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The Long Way Home
Rachel thought she’d buried her first love alongside her brother.
For the last four years, Rachel has spent her time becoming exactly who everyone needs her to be. The dependable daughter. The easy girlfriend. The strong survivor. The supportive best friend.
But when she walks into her best friend’s wedding and locks eyes with Rhett, her carefully constructed world starts to fracture.
Her brother’s best friend.
The one love she has never been able to forget.
The only person who has ever seen past the mask.
Rhett left town carrying guilt and a promise to protect her, convinced that walking away was the only way to keep her safe from the wreckage of his own broken family. But loving Rachel was never something he could outrun—and seeing her again makes one truth impossible to ignore: leaving was the greatest mistake of his life.
The Long Way Home tells the story of the invisible strings that bind us, the courage it takes to confront loss and the love that demands we risk everything to find our way back to the person we were always meant to be.
Choosing Rhett means dismantling the life Rachel built to survive.
Loving Rachel means risking the one person Rhett has never been able to lose.
Some loves don’t take the easy road. Some are worth taking the long way for.
For the last four years, Rachel has spent her time becoming exactly who everyone needs her to be. The dependable daughter. The easy girlfriend. The strong survivor. The supportive best friend.
But when she walks into her best friend’s wedding and locks eyes with Rhett, her carefully constructed world starts to fracture.
Her brother’s best friend.
The one love she has never been able to forget.
The only person who has ever seen past the mask.
Rhett left town carrying guilt and a promise to protect her, convinced that walking away was the only way to keep her safe from the wreckage of his own broken family. But loving Rachel was never something he could outrun—and seeing her again makes one truth impossible to ignore: leaving was the greatest mistake of his life.
The Long Way Home tells the story of the invisible strings that bind us, the courage it takes to confront loss and the love that demands we risk everything to find our way back to the person we were always meant to be.
Choosing Rhett means dismantling the life Rachel built to survive.
Loving Rachel means risking the one person Rhett has never been able to lose.
Some loves don’t take the easy road. Some are worth taking the long way for.
398 pages, Paperback
Published May 7, 2026
63 people are currently reading
5014 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 6, 2026
•°. ❝ I think I was always meant to find you. Somehow. Somewhere. In this world, in this alternate world, I would have found you. ❞ *࿐
✎ᝰ. ★★★★ stars
✎ᝰ. 2/5 spice level
✎ᝰ. tropes:
𝜗𝜚 friends to lovers
𝜗𝜚 brother’s best friend
𝜗𝜚 “you came” “you called”
𝜗𝜚 secret tattoos
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ✉︎ ꒱ ˎˊ˗
First of all, I would like to thank the author, Liv Arnett, for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Long Way Home comes out on May 7th, 2026!
For those who are considering reading this book as a stand-alone, as I did, I don’t recommend it. I made this decision because, even though the first novel in this series wasn’t my cup of tea, this one sounded like it was right up my alley. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that this series is meant to be read as a whole, not as individual stories. All of the important characters were introduced in book one, so I found myself confused about who was related to whom and their backgrounds for most of the book. This made it difficult for me to fully connect with them and their story, as there were many details missing. That was completely my fault for skipping the first book, and I own up to it.
Despite this, I still found The Long Way Home to be a cute second-chance romance novel with likable characters and a swoon-worthy MMC. The plot was heavily focused on grief, but in a good way.
Overall, I would say this book is a nice summer read for those looking for a deeper plot.
•°. ❝ You could never give me a damn thing, and I'd still show up for you. I'd still want you safe. I'd still want you to know you matter. ❞ *࿐
✎ᝰ. trigger warnings (possible spoilers): grief, loss of a sibling, parental abandonment, emotional abusive relationship, panic attacks
May 8, 2026
This book was absolutely phenomenal from beginning to end. The emotional depth in this story was incredible, and the angst and yearning between the main characters felt so raw, natural, and authentic that I was completely invested in their relationship the entire time. Their history together made every interaction feel meaningful, and the slow progression from friendship to something more was handled beautifully, as well as having me screaming at the book to communicate these hidden feelings!
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the use of flashbacks. They were woven seamlessly into the story and added so much depth to both the characters and their relationship. Instead of feeling repetitive, each flashback revealed something important that made the emotional moments in the present hit even harder. The character development overall was incredibly strong, every character felt layered, realistic, and emotionally complex.
What really stood out to me was how genuine everything felt. Liv captured the vulnerability, tension, and tenderness of a friend’s to lovers relationship perfectly. This book completely pulled me out of a reading slump, and honestly, I already expect it to bury me right back into one because I have no idea how anything is supposed to top this. This is easily one of the best friends to lovers romances I’ve ever read, and it’s a book I know I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
Thank you so much Liv for providing me with an Arc copy of this book! It will live rent free in my mind going forward
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the use of flashbacks. They were woven seamlessly into the story and added so much depth to both the characters and their relationship. Instead of feeling repetitive, each flashback revealed something important that made the emotional moments in the present hit even harder. The character development overall was incredibly strong, every character felt layered, realistic, and emotionally complex.
What really stood out to me was how genuine everything felt. Liv captured the vulnerability, tension, and tenderness of a friend’s to lovers relationship perfectly. This book completely pulled me out of a reading slump, and honestly, I already expect it to bury me right back into one because I have no idea how anything is supposed to top this. This is easily one of the best friends to lovers romances I’ve ever read, and it’s a book I know I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
Thank you so much Liv for providing me with an Arc copy of this book! It will live rent free in my mind going forward
May 7, 2026
Liv is an incredible writer, but god she can destroy you while also healing you with her words.
Grief is such a hard topic to talk about in general but to read not just one, but two (you need to read Between the Waves before TLWH) incredible books that just help you feel less alone with each word.
The character growth with Rachel & Rhett is incredible both as individuals and as a couple, the emotions you go through, honestly pick your favourite comfort drink and snacks and go curl up somewhere while you read this book.
This is more than just two friends who fall in love, this is a story about finding love and realising you are deserving of love while struggling with finding happiness after grief.
Grief is such a hard topic to talk about in general but to read not just one, but two (you need to read Between the Waves before TLWH) incredible books that just help you feel less alone with each word.
The character growth with Rachel & Rhett is incredible both as individuals and as a couple, the emotions you go through, honestly pick your favourite comfort drink and snacks and go curl up somewhere while you read this book.
This is more than just two friends who fall in love, this is a story about finding love and realising you are deserving of love while struggling with finding happiness after grief.
May 11, 2026
This was truly shaping up to be a 4.75 for me! The beginning was so strong like I could not put this down and wanted to know what was going to happen next. It was so raw and real. The depth of the writing was beautiful. However, the last 15% kind of lost me because it felt like we were going backwards instead of forwards. This is definitely a lot more about grief and navigating that then I thought but the MMC wow one of the best ones I’ve read in a while. The author had a beautiful way of making these characters so human that I got emotional a few times. This was a TikTok rec I found and while there were so things I throughly enjoyed it.
Brothers best friend
No spice
Brothers best friend
No spice
May 7, 2026
TATTOO THIS BOOK ON ME
My only beef with this book is that it ended. Are you kidding me?!?! I could read about Rhett and Rachel (the whole friend group really) forever. All the stars, all the love. READ THIS BOOK BABE!!
My only beef with this book is that it ended. Are you kidding me?!?! I could read about Rhett and Rachel (the whole friend group really) forever. All the stars, all the love. READ THIS BOOK BABE!!
April 10, 2026
I want to start by thanking Liv Arnett for sending me an ARC of The Long Way Home. I truly appreciate the opportunity to read and review this story.
This is one of those books that left me with very mixed feelings. I wouldn’t say I loved it—but I also didn’t dislike it. It sits somewhere in between, in that complicated space where you recognize the beauty of a story but still feel like something was missing.
Going into this book, I expected to feel more. A story centered around grief, especially the loss of a sibling, is something I thought would completely break me. As someone who has a sister, I couldn’t help but think that losing her would shatter me entirely. And while there were moments that truly touched me, moments where I felt connected—especially to Rachel—it didn’t fully hit as deeply as I had hoped.
Where the book struggled the most for me was the romance. The conflict felt unnecessary at times. Rhett holding back his feelings because of Josh didn’t fully make sense to me—especially when Josh himself had hinted that things would actually be easier if Rachel had feelings for Rhett. That internal struggle just didn’t feel convincing.
And Rachel… I found myself frustrated with her too. There were clear moments of tension and almost-confessions, so it was hard to believe she didn’t notice Rhett’s feelings earlier. That lack of awareness felt a bit unrealistic.
I also have to mention something small but persistent—the nickname “Sunny.” It just didn’t work for me and started to feel repetitive over time. Similarly, the constant use of Rhett’s name in dialogue pulled me out of the story more than once. It didn’t feel natural and became distracting.
That said, Liv Arnett’s writing style is undeniably beautiful. The story is easy to follow, emotionally soft in places, and still manages to deliver impactful moments. And the ending? That part really got me. It was touching, heartfelt, and showed the emotional depth I had been hoping for throughout.
I’m especially intrigued by Margo and Anderson—I found their dynamic really compelling, and I’m genuinely excited to read their story next. Hopefully, that one will completely destroy me (in the best way possible).
Overall, this was an emotional read with strong moments, even if it didn’t fully meet my expectations.
This is one of those books that left me with very mixed feelings. I wouldn’t say I loved it—but I also didn’t dislike it. It sits somewhere in between, in that complicated space where you recognize the beauty of a story but still feel like something was missing.
Going into this book, I expected to feel more. A story centered around grief, especially the loss of a sibling, is something I thought would completely break me. As someone who has a sister, I couldn’t help but think that losing her would shatter me entirely. And while there were moments that truly touched me, moments where I felt connected—especially to Rachel—it didn’t fully hit as deeply as I had hoped.
Where the book struggled the most for me was the romance. The conflict felt unnecessary at times. Rhett holding back his feelings because of Josh didn’t fully make sense to me—especially when Josh himself had hinted that things would actually be easier if Rachel had feelings for Rhett. That internal struggle just didn’t feel convincing.
And Rachel… I found myself frustrated with her too. There were clear moments of tension and almost-confessions, so it was hard to believe she didn’t notice Rhett’s feelings earlier. That lack of awareness felt a bit unrealistic.
I also have to mention something small but persistent—the nickname “Sunny.” It just didn’t work for me and started to feel repetitive over time. Similarly, the constant use of Rhett’s name in dialogue pulled me out of the story more than once. It didn’t feel natural and became distracting.
That said, Liv Arnett’s writing style is undeniably beautiful. The story is easy to follow, emotionally soft in places, and still manages to deliver impactful moments. And the ending? That part really got me. It was touching, heartfelt, and showed the emotional depth I had been hoping for throughout.
I’m especially intrigued by Margo and Anderson—I found their dynamic really compelling, and I’m genuinely excited to read their story next. Hopefully, that one will completely destroy me (in the best way possible).
Overall, this was an emotional read with strong moments, even if it didn’t fully meet my expectations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2026
Rachel has always been in love with her brother’s best friend, Rhett, whom she has known for over a decade. Their relationship took a significant turn one night in college, but tragic events put their actions and feelings on pause while Rachel and Rhett grieved the loss of someone important in their lives. To cope with the grief, Rhett left town while Rachel stayed behind, picking up the pieces for everyone around her. Rachel has tried to overcome her own grief by being the person everyone can depend on, pushing her emotions to the side.
On the night of her best friend and sister-in-law’s wedding, Rhett comes back into her life after four years of absence. All of her feelings from the last twelve years come flooding back as she’s reminded of how deeply she has always loved him. Rhett never stopped loving Rachel either and is finally ready to admit that leaving her behind was one of the greatest mistakes of his life.
Liv has done it again! The Long Way Home is such a beautiful story of grief, love, friendship, and self-discovery. The way Liv tells their story is breathtaking. You can truly feel the longing and the deep-rooted emotions Rachel and Rhett have for one another. I put off reading this book because I knew how much I would dread reaching the end of their story—the same way I felt when finishing Anderson and Margo’s story in Between the Waves.
The Long Way Home is the perfect continuation of Between the Waves. If you are just discovering Liv’s books, you must read Between the Waves. While the books in the Invisible Strings series can technically be read as standalones, you will miss so much if you skip the first book. Do yourself a favor and read them in order—you won’t regret it.
Now I will anxiously wait, on pins and needles, for the release of the other two books in the Invisible Strings series. I can only imagine how beautiful Lexi and Slone’s story will be.
Thank you Liv for an ARC read of The Long Way Home. I am so excited to see what else’s you put out into the world!
On the night of her best friend and sister-in-law’s wedding, Rhett comes back into her life after four years of absence. All of her feelings from the last twelve years come flooding back as she’s reminded of how deeply she has always loved him. Rhett never stopped loving Rachel either and is finally ready to admit that leaving her behind was one of the greatest mistakes of his life.
Liv has done it again! The Long Way Home is such a beautiful story of grief, love, friendship, and self-discovery. The way Liv tells their story is breathtaking. You can truly feel the longing and the deep-rooted emotions Rachel and Rhett have for one another. I put off reading this book because I knew how much I would dread reaching the end of their story—the same way I felt when finishing Anderson and Margo’s story in Between the Waves.
The Long Way Home is the perfect continuation of Between the Waves. If you are just discovering Liv’s books, you must read Between the Waves. While the books in the Invisible Strings series can technically be read as standalones, you will miss so much if you skip the first book. Do yourself a favor and read them in order—you won’t regret it.
Now I will anxiously wait, on pins and needles, for the release of the other two books in the Invisible Strings series. I can only imagine how beautiful Lexi and Slone’s story will be.
Thank you Liv for an ARC read of The Long Way Home. I am so excited to see what else’s you put out into the world!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🫶
Liv has done it again!!! 5 stars - easy! In my opinion, this is the ultimate brother's best friend romance. Complete with years of yearning, secret promises, unwavering devotion from Rhett, our MMC, and guaranteed emotional damage (in a good way, I promise).
Rachel, our FMC, is on a journey to find her way back to herself, after losing her brother four years ago. After putting everyone else first in the aftermath of his death and after making herself smaller in the name of not being too much for everyone. I think Rachel's story will be very relatable for a lot of women, especially ones who've lost a loved one or have been in an unfulfilling relationship. I know she was relatable to me, which is always meaningful to me as the reader.
This love story is one for the hopeless romantics, the ones looking for a story to remember long past the last page. The ones looking for a story about true love and two people who were always meant to find each other. More than that, this touches on the nuance of relationships between friends, siblings, parental abandonment and a couple navigating grief alongside love. While this story centers around Rhett and Rachel, we also get a glimpse into Anderson and Margo's marriage, who were our main characters in book one, Between the Waves. I loved every second they were on the page and the new little snippets of their story. We also get a glimpse of the dynamics of the entire friend group as a lead up to book three and four. I loved getting to meet those characters!
Finally, I have to hand it to Liv on that ending. I can't say much other than it was perfect in every way for these characters. It was emotional and it was believable for them and their situation and life experience and it was the nicest gut punch an author could give us. This story as a whole has depth, meaning and I highly recommend you read this, and book one, Between the Waves of you haven't already.
Spice Level: 1 🌶️
Liv has done it again!!! 5 stars - easy! In my opinion, this is the ultimate brother's best friend romance. Complete with years of yearning, secret promises, unwavering devotion from Rhett, our MMC, and guaranteed emotional damage (in a good way, I promise).
Rachel, our FMC, is on a journey to find her way back to herself, after losing her brother four years ago. After putting everyone else first in the aftermath of his death and after making herself smaller in the name of not being too much for everyone. I think Rachel's story will be very relatable for a lot of women, especially ones who've lost a loved one or have been in an unfulfilling relationship. I know she was relatable to me, which is always meaningful to me as the reader.
This love story is one for the hopeless romantics, the ones looking for a story to remember long past the last page. The ones looking for a story about true love and two people who were always meant to find each other. More than that, this touches on the nuance of relationships between friends, siblings, parental abandonment and a couple navigating grief alongside love. While this story centers around Rhett and Rachel, we also get a glimpse into Anderson and Margo's marriage, who were our main characters in book one, Between the Waves. I loved every second they were on the page and the new little snippets of their story. We also get a glimpse of the dynamics of the entire friend group as a lead up to book three and four. I loved getting to meet those characters!
Finally, I have to hand it to Liv on that ending. I can't say much other than it was perfect in every way for these characters. It was emotional and it was believable for them and their situation and life experience and it was the nicest gut punch an author could give us. This story as a whole has depth, meaning and I highly recommend you read this, and book one, Between the Waves of you haven't already.
Spice Level: 1 🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don’t even know where to start with this review. This was the perfect continuation of Between the Waves, but you don’t need to read it first as this can be read as a stand alone. How does one come up with words to describe the feeling this book gave me?
We follow Rachel in the aftermath of losing her brother, and the unresolved feelings she’s always had towards his best friend. This story beautifully portrays grief (something Liv does so magically, like how can she take feelings and put them into words the way she does?) the heartache of feeling lost, losing yourself once you’ve lost someone who was such a vital part of your being. It made me want to hug my brothers and tell them how important their existence is (I am not a hugger)
Rhett (our sweet sweet man) is Josh’s best friend, in love with his best friends sister, and also wants nothing more than to protect her. The words out of this man’s mouth…the ways he shows up for Rachel…one of the best MMCs.
The prologue alone is a masterpiece, and the epilogue…let’s just say I read it 20 times in row and felt feelings I can’t explain in my chest every.single.time.
Watching these characters experience the pain they do, yet overcome it so beautifully and find not just each other, but THEMSELVES along the way.
My brain chemistry has been permanently altered. Do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK! I’ve read it twice, and I’m already ready for a third. I LIVE in these characters world….I purposely read it slowly because I wasn’t ready to leave.
Liv-thank you for making me feel understood with your writing. There’s not a single author out there like you.
We follow Rachel in the aftermath of losing her brother, and the unresolved feelings she’s always had towards his best friend. This story beautifully portrays grief (something Liv does so magically, like how can she take feelings and put them into words the way she does?) the heartache of feeling lost, losing yourself once you’ve lost someone who was such a vital part of your being. It made me want to hug my brothers and tell them how important their existence is (I am not a hugger)
Rhett (our sweet sweet man) is Josh’s best friend, in love with his best friends sister, and also wants nothing more than to protect her. The words out of this man’s mouth…the ways he shows up for Rachel…one of the best MMCs.
The prologue alone is a masterpiece, and the epilogue…let’s just say I read it 20 times in row and felt feelings I can’t explain in my chest every.single.time.
Watching these characters experience the pain they do, yet overcome it so beautifully and find not just each other, but THEMSELVES along the way.
My brain chemistry has been permanently altered. Do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK! I’ve read it twice, and I’m already ready for a third. I LIVE in these characters world….I purposely read it slowly because I wasn’t ready to leave.
Liv-thank you for making me feel understood with your writing. There’s not a single author out there like you.
May 8, 2026
God tier book.
Liv has, in fact, done it once again. Made me happy, made me cry -a lot- and had me giggling and kicking my feet over Rhett (never getting over Anderson or Rhett EVER). First following along with Margo’s story and now getting Rachel’s story and learning about her perspective of grief and how she’s been navigating that while also seeing Rachel learn that with the right person you’re never “too much” or “not enough”. The tension between Rhett and Rachel is just so intense and the YEARNING 🫦🫦.
Getting to read and feel Rhett’s grief over his best friend gutted me. The amount of tears I’ve shed over this series and the emotions this book made me feel has made it a god tier series. Seeing the friendships within these books is also teaching me the kind of people I need to surround myself with. Liv has a way of making these characters so relatable. Especially those of us who are going (or dragging) ourselves through this heavy weight on our chest every. Single. Day. It made me feel that I wasn’t alone. With Margo and Rachel’s story, it’s okay too not be okay. It’s okay that even if our progress is slow, it’s still progress. I’ll forever hold Rhett and Rachel in my heart. I think about them everyday.
If you’ve read it let me know your thoughts! If you haven’t then let this be your sign! ☀️
Liv has, in fact, done it once again. Made me happy, made me cry -a lot- and had me giggling and kicking my feet over Rhett (never getting over Anderson or Rhett EVER). First following along with Margo’s story and now getting Rachel’s story and learning about her perspective of grief and how she’s been navigating that while also seeing Rachel learn that with the right person you’re never “too much” or “not enough”. The tension between Rhett and Rachel is just so intense and the YEARNING 🫦🫦.
Getting to read and feel Rhett’s grief over his best friend gutted me. The amount of tears I’ve shed over this series and the emotions this book made me feel has made it a god tier series. Seeing the friendships within these books is also teaching me the kind of people I need to surround myself with. Liv has a way of making these characters so relatable. Especially those of us who are going (or dragging) ourselves through this heavy weight on our chest every. Single. Day. It made me feel that I wasn’t alone. With Margo and Rachel’s story, it’s okay too not be okay. It’s okay that even if our progress is slow, it’s still progress. I’ll forever hold Rhett and Rachel in my heart. I think about them everyday.
If you’ve read it let me know your thoughts! If you haven’t then let this be your sign! ☀️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was fortunate to have been an early reader for this book and I absolutely loved it. I loved Rachel and Margo's friendship in Between the Waves, and I was so happy that Margo found happiness with Anderson. Reading Rachel's story had me in my feels the entire time. Rhett and Rachel's relationship is one of those second chance romances, where you could tell from the very beginning that they both still had feelings for each other despite Rhett disappearing after Josh's passing. The loss they both experienced was heartbreaking. Despite this, the love they have for each other even after what happened between them when Josh passed was not lost. I am so glad that they found their way to each other. I do love that we were introduced to the other couples for future books ;) I absolutely despised Rachel's ex-boyfriend and how self-centered and ignorant he was to Rachel and their relationship. I am 100% happy that their relationship did not work out because Rhett is a king in treating his woman right.
Overall, this is a great follow-up to Between the Waves and is perfect for readers who enjoy slow burn second chance romance and healing journeys.
Thank you, Liv, for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
Overall, this is a great follow-up to Between the Waves and is perfect for readers who enjoy slow burn second chance romance and healing journeys.
Thank you, Liv, for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
May 9, 2026
The author did an amazing job writing the aftermath of losing a loved one and grief in this book. My heart really went out to Rachel and Rhett, but especially Rachel. I felt the same pang of sadness as she did when she was alone thinking back at moments with her brother Josh.
At first I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but when I read Josh’s later at the end it all made more sense. Sometimes you shouldn’t wait in life. Who knows what will happen and what would pass you but if you don’t leap for the chance? That’s what made Rachel and Rhett’s relationship so special, when they realized that you should grab the moment with both hands.
One thing that made me feel quite a bit frustrated though was the character Ben. I know he was there and part of the plot line but unfortunately my frustration over him took away from the book for me. I also wasn’t a big fan of the will they or won’t they when Rachel was still in a relationship with Ben.
Overall, I really liked the message of this book and I will be giving the other books in the series a go!
Thank you so much to the author for an e-arc of this book 🫶
At first I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but when I read Josh’s later at the end it all made more sense. Sometimes you shouldn’t wait in life. Who knows what will happen and what would pass you but if you don’t leap for the chance? That’s what made Rachel and Rhett’s relationship so special, when they realized that you should grab the moment with both hands.
One thing that made me feel quite a bit frustrated though was the character Ben. I know he was there and part of the plot line but unfortunately my frustration over him took away from the book for me. I also wasn’t a big fan of the will they or won’t they when Rachel was still in a relationship with Ben.
Overall, I really liked the message of this book and I will be giving the other books in the series a go!
Thank you so much to the author for an e-arc of this book 🫶
March 9, 2026
You know how some authors just have a way with words that just make you feel exactly what a character is feeling? That is what Liv does with her Invisible Strings series- she makes you feel EVERYTHING.
Rachel and Rhett carry the memories and grief of losing Josh- Rachel’s brother and Rhett’s best friend. If you’ve read the first book ,Between The Waves, you get to see more of Margo and Josh from that story here. They are each on their own journey through grief and also rediscovering who they are outside of the way grief has changed them.
There is so much to love about this series. The friendships and found family are strong and just everything you’d want out of life. The self sacrifice of love and yearning keeps you wanting so much for the characters. I love that previous book characters are woven into Rhett and Rachel’s story too.
Like I said, Liv just has a way with words that makes you feel. Have tissues ready because if you’re a crier- you will not escape the tears, but you will fall in love with this group of friends.
-This is an ARC review.
Rachel and Rhett carry the memories and grief of losing Josh- Rachel’s brother and Rhett’s best friend. If you’ve read the first book ,Between The Waves, you get to see more of Margo and Josh from that story here. They are each on their own journey through grief and also rediscovering who they are outside of the way grief has changed them.
There is so much to love about this series. The friendships and found family are strong and just everything you’d want out of life. The self sacrifice of love and yearning keeps you wanting so much for the characters. I love that previous book characters are woven into Rhett and Rachel’s story too.
Like I said, Liv just has a way with words that makes you feel. Have tissues ready because if you’re a crier- you will not escape the tears, but you will fall in love with this group of friends.
-This is an ARC review.
March 23, 2026
How do you survive losing the one person who has been with you from the very beginning? Who shares your identity, who is a piece of who you are as a person? On top of losing them forever, you turn your emotions off, help everyone else around you rebuild their lives and make yourself smaller so no one sees that you are crumbling….
Liv Arnett takes us on an emotional journey with characters who are trying to figure out not only how to just survive after loss but find themselves and live again. Rachel and Rhett both suffering a loss of a person who was an integral part of who they are have to decide how to find themselves again and along the way decide if they were all along supposed to find each other.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
“I wasn’t left behind. I was just taking the long way. Through loss and forgiveness. Through fear and love. Through everything that made me unrecognizable to myself and, somehow, reminded me exactly who I am. And now, here I am. Here we are. And this-this was always the long way home.”
Liv Arnett takes us on an emotional journey with characters who are trying to figure out not only how to just survive after loss but find themselves and live again. Rachel and Rhett both suffering a loss of a person who was an integral part of who they are have to decide how to find themselves again and along the way decide if they were all along supposed to find each other.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
“I wasn’t left behind. I was just taking the long way. Through loss and forgiveness. Through fear and love. Through everything that made me unrecognizable to myself and, somehow, reminded me exactly who I am. And now, here I am. Here we are. And this-this was always the long way home.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book belongs in a special category for romantic literary fiction because of the beautifully written prose and the way it handles such complex human emotions. The characters are given time to grapple with their experiences and feelings, and the reader gets to immerse themself in the process with them.
There is very little Liv could write that wouldn't be worth your time. Personally, I'd pay to read her grocery lists because even those have to be poetic. She spins words and characters like gold, and Rachel and Rhett are no exception. I mean, let's be clear, Rhett is heart eyes, tongue-out sweating, melting emoji perfect (who doesn't love a firefighter in touch with his emotions). And our darling Rachel... I saw so much of myself in her and her struggles. Perhaps that's why I loved this book so much. I have also read the first book in the series Between the Waves (check out my review on that one).
Liv, I can't wait to read every book you ever write and fall in love with each and every one of the characters. <3
There is very little Liv could write that wouldn't be worth your time. Personally, I'd pay to read her grocery lists because even those have to be poetic. She spins words and characters like gold, and Rachel and Rhett are no exception. I mean, let's be clear, Rhett is heart eyes, tongue-out sweating, melting emoji perfect (who doesn't love a firefighter in touch with his emotions). And our darling Rachel... I saw so much of myself in her and her struggles. Perhaps that's why I loved this book so much. I have also read the first book in the series Between the Waves (check out my review on that one).
Liv, I can't wait to read every book you ever write and fall in love with each and every one of the characters. <3
March 16, 2026
Arc Review ⭐️ How do I even find the words to describe how this book made me feel? Liv, you write so beautifully.
The friendship between Rhett and Anderson was so special and it added such a meaningful layer to Rhett’s protectiveness over Rachel.
The relationship between Rachel and her brother Josh was so sweet. She looked up to him so much, which made his loss even more devastating. She became the rock for everyone else while quietly carrying her own pain. She spent so long feeing like she wasn’t enough so finally letting herself grieve and be loved through it was really special.
Every character touched by grief experienced it differently, and it felt so real and raw. Liv handled writing those emotions in such a thoughtful and meaningful way.
If you’ve ever experienced any kind of loss in your life or had a deep, close friendship, this book will truly break your heart… and then slowly piece it back together again. ♥️
The friendship between Rhett and Anderson was so special and it added such a meaningful layer to Rhett’s protectiveness over Rachel.
The relationship between Rachel and her brother Josh was so sweet. She looked up to him so much, which made his loss even more devastating. She became the rock for everyone else while quietly carrying her own pain. She spent so long feeing like she wasn’t enough so finally letting herself grieve and be loved through it was really special.
Every character touched by grief experienced it differently, and it felt so real and raw. Liv handled writing those emotions in such a thoughtful and meaningful way.
If you’ve ever experienced any kind of loss in your life or had a deep, close friendship, this book will truly break your heart… and then slowly piece it back together again. ♥️
March 19, 2026
ARC Review
There are books you enjoy, and then there are books that quietly take up space in your chest - The Long Way Home is this.
From the very first pages, Liv shows she has this rare ability to articulate the in-between moments between Rachel and Rhett…the glances, the pauses, the unspoken tensions…in a way that feels deeply human and so real. Nothing feels rushed or forced.
By the end of this book, you feel like you’re not just reading about this group of friends, but more like you know them. Their histories, their grief, their loyalty to one another.
I couldn’t turn the page fast enough to get to what I knew was FINALLY coming (especially Ben getting his lol).
By the end it felt less like finishing a story and more like leaving friends behind for a little bit. And that epilogue?? 😍
Do yourself a favour and read Between the Waves (1st book in the series). Then clear your schedule to read this one…and literally anything else Liv chooses to write in the future!!
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There are books you enjoy, and then there are books that quietly take up space in your chest - The Long Way Home is this.
From the very first pages, Liv shows she has this rare ability to articulate the in-between moments between Rachel and Rhett…the glances, the pauses, the unspoken tensions…in a way that feels deeply human and so real. Nothing feels rushed or forced.
By the end of this book, you feel like you’re not just reading about this group of friends, but more like you know them. Their histories, their grief, their loyalty to one another.
I couldn’t turn the page fast enough to get to what I knew was FINALLY coming (especially Ben getting his lol).
By the end it felt less like finishing a story and more like leaving friends behind for a little bit. And that epilogue?? 😍
Do yourself a favour and read Between the Waves (1st book in the series). Then clear your schedule to read this one…and literally anything else Liv chooses to write in the future!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
****ARC Reader Review*****
Liv has this gift, she captures the tiny, quiet moments between Rachel and Rhett in a way that feels so real it almost aches. The looks, the hesitations, the tension simmering just beneath the surface…she writes it with such honesty that nothing ever feels forced. It’s the kind of storytelling that makes you slow down just to savor it.
By the time I reached the end, it didn’t feel like I’d simply followed a friend group through a story, it felt like I’d lived alongside them. Their grief, their history, their fierce loyalty…it all felt so genuine. And yes, I tore through the pages waiting for the moments I knew were coming.
Finishing this book felt less like closing a chapter and more like stepping away from people I wasn’t quite ready to leave. And that epilogue…honestly, I’m still thinking about it. I highly recommend everyone to read this book and also to read her other book Between the Waves!!!
Liv has this gift, she captures the tiny, quiet moments between Rachel and Rhett in a way that feels so real it almost aches. The looks, the hesitations, the tension simmering just beneath the surface…she writes it with such honesty that nothing ever feels forced. It’s the kind of storytelling that makes you slow down just to savor it.
By the time I reached the end, it didn’t feel like I’d simply followed a friend group through a story, it felt like I’d lived alongside them. Their grief, their history, their fierce loyalty…it all felt so genuine. And yes, I tore through the pages waiting for the moments I knew were coming.
Finishing this book felt less like closing a chapter and more like stepping away from people I wasn’t quite ready to leave. And that epilogue…honestly, I’m still thinking about it. I highly recommend everyone to read this book and also to read her other book Between the Waves!!!
March 10, 2026
Wow.. just wow. I have no words that feel adequate enough to describe my feelings for this story and its characters. While yes this is an interconnected series, you do not have to read Between the Waves for this story to make sense. It will give you a better knowledge of the side characters in this book but not necessary to read beforehand! You’ll get the most out of the books if you read them in order!!😭
I fell so hard for Rachel and Rhett’s story… very relatable and downright heartbreaking at times. Most of the book the emotions jumped off page and slapped me across the face! I already miss these characters so much!! Told in dual pov with flashbacks (which were some of my fav chapters! 🥹)! If you love contemporary romances with emotional depth and self discovery this one is for you!!!
I fell so hard for Rachel and Rhett’s story… very relatable and downright heartbreaking at times. Most of the book the emotions jumped off page and slapped me across the face! I already miss these characters so much!! Told in dual pov with flashbacks (which were some of my fav chapters! 🥹)! If you love contemporary romances with emotional depth and self discovery this one is for you!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I honestly don’t even know where to start. This book was, again, fantastic - a beautiful continuation of the Invisible String series.
These characters are so realistic, it’s impossible not to fall in love with them. Rhett & Rachel are both experiencing insurmountable grief - but through it find their way (back) to each other and also find themselves again. They both have such inspiring growth through the book!
I absolutely loved that we got to continue to keep up with Margo & Anderson throughout. AND the little breadcrumbs of characters in books to come!
Liv has such a beautiful way of making you feel everything - I laughed, I cried, I beat my Kindle in frustration. Ughhh if you aren’t reading Liv’s books, what are you doing!! Honestly. Some of the greatest writing I have ever read.
I am so thankful to Liv for this ARC!!
These characters are so realistic, it’s impossible not to fall in love with them. Rhett & Rachel are both experiencing insurmountable grief - but through it find their way (back) to each other and also find themselves again. They both have such inspiring growth through the book!
I absolutely loved that we got to continue to keep up with Margo & Anderson throughout. AND the little breadcrumbs of characters in books to come!
Liv has such a beautiful way of making you feel everything - I laughed, I cried, I beat my Kindle in frustration. Ughhh if you aren’t reading Liv’s books, what are you doing!! Honestly. Some of the greatest writing I have ever read.
I am so thankful to Liv for this ARC!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is my first ARC, and can I just say, what a way to start.
Liv makes you feel like a friend, like you’re sitting down for dinner after years apart, catching up on everything in her life, past and present (or should I say Rhett and Rachel’s).
Liv doesn’t overcomplicate things, she just tells it like it is, and it works. The characters feel real, the story pulls you in, and the emotions are raw and honest without ever trying too hard. I found myself re-reading pages not because I was lost, but because I didn’t want the book to end. At one point, I jokingly told my husband, “Be like Rhett.” 🤣
That ending though? Perfection. Just like Rhett…and Anderson in Between The Waves, oh wait, and all the future characters of hers I already can’t wait to fully meet.
This is a MUST read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Liv, thank YOU for this wonderful book.
Liv makes you feel like a friend, like you’re sitting down for dinner after years apart, catching up on everything in her life, past and present (or should I say Rhett and Rachel’s).
Liv doesn’t overcomplicate things, she just tells it like it is, and it works. The characters feel real, the story pulls you in, and the emotions are raw and honest without ever trying too hard. I found myself re-reading pages not because I was lost, but because I didn’t want the book to end. At one point, I jokingly told my husband, “Be like Rhett.” 🤣
That ending though? Perfection. Just like Rhett…and Anderson in Between The Waves, oh wait, and all the future characters of hers I already can’t wait to fully meet.
This is a MUST read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Liv, thank YOU for this wonderful book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
i just finished this ARC and i am OUT OF WORDS 😭 liv has completely wrecked me with rachel and rhett's story. after josh died, my heart was already in pieces, but seeing rhett come back and call her SUNNY?? i actually SCREAMED 💔
the way he has loved her for TWELVE YEARS in total silence is just, i have no words. he is the ultimate protective book boyfriend. and can we talk about ben for a second?? he was absolute trash and i was SCREAMING at my screen for rachel to leave him 😤
this was such a raw look at grief and finding your way back to the person who feels like home. even though this is book 2, im definitely going to read book 1 (between the waves) because i need more of this friend group immediately!! if you like brother's best friend and "it's always been you" vibes, YOU NEED THIS 📖✨
rating: 5/5
(thank you liv for the early copy!)
the way he has loved her for TWELVE YEARS in total silence is just, i have no words. he is the ultimate protective book boyfriend. and can we talk about ben for a second?? he was absolute trash and i was SCREAMING at my screen for rachel to leave him 😤
this was such a raw look at grief and finding your way back to the person who feels like home. even though this is book 2, im definitely going to read book 1 (between the waves) because i need more of this friend group immediately!! if you like brother's best friend and "it's always been you" vibes, YOU NEED THIS 📖✨
rating: 5/5
(thank you liv for the early copy!)
Review of advance copy received from Author
A true "couldn't put it down" book! If you love Elsie Silver, Hannah Bonam-Young and Liz Tomford, you need to read this book!!
Liv Arnett so perfectly encapsulates the push and pull or wanting to sit in your grief while also wanting to continue with your life. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me root for people that dont even exist!
Rachel was a character that I could see myself if, she felt both like she was too much and not enough all at the same time, and it was so special to "watch" Rhett show her that you are always the perfect mix for the right person. And I say watch because Liv's storytelling was so incredibly descriptive that I felt like I was watching this love story play out between two of my own friends!
An absolute easy 5 star and I am counting down the days until I FINALLY get to read another book by Liv Arnett!
Liv Arnett so perfectly encapsulates the push and pull or wanting to sit in your grief while also wanting to continue with your life. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me root for people that dont even exist!
Rachel was a character that I could see myself if, she felt both like she was too much and not enough all at the same time, and it was so special to "watch" Rhett show her that you are always the perfect mix for the right person. And I say watch because Liv's storytelling was so incredibly descriptive that I felt like I was watching this love story play out between two of my own friends!
An absolute easy 5 star and I am counting down the days until I FINALLY get to read another book by Liv Arnett!
Review of advance copy
The Long Way Home is a slow burn friends-to-lovers that focuses on healing after loss and learning that not everyone is going to leave you. At its core, it’s about realizing you are lovable—to the right person.
Rhett and Rachel completely had me. The way Rhett sees her and wants her to understand her worth?? I was gone. He loves her like she’s everything—and makes sure she knows it.
The writing style added a lot of intensity to the emotional moments, especially in the quieter scenes, which made everything feel more impactful.
I’d say the emotional damage is around a 3/5, but it could hit harder if you’ve experienced loss or abandonment.
If you’re looking for something that hurts a little but ultimately leans into healing and choosing yourself, I’d definitely recommend this.
Rhett and Rachel completely had me. The way Rhett sees her and wants her to understand her worth?? I was gone. He loves her like she’s everything—and makes sure she knows it.
The writing style added a lot of intensity to the emotional moments, especially in the quieter scenes, which made everything feel more impactful.
I’d say the emotional damage is around a 3/5, but it could hit harder if you’ve experienced loss or abandonment.
If you’re looking for something that hurts a little but ultimately leans into healing and choosing yourself, I’d definitely recommend this.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is book two in the Invisible Heartstrings series and it definitely stood up to the first, which was an amazing book that I thought couldn’t be topped. But I think it is able to do so because it beautifully includes everyone from book one so well, that you feel like this is just a continuation of but yet different.
This book follows Rachel and Rhett and they process their grief of losing the person who means the most to them, Josh, Rachel’s brother and Rhett’s best friend, and the love they have for each other that has never been acted on.
This book takes so many tropes that can be done wrong and puts them all together flawless. I am so grateful this series is still going, cause I want to spend more time with them all at the lake.
This book follows Rachel and Rhett and they process their grief of losing the person who means the most to them, Josh, Rachel’s brother and Rhett’s best friend, and the love they have for each other that has never been acted on.
This book takes so many tropes that can be done wrong and puts them all together flawless. I am so grateful this series is still going, cause I want to spend more time with them all at the lake.
May 11, 2026
a long journey
This book was really sweet. The main character had a good bit of emotional overthinking to get through in order to get to the end, but she got there! It just took a little bit of work.
This is my first book by the author and now I want to read her other books. I want to know the stories of all the other characters and how they got to where they are and how they’re going to end up.
The one thing I will say that I didn’t love is the abrupt ending. Don’t get me wrong, it was good. I like what happened. But it felt like there was a step skipped and maybe some other words before we hit the epilogue. Or maybe even some extra time before it wrapped up. But I still enjoyed it.
This book was really sweet. The main character had a good bit of emotional overthinking to get through in order to get to the end, but she got there! It just took a little bit of work.
This is my first book by the author and now I want to read her other books. I want to know the stories of all the other characters and how they got to where they are and how they’re going to end up.
The one thing I will say that I didn’t love is the abrupt ending. Don’t get me wrong, it was good. I like what happened. But it felt like there was a step skipped and maybe some other words before we hit the epilogue. Or maybe even some extra time before it wrapped up. But I still enjoyed it.
May 11, 2026
I loved this book—if not even more than the first!
The author’s ability to weave multiple characters and relationships together in a way that feels intentional, cohesive, and engaging. The interconnected storylines, subtle foreshadowing, and small details make the world feel fully developed and keep you invested from start to finish!
Rachel and Rhett’s story completely pulled me in. Their dynamic felt both entertaining and genuine, and the emotional depth of their journey made it easy to connect with them as characters.
It’s clear a lot of thought and care went into not just the storyline, but the reader’s experience as well. The note at the end was a thoughtful touch that many readers will appreciate.
The author’s ability to weave multiple characters and relationships together in a way that feels intentional, cohesive, and engaging. The interconnected storylines, subtle foreshadowing, and small details make the world feel fully developed and keep you invested from start to finish!
Rachel and Rhett’s story completely pulled me in. Their dynamic felt both entertaining and genuine, and the emotional depth of their journey made it easy to connect with them as characters.
It’s clear a lot of thought and care went into not just the storyline, but the reader’s experience as well. The note at the end was a thoughtful touch that many readers will appreciate.
March 21, 2026
I read The Long Way Home as part of an advanced reader copy from the author, and I was super excited to begin. After seeing an instagram video posted by Liv sharing a snippet of the book I knew I would enjoy this story. And boy was I HOOKED.
The bittersweet theme of love after grief added depth to the plot, with a terrible boyfriend spicing up the mix. My pearls were clutched every time Ben came onto the scene.
I found myself eager to continue reading, hence why I finished the book in less than 2 days, and despite it being a perfect standalone I am desperate to get my hands on the previous book (Between The Waves) and reading what Liv has next to publish!
The bittersweet theme of love after grief added depth to the plot, with a terrible boyfriend spicing up the mix. My pearls were clutched every time Ben came onto the scene.
I found myself eager to continue reading, hence why I finished the book in less than 2 days, and despite it being a perfect standalone I am desperate to get my hands on the previous book (Between The Waves) and reading what Liv has next to publish!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wish I could give it 6 stars. This book exceeded all my expectations. In Between The Waves, I fell in love with Rachel and we always knew there was soooomething brewing between her and Rhett and I’m so happy to have been able to read about their love story. It was perfect in so many ways. That man had me HOOKED from the moment he said, “and sunny?” AHHHHUUGGGHHHH. So so so good. I also loved how much more Josh we got to see and his relationships with everyone else. Margo & Anderson, perfect as always. I loved it so much. And the Dear Reader note????? You’re kidding me. I need MORE of all of them 🤭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Liv let me ask you something… are you a therapist?
Cause girl the way you hold our hands and walk us through grief and all the layers of emotions it brings is uncanny.
This was such a wholesome read, navigating everything between Rachel and Rhett.
Rhett dealing with his abandonment issues was captured and portrayed so perfectly anyone who’s gone through it (hello 👋🏼) relates instantly.
I was doing so well in this book, I’d kept the tears to a minimum and then I got to that last page (you know the one) and omg 😭💔
Cause girl the way you hold our hands and walk us through grief and all the layers of emotions it brings is uncanny.
This was such a wholesome read, navigating everything between Rachel and Rhett.
Rhett dealing with his abandonment issues was captured and portrayed so perfectly anyone who’s gone through it (hello 👋🏼) relates instantly.
I was doing so well in this book, I’d kept the tears to a minimum and then I got to that last page (you know the one) and omg 😭💔
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