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Before the Exhale
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26Ivy 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 Withdrawn and anxious, she’s barely holding it together as second semester starts with the worst class imaginable: Public Speaking.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.
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 Withdrawn and anxious, she’s barely holding it together as second semester starts with the worst class imaginable: Public Speaking.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.
504 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 10, 2026
45 people want to read
About the author
Alyssa Wilde
3 books203 followersAlyssa 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 now available for pre-order!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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January 27, 2026COVER 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
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
February 14, 2026
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ ARC Review✨
Wow. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours after receiving my ARC. Ivy's story was both heartbreaking and inspirational.
While I cannot relate to the trauma Ivy experienced, I can relate to the feelings of anxiety she is plagued with. As someone who struggles with Anxiety and self-doubt, her symptoms and their manifestations felt all too real.
I really appreciated how Alyssa did not make Wes Ivy's sole purpose in getting better. While they share a close bond, her ultimate healing is done through her hard work alone.
While there were times that certain scenes/actions felt repetative, I think it was an accurate representation of the healing process. Sometimes things feel like you are going in circles, with no end in sight.
There were a few characters I wish I got to see more of after Ivy's story came to light. Specifically, her parents and her old friends. I wish we got some closure with them as they were an integral part of her struggle.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Yes, there was heaviness in the trauma and pain but there was also the beautiful slow-burn, unconditional love between Wes and Ivy. This book made me a rainbow of emotions is the very best way!
Wow. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours after receiving my ARC. Ivy's story was both heartbreaking and inspirational.
While I cannot relate to the trauma Ivy experienced, I can relate to the feelings of anxiety she is plagued with. As someone who struggles with Anxiety and self-doubt, her symptoms and their manifestations felt all too real.
I really appreciated how Alyssa did not make Wes Ivy's sole purpose in getting better. While they share a close bond, her ultimate healing is done through her hard work alone.
While there were times that certain scenes/actions felt repetative, I think it was an accurate representation of the healing process. Sometimes things feel like you are going in circles, with no end in sight.
There were a few characters I wish I got to see more of after Ivy's story came to light. Specifically, her parents and her old friends. I wish we got some closure with them as they were an integral part of her struggle.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Yes, there was heaviness in the trauma and pain but there was also the beautiful slow-burn, unconditional love between Wes and Ivy. This book made me a rainbow of emotions is the very best way!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had me smiling so hard. I felt like every chapter melted my heart just a little more. Wes is a perfect example of how a lady wants to be treated. Ivy Combs is struggling with something no one should have to and Wes is weaseling his way into her heart one sweet gesture at a time. I loved reading the back and forth between the two of them, wanting to shout through the book that they so clearly needed to be together.
This book was also very well written. I never felt like a character was lacking in development. The book kept a consistent pace and never dipped in energy, even when the subject matter was on the darker side.
While standalones are an enjoyable break up of the lengthy series I typically read, they do lend to feeling a little unsatisfied at the end. I feel like the end wrapped Ivy's arch beautifully and provided her with an excellent bit of closure. However, I would have loved a little more depth to Wes and Ivy's last bit in the book and that is the only thing that kept me from a full five stars. If I could do halfs here it would have absolutely had a 4.5!
This book was also very well written. I never felt like a character was lacking in development. The book kept a consistent pace and never dipped in energy, even when the subject matter was on the darker side.
While standalones are an enjoyable break up of the lengthy series I typically read, they do lend to feeling a little unsatisfied at the end. I feel like the end wrapped Ivy's arch beautifully and provided her with an excellent bit of closure. However, I would have loved a little more depth to Wes and Ivy's last bit in the book and that is the only thing that kept me from a full five stars. If I could do halfs here it would have absolutely had a 4.5!
Review of advance copy
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.
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.
February 13, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW!!!!
i’ve always been such a huge fan of alyssa wilde’s work. and i feel that every book that gets put out gets better and better. ivy was really relatable with her anxiety, it was written so well that i felt like i was looking through a mirror. and i loved getting to see her heal. wes was such a good mmc. he was very sweet and caring and so so patient. i really just loved their dynamic, and how much he helped her. but also at the same time, her story felt like her own.
i’ve always been such a huge fan of alyssa wilde’s work. and i feel that every book that gets put out gets better and better. ivy was really relatable with her anxiety, it was written so well that i felt like i was looking through a mirror. and i loved getting to see her heal. wes was such a good mmc. he was very sweet and caring and so so patient. i really just loved their dynamic, and how much he helped her. but also at the same time, her story felt like her own.
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February 12, 2026A story that makes you feel love for both, yourself and the characters within. Absolutely love the writing that draws you in and makes you feel the beauty of love.
A great depiction of how events mold and shape the people we become.
Enjoyed this book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A great depiction of how events mold and shape the people we become.
Enjoyed this book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews