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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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 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 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 27, 2026
I enjoyed my time reading this book SO much. While it had some of my favorite romance tropes/micro tropes, it was also a beautiful exploration of life after loss. Our main characters Rachel and Rhett have years of history, a deep friendship, and a shared loss - Josh - Rachel’s brother and Rhett’s best friend. The book starts four years after Josh’s death and Rhett showing back up in town. Their love story doesn’t come easy, but it’s worth the wait!
Tropes:
- He accidentally calls her baby!!
- “Why do you think?” That one gets me every time
- Friends to lovers
- Brother’s best friend
- A cute nickname
- The ultimate secret tattoo
Now I need to go back and read the first book!
Tropes:
- He accidentally calls her baby!!
- “Why do you think?” That one gets me every time
- Friends to lovers
- Brother’s best friend
- A cute nickname
- The ultimate secret tattoo
Now I need to go back and read the first book!
August 9, 2026
3.5⭐️
i needed her to stand up in the first half? that man suckeddd. why did rhett wait so dang long??? honestly pretty cute & im glad there was no cheating trope
i needed her to stand up in the first half? that man suckeddd. why did rhett wait so dang long??? honestly pretty cute & im glad there was no cheating trope
June 2, 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 String 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 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!
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!!
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 16, 2026
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1🌶
I absolutely loved The Long Way Home!
Rachel is the sweetest human from page one, and Rhett had me falling in love with his thoughts and protectiveness of Rachel. Both are suffering from grief, and it's interesting how the book shows the different ways of coping with that grief.
The flashbacks were some of my favourite parts. Getting to see Josh as a real person made everything hit harder, and the slow build between Rachel and Rhett was just perfect. Rhett calling her "Sunny" melted my heart, and the way he always shows up for her while Ben can’t even acknowledge her wins… the contrast is wild. Ben is a horrible man!
When Rachel and Rhett finally get together, it feels so earned. The journey this book takes you on is so emotionally amazing! And the ending? I adored it.
1🌶
I absolutely loved The Long Way Home!
Rachel is the sweetest human from page one, and Rhett had me falling in love with his thoughts and protectiveness of Rachel. Both are suffering from grief, and it's interesting how the book shows the different ways of coping with that grief.
The flashbacks were some of my favourite parts. Getting to see Josh as a real person made everything hit harder, and the slow build between Rachel and Rhett was just perfect. Rhett calling her "Sunny" melted my heart, and the way he always shows up for her while Ben can’t even acknowledge her wins… the contrast is wild. Ben is a horrible man!
When Rachel and Rhett finally get together, it feels so earned. The journey this book takes you on is so emotionally amazing! And the ending? I adored it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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 25, 2026
This is a hard one for me to rate because of the prologue alone. It was the most profound chapter I’ve ever read. If you have not experienced sibling loss then it might not be as impactful for you, but for me who’s brother was her best friend, it moved me deeply. I’ve re-read it, saved it, and shared it. I’ll always remember it.
Therefore, the book was a 2.5 star for me, but Liv Arnett’s writing and depiction of grief was 5 star. It was a beautifully, broken portrayal of life after losing your sibling.
Therefore, the book was a 2.5 star for me, but Liv Arnett’s writing and depiction of grief was 5 star. It was a beautifully, broken portrayal of life after losing your sibling.
July 31, 2026
I like it. i like it - Brothers Best Friend, I'll take elevn of'em.
Strong start! Was hooked and loving it. Towards the end, I was booooored, and it felt slightly repetitive and, at times, a snooze. Towards the end, I was reading it to finish it...not enough to DNF at all! But it's definitely enough to read faster than my usual pace
Overall, it was a good read on grief, invisible strings, and right timing . Rhett was a fire-fighter too so that's hot
Strong start! Was hooked and loving it. Towards the end, I was booooored, and it felt slightly repetitive and, at times, a snooze. Towards the end, I was reading it to finish it...not enough to DNF at all! But it's definitely enough to read faster than my usual pace
Overall, it was a good read on grief, invisible strings, and right timing . Rhett was a fire-fighter too so that's hot
May 27, 2026
3.5 A slower burn that had just the right amount of will they wont they tension. we love yearning! Rachel was a little insecure at times and her negative self talk was disheartening but also fairly accurate to someone who’s grieving. Side characters were well written and had some depth too which is always good.
Ending felt a little rushed ngl
Ending felt a little rushed ngl
May 17, 2026
Absolutely loved!
July 15, 2026
So dull.
July 22, 2026
That final note from the author was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read
July 16, 2026
The yearniiiiig was beyond chef's kiss 🤌🏽
May 22, 2026
3.75⭐️
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.
August 2, 2026
yeah not good. cool idea but bad book
August 5, 2026
I really enjoyed this series, I didn’t expect to feel the thoughts and all the things as much as I did.
Definitely has very big themes to take into account before reading.
Definitely has very big themes to take into account before reading.
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!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read
August 5, 2026‘’For those who learned to dim themselves to be accepted. I hope this reminds you that for the right person, your light is never overwhelming. For the right person, you are the sun.’’
I don’t even want to write a review I just suggest you read this book. I couldn’t put it down.
10/10 no notes - one of my favourite romances I’ve read to date.
I don’t even want to write a review I just suggest you read this book. I couldn’t put it down.
10/10 no notes - one of my favourite romances I’ve read to date.
July 2, 2026
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
easiest rating ive given in awhile. im a sucker for yearning, history, friends to lovers and angst, this is exactly what this story is. we follow rachel who is grieving the loss of her older brother josh, when his best friend she has been secretly in love with for a decade shows up after years of radio silence.
i absolutely loved rachel and i related so much to her struggle of feeling too hard to love but i absolutely love the message that you’re never too hard to love for the right person. then there is rhett, he is a broken soul who is grieving the loss of his best friend but also the girl he’s always loved who doesn’t know he’s always loved her. rhett was literally perfect, such a gentleman but so unbelievably pathetic for rachel. AND MAY I ADD HE IS A FIREFIGHTER?? his relationship with his mom who abandoned him kind of just resonated with me, i loved how he finally realized just because she couldn’t love him doesn’t mean he’s unworthy of love, she just couldn’t give unconditional to him.
we get flashbacks to before josh passed away when rhett and rachel first met, which i think added more substance and meaning to their story. this was the ultimate friends to lovers story seeing how they both lean on eachother and feel so seen by one another throughout every moment of the book even when rachel was pissed at rhett for disappearing. i think what made this book so good was the found family, rhett comes from a home of just his dad since his mom left when he just 12 and then rachel who lost her biggest piece of family in josh. you’re telling me they’ve both been in love with eachother for 12 YEARS and neither of them know?
my absolute favorite part of this book was their friendship, before true love can develop you have to love someone platonically and my gosh did they. and his nickname for her? 🥹🥹. she is his sun, she makes everything better. also can we talk about ben for a second? god i hated him so freaking much, he was an ass who never deserved rachel and when rhett punched him? he deserved it, im so glad rachel finally ending things with him.
gosh, i went through a roller coaster of emotions with this book, grief, happiness, love, and most importantly obsession with this whole friend group! i love all of them and i am so excited for the next books for slone and lexi. i never would’ve found this book without aimlessly scrolling on instagram and seeing Liv’s posts so thank you algorithm.
queue up “I Knew It, I Knew You” by Taylor Swift 🎶🎶🎶
“Running wild, it's been a long time
Life has ways of leaving those days behind
But seeing you tonight
I remembered I loved you
Came back when it mattered, I saw you” ☀️🧯
~TROPES~
•grief
•brothers best friend
•friends to lovers
•friend group
•slow burn
•”it’s only ever been you”
•f it moment
•DID I MENTION SLOWWWW BURN??
easiest rating ive given in awhile. im a sucker for yearning, history, friends to lovers and angst, this is exactly what this story is. we follow rachel who is grieving the loss of her older brother josh, when his best friend she has been secretly in love with for a decade shows up after years of radio silence.
i absolutely loved rachel and i related so much to her struggle of feeling too hard to love but i absolutely love the message that you’re never too hard to love for the right person. then there is rhett, he is a broken soul who is grieving the loss of his best friend but also the girl he’s always loved who doesn’t know he’s always loved her. rhett was literally perfect, such a gentleman but so unbelievably pathetic for rachel. AND MAY I ADD HE IS A FIREFIGHTER?? his relationship with his mom who abandoned him kind of just resonated with me, i loved how he finally realized just because she couldn’t love him doesn’t mean he’s unworthy of love, she just couldn’t give unconditional to him.
we get flashbacks to before josh passed away when rhett and rachel first met, which i think added more substance and meaning to their story. this was the ultimate friends to lovers story seeing how they both lean on eachother and feel so seen by one another throughout every moment of the book even when rachel was pissed at rhett for disappearing. i think what made this book so good was the found family, rhett comes from a home of just his dad since his mom left when he just 12 and then rachel who lost her biggest piece of family in josh. you’re telling me they’ve both been in love with eachother for 12 YEARS and neither of them know?
my absolute favorite part of this book was their friendship, before true love can develop you have to love someone platonically and my gosh did they. and his nickname for her? 🥹🥹. she is his sun, she makes everything better. also can we talk about ben for a second? god i hated him so freaking much, he was an ass who never deserved rachel and when rhett punched him? he deserved it, im so glad rachel finally ending things with him.
gosh, i went through a roller coaster of emotions with this book, grief, happiness, love, and most importantly obsession with this whole friend group! i love all of them and i am so excited for the next books for slone and lexi. i never would’ve found this book without aimlessly scrolling on instagram and seeing Liv’s posts so thank you algorithm.
queue up “I Knew It, I Knew You” by Taylor Swift 🎶🎶🎶
“Running wild, it's been a long time
Life has ways of leaving those days behind
But seeing you tonight
I remembered I loved you
Came back when it mattered, I saw you” ☀️🧯
~TROPES~
•grief
•brothers best friend
•friends to lovers
•friend group
•slow burn
•”it’s only ever been you”
•f it moment
•DID I MENTION SLOWWWW BURN??
July 23, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Some stories don’t just break your heart—they carefully piece it back together.”
Liv Arnett has an incredible gift for writing characters who feel achingly real, and The Long Way Home is proof of that. From the very first chapter, I knew Rachel and Rhett’s story was going to leave a permanent mark on my heart.
This isn’t just a second-chance romance—it’s a story about grief, forgiveness, healing, and finding your way back to the person who has always felt like home. Every interaction between Rachel and Rhett carried years of history, longing, and words left unsaid. Their chemistry wasn’t built on grand gestures alone; it lived in the quiet moments, the unwavering loyalty, and the undeniable pull that neither time nor distance could erase.
Rhett completely stole the show for me. He’s the kind of hero who loves deeply, sacrifices quietly, and carries more guilt than anyone should ever have to bear. Watching him slowly allow himself to believe he deserved happiness was just as rewarding as watching Rachel rediscover her own strength. Their journey wasn’t easy, but that’s exactly what made their love story so unforgettable.
Josh’s presence is beautifully woven throughout the novel, reminding us that love doesn’t disappear after loss—it simply changes. Even Ben served an important purpose, highlighting the difference between being comfortable with someone and being truly cherished by them.
Liv Arnett’s writing is heartfelt, immersive, and emotionally intelligent. She never rushes the healing or the romance, allowing every moment to unfold naturally. I laughed, cried, smiled, and found myself pausing more than once just to take in how beautifully a scene had been written.
If you love romances filled with emotional depth, pining that spans years, unforgettable characters, and a love story that truly feels earned, The Long Way Home deserves a spot on your shelf. Rachel and Rhett reminded me that sometimes the longest journey isn’t finding the right person—it’s finding your way back to them.
This was an effortless five-star read and another reminder of why Liv Arnett has become an auto-buy author for me. I already know this is a story I’ll be thinking about for a very long time.
“Some stories don’t just break your heart—they carefully piece it back together.”
Liv Arnett has an incredible gift for writing characters who feel achingly real, and The Long Way Home is proof of that. From the very first chapter, I knew Rachel and Rhett’s story was going to leave a permanent mark on my heart.
This isn’t just a second-chance romance—it’s a story about grief, forgiveness, healing, and finding your way back to the person who has always felt like home. Every interaction between Rachel and Rhett carried years of history, longing, and words left unsaid. Their chemistry wasn’t built on grand gestures alone; it lived in the quiet moments, the unwavering loyalty, and the undeniable pull that neither time nor distance could erase.
Rhett completely stole the show for me. He’s the kind of hero who loves deeply, sacrifices quietly, and carries more guilt than anyone should ever have to bear. Watching him slowly allow himself to believe he deserved happiness was just as rewarding as watching Rachel rediscover her own strength. Their journey wasn’t easy, but that’s exactly what made their love story so unforgettable.
Josh’s presence is beautifully woven throughout the novel, reminding us that love doesn’t disappear after loss—it simply changes. Even Ben served an important purpose, highlighting the difference between being comfortable with someone and being truly cherished by them.
Liv Arnett’s writing is heartfelt, immersive, and emotionally intelligent. She never rushes the healing or the romance, allowing every moment to unfold naturally. I laughed, cried, smiled, and found myself pausing more than once just to take in how beautifully a scene had been written.
If you love romances filled with emotional depth, pining that spans years, unforgettable characters, and a love story that truly feels earned, The Long Way Home deserves a spot on your shelf. Rachel and Rhett reminded me that sometimes the longest journey isn’t finding the right person—it’s finding your way back to them.
This was an effortless five-star read and another reminder of why Liv Arnett has become an auto-buy author for me. I already know this is a story I’ll be thinking about for a very long time.
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 🌶️
August 6, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
some really special sentiments at the beginning and end - I loved the idea that your sibling is the one person who is with you right from the beginning, and I thought it was lovely to describe the trials and tribulations of life as taking ‘the long way’. cute :’)
I loved the concept of this one, I thought the set up was so good (one true love v actual boyfriend - oof). Rhett & Rachel’s bond was lovely & I wanted to punch Ben in the face.
this felt quite YA in its style to me, built up on familiar tropes and a lighter tone than I was expecting for a book based around grief and loss. I have no problem with YA romances, they are very cute, my only issue is that I would rather read the smut (especially with Rhett) than keep it private but that’s me being a perv x
My main qualm that has limited the amount of ⭐️s this could get was the friendship group. It’s obviously a continuing series, but one of my favourite things about a series built around a friend group is the special and deep friendships that they create. Margo ditching girls night with Rachel to get a Chinese with Anderson was just my last straw. As a member of a beautiful, strong female friendship group, I can confirm that that is poor behaviour, we would never do eachother like that x
I felt like this would’ve been made soooo much better if our focus was 100% on Rachel and Rhett rather than spending too much time ‘getting to know’ these extra characters who don’t have very deep traits or relationships with one another. I personally love the way Abby Jimenez does this with recurring characters - if they don’t have a deep friendship, she doesn’t create one, she just subtly mentions them in one book and then the next one will be about them.
Overall it was cute, worth it for a light filler read!
some really special sentiments at the beginning and end - I loved the idea that your sibling is the one person who is with you right from the beginning, and I thought it was lovely to describe the trials and tribulations of life as taking ‘the long way’. cute :’)
I loved the concept of this one, I thought the set up was so good (one true love v actual boyfriend - oof). Rhett & Rachel’s bond was lovely & I wanted to punch Ben in the face.
this felt quite YA in its style to me, built up on familiar tropes and a lighter tone than I was expecting for a book based around grief and loss. I have no problem with YA romances, they are very cute, my only issue is that I would rather read the smut (especially with Rhett) than keep it private but that’s me being a perv x
My main qualm that has limited the amount of ⭐️s this could get was the friendship group. It’s obviously a continuing series, but one of my favourite things about a series built around a friend group is the special and deep friendships that they create. Margo ditching girls night with Rachel to get a Chinese with Anderson was just my last straw. As a member of a beautiful, strong female friendship group, I can confirm that that is poor behaviour, we would never do eachother like that x
I felt like this would’ve been made soooo much better if our focus was 100% on Rachel and Rhett rather than spending too much time ‘getting to know’ these extra characters who don’t have very deep traits or relationships with one another. I personally love the way Abby Jimenez does this with recurring characters - if they don’t have a deep friendship, she doesn’t create one, she just subtly mentions them in one book and then the next one will be about them.
Overall it was cute, worth it for a light filler read!
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.
July 27, 2026
4✨
“Humans are creatures of comparison. It’s in our nature, our essence. We can’t quantify joy without the contrast of sorrow. We can’t understand the depths of love without losing it. We can’t comprehend warmth without cold. We measure everything against what came before, and without the contrast, we wouldn’t understand how bright the moments can be”
This story hit me right in the feels 😮💨 That prologue?? Damn, such a beautifully written analogy of what it’s like losing a sibling, one who’s not only been there in your corner, but your built-in best friend. A story about grief and how the MCs’ lives fundamentally changed following the loss of their “person”.
- I truly felt for Rachel. The experiences she had of constantly being demeaned and chipping away at her self worth was heartbreaking (and infuriating). No person should go through that, and it’s unfortunate that there are people walking around with wounds that necessitate their need to hurt others. There were times when her self doubt and sabotage was borderline annoying though.
-There were times when I didn’t agree with Rhett’s actions and the way he handled things, but one thing the man did right was yearn, damn! I’m glad he was able to suck it up and take the risk with Rachel:)
PS: The letter at the end from Josh was a lovely touch, and the poignant message struck home for me; never waste a single, fleeting second of this beautiful thing we call life✨
“Humans are creatures of comparison. It’s in our nature, our essence. We can’t quantify joy without the contrast of sorrow. We can’t understand the depths of love without losing it. We can’t comprehend warmth without cold. We measure everything against what came before, and without the contrast, we wouldn’t understand how bright the moments can be”
This story hit me right in the feels 😮💨 That prologue?? Damn, such a beautifully written analogy of what it’s like losing a sibling, one who’s not only been there in your corner, but your built-in best friend. A story about grief and how the MCs’ lives fundamentally changed following the loss of their “person”.
- I truly felt for Rachel. The experiences she had of constantly being demeaned and chipping away at her self worth was heartbreaking (and infuriating). No person should go through that, and it’s unfortunate that there are people walking around with wounds that necessitate their need to hurt others. There were times when her self doubt and sabotage was borderline annoying though.
-There were times when I didn’t agree with Rhett’s actions and the way he handled things, but one thing the man did right was yearn, damn! I’m glad he was able to suck it up and take the risk with Rachel:)
PS: The letter at the end from Josh was a lovely touch, and the poignant message struck home for me; never waste a single, fleeting second of this beautiful thing we call life✨
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