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Free Fall Duet #1
The Space Between Heartbeats
We survived the fall. Now we have to survive each other.
I’d known both brothers my entire life. Owen was kind, safe—the obvious choice. Knox was cruel, reckless, and everything I should have stayed away from.
I chose Owen.
But when a rollercoaster accident changes everything in a matter of seconds, I’m left with only the brother I was never supposed to want.
Now Knox and I are bound by tragedy, guilt, and a connection that feels both inevitable and wrong. Everyone thinks we’re leaning on each other to heal. They don’t know about the thoughts I had in those final moments. The secrets we discovered after. The way Knox looks at me like he’s been waiting for this his entire life.
They don’t know that somewhere between the grief and the accusations, something darker emerged.
Something that makes us seek each other out in the middle of the night.
Something that makes us crave the pain as much as the comfort.
Something that should scare us both.
They say trauma changes you. What they don’t tell you is that sometimes it just reveals who you were all along.
Knox was always the wrong choice. Maybe that’s exactly why I can’t let him go.
Book 1 of a Duet about forbidden love, trauma bonding, and the thin line between healing and destruction. This is a dark romance featuring morally gray characters, toxic relationship dynamics, and mature themes.
I’d known both brothers my entire life. Owen was kind, safe—the obvious choice. Knox was cruel, reckless, and everything I should have stayed away from.
I chose Owen.
But when a rollercoaster accident changes everything in a matter of seconds, I’m left with only the brother I was never supposed to want.
Now Knox and I are bound by tragedy, guilt, and a connection that feels both inevitable and wrong. Everyone thinks we’re leaning on each other to heal. They don’t know about the thoughts I had in those final moments. The secrets we discovered after. The way Knox looks at me like he’s been waiting for this his entire life.
They don’t know that somewhere between the grief and the accusations, something darker emerged.
Something that makes us seek each other out in the middle of the night.
Something that makes us crave the pain as much as the comfort.
Something that should scare us both.
They say trauma changes you. What they don’t tell you is that sometimes it just reveals who you were all along.
Knox was always the wrong choice. Maybe that’s exactly why I can’t let him go.
Book 1 of a Duet about forbidden love, trauma bonding, and the thin line between healing and destruction. This is a dark romance featuring morally gray characters, toxic relationship dynamics, and mature themes.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
May 5, 2026
Wow what an arc. I was absolutely hooked from the beginning and if I didn’t have to do any motherly duties, I think I would’ve read this in one sitting!!! This is my first read of Lauren’s and it certainly will not be my last. TSBH follows Sawyer and Knox who have been intertwined since childhood; family friends, known each other for years, and Sawyer starts dating Knox’s brother, Owen, who she does love but she has always had love for Knox too. An extremely tragic accident occurs, killing Owen in the process and now Sawyer & Knox are trauma bonded and the tension that has been simmering between them for years finally reaches boiling point!
Lauren’s writing is SO immersive. During the rollercoaster incident I started to feel like I was there. I felt the anxiety in my stomach, my chest felt tight, I had tears in my eyes. It was written SO incredibly well. I was moved to tears many times throughout this book; it truly had some gut-wrenching moments. The tension between Knox and Sawyer, the grief, the toxicity, everything was HEAVY. Every scene was so emotionally charged.
THE CLIFFHANGER THOUGH !!!!!!! I have SO many unanswered questions 😩 I will be signing up to read the second book as soon as I physically can lol. If you love forbidden desire/love, boyfriend’s brother, trauma trauma trauma, morally grey characters.. this one is definitely for you!
Lauren’s writing is SO immersive. During the rollercoaster incident I started to feel like I was there. I felt the anxiety in my stomach, my chest felt tight, I had tears in my eyes. It was written SO incredibly well. I was moved to tears many times throughout this book; it truly had some gut-wrenching moments. The tension between Knox and Sawyer, the grief, the toxicity, everything was HEAVY. Every scene was so emotionally charged.
THE CLIFFHANGER THOUGH !!!!!!! I have SO many unanswered questions 😩 I will be signing up to read the second book as soon as I physically can lol. If you love forbidden desire/love, boyfriend’s brother, trauma trauma trauma, morally grey characters.. this one is definitely for you!
May 26, 2026
The Space Between Heartbeats completely caught me off guard in the best way. Going into this book, I was honestly skeptical about the dynamic between the main characters. The story opens with tragedy, and it’s the kind of situation readers don’t necessarily "want" to accept at first because it feels complicated, uncomfortable, and easy to judge. I know I did. My heart broke for Owen, and I found myself questioning how Sawyer could develop feelings for Knox (his brother) so quickly. I kept thinking… "there’s no way she truly loved Owen if this is happening already… right?"
But Lauren Greene does something really impressive here, she slowly peels back the layers and shows that nothing is as simple as it first appears.
As the story unfolds, we learn there is so much more history, pain, and truth beneath the surface. Sawyer and Knox didn’t just suddenly fall into feelings after the tragedy. Their attraction had always been there, simmering quietly beneath years of fear, loyalty, and restraint. The chemistry between them is undeniable, intense, and impossible to ignore. Every interaction had tension, longing, and emotional weight that made it impossible not to become invested in them.
What I loved most was how real and complicated this situation felt. This isn’t an easy love story wrapped up neatly in a bow. It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s filled with guilt, grief, sacrifice, and the constant fear of what others will think or whether people will ever accept a relationship born from such painful circumstances. Lauren Greene handled those emotions in a way that kept me completely hooked.
And then there are the secrets.
Owen and Ella clearly had something hidden beneath the surface, and the unanswered questions surrounding them had me desperate for more. On top of that, Knox’s family pushing him toward a future with Ella, a future he doesn’t want, adds another painful layer of pressure and obligation. Watching him struggle between his "duty", family expectations, and the person he truly loves was heartbreaking and compelling.
Lauren Greene’s writing pulled me in from page one and never let go. The emotional tension, the chemistry, the mystery surrounding the relationships, and the slow unraveling of truths made this impossible to put down. Every chapter revealed just enough to keep me needing the next one immediately.
And THAT ENDING?! The cliffhanger absolutely wrecked me. I am not okay. I need the next book immediately because I have so many questions and I am way too emotionally invested in these characters now.
This book challenged my first impressions, changed my perspective, and turned a situation I wasn’t sure I could get behind into a story I completely loved. If you enjoy emotional, angsty romances filled with forbidden tension, complicated relationships, family pressure, secrets, and chemistry that jumps off the page, The Space Between Heartbeats is absolutely worth picking up. Lauren Greene gained a new fan with this one.
Xo 💋
But Lauren Greene does something really impressive here, she slowly peels back the layers and shows that nothing is as simple as it first appears.
As the story unfolds, we learn there is so much more history, pain, and truth beneath the surface. Sawyer and Knox didn’t just suddenly fall into feelings after the tragedy. Their attraction had always been there, simmering quietly beneath years of fear, loyalty, and restraint. The chemistry between them is undeniable, intense, and impossible to ignore. Every interaction had tension, longing, and emotional weight that made it impossible not to become invested in them.
What I loved most was how real and complicated this situation felt. This isn’t an easy love story wrapped up neatly in a bow. It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s filled with guilt, grief, sacrifice, and the constant fear of what others will think or whether people will ever accept a relationship born from such painful circumstances. Lauren Greene handled those emotions in a way that kept me completely hooked.
And then there are the secrets.
Owen and Ella clearly had something hidden beneath the surface, and the unanswered questions surrounding them had me desperate for more. On top of that, Knox’s family pushing him toward a future with Ella, a future he doesn’t want, adds another painful layer of pressure and obligation. Watching him struggle between his "duty", family expectations, and the person he truly loves was heartbreaking and compelling.
Lauren Greene’s writing pulled me in from page one and never let go. The emotional tension, the chemistry, the mystery surrounding the relationships, and the slow unraveling of truths made this impossible to put down. Every chapter revealed just enough to keep me needing the next one immediately.
And THAT ENDING?! The cliffhanger absolutely wrecked me. I am not okay. I need the next book immediately because I have so many questions and I am way too emotionally invested in these characters now.
This book challenged my first impressions, changed my perspective, and turned a situation I wasn’t sure I could get behind into a story I completely loved. If you enjoy emotional, angsty romances filled with forbidden tension, complicated relationships, family pressure, secrets, and chemistry that jumps off the page, The Space Between Heartbeats is absolutely worth picking up. Lauren Greene gained a new fan with this one.
Xo 💋
April 28, 2026
I devoured this in one sitting. I could NOT put it down. I was addicted from the very first page and refused to stop until I was finished. I felt like I couldn’t read it fast enough and my emotions were ALL over the place. A literal emotional rollercoaster … ha 😭 The Space Between Hearts had me invested based off of the plot and tropes alone. I will eat up a boyfriend’s brother situation… every single time. The push and pull between Knox and Sawyer had my heart racing. The angst and yearning was top tier.
“The one person I spent years trying not to want. The one I could never choose.”
Every moment they were together felt electric and I couldn’t get enough. That fucking cliffhanger had me literally gasping for air because WHAAAAAAT?!?!? I am foaming at the mouth for book two. Knox has now moved himself up my book boyfriend list and I’m not even sorry about it.
The Space Between Hearts has a page turning plot, lovers who deserve so much more and each other and a whole lot of emotional damage. I loved every single second and I seriously am counting down the seconds for book 2 😭🩵
“I watched her because I was obsessed. Because she was mine first and Owen stole her and I hated them both for it. And her fucking family ruined mine. She ruined me.”
“You’re everything.” I breathe out, ragged. “Every single thing I’ve ever wanted, Sawyer. My whole goddamn life.”
🎢𝔹𝕠𝕪𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣
🤍𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒔𝒕
✨𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕓𝕚𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕟 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖
🎢𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒔
🤍ℍ𝕦𝕣𝕥 / ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕥
✨𝑩𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒚
🎢𝕋𝕠𝕩𝕚𝕔 ℝ𝕖𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡
🤍𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒎𝒂 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒅
✨ℂ𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕗𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝔼𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘
“The one person I spent years trying not to want. The one I could never choose.”
Every moment they were together felt electric and I couldn’t get enough. That fucking cliffhanger had me literally gasping for air because WHAAAAAAT?!?!? I am foaming at the mouth for book two. Knox has now moved himself up my book boyfriend list and I’m not even sorry about it.
The Space Between Hearts has a page turning plot, lovers who deserve so much more and each other and a whole lot of emotional damage. I loved every single second and I seriously am counting down the seconds for book 2 😭🩵
“I watched her because I was obsessed. Because she was mine first and Owen stole her and I hated them both for it. And her fucking family ruined mine. She ruined me.”
“You’re everything.” I breathe out, ragged. “Every single thing I’ve ever wanted, Sawyer. My whole goddamn life.”
🎢𝔹𝕠𝕪𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣
🤍𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒔𝒕
✨𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕓𝕚𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕟 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖
🎢𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒔
🤍ℍ𝕦𝕣𝕥 / ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕥
✨𝑩𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒚
🎢𝕋𝕠𝕩𝕚𝕔 ℝ𝕖𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡
🤍𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒎𝒂 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒅
✨ℂ𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕗𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝔼𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘
May 10, 2026
“𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝑺𝒂𝒘𝒚𝒆𝒓. 𝑺𝒐 𝑰’𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆.”
OMG!! I’m so hooked on this story! I have to say that cliffhanger had me close to throwing my kindle on the wall 😫 I’m seriously counting the days for book 2! I need more Sawyer and Knox!!! This book was amazing to read! It was messy, and oh so heartbreaking, it made me laugh, cry and made my heart ache for the both of them.
Their story is not simple or easy in any way, even before the devastating accident, it was already complicated. Now, multiply that tenfold and add their trauma, and everything becomes even more difficult. Their love will not come easy, but it will be so worth fighting for it. 🖤
I cant wait to see more of them in the next book!
“𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.” 𝑰 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕, 𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅. “𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝑺𝒂𝒘𝒚𝒆𝒓. 𝑴𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆.”
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 - forbidden love, trauma bonding and a thin line between healing and destruction. A dark romance with morally gray characters and toxic relationship dynamics that will have you hooked from the start!
𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 1 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘋𝘶𝘦𝘵, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴, 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘵𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘴.
Trauma Bond
Boyfriend’s Brother
Forbidden Romance
Both Are Morally Gray
Toxic Relationship
Angst
Family Scandals
Hurt/Comfort
Cliffhanger Ending
OMG!! I’m so hooked on this story! I have to say that cliffhanger had me close to throwing my kindle on the wall 😫 I’m seriously counting the days for book 2! I need more Sawyer and Knox!!! This book was amazing to read! It was messy, and oh so heartbreaking, it made me laugh, cry and made my heart ache for the both of them.
Their story is not simple or easy in any way, even before the devastating accident, it was already complicated. Now, multiply that tenfold and add their trauma, and everything becomes even more difficult. Their love will not come easy, but it will be so worth fighting for it. 🖤
I cant wait to see more of them in the next book!
“𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.” 𝑰 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕, 𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅. “𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝑺𝒂𝒘𝒚𝒆𝒓. 𝑴𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆.”
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 - forbidden love, trauma bonding and a thin line between healing and destruction. A dark romance with morally gray characters and toxic relationship dynamics that will have you hooked from the start!
𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 1 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘋𝘶𝘦𝘵, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴, 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘵𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘴.
Trauma Bond
Boyfriend’s Brother
Forbidden Romance
Both Are Morally Gray
Toxic Relationship
Angst
Family Scandals
Hurt/Comfort
Cliffhanger Ending
May 10, 2026
Plot: 4/5 • Spice: 2/5 ➡️➡️➡️ Sawyer is dating one brother, Owen, the safe, reliable, always present brother. She’s in love with the other brother, Knox, the presumptuous, cocky brother.
Sawyers family causes some damage and her dad winds up in prison for it. It destroys part of Knox and Owen’s family too, but we don’t hear many details about it. The family doesn’t like that Owen and Sawyer are together. Mending things Knox, his “girlfriend” Ella, Owen and Sawyer all go to an amusement park together.
After hearing that Own is about to propose to Sawyer (she’s in the bathroom) Knox becomes a heated rage. When he gets a moment he takes Sawyer to a coaster she’s kind of scared to ride. Owen catches up, but not enough to sit with them. The accident of all accident happens. A rational fear unlocked. Knox and Sawyer are the only survivors.
They’ve always had feelings for each other, but they increase as they’ve formed an emotional, survival bond. Knox doesn’t care about Ella. She’s means to an end for her father’s business. All he wants is Sawyer. Always has, always will.
Ends on a rather large cliffy. An emotional and kind of heartbreaking one too. As if Sawyer hasn’t been through enough already. Her dad, losing her boyfriend, falling harder for her dead boyfriend’s brother. And now that? Damn, girl. Can’t wait for book 2.
Sawyers family causes some damage and her dad winds up in prison for it. It destroys part of Knox and Owen’s family too, but we don’t hear many details about it. The family doesn’t like that Owen and Sawyer are together. Mending things Knox, his “girlfriend” Ella, Owen and Sawyer all go to an amusement park together.
After hearing that Own is about to propose to Sawyer (she’s in the bathroom) Knox becomes a heated rage. When he gets a moment he takes Sawyer to a coaster she’s kind of scared to ride. Owen catches up, but not enough to sit with them. The accident of all accident happens. A rational fear unlocked. Knox and Sawyer are the only survivors.
They’ve always had feelings for each other, but they increase as they’ve formed an emotional, survival bond. Knox doesn’t care about Ella. She’s means to an end for her father’s business. All he wants is Sawyer. Always has, always will.
Ends on a rather large cliffy. An emotional and kind of heartbreaking one too. As if Sawyer hasn’t been through enough already. Her dad, losing her boyfriend, falling harder for her dead boyfriend’s brother. And now that? Damn, girl. Can’t wait for book 2.
May 12, 2026
Lauren you are absolutely killing me with these cliffhanger endings. Next time warn a girl that you are about to rip her heart out.
If you loved The Summer I turned Pretty but wanted to feel a little more like Final Destination then boy do I have the book for you.
Sawyer, Owen, Knox have grown up together and have spent almost every Summer together. That is until Sawyer's dad gets caught in a scandal and takes almost everyone in Ashford down with causing Sawyer to be a social pariah. Owen is the only one willing to talk to her and wouldn't you know it they are dating.
On a fun trip to Wonder World, the local amusement park, things start to go south. Knox tells Sawyer some crazy news so to get back and Owen a little bit she sits next Knox on the roller coaster instead of Owen. This is when everyone's world gets flipped upside down, literally.
Knox and Sawyer are trying to navigate the world without Owen while also trying to navigate their feelings for each other.
This book is gut wrenching, and I am so mad the next book doesn't come out until this Fall.
What this book has:
~Dual POV
~Tragedy
~Boyfriend's brother
~Yearning
~Forbidden romance
Thank you Lauren Greene for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you loved The Summer I turned Pretty but wanted to feel a little more like Final Destination then boy do I have the book for you.
Sawyer, Owen, Knox have grown up together and have spent almost every Summer together. That is until Sawyer's dad gets caught in a scandal and takes almost everyone in Ashford down with causing Sawyer to be a social pariah. Owen is the only one willing to talk to her and wouldn't you know it they are dating.
On a fun trip to Wonder World, the local amusement park, things start to go south. Knox tells Sawyer some crazy news so to get back and Owen a little bit she sits next Knox on the roller coaster instead of Owen. This is when everyone's world gets flipped upside down, literally.
Knox and Sawyer are trying to navigate the world without Owen while also trying to navigate their feelings for each other.
This book is gut wrenching, and I am so mad the next book doesn't come out until this Fall.
What this book has:
~Dual POV
~Tragedy
~Boyfriend's brother
~Yearning
~Forbidden romance
Thank you Lauren Greene for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2026
Let me just start by saying WOW. I could not put this book down and finished it in less than 24 hours. As an ARC reader, this was my first book by Lauren Greene, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect going in. Safe to say, she completely delivered.
This book has everything forbidden romance, family drama, secrets, tension, and the whole boyfriend’s brother trope done so well. The chemistry between the characters was intense from the start, and the emotional roller coaster kept me turning pages nonstop.
Owen and Sawyer already had me hooked, but then Knox gets thrown into the mix and suddenly I didn’t know who to root for anymore. Every interaction had me wanting more. The build-up, the tension, the spice it was all perfectly balanced and just enough to keep you completely obsessed.
Lauren Greene knows how to pull readers in and keep them invested until the very last page. I’m already ready to read book two When it comes out in September. Added it to my TBR list!
This book has everything forbidden romance, family drama, secrets, tension, and the whole boyfriend’s brother trope done so well. The chemistry between the characters was intense from the start, and the emotional roller coaster kept me turning pages nonstop.
Owen and Sawyer already had me hooked, but then Knox gets thrown into the mix and suddenly I didn’t know who to root for anymore. Every interaction had me wanting more. The build-up, the tension, the spice it was all perfectly balanced and just enough to keep you completely obsessed.
Lauren Greene knows how to pull readers in and keep them invested until the very last page. I’m already ready to read book two When it comes out in September. Added it to my TBR list!
May 11, 2026
Thank you to Lauren Greene for the ARC of this book.
This book is so good! When an author can write a scene that has my heart thumping out of my chest that is awesome. This book has a snarky FMC that has great banter with the morally grey MMC. Do not miss this series by Lauren Greene it will give you all the thrills!!
This book is so good! When an author can write a scene that has my heart thumping out of my chest that is awesome. This book has a snarky FMC that has great banter with the morally grey MMC. Do not miss this series by Lauren Greene it will give you all the thrills!!
May 8, 2026
This was the first book in the free fall duet and I loved it so much.
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
May 16, 2026
Umm wtf cliff hanger is this shit? Book two won't be out till September???
April 26, 2026
Oh @laurengreenebooks what can I bloody say apart from get me book 2 please!! I had the pleasure of reading this as an arc and when I tell you the heartbreak and the betrayals and alllll the guilt seeped off the pages and into my soul, well done! I loved this, Lauren always has a way to show me why I love reading so much, I thank you for this! When it’s released I urge you allll to read it!! 5/5 ⭐️ps all I could hear was the smilers creepy laugh iykyk🤡💀🎢
May 8, 2026
They survived the fall. Now they have to survive each other.
Sawyer’s known Owen and Knox - two brothers - her entire life. Owen was kind, safe—the obvious choice. Knox was cruel, reckless, and everything she should have stayed away from.
Sawyer chose Owen.
But when a rollercoaster accident changes everything in a matter of seconds, Sawyer’s left with only the brother she was never supposed to want.
Now Knox and Sawyer are bound by tragedy, guilt, and a connection that feels both inevitable and wrong. Everyone thinks they’re leaning on each other to heal. They don’t know about the thoughts she had in those final moments. The secrets they discovered after. The way Knox looks at me like he’s been waiting for this his entire life.
They don’t know that somewhere between the grief and the accusations, something darker emerged.
Something that makes them seek each other out in the middle of the night.
Something that makes them crave the pain as much as the comfort.
Something that should scare them both.
They say trauma changes you. What they don’t tell you is that sometimes it just reveals who you were all along.
Knox was always the wrong choice. Maybe that’s exactly why Sawyer can’t let him go.
YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that may not be suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times. Reader discretion is advised. Intended for readers 18+.
Tropes: Trauma Bond, Forbidden Roman, Both are Morally Gray, Angst, Family Scandals, Hurt/Comfort, Boyfriends Brother, Toxic Relationship, Cliffhanger Ending, Love Triangle, Flashbacks, Shared Trauma, Survivor’s Guilt, She’s Always Been His, Man Obsessed, He’s in an Arranged Relationship, Organized Crime Adjacent, Enemies-to-Lovers, So Many Secrets, Family Secrets, Healing, Destruction, Dark Romance.
The Space Between Heartbeats is the 1st book of the Free Fall Duet by Lauren Greene. This Duet is about forbidden love, trauma bonding, and the thin line between healing and destruction. This is a dark romance featuring morally gray characters, toxic relationship dynamics, and mature themes.
This is the fist book by Lauren Greene that I have had the privilege of reading and from the very first chapter I found myself absolutely enthralled and captivated and I can honestly say that I read this book in a single sitting. And after having read this book, I can honestly say this isn’t going to be the last book of Lauren’s that I’m going to be reading.
This book follows the story of Sawyer and Knox who’s lives have been intertwined since they were children; their families have always been friends who have known each other for years.
Sawyer: Her voice just feels so real and raw. You can feel each and every ounce of her grief, guilt, confusion after everything in her life is turned upside down, is ripped apart and changes in a split second.
Owen: He’s everything to Sawyer. He’s safe and steady. He shares this love with Sawyer that just makes perfect sense.
Knox: Knox is pure chaos; he’s the wrong choice in every possible and yet it is for this very reason that he’s impossible to resist.
Sawyer starts off dating Knox’s brother Owen, who she truly loves with all her heart, and in a lot of ways she’s also loved Knox as well. After a significantly tragic roller-coaster accident occurs that ends up killing Owen in the process leaving Sawyer and Owen both traumatized and quickly they both find they have become bonded over their shared trauma.
They could both feel a tension simmering between them over the years and now with their newly found trauma bond that tension finally reaches it boiling point and boils over.
While reading The Space Between Heartbeats I found Lauren’s writing immersive and so in depth. While I was reading the roller-coaster scene I felt like I was there, sitting in the seats with Owen and Sawyer and I felt like my own anxiety rising up and my stomach and chest started feeling tight, and I honestly had tears in my eyes.
One of the things that stood out to me was the way Lauren used this book to explore trauma and connection. She was able to perfectly capture the way grief is able to blur the lines and she proved time and again through the pages of “The Space Between Heartbeats” that healing is messy, it’s not simple nor is it liner, and sometimes healing means that you end up taking 5 steps back for every 15 you’ve taken forward.
This scene was so well written and it wasn’t only this scene; this entire book was well written. And there were so many moments through the book that I found myself moved to tears; there are some truly gut-wrench, heartbreaking moments. All the tension between Knox and Sawyer, the grief, the toxicity, it’s all so incredibly HEAVY. And each and every scene that Lauren wrote has this intense emotional charge to it.
And that ending with that CLIFFHANGER. Now, I have seriously come to really dislike cliffhangers, I have hit some dozy of a cliffhanger and this is one of them. I have been left with so many unanswered questions, now I have no choice but to sign up for the 2nd half of this duet to get the answers that I’m searching for.
I am going to end by saying that this book has destroyed me in the best of ways, it has left me in one heck of a book hangover. I found this to be one of the most emotional, heart wrenching, heart shattering stories that perfectly captures grief, confusion, loss, and love. Lauren has given us this stunning book that’s raw, intense, intriguing, and it lingers in your mind long after you’ve read the last page.
If you love dark romance, forbidden love/desire, boyfriend’s brother, trauma, they are both morally gray, then “The Space Between Heartbeats” is a book that you don’t want to miss. This is one of my you don’t want to miss books of 2026.
Some of my favorite quotes are:
“The one person I spent years trying not to want. The one I could never choose.”
“I watched her because I was obsessed. Because she was mine first and Owen stole her and I hated them both for it. And her fucking family ruined mine. She ruined me.”
“You’re everything.” I breathe out, ragged. “Every single thing I’ve ever wanted, Sawyer. My whole goddamn life.”
“I’d hold her forever if it would make her feel any better.”
Owen died and I lived. The good son and the bad son, and fate picked wrong.
I don’t want you to make me feel better. I want you to make me feel worse.
We’re the same Knox and I. Down here in the wreckage together, equally undeserving.
I’m not running. Not this time. And neither are you.
Sawyer’s known Owen and Knox - two brothers - her entire life. Owen was kind, safe—the obvious choice. Knox was cruel, reckless, and everything she should have stayed away from.
Sawyer chose Owen.
But when a rollercoaster accident changes everything in a matter of seconds, Sawyer’s left with only the brother she was never supposed to want.
Now Knox and Sawyer are bound by tragedy, guilt, and a connection that feels both inevitable and wrong. Everyone thinks they’re leaning on each other to heal. They don’t know about the thoughts she had in those final moments. The secrets they discovered after. The way Knox looks at me like he’s been waiting for this his entire life.
They don’t know that somewhere between the grief and the accusations, something darker emerged.
Something that makes them seek each other out in the middle of the night.
Something that makes them crave the pain as much as the comfort.
Something that should scare them both.
They say trauma changes you. What they don’t tell you is that sometimes it just reveals who you were all along.
Knox was always the wrong choice. Maybe that’s exactly why Sawyer can’t let him go.
YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that may not be suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times. Reader discretion is advised. Intended for readers 18+.
Tropes: Trauma Bond, Forbidden Roman, Both are Morally Gray, Angst, Family Scandals, Hurt/Comfort, Boyfriends Brother, Toxic Relationship, Cliffhanger Ending, Love Triangle, Flashbacks, Shared Trauma, Survivor’s Guilt, She’s Always Been His, Man Obsessed, He’s in an Arranged Relationship, Organized Crime Adjacent, Enemies-to-Lovers, So Many Secrets, Family Secrets, Healing, Destruction, Dark Romance.
The Space Between Heartbeats is the 1st book of the Free Fall Duet by Lauren Greene. This Duet is about forbidden love, trauma bonding, and the thin line between healing and destruction. This is a dark romance featuring morally gray characters, toxic relationship dynamics, and mature themes.
This is the fist book by Lauren Greene that I have had the privilege of reading and from the very first chapter I found myself absolutely enthralled and captivated and I can honestly say that I read this book in a single sitting. And after having read this book, I can honestly say this isn’t going to be the last book of Lauren’s that I’m going to be reading.
This book follows the story of Sawyer and Knox who’s lives have been intertwined since they were children; their families have always been friends who have known each other for years.
Sawyer: Her voice just feels so real and raw. You can feel each and every ounce of her grief, guilt, confusion after everything in her life is turned upside down, is ripped apart and changes in a split second.
Owen: He’s everything to Sawyer. He’s safe and steady. He shares this love with Sawyer that just makes perfect sense.
Knox: Knox is pure chaos; he’s the wrong choice in every possible and yet it is for this very reason that he’s impossible to resist.
Sawyer starts off dating Knox’s brother Owen, who she truly loves with all her heart, and in a lot of ways she’s also loved Knox as well. After a significantly tragic roller-coaster accident occurs that ends up killing Owen in the process leaving Sawyer and Owen both traumatized and quickly they both find they have become bonded over their shared trauma.
They could both feel a tension simmering between them over the years and now with their newly found trauma bond that tension finally reaches it boiling point and boils over.
While reading The Space Between Heartbeats I found Lauren’s writing immersive and so in depth. While I was reading the roller-coaster scene I felt like I was there, sitting in the seats with Owen and Sawyer and I felt like my own anxiety rising up and my stomach and chest started feeling tight, and I honestly had tears in my eyes.
One of the things that stood out to me was the way Lauren used this book to explore trauma and connection. She was able to perfectly capture the way grief is able to blur the lines and she proved time and again through the pages of “The Space Between Heartbeats” that healing is messy, it’s not simple nor is it liner, and sometimes healing means that you end up taking 5 steps back for every 15 you’ve taken forward.
This scene was so well written and it wasn’t only this scene; this entire book was well written. And there were so many moments through the book that I found myself moved to tears; there are some truly gut-wrench, heartbreaking moments. All the tension between Knox and Sawyer, the grief, the toxicity, it’s all so incredibly HEAVY. And each and every scene that Lauren wrote has this intense emotional charge to it.
And that ending with that CLIFFHANGER. Now, I have seriously come to really dislike cliffhangers, I have hit some dozy of a cliffhanger and this is one of them. I have been left with so many unanswered questions, now I have no choice but to sign up for the 2nd half of this duet to get the answers that I’m searching for.
I am going to end by saying that this book has destroyed me in the best of ways, it has left me in one heck of a book hangover. I found this to be one of the most emotional, heart wrenching, heart shattering stories that perfectly captures grief, confusion, loss, and love. Lauren has given us this stunning book that’s raw, intense, intriguing, and it lingers in your mind long after you’ve read the last page.
If you love dark romance, forbidden love/desire, boyfriend’s brother, trauma, they are both morally gray, then “The Space Between Heartbeats” is a book that you don’t want to miss. This is one of my you don’t want to miss books of 2026.
Some of my favorite quotes are:
“The one person I spent years trying not to want. The one I could never choose.”
“I watched her because I was obsessed. Because she was mine first and Owen stole her and I hated them both for it. And her fucking family ruined mine. She ruined me.”
“You’re everything.” I breathe out, ragged. “Every single thing I’ve ever wanted, Sawyer. My whole goddamn life.”
“I’d hold her forever if it would make her feel any better.”
Owen died and I lived. The good son and the bad son, and fate picked wrong.
I don’t want you to make me feel better. I want you to make me feel worse.
We’re the same Knox and I. Down here in the wreckage together, equally undeserving.
I’m not running. Not this time. And neither are you.
May 11, 2026
⭐️ ARC REVIEW ⭐️
The Space Between Heartbeats by Lauren Greene
Thank you to Lauren Greene for sending me this ARC 🖤
This book had me in an absolute chokehold from page one. I was literally at a book convention reading this, surrounded by people, and all I could think about was getting back to this book. That’s how hooked I was. Every chapter ended with me needing more, and the emotional tension in this story was INSANE.
Sawyer, Knox, and Owen all grew up together after their families were tied together for years… until an embezzlement scandal destroyed everything. Sawyer’s father took the fall, Knox and Owen’s family lost everything, and the fallout changed all of their relationships forever. Owen became the safe choice the sweet, dependable golden boy. Knox became angry, cruel, reckless, and impossible to stay away from. But underneath all that anger? He had always loved Sawyer.
The emotional mess in this book was SO GOOD. Knox pushing Sawyer away while secretly being obsessed with her? The tension? The guilt? The years of buried feelings? You could feel it in every scene.
And then the roller coaster accident…
That entire scene had my heart pounding. It was tragic, chaotic, emotional, and honestly one of the most intense scenes I’ve read in a while. The trauma bonding between Sawyer and Knox afterward was done so well because nobody else could truly understand what they survived together. Their relationship felt toxic, consuming, emotional, messy, and completely addicting to read.
Knox was such a frustrating MMC in the best way because you KNOW he loves her with everything in him, but he keeps making choices that hurt her trying to carry the weight of his family’s problems on his back. And Sawyer? I felt EVERYTHING she was feeling.
AND THAT ENDING????????
Lauren Greene really said “good luck surviving until September” because WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU END IT THERE?!?! That cliffhanger was absolutely criminal.
This was a 5-star read for me. Dark, emotional, addictive, forbidden, and impossible to put down. It’s been a minute since I’ve read a romance that had me this locked in.
🖤 Forbidden romance
🖤 Trauma bonding
🖤 Brother’s girlfriend
🖤 Small town secrets
🖤 Morally gray MMC
🖤 Emotional damage
🖤 Childhood friends
🖤 Toxic obsession
🖤 Cliffhanger ending
The Space Between Heartbeats by Lauren Greene
Thank you to Lauren Greene for sending me this ARC 🖤
This book had me in an absolute chokehold from page one. I was literally at a book convention reading this, surrounded by people, and all I could think about was getting back to this book. That’s how hooked I was. Every chapter ended with me needing more, and the emotional tension in this story was INSANE.
Sawyer, Knox, and Owen all grew up together after their families were tied together for years… until an embezzlement scandal destroyed everything. Sawyer’s father took the fall, Knox and Owen’s family lost everything, and the fallout changed all of their relationships forever. Owen became the safe choice the sweet, dependable golden boy. Knox became angry, cruel, reckless, and impossible to stay away from. But underneath all that anger? He had always loved Sawyer.
The emotional mess in this book was SO GOOD. Knox pushing Sawyer away while secretly being obsessed with her? The tension? The guilt? The years of buried feelings? You could feel it in every scene.
And then the roller coaster accident…
That entire scene had my heart pounding. It was tragic, chaotic, emotional, and honestly one of the most intense scenes I’ve read in a while. The trauma bonding between Sawyer and Knox afterward was done so well because nobody else could truly understand what they survived together. Their relationship felt toxic, consuming, emotional, messy, and completely addicting to read.
Knox was such a frustrating MMC in the best way because you KNOW he loves her with everything in him, but he keeps making choices that hurt her trying to carry the weight of his family’s problems on his back. And Sawyer? I felt EVERYTHING she was feeling.
AND THAT ENDING????????
Lauren Greene really said “good luck surviving until September” because WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU END IT THERE?!?! That cliffhanger was absolutely criminal.
This was a 5-star read for me. Dark, emotional, addictive, forbidden, and impossible to put down. It’s been a minute since I’ve read a romance that had me this locked in.
🖤 Forbidden romance
🖤 Trauma bonding
🖤 Brother’s girlfriend
🖤 Small town secrets
🖤 Morally gray MMC
🖤 Emotional damage
🖤 Childhood friends
🖤 Toxic obsession
🖤 Cliffhanger ending
May 5, 2026
“I’d hold her forever if it would make her feel any better.”
📚Type- E-ARC Wicked Reads
🎼Song Vibe- War of Hearts by Ruelle
💬POV- Dual
💞Relationship- MF
🌶️Spice- Yes
💭Thoughts at 3%
Why are you making me love Owen when I know what’s about to happen!!!!
💭Thoughts at 32%
I’m side eyeing Ella and omg WHAT WAS HE GOING TO SAY!!!
💭Thoughts at 100%
Absolutely NO WAY why would he do that when he knows what he needs to do and I need book 2 ASAP!!!!
📝Review📝
Did I stay up till 1 am to finish yes I absolutely did. Will I also be stalking socials for books? Yes I will. This story had me from the beginning you know what is about to happen so I was absolutely heartbroken right away trying to prolong the inevitable. Knox is so misunderstood and I understand the pressures he has on him as the older brother and how he keeps things to himself, and it was easy to love Owen who sees the glass half full. They very much are opposites but you can feel that brotherly love. I could see how Sawyer can fall for both of them in their own way. Now Knox’s girlfriend Ella I feel knows more than she is letting on and I am ready for book 2 because her vibe was off even when I felt sorry for her. I need book 2 so bad. This does focus more on the day and the aftermath and finding comfort in each other as well as flashbacks and that bring the story together and will really tie in for book 2.
~~What to Expect~~
🎢Trauma Bond
🎢Boyfriend’s Brother
🎢Forbidden Romance
🎢Love Triangle
🎢Toxic
🎢Angsty
🎢Family Scandals
🎢Hurt/Comfort
🎢Cliffhanger
🎢Flashbacks
~~Quotes~~
🩵
🩵I don’t want you to make me feel better. I want you to make me feel worse.
🩵We’re the same Knox and I. Down here in the wreckage together, equally undeserving.
🩵I’m not running. Not this time. And neither are you.
📚Type- E-ARC Wicked Reads
🎼Song Vibe- War of Hearts by Ruelle
💬POV- Dual
💞Relationship- MF
🌶️Spice- Yes
💭Thoughts at 3%
Why are you making me love Owen when I know what’s about to happen!!!!
💭Thoughts at 32%
I’m side eyeing Ella and omg WHAT WAS HE GOING TO SAY!!!
💭Thoughts at 100%
Absolutely NO WAY why would he do that when he knows what he needs to do and I need book 2 ASAP!!!!
📝Review📝
Did I stay up till 1 am to finish yes I absolutely did. Will I also be stalking socials for books? Yes I will. This story had me from the beginning you know what is about to happen so I was absolutely heartbroken right away trying to prolong the inevitable. Knox is so misunderstood and I understand the pressures he has on him as the older brother and how he keeps things to himself, and it was easy to love Owen who sees the glass half full. They very much are opposites but you can feel that brotherly love. I could see how Sawyer can fall for both of them in their own way. Now Knox’s girlfriend Ella I feel knows more than she is letting on and I am ready for book 2 because her vibe was off even when I felt sorry for her. I need book 2 so bad. This does focus more on the day and the aftermath and finding comfort in each other as well as flashbacks and that bring the story together and will really tie in for book 2.
~~What to Expect~~
🎢Trauma Bond
🎢Boyfriend’s Brother
🎢Forbidden Romance
🎢Love Triangle
🎢Toxic
🎢Angsty
🎢Family Scandals
🎢Hurt/Comfort
🎢Cliffhanger
🎢Flashbacks
~~Quotes~~
🩵
🩵I don’t want you to make me feel better. I want you to make me feel worse.
🩵We’re the same Knox and I. Down here in the wreckage together, equally undeserving.
🩵I’m not running. Not this time. And neither are you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. The Space Between Heartbeats by Lauren Greene is one of those stories that gets under your skin and refuses to leave.
From the very first page, I felt completely pulled into Sawyer’s world. Her voice felt raw and real, and you could feel every ounce of her grief, guilt, and confusion after everything changes in an instant. The emotional weight in this story is heavy, but it is written in such a beautiful and gripping way that I could not look away.
Owen was everything safe and steady, the kind of love that makes sense. But Knox… Knox is chaos. He is the wrong choice in every way, and somehow that is exactly what makes him impossible to resist. The tension between Sawyer and Knox is intense, messy, and so emotionally charged. It is not just chemistry, it is something deeper and darker that builds with every page.
What really stood out to me was how this book explores trauma and connection. It shows how grief can blur lines and how healing is not always clean or simple. The relationship between Sawyer and Knox is complicated and at times uncomfortable, but that is what made it feel so real. You can feel how they are drawn to each other through pain, secrets, and everything they are trying to survive.
The writing is addictive, emotional, and haunting. There were moments that made my chest ache and others that had me completely captivated by the intensity of it all. This is not a light romance. It is dark, layered, and filled with morally gray characters that you will not always agree with, but you will absolutely feel for.
If you love forbidden love, emotional depth, and stories that push boundaries, this one is going to hit hard. I am already counting down until the next book because I need to know what happens next.
Five stars without hesitation. This story stays with you long after you turn the last page.
From the very first page, I felt completely pulled into Sawyer’s world. Her voice felt raw and real, and you could feel every ounce of her grief, guilt, and confusion after everything changes in an instant. The emotional weight in this story is heavy, but it is written in such a beautiful and gripping way that I could not look away.
Owen was everything safe and steady, the kind of love that makes sense. But Knox… Knox is chaos. He is the wrong choice in every way, and somehow that is exactly what makes him impossible to resist. The tension between Sawyer and Knox is intense, messy, and so emotionally charged. It is not just chemistry, it is something deeper and darker that builds with every page.
What really stood out to me was how this book explores trauma and connection. It shows how grief can blur lines and how healing is not always clean or simple. The relationship between Sawyer and Knox is complicated and at times uncomfortable, but that is what made it feel so real. You can feel how they are drawn to each other through pain, secrets, and everything they are trying to survive.
The writing is addictive, emotional, and haunting. There were moments that made my chest ache and others that had me completely captivated by the intensity of it all. This is not a light romance. It is dark, layered, and filled with morally gray characters that you will not always agree with, but you will absolutely feel for.
If you love forbidden love, emotional depth, and stories that push boundaries, this one is going to hit hard. I am already counting down until the next book because I need to know what happens next.
Five stars without hesitation. This story stays with you long after you turn the last page.
May 14, 2026
In Lauren Geene's The Space Between Heartbeats, the narrative serves as a hauntingly intense journey through the wreckage of loss, where the boundaries between finding solace and falling apart are dangerously thin. This was my first experience with her writing, and the immersive quality of the prose was so visceral that it felt like standing in the center of the chaos.
During the pivotal "incident," the writing captures the physical reality of anxiety and heartbreak so effectively that it was truly gut-wrenching. The story follows Sawyer and Knox, two people whose lives have been intertwined since childhood. Sawyer was supposed to be with Owen, the safe and steady choice, but a tragic rollercoaster accident changes everything in an instant.
In the devastating aftermath, Sawyer and Knox find themselves trauma-bonded, forced to navigate unimaginable loss while grappling with a connection that has been simmering for years. Their relationship is messy and complicated, built on shared secrets and a forbidden desire that feels as destructive as it is comforting.
The chemistry between Knox and Sawyer is electric, fueled by a forbidden attraction to the one man she was never supposed to want that reaches a boiling point on every page. Every scene is emotionally heavy, leaning into toxic dynamics and the reality that sometimes the people we need most are the ones we’ve spent years trying to avoid.
The plot moves at a relentless pace, culminating in a cliffhanger that leaves the reader completely desperate for the next installment. This is a story for readers who crave morally grey characters and narrative arcs that leave the heart bruised long after the final chapter.
Content Warning: This novel contains heavy themes of graphic accidental death and trauma, intense grief, toxic relationship dynamics, and emotionally charged situations that may be distressing for some readers.
Thank you Lauren and Twisted Chaos for the ARC for my honest opinion.
During the pivotal "incident," the writing captures the physical reality of anxiety and heartbreak so effectively that it was truly gut-wrenching. The story follows Sawyer and Knox, two people whose lives have been intertwined since childhood. Sawyer was supposed to be with Owen, the safe and steady choice, but a tragic rollercoaster accident changes everything in an instant.
In the devastating aftermath, Sawyer and Knox find themselves trauma-bonded, forced to navigate unimaginable loss while grappling with a connection that has been simmering for years. Their relationship is messy and complicated, built on shared secrets and a forbidden desire that feels as destructive as it is comforting.
The chemistry between Knox and Sawyer is electric, fueled by a forbidden attraction to the one man she was never supposed to want that reaches a boiling point on every page. Every scene is emotionally heavy, leaning into toxic dynamics and the reality that sometimes the people we need most are the ones we’ve spent years trying to avoid.
The plot moves at a relentless pace, culminating in a cliffhanger that leaves the reader completely desperate for the next installment. This is a story for readers who crave morally grey characters and narrative arcs that leave the heart bruised long after the final chapter.
Content Warning: This novel contains heavy themes of graphic accidental death and trauma, intense grief, toxic relationship dynamics, and emotionally charged situations that may be distressing for some readers.
Thank you Lauren and Twisted Chaos for the ARC for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy
Ok. Wow. Well... @#$#@&!!!!!! (My live reaction to the cliffhanger this book just left me on) Lauren Greene what did you just do to me?!?!?
Alright, let me take a breath... So this book is probably going to be in my top five for the year. First, the premise is completely original. Imagine you grow up with family friends that are two brothers. You love them both in their own way. Then your families are rocked to the core when it is discovered that your father has been embezzling money from the joint family run business, sent to jail, and everyone blames him and you by association. One brother sticks by you and the other throws you to the wolves. You end up in a romantic relationship with the brother who stays, even though it's the brother who tossed you out like yesterday's garbage that you secretly pine for. In trying to patch up family relationships, your now boyfriend plans a nostalgic day at a theme park for you, him, his brother, and his brother's girlfriend. One derailed roller coaster accident later, you and the brother survive, but you both watched your boyfriend plummet to his death. And... we're not even halfway through the first book of the duet.
Second, let's talk about the writing. Impeccable pacing, vivid imagery, and visceral pining between the two main characters. The author is able to flow easily between flashbacks and present day in a way that fleshes out the characters' backgrounds without feeling gimmicky or staged. She doesn't tell you what happened - she shows you - sometimes in daydreams, sometimes in nightmares, and all the while the story builds without missing a beat.
Don't bother putting it on your TBR, just read it now.
Tropes
Shared trauma
Survivor's guilt
She's always been his
Man obsessed
He's in an arranged relationship
Organized crime adjacent
Enemies to lovers
So many secrets
Received ARC copy for free, review is my own.
Alright, let me take a breath... So this book is probably going to be in my top five for the year. First, the premise is completely original. Imagine you grow up with family friends that are two brothers. You love them both in their own way. Then your families are rocked to the core when it is discovered that your father has been embezzling money from the joint family run business, sent to jail, and everyone blames him and you by association. One brother sticks by you and the other throws you to the wolves. You end up in a romantic relationship with the brother who stays, even though it's the brother who tossed you out like yesterday's garbage that you secretly pine for. In trying to patch up family relationships, your now boyfriend plans a nostalgic day at a theme park for you, him, his brother, and his brother's girlfriend. One derailed roller coaster accident later, you and the brother survive, but you both watched your boyfriend plummet to his death. And... we're not even halfway through the first book of the duet.
Second, let's talk about the writing. Impeccable pacing, vivid imagery, and visceral pining between the two main characters. The author is able to flow easily between flashbacks and present day in a way that fleshes out the characters' backgrounds without feeling gimmicky or staged. She doesn't tell you what happened - she shows you - sometimes in daydreams, sometimes in nightmares, and all the while the story builds without missing a beat.
Don't bother putting it on your TBR, just read it now.
Tropes
Shared trauma
Survivor's guilt
She's always been his
Man obsessed
He's in an arranged relationship
Organized crime adjacent
Enemies to lovers
So many secrets
Received ARC copy for free, review is my own.
Review of advance copy
Thank you to Twisted Chaos PR and the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.
This is one of those stories that quietly settles in before it completely wrecks you. Following Sawyer and Knox, the story builds with an undercurrent of tension, before everything shifts around a tragic event that feels all too real, the kind of fear that creeps in as you get older and realize just how fragile life can be. That awareness lingers in every moment, making it all feel heavier and more significant.
Greene writes with an intensity that pulls you straight into Sawyer’s emotional world, and Knox's world full of conflict and duty. The grief in the aftermath isn’t clean or easy; it’s messy, confusing, and painfully human. Sawyer and Knox struggle not just with what’s happened, but with how to process it, how to feel, and whether those feelings are even “right.” That uncertainty is one of the strongest elements of the story. It doesn’t try to wrap things up neatly; instead, it lets you sit in the discomfort right alongside them.
What stands out most is how immersive the emotional journey is. You don’t just read about the heartbreak, you feel it. The pacing gives those emotions room to breathe, making the aftermath just as impactful as the event itself. It’s the kind of story that lingers, leaving you replaying moments and quietly asking yourself how you would survive something like this. The ending cliffhanger hits hard. There are so many unanswered questions and unresolved emotions that it’s impossible not to immediately need book two.
🍵 Final Verdict
A deeply emotional, heartbreakingly real story that captures grief, confusion, and love. Raw, intense, and lingering; be prepared to finish it and immediately wish you had book two in your hands.
This is one of those stories that quietly settles in before it completely wrecks you. Following Sawyer and Knox, the story builds with an undercurrent of tension, before everything shifts around a tragic event that feels all too real, the kind of fear that creeps in as you get older and realize just how fragile life can be. That awareness lingers in every moment, making it all feel heavier and more significant.
Greene writes with an intensity that pulls you straight into Sawyer’s emotional world, and Knox's world full of conflict and duty. The grief in the aftermath isn’t clean or easy; it’s messy, confusing, and painfully human. Sawyer and Knox struggle not just with what’s happened, but with how to process it, how to feel, and whether those feelings are even “right.” That uncertainty is one of the strongest elements of the story. It doesn’t try to wrap things up neatly; instead, it lets you sit in the discomfort right alongside them.
What stands out most is how immersive the emotional journey is. You don’t just read about the heartbreak, you feel it. The pacing gives those emotions room to breathe, making the aftermath just as impactful as the event itself. It’s the kind of story that lingers, leaving you replaying moments and quietly asking yourself how you would survive something like this. The ending cliffhanger hits hard. There are so many unanswered questions and unresolved emotions that it’s impossible not to immediately need book two.
🍵 Final Verdict
A deeply emotional, heartbreakingly real story that captures grief, confusion, and love. Raw, intense, and lingering; be prepared to finish it and immediately wish you had book two in your hands.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Before I get to the review, I AM MAD AT THIS ENDING!!!! Its a cliffy obvs, but like ARE YOU KIDDING???...Sheesh.
Ok, onto the actual review:
Ok, onto the actual review:
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, I’d like to thank Lauren Greene and Twisted Chaos PR for the gifted eARC of The Space Between Heartbeats to read and provide my honest and spoiler free review.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
I am quite literally unwell! This book consumed my entire day from start to finish. Everything about it was just perfect. The way I felt for these characters and the amount of emotions that went through me while reading this were just all over the place.
For a book that’s described as being about forbidden love, trauma bonding and the thin line between healing and destruction, Lauren Greene definitely delivered. Trauma is always such a heavy topic and there was definitely a traumatic event that happened in this book but I think what really hit me was how I related to the family dynamics and the tension between two families. Seeing our FMC, Sawyer, being trapped between two brothers that have become her comfort only to be treated differently due to the actions of her father just made for a very tension filled story.
I think the idea of choosing comfort because it’s safe is something a lot of readers can relate to. It’s a very powerful and normal human tendency but being faced with something traumatic usually tends to be the one thing that pushes people out of their comfort zone because you learn that there is no guarantees in life and it’s important to live life without regrets. That’s what Sawyer and Knox are ultimately up against and I was following their journey to the very end. The trauma, the healing, the destruction of each other, the story that is yet to be continued…I just have a feeling my Sawyer and Knox are going to have a permanent place in my heart and I cannot wait for book two.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
I am quite literally unwell! This book consumed my entire day from start to finish. Everything about it was just perfect. The way I felt for these characters and the amount of emotions that went through me while reading this were just all over the place.
For a book that’s described as being about forbidden love, trauma bonding and the thin line between healing and destruction, Lauren Greene definitely delivered. Trauma is always such a heavy topic and there was definitely a traumatic event that happened in this book but I think what really hit me was how I related to the family dynamics and the tension between two families. Seeing our FMC, Sawyer, being trapped between two brothers that have become her comfort only to be treated differently due to the actions of her father just made for a very tension filled story.
I think the idea of choosing comfort because it’s safe is something a lot of readers can relate to. It’s a very powerful and normal human tendency but being faced with something traumatic usually tends to be the one thing that pushes people out of their comfort zone because you learn that there is no guarantees in life and it’s important to live life without regrets. That’s what Sawyer and Knox are ultimately up against and I was following their journey to the very end. The trauma, the healing, the destruction of each other, the story that is yet to be continued…I just have a feeling my Sawyer and Knox are going to have a permanent place in my heart and I cannot wait for book two.
May 7, 2026
What can I say other than I think this is my favorite of the year thus far.
This book has so much grief, trauma, toxicity, love, adoration and lies, lies, lies. Sawyer, Knox and Owen have been friends since childhood and their parents were best friends, always hung out together and they were each other's ride or die ... until they grew up their families had a falling out and the Aldrich family no longer cared for Sawyer or her family.
Sawyer continued to hang out with the boys and they both had feelings for her but they definitely showed her their feelings in different ways. She was in love with Knox but he loved to ruffle her feathers and one night did it for her with his mean comments and that drove her to Owen. They started dating and Knox kept his distance and all was going well ... until it wasn't.
Things change after the day they went to the theme park and tragedy fell upon them. This is the day that changed everything for all of them.
We start learning more about Knox and Sawyer and the things their parents are/were capable of and I can't wait to continue reading Sawyer and Knox's journey because we were lef with a MAJOR cliffhanger that had me screaming in my pillow since it was late when I finished.
I was completely hooked from the moment I opened up my kindle app and started reading. I had all kinds of emotions going through me as I continued reading and I honestly have to say this is one of the best books I've read in a while.
Read your triggers because this book contains quite a list and may not be for some, but it is totally my jam :)
Hook, line and sinker (splash)!
This book has so much grief, trauma, toxicity, love, adoration and lies, lies, lies. Sawyer, Knox and Owen have been friends since childhood and their parents were best friends, always hung out together and they were each other's ride or die ... until they grew up their families had a falling out and the Aldrich family no longer cared for Sawyer or her family.
Sawyer continued to hang out with the boys and they both had feelings for her but they definitely showed her their feelings in different ways. She was in love with Knox but he loved to ruffle her feathers and one night did it for her with his mean comments and that drove her to Owen. They started dating and Knox kept his distance and all was going well ... until it wasn't.
Things change after the day they went to the theme park and tragedy fell upon them. This is the day that changed everything for all of them.
We start learning more about Knox and Sawyer and the things their parents are/were capable of and I can't wait to continue reading Sawyer and Knox's journey because we were lef with a MAJOR cliffhanger that had me screaming in my pillow since it was late when I finished.
I was completely hooked from the moment I opened up my kindle app and started reading. I had all kinds of emotions going through me as I continued reading and I honestly have to say this is one of the best books I've read in a while.
Read your triggers because this book contains quite a list and may not be for some, but it is totally my jam :)
Hook, line and sinker (splash)!
May 10, 2026
ARC review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Space Between Heartbeats is the kind of romance that wraps grief, guilt, and forbidden desire into something so emotionally intense that you can’t look away. It’s messy, painful, and deeply addictive the sort of story that leaves your heart bruised long after the final page.
The premise alone is devastating. A tragic rollercoaster accident changes everything in an instant, leaving Sawyer to navigate unimaginable loss alongside Knox the brother she was never supposed to want. Sawyer chose Owen, the safe and steady one. But in the aftermath of tragedy, safety becomes irrelevant, and the connection she shares with Knox becomes impossible to deny.
Knox is the definition of a compelling antihero. He’s sharp-edged, reckless, and burdened by his own grief, yet beneath all that anger is a desperate vulnerability that makes him impossible not to love. The way he looks at her like he’s been waiting his entire life for this chance is both swoon worthy and slightly terrifying.
What makes this story so powerful is how honestly it explores grief. There are no easy answers, no tidy healing process. Instead, the characters cling to each other in ways that are both comforting and destructive. Their relationship is built on loss, secrets, and the realization that sometimes the people we need most are the ones we’ve spent years trying to avoid.
The chemistry between Knox and Sawyer is electric. Every late-night encounter crackles with tension, and the emotional stakes are just as intense as the romance itself. Their connection feels forbidden not only because of the circumstances, but because they know how easily it could destroy what little they have left.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Space Between Heartbeats is the kind of romance that wraps grief, guilt, and forbidden desire into something so emotionally intense that you can’t look away. It’s messy, painful, and deeply addictive the sort of story that leaves your heart bruised long after the final page.
The premise alone is devastating. A tragic rollercoaster accident changes everything in an instant, leaving Sawyer to navigate unimaginable loss alongside Knox the brother she was never supposed to want. Sawyer chose Owen, the safe and steady one. But in the aftermath of tragedy, safety becomes irrelevant, and the connection she shares with Knox becomes impossible to deny.
Knox is the definition of a compelling antihero. He’s sharp-edged, reckless, and burdened by his own grief, yet beneath all that anger is a desperate vulnerability that makes him impossible not to love. The way he looks at her like he’s been waiting his entire life for this chance is both swoon worthy and slightly terrifying.
What makes this story so powerful is how honestly it explores grief. There are no easy answers, no tidy healing process. Instead, the characters cling to each other in ways that are both comforting and destructive. Their relationship is built on loss, secrets, and the realization that sometimes the people we need most are the ones we’ve spent years trying to avoid.
The chemistry between Knox and Sawyer is electric. Every late-night encounter crackles with tension, and the emotional stakes are just as intense as the romance itself. Their connection feels forbidden not only because of the circumstances, but because they know how easily it could destroy what little they have left.
June 8, 2026
The Space Between Heartbeats is book 1 in the Free Fall duet. I have to say, book 2 is probably going to be my most highly anticipated read this year because I cannot wait to see where this story is going to go.
Sawyer is with Owen, but her heart really belongs to his brother Knox. There is always this tension and push and pull between them, but after a tragic accident resulting in Owens death, Sawyer and Knox are both put in this awkward, guilt ridden position. Knox feels like a monster, because deep down, he's slightly happy that his brother isn't here anymore. He can finally have Sawyer. But Sawyer is torn between losing Owen and the feelings she has for Knox. To make everything worse, Knox is already in a relationship with a girl, who seems to have been keeping a secret. Now that Owen is gone, Sawyer is learning that secrets have been kept from her as well. And to add to all that drama, something happened between the families years ago leaving Sawyers father in prison and Knox's family to absolutely despise Sawyer and her mother. When I tell you this story is packed with drama..... it's packed! There is never a dull moment. We end with Knox proposing to his girlfriend and Sawyer witnessing the proposal, realizing that she may have been strung along the entire time but she doesn't know what's happening with Knox behind the scenes. The story is so twisty, but absolutely addicting!!!! The tragedy, the drama, the heart break, the guilt... I am hooked.
This is definitely a story that should not be missed. I highly, highly recommend giving this a read!!!
Sawyer is with Owen, but her heart really belongs to his brother Knox. There is always this tension and push and pull between them, but after a tragic accident resulting in Owens death, Sawyer and Knox are both put in this awkward, guilt ridden position. Knox feels like a monster, because deep down, he's slightly happy that his brother isn't here anymore. He can finally have Sawyer. But Sawyer is torn between losing Owen and the feelings she has for Knox. To make everything worse, Knox is already in a relationship with a girl, who seems to have been keeping a secret. Now that Owen is gone, Sawyer is learning that secrets have been kept from her as well. And to add to all that drama, something happened between the families years ago leaving Sawyers father in prison and Knox's family to absolutely despise Sawyer and her mother. When I tell you this story is packed with drama..... it's packed! There is never a dull moment. We end with Knox proposing to his girlfriend and Sawyer witnessing the proposal, realizing that she may have been strung along the entire time but she doesn't know what's happening with Knox behind the scenes. The story is so twisty, but absolutely addicting!!!! The tragedy, the drama, the heart break, the guilt... I am hooked.
This is definitely a story that should not be missed. I highly, highly recommend giving this a read!!!
May 4, 2026
“𝗛𝗲’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲. 𝗛𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝘄𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘆. 𝗧𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲.”
The Space Between Heartbeats is a dark romance and book one of the Free Fall Duet. This was my first book by this author and this one exceeded my every expectation! From the very first page, I was completely hooked and devoured this in one sitting. My emotions were all over the place reading this and it wrecked me in the best way. The push and pull dynamic between Sawyer and Knox was everything. I was living for all the angst and yearning and could not get enough of these two. And that ending!?! I cannot wait for the second book.
🎢Forbidden romance
💔Trauma bonded
🎟️Angsty
🎢Boyfriend’s brother
💔Hurt/comfort
🎟️Toxic relationship
🎢Family scandals
💔Cliffhanger ending
🎟️Both are morally grey
“𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱. 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝘄𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲.”
“𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘅 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗜 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗹. 𝗛𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁.“
“𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲. 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”
“𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲. 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜’𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲.“
The Space Between Heartbeats is a dark romance and book one of the Free Fall Duet. This was my first book by this author and this one exceeded my every expectation! From the very first page, I was completely hooked and devoured this in one sitting. My emotions were all over the place reading this and it wrecked me in the best way. The push and pull dynamic between Sawyer and Knox was everything. I was living for all the angst and yearning and could not get enough of these two. And that ending!?! I cannot wait for the second book.
🎢Forbidden romance
💔Trauma bonded
🎟️Angsty
🎢Boyfriend’s brother
💔Hurt/comfort
🎟️Toxic relationship
🎢Family scandals
💔Cliffhanger ending
🎟️Both are morally grey
“𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱. 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝘄𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲.”
“𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘅 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗜 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗹. 𝗛𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁.“
“𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲. 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”
“𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲. 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜’𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲.“
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book gets 7.5/10. I absolutely loved this book, and could have easily given it a 9. You 100% need to read it if you like messy morally grey men and their relationships.
One of the reasons I love the book is the characters feel real. Even when Knox is behaving like a complete a-hole. I still believe that due to circumstances this is how he’d behave.
Trauma has bonded Sawyer and Knox together irrevocably. After surviving a disaster on a rollercoaster that killed her boyfriend, his brother, Owen. Heat has been simmering between them for years and it comes to a head in the worst way. The two of them realize that they are unable to stay way from each other.
The spicy scenes leave you wanting more, in the best way. 3/5 on spice level. The cliffhanger ending had me shaken, and I’m not sure I can handle wait till September to find out how that idiot Knox gets out of the mess he put himself in.
I love and adore Knox…until the cliffhanger. The literal last page is why I couldn’t give it that 9/10. It had me in a bad way, but not in a good way. Cliffhangers can have you horribly messed up, but in the absolutely best way possible. But…this wasn’t that for me. Even if I sort of understand way…
But I’m not going to spoil any of it. Because despite the last page, I absolutely ADORE this book, and you absolutely have to read it. Once you read it, then we can discuss that final page.
One of the reasons I love the book is the characters feel real. Even when Knox is behaving like a complete a-hole. I still believe that due to circumstances this is how he’d behave.
Trauma has bonded Sawyer and Knox together irrevocably. After surviving a disaster on a rollercoaster that killed her boyfriend, his brother, Owen. Heat has been simmering between them for years and it comes to a head in the worst way. The two of them realize that they are unable to stay way from each other.
The spicy scenes leave you wanting more, in the best way. 3/5 on spice level. The cliffhanger ending had me shaken, and I’m not sure I can handle wait till September to find out how that idiot Knox gets out of the mess he put himself in.
I love and adore Knox…until the cliffhanger. The literal last page is why I couldn’t give it that 9/10. It had me in a bad way, but not in a good way. Cliffhangers can have you horribly messed up, but in the absolutely best way possible. But…this wasn’t that for me. Even if I sort of understand way…
But I’m not going to spoil any of it. Because despite the last page, I absolutely ADORE this book, and you absolutely have to read it. Once you read it, then we can discuss that final page.
May 3, 2026
Review of advanced copy
I honestly don’t know how to put into words how this book made me feel but I’ll try. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster (pun intended) I honestly didn’t know where this book would go. I can definitely say I’m pretty scared of rollercoaster now and will think twice before going on one. This book gave me summer I turned pretty with scorpion kings vibes. Childhood friends to enemies to lovers. A forbidden romance of her being his brother’s girlfriend. You could tell they had a history and you wanted them to be together but you also felt bad for the brother. Seeing him fight and hide his feeing the whole time while crying “why don’t you just tell her!” It was truly hard to put this book down after you got past the part of crying your eyes out over the accident. Lauren’s writing brings you right into the book and it felt like I was almost strapped into the rollercoaster with them. If you weren’t afraid of rollercoaster I promise you will after reading this book. I do have to say once you get past it you get a beautiful love story of each of them fighting their attraction for each other. This book does end on a cliff hanger so please prepare yourself. Overall an amazing book and I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2!!
I honestly don’t know how to put into words how this book made me feel but I’ll try. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster (pun intended) I honestly didn’t know where this book would go. I can definitely say I’m pretty scared of rollercoaster now and will think twice before going on one. This book gave me summer I turned pretty with scorpion kings vibes. Childhood friends to enemies to lovers. A forbidden romance of her being his brother’s girlfriend. You could tell they had a history and you wanted them to be together but you also felt bad for the brother. Seeing him fight and hide his feeing the whole time while crying “why don’t you just tell her!” It was truly hard to put this book down after you got past the part of crying your eyes out over the accident. Lauren’s writing brings you right into the book and it felt like I was almost strapped into the rollercoaster with them. If you weren’t afraid of rollercoaster I promise you will after reading this book. I do have to say once you get past it you get a beautiful love story of each of them fighting their attraction for each other. This book does end on a cliff hanger so please prepare yourself. Overall an amazing book and I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2!!
May 7, 2026
I went into The Space Between Heartbeats expecting an emotional read, but I wasn’t fully prepared for how consuming this story would be.
The backstory is what really hooked me from the start it’s intense, layered, and sets up the emotional stakes perfectly. The dynamic between Knox and Sawyer is messy in the best way. Their trauma bond is written beautifully raw, complicated, and at times uncomfortable, but in a way that feels intentional and real rather than overdone.
Knox is exactly the kind of morally gray character you know you shouldn’t root for… but you do anyway. And Sawyer’s internal conflict adds so much depth to the story it’s not just about grief, it’s about what grief reveals.
The romance leans heavily into toxic and forbidden territory, so this definitely isn’t a light read. But if you like angst, emotional intensity, and characters who make questionable choices, this delivers.
The cliffhanger? Absolute miscommunication chaos and I mean that in the most frustrating, addictive way possible. It hurt… but it worked. Now I need book two.
🌶️ Spice: 2.5/5
⭐ Rating: 4/5
If you’re into trauma bonds, morally gray love interests, and emotionally charged forbidden romance, this is worth picking up
The backstory is what really hooked me from the start it’s intense, layered, and sets up the emotional stakes perfectly. The dynamic between Knox and Sawyer is messy in the best way. Their trauma bond is written beautifully raw, complicated, and at times uncomfortable, but in a way that feels intentional and real rather than overdone.
Knox is exactly the kind of morally gray character you know you shouldn’t root for… but you do anyway. And Sawyer’s internal conflict adds so much depth to the story it’s not just about grief, it’s about what grief reveals.
The romance leans heavily into toxic and forbidden territory, so this definitely isn’t a light read. But if you like angst, emotional intensity, and characters who make questionable choices, this delivers.
The cliffhanger? Absolute miscommunication chaos and I mean that in the most frustrating, addictive way possible. It hurt… but it worked. Now I need book two.
🌶️ Spice: 2.5/5
⭐ Rating: 4/5
If you’re into trauma bonds, morally gray love interests, and emotionally charged forbidden romance, this is worth picking up
May 11, 2026
The Space Between Heartbeats is the kind of dark romance that does not gently knock on the door. It kicks it open, grabs you by the throat, and then has the audacity to make you care. Believe me. I tried.
At its core, this is a forbidden love story, but not the soft, dreamy kind where everyone simply needs to “follow their heart.” No, this one comes wrapped in guilt, tension, longing, and all the delicious emotional damage you secretly hope for when picking up a dark romance. The chemistry is intense, the spice is definitely present, but what makes it hit harder is the weight behind every stolen moment. Nothing feels easy. Nothing feels simple. And honestly? That is exactly why it works.
The writing is strong and atmospheric, with a build-up that keeps pulling you further in. You can feel the tension humming between the characters, sometimes quietly, sometimes loud enough to make you forget you were supposed to go to sleep at a reasonable hour.
What I loved most is how the story balances desire with consequence. It is not just about wanting someone you should not want. It is about what that wanting costs.
Dark, emotional, spicy, and beautifully tense. A romance with sharp edges.
At its core, this is a forbidden love story, but not the soft, dreamy kind where everyone simply needs to “follow their heart.” No, this one comes wrapped in guilt, tension, longing, and all the delicious emotional damage you secretly hope for when picking up a dark romance. The chemistry is intense, the spice is definitely present, but what makes it hit harder is the weight behind every stolen moment. Nothing feels easy. Nothing feels simple. And honestly? That is exactly why it works.
The writing is strong and atmospheric, with a build-up that keeps pulling you further in. You can feel the tension humming between the characters, sometimes quietly, sometimes loud enough to make you forget you were supposed to go to sleep at a reasonable hour.
What I loved most is how the story balances desire with consequence. It is not just about wanting someone you should not want. It is about what that wanting costs.
Dark, emotional, spicy, and beautifully tense. A romance with sharp edges.
May 9, 2026
What a crazy but super intriguing read! I was hooked from the very beginning! I knew I wanted to read this book when the author described it as a traumatic and toxic read. I had never read a book with a roller-coaster scene and everything that follows, so I definitely had to read this one early. This definitely had final destination meets the summer I turned pretty vibes that the author has recently described it as.
This book had a little bit of everything. Boyfriend's brother, trauma, grief, tension, angst, longing, and a forbidden relationship build-up that is slightly toxic and definitely steamy! And there's so much more going on behind the scenes that we don't know about yet and that makes me super excited for the next book!
If you like reads with some light suspense and mystery, with lower spice and higher plot then I highly suggest this as your next read!
Favorite quotes:
"I think about you every f*cking day," he murmurs against my skin. "Every time he touched you. Every time you were his and not mine."
"I'm not keeping tabs on you. I just. . .happen to know where you are."
This book had a little bit of everything. Boyfriend's brother, trauma, grief, tension, angst, longing, and a forbidden relationship build-up that is slightly toxic and definitely steamy! And there's so much more going on behind the scenes that we don't know about yet and that makes me super excited for the next book!
If you like reads with some light suspense and mystery, with lower spice and higher plot then I highly suggest this as your next read!
Favorite quotes:
"I think about you every f*cking day," he murmurs against my skin. "Every time he touched you. Every time you were his and not mine."
"I'm not keeping tabs on you. I just. . .happen to know where you are."
May 13, 2026
The Space Between Heartbeats ; Free Fall Duet Book1 ) well Lauren has once again managed to wreck me , just wreck me in all the best ways . The Space Between Us is one of those romances that has the ability to capture your heart , that will have you reeling from so many different emotions and will resonate with you on so many levels. It’s devastating, it’s raw , it’s messy , it’s heartbreaking, heartwarming and so so emotional. Oh how I loved sawyer , Knox and Owen’s story - how real they were and how the things they struggled through were so relatable. I loved the fact that all 3 had flaws , that they had struggles and demons, , because that made them so much more likable and relatable for me. I definitely was not prepared for everything I ended up feeling, I felt everything from smiling and laughing, to screaming and crying my eyes out . One unimaginable tragedy changed everything for these 3 and nothing was ever going to me the same again. But the ending guys , oh my gosh such a cliffhanger that leaves you speechless and anxiously awaiting the next book . Absolute perfection, that’s what this story was and is !!
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