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Reckless Love #3
Ruined By You
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jun 26Sometimes the only thing left to do is return to the place you once called home.
Bailey Walker
It’s been two years since I left home after mistakenly believing lies I thought were truths. I promised myself I wouldn’t hurt my family again, and that after everything I’ve done, staying away was the only option.
Until now, when the little boy who saved me from my spiral of self-destruction needs help I can’t give him, but I know who can. I don’t deserve their help, but it’s my turn to rescue Javi, even if it means facing my family and the girl I’ve been running from.
Kaitlyn Price
My life plan so far is as solid as cracked glass being held together with duct tape. Everyone around me, including my boyfriend, Hunter Walker, seems to have it all figured out.
I’m terrified of the future, and as if it isn’t hard enough to figure out what I want, the return of Bailey Walker shatters my plan. I’m torn between the past, the present, and my own happiness as the truth from two years ago threatens to burn us all alive.
Bailey Walker
It’s been two years since I left home after mistakenly believing lies I thought were truths. I promised myself I wouldn’t hurt my family again, and that after everything I’ve done, staying away was the only option.
Until now, when the little boy who saved me from my spiral of self-destruction needs help I can’t give him, but I know who can. I don’t deserve their help, but it’s my turn to rescue Javi, even if it means facing my family and the girl I’ve been running from.
Kaitlyn Price
My life plan so far is as solid as cracked glass being held together with duct tape. Everyone around me, including my boyfriend, Hunter Walker, seems to have it all figured out.
I’m terrified of the future, and as if it isn’t hard enough to figure out what I want, the return of Bailey Walker shatters my plan. I’m torn between the past, the present, and my own happiness as the truth from two years ago threatens to burn us all alive.
- GenresRomance
456 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 20, 2026
Okay well this one emotionally curb stomped me and I honestly think Laurea owes me financial compensation for the amount of tears I shed reading this book.
Because WHY was I sitting there angry at Bailey for basically this entire series just for this woman to drop his perspective and suddenly have me wanting to wrap him in a blanket and defend him with my life??? The emotional whiplash this man put me through needs to be studied.
Every single chapter felt like another punch directly to my feelings. Bailey carrying around all that guilt and hurt while genuinely believing everyone was better off without him absolutely wrecked me. And then having to watch him come home and face everything he ran from??? Sick. Twisted. Rude honestly.
AND JAVI. DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED. That child had me crying every five business minutes. Once everything started unraveling??? Immediate sobbing. Bailey and family back together?? THROWING UP. Mira and Henry with Javi???? I actually had to put my kindle down and immediately message Laurea letting her know what she was doing to me.
But what makes this even worse is the fact that the emotional moments felt SO real. Nothing felt overdone. It was messy and painful and full of love and healing and family trauma and people trying their absolute hardest even when they’re failing. The happy scenes made me cry just as much as the heartbreaking ones which honestly says everything about how deeply this book makes you feel.
And Kaitlyn and Bailey? The history between them, the unresolved feelings, the hurt underneath every interaction… I was LOSING MY MIND. I needed them to figure it out immediately for my own emotional wellbeing.
I swear Laurea sat down and said “how can I emotionally ruin Ashley specifically?” and then wrote this book. Because there is absolutely no reason I should have been crying this hard over basically every other sentence.
Infinite stars. Bailey Walker redemption arc of the century. I will now be submitting my therapy bill accordingly.
A huge thank you to Laurea for the eARC!
Because WHY was I sitting there angry at Bailey for basically this entire series just for this woman to drop his perspective and suddenly have me wanting to wrap him in a blanket and defend him with my life??? The emotional whiplash this man put me through needs to be studied.
Every single chapter felt like another punch directly to my feelings. Bailey carrying around all that guilt and hurt while genuinely believing everyone was better off without him absolutely wrecked me. And then having to watch him come home and face everything he ran from??? Sick. Twisted. Rude honestly.
AND JAVI. DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED. That child had me crying every five business minutes. Once everything started unraveling??? Immediate sobbing. Bailey and family back together?? THROWING UP. Mira and Henry with Javi???? I actually had to put my kindle down and immediately message Laurea letting her know what she was doing to me.
But what makes this even worse is the fact that the emotional moments felt SO real. Nothing felt overdone. It was messy and painful and full of love and healing and family trauma and people trying their absolute hardest even when they’re failing. The happy scenes made me cry just as much as the heartbreaking ones which honestly says everything about how deeply this book makes you feel.
And Kaitlyn and Bailey? The history between them, the unresolved feelings, the hurt underneath every interaction… I was LOSING MY MIND. I needed them to figure it out immediately for my own emotional wellbeing.
I swear Laurea sat down and said “how can I emotionally ruin Ashley specifically?” and then wrote this book. Because there is absolutely no reason I should have been crying this hard over basically every other sentence.
Infinite stars. Bailey Walker redemption arc of the century. I will now be submitting my therapy bill accordingly.
A huge thank you to Laurea for the eARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2026
I loved seeing this author's twist on a love triangle. This book was a bit of a different one for this author and I really enjoyed getting to see how she tackled these heavy topics, while of course lacing it with a TON of drama (my favorite)
This book has been a long awaited one for me in this series. There have been SO many secrets and hints to things I was trying to put my finger on but just could never quite connect the dots. I love that I have been kept guessing this entire series, I also loved that we got sprinkled tid-bits of information and secrets all throughout this book.
The way my jaw absolutely dropped while reading, I can't even tell you I WAS FREAKING OUT!
In previous books I never liked Bailey (our mmc) but in this book I really came to understand him and enjoyed being in his head and getting to know him, understanding why he made the choices he did.
I also loved Kaitlyn, watching her battle her feelings, while also being so young was tough. I felt for her and was truly hoping she would be able to make the right choices that would make her happy in the end. (Even if it hurt characters I love)
As usual getting to keep up with all my other favorite characters and see their stories unfolding is so special. Thalia and Bash as parents is one of my personal favorite things to see.
The storyline was SO dang good, had me on the edge of my seat and absolutely flying through this book. The mysterious element that was woven into every page made this such a different type of romance read, keeping me engaged, excited, screaming and feeling all the emotions our characters dealt with (and there were a LOT)
Switching from past to present was a great plot for this story and had me understanding so many things I had always wondered about, while also giving me so much new information.
I absolutely love everything this author writes and I will be here reading anything she ever puts out.
Thank you endlessly Laurea for allowing me to beta read, this was such a special experience and I can finally say I now understand Bailey and even like him!
These opinions are my own.
This book has been a long awaited one for me in this series. There have been SO many secrets and hints to things I was trying to put my finger on but just could never quite connect the dots. I love that I have been kept guessing this entire series, I also loved that we got sprinkled tid-bits of information and secrets all throughout this book.
The way my jaw absolutely dropped while reading, I can't even tell you I WAS FREAKING OUT!
In previous books I never liked Bailey (our mmc) but in this book I really came to understand him and enjoyed being in his head and getting to know him, understanding why he made the choices he did.
I also loved Kaitlyn, watching her battle her feelings, while also being so young was tough. I felt for her and was truly hoping she would be able to make the right choices that would make her happy in the end. (Even if it hurt characters I love)
As usual getting to keep up with all my other favorite characters and see their stories unfolding is so special. Thalia and Bash as parents is one of my personal favorite things to see.
The storyline was SO dang good, had me on the edge of my seat and absolutely flying through this book. The mysterious element that was woven into every page made this such a different type of romance read, keeping me engaged, excited, screaming and feeling all the emotions our characters dealt with (and there were a LOT)
Switching from past to present was a great plot for this story and had me understanding so many things I had always wondered about, while also giving me so much new information.
I absolutely love everything this author writes and I will be here reading anything she ever puts out.
Thank you endlessly Laurea for allowing me to beta read, this was such a special experience and I can finally say I now understand Bailey and even like him!
These opinions are my own.
May 23, 2026
“𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙜𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙄 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
Ruined By You by Laurea Matthews
4.5☆
I feel like I was emotionally body-checked and then sweetly tucked into bed afterward.
This entire series, I’ve been side-eyeing Bailey, just waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. Throughout the first two books, he’s a silent player (no pun intended) but absolutely COMMANDS your attention when he’s on the page. He’s dark, broody (albeit the blonde hair 🤭) and you love to hate him. But nothing. I mean NOTHING will prepare you for the criminal emotional whiplash that is Bailey Walker’s story.
“𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚.”
This book is heavy in the way real life is heavy. Guilt. Grief. Family trauma. The kind of hurt that festers quietly for years until everything finally SHATTERS. Watching Bailey face the fallout of everything he ran from absolutely wrecked me. And the self-deprecation he suffers because he felt unworthy of redemption and forgiveness…just leave me on the floor in my puddle of tears.
“𝙄 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚.”
But the thing that makes this series so special, every single time, is the FAMILY. Laurea writes family dynamics in a way that feels painfully real and unbelievably healing all at once. After all the heartbreak and tension, those moments of love, forgiveness, chaos, laughter, and everyone slowly finding their way back to each other felt downright cathartic.
“𝙒𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
The mystery that was woven throughout this series was INSANE. The back and forth between past and present but also, the snippets of interactions from the previous two books, all brought together had moments clicking into place, and suddenly everything made sense.
Messy, painful, healing, hopeful, devastatingly romantic. This book made me cry during the heartbreaking scenes AND the happy ones, which honestly says everything.
“𝙄 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝘽𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙮. 𝙄 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣-𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙬.”
Laurea really said “you WILL suffer emotionally but you’ll thank me for it after.” And fortunately… she was absolutely correct.
*Thank you to Laurea Matthews & Love Notes PR for this arc opportunity.
Ruined By You by Laurea Matthews
4.5☆
I feel like I was emotionally body-checked and then sweetly tucked into bed afterward.
This entire series, I’ve been side-eyeing Bailey, just waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. Throughout the first two books, he’s a silent player (no pun intended) but absolutely COMMANDS your attention when he’s on the page. He’s dark, broody (albeit the blonde hair 🤭) and you love to hate him. But nothing. I mean NOTHING will prepare you for the criminal emotional whiplash that is Bailey Walker’s story.
“𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚.”
This book is heavy in the way real life is heavy. Guilt. Grief. Family trauma. The kind of hurt that festers quietly for years until everything finally SHATTERS. Watching Bailey face the fallout of everything he ran from absolutely wrecked me. And the self-deprecation he suffers because he felt unworthy of redemption and forgiveness…just leave me on the floor in my puddle of tears.
“𝙄 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚.”
But the thing that makes this series so special, every single time, is the FAMILY. Laurea writes family dynamics in a way that feels painfully real and unbelievably healing all at once. After all the heartbreak and tension, those moments of love, forgiveness, chaos, laughter, and everyone slowly finding their way back to each other felt downright cathartic.
“𝙒𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
The mystery that was woven throughout this series was INSANE. The back and forth between past and present but also, the snippets of interactions from the previous two books, all brought together had moments clicking into place, and suddenly everything made sense.
Messy, painful, healing, hopeful, devastatingly romantic. This book made me cry during the heartbreaking scenes AND the happy ones, which honestly says everything.
“𝙄 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝘽𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙮. 𝙄 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣-𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙬.”
Laurea really said “you WILL suffer emotionally but you’ll thank me for it after.” And fortunately… she was absolutely correct.
*Thank you to Laurea Matthews & Love Notes PR for this arc opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a journey. I came across Laurea via Instagram last year for her book on Henry & Mira. I loved the story & after reading Bailey ran away I was like wait... is there a story on mom & dad?! Then saw they had TWO books, so I gobbled them up while I waited for JJ's & when I saw Bailey was coming home I sobbed & then got REALLY impatient waiting for his story, that I signed up for this ARC.
Premise: Bailey, returning home at 21 after running away from home at 18 due to believing a lie about his own family & feeling like a black sheep because he wasn't following his father's footsteps (that's okay B, you're like your Mama & that ain't a bad thing!) Instead of coming home after finding out the truth, he had so much guilt & shame that he ran further away & ended up in NY. It's a good thing too because our adorable Javi found him & through Bailey & the Walker family, he gets the care he needs. One of the things Bailey needs to repair when it comes to the relationships in his hometown? His friendship with the only woman he's ever loved... and fix his relationship with her boyfriend... his twin brother, Hunter.
The emotional roller-coaster of this book was a lot, but so SO necessary. You needed to see the whole picture of how Kaitlyn loved Bailey, and thought the crush was unrequited until she & Bailey share a kiss late at night during a time where Bailey felt adrift. You need to see how Hunter played a part in this whole thing & how Bailey no longer harboured hate for his twin, he just wants his best friends back, in any capacity. I loved the back & forth of the past & now, however, sometimes I would get confused because some past scenes would be from when he was with Carter & family, then he'd be in NY the next time we're in the past, then back to Carter. I'd have liked for the past to say a timeline at the beginning like "Past: 2.5yrs ago" and "Past: 8mo ago" or something so I could keep it straight in my head. I loved that when all was said and done, Bailey had no hate in his heart for Hunter, he just wanted his twin & the girl he loves to be happy, even if it was at his own heartbreak. I loved that we got the answers we've been searching for since book 1 & that Javi is getting a real family. I'm so happy Bailey is home again. I'm excited to see how Hunter redeems himself so the family can truly heal, and that Bash & Thalia have learned from their mistakes when it comes to huge secrets.
Thank you Laurea for the chance to read this ARC.
Premise: Bailey, returning home at 21 after running away from home at 18 due to believing a lie about his own family & feeling like a black sheep because he wasn't following his father's footsteps (that's okay B, you're like your Mama & that ain't a bad thing!) Instead of coming home after finding out the truth, he had so much guilt & shame that he ran further away & ended up in NY. It's a good thing too because our adorable Javi found him & through Bailey & the Walker family, he gets the care he needs. One of the things Bailey needs to repair when it comes to the relationships in his hometown? His friendship with the only woman he's ever loved... and fix his relationship with her boyfriend... his twin brother, Hunter.
The emotional roller-coaster of this book was a lot, but so SO necessary. You needed to see the whole picture of how Kaitlyn loved Bailey, and thought the crush was unrequited until she & Bailey share a kiss late at night during a time where Bailey felt adrift. You need to see how Hunter played a part in this whole thing & how Bailey no longer harboured hate for his twin, he just wants his best friends back, in any capacity. I loved the back & forth of the past & now, however, sometimes I would get confused because some past scenes would be from when he was with Carter & family, then he'd be in NY the next time we're in the past, then back to Carter. I'd have liked for the past to say a timeline at the beginning like "Past: 2.5yrs ago" and "Past: 8mo ago" or something so I could keep it straight in my head. I loved that when all was said and done, Bailey had no hate in his heart for Hunter, he just wanted his twin & the girl he loves to be happy, even if it was at his own heartbreak. I loved that we got the answers we've been searching for since book 1 & that Javi is getting a real family. I'm so happy Bailey is home again. I'm excited to see how Hunter redeems himself so the family can truly heal, and that Bash & Thalia have learned from their mistakes when it comes to huge secrets.
Thank you Laurea for the chance to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
5⭐️
Arc review
Am I insane jumping into book 3? Absolutely. But I fell so deeply in love with all these Characters I WILL go back to the first two, just seeing them grow in this book was absolutely beautiful 🥹
Did I think I needed a bestfriends to lovers & Right Person, Wrong Time together to cure me? Actually yes I did. This was everything and more. It was so heartbreakingly beautiful and made me at the edge of my seat the whole time. This was messy, this was frustrating, this was so deep and had you yelling WHY. But along with that it was raw, it was hopeful and it was beautiful. 🧡
I have nothing but amazing words to say about Bailey. His character was so strong and solid. Had my heart beating the entire time and what he was going through. The relationship between him and Javi had my heart so warm my goodness 🥹😭
Learning about something that changed his life, to learning that it was all wrong and leading to something that caused him to destroy something so precious to him... just wow. The manipulation and mistrust he went through made me hate everyone for him. He deserved nothing but a beautiful life and I'm so thankful he got that🥹 His yearning for Kait was everything I needed. He was so kind and so guarded but wanted her to have the life she deserved full of happiness.
Kait was such a beautiful soul. This reminds me so much of The Summer I Turned Pretty and the same relationships Belly had. It was messy but it was so raw. Her dreaming of a life and love with Bailey to have him push her away cause Hunter told him he wasnt good enough? I WANTED TO THROTTLE HIM. The gaslighting and manipulation had me fuming but thats amazing writing right there😩
I can write a whole book alone on how much I love these two. They deserve such a beautiful life together and I loved seeing them grow🥹🧡
“If you’re the sun, then I’m the moon because I don’t shine without you,”
“I think I like the idea of us being each other’s sun instead of star-crossed lovers,”
Thank you Love Notes and Laurea for this beautiful earc🧡
Bookstagram- romance.with.bri
Arc review
Am I insane jumping into book 3? Absolutely. But I fell so deeply in love with all these Characters I WILL go back to the first two, just seeing them grow in this book was absolutely beautiful 🥹
Did I think I needed a bestfriends to lovers & Right Person, Wrong Time together to cure me? Actually yes I did. This was everything and more. It was so heartbreakingly beautiful and made me at the edge of my seat the whole time. This was messy, this was frustrating, this was so deep and had you yelling WHY. But along with that it was raw, it was hopeful and it was beautiful. 🧡
I have nothing but amazing words to say about Bailey. His character was so strong and solid. Had my heart beating the entire time and what he was going through. The relationship between him and Javi had my heart so warm my goodness 🥹😭
Learning about something that changed his life, to learning that it was all wrong and leading to something that caused him to destroy something so precious to him... just wow. The manipulation and mistrust he went through made me hate everyone for him. He deserved nothing but a beautiful life and I'm so thankful he got that🥹 His yearning for Kait was everything I needed. He was so kind and so guarded but wanted her to have the life she deserved full of happiness.
Kait was such a beautiful soul. This reminds me so much of The Summer I Turned Pretty and the same relationships Belly had. It was messy but it was so raw. Her dreaming of a life and love with Bailey to have him push her away cause Hunter told him he wasnt good enough? I WANTED TO THROTTLE HIM. The gaslighting and manipulation had me fuming but thats amazing writing right there😩
I can write a whole book alone on how much I love these two. They deserve such a beautiful life together and I loved seeing them grow🥹🧡
“If you’re the sun, then I’m the moon because I don’t shine without you,”
“I think I like the idea of us being each other’s sun instead of star-crossed lovers,”
Thank you Love Notes and Laurea for this beautiful earc🧡
Bookstagram- romance.with.bri
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝗔𝗥𝗖 ��𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 💌
★★★☆☆
i’ll start this by saying i read all three books in three days.
i really liked this book, but i felt the exact same way i did with the previous ones… something was missing. i needed more from the main characters. more of them individually, more of their healing process after everything that happened. i needed to read about Bailey trying to overcome his self-inflicted wound day by day, and Kait finding a purpose and slowly rebuilding herself. i needed more conversations.
i also needed so much more of Bailey with his brothers. every scene with them together just left me wanting more. and honestly, i needed more than just one time-jump chapter. i wanted something that showed how their relationship actually progressed, how they were doing now, whether they had finally healed that wound or if they were still carrying parts of it with them.
i really liked the main characters, but honestly, i feel like if someone only reads this book, they won’t fully understand them. you absolutely have to read all the books to truly connect with them and understand the emotional weight behind so many things.
so i’ll only talk about Bailey.
i always felt like there was so much more to him that we didn’t get to see in the previous books, and reading his story completely destroyed me. he officially became my favorite Walker 🧚🏻♀️ he was the character that made me feel the most emotions. anger, sadness, anxiety, happiness… i cried so much while reading this book.
i had previously read Cold as Ice by the same author and i genuinely loved it. the experience with this book was completely different… and honestly, that makes me a little sad.
the 3 stars don’t mean it was a bad book ‼️ because i’d be lying if i said that. i just feel like these books weren’t for me 💔
★★★☆☆
i’ll start this by saying i read all three books in three days.
i really liked this book, but i felt the exact same way i did with the previous ones… something was missing. i needed more from the main characters. more of them individually, more of their healing process after everything that happened. i needed to read about Bailey trying to overcome his self-inflicted wound day by day, and Kait finding a purpose and slowly rebuilding herself. i needed more conversations.
i also needed so much more of Bailey with his brothers. every scene with them together just left me wanting more. and honestly, i needed more than just one time-jump chapter. i wanted something that showed how their relationship actually progressed, how they were doing now, whether they had finally healed that wound or if they were still carrying parts of it with them.
i really liked the main characters, but honestly, i feel like if someone only reads this book, they won’t fully understand them. you absolutely have to read all the books to truly connect with them and understand the emotional weight behind so many things.
so i’ll only talk about Bailey.
i always felt like there was so much more to him that we didn’t get to see in the previous books, and reading his story completely destroyed me. he officially became my favorite Walker 🧚🏻♀️ he was the character that made me feel the most emotions. anger, sadness, anxiety, happiness… i cried so much while reading this book.
i had previously read Cold as Ice by the same author and i genuinely loved it. the experience with this book was completely different… and honestly, that makes me a little sad.
the 3 stars don’t mean it was a bad book ‼️ because i’d be lying if i said that. i just feel like these books weren’t for me 💔
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25 stars
First-I love Henry and Mirabelle 😍okay now that’s out of the way let’s talk about the other Walker and Price siblings.
While reading book 1 in the series is not needed, the past timeline is Henry and Mirabelle’s story. Remembering how the events of Bailey’s running away and how Bailey was thinking during that time could provide a more immersive experience of Bailey’s past. How Bailey was feeling in Chasing After You led to his running away and how he feels about himself in the present. Even though Bailey reaches out to JJ in Before You, book 2 JJ’s story, I don’t feel it is needed to reread/read his story before starting this book.
I couldn’t put this book down, I finished it in 3 days and could have finished it in 2 but saved the last hour of the story for one more day. Bailey is the self proclaimed black sheep of the Walker family. Kaitlyn is Henry’s younger sister and best friend to the Walker twins. This is a duel timeline, duel POV. The past is what led to Bailey running away and his time away and his eventual returning home. Bailey is the real star of the story, while Kaitlyn is the love interest and has equal POV representation. The story is really about Bailey. I think a dual timeline single POV could have also been just as an enjoyable read.
Point 75 deduction reasons:
~The events leading to Bailey running away felt immature and dramatic but he was 18, so I guess I’ll give it to him.
~The ending surprise, the final secret to Bailey’s past-I just didn’t like. It didn’t feel like it was really inline to the character and how characters in this world are portrayed. I also think there would have been much more trauma than was let on throughout the book.
~Hunters POV I felt were missing
First-I love Henry and Mirabelle 😍okay now that’s out of the way let’s talk about the other Walker and Price siblings.
While reading book 1 in the series is not needed, the past timeline is Henry and Mirabelle’s story. Remembering how the events of Bailey’s running away and how Bailey was thinking during that time could provide a more immersive experience of Bailey’s past. How Bailey was feeling in Chasing After You led to his running away and how he feels about himself in the present. Even though Bailey reaches out to JJ in Before You, book 2 JJ’s story, I don’t feel it is needed to reread/read his story before starting this book.
I couldn’t put this book down, I finished it in 3 days and could have finished it in 2 but saved the last hour of the story for one more day. Bailey is the self proclaimed black sheep of the Walker family. Kaitlyn is Henry’s younger sister and best friend to the Walker twins. This is a duel timeline, duel POV. The past is what led to Bailey running away and his time away and his eventual returning home. Bailey is the real star of the story, while Kaitlyn is the love interest and has equal POV representation. The story is really about Bailey. I think a dual timeline single POV could have also been just as an enjoyable read.
Point 75 deduction reasons:
~The events leading to Bailey running away felt immature and dramatic but he was 18, so I guess I’ll give it to him.
~The ending surprise, the final secret to Bailey’s past-I just didn’t like. It didn’t feel like it was really inline to the character and how characters in this world are portrayed. I also think there would have been much more trauma than was let on throughout the book.
~Hunters POV I felt were missing
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 🌶️🌶️
"If you're the sun, then I'm the moon because I don't shine without you."
I do not know how it's even possible for each book in this series to continue to be better than the last because they are all 😍😍😍 but here we are!
Ruined By You follows Bailey and Kaitlyn across a dual timeline and with both POVs. While you could technically read this book on its own, I would highly recommend reading both Chasing After You and Before You, which follows the stories of some of their siblings and introduces you to these characters.
There are are few trigger warnings that I think are important to mention: child abuse, sex work, and homelessness. If these are difficult topics for you, you may need to consider if this is the right story for you. The child abuse and sex work are smaller parts of the story, but homelessness is a common theme throughout the book.
In this book, some themes you'll find include:
🔺 Love triangle
🕜 Second chance romance
⏳ Dual timeline
👩❤️💋👨 Dual POV
🔍 Finding yourself
🥰 Close family
💕 Childhood friends to lovers
Also, meeting sweet little Javi is reason enough to open up this book and start reading. He was the family addition we didn't even know we needed. 😍
#arcreview #kindleunlimited #lovetriangle #interconnectedseries #friendstolovers
"If you're the sun, then I'm the moon because I don't shine without you."
I do not know how it's even possible for each book in this series to continue to be better than the last because they are all 😍😍😍 but here we are!
Ruined By You follows Bailey and Kaitlyn across a dual timeline and with both POVs. While you could technically read this book on its own, I would highly recommend reading both Chasing After You and Before You, which follows the stories of some of their siblings and introduces you to these characters.
There are are few trigger warnings that I think are important to mention: child abuse, sex work, and homelessness. If these are difficult topics for you, you may need to consider if this is the right story for you. The child abuse and sex work are smaller parts of the story, but homelessness is a common theme throughout the book.
In this book, some themes you'll find include:
🔺 Love triangle
🕜 Second chance romance
⏳ Dual timeline
👩❤️💋👨 Dual POV
🔍 Finding yourself
🥰 Close family
💕 Childhood friends to lovers
Also, meeting sweet little Javi is reason enough to open up this book and start reading. He was the family addition we didn't even know we needed. 😍
#arcreview #kindleunlimited #lovetriangle #interconnectedseries #friendstolovers
May 15, 2026
𝘉𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘺’𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘺𝘦𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭.
5/⭐️
2/🌶️
WOW. I’m speechless. I have been dying for this story and IT WAS EVERYTHING 👏🏼👏🏼 It was full of tears and screams, I don’t know what I prepared myself for but it was more than I ever could’ve imagined!!! Laurea had me audibly gasping… the plot, the twists, the turns, the heartbreakkkkkkk 😭
I really refuse to spoil anything but I also want to scream about everything!!!! MY GOD, I just finished and I’m just so unwell. Have tissues. Have your emotional support items. Call your mom or therapist. This is one heck of ride!!!!
The raw and vulnerable emotions were just rolling off the page. This one was a really great reminder that just because someone seems like they have it all, doesn’t mean that you see their whole picture 🥺
I absolutely love this series. It’s definitely best to start at the beginning to get the best experience. And Hunter? I just know Laurea is going to have me falling in love with him instantly, I’m ready for his story! 🫶🏼
🧡 what to expect -
Love Triangle
Dual Timeline
Childhood Friends to Lovers
Tortured Hero
Grumpy x Sunshine
Forbidden Romance
Second Chance
Angsty
Surfer x Painter
Complex Family Dynamics
Slow Burn
5/⭐️
2/🌶️
WOW. I’m speechless. I have been dying for this story and IT WAS EVERYTHING 👏🏼👏🏼 It was full of tears and screams, I don’t know what I prepared myself for but it was more than I ever could’ve imagined!!! Laurea had me audibly gasping… the plot, the twists, the turns, the heartbreakkkkkkk 😭
I really refuse to spoil anything but I also want to scream about everything!!!! MY GOD, I just finished and I’m just so unwell. Have tissues. Have your emotional support items. Call your mom or therapist. This is one heck of ride!!!!
The raw and vulnerable emotions were just rolling off the page. This one was a really great reminder that just because someone seems like they have it all, doesn’t mean that you see their whole picture 🥺
I absolutely love this series. It’s definitely best to start at the beginning to get the best experience. And Hunter? I just know Laurea is going to have me falling in love with him instantly, I’m ready for his story! 🫶🏼
🧡 what to expect -
Love Triangle
Dual Timeline
Childhood Friends to Lovers
Tortured Hero
Grumpy x Sunshine
Forbidden Romance
Second Chance
Angsty
Surfer x Painter
Complex Family Dynamics
Slow Burn
Review of advance copy
This book wrecked me!
Bailey is one of the youngest in the Walker family, and he considers himself the black sheep. Kaitlyn is his and his twin’s best friend and also his love, but due to things that happened during his senior year of high school, it never panned out. Now it’s three years later, and Bailey’s back with a five-year-old and needs his parents’ help. Which also means he needs to come clean about what happened three years ago and ever since. But will the truth coming out set Bailey free or make him run again?
Bailey and Kaitlyn get their happy for now ending in this standalone book in a series.
The back and forth between chapters really helped show what was going on without giving everything away all at once. At the beginning, I did find this annoying, but as the story went on, it made so much more sense, and I could appreciate it more. There was a bit there that I was worried the two main characters weren’t going to end up together, and I never expected it to be the twin that told the truth about what actually happened between the three of them all those years ago. Which, poor Bailey. He got it not only from this random, unknown person, but also not the whole truth from his parents, and then his twin does that to him. It’s no wonder he ran. But I love how they were all there for him after everything came out, especially for how it did come out.
I received an advance review copy from Love Notes PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Bailey is one of the youngest in the Walker family, and he considers himself the black sheep. Kaitlyn is his and his twin’s best friend and also his love, but due to things that happened during his senior year of high school, it never panned out. Now it’s three years later, and Bailey’s back with a five-year-old and needs his parents’ help. Which also means he needs to come clean about what happened three years ago and ever since. But will the truth coming out set Bailey free or make him run again?
Bailey and Kaitlyn get their happy for now ending in this standalone book in a series.
The back and forth between chapters really helped show what was going on without giving everything away all at once. At the beginning, I did find this annoying, but as the story went on, it made so much more sense, and I could appreciate it more. There was a bit there that I was worried the two main characters weren’t going to end up together, and I never expected it to be the twin that told the truth about what actually happened between the three of them all those years ago. Which, poor Bailey. He got it not only from this random, unknown person, but also not the whole truth from his parents, and then his twin does that to him. It’s no wonder he ran. But I love how they were all there for him after everything came out, especially for how it did come out.
I received an advance review copy from Love Notes PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
We FINALLY get answers from Bailey! I am wrecked and healed at the same time. I was so mad at Bailey for 2 whole books just for me to become his number 1 supporter. Such a good redemption book.
I could feel every single emotion he went through, and it's heartbreaking. The guilt, the shame, the nervousness, and the unworthiness. Bailey needs to be protected. A lot of lies were told making Bailey explode from all the secrets in the family. His bond with Javi is amazing and I'm glad he found his way back. You can see his growth in forgiving everyone, as I'm not sure I would have forgiven Kait and Hunter. So much dedication was poured into this book to make sure we got all the answers from every angle possible in books 1-3. Like no questions left about what was happening with Bailey and reading Kait's side of things really makes sense how everything happened. It was important for me to know how Kait went from one twin to the other in a short time and how her feelings are different towards Bailey and Hunter.
Now I'm mad at Hunter, but knowing Laurea, I will probably root for him in the next book. I need Hunter's POV asap!
I could feel every single emotion he went through, and it's heartbreaking. The guilt, the shame, the nervousness, and the unworthiness. Bailey needs to be protected. A lot of lies were told making Bailey explode from all the secrets in the family. His bond with Javi is amazing and I'm glad he found his way back. You can see his growth in forgiving everyone, as I'm not sure I would have forgiven Kait and Hunter. So much dedication was poured into this book to make sure we got all the answers from every angle possible in books 1-3. Like no questions left about what was happening with Bailey and reading Kait's side of things really makes sense how everything happened. It was important for me to know how Kait went from one twin to the other in a short time and how her feelings are different towards Bailey and Hunter.
Now I'm mad at Hunter, but knowing Laurea, I will probably root for him in the next book. I need Hunter's POV asap!
Review of advance copy
Laurea Matthews has done it again! I was fortunate enough to ARC read all three books in the Reckless Love and I have to admit that I was apprehensive going into this one because I was not a fan of Bailey Walker in previous books. BUT after seeing things from his perspective he and sweet little Javi stole my heart and I could not have been happier to see his story get the ending he deserved. This book broke my heart at times and made me laugh to the point of tears at others (looking at you Henry.) I have learned not to judge a character with only half of their story.
Bailey and Kaitlyn may be my favorite Walker couple so far, I’m a sucker for childhood friends to lovers who find their happily ever after in each other, and these two certainly deserved it after the bumpy road they traveled to one another. Shoutout to Laurea Matthews and Love Notes PR for the chance to read another beautiful love story, I can’t wait to see where the Walkers go next!
Bailey and Kaitlyn may be my favorite Walker couple so far, I’m a sucker for childhood friends to lovers who find their happily ever after in each other, and these two certainly deserved it after the bumpy road they traveled to one another. Shoutout to Laurea Matthews and Love Notes PR for the chance to read another beautiful love story, I can’t wait to see where the Walkers go next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
*Review of advanced copy received from LoveNotes PR*
I’m definitely in the minority here, but this book just didn’t do it for me. It leans too heavily on miscommunication for my liking.
I found myself skimming the last 50%, and I just wasn’t invested in the characters. I wanted more of Bailey and Kaitlyn together instead of the side characters being in nearly every scene.
Bailey really frustrated me. He views his parents and siblings as terrible people who don’t love him, and he’s just completely off the mark. Carter called him a “spoiled rich kid throwing a tantrum” and you know what? YUP.
His actions were so extreme, when a simple conversation could’ve cleared it all up. I didn’t find myself rooting for him. He caused his family so much pain and the only saving grace for him was how he cared for Javi.
Overall, I wouldn’t say this is a bad book. The writing is decent, but the plot and tropes just weren’t for me.
I’m definitely in the minority here, but this book just didn’t do it for me. It leans too heavily on miscommunication for my liking.
I found myself skimming the last 50%, and I just wasn’t invested in the characters. I wanted more of Bailey and Kaitlyn together instead of the side characters being in nearly every scene.
Bailey really frustrated me. He views his parents and siblings as terrible people who don’t love him, and he’s just completely off the mark. Carter called him a “spoiled rich kid throwing a tantrum” and you know what? YUP.
His actions were so extreme, when a simple conversation could’ve cleared it all up. I didn’t find myself rooting for him. He caused his family so much pain and the only saving grace for him was how he cared for Javi.
Overall, I wouldn’t say this is a bad book. The writing is decent, but the plot and tropes just weren’t for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 19, 2026Bailey Walker pasó dos años huyendo de sus errores. Se fue sin explicaciones, dejó a su familia destrozada y preguntándose que paso. Kaitlyn Price llevaba demasiado tiempo intentando aceptar su ausencia y seguir con su vida.
Ahora ha vuelto y trae consigo una versión de sí mismo que nadie reconoce. Más distante, más roto y con una tristeza que no puede esconder. A su lado está Javi, un niño que parece haberse convertido en el centro de su mundo y la única razón por la que decidió volver.
_______
No puedo creer que se convirtiera a Kiera en la villana siendo que ella fue victima de Sebastian. Me dio mucha tristeza que no fuera feliz, se lo merecía después de todo lo que paso.
Gracias Love Notes PR por el ARC.
Ahora ha vuelto y trae consigo una versión de sí mismo que nadie reconoce. Más distante, más roto y con una tristeza que no puede esconder. A su lado está Javi, un niño que parece haberse convertido en el centro de su mundo y la única razón por la que decidió volver.
_______
No puedo creer que se convirtiera a Kiera en la villana siendo que ella fue victima de Sebastian. Me dio mucha tristeza que no fuera feliz, se lo merecía después de todo lo que paso.
Gracias Love Notes PR por el ARC.
May 23, 2026
I’ve never been a huge fan of the love triangle trope, but this book handled it perfectly. It really felt like we went on a journey alongside Bailey and Kaitlyn, and the transitions between the past and present were seamless and easy to follow. Bailey and Javi’s relationship was incredibly sweet, and there were so many emotional moments throughout the story that genuinely pulled me in. More than anything, I loved watching the journey between Bailey and Kaitlyn unfold — it felt authentic, emotional, and beautifully developed
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow. Wow. Wow. Talk about a roller coaster. I read the first two books of this series at the beginning of the month. And I've been waiting for this story forever. Bailey and Kait have such a raw passion for one another and it's easily seen in this book. I laughed and cried all within a chapter. And that's how you know this book is worth the read. Laurea, you've done it again. And now off to the Hunter arc!
May 21, 2026
I’ve finished the book like an hour ago and I’m still in tears, since I read before you I was thinking about all that Bailey had to go through, but finally finding out everything really broke me, I love this book, I love these series, they’re so good and all the angst slow burn had me tense, can’t wait to reread it again when it finally comes out!!! I spent 2 days reading because I couldn’t stop crying, it’s by far the best book I’ve read 😭😭🤍🤍 🤍
Review of advance copy
WOW!
I was extremely grateful to be chosen for an ARC as this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026 and it really did not disappoint. Bailey and Kaitlyn were always meant to be, it just took them a while to get there.
Javi was such an important character in B’s story and he absolutely melted my heart, and his bond with Mira and Henry really added to how special this book was.
2027 cannot come around quick enough for Hunters story, I am so ready!
I was extremely grateful to be chosen for an ARC as this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026 and it really did not disappoint. Bailey and Kaitlyn were always meant to be, it just took them a while to get there.
Javi was such an important character in B’s story and he absolutely melted my heart, and his bond with Mira and Henry really added to how special this book was.
2027 cannot come around quick enough for Hunters story, I am so ready!
Review of advance copy
I have been so excited for this book to come out. The Reckless Love series is probably my favorite series out there right now. Laurea writes with such a gentle touch, especially when touching on delicate topics. First with JJ's story, and now she has effectively done it again with Bailey's story. The mix of past and present throughout the book does a great job of painting the whole picture.
I cant wait to see what else is coming!
I cant wait to see what else is coming!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such a rollercoaster of emotions. But one well worth going through. Bailey and Kaitlyn were so wonderful. Seeing their growth, the things they had gone through, and finally finding a good place in life together. I spent an entire day fully immersed in this beautiful story. I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to read this through Love Notes. I’m hoping to be able to read what comes next. This was just an absolutely wonderful read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
firstly thank you to lovenotes pr and thr author for letting me read this arc.
Omg this book was everything. Bailey and Kaitlyn had such a natural connection and chemistry from the start. I loved how Kaitlyn was eventually able to figure out her feelings
Something that really melted my heart was the relationship between Bailey and Javi made my heart melt.
Omg this book was everything. Bailey and Kaitlyn had such a natural connection and chemistry from the start. I loved how Kaitlyn was eventually able to figure out her feelings
Something that really melted my heart was the relationship between Bailey and Javi made my heart melt.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this. I Loved Bailey and Kaitlyn.
May 24, 2026
4,5⭐️
Review coming soon
Review coming soon
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