Not Over You, Actually

by Heidi Stephens

Discover a BRAND NEW, exceptionally fresh and funny second-chance romance, for fans of Holly Borne, Alexandra Potter and Monica Heisey. 💓💫💖📚 She’s moved on. Absolutely. Definitely…Sort of Two years post-divorce and flying solo at a family wedding in France, Kate locks eyes with a strikingly handsome man – only to realise it’s Hugh, her ex-husband. The cardigan-wearing, workaholic history professor she left behind has been transformed into a man who is sleek, confident, and maddeningly attractive.

She expected wedding drama, but not this. And when a favour she can’t refuse lands her on a road trip across France and Spain with the newly upgraded Hugh, Kate is forced to confront more than just old memories.

As detours turn into revelations, she has to is this just a scenic route back to heartbreak, or could revisiting the past lead her somewhere entirely new?

Smart, stylish, emotionally fearless romantic fiction for readers who love contemporary writing and heroines who’ve lived a little.

Praise for Heidi

'Witty, wise and romantic. Escapist fiction at it's absolute best' KATIE FFORDE

'Fun, sexy, and wonderfully escapist, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read!' EMILY STONE

'The blast of escapism we all need right now!' FIONA GIBSON

'The perfect escape for anybody who loves a swoon-worthy hero and a fabulous setting!' ZARA STONELEY

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Divorce, a destination wedding, and your ex showing up hotter, wiser, and emotionally available? Not Over You, Actually absolutely hijacked my peace and then poured me a glass of wine about it. Boldwood Books, thank you for the gifted ARC via NetGalley—because clearly I was not emotionally prepared for this level of second-chance chaos wrapped in a dreamy European escape.

This story doesn’t play cute with love—it digs into it. Kate is two years post-divorce, freshly 50, and trying to figure out who she is when she’s no longer someone’s wife, someone’s routine, someone’s “before.” And I loved her for that. She’s sharp, self-aware, a little messy in that very human way, and determined to move forward… until she quite literally runs into Hugh. Her ex-husband. At a wedding. In France. Looking like he’s had a full personality upgrade and a wardrobe intervention.

And Hugh? I need a moment. Because this man went from cardigan-coded emotional avoidance to quietly evolved, introspective, and (infuriatingly) attractive. The tension between them isn’t built on petty drama—it’s rooted in years of shared history, unsaid things, and the kind of emotional distance that doesn’t just disappear because the chemistry is still there. Watching them navigate that—carefully, awkwardly, honestly—felt so real it almost made me uncomfortable in the best way.

“There’s a difference between moving on… and never really letting go.”

That line? Yeah. Screenshot. Save. Spiral a little. Because this book understands something a lot of romances skip over: love doesn’t always end cleanly. Sometimes it lingers. Sometimes it waits. Sometimes it comes back wearing better shoes and emotional intelligence.

The road trip through France and Spain adds this lush, cinematic backdrop—vineyards, long drives, quiet conversations that stretch into something deeper—but it never overshadows the heart of the story. This isn’t about falling in love for the first time. It’s about asking if two people who already broke each other can rebuild something stronger, or if some stories are meant to stay in the past.

What really got me is how emotionally grounded this felt. There’s no rush to forgiveness, no glossing over the hard parts of marriage, divorce, and rediscovery. Kate and Hugh have to earn every inch of progress, and that makes every moment between them feel significant. Tender. A little fragile. The kind of connection that makes you hold your breath because you’re not sure if it’s going to heal or hurt.

Also—closed door, no spice, and yet somehow the tension? Off the charts. This book proves you don’t need explicit scenes when the emotional intimacy is doing all the heavy lifting.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I finished this feeling soft, reflective, and weirdly hopeful about love the second (or third) time around. So now I need to know—if your ex came back changed, truly changed… would you risk your peace to see if your story wasn’t actually over?

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[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate is nervous about attending her godson's wedding; her ex-husband, Hugh, whom she hasn't seen in 2 years, will also be in attendance. Hugh has had a glow-up in all aspects in the last two years, which throws Kate into a tailspin. Once the wedding starts to go off the rails, the two are forced together on an adventure. This time together begins to remind Kate of what they had once had, and if there is still something left to fight for.

I enjoyed that this was an older couple who already had a large part of life together. I liked the aspects of the story around Kate's feelings of being the sole parent and her loss of identity as a mother/wife. I found it strange that her kids and mum had so much control over her life at 50 years old but I guess we needed a reason for Hugh to be on the roadtrip!

Hugh, I liked his character, but he didn't feel as well defined as Kate (I mean it's not in his POV so I get that's expected). I think it might also be due to all his personal growth happening off-page. I also thought the whole not girlfriend who exists off page was a strange addition. Who is that person? I'm not sure why so much time was spent on her, other than making Kate jealous?

There were also more dynamic sequences not in the book; they went canoeing, but it was skipped over. I read a full chapter of them hiking. They went to vineyards near the start, but we hear about it in retrospect instead of going with them. I personally wanted to see these events.

There are not really any spicy scenes in the book; there is a hint of them, but it's a closed-door book. I just thought I would mention, as some people like those :)

I really didn't care for the friend characters. I wasn't even really sure why these people were friends, as Kate doesn't seem to like them. I think this is just a me thing. I found the whole obnoxious, posh, wealthy thing off-putting to read. They, on occasion, had real champagne problems.

I did find the slow build second chance romance realistic; it wasn't showy or over the top in any way. I like that Hugh was upfront about wanting to try again, leaving Kate space to think about it. I thought the Alan story was a little on the nose (for a minute, I legitimately thought he might be making it up to help her, but it was just too horrible not to be true!)

It's an easy read, and I enjoyed a lot of aspects of it of the actual romance. Good for second-chance romance fans, summer romance fans, or people who love architecture (/churches :) )

[Tanisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a longtime romance lover, and I always enjoy stories that bring something a little different to the genre. While I tend to read romances featuring younger couples, there is something really special about stories that focus on love later in life. When I read the description of this book, I was immediately intrigued. A second chance romance between a divorced couple who were married for years felt like such a unique and emotional premise.

This story pulled me in right from the beginning. Even though it is told in third person, I still felt very connected to both Kate and Hugh. There is so much history between them, and you can feel that in every interaction. I really liked how the story slowly peeled back the layers of their past and allowed you to see both sides of what went wrong. It was one of those books where you find yourself wanting the characters to just sit down and be honest with each other, while also understanding why that is not so easy for them.

I also really enjoyed the mix of humor and heart throughout the book. There were definitely some funny moments, especially with the side characters, but it also had a lot of emotional depth. Watching Kate reflect on her choices and start to see things from a different perspective added a meaningful layer to the story.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It was thoughtful, emotional, and different in a way that made it stand out. I love a good second chance romance, and this one delivered in a way that felt mature and satisfying.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second-chance romances don’t always feel this real—but Not Over You, Actually truly does. As someone who has been married for 25 years, I found this story especially meaningful. It explores not just falling in love, but what happens when people grow apart—and whether they can find their way back.

Kate and Hugh have been managing a civil divorce and co-parenting well, but when they see each other for the first time in two years at their godson’s wedding, everything shifts. Especially since Hugh has clearly done some work on himself. Their shared history comes through in every interaction, and I appreciated how the story slowly reveals what went wrong between them. It makes you want them to just be honest with each other, while also understanding why that’s so difficult.

Kate, in particular, felt very relatable. Her reflections on balancing life, family, and her own identity really resonated, and I enjoyed watching her begin to put herself first and recognize she deserved more. Their time traveling together added a beautiful backdrop to the story, but it was the quiet conversations and gradual rebuilding of their relationship that stood out most.

What I liked most was that the story felt honest. It doesn’t rush forgiveness or ignore the harder parts of marriage and divorce. Instead, it allows both characters to grow and figure out if they can create something stronger than what they had before.

Overall, this was a thoughtful, emotional read with just the right mix of humor and heart. A mature and satisfying take on a second-chance romance that lingers after you finish.

Thank you, NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Heidi Stephens!

[R Mmm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ended up having pretty mixed feelings about this one.

On the surface, I did enjoy it—the writing was engaging, and I was invested enough to see how everything played out. Kate and Hugh’s story has a lot of emotional weight, especially with the backdrop of their divorce. Kate’s frustration felt very real: the miscommunication, feeling underappreciated, and being stuck in the day-to-day grind of raising their two girls largely on her own. That sense of being trapped in a “hamster wheel” for over twenty years really came through.

What gave me pause, though, was Hugh’s arc. When we meet him again, he’s had a bit of a glow-up—both in appearance and outlook—but it’s hard to ignore that he never actually fought for their marriage when it mattered. Yes, he still loved Kate, and yes, he eventually apologizes and recognizes where he went wrong… but it takes a wedding, forced proximity, and a shared trip for him to get there.

That left me wondering: if they hadn’t been thrown back together like this, would he have ever tried to make things right? After two years of co-existing post-divorce without that effort, it’s a tough question to shake.

Still, there’s something satisfying about seeing them reconnect and confront the past. I just wish the emotional work—especially on Hugh’s side—had come sooner and felt a bit more earned.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amee · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC read, a big thanks to NetGalley. As someone that went through a divorce a lifetime ago, the thought of rekindling anything other than it being his soul, is hard for me to imagine. Took a big step away from my own baggage to allow myself enjoyment for Kate and Hugh’s second chance, once in a lifetime adventure. I really was jealous of the location, our mc’s travelled from France to Barcelona, Spain, with frequent stops along the way we were able to experience with them. Never having travelled across the Atlantic, I was hanging word for word about the details…and for me who is not a detail oriented reader, that says a lot. I do have one complaint, everything about this story is based in the UK and Europe, but there was an poorly placed joke about the American President, that weather you love, hate or are indifferent, it just didn’t belong when everything in this story is based on European continent. Felt a bit like pandering to American audiences to me. I have a good sense of humor regarding US politics in general and how crap they are, but the joke just didn't belong. There is a tad bit of OW drama, but overall it’s safe. What I enjoyed most is Kate’s realization that Hugh has really changed in the 2 years they’ve been apart, and Hugh seeing he didnt fight for his marriage like he should have. We get a cute HEA and between the humor throughout that kept me laughing, and the location details, Not Over You, Actually is a definite recommend. .

[Angela Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate and Hugh have had a civilised divorce and are co-parenting perfectly fine. When their godson gets married they are forced to see each other in person for the first time in two years. Cue a new and improved High who has worked on himself and had a definite glow up.

The story flowed brilliantly and Kate was a really relatable character. I could emphasis with her life of being a middle aged peri menopausal woman just being dragged down by motherhood and work life balance etc I loved how she transformed and began to put herself first after realising she deserved more.

Kate and Hugh’s trip was so fun to read as they travelled together and shared new experiences while repairing first their friendship and then relationship. I loved how it was realistic and didn’t shy away from all parts of marriage and what they had both lost as their family had grown.

The setting was stunning and really added to the book.

I also loved the shared intimacy between Kate and Hugh and the romantic tension as they began to feel more comfortable together and realise what they had.

A fantastic read with some wonderful characters such as Angel Alan which I think we would all like in our life.

Thanks to NetGalley, Heidi Stephen’s and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first time I read a book about a divorced couple reconnecting. I thought it was done well. Kate receives a once-in-a-lifetime offer to go on an adventure through France and Spain as a thank you for ruining a wedding (I promise it makes sense in the story). Struggling to discover herself post-divorce after a long marriage and recently turning 50, Kate agrees to the trip. While her ex-husband Hugh was also at the wedding, he is headed to Scotland with a lady friend when a phone call home to their daughters results in Hugh joining Kate’s trip, much to her dismay. It seems Hugh did a lot of self-discovery in the two years since the split and has transformed inside and out. The trip offers a chance for them to become friends again and have some open dialogue that was needed in their marriage. I felt the author took care with this type of relationship, and it felt natural. The ending was done well, and I think readers will be pleased. This was a closed-door romance with no spice. Check it out.

Thank you, Boldwood Books, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Rebecca Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Over You, Actually was an emotional journey through Kate and Hugh’s relationship both in the past and currently.
It was great being able to see how the marriage broke down over time and the realisation about what they each could have done differently.
I loved how their love story was messy and imperfect. They both had to grow as people to really appreciate each other.
What stopped me from giving more stars is the feeling that Kate never truly got her independence on the week away. It felt that she had Hugh forced on her for the trip and then the girls later. It felt like it went against the list of things that she wanted to do at 50 and that she never got to truly do something for herself. The other thing missing for me was if Hugh was still in love with Kate when was he going to tell her, rather than telling the girls not to mention him at all.
I loved how realistic Kate’s storyline was and how easy it is to picture yourself in the same shoes.
This is for anybody that loves second chance romances and middle aged main characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced review copy. All thoughts are left voluntarily.

[KirstN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine seeing your ex-husband two years post-divorce, at a beautiful wedding in France no less, and discovering he’s undergone a transformative glow-up since entering his singledom, while you’re newly 50 and starting to wonder who you actually are, what you want for yourself out of life, and what you’re willing to do to get it. Add to this a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience across France and Spain planned and funded by a *very* wealthy man and you’ve got yourself a fun time. While the experience Kate is offered is very much in the “too good to be true” realm (it basically reads as fantasy, one that many people would happily accept), this doesn’t take away from the journey she goes on with Hugh, and the very real, very human emotions they go through as they navigate their new relationship with one another, bringing a new perspective into their shared history.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC.

[Kylee Stout · Rating 3 out of 5]

No Over You is a story that will likely resonate with many people who have experienced divorce—especially those that end amicably simply because the love has faded. The main character, a relatable middle-aged woman, is trying to redefine herself after her marriage ends. As she embarks on a new bucket list at age 50, she sets out to rediscover who she is as a single woman.

Along the way, she unexpectedly finds herself falling back in love with her ex-husband during a quirky and adventurous journey. While the story is engaging and easy to follow, I found it lacking a deeper sense of independence, passion, and personal freedom. There was an opportunity to explore what it truly means for a woman to reclaim her identity outside of marriage and motherhood.

Too often, women lose their voice and sense of self within relationships and family life. By the end, it feels like the character gravitates back toward those familiar roles rather than fully embracing who she could become without them. While the story is heartfelt and relatable, I was left wanting a stronger message of self-discovery and empowerment.

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great five-star read filled with romance and adventure. This was a great story, about moving on and coming back to yourself. Kate was just such a delightful character, and there were some really fun characters in this story. I especially liked that most of the characters were middle aged, and not all in their 20’s and showing that you can have fun and enjoy yourself no matter your age. I loved the scavenger hunt type trip, the excitement that it brought to me wondering what next was just the balm I needed to make the world a brighter place again. This was a delightful romance that was paced well, I liked how they thought things though but still enjoyed the moments life gives us. Once again showing us what a great author they are.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

hank you to Boldwood Books for this ARC. This is my first book by Hedi Stephens.
Not Over You, Actually follows divorced couple Hugh and Kate that go to a destination wedding in France which goes awry and Monsieur Durand proposes Kate to go on the honeymoon trip that was meant for his daughter Olivia and her soon to be husband James. I like the relationship between Hugh and Kate. Hugh joined Kate and they had a fun week together and they were willing to give their relationship another go.

I will read another Heidi Stephens book when they come out.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute romcom, less com and a lot of rom. It's a pretty predictable story, with really no twists, turns, or lessons. It's a very quick read. Characters are barely fleshed out, I know almost nothing about the side characters other than MFC's brother. It was okay for a quick, easy read.

[Bevany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet second chance romance. I love that this book featured a couple the was mature and not your typical young couple. The characters and their journey were fun and relatable. Not a smutty book, the book focuses more on the relationship and friendship that builds and defines a relationship.

[Gwendolyn Zaczepinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

Interesting twist on a second chance romance. I was entertained, but it felt a bit slow.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt and zany second change romance set in the most beautiful parts of France and Spain. Kate and Hugh divorced 2 years ago, and when they reconnect at their godson's glamorous wedding, Kate isn't sure what to feel about the new and improved Hugh. When the wedding goes awry, Kate and Hugh take off on a road trip to retrieve an errant wedding gift. As they travel Europe on a surprisingly romantic adventure, they reexamine the death of their relationship, and if there is any future for them together.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of this book. It was a really fun read!

[WhatFrizRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a readable book!

After divorcing her husband, Kate writes herself 50 before 50 and decides to embrace this before having to face her ex at their godson's wedding. As the wedding is thrown. Into disarray, Kate is thrown into an adventure that far outweighs her '50 before 50' ideas.

This is a really great escapist read; it's enjoyable and believable whilst also being quite glamorous and a little ridiculous! The characters are all likeable and the setting is gorgeous.

[Sax and Romance Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Bradley is now 50 years old. She is recently divorced, and has spent her adult life taking care of everyone else’s needs. Her ex-husband’s, her brother’s, her children’s…but mostly not her own needs. “You’re fifty now, and getting your $**t together isn’t going to get any easier. You’ve found yourself in a rut, but you have more than most to work with. Chin, up and stop wallowing.”

Kate hasn’t seen her ex-husband for two years - until they are both in attendance at their godson’s wedding. Everything goes a little sideways, and Kate finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime. Who wouldn’t want to drive an Aston Martin through the countryside in France and Spain??

The question is - second-chances or new beginnings? But most importantly, Kate goes on the journey of making space for being who she is. If you enjoy a slow burn, if you enjoy sweet with no spice, if you enjoy an emotional journey - Not Over You, Actually is the book for you!