Every night after her shift at the Lantern, Eli chooses to walk Ava home. He doesn’t say it out loud, but he’s in love with her—the steady kind that shows up, waits, and listens. Ava is sharp and self-possessed, nobody’s project. With Eli, she feels safe because he keeps pace instead of taking control; their ritual—movie nights, late-night walks, shared quiet—begins to look a lot like love.
Then the unexpected happens—and their world narrows to a house of rules. Lilies that never wilt. Windows that watch. Voices insisting on a name that isn’t hers. Choice shrinks. Silence is encouraged. If love is going to survive here, it needs a new language.
Tense, hopeful, and ultimately full of light, Until We’re Free is a romantic-suspense with open-door spice about walking through the dark with the right person beside you.
Lauren Faith Goyer is an actor, singer, and author with a BFA in Acting from Oakland University. On stage, her roles span contemporary to Shakespeare—most notably Lady Macbeth, a performance that earned positive reviews.
She lives in Michigan with her husband, Rafael, and their two cats, Bella and Luna. Lauren runs a private acting and vocal studio, coaching performers in audition prep and craft; when she isn’t teaching or writing, she works at a local winery.
Storytelling has always been at the center of her work—whether she’s building a character onstage, coaching a student toward a breakthrough, or writing at her desk late at night. She’s especially drawn to romance: tender, emotionally honest stories about connection, healing, and the kind of love that changes people for the better.
this book was either ai generated or has an absurd amount of em dashes. i was pissed off the entire time and the epilogue made it WORSE!!!! how many times can the light shine in someone’s hair????
If you’re in a reading slump, this book will get you out of it! Until We’re Free will have you smiling, blushing, and kicking your feet, but also hanging on every word, sitting up in anticipation, and speed reading to find out how the chapter ends. This story is full of love, triumph, and strong friendships that comfort you through heavy points in the story and remind you of those in your life who offer you the same type of strength. Until We’re Free served as a perfect palette cleanser after reading a horror novel and I will be returning back to it as a comfort read.
I picked this one up on KU after being selected for the street team for book two, so I wanted to start at the beginning — and I’m really glad I did. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Until We’re Free was such a quick, engaging read. I loved the relationship between Ava and Eli and how their connection was built on quiet consistency instead of over-the-top romance. Eli’s love for Ava felt steady and safe in the best way, and their late-night walks and small moments together made the story feel really warm and genuine.
Once the suspense elements started creeping in, the tone shifted in a way that kept me wanting to read “just one more chapter.” It balanced romance, tension, and emotional moments really well, and overall it was a beautiful story about love, trust, and staying beside someone through impossible situations.
I’m honestly speechless after finishing this book! As someone who typically doesn’t enjoy reading, this story completely changed my perspective and actually made me excited to pick up another book.
The characters’ journey through love and healing feels incredibly real and pulls you in from the very beginning. Watching them navigate resilience, strength, honesty, forgiveness, and love makes the story deeply moving and relatable. It’s one of those books that reminds you there’s always a brighter day ahead, no matter what challenges life throws your way.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt and inspiring read, I can’t recommend this book enough. Even if you’re not usually a big reader like me, this one is absolutely worth it!
Normally books that are fast paced like this tend to lose me in the sauce but this one definitely did not! I found myself hanging onto every word and could not turn the pages fast enough! Can’t wait for book 2!!
This is such a dynamic read! It starts off with a sweetness and romantic yearning where you are immediately connected because you want the good guy to win. What starts as a Nicholas Sparks vibe quickly launches into suspense, psychological thrills, and shock in a way that really sticks with you. I found myself surprised that for a few weeks after reading that I was still thinking of the characters. Really loved it and I'm excited to see that it's a trilogy.
This book told ALOT of story in a short time! I really enjoyed Until We’re Free! The twists and turns and suspense had me hanging on for the ride! I won’t be able to stop thinking about Ava and Eli’s relationship!
This was a great book! Well written, compelling, suspense, intrigue, romance, and the importance of love in one’s life. It’s book one of a trilogy, and I’m really looking forward to reading the next two books in the series. It would be a perfect pick for a book club. Highly recommend.
Oh my goodness, where to start? This book was so, so, so cute!! It is so hard to talk about this book without giving spoilers away, but I’ll say this! I enjoyed the relationship building between the MMC and the MFC! The roller coaster and plot twist, you’re not ready for! Be sure to read your trigger warnings before reading just in case there are any sensitivities with forced proximity, forced pregnancies, and traumatic events! This was an hour and a half read for me from cover to cover and I couldn’t put it down!! I highly recommend! Especially if you’re looking for a different plot within the romance genre!
Decided to go back and start from the beginning after being selected for the street team and ARC for the 2nd book.
The pace and plot were easy to keep up with while still remaining gripping. I appreciated the relatability in the main characters. They felt very realistic as we see how they grow through adversity. All of this helps to maintain a beautiful rawness throughout the story. There was a good balance between the heavy emotional points and the tender romantic moments.
The vulnerability in the characters really made this book worth getting invested in! I'm so looking forward to reading the next book!!
Until We’re Free is not your typical romance novel. I LOVED the unexpected twist to how the romance blossoms, but there was still plenty of romance and of course a few steamy scenes :) The story was well written, entertaining, but left me wanting to know more about Lily’s story. A quick read that I would definitely recommend!
Lauren's book is well written and an easy, fun read. I feel like I know all the characters and want to learn even more about their lives. I am looking forward to the next book!!! Hurry!!! Sexy, exciting, romantic, and more!