt incredibly real to me. She was so easy to root for. And while there were so many side characters who treated her horribly, it didn’t take away from her journey. She didn’t need closure from people who never tried to understand her. Her closure came in her own way, through healing, through finally speaking up, and through Mason being exposed for what he was. She didn’t deserve to feel guilty for not coming forward sooner. Healing isn’t linear, and this book showed that so well. It went far beyond romance. It explored trauma, growth, friendship, and self-worth in such a meaningful way, and that’s what made it feel so special.

“I’m fine. Just...”

“Embarrassed,” Wes finishes for me, once again reading me like a book.

“You have no reason to be. Trust me. If anyone’s embarrassed, it’s me. I don’t want you to think I’m friends with that asshole.”

There are definitely moments that will make you angry. For example, when Wes doesn’t initially know how to react around his ex Dani and Rich, so he says nothing. He feels ashamed that he was even friends with people like that, and it happens again with Mason, even if that situation was completely unknowable to him at the time. But one thing about Wes is that he always shows up for Ivy.💞💓✨💗🥹✨ He makes sure she feels comfortable, he checks in, and he apologizes for other people’s behavior even when it isn’t his fault. He was a good friend first and became an even better one to Ivy before ultimately becoming her person. I adored Wes and Ivy, especially the slow burn and the innocence of their friendship. The only real downside for me was the gap with Ivy being a freshman and Wes being a senior. It just makes me think about all the hurdles they’ll eventually have to deal with, like time commitments, different life stages, and being in completely different places career-wise. Right now he works at the hospital near campus, but what happens when she graduates and needs a job in graphic design and it’s not nearby? Maybe freelance, but still. I’m probably overthinking it, which is exactly what Wes would say. He’s so good at grounding Ivy, pulling her back into the present, and helping her not spiral. That’s one of the things I loved most about them. He’s always there when she needs him, and she shows up for him too, even when it’s hard for her. She remembers the little things about him and pushes herself out of her comfort zone because she cares.They balance each other so well. And I love that Wes reported her bully. My sunshine boy for real. ✨💖🥹✨💓

🤍•.¸✿¸.•💌•.❀•OVERALL •❀.•💌•.¸✿¸.•🤍

This is something that everyone should read. I genuinely believe it’s healing and worthwhile. It has heavy moments, but they’re handled with so much care and gentleness. Ivy doesn’t start therapy until later in the book, but that honestly made it feel even more real. It shows that everyone’s timeline for healing looks different, and there’s no right or wrong moment to finally seek help. What really stood out to me was how natural it felt for Ivy to accept that she needed time to work on herself before she could be a partner to someone else. That kind of self-awareness isn’t easy, especially when you care deeply about someone. And I loved that Wes understood that completely. He never pressured her or made her feel guilty. He was always clear that he would be there for her, regardless of whether they were together at that moment.

[k ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was one of my most highly anticipated books of 2026, and it did not disappoint. I was bawling my eyes out because I truly felt for everything Ivy was going through. She felt like she had no one and had been suffering for years before Wes came along.

And Wes—Wes was incredibly kind, gentle, and patient with Ivy. There were moments when he wanted to give up, but it was clear that staying away from her broke his heart even more. I loved how well he was able to read Ivy; that kind of emotional awareness is rare nowadays.

I was glad that many people helped Ivy along the way, especially those you would least expect. Because of them, she was able to seek help and start getting better—not only for herself, but for others too.

[Jessica Proulx · Rating 5 out of 5]

i may be speechless after finishing this book but i simply can’t say nothing & do this book that much of an injustice. truly what a beautiful, raw portrayal of living with & eventually overcoming such a heartbreaking trauma. nothing could have prepared me for how immensely i’d find myself relating to the FMC — not in exactly all the same ways, but at the very least, the description of her emotions & consequent reactions spoke to something buried deep in me from when i was younger. reading this felt like an ode to anyone that’s ever been so anxiety riddled and fueled by fear, and maybe that’s why i read over 300 pages instead of sleeping last night, with the only thing stopping me from finishing it in one sitting being my begrudging responsibility to my job (👎). yes, obviously, this was a romance book, but it was so much more than that, too. the MMC was very obviously such a fictional man written by a woman with how perfect he is as a college senior, and while i don’t typically love the trope of “the love they share saves the woman from her despair,” he felt more like a plot device (this doesn’t feel like the right word, but hopefully y’all get what i mean) for the FMC’s eventual overcoming of her trauma, rather than just another savior-complex love interest, but maybe i’m just projecting.

[⋆·✦ zαвєтн ✦·⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ❤️ favorite

♥ Ivy & Wes ♥

Tropes:
🎓 college romance
🤝 friends to lovers
💘 he falls first
🐶 golden retriever MMC
🩹 trauma & healing
🔥 slow burn

In two sentences:
Ivy is trying to survive college while carrying the weight of a traumatic past. When a class project pairs her with Wes, his patience and kindness slowly begin to break down the walls she built to protect herself.

🇺🇸 My review:
A favorite. This book devastated me in the most beautiful way.

The writing by Alissa Wilde is absolutely stunning, and Ivy’s journey is handled with so much care. Watching her move from rock bottom through darkness, depression, and the slow, painful process of healing felt incredibly real and powerful. Healing isn’t linear, and this story captures that truth perfectly.

And Wes… truly the ultimate green flag. The definition of a cinnamon roll, golden retriever book boyfriend. Patient, supportive, gentle, and endlessly loving. The way he shows up for Ivy again and again completely melted my heart. Their relationship is soft, emotional, and deeply comforting.

The full-circle moment at the end is flawless. It feels complete while still leaving the sense that this is only the beginning for them.

A beautiful, emotional story that will stay with me for a long time. Definitely a favorite.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

En deux mots :
Ivy tente de survivre à sa première année d’université tout en portant le poids d’un traumatisme. La rencontre avec Wes pourrait bien être le premier pas vers la guérison.

🇫🇷 Ma chronique :
Un énorme coup de cœur. Ce livre m’a bouleversée de la plus belle des façons.

L’écriture d’Alissa Wilde est magnifique, et le parcours d’Ivy est traité avec énormément de sensibilité. On la voit toucher le fond, traverser la douleur, la dépression, et avancer pas à pas vers la guérison. Rien n’est simple, rien n’est linéaire — et c’est justement ce qui rend cette histoire si puissante et authentique.

Et Wes… le green flag ultime. Le parfait book boyfriend : patient, doux, attentionné et infiniment bienveillant. Sa façon d’être présent pour Ivy, sans jamais la brusquer, m’a totalement fait fondre. Leur relation est tendre, émouvante et pleine d’espoir.

Le moment « full circle » à la fin est parfait : on a l’impression d’une boucle qui se ferme tout en sachant que leur histoire ne fait que commencer.

Un roman profondément touchant qui restera longtemps avec moi. Un vrai favori.

[Ch’ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Ivy and Wes’s story, and I’m still sitting with everything it made me feel. This book is so much more than a romance—it’s a story about trauma, healing, friendship, and the courage it takes to let someone truly see you.
Ivy felt incredibly real to me. As an introvert, I often found myself recognizing parts of myself in her thoughts and reactions. Watching her navigate her past, her fears, and her growth felt both heartbreaking and beautiful.
And Wes… he is genuinely one of the most wonderful MMCs I’ve ever read. Caring, patient, loyal, and endlessly supportive without ever trying to change who Ivy is. The way he sees her and loves her for exactly who she is made their connection feel so sincere and deeply earned.
Alyssa’s writing is absolutely beautiful—smooth, immersive, and emotionally powerful. The story flows so naturally that it almost feels like you’re witnessing real lives rather than reading fiction.
What I appreciated most is that this book doesn’t romanticize healing. Falling in love doesn’t magically erase trauma, and the story honors that truth while still showing how powerful love, friendship, and support can be. This story will stay with me for a very long time. Another absolute treasure of a book.

I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review 𑣲

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. 4.5 EASY stars. I was up until 2 am finishing this book because I could not put it down.

I love that Wes falls first. So clearly and so openly, so without fear. It's so refreshing. That he can and will be there for her in whatever shape that looks like.

I love the depiction of Ivy's inner monologue and battle with what her mind is trying to convince her of. I think it's so realistic and authentic, this constant little voice in the back of her head challenging what is real and what is not.

I also really enjoy the way Wes treats her. The way that he was willing to be there for her as her world fell apart around her. AND the way he no questions asked DROPPED his friend before he even knew the full story. He knew enough and was not screwing around with the expression on her face when she looked at 'Ace'. We don't deal with that, we don't support men who support POS.
The author choice to also have Ivy give a statement when it happens to someone else is chef's kiss.

[Karen Ruedisueli · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Advanced copy was from Book Siren. I know it's a difficult subject but the character of Wes is so compelling. And Ivy is shy because she wants to remain invisible and Wes is the most popular man on campus. As their friendship grows due to Wes and his large personality and determination Ivy comes out of her shell a bit.

There is her family dynamics which are dysfunctional somewhat and the whole "thing" that she tucks away.

It seems too long through this middle as we wait for something to move the story along which is her confronting her past in person.

She doesn't do well. You just can't imagine.

It takes another 20% of the story to lose almost everything and climb out again
Our Ivy got it together and the book leads you to believe not telling really hurts and telling might be the bravest thing you'd ever do.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healing

I've read alot of books that have abuse in them that have been what I would think not the normal behavior of someone trying to heal would be. This book was so beautiful because it was so truthful and believable in all aspects of the story. I would hope that everyone who has gone through or goes through something as traumatic has someone like Wes to r help them heal. He was such a strong character that it just makes you love him more. I definitely cried.

[alexandrita · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You made me work for every single one, and honestly, Ives? I didn’t mind it for a second. Earning your trust, your heart, was the most worthwhile thing I’ve ever done.” A man who yearns is a man who earns. I fkin love this trope bro

[bemaelian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I ended up liking the book overall, I realized I approached it in quite a judgmental way at the beginning. That’s probably on me. At the same time, I found that reaction interesting especially considering what Ivy goes through and the kind of system she exists in, where there’s no real sense of security or trust. It made me reflect a bit on my own initial judgments. That said, even if it’s not entirely the same issue, I did find Ivy’s anxiety and shyness a bit stereotypical at first. The story does hint at the reasons behind it early on, but it still came across somewhat like a “shy girl” trope in the beginning.

Wes also felt very stereotypical and somewhat unrealistic to me. He comes across as a perfect person, someone who is loved by everyone, his family, his friends, and basically everyone around him. He’s very successful, both athletically and academically, and you could even call him idealistic. Since I usually don’t like flawless characters, I didn’t really like him at first. But at the same time, it’s not exactly logical to dislike him, because there isn’t really anything negative about him. Especially in the way he treats Ivy; the way their friendship develops, his feelings, and how he is always patient and understanding.

Later on, we start to see the difference between his “persona” and who he actually is. Ivy doesn’t just see him as this popular, perfect figure, but as a real person. That’s where things started to make more sense to me.

Two points, in particular, made it click. The first is the difference in their environments. Everything starts within the family, and Ivy’s family is not supportive or safe. They weren’t there for her when she needed them most. She’s always been in the shadow of her brothers, and during her trauma, the people who should have listened, didn’t.
Wes on the other hand, comes from a completely different place. He grew up feeling loved, accepted, and respected in his family. He has a good relationship with his sister.
So from the beginning, that contrast between them is clear. That’s why, to me, it feels a bit different from the typical “quiet, invisible girl and bright, popular boy” dynamic because it’s also about perception and the environments they come from.

For example, Ivy thinking “why is he even interested in me? It doesn’t make any sense” actually makes sense to me in a certain way.

I also don’t like this trope-style writing, so I approached it critically at the beginning. Because it is, in a way, a cliché: a very popular, very attractive, very perfect male character, and then a “plain” or “troubled” female character. When she starts to like him, or when he shows interest in her, or spends time with her, it’s normal for her to question why. But when this is written in a very typical way, I don’t enjoy it. It usually goes like: he has many options, everyone loves him, he’s amazing, but he still chooses this “problematic girl.” I don’t really find that kind of male-character idealization realistic.

However, there were a few things that made me change my mind about this. The most important one is that the story is told from a single point of view through Ivy’s perspective. Ivy becomes friends with Quinn, and she also meets Wes’s family and becomes friends with his social circle. And none of this feels like she is forcing it or doing it because of Wes. She genuinely becomes friends with them on her own.

Ivy has anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD. At the beginning, when I assumed it would follow the “shy girl stereotype” and trope, and also the “girl healed by the right guy” trope, I didn’t like that idea. But it’s not exactly like that.

The book is only told from her perspective, and when you stay inside her head from start to finish, even though it can be exhausting over that many pages, you start to understand certain things on an empathetic level. Because some things are distorted through her perception. In books, when we have multiple perspectives, we can see how different people interpret the same situation differently. Or, in an omniscient narration, we get a more general view. But in this book, the only thing we see is Ivy’s perspective her mind, and her perception of the world, which is not in a fully healthy state.

Especially when you consider her distrust toward her environment, other people, and her self-perception, it doesn’t change the fact that Wes is actually a very “perfect” person. But a lot of things come from the conflict between a person’s inner world and the outside world. No one is truly perfect, and no one is truly someone who “deserves nothing good,” at least in general terms. That’s how I see it.

For example, Ivy seeing herself in a negative way is connected to what is happening inside her mind. The bullying from Alexis and the other girls, and other things that happen externally, are not because she deserves them they come from different reasons. And I also understand why she doesn’t trust love or other people. Given what she has been through, and even without those experiences, it would still be understandable for her to think that way.

But one connection I really liked is that Ivy enjoys reading romance books. And we know the kinds of male characters that exist in romance novels. The book even mentions romance novels inside the story, and how unrealistic those male characters are, and how men like that don’t exist in real life. So a girl who reads romance novels making that comparison and saying this isn’t realistic felt like both a self-aware commentary on romance tropes, and also a reflection of the idea that you think someone like that doesn’t exist but actually, maybe they do. I liked that aspect, because it feels like the author is aware of what she is doing. There isn’t a goal of creating a “Prince Charming” type character.

And again, this comes back to the same point: because we are reading the story entirely from Ivy’s perspective, we don’t fully see how Wes thinks or how he perceives the world. And I think that is a deliberate and correct choice. Even though it can be tiring that the entire book is inside her head, from her point of view and her mind, it works well.

Even if I sometimes wished I could see Wes’s thoughts, I still think it was executed in the right way. So instead of focusing on how “perfect” Wes is, I kept focusing on Ivy’s perception of him.

And again, when you look at her life; being bullied, being excluded, being abused, her social anxiety, anxiety, PTSD, her family situation, being compared to her siblings, not receiving the support or attention she needed when she needed it most…I can understand her psychology and mental state. We never see her from an objective outside perspective, only through her own view. Because of that, I think she is sometimes unfair to herself.

But mental health doesn’t really work in a simple way like that, so I can’t judge it too harshly. I just think it needs to be understood, rather than simply stated as “this is how she is.”

So it’s not just about understanding how someone with depression, stress, or panic attacks perceives things during certain moments. These conditions, trauma and everything related to it, don’t just stay contained in one area and show up occasionally. They affect every part of a person’s life.

And since we read this book entirely from Ivy’s perspective, we see both her inner world and the external world through her eyes, how she perceives herself and how she interprets everything around her. Everything is filtered through her thoughts. Throughout the entire book, we’re inside her head.

When it comes to the romance, I can say that I liked it. At first, Wes’s interest feels very strong and might come across as insta-love, but overall the book is more of a slow burn, and I don’t actually think it’s insta-love. I think it’s more of a structural thing. The point where Ivy catches Wes’s attention doesn’t feel absurd to me.

Because we’re reading everything through Ivy’s perception this question itself kind of becomes unnecessary when you think about it. And I think the slow burn is actually written really well. The transition from friendship to love happens step by step, and even if Wes seems perfect on the surface, we still understand him as a person.

At the same time, his “being too good” can also come across as a flaw especially in how he sometimes can’t stand up to certain people when he should. And I really like the friends-to-lovers trope; I think it fits slow burn the best when it’s written in a healthy and natural way.

Because sometimes these tropes feel forced, you try to fit the story into a certain mold even when it doesn’t belong there. But here, you can follow that gradual progression. You understand that there are feelings from the beginning, but first a friendship is built. Then there’s the process of that changing, and Ivy slowly learning to trust him.

And it still doesn’t feel forced, nor does it fall into the “girl being fixed by the good guy” trope, which is a good thing.

I want to talk about Ivy specifically. She is a very special character to me. I can see that her entire journey was handled with a lot of care and attention. After such big and complex trauma, the way her view of herself and others, her inability to trust, her triggers, and her anxiety are portrayed it all felt very real.

Her mind was very heavy, and at some point, it felt like her thoughts and mine were blending together in my head. Her friendship and relationship with Wes were well done. The way she built connections with others was also meaningful. In the end, she was able to show up both for herself and for the other girls.

I hate Mason and I hate that there are so many real people like him. Just like there are girls like Ivy, who are left without support and forced to live in that darkness for years. That’s why I can never get tired of stories like this. Because they feel very real every time.

People need other people.

Honestly, what Ivy went through (Mason being able to continue his life without consequences after the SA, even being able to face her without shame, and her being bullied by others) none of that was Ivy’s fault or her “lacking self.” These people basically took advantage of the fact that she didn’t have a support system.

In this story, the person who builds that sense of trust is Wes. And that can exist in a romantic, platonic, or any kind of bond.

[sadhana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️

[Kamile · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Karmen Vaikjärv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think me reading this book in one day says plenty about how good this one was.

The way some of the darkest moments were written were heartbreaking but at the same time very realistic. That is not something you see in every book.

The MMC was such a sweetheart, kind and understanding. One of the most normal/healthiest MMC’s I’ve read about in a book.

[ForeverBooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥ College Romance
♥ Friends to Lovers
♥ He Falls First
♥ Golden Retriever Hero
♥ Trauma/Healing
♥ Slow-Burn
♥ Popular guy falls for the shy girl
♥ he believes her immediately and beats up the other guy
♥ he’s the first one she tells
♥ study “dates” when they are not even together yet
♥ they help each other practice public speaking
♥ cute nicknames “poison ivy” and “ives”
♥ who did this to you?


Favorite moments:


I watch with a mixture of horror and fascination as his big hand practically swallows it whole.
“Thank you,” he whispers, and our eyes meet for a split second before my gaze drops down to his grateful smile. I narrow in on a set of straight, white teeth. “I guess I owe you my firstborn in exchange for your kindness. Congratulations. Or…maybe I should offer you condolences instead? Kind of a shit deal to be saddled with a kid you don’t want, but hey, I don’t make the rules.

I actually debated dropping this class I was so ashamed of my thievery, but then I realized I can’t drop this class because I literally cannot graduate without it, which is kind of bullshit if you ask me. So, here you go.” He flashes a crooked smile, extending the pencil across the space between our desks. “I fully accept the blight on my otherwise pristine pencil-borrowing reputation and apologize for the delay in its return.”

“Please.” The desk creaks as he leans closer. “I happen to find you fascinating.”
My head snaps up, caught off guard. “Y-you do?” I wince, but he only nods, looking like he’s biting back a smile. I clear my throat a little and try to get the next word out right the first time. “Why?”
He laughs. “Your eyes. When you finally work up the nerve to look at me, they say tenfold what your mouth does.” My mouth bobs open, but when nothing comes out, I snap my lips shut, not sure what to make of that statement. Wes grins like I just proved his point. “See? You’re trying to decide how offended you should be.”

He shifts closer, lowering his voice. “You didn’t want to come to Stratus University. I could tell by the pained look in your eye during your first response. You like design, though, way more than you’re letting on with your answers. Maybe too much in your opinion. And the entire time we’ve been doing this assignment, you’ve been trying to determine if I’m completely full of shit or not. I’m not, just so you know, but I totally understand the concern.” He leans back again, chuckling at my stunned expression. “So, what kind of books?”
“W-what?”
“You said you like to read. What kind of books?” My face flames, and he smirks, looking down at his notebook. This time I’m able to make out his handwriting as he scrawls romance books beside the question number.
“How did you…”
“Your blush. Says it all


We don’t make it to the door, though. The second Wes steps onto the grass, the guys on the porch descend on him like he’s some kind of god, clapping him on the shoulder or shaking his hand. I step away from the group before it can swallow me up, watching the mob of frat bros flutter around Wes’s light like a bunch of drunken moths.
“What the fuck, is that Doc?” calls one.
“Fuck, it is! How’s it going, Tucker?”
“What’s up, Doc!”
“Doc’s at Pike? No fucking way.”
“Want a drink, man? We’ll show you where we keep the good stuff.”
I can’t imagine what it’s like to be so beloved.

The car door opens and shuts, Wes’s footsteps hurried across the sidewalk. “Ivy, are you okay? Where the fuck is your jacket? It’s freezing out here.” I keep my head down, my hair acting as a curtain to shield it from view. “Ivy,” he says more seriously, and his feet stop inches from mine. “Ives. What happened?”
I have no choice but to look at him then, so I do, letting my hair fall back. His eyes widen, scanning over my face in disbelief, before they harden and flash with a fury I’ve never seen in Wes. “What the fuck?” He reaches out as if to touch my face, but then freezes, thinking better of it. A muscle in his jaw ticks. “Ivy. Who did this?”

“Where did you go in such a hurry?” Ben asks, before looking up. His mouth gapes when he notices me, and he fumbles for the remote, pausing whatever’s on screen. “What the fuck? What happened?”
Kaden looks over as well, and his shocked expression mirrors Ben’s. “Okay, who do we need to kill?”
I don’t answer. Neither does Wes. “Where’s the first aid kit?” is all he says, his deep voice carrying the same restrained emotion from the car.
“In the downstairs bathroom, I think,” says Ben, getting to his feet. “Let me get a bag of ice.”
“I think we have frozen peas,” says Kaden. “I’ll get you some water.”
“Thanks,” Wes says, before guiding me again, down the hall to the door at the end. I step back while he rummages through the cabinet, pulling out band-aids and disinfectant.


“Something, um, happened to me. At the party. With him.”
I press my lips together. Clench my teeth so hard they hurt. That’s it. That’s all I can manage, and I can’t tell if it’s enough to convey what I need him to understand. Swallowing past the sudden thickness in my throat, I tentatively look up at the man across from me. His eyes roam my face, processing what little I’ve revealed, and I see the moment he finally comprehends the weight of my words.
The sun sets on Wes’s face. I watch it happen in real time, dark shadow eclipsing his light, and my heart cracks in half. He pales, looking stricken, his features etched with pure devastation. “Ivy,” he breathes, wrecked by my admission, and I try not to crumble right then and there.
I swallow. Shake my head. Do anything I can to downplay and wipe that expression off his face. “It’s okay.” It’s not. “It’s fine.” It’s not.


“Go on,” Mason urges, full-on smirking at me now, and my spine stiffens. “You said you’d tell him, so tell him.”
I open my mouth, but no words come out.
Say something. Say fucking anything.
I don’t think I can do this in front of him.
“Alright,” Mason says, sighing like he’s taking one for the team, and he looks at his friend. “Ivy was scared to tell you.”
“Scared to tell me what?” Wes asks slowly, his gaze shifting to me. His expression is cautious now, anxiety swirling behind his eyes, and my heart threatens to burst free of my chest.
Mason exhales an exaggerated breath. “Look, man. This is all in the past, okay? We didn’t mean to lie about it, I swear. We fucked a couple years ago. Nothing serious. Just sex. It happened at a party. It’s really not a big deal.”
And Wes, loud-mouthed, always-in-the-mood-to-talk Wes, doesn’t respond. He just keeps looking at me, unblinking, eyes boring into mine. And then his eyes drop to my wrist, narrowing when they notice the angry nail indentations left by his friend’s overbearing grip. When his gaze meets mine again, I watch the pieces click into place. I witness the exact moment he solves the puzzle once and for all.
The blood drains from his face. His eyes cycle through emotions, never once straying from mine. Realization. Horror. Disbelief. Fury.
Mason is oblivious, and when Wes doesn’t respond and I remain silent, he continues on. “You shouldn’t be mad at Ivy, man. It was a long time ago. No feelings there or anything. Just a hookup. We should have told you at the beach.”
Wes’s jaw ticks. His voice shakes as he utters one word. “Him?”
I give a single nod.
And that’s all it takes. Wes’s eyes ease away from mine and settle on his childhood friend’s. I don’t recognize his voice, the tone deep, ragged, eerily low. “What the fuck did you do?”

[Sarah Kemmerer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I begin my review, I want to acknowledge that the author does say she attempted to handle these sensitive topics with "thoughtfulness and respect" and that is admirable. However, I found that the entire novel fell short of this promise and left a lot to be desired.

Ivy is an extremely shy girl who suffers from depression and anxiety due to a past trauma she experienced. Wes is the most perfect guy in the entire universe. Not only is he the star athlete of their university, but he has plans to become a doctor and is patient, kind and good at everything he does. Women love him, parents and teachers love him, he is just the epitome of perfection. While he is very sweet, I felt that he was kind of too good to be true, in a kind of boring way. There was really no depth. Both characters come off as kind of shallow (not vain, just not very deep) and they aren't that likable. There is nothing about them that really stands out in any way, nothing that makes you really root for them.

The pacing of the book was really painful, honestly. I found myself struggling to keep reading and felt the last two-four chapters were completely unnecessary.

Also, completely unrelated, the constant hating on the Phantom Menace really made me want to give this book one star. I didn't know what the author was trying to accomplish through this? It was just annoying.

Now, I am going to discuss the topics that are addressed in the books, so beware of SPOILERS AHEAD:

The family drama is just weird. She is treated "horribly," according to herself. She mentions at some point how mean her parents are for having to be convinced to let her major in design. Note: they pay for her college! She doesn't even have a job. She complains that they are so cheap and only let her get a basic latte in high school EVERY DAY after school. That's like $5-7 a day just for coffee. Excuse me for not finding that very depressing, I'll reserve that feeling for my student loans.

However, one day, her mom decides that she is done treating her harshly! She suddenly gains a conscience and decides that she is going to be an amazing mother now. She claims that their bonding is not that easy, but it basically was that easy. Yeah, okay.

As for the main topic of the novel, I can say that it was not anything special. At a time where we have multiple breakthrough novels that delve into the sensitive topic of sexual violence, such as Speak and The Way I Used to Be, to name a few, this falls short of my expectations by miles.

My first issue is the codependency displayed throughout the entire book. Ivy has entirely no will to live until she meets Wes. He is the sun that she revolves around. Her journey to healing begins because of events that transpire during their relationship. She basically wants to get better for him. While they do separate at some point, her is constantly on her mind. When she is in therapy, he is the main topic that she is thinking about. Not herself, or the impacts of her trauma. That kind of sits on the back burner.

Something that personally ticked me off was her thoughts on telling him who hurt her. She claims that she will be broken if he doesn't believe her. Girl, stand up! If he doesn't believe you, he's a disgusting human that doesn't deserve a minute of your thoughts and attention. It's like she doesn't even believe in herself unless he believes her. This sends the completely wrong message. Some people aren't going to believe you. That is just a fact. It's not about them. It's about YOU. It doesn't matter what they think! And while I know you will always care what others think about you, this book shouldn't be reinforcing these insecurities. The therapist should have said something about how his approval means nothing compared to her own acceptance. Ugh, I don't even have the words to describe the frustration I felt.

And they just continue on with their codependence. She has no other friends besides her roommate and his friends. She doesn't really grow in any other way than with their relationship. We don't see her branching out, we don't see her doing anything really besides hang out with him. Great! Now all her healing can cater to a man's needs!

My final thoughts about the entire message is that this novel brings nothing new to the table. Maybe I have already read too many books about these topics, but everything felt cliche and boring. Not once did I feel emotional about this book. Nothing felt like a breakthrough. It was just kind of meh.

Maybe this is good for people who are just starting to read books on this topic, but for anyone else I would not recommend. It's honestly just not worth the time.

[ᗰ.ᑕ. ☂️ O͎L͎D͎E͎R͎ ͎&͎ ͎W͎I͎S͎E͎R͎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

April 2026
Overall, it's pretty good.

This is a contemporary college romance centered on Ivy Combs, a college freshman. Told from her POV, it's her journey to finding love, healing, and happiness.

Her trauma stems from being raped in high school, and two years later, she’s still struggling with major mental health issues. She had tried to tell her cold mother, but after hearing that Ivy attended a party she disapproved of, her mom wouldn't listen. As a result, Ivy now has severe social anxiety, fears of intimacy, self-loathing, and deep insecurities.

Enter Wes Tucker, a college senior who played football but now wants to be a doctor. He serves as a foil to Ivy: outgoing, well-liked, multitalented, with a loving family and a positive attitude. He’s determined to be with Ivy, falling for her quickly after they share a public speaking class.

😍 Wes is my favorite character.

Without his POV, it’s hard to understand why he’s so committed—especially given Ivy’s distance, hot-and-cold behavior, anxiety when they get close, falsehoods about her feelings, and even conflict that causes a month-long breakup. Most guys would have given up early, but not wonderful Wes. He may seem a little too perfect, but he’s exactly what Ivy needs. Even when Ivy spirals and says cruel words, Wes never gives up on her and doesn’t consider anyone else.

My biggest issue with the book is that it’s 464 pages and felt overwhelmingly heavy and negative. Being inside Ivy's head so much and hearing her repetitive thoughts, made it tough to stay engaged. I ended up skimming a lot to get to the end.

🔻Alcohol is used either by Ivy to cope or at parties.
🔻Ivy is barely described: She has blonde hair and Wes says she's beautiful.
🔻The usual 'mean girls' appear to also victimize Ivy.
🔻Too much swearing for me: 181 F-words + others.


⚠️ S͓̽P͓̽O͓̽I͓̽L͓̽E͓̽R͓̽S͓̽ B͓̽E͓̽L͓̽O͓̽W͓̽ ⚠️

Turns out, Wes is friends with Mason, the guy who raped Ivy. During spring break at a beach house with friends, Mason is there, making it a traumatic week for Ivy. She freaks out but won’t talk to Wes, thinking he won’t believe her and will get tired of her, even though he’s been nothing but wonderful. Poor Wes suffers through a lot before Ivy begins to heal. Because Ivy stays silent, another girl at the beach house is also sexually assaulted and traumatized.

Ivy forces Wes to break up with her, shuts herself off from him and her few friends, drops her public speaking class, and spends her days in pain alone. It’s her mother’s visit that finally turns things around.

🤗 𝐖𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐯𝐲:
“From the very beginning you treated me like a person, not some campus persona. You weren’t trying to win me over or put on a performance or make some calculated move. You intrigued me. Disarmed me. You didn’t give away your smiles freely or your laughs easily. You made me work for every single one, and honestly, Ives? I didn’t mind it for a second. Earning your trust, your heart, was the most worthwhile thing I’ve ever done.”

💖 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝟵𝟬%: ☀️
No more secrets. No more hiding. No more running. Wes knows the truth, and he still loves me. He’s here for me, no matter what that means. After months of stumbling in the dark and desperately clinging to his beautiful, blinding rays, I light up for him. This time when he shines, I shine right back.

In the end, Ivy gets the help she needs. She and her family work things out and grow closer. Ivy and Wes become an official couple, share a brief sex scene, and move in together.

Mason finally assaults a girl who's willing to press charges. Once Ivy finds out, she decides to share her testimony and help bring him to justice.

[samantha :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read Alyssa Wilde’s other novels, I was very excited to see that she had a new release! I was a little weary about the sensitive subject matter, as I was nervous about whether she would be able to handle the topic with the care it deserves, but she did not disappoint!

I really enjoy her single-POV writing style—maybe that's a me thing—I feel that books are more authentic that way, given we only really know what is going on in our own heads, however, I do see how some people could have issues with that, especially within the context of this book in particular. The two main characters don’t really…talk. The MMC claims that his reasoning for falling for the FMC was because she didn’t fawn over him like the other girls, but personally I don’t see that as a stable foundation for a long-term relationship. Once he makes this observation about her, he is completely devoted to her for some reason that I still cannot decipher. I completely understood why Ivy fell for him (charming, tall, fit, put together, ambitious, popular, calm, patient, understanding, etc.), but I really, truly, and unfortunately could not for the life of me figure out why he loved her so much. And that really saddens me to say, because I did think they were very cute together, I was rooting for her, and he was instrumental in her self-discovery and building of her confidence, but I just could not parse out why this relationship was happening. I would have been more understanding of their connection had they held deeper discussions, such as similar life goals, complimentary personalities, etc. but we were not privy to that and it made for a more confusing read than necessary, in my opinion.

Her depression, anxiety, and personality within the context of her trauma was depicted quite realistically from what I observed. Having said this, I will admit that I found myself skimming some of the parts of the chapters that focused heavily on that alone, as it had already been thoroughly touched upon prior, and it started to feel a bit repetitive. I would have very much liked if she had started seeing a therapist in the middle of the book, that way we as the readers would have been able to see the positive progression of her managing her PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Instead, I felt that the book focused more on repeating the negatives than the resolution, while the therapy sessions, family healing, and such came off as rushed towards the end. Cliche, but we should’ve been shown how she healed, not told, especially for a book of this length.

My one remaining critique is not a big deal, but it does bother me a little in all of her books. This author has a way of writing side characters as textbook villains with no complexity or nuance. Just as in The Highlight, the side characters were catty-bratty mean girls, while others were golden angels. I understand that some people are simply unredeemable in one’s eyes, and it is not your responsibility to psychoanalyze others in order to understand why they have said or done something, but c’mon…there had to have been more than ONE girl in this college that was kind to Ivy. I don’t know…it just feels too simple to completely demonize all of the characters you don’t want your reader to like, just so the FMC is justified in only seeking solace in the arms of the hottest football player to have ever graced the Earth. (But, of course, this does NOT apply to the Mason perv. He can die.)

Other than those issues, I really did enjoy this book! Maybe love is real!