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All's Fair
Two exes and a second chance to get things right, if life doesn’t pull them further apart…
Avery Brooks
When faced with the love of your life moving on, the only rational thing to do is to prank them, right? Kane and I were always the unshakable exes, together since high school and ready to face the world together. When one day we were ripped apart.
It’s been 6 long weeks since the break up, and I am just trying to get through the days. Working at our local animal shelter has helped, finding solace alongside the lost and damaged animals. A parallel to how I have always felt in my life. Add in some meddling friends, and stolen moments together that force us to confront what we broke.
Kane D’Antonio
6 weeks since the love of my life has walked out and I have been grasping at anything since then. Searching for even just a glimpse of her in the back of a photo, to the playlists we use to share a constant stream in my ears, until I see her again and am willing to do what it takes to get her back. The blue eyes and long hair taunting me with what I had lost.
I still need to fight those invisible demons in my head that are keeping me from finding my way back to her. Juggling two jobs– bartending and a counselor at a local high school– and trying to help the kids that could be falling through the cracks. When we’re finally thrown back together unable to deny the spark that has always ignited between us. But will we be able to rekindle what once was, or will the flame of us burn out permanently.
Avery Brooks
When faced with the love of your life moving on, the only rational thing to do is to prank them, right? Kane and I were always the unshakable exes, together since high school and ready to face the world together. When one day we were ripped apart.
It’s been 6 long weeks since the break up, and I am just trying to get through the days. Working at our local animal shelter has helped, finding solace alongside the lost and damaged animals. A parallel to how I have always felt in my life. Add in some meddling friends, and stolen moments together that force us to confront what we broke.
Kane D’Antonio
6 weeks since the love of my life has walked out and I have been grasping at anything since then. Searching for even just a glimpse of her in the back of a photo, to the playlists we use to share a constant stream in my ears, until I see her again and am willing to do what it takes to get her back. The blue eyes and long hair taunting me with what I had lost.
I still need to fight those invisible demons in my head that are keeping me from finding my way back to her. Juggling two jobs– bartending and a counselor at a local high school– and trying to help the kids that could be falling through the cracks. When we’re finally thrown back together unable to deny the spark that has always ignited between us. But will we be able to rekindle what once was, or will the flame of us burn out permanently.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
July 4, 2026
∞/⭐
This book is pure perfection.
I'm completely in obsessed with it. From the first page to the last, it was beautiful in every possible way. The relationship between the main characters was beyond amazing so wholesome, heartfelt, and genuinely enjoyable... Their love felt real, and reading about them almost gives you emotional deprivation because of how deeply Kane loves Avery... and how deeply she loves him in return.
I adore them. They're officially my favorite couple in light romance and they hold the number one spot for me.. Their chemistry was absolutely incredible.
Avery is such a wonderful girl she's so pretty and soft and cute like a little cat And Kane... where do I even begin? This man completely destroyed my standards.. Charismatic, masculine, noble... not a single flaw. We seriously need more mmc like him from this author.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was its emotional depth. I loved how the author focused on the characters' psychological growth and the idea that you need to love yourself before you can truly love someone else. The way she handled their struggles and healing was healthy, realistic, and incredibly satisfying.
This was my first book by this author and she absolutely impressed me.. I can't wait to read more books written in this style.. Honestly, this novel felt like a refreshing breeze on a sunny day. It was exactly what I needed, and I know I'll never get tired of rereading it, even if I read it a billion times.
I'm hopelessly in love with this book and with my babies Kane and Avery🥹🦋
Now I desperately need Morgan's and Marcus story.. I can't wait to read about the rest of the characters introduced here😭
And can we talk about the cover and the fan art? They take my breath away😍
This isn't just a novel it's perfection wrapped inside a book. You can tell the author poured love into every single detail from beginning to end and that's one of the things that made me fall for it even more.
Well done.. I'm genuinely proud to see women writing such healthy, beautiful relationships, with a mmc who would give everything for his girl and loves her endlessly and worships her every hour of every day and nights.
I' need so many more stories like this.
_____________________________________♬
“I love you, pretty girl. And I can’t imagine a time when that smile isn’t the single greatest part of my day.”
“I don’t know what God I had to pray to deserve this life with you, but I know no matter what lifetime we find ourselves in, I will always find my way to you,”
I could get lost in the sound of his voice. His deep, smoky tone has the ability to stop crowds, but Kane has never wanted to do anything with it. He always said he was gifted with that talent just for me. What a sap I was at seventeen, thinking it was the most romantic thing someone could ever say to me.
Fuck, do her eyes hold me hostage. They’re even bluer up close, standing out against her dark hair and pale skin. I swear she’s a fucking goddess sent to lure me to the underworld. A siren playing her music from her eyes only, snaring me in and never letting me go.
Five words, that’s all it took for my entire life to change—somehow rearranging the very makeup of atoms, forever altering what made me before to make room for the girl sitting right in front of me.
She just doesn’t know it yet.
What does someone say when faced with their biggest fantasy, only to realize it’s becoming their greatest weakness?
Fuck me. If that isn’t the best thing I’ve seen in my eighteen years on Earth. This girl, smiling at me as if I just gave her the greatest gift she’s ever received.
Ever since the first time I saw Avery senior year, I haven’t been able to look away. I don’t see that changing now.
The groan that rises up in the back of my throat threatens to spill over as I stare at her, at a loss for words.
Apparently, even seeing a glimpse of her stomach nowadays makes me hard, though I shouldn’t be surprised given that just being around her left me constantly aching when we were together. It was a test of my willpower, trying to avoid locking her in the closest room and having my way with her constantly.
I will get her back. I’ll give her the life she always pictured for us. Whatever she wants, she can have—I just need to figure out what went wrong.
Fuck if I haven’t sat and mapped out every inch of her body the way I imagine one does in art, every inch and curve of her made to perfection.
I rub my chest, wondering if this tightening I feel every time I think of Avery is ever going to go away
go of this girl. I wrap my fingers through hers and let her take me wherever she wants to go.
I could be walking straight to my death, but as long as she’s still holding my hand, I would go with a smile on my face.
If this girl wants flowers, I’ll make sure she never goes without.
I may barely know her, but I can already tell that she’s the kind of girl you do anything to keep right next to you.
If I only have one shot, I would rather lay it all out there now.
There isn’t a chance I’m missing out with Avery. The feeling in my stomach is taking on new levels, churning whenever she’s near, and I feel as if I can breathe a bit easier when she stares at me. I have been waking up every morning so excited to just see her. Even if all I get is a small glance each day, it feels like enough just to know she’s near.
As we sit there in silence just staring at each other, I’m hit with the sensation that there isn’t a thing this girl could ask for that I wouldn’t give her.
More dates? She doesn’t even have to ask.
Flowers every week? I’ll have them on special order.
A kidney? I’ll take mine out right now.
My heart? I think she already stole that.
Maybe it’s always been hers.
She’s always been so beautiful to me. The first time I saw her, it was as if I had been seeing the world in black and white, and suddenly the brightest colors exploded into my vision. She instantly had me wrapped around her finger, and there hasn’t been a single place I’d rather be since.
I used to find new ways to get her attention, pretending to forget pencils and paper so she would have to talk to me. She would roll her eyes at me and chastise me for being unprepared, not knowing I would throw my pencils away before that class for an excuse to have her look at me at all.
The first time she cracked a real smile at me, I felt my heart ache in my chest. Time stopped, and I knew then that I’d spend my life fighting to keep that smile on her face.
Kane has always been hard to the world, walking around with a tough exterior, but he would soften for me. And I loved being the only one who could bring that out of him.
It was as if I gave him somewhere he was safe to be himself.
An angel sent just for me, the penance for a shitty childhood, the gift I was given for still being here.
I’ve learned that I can’t be good to her if I’m not good to myself. The work to get her back starts with me, and there’s no mountain I wouldn’t climb to reach her. No monster I wouldn’t slay to be next to her every day going forward.
I stare at my lock screen, at the picture of Avery in one of my sweatshirts—a Grateful Dead hoodie she always preferred—the size dwarfing her as she smiles up at me with a crinkle in her nose.
I made that my background just over a year ago. When I looked over at her and just couldn’t help but think how fucking lucky I was. This girl stole my heart at eighteen and hasn’t let it go since. I remember the bickering afterward, her wanting me to pick any other picture of her with her hair and makeup done, but I knew this was the best one I would ever take. Because that face she made was always just for me.
“Because he looks at you as if the world begins and ends with you.
From the day I met him, he hasn’t looked at anyone or anything the way he does with you
because when someone loves you in the way you’ve craved your entire life, you don’t let that go.
Fuck if I won’t get on my hands and knees begging for a sliver of her attention again until I bleed,”
“I know because I’m it, pretty girl,” he challenges. “You don’t want a man whose ego you have to stroke. You want someone who comes undone with just the thought of you. You want a man who would fall to his knees after one taste. Someone willing to worship the ground you walk on just for a sliver of your attention.”
In this life and whatever comes next, she’s it for me. I’d strike whatever deal, make any bargain to go with her.
I’ve let her think she’s less than that, and today is the last day she doesn’t know my world begins and ends with her.
I’ve never put much faith in divinity, but I would give my life to worship the ground she walked on if she gave me another chance to get this right.
I’ve never stopped loving her. I don’t think I could, even if my heart was ripped out of my chest. My soul is hers.
“My soulmate, my best friend, my home. You are everything in the world to me, and I can’t wait a single second longer for you to be my wife. I want my ring on your finger. I want our house full of all the dogs you bring home. I want our kids someday, running around, all of them some perfect mix of you and me. My life started on August nineteenth, that autumn afternoon in the Tennessee fall, and now I want to start our forever together,”
Kane D'Antonio💎
This book is pure perfection.
I'm completely in obsessed with it. From the first page to the last, it was beautiful in every possible way. The relationship between the main characters was beyond amazing so wholesome, heartfelt, and genuinely enjoyable... Their love felt real, and reading about them almost gives you emotional deprivation because of how deeply Kane loves Avery... and how deeply she loves him in return.
I adore them. They're officially my favorite couple in light romance and they hold the number one spot for me.. Their chemistry was absolutely incredible.
Avery is such a wonderful girl she's so pretty and soft and cute like a little cat And Kane... where do I even begin? This man completely destroyed my standards.. Charismatic, masculine, noble... not a single flaw. We seriously need more mmc like him from this author.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was its emotional depth. I loved how the author focused on the characters' psychological growth and the idea that you need to love yourself before you can truly love someone else. The way she handled their struggles and healing was healthy, realistic, and incredibly satisfying.
This was my first book by this author and she absolutely impressed me.. I can't wait to read more books written in this style.. Honestly, this novel felt like a refreshing breeze on a sunny day. It was exactly what I needed, and I know I'll never get tired of rereading it, even if I read it a billion times.
I'm hopelessly in love with this book and with my babies Kane and Avery🥹🦋
Now I desperately need Morgan's and Marcus story.. I can't wait to read about the rest of the characters introduced here😭
And can we talk about the cover and the fan art? They take my breath away😍
This isn't just a novel it's perfection wrapped inside a book. You can tell the author poured love into every single detail from beginning to end and that's one of the things that made me fall for it even more.
Well done.. I'm genuinely proud to see women writing such healthy, beautiful relationships, with a mmc who would give everything for his girl and loves her endlessly and worships her every hour of every day and nights.
I' need so many more stories like this.
_____________________________________♬
“I love you, pretty girl. And I can’t imagine a time when that smile isn’t the single greatest part of my day.”
“I don’t know what God I had to pray to deserve this life with you, but I know no matter what lifetime we find ourselves in, I will always find my way to you,”
I could get lost in the sound of his voice. His deep, smoky tone has the ability to stop crowds, but Kane has never wanted to do anything with it. He always said he was gifted with that talent just for me. What a sap I was at seventeen, thinking it was the most romantic thing someone could ever say to me.
Fuck, do her eyes hold me hostage. They’re even bluer up close, standing out against her dark hair and pale skin. I swear she’s a fucking goddess sent to lure me to the underworld. A siren playing her music from her eyes only, snaring me in and never letting me go.
Five words, that’s all it took for my entire life to change—somehow rearranging the very makeup of atoms, forever altering what made me before to make room for the girl sitting right in front of me.
She just doesn’t know it yet.
What does someone say when faced with their biggest fantasy, only to realize it’s becoming their greatest weakness?
Fuck me. If that isn’t the best thing I’ve seen in my eighteen years on Earth. This girl, smiling at me as if I just gave her the greatest gift she’s ever received.
Ever since the first time I saw Avery senior year, I haven’t been able to look away. I don’t see that changing now.
The groan that rises up in the back of my throat threatens to spill over as I stare at her, at a loss for words.
Apparently, even seeing a glimpse of her stomach nowadays makes me hard, though I shouldn’t be surprised given that just being around her left me constantly aching when we were together. It was a test of my willpower, trying to avoid locking her in the closest room and having my way with her constantly.
I will get her back. I’ll give her the life she always pictured for us. Whatever she wants, she can have—I just need to figure out what went wrong.
Fuck if I haven’t sat and mapped out every inch of her body the way I imagine one does in art, every inch and curve of her made to perfection.
I rub my chest, wondering if this tightening I feel every time I think of Avery is ever going to go away
go of this girl. I wrap my fingers through hers and let her take me wherever she wants to go.
I could be walking straight to my death, but as long as she’s still holding my hand, I would go with a smile on my face.
If this girl wants flowers, I’ll make sure she never goes without.
I may barely know her, but I can already tell that she’s the kind of girl you do anything to keep right next to you.
If I only have one shot, I would rather lay it all out there now.
There isn’t a chance I’m missing out with Avery. The feeling in my stomach is taking on new levels, churning whenever she’s near, and I feel as if I can breathe a bit easier when she stares at me. I have been waking up every morning so excited to just see her. Even if all I get is a small glance each day, it feels like enough just to know she’s near.
As we sit there in silence just staring at each other, I’m hit with the sensation that there isn’t a thing this girl could ask for that I wouldn’t give her.
More dates? She doesn’t even have to ask.
Flowers every week? I’ll have them on special order.
A kidney? I’ll take mine out right now.
My heart? I think she already stole that.
Maybe it’s always been hers.
She’s always been so beautiful to me. The first time I saw her, it was as if I had been seeing the world in black and white, and suddenly the brightest colors exploded into my vision. She instantly had me wrapped around her finger, and there hasn’t been a single place I’d rather be since.
I used to find new ways to get her attention, pretending to forget pencils and paper so she would have to talk to me. She would roll her eyes at me and chastise me for being unprepared, not knowing I would throw my pencils away before that class for an excuse to have her look at me at all.
The first time she cracked a real smile at me, I felt my heart ache in my chest. Time stopped, and I knew then that I’d spend my life fighting to keep that smile on her face.
Kane has always been hard to the world, walking around with a tough exterior, but he would soften for me. And I loved being the only one who could bring that out of him.
It was as if I gave him somewhere he was safe to be himself.
An angel sent just for me, the penance for a shitty childhood, the gift I was given for still being here.
I’ve learned that I can’t be good to her if I’m not good to myself. The work to get her back starts with me, and there’s no mountain I wouldn’t climb to reach her. No monster I wouldn’t slay to be next to her every day going forward.
I stare at my lock screen, at the picture of Avery in one of my sweatshirts—a Grateful Dead hoodie she always preferred—the size dwarfing her as she smiles up at me with a crinkle in her nose.
I made that my background just over a year ago. When I looked over at her and just couldn’t help but think how fucking lucky I was. This girl stole my heart at eighteen and hasn’t let it go since. I remember the bickering afterward, her wanting me to pick any other picture of her with her hair and makeup done, but I knew this was the best one I would ever take. Because that face she made was always just for me.
“Because he looks at you as if the world begins and ends with you.
From the day I met him, he hasn’t looked at anyone or anything the way he does with you
because when someone loves you in the way you’ve craved your entire life, you don’t let that go.
Fuck if I won’t get on my hands and knees begging for a sliver of her attention again until I bleed,”
“I know because I’m it, pretty girl,” he challenges. “You don’t want a man whose ego you have to stroke. You want someone who comes undone with just the thought of you. You want a man who would fall to his knees after one taste. Someone willing to worship the ground you walk on just for a sliver of your attention.”
In this life and whatever comes next, she’s it for me. I’d strike whatever deal, make any bargain to go with her.
I’ve let her think she’s less than that, and today is the last day she doesn’t know my world begins and ends with her.
I’ve never put much faith in divinity, but I would give my life to worship the ground she walked on if she gave me another chance to get this right.
I’ve never stopped loving her. I don’t think I could, even if my heart was ripped out of my chest. My soul is hers.
“My soulmate, my best friend, my home. You are everything in the world to me, and I can’t wait a single second longer for you to be my wife. I want my ring on your finger. I want our house full of all the dogs you bring home. I want our kids someday, running around, all of them some perfect mix of you and me. My life started on August nineteenth, that autumn afternoon in the Tennessee fall, and now I want to start our forever together,”
Kane D'Antonio💎
June 28, 2026
First of all this is her debut novel?! Omg I’m obsessed with it. I love a second chance romance but also getting to see flashbacks of how the relationship started 🥹 I loved. Kane was a top tier yearner.
I love how they both finally went to therapy and got the help they needed so that they could finally get back together.
Also loved the found family and how all the pranks helped bring them back together eventually.
I am so excited for book 2!!
I love how they both finally went to therapy and got the help they needed so that they could finally get back together.
Also loved the found family and how all the pranks helped bring them back together eventually.
I am so excited for book 2!!
July 6, 2026
"I take in her long, thick lashes and the dots of freckles that have now come out with the washed away foundation. The freckles lining her nose and cheeks, like a constellation I could use to find my way back home. I used to count them when she slept, just to make sure I never missed a new one. There were nineteen when we first got together in high school...
Last time I counted, there were twenty-seven freckles, the number growing just as my love for her has. I wish I could stop and count now, just to make sure I haven’t missed any in the time we’ve been apart, but I don’t."
This is a very strong debut novel from Natalie Marie. With care, she writes about Kane's panic attacks and mental health struggles with parents who wield love as a weapon/reward.
Despite a painful breakup, Avery and Kane still orbit each other. I love the concept of found family and how their friends try to get the stubborn couple back together. I'm a goner for second chance romance and "it's always been you" tropes. Kane and Avery are each other's first loves, as they fell in love at first sight when he walked into her English class senior year of high school.
A moment that I regard fondly is when Kane takes care of his girl after her drunken adventures with her friends. He is very protective of her, wiping off her makeup gently, counting her freckles, and putting her in one of his t-shirts (that she loves to steal).
When they pull silly pranks on each other, they know exactly which petty buttons to push. I wish we would've had one or two more scenes of Avery and Kane after they started dating.
I can't wait to read the next book of the Gamble On Love series. Thank you to the author for my digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Last time I counted, there were twenty-seven freckles, the number growing just as my love for her has. I wish I could stop and count now, just to make sure I haven’t missed any in the time we’ve been apart, but I don’t."
This is a very strong debut novel from Natalie Marie. With care, she writes about Kane's panic attacks and mental health struggles with parents who wield love as a weapon/reward.
Despite a painful breakup, Avery and Kane still orbit each other. I love the concept of found family and how their friends try to get the stubborn couple back together. I'm a goner for second chance romance and "it's always been you" tropes. Kane and Avery are each other's first loves, as they fell in love at first sight when he walked into her English class senior year of high school.
A moment that I regard fondly is when Kane takes care of his girl after her drunken adventures with her friends. He is very protective of her, wiping off her makeup gently, counting her freckles, and putting her in one of his t-shirts (that she loves to steal).
When they pull silly pranks on each other, they know exactly which petty buttons to push. I wish we would've had one or two more scenes of Avery and Kane after they started dating.
I can't wait to read the next book of the Gamble On Love series. Thank you to the author for my digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 26, 2026
5★
This was an emotional rollercoaster. I don't even know what to say about Kane.
From the very first chapter, when Kane was cuddling with Avery during their high school days, I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to two people who were so deeply in love. And yes, it all came down to miscommunication and misunderstanding.
They were both broken souls because of their parents, which made it difficult for them to communicate and express their feelings properly. Neither of them was truly at fault. They were both carrying their own emotional scars. Thankfully, they got a second chance, beginning with some silly pranks on each other. Honestly, that's their love language.
I especially want to talk about Morgan, Marcus, and Grayson. The friends who stood by Kane and Avery. They didn't have many scenes, but I still felt like those three were always there whenever Kane and Avery needed them, like giant fluffy bears wrapping their arms around two lost souls and keeping them safe.
All's Fair is the first book in the Gamble on Love series. It follows Kane D'Antonio and Avery Brooks, a grumpy × grumpy, high school sweethearts, soulmates romance filled with second chances, heartfelt emotions, and healing.
This was an emotional rollercoaster. I don't even know what to say about Kane.
From the very first chapter, when Kane was cuddling with Avery during their high school days, I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to two people who were so deeply in love. And yes, it all came down to miscommunication and misunderstanding.
They were both broken souls because of their parents, which made it difficult for them to communicate and express their feelings properly. Neither of them was truly at fault. They were both carrying their own emotional scars. Thankfully, they got a second chance, beginning with some silly pranks on each other. Honestly, that's their love language.
I especially want to talk about Morgan, Marcus, and Grayson. The friends who stood by Kane and Avery. They didn't have many scenes, but I still felt like those three were always there whenever Kane and Avery needed them, like giant fluffy bears wrapping their arms around two lost souls and keeping them safe.
All's Fair is the first book in the Gamble on Love series. It follows Kane D'Antonio and Avery Brooks, a grumpy × grumpy, high school sweethearts, soulmates romance filled with second chances, heartfelt emotions, and healing.
July 8, 2026
“I don’t know what God I had to pray to deserve this life with you, but I know no matter what lifetime we find ourselves in, I will always find my way to you.”
Yeah, I'll take a down bad couple. Ones that are soft for each other but incredibly human and built of emotional depth. The things these two go through and the weight Natalie Marie wrote into their stories was perfection. I love a story that leaves me FEELING because then I connect, and when I connect to a story like this one?! It immediately gets a 4-star.
"Five words, that’s all it took for my entire life to change—somehow rearranging the very makeup of atoms, forever altering what made me before to make room for the girl sitting right in front of me. She just doesn’t know it yet."
Kane my down bad baby boyyyyyy. I love him. The way Natalie wrote him into existence pierced the mold because this IS HOW I WANT MY MMCs. Thirsty, yearning, heart-eyes, but made of respectttttt.
I just loved him. I loved their love story in all its weight and levity. And I highly recommend this when you can squeeze it onto your TBR because it's absolutely WORTH IT.
Yeah, I'll take a down bad couple. Ones that are soft for each other but incredibly human and built of emotional depth. The things these two go through and the weight Natalie Marie wrote into their stories was perfection. I love a story that leaves me FEELING because then I connect, and when I connect to a story like this one?! It immediately gets a 4-star.
"Five words, that’s all it took for my entire life to change—somehow rearranging the very makeup of atoms, forever altering what made me before to make room for the girl sitting right in front of me. She just doesn’t know it yet."
Kane my down bad baby boyyyyyy. I love him. The way Natalie wrote him into existence pierced the mold because this IS HOW I WANT MY MMCs. Thirsty, yearning, heart-eyes, but made of respectttttt.
I just loved him. I loved their love story in all its weight and levity. And I highly recommend this when you can squeeze it onto your TBR because it's absolutely WORTH IT.
June 23, 2026
Avery Brooks and Kane D’Antonio captivated me from the very beginning. They were destined to be together, and both of them have me hooked.
Their relationship started as high school sweethearts, but their paths diverged, leading to them breaking up.
Kane, being hurt with the loss of the one person who meant the world to him, sought therapy to work through his emotions.
Kane’s yearning for Avery had me swooning for him.
I really cherished Avery and Morgan’s friendship, and the entire group of friends were my fav.
The chemistry between Avery and Kane was electrifying, making them both incredibly attractive. It’s like they were on fire.
OMG, let’s talk about Kane’s “pretty girl” tattoo!
Natalie Marie introduced us to another man who yearns to join our list.
If you enjoy
•grumpy x grumpy
•second chance
•mental health rep
•yearning x angst
•found family
•protective MMC
•boy obsessed
•he falls first and hard
All’s Fair is your next read!!
Thank you Natalie Marie for this ARC opportunity!!
Their relationship started as high school sweethearts, but their paths diverged, leading to them breaking up.
Kane, being hurt with the loss of the one person who meant the world to him, sought therapy to work through his emotions.
Kane’s yearning for Avery had me swooning for him.
I really cherished Avery and Morgan’s friendship, and the entire group of friends were my fav.
The chemistry between Avery and Kane was electrifying, making them both incredibly attractive. It’s like they were on fire.
OMG, let’s talk about Kane’s “pretty girl” tattoo!
Natalie Marie introduced us to another man who yearns to join our list.
If you enjoy
•grumpy x grumpy
•second chance
•mental health rep
•yearning x angst
•found family
•protective MMC
•boy obsessed
•he falls first and hard
All’s Fair is your next read!!
Thank you Natalie Marie for this ARC opportunity!!
June 24, 2026
I cannot believe this is a debut novel!! Avery and Kane stole my heart from the beginning. Their story was so raw and real, and I loved seeing them go through the hard stuff and come back together and truly work on their problems. Natalie’s writing was so beautiful and poetic, I found myself lost in this beautiful story. Kane and Avery were both very relatable characters with their family struggles that have carried on into adulthood and how they navigated those issues at this different stage of their life. I love that Kane recognized that ne needed to get help in order to be a better partner in the relationship. Also, how sweet was Kane?! Everything that came out of his mouth made me melt. His love for Avery was evident. The found family in this book was incredible. The friend group was top tier and I cannot wait to read more about them in the next book!! So excited to see what you do next, Natalie!!
June 24, 2026
🅰🆁🅲 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡.
📖 𝐀𝐥𝐥’𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫
✍🏼 ɴᴀᴛᴀʟɪᴇ ᴍᴀʀɪᴇ
4.5⭐️
Avery and Kane! I absolutely adored these two to pieces! And Trevor!!! Oh man, that part of the story completely stole my freaking heart. The way Kane looked out for him was EVERYTHING to me! 🥹
I’m such a sucker for second chances and found family, and this fed my greedy little soul. I don’t think I came up for air while reading this one. I couldn’t stop!
Congratulations, Natalie, on your debut novel! I’m so looking forward to the rest of this series. I fell in love with everyone in this book. Well… everyone except for you know who. He can rot in hell. 😌🙂↕️
🎧 ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ
💿 ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ x ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ
🎧 ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ ʀᴇᴘ
💿 ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
🎧 ᴀ ᴅᴀꜱʜ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴀᴋᴇ ᴅᴀᴛɪɴɢ
💿 ʏᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡.
📖 𝐀𝐥𝐥’𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫
✍🏼 ɴᴀᴛᴀʟɪᴇ ᴍᴀʀɪᴇ
4.5⭐️
Avery and Kane! I absolutely adored these two to pieces! And Trevor!!! Oh man, that part of the story completely stole my freaking heart. The way Kane looked out for him was EVERYTHING to me! 🥹
I’m such a sucker for second chances and found family, and this fed my greedy little soul. I don’t think I came up for air while reading this one. I couldn’t stop!
Congratulations, Natalie, on your debut novel! I’m so looking forward to the rest of this series. I fell in love with everyone in this book. Well… everyone except for you know who. He can rot in hell. 😌🙂↕️
🎧 ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ
💿 ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ x ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ
🎧 ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ ʀᴇᴘ
💿 ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
🎧 ᴀ ᴅᴀꜱʜ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴀᴋᴇ ᴅᴀᴛɪɴɢ
💿 ʏᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ
July 3, 2026
ARC REVIEW 🎀
Rating: 4.5/5⭐
Tropes
🩷Second chance
🩷grumpy x grumpy
🩷mental health rep
🩷found family
🩷all the yearning
First and foremost i would like to thank the Author Natalie Marie for giving me the ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review. Im truly grateful
I can say it with my whole heart that this book got me through my examination days... I mean it. I was getting absolutely wrecked the whole time, but reading this book not only made me feel better, it healed something in me.
This book... I genuinely have no words. It was everything I ever wanted and, honestly, I'm already missing the characters. "Good" is an understatement. Even the word "better" isn't enough when I have to describe this book. The moment I opened it, every single checkbox I had in my head was instantly ticked off.
And the fact that this was the author's debut!? Like... HELLO?? WHAT!? If this is what her first book is like, then she sure as hell got me hooked because now I'm simply obsessed. I literally cannot wait for her next release because I already know I'm gonna devour the hell out of it and leave absolutely no crumbs.
This story follows two high school sweethearts, Kane and Avery. They're the kind of couple you'd see in high school and immediately know those two are gonna be inseparable. But the miscommunication?? It had me wanting to crawl inside the book, lock these two in a room, and force them to talk things out. (But let's be real... I know they ain't *just* talking in there though. 😏)
Kane...
He was the man after my own heart, and at this point... I'm sorry, Avery, but I gotta fight you, girl.
Because this man basically looked at my standards and said, "That's how tall they are? One sec... lemme make them even taller," and completely ruined every other book boyfriend for me. Now I'm out here regretting reality.
KANE IS THE MAN.
I REPEAT...
HE IS THE MAN.
This man would literally say "woof" and identify himself as a dog if Avery so much as asked him to.
Down bad got NOTHING on him.
Kane made his own damn edition of down bad.
Like... the way this man simply needs her more than oxygen. The way, for him, it has always been her.
And don't even get me started on the fact that I absolutely LOVE a man who can cook and sing...
So Kane basically walked in and said, "Here I am, baby girl."
One of his love languages is literally cooking, and he can sing too?? Yeah... I was already head over heels for him.
The spice...
And the mouth on this man...
YES.
YES.
AND YES.
Hot and bothered??
More like melting and absolutely feral.
This book was EVERYTHING.
But more than all of that, I could clearly see parts of myself in Kane. His struggles mirrored my own, and for the first time in a while, I didn't feel so alone. That hit me harder than I expected.
Avery might not have received the love she deserved before, but she sure as hell got it tenfold—not only from the man of her dreams but also from a family who she met half way through and who would choose her over everything. Honestly, she deserved every bit of it and so much more.
Both of their struggles felt real.
Their pain felt real.
Their story felt real.
And I was here for every single second of it.
My only complaint would be that I wish we'd gotten more snippets of them before the breakup. I think seeing more of their relationship beforehand would've made it even easier to understand them and made everything hit that much harder emotionally.
But regardless...
This book absolutely ATE...
...and left no damn crumbs.
Rating: 4.5/5⭐
Tropes
🩷Second chance
🩷grumpy x grumpy
🩷mental health rep
🩷found family
🩷all the yearning
First and foremost i would like to thank the Author Natalie Marie for giving me the ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review. Im truly grateful
I can say it with my whole heart that this book got me through my examination days... I mean it. I was getting absolutely wrecked the whole time, but reading this book not only made me feel better, it healed something in me.
This book... I genuinely have no words. It was everything I ever wanted and, honestly, I'm already missing the characters. "Good" is an understatement. Even the word "better" isn't enough when I have to describe this book. The moment I opened it, every single checkbox I had in my head was instantly ticked off.
And the fact that this was the author's debut!? Like... HELLO?? WHAT!? If this is what her first book is like, then she sure as hell got me hooked because now I'm simply obsessed. I literally cannot wait for her next release because I already know I'm gonna devour the hell out of it and leave absolutely no crumbs.
This story follows two high school sweethearts, Kane and Avery. They're the kind of couple you'd see in high school and immediately know those two are gonna be inseparable. But the miscommunication?? It had me wanting to crawl inside the book, lock these two in a room, and force them to talk things out. (But let's be real... I know they ain't *just* talking in there though. 😏)
Kane...
He was the man after my own heart, and at this point... I'm sorry, Avery, but I gotta fight you, girl.
Because this man basically looked at my standards and said, "That's how tall they are? One sec... lemme make them even taller," and completely ruined every other book boyfriend for me. Now I'm out here regretting reality.
KANE IS THE MAN.
I REPEAT...
HE IS THE MAN.
This man would literally say "woof" and identify himself as a dog if Avery so much as asked him to.
Down bad got NOTHING on him.
Kane made his own damn edition of down bad.
Like... the way this man simply needs her more than oxygen. The way, for him, it has always been her.
And don't even get me started on the fact that I absolutely LOVE a man who can cook and sing...
So Kane basically walked in and said, "Here I am, baby girl."
One of his love languages is literally cooking, and he can sing too?? Yeah... I was already head over heels for him.
The spice...
And the mouth on this man...
YES.
YES.
AND YES.
Hot and bothered??
More like melting and absolutely feral.
This book was EVERYTHING.
But more than all of that, I could clearly see parts of myself in Kane. His struggles mirrored my own, and for the first time in a while, I didn't feel so alone. That hit me harder than I expected.
Avery might not have received the love she deserved before, but she sure as hell got it tenfold—not only from the man of her dreams but also from a family who she met half way through and who would choose her over everything. Honestly, she deserved every bit of it and so much more.
Both of their struggles felt real.
Their pain felt real.
Their story felt real.
And I was here for every single second of it.
My only complaint would be that I wish we'd gotten more snippets of them before the breakup. I think seeing more of their relationship beforehand would've made it even easier to understand them and made everything hit that much harder emotionally.
But regardless...
This book absolutely ATE...
...and left no damn crumbs.
June 25, 2026
❤️ Some Hearts Always Find Their Way Home ❤️
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️
"The thing with first loves is they never truly leave you."
That single thought perfectly captures everything All's Fair represents.
This wasn't simply a second-chance romance. It was a deeply emotional story about healing, mental health, self-worth, found family, and discovering that sometimes loving someone also means learning to love yourself first.
I fell for Avery Brooks and Kane D'Antonio almost immediately. These two felt destined for each other from the moment they met in high school, and every little detail—from the pink peonies and matching tattoos to Kane's passcode and heartfelt letter—made their love story feel incredibly intentional and unforgettable.
Avery completely stole my heart. She has one of the kindest, most compassionate souls I've ever read. Even while carrying her own pain, she continually put others first, whether it was caring for the animals at the shelter or helping the people she loved without hesitation. All I wanted to do was reach through the pages and hug her.
And Kane...
Where do I even begin?
Kane is the definition of a man who yearns.
Watching him work on himself rather than simply asking Avery to wait was one of the most beautiful character arcs I've read. His struggles with anxiety and depression felt incredibly honest, and Natalie Marie handled those topics with so much care and authenticity. I found pieces of myself in Kane, making his journey even more personal and meaningful.
The chemistry between Avery and Kane was undeniable, but it was their emotional intimacy that truly made this story unforgettable. Their relationship wasn't perfect, and neither were they, but watching them choose growth, healing, and each other made every emotional moment worthwhile.
The found-family dynamic was another highlight. Morgan, Marcus, Grayson, Trevor, Silver, and Roo brought so much warmth, humor, and heart to the story. Their unwavering support reminded me that family isn't always the people you're born to—it can also be the people who choose you every single day.
I also have to mention the humor. Even through heartbreak, the prank war between Avery and Kane had me laughing, balancing the heavier moments perfectly. And yes... the spice absolutely delivered. Kane's mouth, the "Pretty Girl" tattoo, and the way he completely adored Avery? Let's just say I understood the hype.
For a debut novel, All's Fair completely exceeded every expectation I had. Natalie Marie created characters who felt real, flawed, and impossible not to love. This is one of those stories that stays with you long after you've finished reading, and I already know I'll be thinking about Avery and Kane for a very long time.
Thank you to Natalie Marie for the opportunity to read and review All's Fair before release. Avery and Kane's journey touched my heart in ways I wasn't expecting, and I cannot wait to continue this series. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️
"The thing with first loves is they never truly leave you."
That single thought perfectly captures everything All's Fair represents.
This wasn't simply a second-chance romance. It was a deeply emotional story about healing, mental health, self-worth, found family, and discovering that sometimes loving someone also means learning to love yourself first.
I fell for Avery Brooks and Kane D'Antonio almost immediately. These two felt destined for each other from the moment they met in high school, and every little detail—from the pink peonies and matching tattoos to Kane's passcode and heartfelt letter—made their love story feel incredibly intentional and unforgettable.
Avery completely stole my heart. She has one of the kindest, most compassionate souls I've ever read. Even while carrying her own pain, she continually put others first, whether it was caring for the animals at the shelter or helping the people she loved without hesitation. All I wanted to do was reach through the pages and hug her.
And Kane...
Where do I even begin?
Kane is the definition of a man who yearns.
Watching him work on himself rather than simply asking Avery to wait was one of the most beautiful character arcs I've read. His struggles with anxiety and depression felt incredibly honest, and Natalie Marie handled those topics with so much care and authenticity. I found pieces of myself in Kane, making his journey even more personal and meaningful.
The chemistry between Avery and Kane was undeniable, but it was their emotional intimacy that truly made this story unforgettable. Their relationship wasn't perfect, and neither were they, but watching them choose growth, healing, and each other made every emotional moment worthwhile.
The found-family dynamic was another highlight. Morgan, Marcus, Grayson, Trevor, Silver, and Roo brought so much warmth, humor, and heart to the story. Their unwavering support reminded me that family isn't always the people you're born to—it can also be the people who choose you every single day.
I also have to mention the humor. Even through heartbreak, the prank war between Avery and Kane had me laughing, balancing the heavier moments perfectly. And yes... the spice absolutely delivered. Kane's mouth, the "Pretty Girl" tattoo, and the way he completely adored Avery? Let's just say I understood the hype.
For a debut novel, All's Fair completely exceeded every expectation I had. Natalie Marie created characters who felt real, flawed, and impossible not to love. This is one of those stories that stays with you long after you've finished reading, and I already know I'll be thinking about Avery and Kane for a very long time.
Thank you to Natalie Marie for the opportunity to read and review All's Fair before release. Avery and Kane's journey touched my heart in ways I wasn't expecting, and I cannot wait to continue this series. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Infinity stars for Avery and Kane ♾️
I fell for Avery Brooks and Kane D’Antonio as soon a I met them. These two characters were destined to be together and have stolen my heart.
Avery and Kane were perfect. I don't think I have ever fallen for a couple as fast as I have for them. All the little details from the moment they met in high school, to his passcode, the pink peonies, and the rings and tattoos, each was so important to their story. I really found pieces of myself in Kane as I read and it was so refreshing to relate to a character and understand all his thoughts and feelings. The way he yearned for Avery? My heart! Ugh and I just loved Avery. She was the best and all I wanted to do was hug her. She has such a beautiful soul. I mean she even fake dated her ex to help him out. Morgan was the bestie that we all need and want in our life! She played a big part in Kane and Avery getting back together. But really it was the whole friend group. Marcus and Grayson were the best. I'm obsessed with all 5 of them and Silver & Roo🩷!
Learning about why Avery and Kane broke up and their past really broke me. I cried so many times while reading this book and I think it's because I related to Kane so much. Anxiety and depression are hard issues and to talk and write about and I think Natalie did an amazing job capturing the emotions that one feels. The thoughts that Kane had were some I've experienced myself. It was raw and real.
One of my favorite parts were the pranks. They were hilarious and I loved that even after their breakup they were still pulling them. And sweet Trevor. His and Kane's relationship was 🥹😭. I loved seeing Kane care so much for him. I highlighted so many things while reading and could probably write an essay on why I love this book and why you should read it 😂.
And of course we have to take a moment to talk about the spice 🙂↕️. The mouth on Kane August D’Antonio?? Please sir, take a bow. You had me panting for every word 👏. He was hot and that "Pretty Girl" tattoo 😮💨. He and Avery together were 🔥🔥🔥!!
I'm obsessed with these two and I loved every single bit of their story. Especially that letter. All'sFair is a book that will stay with me forever. Never have I ever seen so much of myself in a character before. It was beautiful and I cannot believe this is Natalie's debut novel. Do yourself a huge favor and read this one as soon as it drops. You won't regret and you're gonna fall so hard for Avery and Kane as I did. And I cannot wait for Morgan and Marcus's story next!! It's going to be soooo good 🤭!
Thank you so so much to Natalie Marie for the opportunity to read an ARC of All's Fair 🩷.
I fell for Avery Brooks and Kane D’Antonio as soon a I met them. These two characters were destined to be together and have stolen my heart.
Avery and Kane were perfect. I don't think I have ever fallen for a couple as fast as I have for them. All the little details from the moment they met in high school, to his passcode, the pink peonies, and the rings and tattoos, each was so important to their story. I really found pieces of myself in Kane as I read and it was so refreshing to relate to a character and understand all his thoughts and feelings. The way he yearned for Avery? My heart! Ugh and I just loved Avery. She was the best and all I wanted to do was hug her. She has such a beautiful soul. I mean she even fake dated her ex to help him out. Morgan was the bestie that we all need and want in our life! She played a big part in Kane and Avery getting back together. But really it was the whole friend group. Marcus and Grayson were the best. I'm obsessed with all 5 of them and Silver & Roo🩷!
Learning about why Avery and Kane broke up and their past really broke me. I cried so many times while reading this book and I think it's because I related to Kane so much. Anxiety and depression are hard issues and to talk and write about and I think Natalie did an amazing job capturing the emotions that one feels. The thoughts that Kane had were some I've experienced myself. It was raw and real.
One of my favorite parts were the pranks. They were hilarious and I loved that even after their breakup they were still pulling them. And sweet Trevor. His and Kane's relationship was 🥹😭. I loved seeing Kane care so much for him. I highlighted so many things while reading and could probably write an essay on why I love this book and why you should read it 😂.
And of course we have to take a moment to talk about the spice 🙂↕️. The mouth on Kane August D’Antonio?? Please sir, take a bow. You had me panting for every word 👏. He was hot and that "Pretty Girl" tattoo 😮💨. He and Avery together were 🔥🔥🔥!!
I'm obsessed with these two and I loved every single bit of their story. Especially that letter. All'sFair is a book that will stay with me forever. Never have I ever seen so much of myself in a character before. It was beautiful and I cannot believe this is Natalie's debut novel. Do yourself a huge favor and read this one as soon as it drops. You won't regret and you're gonna fall so hard for Avery and Kane as I did. And I cannot wait for Morgan and Marcus's story next!! It's going to be soooo good 🤭!
Thank you so so much to Natalie Marie for the opportunity to read an ARC of All's Fair 🩷.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.25 stars
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this debut! I love a second chance romance and a found family like the one we get to meet in All's Fair. I cannot wait to get more from this author and these characters. This was angsty, emotional, and a hard earned happy ever after.
The flashback chapters were the embodiment of first love and it was very sweet to see the way Kane was instantly smitten with Avery. There was an innocence to it all that screamed young love in the most wonderful ways. Their connection was fated and I knew they would make their way back.
It was painful to see the distance between them in the present all the while knowing how much they each still loved each other. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about the prank war. The juvenile nature of it all seemed incongruent to the angsty/somber vibe of the rest of the book, but eventually I liked how it was a way to bridge the gap between them. I think they needed that levity to cut the tension.
The mental health rep in this was one of my favorite parts. The author clearly put a lot of consideration into writing these characters and their struggles. My heart ached for them and it was such vulnerable, heart-wrenching look into anxiety and panic attacks.
While I did enjoy a lot of this, I also struggled with other parts. I didn't particularly like the overall message of "If she asks for space, she doesn't actually want it, so keep pushing" - this is reiterated a few times and I think we should always honor when a woman asks for space. I get that overall it was a miscommunication thing because Avery didn't actually want the space, but Kane isn't a mind reader and she shouldn't have expected him to be. I do agree that he should have fought for her after giving her space though and I slowly realized that was the biggest issue. While the problems that led to their breakup were valid and very real, the crux of the argument for why they stayed broken up seemed a bit juvenile. However, I guess it was fitting for their characters considering how young they were. I'm glad they both sought therapy and worked hard to get back to each other as healthier versions of themselves. Lastly, the writing at times was a little too saccharine for my personal taste. It often teetered the line of being romantic and overly sentimental.
All that being said, I did enjoy this and thought it was a good debut novel!! Looking forward to more.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this debut! I love a second chance romance and a found family like the one we get to meet in All's Fair. I cannot wait to get more from this author and these characters. This was angsty, emotional, and a hard earned happy ever after.
The flashback chapters were the embodiment of first love and it was very sweet to see the way Kane was instantly smitten with Avery. There was an innocence to it all that screamed young love in the most wonderful ways. Their connection was fated and I knew they would make their way back.
It was painful to see the distance between them in the present all the while knowing how much they each still loved each other. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about the prank war. The juvenile nature of it all seemed incongruent to the angsty/somber vibe of the rest of the book, but eventually I liked how it was a way to bridge the gap between them. I think they needed that levity to cut the tension.
The mental health rep in this was one of my favorite parts. The author clearly put a lot of consideration into writing these characters and their struggles. My heart ached for them and it was such vulnerable, heart-wrenching look into anxiety and panic attacks.
While I did enjoy a lot of this, I also struggled with other parts. I didn't particularly like the overall message of "If she asks for space, she doesn't actually want it, so keep pushing" - this is reiterated a few times and I think we should always honor when a woman asks for space. I get that overall it was a miscommunication thing because Avery didn't actually want the space, but Kane isn't a mind reader and she shouldn't have expected him to be. I do agree that he should have fought for her after giving her space though and I slowly realized that was the biggest issue. While the problems that led to their breakup were valid and very real, the crux of the argument for why they stayed broken up seemed a bit juvenile. However, I guess it was fitting for their characters considering how young they were. I'm glad they both sought therapy and worked hard to get back to each other as healthier versions of themselves. Lastly, the writing at times was a little too saccharine for my personal taste. It often teetered the line of being romantic and overly sentimental.
All that being said, I did enjoy this and thought it was a good debut novel!! Looking forward to more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 ⭐️
Thank you so much for the arc!
Where do I even start with this book? Avery and Kane broke my heart and put it back together🥹 I loved them so freaking much. 😩 The friendship between all the characters was adorable and the way Avery described them to be her family is the cutest thing ever.🥹 They were all so supportive of each other, it was so cute to read about their small little found family.🫶🏼 Morgan and Avery being the opposite of each other aswell but being the bestest of friends, i adore whenever friends are so incredibly different but always stick together. 😽 Kane had such a poetic way of talking about Avery and his love for her, ugh, my heart couldnt handle it! 😩 I love how he never stopped trying to help Trevor even when Trevor kept trying to push him away and in the end, he succeeded in helping him get away from his father🥹🥹 The spice scenes were too hot, Especially when Kane gave Avery a hand necklace and it described how he had “Pretty Girl” tattooed between his thumb and forefinger.🤭🤭 Adored every single scene in this book and I hope so badly that Morgan and Marcus have a book because their banter was just so funny to read.
Favourite quotes ;
“She tries to make herself less noticeable when she’s around other people, but she gives me raw openness. She comes alive when she’s with the people she loves most, and I love opening my phone to that face every day. The confidence and love that shine back at me make my cheeks widen further. Like the first breath after being underwater too long, lungs burning, and finding the most beautiful sunset waiting over the ocean. That’s what she was—and still is—to me.”
“You are enough, Kane. I want you to know there has never been a time since I met you that I haven’t noticed what a treasure you are. You’re worth more than your weight in gold to me and to the people who care about you. Your heart is so big. Don’t let them close that part of you off. Don’t let them take it away from you, because your heart is my favorite thing about you. Your parents not seeing you says more about them than it does about you. They have all this money, all these things, and they’re missing the most priceless thing of all: your love. I feel sorry for them,”
“The opening chords of “Iris” fill the air, and the crowd goes wild, instantly knowing the popular beat. My smile breaks through at him playing our song, here in front of everyone. The biggest I love you he could ever say to me.”
Thank you so much for the arc!
Where do I even start with this book? Avery and Kane broke my heart and put it back together🥹 I loved them so freaking much. 😩 The friendship between all the characters was adorable and the way Avery described them to be her family is the cutest thing ever.🥹 They were all so supportive of each other, it was so cute to read about their small little found family.🫶🏼 Morgan and Avery being the opposite of each other aswell but being the bestest of friends, i adore whenever friends are so incredibly different but always stick together. 😽 Kane had such a poetic way of talking about Avery and his love for her, ugh, my heart couldnt handle it! 😩 I love how he never stopped trying to help Trevor even when Trevor kept trying to push him away and in the end, he succeeded in helping him get away from his father🥹🥹 The spice scenes were too hot, Especially when Kane gave Avery a hand necklace and it described how he had “Pretty Girl” tattooed between his thumb and forefinger.🤭🤭 Adored every single scene in this book and I hope so badly that Morgan and Marcus have a book because their banter was just so funny to read.
Favourite quotes ;
“She tries to make herself less noticeable when she’s around other people, but she gives me raw openness. She comes alive when she’s with the people she loves most, and I love opening my phone to that face every day. The confidence and love that shine back at me make my cheeks widen further. Like the first breath after being underwater too long, lungs burning, and finding the most beautiful sunset waiting over the ocean. That’s what she was—and still is—to me.”
“You are enough, Kane. I want you to know there has never been a time since I met you that I haven’t noticed what a treasure you are. You’re worth more than your weight in gold to me and to the people who care about you. Your heart is so big. Don’t let them close that part of you off. Don’t let them take it away from you, because your heart is my favorite thing about you. Your parents not seeing you says more about them than it does about you. They have all this money, all these things, and they’re missing the most priceless thing of all: your love. I feel sorry for them,”
“The opening chords of “Iris” fill the air, and the crowd goes wild, instantly knowing the popular beat. My smile breaks through at him playing our song, here in front of everyone. The biggest I love you he could ever say to me.”
June 25, 2026
if he is not making your legs shake while you fuck, he ain't the one.
bring back men who yearnnnnnnnn. truly this is what the girlies want to see. i think it's been a while since i've read about a man who yearns as much as Kane does but let me tell you he is up there for top mmcs solely bc he is a man who years and longs, he has tattoos for you, and he learns all your favorite songs on his guitar to play for you. i mean what else can you ask for. this is a green flag.
this follows Avery Brooks and Kane D'Antonio. high school sweethearts. they met their senior year of high school when Kane moved to a new school, and it truly was like love at first sight for him. he knew that he had to have her. fast forward four years later and avery and kane have broken up bc kane is not emotionally in the relationship anymore. he is not talking to avery about what is going on in his life and she feels the disconnect. but what does he do? he obviously is in pain bc he lost his sun but this man literally goes to therapy to work on himself for her. HE GOES TO THERAPY TO WORK ON HIMSELF FOR HER. literally sedate me pls, bc that is literally a man right there.
this touches huge on mental health and i have not read alot of books where both of the character are struggling with their mental health but this was done in a respectful and beautiful way. both avery and kane dont have the best relationships with their parents. its bad for avery that she literally went no contact. kane suffers through panic attacks and that is something that he discovered he had while in therapy and its something that he thinks he has had since he was younger and thats because of his environment. but i love how they both dont shy away from this. i love how they both better themselves in spite of it. i love a man who is in tune with his emotions. i love a man who cries and i also love a man who will literally beg on his knees for his woman. also he is super possessive and jealous of any man who goes near her or touches her.
this is a story about two people who are quite literally soulmates, destined for each other that go through a bump in the road that leads them to breaking up but they do not stop loving each other. if anything this is a story about growth and about loving yourself and choosing your family even if they're not blood related even when your actual family won't choose you.
know that you are enough.
Thank you so much to Natalie for the e-arc. truly an amazing debut novel. i cannot wait for book!
5☆
bring back men who yearnnnnnnnn. truly this is what the girlies want to see. i think it's been a while since i've read about a man who yearns as much as Kane does but let me tell you he is up there for top mmcs solely bc he is a man who years and longs, he has tattoos for you, and he learns all your favorite songs on his guitar to play for you. i mean what else can you ask for. this is a green flag.
this follows Avery Brooks and Kane D'Antonio. high school sweethearts. they met their senior year of high school when Kane moved to a new school, and it truly was like love at first sight for him. he knew that he had to have her. fast forward four years later and avery and kane have broken up bc kane is not emotionally in the relationship anymore. he is not talking to avery about what is going on in his life and she feels the disconnect. but what does he do? he obviously is in pain bc he lost his sun but this man literally goes to therapy to work on himself for her. HE GOES TO THERAPY TO WORK ON HIMSELF FOR HER. literally sedate me pls, bc that is literally a man right there.
this touches huge on mental health and i have not read alot of books where both of the character are struggling with their mental health but this was done in a respectful and beautiful way. both avery and kane dont have the best relationships with their parents. its bad for avery that she literally went no contact. kane suffers through panic attacks and that is something that he discovered he had while in therapy and its something that he thinks he has had since he was younger and thats because of his environment. but i love how they both dont shy away from this. i love how they both better themselves in spite of it. i love a man who is in tune with his emotions. i love a man who cries and i also love a man who will literally beg on his knees for his woman. also he is super possessive and jealous of any man who goes near her or touches her.
this is a story about two people who are quite literally soulmates, destined for each other that go through a bump in the road that leads them to breaking up but they do not stop loving each other. if anything this is a story about growth and about loving yourself and choosing your family even if they're not blood related even when your actual family won't choose you.
know that you are enough.
Thank you so much to Natalie for the e-arc. truly an amazing debut novel. i cannot wait for book!
5☆
June 29, 2026
Avery and Kane’s story was such an emotional rollercoaster in the best way possible. It was heartfelt, passionate, and just genuinely special. What I loved most was their unwavering devotion; no matter what life threw at them, they never stopped choosing each other or fighting for what they had.
I loved the songs at the beginning of each chapter, they added so much to the atmosphere and really set the mood. The flashbacks were a great touch, too. They gave us a perfect glimpse into how their relationship first blossomed and showed just how deep their connection went from the start.
I really appreciated how much heart the book put into exploring mental health and family dynamics. It reminded me how important it is to have people around you who truly support you. Honestly, their found family ended up being one of my favorite parts of the whole story.
I’ll admit, at first, it was hard to see how two people who loved each other so much could let miscommunication get in the way. But then I realized that everyone carries and processes trauma differently, and by the end, it all clicked into place. They owned their mistakes and made a conscious choice to work on themselves and their relationship, fully committed to building a future together. They chose each other, day after day. And, deep down, they simply knew they were meant to be.
The story had some really intense moments, but they were perfectly balanced out by their hilarious pranks. I was smiling at my book more than once! And the chemistry between them? It was so electric, it practically leaped off the page.
I loved Avery and Kane as individuals, but they were just magic together. They complemented each other so naturally and brought out the best in one another. Their dynamic was beautiful, and I never doubted for a second that they were soulmates. What made it even more special is that their love wasn't just a matter of chance. They stood by each other through thick and thin and never gave up until they got their happily ever after.
I loved the songs at the beginning of each chapter, they added so much to the atmosphere and really set the mood. The flashbacks were a great touch, too. They gave us a perfect glimpse into how their relationship first blossomed and showed just how deep their connection went from the start.
I really appreciated how much heart the book put into exploring mental health and family dynamics. It reminded me how important it is to have people around you who truly support you. Honestly, their found family ended up being one of my favorite parts of the whole story.
I’ll admit, at first, it was hard to see how two people who loved each other so much could let miscommunication get in the way. But then I realized that everyone carries and processes trauma differently, and by the end, it all clicked into place. They owned their mistakes and made a conscious choice to work on themselves and their relationship, fully committed to building a future together. They chose each other, day after day. And, deep down, they simply knew they were meant to be.
The story had some really intense moments, but they were perfectly balanced out by their hilarious pranks. I was smiling at my book more than once! And the chemistry between them? It was so electric, it practically leaped off the page.
I loved Avery and Kane as individuals, but they were just magic together. They complemented each other so naturally and brought out the best in one another. Their dynamic was beautiful, and I never doubted for a second that they were soulmates. What made it even more special is that their love wasn't just a matter of chance. They stood by each other through thick and thin and never gave up until they got their happily ever after.
“But I know in this life and the next, it ends with us. There’s no other way for it to end but with you coming home to me every night.”
Read
July 8, 2026Thank you to the author for the ARC! This is my honest review.
I dont know what kind of sorcery the author put in this book but I could literally feel it allllllll on every single page🩷
The angst. The yearning. The love. The heartbreak. The healing. Every page made me feel something.
This is a second chance romance and the reason they broke up actually made so much sense. It really shows how mental health can impact communication and in turn, a relationship.
Check your triggers, of course, but the mental health and anxiety rep and the way the author portrays it, was honestly my favorite part of the book. I think a lot of people will relate and feel seen. Especially that feeling of thinking you, just as you are, aren't enough.
Kane and Avery have my whole heart. And the side characters! I love when they're just as interesting as the main couple, and I absolutely loved the found family vibes. Also... Grayson. What. A. Man. I need more of him immediately!
Let me tell you.... the restroom scene at the bar🥵🥵 You're in for a treat! The spice in this book is fantastic and exactly the right amount. It never took away from the emotional depth of the story.
I'm just a blubbering mess because I'm beyond obsessed with this book. If you're looking for one of those romance books that makes you feel every ounce of the yearning and the love AND want a story that stays with you long after you've finished it, read this book!
Now I'm gonna need the next book as soon as possible. If I understood correctly we're getting Marcus and Morgan's story next and I already know it's gonna be delicious🤤
Such a great debut 🩷 Thank you, Natalie Marie, so much for the ARC. I really loved the book🩷
I dont know what kind of sorcery the author put in this book but I could literally feel it allllllll on every single page🩷
The angst. The yearning. The love. The heartbreak. The healing. Every page made me feel something.
This is a second chance romance and the reason they broke up actually made so much sense. It really shows how mental health can impact communication and in turn, a relationship.
Check your triggers, of course, but the mental health and anxiety rep and the way the author portrays it, was honestly my favorite part of the book. I think a lot of people will relate and feel seen. Especially that feeling of thinking you, just as you are, aren't enough.
Kane and Avery have my whole heart. And the side characters! I love when they're just as interesting as the main couple, and I absolutely loved the found family vibes. Also... Grayson. What. A. Man. I need more of him immediately!
Let me tell you.... the restroom scene at the bar🥵🥵 You're in for a treat! The spice in this book is fantastic and exactly the right amount. It never took away from the emotional depth of the story.
I'm just a blubbering mess because I'm beyond obsessed with this book. If you're looking for one of those romance books that makes you feel every ounce of the yearning and the love AND want a story that stays with you long after you've finished it, read this book!
Now I'm gonna need the next book as soon as possible. If I understood correctly we're getting Marcus and Morgan's story next and I already know it's gonna be delicious🤤
Such a great debut 🩷 Thank you, Natalie Marie, so much for the ARC. I really loved the book🩷
July 5, 2026
۶ৎ 𝔸𝕝𝕝’𝕤 𝔽𝕒𝕚𝕣 𝕓𝕪 ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕖
#arcreview
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 - second chance, grumpy x grumpy, found family, yearning & angst, mental health rep
—
What was in this book because I read it from start to finish with no stops I was so engrossed in their love story and the angst and yearningggg in this book!? Oh I was screaming cause I just wanted them to be together because you could tell they love each other so much. Their love story is so real, raw and emotional.
Avery, my girl oh I wish I could just hug her. Avery is amazing and sweet. I love her so much and I definitely relate to her on such a deeper level. She just stole my heart and her friendship with everyone was so special to see. Avery works at animal shelter because she so passionate about the animals and I loved seeing that side of her.
The emotions in this book was definitely something else not just from the Hank and yearning, but from the topics that discussed in this book like depression and anxiety and I just w seeing both sides, especially with the therapy and how when they got back together they still focused and talked about it. It was not just like “completely healed”.
Kane freaking D’Antonio top tier yearner! I love him so much. He’s just so wheww, and definitely going on that book boyfriend list because he just does something to me. I was so happy for him when he finally let all his feelings spill out to his parents because they needed to hear that. Kane is a full-time guidance counselor but he also works at a bar
This book let me go through all type of emotions. I just love everybody, especially the side characters. Their friend’s meddling in their relationship was amazing and so needed plus the pranks was also awesome I just love the family aspect. This book was giving and I can’t wait for more of the series.
#arcreview
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 - second chance, grumpy x grumpy, found family, yearning & angst, mental health rep
—
What was in this book because I read it from start to finish with no stops I was so engrossed in their love story and the angst and yearningggg in this book!? Oh I was screaming cause I just wanted them to be together because you could tell they love each other so much. Their love story is so real, raw and emotional.
Avery, my girl oh I wish I could just hug her. Avery is amazing and sweet. I love her so much and I definitely relate to her on such a deeper level. She just stole my heart and her friendship with everyone was so special to see. Avery works at animal shelter because she so passionate about the animals and I loved seeing that side of her.
The emotions in this book was definitely something else not just from the Hank and yearning, but from the topics that discussed in this book like depression and anxiety and I just w seeing both sides, especially with the therapy and how when they got back together they still focused and talked about it. It was not just like “completely healed”.
Kane freaking D’Antonio top tier yearner! I love him so much. He’s just so wheww, and definitely going on that book boyfriend list because he just does something to me. I was so happy for him when he finally let all his feelings spill out to his parents because they needed to hear that. Kane is a full-time guidance counselor but he also works at a bar
This book let me go through all type of emotions. I just love everybody, especially the side characters. Their friend’s meddling in their relationship was amazing and so needed plus the pranks was also awesome I just love the family aspect. This book was giving and I can’t wait for more of the series.
June 30, 2026
ARC review!
I adored this book! It fully met my expectations for a heartfelt romance novel. 🥰 Second chance romances always evoke deep emotions in me, and this one was no exception—I found myself crying at that unexpected plot twist. 🥺
Avery and Kane are wonderful characters; I loved their magnetic chemistry and admired their resilience to confront and overcome various obstacles together. ❤️🩹 The flashbacks were seamlessly incorporated and added meaningful context to their journey.
Kane, in particular, stole my heart—he was incredibly sweet, a true romantic and a devoted lover. 😍 I have a soft spot for anxious men who have tattoos and speak with a bit of a dirty mouth. 🫦
The spice level in the story was just right—hot and engaging without overshadowing the emotional depth. 🔥
I appreciated how the author realistically portrayed the characters' struggles with mental health issues, illustrating how anxiety and panic attacks can complicate communication and relationships. 🙁
I highlighted numerous passages that resonated deeply with me. 💕
I also loved the theme of found family—the idea that friends can become as important as blood relatives—adding emotional richness to the story. 🫶 The side characters added great liveliness and depth, making the world feel complete.
I am eagerly looking forward to the next book featuring Morgan and Marcus, and I can't wait to dive into their story! 🤭
Thank you so much to the author, Natalie Marie, for sending me a free e-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! ❤️
I adored this book! It fully met my expectations for a heartfelt romance novel. 🥰 Second chance romances always evoke deep emotions in me, and this one was no exception—I found myself crying at that unexpected plot twist. 🥺
Avery and Kane are wonderful characters; I loved their magnetic chemistry and admired their resilience to confront and overcome various obstacles together. ❤️🩹 The flashbacks were seamlessly incorporated and added meaningful context to their journey.
Kane, in particular, stole my heart—he was incredibly sweet, a true romantic and a devoted lover. 😍 I have a soft spot for anxious men who have tattoos and speak with a bit of a dirty mouth. 🫦
The spice level in the story was just right—hot and engaging without overshadowing the emotional depth. 🔥
I appreciated how the author realistically portrayed the characters' struggles with mental health issues, illustrating how anxiety and panic attacks can complicate communication and relationships. 🙁
I highlighted numerous passages that resonated deeply with me. 💕
I also loved the theme of found family—the idea that friends can become as important as blood relatives—adding emotional richness to the story. 🫶 The side characters added great liveliness and depth, making the world feel complete.
I am eagerly looking forward to the next book featuring Morgan and Marcus, and I can't wait to dive into their story! 🤭
Thank you so much to the author, Natalie Marie, for sending me a free e-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
🅰🆁🅲 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
𝐀𝐥𝐥'𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞
For a debut book? This is soooo good! This was such an enjoyable, feel good read, and I love it. I'm not really into second-chance romance, but I'll make an exception for this, It's exactly the kind of book you reach for when you've just finished a heavier novel (which I just finished, Kingdom of Ash) and need something light but heavy at times, funny, comforting and with a touch notch yearning! Avery and Kane broke my heart and put it back together, and I also loved how much attention was given to mental health and how different it shows up from every person.
Ms. Natalie's writing is captivating, and I absolutely enjoyed the small, beautifully crafted world she brings to life, and I am sure this won't be the last time I am reading her books.
𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒:
“𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵."
"𝘈𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳."
"𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳."
"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐'𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦."
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
𝐀𝐥𝐥'𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞
For a debut book? This is soooo good! This was such an enjoyable, feel good read, and I love it. I'm not really into second-chance romance, but I'll make an exception for this, It's exactly the kind of book you reach for when you've just finished a heavier novel (which I just finished, Kingdom of Ash) and need something light but heavy at times, funny, comforting and with a touch notch yearning! Avery and Kane broke my heart and put it back together, and I also loved how much attention was given to mental health and how different it shows up from every person.
Ms. Natalie's writing is captivating, and I absolutely enjoyed the small, beautifully crafted world she brings to life, and I am sure this won't be the last time I am reading her books.
𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒:
“𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵."
"𝘈𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳."
"𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳."
"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐'𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦."
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rcvd an ARC from the author.
What a cute story of true love prevailing after breaking apart. We meet Avery and Kane who met in high school. Kane was instantly in love with her and brought his life sunshine 🌞 when he lived in darkness. Fast forward to after college, Avery works at an animal shelter and Kane works at a bar and is a school counselor. Avery walks out of the relationship needing time since Kane doesn't talk about what's going on with him. She had a traumatic childhood with parents to neve gave a damn. Kane is lost without Avery. His demons have taken over his mind and now is in counseling to help with his past trauma with his parents. In my opinion Avery needs a slap to bring her to her senses. She goes out of her way to prank Kane and whene noticed it he pranks her back. It's almost 3 months since the breakup and they happen to always be in thr same vicinity but its gets worse when Avery is at thr bar with another guy so Kane stakes his claim. They still need to discuss what has happened but Avery always changes the topic but at Kanes parents he finally tells her how he feels about his parents. A step in the right direction but Avery wants Kane to choose her for once but he'd been showing her all along she just doesn't notice. Drama, past traumas, dealing with grief and all you need is love makes this a good story!
What a cute story of true love prevailing after breaking apart. We meet Avery and Kane who met in high school. Kane was instantly in love with her and brought his life sunshine 🌞 when he lived in darkness. Fast forward to after college, Avery works at an animal shelter and Kane works at a bar and is a school counselor. Avery walks out of the relationship needing time since Kane doesn't talk about what's going on with him. She had a traumatic childhood with parents to neve gave a damn. Kane is lost without Avery. His demons have taken over his mind and now is in counseling to help with his past trauma with his parents. In my opinion Avery needs a slap to bring her to her senses. She goes out of her way to prank Kane and whene noticed it he pranks her back. It's almost 3 months since the breakup and they happen to always be in thr same vicinity but its gets worse when Avery is at thr bar with another guy so Kane stakes his claim. They still need to discuss what has happened but Avery always changes the topic but at Kanes parents he finally tells her how he feels about his parents. A step in the right direction but Avery wants Kane to choose her for once but he'd been showing her all along she just doesn't notice. Drama, past traumas, dealing with grief and all you need is love makes this a good story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, this was such a roller coaster of a story! I don’t usually gravitate toward second-chance romances, and I’m not entirely sure why. Sometimes they’re harder for me to connect with, but this one completely surprised me. It was such a well-written second-chance romance, and I found myself fully invested in the characters and their journey.
I was absolutely kicking my feet during all of the spicy scenes because I loved them so much. One moment in particular that completely wrecked me was when his fingers spelled “pretty girl” because she wears it like a necklace. I was obsessed.
Beyond the romance, I really appreciated the mental health representation and the emotional depth of the story. The characters felt genuine, their struggles felt real, and the writing made it easy to become attached to them. Overall, I truly loved this book.
The only thing that threw me off a little was the plot twist near the end. It felt somewhat out of place compared to the rest of the story, and it took me a moment to adjust to it. That said, I still think the book concluded well, and the ending was satisfying.
For a debut, this was an incredibly strong first book. I loved the story, the characters, and the emotional journey, and I’m excited to see what this author writes next.
I was absolutely kicking my feet during all of the spicy scenes because I loved them so much. One moment in particular that completely wrecked me was when his fingers spelled “pretty girl” because she wears it like a necklace. I was obsessed.
Beyond the romance, I really appreciated the mental health representation and the emotional depth of the story. The characters felt genuine, their struggles felt real, and the writing made it easy to become attached to them. Overall, I truly loved this book.
The only thing that threw me off a little was the plot twist near the end. It felt somewhat out of place compared to the rest of the story, and it took me a moment to adjust to it. That said, I still think the book concluded well, and the ending was satisfying.
For a debut, this was an incredibly strong first book. I loved the story, the characters, and the emotional journey, and I’m excited to see what this author writes next.
June 26, 2026
Let me start of by saying I was a bit hesitant because I don’t enjoy reading second chance romance but it was done so well it didn’t bother me at all. It had the opposite affect actually, it made me rethink my stance on second chance romance. It is second chance romance done the right way.
I adored Kane and Avery immediately, they are the perfect definition of soulmates. Their story was such an emotional roller coaster, I was going through it all with them. The journey both characters took throughout the book was so beautiful. I loved how they found themselves and then found there way back to each other. The back and forth banter even when they weren’t together, they were like two magnets. And Kanye’s yearning- Amazing. “There isn’t a thing this girl could ask for that I wouldn’t give her. More dates? She doesn’t even have to ask. Flowers every week? I’ll have them on special order. A Kidney? I’ll take mine out right now. My heart? I think she already stole that. Maybe it’s always been hers.”
The found family created was fantastic, I was intrigues by the banter and tension between Marcus and Morgan every time they were in the chapter. I was yearning to know more about them.
Thank you Natalie for the ARC
I adored Kane and Avery immediately, they are the perfect definition of soulmates. Their story was such an emotional roller coaster, I was going through it all with them. The journey both characters took throughout the book was so beautiful. I loved how they found themselves and then found there way back to each other. The back and forth banter even when they weren’t together, they were like two magnets. And Kanye’s yearning- Amazing. “There isn’t a thing this girl could ask for that I wouldn’t give her. More dates? She doesn’t even have to ask. Flowers every week? I’ll have them on special order. A Kidney? I’ll take mine out right now. My heart? I think she already stole that. Maybe it’s always been hers.”
The found family created was fantastic, I was intrigues by the banter and tension between Marcus and Morgan every time they were in the chapter. I was yearning to know more about them.
Thank you Natalie for the ARC
June 28, 2026
4.5 stars
Grumpy x grumpy ✔️ highschool sweethearts ✔️ second chance ✔️ mental health rep ✔️ yearninggg ✔️ pranks are their love language ✔️ a dash of fake dating ✔️
HOW THE HECK WAS THIS A DEBUT??? Kane and Avery stole my heart from the prologue and my heart broke finding out they’d broken up.
Their story was heartbreaking, relateable and so fucking real. They went through some really hard stuff but watching them reconnect and be unable to resist the pull they had to each other was everything. I’ve never thought of two people being more perfect for each other than Avery and Kane.
Kane, the way he was emotionally mature and self aware enough to know he needed to work on himself and his mental health before being able to be the best partner to Avery… it made him SO attractive and made me love so much more!!! And the way he YEARNEDDDD MY GAWDDDD I’M JUST OBSESSED.
Avery was also such an incredibly kind hearted soul, she was patient and understanding and I loved her mischievous streak so much 🤭🤣
Not only was this an emotionally deep, beautifully written story but it was also full of humour and heat… the pranks and the friendship groups were everything, the found family vibes were STRONG, and omg the spice between these two… the bathroom scene when Avery was on a date??? EXCUSE ME SIR 🥵 I was sweattttting.
I also loved getting to see other relationships going on between others in the friendship groups and omgggg I cannot WAIT for whatever is coming next 🤭
Grumpy x grumpy ✔️ highschool sweethearts ✔️ second chance ✔️ mental health rep ✔️ yearninggg ✔️ pranks are their love language ✔️ a dash of fake dating ✔️
HOW THE HECK WAS THIS A DEBUT??? Kane and Avery stole my heart from the prologue and my heart broke finding out they’d broken up.
Their story was heartbreaking, relateable and so fucking real. They went through some really hard stuff but watching them reconnect and be unable to resist the pull they had to each other was everything. I’ve never thought of two people being more perfect for each other than Avery and Kane.
Kane, the way he was emotionally mature and self aware enough to know he needed to work on himself and his mental health before being able to be the best partner to Avery… it made him SO attractive and made me love so much more!!! And the way he YEARNEDDDD MY GAWDDDD I’M JUST OBSESSED.
Avery was also such an incredibly kind hearted soul, she was patient and understanding and I loved her mischievous streak so much 🤭🤣
Not only was this an emotionally deep, beautifully written story but it was also full of humour and heat… the pranks and the friendship groups were everything, the found family vibes were STRONG, and omg the spice between these two… the bathroom scene when Avery was on a date??? EXCUSE ME SIR 🥵 I was sweattttting.
I also loved getting to see other relationships going on between others in the friendship groups and omgggg I cannot WAIT for whatever is coming next 🤭
Read
June 27, 2026All’s Fair—
Natalie Marie
Life’s a gamble. You win some and you lose some, but I’ll never regret the decision to take a gamble on love. On us.
Exes Avery and Kane are both having a hard time moving on. Maybe because there’s still something left between them…
Tropes:
— Second chance romance
— Childhood sweethearts to exes to lovers
— A little bit of fake dating
Avery and Kane are made for one another. Their love is so sweet and watching them fall in love when they were younger was so precious, it made my heart ping with joy. You could tell how much they both loved each other and just needed to learn how to communicate better. Once they did, they were truly inevitable.
It’s so clear that mental health is something that Natalie really respects and appreciates and I think that she does such an amazing job of handling the topic with care.
I am so incredibly proud of my friend Nat for publishing her first book! I can’t believe that her debut story is out in the world and that everybody gets to enjoy it. Can’t wait for what else you have up your sleeve!
Natalie Marie
Life’s a gamble. You win some and you lose some, but I’ll never regret the decision to take a gamble on love. On us.
Exes Avery and Kane are both having a hard time moving on. Maybe because there’s still something left between them…
Tropes:
— Second chance romance
— Childhood sweethearts to exes to lovers
— A little bit of fake dating
Avery and Kane are made for one another. Their love is so sweet and watching them fall in love when they were younger was so precious, it made my heart ping with joy. You could tell how much they both loved each other and just needed to learn how to communicate better. Once they did, they were truly inevitable.
It’s so clear that mental health is something that Natalie really respects and appreciates and I think that she does such an amazing job of handling the topic with care.
I am so incredibly proud of my friend Nat for publishing her first book! I can’t believe that her debut story is out in the world and that everybody gets to enjoy it. Can’t wait for what else you have up your sleeve!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much Natalie for letting me have an ARC.
The tropes:
second chance • grumpy x grumpy • all the yearning • found family • mental health rep • something about bar bathrooms
This was an amazing debut book. You should put it on your tbr!
These two are soulmates and there's no way you can convince me otherwise. Kane and Avery are meant to be together. As Kane said "…but I know no matter what lifetime we find ourselves in, I will always find my way to you“.
They both had their own problems and reasons, and they needed time apart to understand themselves, each other, and how to find their way back to each other. I think it's great how they managed to do that on their own.
The mental health rep in this book is amazing! I loved everything about it!
This friend group is amazing! I can't wait to read more about them!
I also loved all the dogs in the book and hope we get to see more of them.
The tropes:
second chance • grumpy x grumpy • all the yearning • found family • mental health rep • something about bar bathrooms
This was an amazing debut book. You should put it on your tbr!
These two are soulmates and there's no way you can convince me otherwise. Kane and Avery are meant to be together. As Kane said "…but I know no matter what lifetime we find ourselves in, I will always find my way to you“.
They both had their own problems and reasons, and they needed time apart to understand themselves, each other, and how to find their way back to each other. I think it's great how they managed to do that on their own.
The mental health rep in this book is amazing! I loved everything about it!
This friend group is amazing! I can't wait to read more about them!
I also loved all the dogs in the book and hope we get to see more of them.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
My guilty pleasure is second-chance romance novels so I might be a bit biased but I thoroughly loved this one. Avery and Kane were real and raw and I could easily associate with them. The author does such an incredible job of showing the hurt just underneath the surface and the realistic, human struggle between them as they try to reconcile their history.
I really liked that the story had emotional weight without feeling dragged down. I loved reading their dynamic as they each had such distinct perspectives and motivations, which made me want to keep reading to see if they could actually find their way back to each other.
If you like small-town romance, second chances, and stories about people taking the long way around to find their way back to each other, you'll probably enjoy this one as much as I did.
I really liked that the story had emotional weight without feeling dragged down. I loved reading their dynamic as they each had such distinct perspectives and motivations, which made me want to keep reading to see if they could actually find their way back to each other.
If you like small-town romance, second chances, and stories about people taking the long way around to find their way back to each other, you'll probably enjoy this one as much as I did.
June 25, 2026
What a debut!
This was an emotional and heartfelt second-chance romance that reeled me in. The MCs' (Avery and Kane) relationship felt authentically real (even while apart), and experiencing them through different stages of their relationship and breakup was surprisingly easy to connect with. While second chance isn't my go to trope, this one delivered. I enjoyed reading about how the characters navigated lingering feelings, unresolved issues, and the possibility of finding their way back to each other, which made for a great story.
The story balances romance, personal growth, and emotional healing well. While some parts moved a little slower than I would have liked, the strong character development and heartfelt reconnection kept me invested.
Overall, this was a touching second-chance romance filled with emotion, healing, and hope.
- ARC Review
This was an emotional and heartfelt second-chance romance that reeled me in. The MCs' (Avery and Kane) relationship felt authentically real (even while apart), and experiencing them through different stages of their relationship and breakup was surprisingly easy to connect with. While second chance isn't my go to trope, this one delivered. I enjoyed reading about how the characters navigated lingering feelings, unresolved issues, and the possibility of finding their way back to each other, which made for a great story.
The story balances romance, personal growth, and emotional healing well. While some parts moved a little slower than I would have liked, the strong character development and heartfelt reconnection kept me invested.
Overall, this was a touching second-chance romance filled with emotion, healing, and hope.
- ARC Review
June 30, 2026
First, I would like to thank the author Natalie for sending me an ARC of her debut book!
Alls Fair is exactly what a romance book should be! Love with Depth. Avery and Kane are perfection and I’m so happy I got to read their love story!
The writing in this book is so good! I was absolutely hooked from the start.
I loved the mental health representation in this book so much. The fact that the characters recognized they needed help was so refreshing to see. And please don’t get me started on how badly Kane yearned for our girl Avery. I typically don’t like miscommunication which this story had but it felt like there was depth here still and it was easy to see how they failed each other and it was so rewarding to seem them work it out and grow from the hurt.
I absolutely loved the friendships in this as well and how every side character still felt important to the plot not just placed into the story.
The pranks, the spice, the drama! All of it worked so well.
If I had no responsibilities I would have finished this book in like a day, that’s how good it was 🥹
If you enjoy:
🩷Second Chance
🖤Banter & Spice
🩷Found Family
🖤Yearning & Angsts
🩷Hand Necklaces 😉
Then please pick this book up!!
I am so excited to read more from this author and I am patiently waiting for book 2! Thank you again Natalie!
Alls Fair is exactly what a romance book should be! Love with Depth. Avery and Kane are perfection and I’m so happy I got to read their love story!
The writing in this book is so good! I was absolutely hooked from the start.
I loved the mental health representation in this book so much. The fact that the characters recognized they needed help was so refreshing to see. And please don’t get me started on how badly Kane yearned for our girl Avery. I typically don’t like miscommunication which this story had but it felt like there was depth here still and it was easy to see how they failed each other and it was so rewarding to seem them work it out and grow from the hurt.
I absolutely loved the friendships in this as well and how every side character still felt important to the plot not just placed into the story.
The pranks, the spice, the drama! All of it worked so well.
If I had no responsibilities I would have finished this book in like a day, that’s how good it was 🥹
If you enjoy:
🩷Second Chance
🖤Banter & Spice
🩷Found Family
🖤Yearning & Angsts
🩷Hand Necklaces 😉
Then please pick this book up!!
I am so excited to read more from this author and I am patiently waiting for book 2! Thank you again Natalie!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a roller coaster! I do love a good second chance romance though.
They both had their own reasons, their own issues on why they acted the way they did and they needed that time apart to truly understand the other and find their way back to each other.
I was sad for both of them, especially Kane because for a while he didn't understand what happened but I also understood Avery's perspective and why she felt hurt.
It was a sweet read, reading them find their way back to one another and getting through it all for the HEA and not to mention having their friends rooting for them along the way.
And I'm definitely excited for Morgan and Marcus because I know it's going to be soooo worth the read!
If you're a fan of second chances, this is the read for you! 😁
They both had their own reasons, their own issues on why they acted the way they did and they needed that time apart to truly understand the other and find their way back to each other.
I was sad for both of them, especially Kane because for a while he didn't understand what happened but I also understood Avery's perspective and why she felt hurt.
It was a sweet read, reading them find their way back to one another and getting through it all for the HEA and not to mention having their friends rooting for them along the way.
And I'm definitely excited for Morgan and Marcus because I know it's going to be soooo worth the read!
If you're a fan of second chances, this is the read for you! 😁
June 22, 2026
✨ARC review✨
if you want a book where the characters immediately steal your heart from the first pages, Avery and Kane are it. the way these two will break your heart and put it back together so perfectly was all i needed 🥹
their yearning for one another was otherworldly. when two people are soulmates from the moment they meet in high school but life gets hard and mental heath gets harder, you have to protect yourself no matter how deeply you love someone and that’s exactly what Avery did
she broke up with Kane because he was shutting her out and although he didn’t agree, he couldn’t push himself to stop her decision. the ensuing months results in taking steps to better mental health, some harmless pranks to get some payback towards each other and continuing to orbit each other as their friend group and hang out spots are so intertwined 🙂↕️
which leads to some moments where their tension completely obliterates their boundaries while also taking steps to communicate thoroughly to ensure they come out at the end together and stronger 😭 their love for one another was so heartwarming and the writing was so beautiful. Natalie absolutely killed this for her debut novel and i can’t wait for the next one! their friend group was so fun and im so invested 🤭
if you want a book where the characters immediately steal your heart from the first pages, Avery and Kane are it. the way these two will break your heart and put it back together so perfectly was all i needed 🥹
their yearning for one another was otherworldly. when two people are soulmates from the moment they meet in high school but life gets hard and mental heath gets harder, you have to protect yourself no matter how deeply you love someone and that’s exactly what Avery did
she broke up with Kane because he was shutting her out and although he didn’t agree, he couldn’t push himself to stop her decision. the ensuing months results in taking steps to better mental health, some harmless pranks to get some payback towards each other and continuing to orbit each other as their friend group and hang out spots are so intertwined 🙂↕️
which leads to some moments where their tension completely obliterates their boundaries while also taking steps to communicate thoroughly to ensure they come out at the end together and stronger 😭 their love for one another was so heartwarming and the writing was so beautiful. Natalie absolutely killed this for her debut novel and i can’t wait for the next one! their friend group was so fun and im so invested 🤭
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