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From Square One
Not yet published
Expected 27 Oct 26Falling in love with your enemy? Impossible. Falling in love with him twice? -- A.M. Woody again doubles down on the rom-com genre with their signature wit, humor, and poignancy.
After an accident leaves Riley Wilson with amnesia to deal with on top of his chronic pain, he can recall everything except the crash that landed him in the hospital, the last year of his life, and having a boyfriend. Who happens to be his older brother’s best friend. And the guy he resents more than anyone . . .
Learning this information sends Riley spiraling. In what world, then, could someone as sensible and meticulous as Riley have ever willingly agree to go out with Aaron—an arrogant prick who screwed up his brother’s life?
Riley would love nothing more than to use his amnesia as an excuse to start fresh and snip Aaron out of his life. But with his family being cagey about the past, and his memories far out of reach, he realizes that this troublemaker is the only person willing to help him remember the last year. And teaming up with him despite his brother’s protests may be the only path to finding the missing memories—even if it means starting from square one and reenacting every date, every kiss, every “first” they’ve ever had in the hopes of rediscovering them.
All Riley has to do is not make the same mistake by falling in love twice.
After an accident leaves Riley Wilson with amnesia to deal with on top of his chronic pain, he can recall everything except the crash that landed him in the hospital, the last year of his life, and having a boyfriend. Who happens to be his older brother’s best friend. And the guy he resents more than anyone . . .
Learning this information sends Riley spiraling. In what world, then, could someone as sensible and meticulous as Riley have ever willingly agree to go out with Aaron—an arrogant prick who screwed up his brother’s life?
Riley would love nothing more than to use his amnesia as an excuse to start fresh and snip Aaron out of his life. But with his family being cagey about the past, and his memories far out of reach, he realizes that this troublemaker is the only person willing to help him remember the last year. And teaming up with him despite his brother’s protests may be the only path to finding the missing memories—even if it means starting from square one and reenacting every date, every kiss, every “first” they’ve ever had in the hopes of rediscovering them.
All Riley has to do is not make the same mistake by falling in love twice.
288 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 27, 2026
About the author
A.M. Woody
4 books189 followersA. M. Woody is a queer nonbinary author based in metro-Detroit and represented by New Leaf Literary. Some of their book weaknesses include:
Uncontrollable magic
Boys who fall in love
Girls with swords
Snarky banter
Eyes that glow
Chaotic queers
Dorks to lovers
Pirates and thieves
Uncontrollable magic
Boys who fall in love
Girls with swords
Snarky banter
Eyes that glow
Chaotic queers
Dorks to lovers
Pirates and thieves
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 15, 2026
I’m a huge A.M. Woody fan and I’d read anything they’d write. So when I found the ARC in my email, I was ecstatic and immediately started reading. I adored the first chapter. But something started nagging in my mind too, because Aaron was lovebombing Riley so much and I wasn’t sure if I found it creepy or loved it.
He tells me he loves me repeatedly, he just bought me everything I wanted at the carnival, he’s interrupted my schedule to spend time with me, and he’s been trying to convince me to distance myself from my family. On paper they’re red flags. And I’m a perfect prey for that behavior because I’m an awkward people-pleaser with low self-esteem.
Still, I read on and on because I trust A.M. Woody, and I got more and more invested in Riley’s and Adam’s story. Aaron was so incredibly sweet to Riley that my heart melted. The way he fought to get Riley back, awe… that’s something special.
And a shoutout to his dads, because they were something else too, even though they only made a small appearance in the story.
I really shouldn’t have doubted at the start of this story. In the end, I loved it so much. And I even liked the messy third-act breakup (this is coming from a third-act breakup hater). I think it was needed and shows how people can make bad decisions and still change later in life.
So, if you love to read a softer story with hurt underneath, then pick up From Square One. It won’t disappoint you. I promise!
Thank you so much, A.M. Woody, for this beautiful ARC!
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He tells me he loves me repeatedly, he just bought me everything I wanted at the carnival, he’s interrupted my schedule to spend time with me, and he’s been trying to convince me to distance myself from my family. On paper they’re red flags. And I’m a perfect prey for that behavior because I’m an awkward people-pleaser with low self-esteem.
Still, I read on and on because I trust A.M. Woody, and I got more and more invested in Riley’s and Adam’s story. Aaron was so incredibly sweet to Riley that my heart melted. The way he fought to get Riley back, awe… that’s something special.
And a shoutout to his dads, because they were something else too, even though they only made a small appearance in the story.
I really shouldn’t have doubted at the start of this story. In the end, I loved it so much. And I even liked the messy third-act breakup (this is coming from a third-act breakup hater). I think it was needed and shows how people can make bad decisions and still change later in life.
So, if you love to read a softer story with hurt underneath, then pick up From Square One. It won’t disappoint you. I promise!
Thank you so much, A.M. Woody, for this beautiful ARC!
Follow me on Instagram
May 19, 2026
Another beautifully written YA with heart and pain and complex, hurting characters, who’ll take up permanent space in your heart 🥹
Imagine waking up in the hospital, thinking you had a simple fainting spell - only to then find out you’re missing the last 15 months of your life. 15 months during which you apparently changed your whole life’s plan and also started dating your brother’s best friend, whom you hated. But not only that. You find out that in the meantime your brother and his best friend had a major falling out. And that your brother, who you love and trust, tells you that your boyfriend is a manipulative, dangerous asshole and that you shouldn’t trust him. At all.
What do you do? Do you trust your brother and your parents who act like they’re hiding something? Or your past self? Or the guy with the beautiful face and the emotion shining out of his eyes whenever he looks at you? The guy who calls you sunshine and tells you he loves you like he means it?
Aaron, oh Aaron, you cocky but ultimately charming boy that you are. You put me and my poor emotions through the wringer.
Aaron is the ex best friend and boyfriend and he was a difficult character to grasp and like at first, ngl. He’s kinda reckless, cocky, pushes boundaries, doesn’t take no for an answer and oh boy, that grated on me.
But then he’s also so gentle, so full of obvious love and a deep understanding of who Riley is, ready to do whatever it takes, ready to be whatever Riley needs him to be. One second he made me seriously uncomfortable, the next I wanted to fall to my knees and praise him for being the way he was.
Riley has celiac disease and with that comes a whole lot of anxiety. He’s also, for that reason, lonely and so petrified of being a nuisance, of taking up space, of needing this extra bit of special treatment. Convinced he’s ’too much effort‘, he ends up isolating, constantly feeling guilty for his needs, over-apologising for simply.. existing. And to compensate for feeling like a burden he tries being ‘useful’, overexerting himself, looking out for everyone else while being overlooked himself.
So yeah, Riley is just not used to ever being put first and that is absolutely heartbreaking to read.
So when Aaron does exactly that? And shows him he’s worth the effort, the attention, the small sacrifices and being a priority? That he is worth to be known and wanted and loved deeply, worth to be chosen over and over again?
Man, that was powerful to read.
There was so much gentleness, intuition, understanding and affection between the two, alongside all the hurt and I loved reading their relationship arc so much.
All that said, I think this is also the kind of story where you have to go with the flow a little. Aaron’s behaviour in the beginning could be frustrating at times, and while the whole memory-loss storyline definitely made for an interesting and emotional plot, some aspects didn’t always feel fully convincing to me personally. Things like recreating all the dates instead of simply sitting down and talking things through occasionally required a bit of suspension of disbelief on my part — same with the fact that Riley seemed to experience so few other TBI symptoms.
The characters also came across a little younger at times, especially Riley, so I occasionally had to remind myself that he was actually 18 already.
All in all though, I thoroughly enjoyed having my emotions put through the wringer. Because I really felt it all: rage, hopelessness but also so much love and warmth.
Also: the way I SQUEALED at the THEO reference 😭
In true AM Woody fashion, there are so many great quotes I simply cannot decide between, so here are a few of my favs 🥹🥹
Thank you to the wonderful AM Woody for sending me an early copy of this book. Please be aware that there might be some changes made until release day!
Imagine waking up in the hospital, thinking you had a simple fainting spell - only to then find out you’re missing the last 15 months of your life. 15 months during which you apparently changed your whole life’s plan and also started dating your brother’s best friend, whom you hated. But not only that. You find out that in the meantime your brother and his best friend had a major falling out. And that your brother, who you love and trust, tells you that your boyfriend is a manipulative, dangerous asshole and that you shouldn’t trust him. At all.
What do you do? Do you trust your brother and your parents who act like they’re hiding something? Or your past self? Or the guy with the beautiful face and the emotion shining out of his eyes whenever he looks at you? The guy who calls you sunshine and tells you he loves you like he means it?
Aaron, oh Aaron, you cocky but ultimately charming boy that you are. You put me and my poor emotions through the wringer.
Aaron is the ex best friend and boyfriend and he was a difficult character to grasp and like at first, ngl. He’s kinda reckless, cocky, pushes boundaries, doesn’t take no for an answer and oh boy, that grated on me.
But then he’s also so gentle, so full of obvious love and a deep understanding of who Riley is, ready to do whatever it takes, ready to be whatever Riley needs him to be. One second he made me seriously uncomfortable, the next I wanted to fall to my knees and praise him for being the way he was.
Riley has celiac disease and with that comes a whole lot of anxiety. He’s also, for that reason, lonely and so petrified of being a nuisance, of taking up space, of needing this extra bit of special treatment. Convinced he’s ’too much effort‘, he ends up isolating, constantly feeling guilty for his needs, over-apologising for simply.. existing. And to compensate for feeling like a burden he tries being ‘useful’, overexerting himself, looking out for everyone else while being overlooked himself.
So yeah, Riley is just not used to ever being put first and that is absolutely heartbreaking to read.
So when Aaron does exactly that? And shows him he’s worth the effort, the attention, the small sacrifices and being a priority? That he is worth to be known and wanted and loved deeply, worth to be chosen over and over again?
Man, that was powerful to read.
There was so much gentleness, intuition, understanding and affection between the two, alongside all the hurt and I loved reading their relationship arc so much.
All that said, I think this is also the kind of story where you have to go with the flow a little. Aaron’s behaviour in the beginning could be frustrating at times, and while the whole memory-loss storyline definitely made for an interesting and emotional plot, some aspects didn’t always feel fully convincing to me personally. Things like recreating all the dates instead of simply sitting down and talking things through occasionally required a bit of suspension of disbelief on my part — same with the fact that Riley seemed to experience so few other TBI symptoms.
The characters also came across a little younger at times, especially Riley, so I occasionally had to remind myself that he was actually 18 already.
All in all though, I thoroughly enjoyed having my emotions put through the wringer. Because I really felt it all: rage, hopelessness but also so much love and warmth.
Also: the way I SQUEALED at the THEO reference 😭
In true AM Woody fashion, there are so many great quotes I simply cannot decide between, so here are a few of my favs 🥹🥹
„I hate you,“ I snap.
Aaron’s mischievous smile fractures, and his pale eyes flood with sudden, unexpected grief that hitches the breath in my lungs. „I… I understand,“ he whispers. „That’s okay. I have enough love to carry both of us.“ 😮💨
“I’m too much effort,” I say, and the frailty in my voice brings salty tears to my eyes. “There are so many people who don’t have inconvenient conditions… people who have energy and exciting personalities and unbroken bodies…”
“Riley.” His word comes with quiet breathiness, like he didn’t mean to voice it. “You have no idea how effortless it is to love you.” 🥺
“You don’t have to pretend,” he whispers. “Not around me.”
“I’m not going to cry,” I snap.
He smiles with a kindness I’ve never seen and strokes a tear streak from my temple.
“I don’t need to cry, so I won’t.”
He massages away another one.
“Crying doesn’t help anything, so I…”
Both of his thumbs are working my cheekbones now, smoothing the wetness away.
Suddenly, I’m bursting into sobs. 💔
„Well… thanks for going through the trouble,“ I murmur.
„It’s not trouble. Not for you.“ 😭
Thank you to the wonderful AM Woody for sending me an early copy of this book. Please be aware that there might be some changes made until release day!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
a.m. woody does it again! they continue to be an auto buy author for me, not to mention a “binge in one sitting” author
as is to be expected with a.m. woody’s books, this story doesn’t shy away from heavy themes. i particularly loved the chronic illness rep and the characterization of complicated family relationships. riley’s family members aren’t cartoon villains, but their selfishness hurts him, physically and mentally. aaron’s home life is safe and loving, but his relationship with his estranged mother isn’t. together, our two main characters complement each other, and their relationship feels equitable even with a big medical wedge between them. the book also accomplishes one of my favorite feats: a single-POV romance with a love interest who is nevertheless three-dimensional
so very glad to have received an arc for this one—thank you, penguin teen! i look forward to rereading it upon release
as is to be expected with a.m. woody’s books, this story doesn’t shy away from heavy themes. i particularly loved the chronic illness rep and the characterization of complicated family relationships. riley’s family members aren’t cartoon villains, but their selfishness hurts him, physically and mentally. aaron’s home life is safe and loving, but his relationship with his estranged mother isn’t. together, our two main characters complement each other, and their relationship feels equitable even with a big medical wedge between them. the book also accomplishes one of my favorite feats: a single-POV romance with a love interest who is nevertheless three-dimensional
so very glad to have received an arc for this one—thank you, penguin teen! i look forward to rereading it upon release
remind-me-once-out
April 8, 2026I'm fine, it's fine, I don't have an arc, but I will cope...
May 14, 2026
4.5⭐️ binge read this today, it wasn’t the plan for the day but it somehow ended up that way and i’m not mad about it one bit. i was giggling screaming kicking my feet and also feeling so sad at some points… love love love the characters and the story (and the cameo from THEO)! also loveeeee the celiac and anemic representation!!!
May 31, 2026
Waking up in the hospital after an accident and finding out that he's lost a over a years worth of memories, Riley also finds out that he's apparently been dating his older brother's ex best friend and a guy he's always hated, Aaron. Desperate to get his memories back, he and Aaron make a pact to recreate their dates to try and jumpstart Riley's memories.
I really appreciated the different type of main character that Riley was. Not only dealing with multiple chronic health issues but also mental illness, it was nice to see a different kind of main love interest represented.
Now Aaron, he comes on awful strong at the beginning of this story. But as I love AM Woody's writing I know to trust story and everything truly unfolded slowly and made sense. Truly a loverboy at heart, if you're put off by him at first please give him a chance! He has so much love to give and deserves good things.
Riley's family is a differently story. I don't want to spoil too much of the story, but Riley learns to not only take up space and to not feel like a burden but to know that he deserves loves too.
Watching these two fall in love (the second time for them), to stand up for themselves and be completely honest with each other? Well, I was crying at one point near the end of the book.
I really enjoyed the two complicated main characters and messy feelings. This was a lovely story.
Thank you AM Wood and Viking Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really appreciated the different type of main character that Riley was. Not only dealing with multiple chronic health issues but also mental illness, it was nice to see a different kind of main love interest represented.
Now Aaron, he comes on awful strong at the beginning of this story. But as I love AM Woody's writing I know to trust story and everything truly unfolded slowly and made sense. Truly a loverboy at heart, if you're put off by him at first please give him a chance! He has so much love to give and deserves good things.
Riley's family is a differently story. I don't want to spoil too much of the story, but Riley learns to not only take up space and to not feel like a burden but to know that he deserves loves too.
Watching these two fall in love (the second time for them), to stand up for themselves and be completely honest with each other? Well, I was crying at one point near the end of the book.
I really enjoyed the two complicated main characters and messy feelings. This was a lovely story.
Thank you AM Wood and Viking Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from the author
A. M. Woody has become one of my favorite authors and I’m so grateful that I got to read this one before its release.
As always with A. M.’s books, this one was sweet, funny and devastating. It surprisingly was also healing to me to witness a character as Riley, who suffers from chronic illness, and who learns to love and value himself. It made me feel seen and represented and I adored Riley’s personal storyline. When it comes to the romance, I’m a big fan of A.M’s way of writing dialogues and I just loved seeing Aaron and Riley fall in love (again). The only thing I regret is that the book wasn’t longer, I needed so much more of these two.
I think it’s pretty clear to me now that I would read A. M. Woody’s grocery shopping list at this point!
A. M. Woody has become one of my favorite authors and I’m so grateful that I got to read this one before its release.
As always with A. M.’s books, this one was sweet, funny and devastating. It surprisingly was also healing to me to witness a character as Riley, who suffers from chronic illness, and who learns to love and value himself. It made me feel seen and represented and I adored Riley’s personal storyline. When it comes to the romance, I’m a big fan of A.M’s way of writing dialogues and I just loved seeing Aaron and Riley fall in love (again). The only thing I regret is that the book wasn’t longer, I needed so much more of these two.
I think it’s pretty clear to me now that I would read A. M. Woody’s grocery shopping list at this point!
May 17, 2026
Another amazing ARC gifted by the one and only Amanda.
Much like with MVP, this book dropped into my hands at the right time. I rarely read YA anymore, but AM’s books will always always be a welcome exception.
FSO was a book I wqs scared to read when I first saw the synopsis. I usually avoid amnesia-related storylines like the plague because they make me way too sad and anxious, even when I know there is a happy ending. In this case, I decided to make an exception and I am SO glad I did.
Just thinking about how Aaron must have been hurting had me shedding tears pretty much every other chapter, but the way he and Riley learn to heal, to take care of each other, to be honest and stand up for what they deserve. Its all so satisfying and heartwarming. Excellent discussions of chronic illness and of the right (and wrong) ways to care for someone with a chronic illness, or boundaries, of forgiveness all round a beautiful story.
Much like with MVP, this book dropped into my hands at the right time. I rarely read YA anymore, but AM’s books will always always be a welcome exception.
FSO was a book I wqs scared to read when I first saw the synopsis. I usually avoid amnesia-related storylines like the plague because they make me way too sad and anxious, even when I know there is a happy ending. In this case, I decided to make an exception and I am SO glad I did.
Just thinking about how Aaron must have been hurting had me shedding tears pretty much every other chapter, but the way he and Riley learn to heal, to take care of each other, to be honest and stand up for what they deserve. Its all so satisfying and heartwarming. Excellent discussions of chronic illness and of the right (and wrong) ways to care for someone with a chronic illness, or boundaries, of forgiveness all round a beautiful story.
June 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Woody can do little wrong in terms of writing a book with characters I get to obsess over as I am reading their books. Something about their writing just hooks me immediately. I eat up everything they write, I truly mean I need them to write so many more books, because they are so enjoyable.
This one didn’t have as much emotional turmoil or heavy topics as the previous book did, but it still had so much angst my heart was aching at so many points. I stayed up until 2am reading one night because I just couldn’t put it down!
I love the premise of this book. Losing your memories to discover you are dating the guy you thought you hated: A+ trope!
This worked for me so well in the beginning. I loved seeing the dynamic of their relationship. You could tell how much Aaron loved Riley, and it hurt me so badly when I was reading Riley push him away. I understood because he didn’t know any better, but I still could feel exactly how Aaron was feeling!
As things progressed, I started to lose my interest slightly. I was still invested in their relationship and loved them together, but it got a little repetitive. They were in different spots or doing different things, but it was Aaron riling Riley up, Riley acting like he didn’t want it but eventually succumbing, over and over again. I have a slight issue too, which this is a personal problem, but once the couple really starts to get together, I start to lose interest because the drama of them getting together is so much more interesting to me. They didn’t truly get together until toward the last couple of pages, but still I could tell things were more romantic than angsty, which the angst is what drew me into the book so much previously.
Another thing I had a slight issue with, and this is a little bit of a spoiler, but Aaron rubbed me the wrong way sometimes. Don’t get me wrong I loved how much he cared for Riley and he was very charming, but it was a little aggressive sometimes how much he pushed Riley’s boundaries. I don’t want people thinking that he was forcing himself on him, because there were times when Riley gave a distinct no, and Aaron realized he was serious and backed off, but there were so many times Riley didn’t want him flirting with him, or holding his hand and what not, and Aaron just did it anyway. In Riley’s mind he didn’t actually want him to stop, but still. I know Aaron and Riley were dating, so to Aaron, everything he was doing was okay because Riley was okay with it before, but right now Riley doesn’t have his memories, so if he doesn’t want Aaron to do certain things, Aaron should respect that. I didn’t mind so much that Aaron kept going to his house or going where Riley was, but the slight pushing of physical boundaries didn’t sit well with me sometimes. Aaron never pushed Riley further than he wanted to go, but I still wish there was less of that. It would have been better for Aaron to charm him with being a good person and being flirty than being physical. I know it was mentioned a lot that Aaron didn’t use to be a good person, but that still doesn’t excuse it.
Maybe some things will be changed when the final copy comes out, so it is not as intense.
The plotline with Riley’s family was slightly over the top for me, but I am sure things like that do happen in real life. Flaky parents mixed with a complex of feeling like you’re a burden can get you into that spot! I just can’t imagine they would see a son in so much pain and completely ignore it. ESPECIALLY after an accident. I know they were used to Riley taking care of them, but there is no way, no matter how flaky you are, that you would make your son do everything after just being in a car accident and almost dying. Though who knows, maybe I am just being too optimistic and that does happen more than people would think. Logan I didn’t forgive, but he was just a kid, so you can’t put too much blame on him, at least in the way of making Riley take care of the family. I do place blame on everything else he did. He was a terrible brother for all lot of the book. I am glad Riley wasn’t as easily forgiving of him.
The reason for the accident was kind of predictable, but not in a bad way. I just kind of figured what secrets they were keeping.
It was cool to have celiac disease represented in this book. I know someone whose husband has it, and she has started to eat gluten free in solidarity with him as well. So to see the dynamic of a partnership that reflects that was really neat. I am sure people with celiac disease appreciate it too!
I loved the cameo of characters from Woody’s other book! That was a fun surprise!
Overall this was such a great book! It made me feel a lot of emotions and as I said before I love Woody’s writing so much. It is an easy read to pick up and get sucked into a romance.
Woody can do little wrong in terms of writing a book with characters I get to obsess over as I am reading their books. Something about their writing just hooks me immediately. I eat up everything they write, I truly mean I need them to write so many more books, because they are so enjoyable.
This one didn’t have as much emotional turmoil or heavy topics as the previous book did, but it still had so much angst my heart was aching at so many points. I stayed up until 2am reading one night because I just couldn’t put it down!
I love the premise of this book. Losing your memories to discover you are dating the guy you thought you hated: A+ trope!
This worked for me so well in the beginning. I loved seeing the dynamic of their relationship. You could tell how much Aaron loved Riley, and it hurt me so badly when I was reading Riley push him away. I understood because he didn’t know any better, but I still could feel exactly how Aaron was feeling!
As things progressed, I started to lose my interest slightly. I was still invested in their relationship and loved them together, but it got a little repetitive. They were in different spots or doing different things, but it was Aaron riling Riley up, Riley acting like he didn’t want it but eventually succumbing, over and over again. I have a slight issue too, which this is a personal problem, but once the couple really starts to get together, I start to lose interest because the drama of them getting together is so much more interesting to me. They didn’t truly get together until toward the last couple of pages, but still I could tell things were more romantic than angsty, which the angst is what drew me into the book so much previously.
Another thing I had a slight issue with, and this is a little bit of a spoiler, but Aaron rubbed me the wrong way sometimes. Don’t get me wrong I loved how much he cared for Riley and he was very charming, but it was a little aggressive sometimes how much he pushed Riley’s boundaries. I don’t want people thinking that he was forcing himself on him, because there were times when Riley gave a distinct no, and Aaron realized he was serious and backed off, but there were so many times Riley didn’t want him flirting with him, or holding his hand and what not, and Aaron just did it anyway. In Riley’s mind he didn’t actually want him to stop, but still. I know Aaron and Riley were dating, so to Aaron, everything he was doing was okay because Riley was okay with it before, but right now Riley doesn’t have his memories, so if he doesn’t want Aaron to do certain things, Aaron should respect that. I didn’t mind so much that Aaron kept going to his house or going where Riley was, but the slight pushing of physical boundaries didn’t sit well with me sometimes. Aaron never pushed Riley further than he wanted to go, but I still wish there was less of that. It would have been better for Aaron to charm him with being a good person and being flirty than being physical. I know it was mentioned a lot that Aaron didn’t use to be a good person, but that still doesn’t excuse it.
Maybe some things will be changed when the final copy comes out, so it is not as intense.
The plotline with Riley’s family was slightly over the top for me, but I am sure things like that do happen in real life. Flaky parents mixed with a complex of feeling like you’re a burden can get you into that spot! I just can’t imagine they would see a son in so much pain and completely ignore it. ESPECIALLY after an accident. I know they were used to Riley taking care of them, but there is no way, no matter how flaky you are, that you would make your son do everything after just being in a car accident and almost dying. Though who knows, maybe I am just being too optimistic and that does happen more than people would think. Logan I didn’t forgive, but he was just a kid, so you can’t put too much blame on him, at least in the way of making Riley take care of the family. I do place blame on everything else he did. He was a terrible brother for all lot of the book. I am glad Riley wasn’t as easily forgiving of him.
The reason for the accident was kind of predictable, but not in a bad way. I just kind of figured what secrets they were keeping.
It was cool to have celiac disease represented in this book. I know someone whose husband has it, and she has started to eat gluten free in solidarity with him as well. So to see the dynamic of a partnership that reflects that was really neat. I am sure people with celiac disease appreciate it too!
I loved the cameo of characters from Woody’s other book! That was a fun surprise!
Overall this was such a great book! It made me feel a lot of emotions and as I said before I love Woody’s writing so much. It is an easy read to pick up and get sucked into a romance.
June 17, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random house for the ARC of this book. From Square One, summed up in one sentence: What if we have enemies-to-lovers, but skip the enemies part? Riley wakes up from an accident with amnesia and can’t remember the last 15 months of his life. As if that in and of itself wasn’t terrifying- to add salt to the wound, he finds out he’s spent most of that time dating the guy who ruined his brother’s life.
This is not an expression I use frequently, but From Square One had me kicking my feet, screaming. As Aaron helps Riley regain his memories, we are given deeper insight into Riley’s family dynamic and struggles with being a people pleaser (which felt a little too relatable to me). I found myself genuinely laughing when he and Aaron would tease each other or Riley would get mad at himself for not finding Aaron totally repulsive. This is a story of queer joy and queer love. Of living life. Of being terrified to take a chance but doing it anyway. Highly recommend!
This is not an expression I use frequently, but From Square One had me kicking my feet, screaming. As Aaron helps Riley regain his memories, we are given deeper insight into Riley’s family dynamic and struggles with being a people pleaser (which felt a little too relatable to me). I found myself genuinely laughing when he and Aaron would tease each other or Riley would get mad at himself for not finding Aaron totally repulsive. This is a story of queer joy and queer love. Of living life. Of being terrified to take a chance but doing it anyway. Highly recommend!
Did Not Finish
May 7, 2026Dnf @ 16%
After adoring They Hate Each Other and Most Valuable Player by this author I was so excited to read From Square One especially since it has one of my favorite tropes, the amnesia trope. However, I really wasn’t gelling with the overall execution. Was I the person with amnesia because the substance of the first few chapters felt like reading one of these sentences every five lines:
“I can’t eat gluten”
“My brother lost his scholarship”
“Aaron was a bad influence on my brother”
“I loathe Aaron”
So yeah that got old pretty quick.
Now I can’t fully judge what ends up happening and developing with the characters but I felt like the whole amnesia trope didn’t deliver the angst that usually coincides with it. In my eyes Aaron seemed to underreact to the whole fact that Riley had no recollection of them dating and the entire last year of his life. Dude was way too nonchalant and borderline corny, maybe it ends up hitting harder later into the book. I don't know, the dynamic just felt so off.
I’m still kind of curious how everything ends up with Riley’s brother so I’ll probably look up spoilery reviews once the book is out.
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Viking Books for Young Readers for providing me with this eARC.
After adoring They Hate Each Other and Most Valuable Player by this author I was so excited to read From Square One especially since it has one of my favorite tropes, the amnesia trope. However, I really wasn’t gelling with the overall execution. Was I the person with amnesia because the substance of the first few chapters felt like reading one of these sentences every five lines:
“I can’t eat gluten”
“My brother lost his scholarship”
“Aaron was a bad influence on my brother”
“I loathe Aaron”
So yeah that got old pretty quick.
Now I can’t fully judge what ends up happening and developing with the characters but I felt like the whole amnesia trope didn’t deliver the angst that usually coincides with it. In my eyes Aaron seemed to underreact to the whole fact that Riley had no recollection of them dating and the entire last year of his life. Dude was way too nonchalant and borderline corny, maybe it ends up hitting harder later into the book. I don't know, the dynamic just felt so off.
I’m still kind of curious how everything ends up with Riley’s brother so I’ll probably look up spoilery reviews once the book is out.
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Viking Books for Young Readers for providing me with this eARC.
Want to Read
June 4, 2026edit: WOODY SENT ME THE ARC!!!
the arcs have begun going out omg, fingers crossed I get one😭😭
the arcs have begun going out omg, fingers crossed I get one😭😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
Okay, so I am going to try and keep this brief, because I normally enjoy Woody’s story telling, narrative tone and writing skill, but this didn’t work for me and I am so disappointed about that fact.
Riley wakes up following a car crash and finds that he is missing 15 months of his life, which includes apparently being in a relationship with Aaron Beckham, his older brothers ex-best friend and Rileys enemy, or so he thought. Riley is determined to discover his memory’s in order to discover what has happened over the last year to change the trajectory of his life so substantially from what he expected.
On paper this story should have been made for me. I admire that Woody took a risk with trying to portray Aaron and the journey of their relationship as a bit of a mystery with some red herrings and didn’t shy away from Aarons red flags, but there were times where Aarons behaviour and disregard of an amnesiac Rileys boundaries started to feel a bit on the icky side of morally grey scale for me. I didn’t find this behaviour off putting enough that I stopped reading (I considered it once or twice) but I could easily imagine that some people might have a real aversion to it. Honestly, Aaron was at his most likeable when he was being emotionally vulnerable and honest with Riley and it was those brief moments of time between them that really kept me invested.
Riley as a main character never really clicked for me, they professed themselves a doormat early on and never really evolved much beyond that, and I understand that there can be a quiet strength in soft characters but my personal preference doesn’t really have them speaking to me. I did think that the chronic illness representation was neat, although at times it felt so extreme that it became an almost comical tone and kind of took me out of the book. There was also a short cameo from a couple from another of Woodys books and some readers may be excited to read this. I hadn’t read the book these characters belonged to and realise it was a cameo until after I finished so it honestly just felt like a really strange and awkward scene to me.
I am aware that due to some common themes in the feedback Woody has revised some elements of the story including dialogue from the opening scenes, as well as repetitive references to the MCs illness and plot points. I do believe that work done in these areas would strengthen the story but I can only speak to my reading experience of the original ARC.
This was unfortunately a bit of a miss for me, but I still found Woody’s writing to be relatively easy to consume. Thank you to the author for an ARC of this story. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
Consider following my instagram
Riley wakes up following a car crash and finds that he is missing 15 months of his life, which includes apparently being in a relationship with Aaron Beckham, his older brothers ex-best friend and Rileys enemy, or so he thought. Riley is determined to discover his memory’s in order to discover what has happened over the last year to change the trajectory of his life so substantially from what he expected.
On paper this story should have been made for me. I admire that Woody took a risk with trying to portray Aaron and the journey of their relationship as a bit of a mystery with some red herrings and didn’t shy away from Aarons red flags, but there were times where Aarons behaviour and disregard of an amnesiac Rileys boundaries started to feel a bit on the icky side of morally grey scale for me. I didn’t find this behaviour off putting enough that I stopped reading (I considered it once or twice) but I could easily imagine that some people might have a real aversion to it. Honestly, Aaron was at his most likeable when he was being emotionally vulnerable and honest with Riley and it was those brief moments of time between them that really kept me invested.
Riley as a main character never really clicked for me, they professed themselves a doormat early on and never really evolved much beyond that, and I understand that there can be a quiet strength in soft characters but my personal preference doesn’t really have them speaking to me. I did think that the chronic illness representation was neat, although at times it felt so extreme that it became an almost comical tone and kind of took me out of the book. There was also a short cameo from a couple from another of Woodys books and some readers may be excited to read this. I hadn’t read the book these characters belonged to and realise it was a cameo until after I finished so it honestly just felt like a really strange and awkward scene to me.
I am aware that due to some common themes in the feedback Woody has revised some elements of the story including dialogue from the opening scenes, as well as repetitive references to the MCs illness and plot points. I do believe that work done in these areas would strengthen the story but I can only speak to my reading experience of the original ARC.
This was unfortunately a bit of a miss for me, but I still found Woody’s writing to be relatively easy to consume. Thank you to the author for an ARC of this story. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
Consider following my instagram
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Having read A. M. Woody’s Most Valuable Player, I expected another emotional one, and Woody definitely delivered. Amnesia is always an interesting premise, but the raw intensity of this one was worthwhile. For me, one of the biggest strengths of Woody’s writing is also the characterization of love interests. Aaron sets the bar in the stratosphere for romance leads, and his devotion is one of the biggest catalysts in the momentum of the story.
It’s not just devotion itself, which is a genre requirement for an HEA lead at this point, but how Aaron as a character shows it. He remembers what matters to Riley and backs it up with his actions. He communicates well and doesn’t overreact or lash out. He shows readers and the other characters that it’s possible to be flawed, to not to stay stuck in your ways, and to do better. Especially for a teen & YA audience, he’s a valuable character for that alone. I also appreciate the normalization of healthy queer parents of lead characters, like Aaron’s family.
Riley is also painfully human, going through chronic health issues that ground the story in ways that felt relatable, having been through similar issues myself. For teen & YA audiences, it’s important to see people who either go through similar experiences or broaden their perspectives. I don’t have celiac disease, but the portrayal of it was vivid, inviting the audience to think further about health and accommodating loved ones - where that fails and succeeds, and how it affects Riley’s actions and sense of self.
While the dates themselves seemed cliché as a concept, there was depth and dimension to them: little details and micro-reactions that made them not only extremely wholesome, but important for piecing together the mystery of Riley and Aaron’s past (and I'm also a sucker for the "going on different dates" plot style).
For the other side of the coin, I did feel that there was telling over showing throughout. Again, this feels common for the YA genre, so it makes sense. But I think the buildup would have landed better if the audience was allowed to figure some things out for themselves. I feel it would have made the work stronger to include certain physical/emotional tells less often, while also not having characters state everything they think or feel. Doing so could make the dialogue feel more realistic.
Still, Woody’s work is definitely worth reading if you like warm, dedicated love interests and a writer who knows how to write angst with the best of them.
Thank you to the publisher and the author for the ARC!
It’s not just devotion itself, which is a genre requirement for an HEA lead at this point, but how Aaron as a character shows it. He remembers what matters to Riley and backs it up with his actions. He communicates well and doesn’t overreact or lash out. He shows readers and the other characters that it’s possible to be flawed, to not to stay stuck in your ways, and to do better. Especially for a teen & YA audience, he’s a valuable character for that alone. I also appreciate the normalization of healthy queer parents of lead characters, like Aaron’s family.
Riley is also painfully human, going through chronic health issues that ground the story in ways that felt relatable, having been through similar issues myself. For teen & YA audiences, it’s important to see people who either go through similar experiences or broaden their perspectives. I don’t have celiac disease, but the portrayal of it was vivid, inviting the audience to think further about health and accommodating loved ones - where that fails and succeeds, and how it affects Riley’s actions and sense of self.
While the dates themselves seemed cliché as a concept, there was depth and dimension to them: little details and micro-reactions that made them not only extremely wholesome, but important for piecing together the mystery of Riley and Aaron’s past (and I'm also a sucker for the "going on different dates" plot style).
For the other side of the coin, I did feel that there was telling over showing throughout. Again, this feels common for the YA genre, so it makes sense. But I think the buildup would have landed better if the audience was allowed to figure some things out for themselves. I feel it would have made the work stronger to include certain physical/emotional tells less often, while also not having characters state everything they think or feel. Doing so could make the dialogue feel more realistic.
Still, Woody’s work is definitely worth reading if you like warm, dedicated love interests and a writer who knows how to write angst with the best of them.
Thank you to the publisher and the author for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC: The build up of this romance was great. At the start, I found myself anxious for the MC. His lack of memories coupled with the strain of his home life, and self esteem issues had me extremely cautious that he was being taken advantage of by everyone around him. I was skeptical of Aaron as a love interest, wondering if he was too good to be true, and fearing for how easily Riley would be to take advantage of if Aaron was a different person.
But as the book went on, my caution around Aaron and Riley’s relationship fell to the background as I got swept up in their romance. Aaron became more of a person to me. His actions in the present spoke louder than the memories missing, until eventually I liked him, despite all the warning signs. This was exactly the path that the MC experienced, and I think A.M. Woody was so smart to lay out the pieces the way they did, even if it caused all of my red flags to go off at the start 😅
What I liked most about this book though, was that it went a step further to address all of those concerns. It could’ve just ended with Riley gaining all of his memories back, realizing he loves Aaron, and everything going back to the way it was pre-accident. But the author went a step further and showed all of the ugly truths behind the origins of their relationship. The thing is, Aaron WAS a different person. So was Logan. So was Riley, but the heart of the story was about surrounding yourself with the right people. That message came through, and none of it felt “preachy” or undeserved.
Great book! I loved the hurt/comfort aspects. Sometimes you just need some TLC in your life <3
But as the book went on, my caution around Aaron and Riley’s relationship fell to the background as I got swept up in their romance. Aaron became more of a person to me. His actions in the present spoke louder than the memories missing, until eventually I liked him, despite all the warning signs. This was exactly the path that the MC experienced, and I think A.M. Woody was so smart to lay out the pieces the way they did, even if it caused all of my red flags to go off at the start 😅
What I liked most about this book though, was that it went a step further to address all of those concerns. It could’ve just ended with Riley gaining all of his memories back, realizing he loves Aaron, and everything going back to the way it was pre-accident. But the author went a step further and showed all of the ugly truths behind the origins of their relationship. The thing is, Aaron WAS a different person. So was Logan. So was Riley, but the heart of the story was about surrounding yourself with the right people. That message came through, and none of it felt “preachy” or undeserved.
Great book! I loved the hurt/comfort aspects. Sometimes you just need some TLC in your life <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to the author for letting me read an early copy of this one.
After a car accident, Riley loses all his memories from the last year. But why is his family so dodgy about it? And how the hell did he apparently have a relationship with his brother’s terrible best friend during that time? Turns out, the only one willing to help him get his memories back is the terrible influence himself, Aaron Beckham.
A.M. Woody has been an autobuy author for me since I read They Hate Each Other. Their books always include complicated familial relationships and wonderful queer love stories. And this book was no exception.
The plot was very easy to fall into. I was intrigued from the start and it felt like every chapter flew by. I adore the way A.M. writes banter and dialoge between their characters. I always love when the MCs interact!
Riley was an interesting POV character. Because of his memory loss, it felt like I was experiencing what he was, and remembering alongside him. He was such a gentle soul who definitely needed someone like Aaron to remind him that he was allowed to take up space.
Out of all A.M’s books this is perhaps the one that requires the most from the reader. It is single POV and sometimes Aaron’s actions can be difficult to contend with (especially since we’re not in his head). I do think this single POV choice made sense for the story though. And I personally enjoyed trying to understand Aaron’s actions alongside Riley.
Overall, this was a really good read and I’m already excited about whatever A.M decides to write next!
From Square One is out October 27th so do give it a pre-order if it sounds like something you’d enjoy.
After a car accident, Riley loses all his memories from the last year. But why is his family so dodgy about it? And how the hell did he apparently have a relationship with his brother’s terrible best friend during that time? Turns out, the only one willing to help him get his memories back is the terrible influence himself, Aaron Beckham.
A.M. Woody has been an autobuy author for me since I read They Hate Each Other. Their books always include complicated familial relationships and wonderful queer love stories. And this book was no exception.
The plot was very easy to fall into. I was intrigued from the start and it felt like every chapter flew by. I adore the way A.M. writes banter and dialoge between their characters. I always love when the MCs interact!
Riley was an interesting POV character. Because of his memory loss, it felt like I was experiencing what he was, and remembering alongside him. He was such a gentle soul who definitely needed someone like Aaron to remind him that he was allowed to take up space.
Out of all A.M’s books this is perhaps the one that requires the most from the reader. It is single POV and sometimes Aaron’s actions can be difficult to contend with (especially since we’re not in his head). I do think this single POV choice made sense for the story though. And I personally enjoyed trying to understand Aaron’s actions alongside Riley.
Overall, this was a really good read and I’m already excited about whatever A.M decides to write next!
From Square One is out October 27th so do give it a pre-order if it sounds like something you’d enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all, thank you SO SO much to A.M. Woody for providing me with a digital ARC of this book!! I’m so honored! 💛
This book has a wild setup. Amnesia, brother’s best friend (except, the last Rylie remembers, they were mortal enemies), main character has a chronic illness and his family (and himself!) kinda disregards this at every possible moment… I knew I was in for a roller coaster with this one.
I gotta admit, in the beginning Aaron really got on my nerves. It felt like he couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Rylie was missing the last 15 months, and therefore their entire relationship, so he was constantly overstepping boundaries. I was so relieved when Rylie finally put his foot down and told him he was going to have to wait. By the end I think this makes more sense, but in the beginning as a reader seeing this through Rylie’s eyes, it feels kinda..gross? So just be warned of this in case you’re sensitive! Also this book feels more adult than their others, so while there’s nothing wildly explicit you should definitely not go in thinking this is aimed at the younger half of YA. The characters are college aged.
Despite how Aaron pissed me off at first, I really admire how consistent Woody’s characters are, and how much heart is put into this story. The ending is satisfying, and don’t even talk to me about the scene where Rylie gets his memories back—I could yap for literally ages about how good it was😂 A.M. Woody is an auto-read author for me, and I wish them so much success with this release!!!
THIS COMES OUT OCTOBER 27, 2026!
This book has a wild setup. Amnesia, brother’s best friend (except, the last Rylie remembers, they were mortal enemies), main character has a chronic illness and his family (and himself!) kinda disregards this at every possible moment… I knew I was in for a roller coaster with this one.
I gotta admit, in the beginning Aaron really got on my nerves. It felt like he couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Rylie was missing the last 15 months, and therefore their entire relationship, so he was constantly overstepping boundaries. I was so relieved when Rylie finally put his foot down and told him he was going to have to wait. By the end I think this makes more sense, but in the beginning as a reader seeing this through Rylie’s eyes, it feels kinda..gross? So just be warned of this in case you’re sensitive! Also this book feels more adult than their others, so while there’s nothing wildly explicit you should definitely not go in thinking this is aimed at the younger half of YA. The characters are college aged.
Despite how Aaron pissed me off at first, I really admire how consistent Woody’s characters are, and how much heart is put into this story. The ending is satisfying, and don’t even talk to me about the scene where Rylie gets his memories back—I could yap for literally ages about how good it was😂 A.M. Woody is an auto-read author for me, and I wish them so much success with this release!!!
THIS COMES OUT OCTOBER 27, 2026!
May 10, 2026
thank you to A.M Woody themselves for allowing me access to an ARC of this novel!
i have read everything that A.M Woody has released, to the point in which they have become an autobuy author for me. i was looking forward to this novel for so long and it did not disappoint. to put it into perspective: i read the whole thing in a single day, while having one of the busiest days of my life. i quite literally could not put the book down because of how addictive it was.
i loved riley and found his struggles so relatable, and aaron was such a delight to discover more about through riley’s POV. i absolutely loved their dynamic and found it so fun and adorable. i loved seeing the lengths that aaron was willing to go just to help riley and simply be around him, even with the memory loss. you could truly feel the love these characters had for one another, even if riley wasn’t aware of it just yet.
this book was funny, heartbreaking, and so amazingly well written. A.M Woody has, yet again, written such a beautiful story with such incredible characters. cannot wait to reread it again once it officially releases in october and force everyone i know to read it as well. thank you again to A.M Woody for the ARC! already anticipating re reading this a million times and (im)patiently waiting for their next novel.
i have read everything that A.M Woody has released, to the point in which they have become an autobuy author for me. i was looking forward to this novel for so long and it did not disappoint. to put it into perspective: i read the whole thing in a single day, while having one of the busiest days of my life. i quite literally could not put the book down because of how addictive it was.
i loved riley and found his struggles so relatable, and aaron was such a delight to discover more about through riley’s POV. i absolutely loved their dynamic and found it so fun and adorable. i loved seeing the lengths that aaron was willing to go just to help riley and simply be around him, even with the memory loss. you could truly feel the love these characters had for one another, even if riley wasn’t aware of it just yet.
this book was funny, heartbreaking, and so amazingly well written. A.M Woody has, yet again, written such a beautiful story with such incredible characters. cannot wait to reread it again once it officially releases in october and force everyone i know to read it as well. thank you again to A.M Woody for the ARC! already anticipating re reading this a million times and (im)patiently waiting for their next novel.
June 27, 2026
I've never seen a book write so many ways one character could love another. It's such a raw and tangible thing to see, and I kept needing to take a break because I was so overwhelmed by how touched I was.
I was thrilled with how the book executed everything that was promised in the blurb. Watching the hurt and comfort that came with trying to get your partner to fall back in love with you after an accident was a rollercoaster that kept me turning the pages for more.
Riley being chronically ill and Aaron being so considerate of it made the romance for me, and I loved their dynamic so much. Push and pull being the motif of their relationship made my heart so full. The way they challenged each other and still pulled back to check on one another was incredibly sweet. I felt so giddy reading the book, I wanted to scream!!
To pull off angst in the beginning is so monumental when it rides on emotional investment of the characters for it to start pulling at your heart strings and yet 10% of the way in, I was already hurting. I am not a romance genre reader by any means, even less a contemporary romance one, so I'm holding this book dear to my heart and waiting for when it publishes to keep it on my shelf as a recurrent comfort read.
I was thrilled with how the book executed everything that was promised in the blurb. Watching the hurt and comfort that came with trying to get your partner to fall back in love with you after an accident was a rollercoaster that kept me turning the pages for more.
Riley being chronically ill and Aaron being so considerate of it made the romance for me, and I loved their dynamic so much. Push and pull being the motif of their relationship made my heart so full. The way they challenged each other and still pulled back to check on one another was incredibly sweet. I felt so giddy reading the book, I wanted to scream!!
To pull off angst in the beginning is so monumental when it rides on emotional investment of the characters for it to start pulling at your heart strings and yet 10% of the way in, I was already hurting. I am not a romance genre reader by any means, even less a contemporary romance one, so I'm holding this book dear to my heart and waiting for when it publishes to keep it on my shelf as a recurrent comfort read.
Review of advance copy received from Autore
eARC sent by the author
~~
first of all i'd like to thank the author for sending me the earc. let me just say i DEVOURED this book. it literally only took me two afternoons to go through it all. it was just so addictive that i couldn't stop reading it!
after reading most valuable player, it was only a matter of time before i got my hands on another a.m. woody's beauty. i just know i trusted the right author!
there's just something about their writing that it's so catchy and flowing! every character they write about is amazing and simply well written. it's not something to be overlooked!
as someone who loves the characters before the story, i like it when they're relatable and human. and this is exactly what the author brings to the table.
mostly, i loved how attentive and caring aaron is as a person and as a boyfriend, and i saw a lot of myself in riley. they were amazing main characters, and i wouldn't mind reading more about them in the future!
the storyline was very simple in the best way possible, it was easy to follow and to enjoy.
now i can't wait for the release date to get my hands on a physical copy!
~~
first of all i'd like to thank the author for sending me the earc. let me just say i DEVOURED this book. it literally only took me two afternoons to go through it all. it was just so addictive that i couldn't stop reading it!
after reading most valuable player, it was only a matter of time before i got my hands on another a.m. woody's beauty. i just know i trusted the right author!
there's just something about their writing that it's so catchy and flowing! every character they write about is amazing and simply well written. it's not something to be overlooked!
as someone who loves the characters before the story, i like it when they're relatable and human. and this is exactly what the author brings to the table.
mostly, i loved how attentive and caring aaron is as a person and as a boyfriend, and i saw a lot of myself in riley. they were amazing main characters, and i wouldn't mind reading more about them in the future!
the storyline was very simple in the best way possible, it was easy to follow and to enjoy.
now i can't wait for the release date to get my hands on a physical copy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A.M. Woody is one of my autobuy authors so even though this book includes a trope I can't stand, amnesia, I knew I had to give it a try. I was not disappointed because some how they made it enjoyable. I didn't think that was possible for me but this one did the amnesia trope justice. I loved everything about this book from the very beginning. I was invested in seeing them fall in love all over again. There were so many cute moments! There were also moments that broke my heart as they were finding their way back to each other, but in the end it was all worth it! Another thing I loved was the chronic pain rep. I thought it was beautifully handled. Overall an amazing story with its ups and downs that made this amnesia trope hater love everything about it.
I highly recommend checking it out whether you're a fan of the amnesia trope or not because it's just so good.
Content warning: amnesia caused by car accident, chronic pain, anxiety attacks, self hatred/doubt
I highly recommend checking it out whether you're a fan of the amnesia trope or not because it's just so good.
Content warning: amnesia caused by car accident, chronic pain, anxiety attacks, self hatred/doubt
Review of advance copy received from Author
*4.25 stars
Thank you so much to A.M. Woody for sending me an early copy!
This book was so immensely lovely to read, and this is largely to do with Aaron and his love for Riley. He's so affectionate and tender that I couldn't help but smile until my cheeks hurt. Riley is also such a great character with his kindness and his 'mother hen' personality. It was so easy to love these characters, and I very much appreciate the chronic illness representation!
My main criticism is that I want more. I would've loved to see Riley's feelings have the chance to develop at a slower pace and to see him more with his friends. I would've loved to see more of Aaron's dads because they seem so wonderful. The pacing and the depiction of these elements will work for a lot of readers – I'm just picky and such a sucker for slowburn.
Overall, From Square One is such a wonderful read, and I can't wait for release day to get my hands on a physical copy!
Thank you so much to A.M. Woody for sending me an early copy!
This book was so immensely lovely to read, and this is largely to do with Aaron and his love for Riley. He's so affectionate and tender that I couldn't help but smile until my cheeks hurt. Riley is also such a great character with his kindness and his 'mother hen' personality. It was so easy to love these characters, and I very much appreciate the chronic illness representation!
My main criticism is that I want more. I would've loved to see Riley's feelings have the chance to develop at a slower pace and to see him more with his friends. I would've loved to see more of Aaron's dads because they seem so wonderful. The pacing and the depiction of these elements will work for a lot of readers – I'm just picky and such a sucker for slowburn.
Overall, From Square One is such a wonderful read, and I can't wait for release day to get my hands on a physical copy!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I’m convinced this author cannot write anything that isn’t good. From Square One was a fantastic novel that had so much packed in. Memory loss, chronic illness, family issues. It was amazing to see chronic illness handled so well. To be honest I’ve never read a YA book with it before.
The relationship between Riley and Aaron is sweet. The way Aaron cared for him was obvious from the start. The reveal at the end was heartbreaking, but the way it was written (without revealing anything), explains why Aaron was forgiven and Riley’s brother was not. At least not yet. The work Aaron did to earn that forgiveness felt real.
Also just dropping here that I HATE Riley’s family in general. They don’t even notice how much they’re taking advantage of him. Wanting him to go grocery shopping the day after he gets out of the hospital after being in a COMA from an auto accident?! Seethe.
The relationship between Riley and Aaron is sweet. The way Aaron cared for him was obvious from the start. The reveal at the end was heartbreaking, but the way it was written (without revealing anything), explains why Aaron was forgiven and Riley’s brother was not. At least not yet. The work Aaron did to earn that forgiveness felt real.
Also just dropping here that I HATE Riley’s family in general. They don’t even notice how much they’re taking advantage of him. Wanting him to go grocery shopping the day after he gets out of the hospital after being in a COMA from an auto accident?! Seethe.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DNF @ 16%
was really excited for From Square One as I've previously adored Woody's Most Valuable Player and They Hate Each Other.
Sadly, the more I read, the more I found myself getting frustrated with just about everything.
Aaron came off as a creep and Riley kind of pathetic. I give Riley a bit of a pass since he just came out of a coma but as someone with various food allergies, intolerances, and dietary restrictions, Riley's gluten struggles felt very over the top to me. Perhaps that was intentional and part of character development I never got to since some of the more extreme notions mentioned seemed to not be actual issues in the scenes I read.
I had some issues with other heavy-handed repetition but I did read an ARC so maybe some of it will be edited before publication.
I read an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.
was really excited for From Square One as I've previously adored Woody's Most Valuable Player and They Hate Each Other.
Sadly, the more I read, the more I found myself getting frustrated with just about everything.
Aaron came off as a creep and Riley kind of pathetic. I give Riley a bit of a pass since he just came out of a coma but as someone with various food allergies, intolerances, and dietary restrictions, Riley's gluten struggles felt very over the top to me. Perhaps that was intentional and part of character development I never got to since some of the more extreme notions mentioned seemed to not be actual issues in the scenes I read.
I had some issues with other heavy-handed repetition but I did read an ARC so maybe some of it will be edited before publication.
I read an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.
June 15, 2026
(I was lucky to read the early ARC version of this!) The ending was the angsty poetic pour your heart out drama I love from this genre. Fire and will def read again-
However, the beginning was a little rough- main man really didn’t have any other support besides the love interest and one briefly mentioned friend. It gave a bit of social isolation leading to emotional dependency which read as a little unhealthy. Maybe exploring the world a bit more and the relationship with Riley’s brother and family earlier could have helped cement him as his own character and give him the chance to choose Aaron rather than framing it as his only tangible option. Though, it did add to the angst so I’ll give it that.
All this to say- did I stay up all night reading this then gave a presentation to my friends about this sickly twink? 100% 3.5/5
However, the beginning was a little rough- main man really didn’t have any other support besides the love interest and one briefly mentioned friend. It gave a bit of social isolation leading to emotional dependency which read as a little unhealthy. Maybe exploring the world a bit more and the relationship with Riley’s brother and family earlier could have helped cement him as his own character and give him the chance to choose Aaron rather than framing it as his only tangible option. Though, it did add to the angst so I’ll give it that.
All this to say- did I stay up all night reading this then gave a presentation to my friends about this sickly twink? 100% 3.5/5
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you want to read a book that’ll make you cry so hard you become violently ill, then read a book by A.M. Woody.
Sweet Lord this book is emotional! It deals with themes of guilt heavily as well as self doubt and feeling less than. How chronic illness feels like your very existence is an inconvenience and how you owe people around you for simply doing the bare minimum and caring about you.
That all couple with amnesia and a family that is genuinely terrible makes this an especially difficult read but a very worthy one at the same time.
The growth of Riley throughout the book as he relearns who he is and pieces together the bits of his life he’s forgotten and then realize that he deserves to be cared for! It was an amazing read! I absolutely loved it!
Sweet Lord this book is emotional! It deals with themes of guilt heavily as well as self doubt and feeling less than. How chronic illness feels like your very existence is an inconvenience and how you owe people around you for simply doing the bare minimum and caring about you.
That all couple with amnesia and a family that is genuinely terrible makes this an especially difficult read but a very worthy one at the same time.
The growth of Riley throughout the book as he relearns who he is and pieces together the bits of his life he’s forgotten and then realize that he deserves to be cared for! It was an amazing read! I absolutely loved it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for the arc! SUCH an enjoyable read. I adored the writing and characterizations here. The emotions were so well described and the plot progression of this book was fluid and well done. I highly enjoyed reading about Riley and Aaron. It's so apparent through their interactions that Aaron is head-over-heels for Riley despite Riley not quite grasping how that could be. Every page was such a delight to read and I just know that once this gets published so many others will enjoy it also.
Review of advance copy received from Autore
need a partner written by am woody
Thank you so much for the eArc, it’s always an honour receiving a book directly form an author you love
Once again AM Woody had the power to make me cry and that’s the greatest achieving a book could make with me . They were able to craft a beautiful book with the amnesia trope treated in an interesting and delicate way. I loved both characters a lot , Riley is a cutiepie that needs multiple hugs and Aaron such an attentive and caring lover. Their banter was so funny and even with Aaron being a little brat i never doubted his feeling for Riley once, he was always respectful in his teasing. Their chemistry is so good 🥹🥰
I also liked to read about Riley’s family dynamic. I love how much focus AM Woody put in writing about families , i think it’s important to show how family relationships can influence people .
And Aaron family with his two bear dads was so cute 🥹
Thank you for this book! can’t wait for the next one!
Thank you so much for the eArc, it’s always an honour receiving a book directly form an author you love
Once again AM Woody had the power to make me cry and that’s the greatest achieving a book could make with me . They were able to craft a beautiful book with the amnesia trope treated in an interesting and delicate way. I loved both characters a lot , Riley is a cutiepie that needs multiple hugs and Aaron such an attentive and caring lover. Their banter was so funny and even with Aaron being a little brat i never doubted his feeling for Riley once, he was always respectful in his teasing. Their chemistry is so good 🥹🥰
I also liked to read about Riley’s family dynamic. I love how much focus AM Woody put in writing about families , i think it’s important to show how family relationships can influence people .
And Aaron family with his two bear dads was so cute 🥹
Thank you for this book! can’t wait for the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Never left a review before but figured it's the least I can do for getting an arc. This jumped up into one of my favorites of the year. It was a rocky start because Aaron can come off as pushy, but as you get into it and learn more from rylie's perspective, you start to see why it actually works for them. it's a slow start that just gets deeper and more emotional as you watch them start to fall in love again. Thank you AM for the ARC!
June 17, 2026
4.5*
I really enjoyed this! I loved Riley and while Aaron took some time for me to warm up to I ended up really liking him in the end. I loved how he took care of Riley when no one else really did and how he made Riley so much more happy. I also really liked how Riley was able to stand up for himself where his family is concerned, they really let him do too much. Last but not least I loved the little Jonah and Dylan cameo in this!
I really enjoyed this! I loved Riley and while Aaron took some time for me to warm up to I ended up really liking him in the end. I loved how he took care of Riley when no one else really did and how he made Riley so much more happy. I also really liked how Riley was able to stand up for himself where his family is concerned, they really let him do too much. Last but not least I loved the little Jonah and Dylan cameo in this!
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