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All I Ever Desired
Beck Stone believed that by thirty she would have a home, a husband, and a family of her own—that she would finally be happy. Instead, she’s starting over after ending a toxic relationship, buried in debt, despite being a successful tattoo artist. As she reclaims her life, the very last thing she needs is another complication, especially with a man like Ryan Sampson. She’d rather bicker with him than allow him to get too close.
Ryan moved to Emerley, looking for a fresh start. He’s built a life he is proud of, that looks nothing like the one he left behind. Content on his own, he’s not searching for love. Beck was never part of his plan, and he’s done his best to avoid her. She’s too young, too tempting, and everything he knows he shouldn’t desire. Not to mention she has a knack for getting under his skin every chance she gets.
As they grow closer, every shared moment chips away at the walls between them. The feelings they’ve tried to ignore become harder to deny.
Two reluctant hearts. Many fears left unspoken. A fresh chance to be brave and find love again.
Ryan moved to Emerley, looking for a fresh start. He’s built a life he is proud of, that looks nothing like the one he left behind. Content on his own, he’s not searching for love. Beck was never part of his plan, and he’s done his best to avoid her. She’s too young, too tempting, and everything he knows he shouldn’t desire. Not to mention she has a knack for getting under his skin every chance she gets.
As they grow closer, every shared moment chips away at the walls between them. The feelings they’ve tried to ignore become harder to deny.
Two reluctant hearts. Many fears left unspoken. A fresh chance to be brave and find love again.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 12, 2026
4🌟, 3🌶️
I am absolutely obsessed with the dynamic between our MC’s.
Watching these two stubborn souls try to fight their attraction while being clearly, hopelessly into each other was pure torture in the best way. Beck is such a beautifully written character, and her journey toward finding her strength after everything she’s been through felt so raw and honest. Then you add in Ryan, a total green flag who is quiet, dependable, and quietly devoted, and you have a recipe for a story that genuinely gets under your skin.
The chemistry here is elite, built on banter that feels like a secret language and a slow burn that makes every single touch feel monumental. It wasn’t just the sparks flying that kept me hooked, though; it was the way they offered each other safety when the world felt overwhelming. The emotional intimacy is honestly the star of the show, making their path to healing feel incredibly earned and profoundly tender. It’s messy, it’s vulnerable, and it’s deeply, deeply human.
This story left me feeling so many things, from the cozy small-town vibes to the way the found family really makes everything feel like home. It’s rare to find a book that hits this hard while remaining so sweet and hopeful. I loved watching them build a life that felt like a sanctuary for their past hurts, and I’m just sad that I’m already finished with their journey.
If you need a story that’s equal parts aching and healing, do yourself a favor and dive into this one immediately.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Lowie Black & Luna Literary for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
I am absolutely obsessed with the dynamic between our MC’s.
Watching these two stubborn souls try to fight their attraction while being clearly, hopelessly into each other was pure torture in the best way. Beck is such a beautifully written character, and her journey toward finding her strength after everything she’s been through felt so raw and honest. Then you add in Ryan, a total green flag who is quiet, dependable, and quietly devoted, and you have a recipe for a story that genuinely gets under your skin.
The chemistry here is elite, built on banter that feels like a secret language and a slow burn that makes every single touch feel monumental. It wasn’t just the sparks flying that kept me hooked, though; it was the way they offered each other safety when the world felt overwhelming. The emotional intimacy is honestly the star of the show, making their path to healing feel incredibly earned and profoundly tender. It’s messy, it’s vulnerable, and it’s deeply, deeply human.
This story left me feeling so many things, from the cozy small-town vibes to the way the found family really makes everything feel like home. It’s rare to find a book that hits this hard while remaining so sweet and hopeful. I loved watching them build a life that felt like a sanctuary for their past hurts, and I’m just sad that I’m already finished with their journey.
If you need a story that’s equal parts aching and healing, do yourself a favor and dive into this one immediately.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Lowie Black & Luna Literary for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
June 3, 2026
"Tell me what you need, Baby, and I'll give it to you."
I was so excited to go back to Emerley because i fell in love with this town and characters in book one. Ryan and Beck solidified all my feelings I was left with after book one.
These two could not be more opposite and yet so perfect for each other. Ryan has sworn of relationships for most of his adult life and Beck is trying to put her life back together after a wreck of a relationship. They cannot be in the same room together without mildly bickering and yet constantly find themselves in the same room together since they both are part of an amazing friend group.
Against what his head tells him Ryan cannot seem to stop himself from coming to Beck's rescue when she has yet another day where luck just is not on her side and it is so clearly obvious he has feelings for her and he doesn't quite know what to do with them. The one thing he knows for sure is he wants to spend time with her.
Beck is a ray of sunshine for Ryan's world. For all she has been through she still manages to be upbeat. She was treated so badly by her previous boyfriend and he continues to be the bane of her existence. She is stubborn to a fault because she doesn't want to burden anyone and she is her own worst critic. Gradually she starts working on seeing her self worth and then enter Ryan. This girl is so deserving of the kind of love Ryan can give her.
Seeing them go from frienemies to lovers was so much fun. There is an age gap between them but they work. Ryan is so supportive and caring and removes some of the weight from Beck's shoulders. He lets her know in both words and actions that she isn't alone and can lean on him and let him help take care of her. She finds a way to break through the wall Ryan built around his heart all those years ago. He shows her how a real man treats his lady love and she keeps him on his toes.
Lowie once again takes readers to a fictional world that makes me wish it was real. It feels so real while reading it. The found family dynamics with this friend group warm my heart. The new character she introduces blends in perfectly with them. The way she teases at future couples has me wanting her to write as fast as she possibly can. Her characters go through some real raw emotions in her stories. Beck and Ryan were no exception. Your heart will break a few times along their journey but she makes up for it by giving them the HEA they deserve!
I was so excited to go back to Emerley because i fell in love with this town and characters in book one. Ryan and Beck solidified all my feelings I was left with after book one.
These two could not be more opposite and yet so perfect for each other. Ryan has sworn of relationships for most of his adult life and Beck is trying to put her life back together after a wreck of a relationship. They cannot be in the same room together without mildly bickering and yet constantly find themselves in the same room together since they both are part of an amazing friend group.
Against what his head tells him Ryan cannot seem to stop himself from coming to Beck's rescue when she has yet another day where luck just is not on her side and it is so clearly obvious he has feelings for her and he doesn't quite know what to do with them. The one thing he knows for sure is he wants to spend time with her.
Beck is a ray of sunshine for Ryan's world. For all she has been through she still manages to be upbeat. She was treated so badly by her previous boyfriend and he continues to be the bane of her existence. She is stubborn to a fault because she doesn't want to burden anyone and she is her own worst critic. Gradually she starts working on seeing her self worth and then enter Ryan. This girl is so deserving of the kind of love Ryan can give her.
Seeing them go from frienemies to lovers was so much fun. There is an age gap between them but they work. Ryan is so supportive and caring and removes some of the weight from Beck's shoulders. He lets her know in both words and actions that she isn't alone and can lean on him and let him help take care of her. She finds a way to break through the wall Ryan built around his heart all those years ago. He shows her how a real man treats his lady love and she keeps him on his toes.
Lowie once again takes readers to a fictional world that makes me wish it was real. It feels so real while reading it. The found family dynamics with this friend group warm my heart. The new character she introduces blends in perfectly with them. The way she teases at future couples has me wanting her to write as fast as she possibly can. Her characters go through some real raw emotions in her stories. Beck and Ryan were no exception. Your heart will break a few times along their journey but she makes up for it by giving them the HEA they deserve!
Review of advance copy
All I Ever Desired reached into my chest, squeezed my heart until i cried, then patched it back together with yearning and banter 😭🤍
Beck and Ryan absolutely OWN me now. i love a romance where two people are trying sooo hard not to fall and fail spectacularly anyway. the tension between them was delicious from the start. the bickering?? elite. every conversation felt like they were poking at each other with sticks while secretly wanting to kiss each other stupid.
Beck hit me HARD emotionally. her rebuilding herself after a toxic relationship felt so raw and real. she’s messy, stubborn, vulnerable under all the attitude, and i loved her instantly. watching her slowly learn she deserved softness and stability had me in my feelings the entire book. and Ryan??? this man was giving emotionally repressed lumberjack energy in the BEST way. quiet, patient, dependable, trying to keep his distance while obviously being down horrendous for her 😩
the slow burn in this book was TORTURE. the good kind. every tiny touch, every lingering look, every moment where they almost said what they really felt had me internally screaming. Lowie Black really understands how to write chemistry that sneaks up on you and suddenly you’re clutching your kindle at 1am like a Victorian woman with a fainting condition.
what made this book so special though was how gentle it felt underneath all the tension. it wasn’t just romance for the sake of romance. it was two people carrying old hurt and fears and slowly finding safety in each other. the emotional intimacy in this book was honestly more powerful than half the spicy scenes i’ve read lately. when Ryan’s walls started cracking for real??? DONE. FINISHED. bury me.
also can we talk about the vibes?? tattoo artist heroine, fresh starts, small town energy, reluctant hearts, healing, longing, emotional baggage everywhere. it felt cozy and aching at the same time, like rain tapping against windows while your life quietly changes forever 🌧️
i loved this book so much. Beck and Ryan felt real in a way that hurts a little, and by the end i was rooting for them with my whole chest. this wasn’t loud love. this was the kind that grows slowly, stubbornly, until suddenly it becomes everything 🥹
Beck and Ryan absolutely OWN me now. i love a romance where two people are trying sooo hard not to fall and fail spectacularly anyway. the tension between them was delicious from the start. the bickering?? elite. every conversation felt like they were poking at each other with sticks while secretly wanting to kiss each other stupid.
Beck hit me HARD emotionally. her rebuilding herself after a toxic relationship felt so raw and real. she’s messy, stubborn, vulnerable under all the attitude, and i loved her instantly. watching her slowly learn she deserved softness and stability had me in my feelings the entire book. and Ryan??? this man was giving emotionally repressed lumberjack energy in the BEST way. quiet, patient, dependable, trying to keep his distance while obviously being down horrendous for her 😩
the slow burn in this book was TORTURE. the good kind. every tiny touch, every lingering look, every moment where they almost said what they really felt had me internally screaming. Lowie Black really understands how to write chemistry that sneaks up on you and suddenly you’re clutching your kindle at 1am like a Victorian woman with a fainting condition.
what made this book so special though was how gentle it felt underneath all the tension. it wasn’t just romance for the sake of romance. it was two people carrying old hurt and fears and slowly finding safety in each other. the emotional intimacy in this book was honestly more powerful than half the spicy scenes i’ve read lately. when Ryan’s walls started cracking for real??? DONE. FINISHED. bury me.
also can we talk about the vibes?? tattoo artist heroine, fresh starts, small town energy, reluctant hearts, healing, longing, emotional baggage everywhere. it felt cozy and aching at the same time, like rain tapping against windows while your life quietly changes forever 🌧️
i loved this book so much. Beck and Ryan felt real in a way that hurts a little, and by the end i was rooting for them with my whole chest. this wasn’t loud love. this was the kind that grows slowly, stubbornly, until suddenly it becomes everything 🥹
Review of advance copy received from Author
Let me start by thanking Lowie and Luna Literary for allowing me to read this e-arc.
Any thoughts are my own!
It hit me like a freight train.
Why do I say that you might be wondering? Because it's the truth. Lowie doesn't disappoint. I dived into this book thinking it was going to be a fun read...and it was. But I wasn't expecting the way it hit me in the chest and ripped me open raw. I wasn't expecting the book to be so damn readable. I saw myself in Beck. Her pain was written so beautifully and her thoughts were all about it, like staring at a mirror except for the fact that I didn't have that bad of a situation.
Well, now I am just rambling.
All I ever desired is the perfect book if you love swoon-worthy characters with an awesome chemistry that is sizzling but delicious. Strong female leads, green flag MMC, amazing found family, relatable problems, and more.
Beck is a well-written character she is strong but soft. She is the perfect example that the toughest people are hiding the most pain. She is fun, spunky, sweet and honestly, I am all in for her cupcake obsession. I related to Beck a lot, and her pain became mine. I love her bonding with the girls and the guys. Another thing is that despite her fears and insecurities is her commmunicating it out. My precious girl didn't deserve the things that happened to her.
Ryan my sweet baby Ryan where do I begin? I love him! He is such a sweet baby, I honestly wanted to wrap him in bubble wrap with Beck. The way he always shows up for Beck, the way he handles her vulnerabilities while his own pain lingers. And the way he bonds with the guys was a huge step up compared to the first book. I love how he isn't all Alpha male that only I can help my girl and knows he can rely on his friends without being a possessive alpha male that we see in most books.
I love all the characters of Emerly and as always it stole a piece of my heart. There were definitely some sensitive topics that were dealt with maturity that I found to be amazing. There was no beating around the bush or making a huge issue out of things. So as always kudos to Lowie for writing another masterpiece.
I can't wait for the next book! ♡
Any thoughts are my own!
It hit me like a freight train.
Why do I say that you might be wondering? Because it's the truth. Lowie doesn't disappoint. I dived into this book thinking it was going to be a fun read...and it was. But I wasn't expecting the way it hit me in the chest and ripped me open raw. I wasn't expecting the book to be so damn readable. I saw myself in Beck. Her pain was written so beautifully and her thoughts were all about it, like staring at a mirror except for the fact that I didn't have that bad of a situation.
Well, now I am just rambling.
All I ever desired is the perfect book if you love swoon-worthy characters with an awesome chemistry that is sizzling but delicious. Strong female leads, green flag MMC, amazing found family, relatable problems, and more.
Beck is a well-written character she is strong but soft. She is the perfect example that the toughest people are hiding the most pain. She is fun, spunky, sweet and honestly, I am all in for her cupcake obsession. I related to Beck a lot, and her pain became mine. I love her bonding with the girls and the guys. Another thing is that despite her fears and insecurities is her commmunicating it out. My precious girl didn't deserve the things that happened to her.
Ryan my sweet baby Ryan where do I begin? I love him! He is such a sweet baby, I honestly wanted to wrap him in bubble wrap with Beck. The way he always shows up for Beck, the way he handles her vulnerabilities while his own pain lingers. And the way he bonds with the guys was a huge step up compared to the first book. I love how he isn't all Alpha male that only I can help my girl and knows he can rely on his friends without being a possessive alpha male that we see in most books.
I love all the characters of Emerly and as always it stole a piece of my heart. There were definitely some sensitive topics that were dealt with maturity that I found to be amazing. There was no beating around the bush or making a huge issue out of things. So as always kudos to Lowie for writing another masterpiece.
I can't wait for the next book! ♡
Review of advance copy received from Author
★★★★⋆
"𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔…𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅."
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 💭
I was so excited to go back into the world of Emerley, and this story gave me everything I wanted, and then some. It was more emotional than I expected, but in the best way, and I got attached so quickly.
I adored Beck. She’s funny, vulnerable, strong, messy, full of banter, and just so real. I loved seeing the softer side of her come out, especially when she slowly let herself be cared for and loved properly.
Ryan surprised me. There’s something about him that feels so calming and steady throughout the book. Even with everything in his past, he never loses that groundedness, and I think that’s what made him so attractive. He was caring without being overbearing, protective without being controlling, and the quiet acts of service absolutely killed me. When he called her “baby”? I melted!!!
Together they were perfect. The tension and banter was so good, especially with Beck constantly teasing Ryan and him slowly starting to give it back. I loved that their relationship felt mature and emotionally safe without losing any chemistry. I expected a third-act breakup and was so happy the story didn’t go there. The conflict felt grounded in the characters instead of unnecessary drama, which made the payoff sweeter.
I loved being back in Emerley and seeing all the characters again. This series really nails that small-town feeling where everyone feels connected and familiar. Also, someone please get Logan a pizza sponsorship immediately. The man is always packing pizza!
I would have liked to see a little more justice where Braden was concerned, but at the same time, the outcome felt more true to real life, and ultimately I just wanted Beck to get her freedom, happiness, and someone who truly saw her worth.
Overall, I loved this one. It was such a great continuation to the series, and now I’m even more desperate for certain teased future stories.
*** ARC Review ***
"𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔…𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅."
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 💭
I was so excited to go back into the world of Emerley, and this story gave me everything I wanted, and then some. It was more emotional than I expected, but in the best way, and I got attached so quickly.
I adored Beck. She’s funny, vulnerable, strong, messy, full of banter, and just so real. I loved seeing the softer side of her come out, especially when she slowly let herself be cared for and loved properly.
Ryan surprised me. There’s something about him that feels so calming and steady throughout the book. Even with everything in his past, he never loses that groundedness, and I think that’s what made him so attractive. He was caring without being overbearing, protective without being controlling, and the quiet acts of service absolutely killed me. When he called her “baby”? I melted!!!
Together they were perfect. The tension and banter was so good, especially with Beck constantly teasing Ryan and him slowly starting to give it back. I loved that their relationship felt mature and emotionally safe without losing any chemistry. I expected a third-act breakup and was so happy the story didn’t go there. The conflict felt grounded in the characters instead of unnecessary drama, which made the payoff sweeter.
I loved being back in Emerley and seeing all the characters again. This series really nails that small-town feeling where everyone feels connected and familiar. Also, someone please get Logan a pizza sponsorship immediately. The man is always packing pizza!
I would have liked to see a little more justice where Braden was concerned, but at the same time, the outcome felt more true to real life, and ultimately I just wanted Beck to get her freedom, happiness, and someone who truly saw her worth.
Overall, I loved this one. It was such a great continuation to the series, and now I’m even more desperate for certain teased future stories.
*** ARC Review ***
May 26, 2026
Beck and Ryan absolutely destroyed me in the best possible way 😭💛
This is one of those romances where two people are trying so hard not to fall for each other while clearly already halfway gone—and I eat that up every single time. The tension between them was unreal from the start. The bickering, the lingering looks, the constant push and pull… it was giving “I’m absolutely obsessed with you but I’m pretending I’m not” energy and I LOVED IT.
Beck felt so raw and real to me. Watching her rebuild herself after a toxic relationship while still carrying all that hurt and defensiveness made her such an emotional FMC to follow. She’s stubborn, messy, vulnerable under all the attitude, and so easy to root for.
And Ryan??? Oh this man had me GONE. Quiet, dependable, emotionally repressed in that devastatingly attractive way. The fact that he keeps trying to stay away from Beck while simultaneously making sure she’s cared for at all times?? Yeah. Done for.
The slow burn in this book is genuinely painful in the best way. Every tiny touch or moment of softness felt huge because the emotional intimacy between them was so well developed. This wasn’t just chemistry—it was safety, trust, and two people slowly letting themselves be loved.
I also loved the overall vibe of this story. Small-town atmosphere, found family, healing, emotional baggage everywhere, tattoo artist heroine… it somehow felt cozy and aching at the same time 🌧️
✨ what to expect ✨
🖤 Slow-burn romance
🌧️ Emotional healing journey
🏡 Small-town vibes
💬 Banter & tension
🩹 Toxic ex / fresh start
🤍 Found family
🔥 Emotional intimacy > everything
This book felt soft, aching, and deeply human in a way that really stayed with me. Beck and Ryan completely own a piece of my heart now 🥹
This is one of those romances where two people are trying so hard not to fall for each other while clearly already halfway gone—and I eat that up every single time. The tension between them was unreal from the start. The bickering, the lingering looks, the constant push and pull… it was giving “I’m absolutely obsessed with you but I’m pretending I’m not” energy and I LOVED IT.
Beck felt so raw and real to me. Watching her rebuild herself after a toxic relationship while still carrying all that hurt and defensiveness made her such an emotional FMC to follow. She’s stubborn, messy, vulnerable under all the attitude, and so easy to root for.
And Ryan??? Oh this man had me GONE. Quiet, dependable, emotionally repressed in that devastatingly attractive way. The fact that he keeps trying to stay away from Beck while simultaneously making sure she’s cared for at all times?? Yeah. Done for.
The slow burn in this book is genuinely painful in the best way. Every tiny touch or moment of softness felt huge because the emotional intimacy between them was so well developed. This wasn’t just chemistry—it was safety, trust, and two people slowly letting themselves be loved.
I also loved the overall vibe of this story. Small-town atmosphere, found family, healing, emotional baggage everywhere, tattoo artist heroine… it somehow felt cozy and aching at the same time 🌧️
✨ what to expect ✨
🖤 Slow-burn romance
🌧️ Emotional healing journey
🏡 Small-town vibes
💬 Banter & tension
🩹 Toxic ex / fresh start
🤍 Found family
🔥 Emotional intimacy > everything
This book felt soft, aching, and deeply human in a way that really stayed with me. Beck and Ryan completely own a piece of my heart now 🥹
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25⭐️
Thank you to Luna Literary and Lowie Black for the earc in exchange for my review. All opinions that follow are honest and my own.
Having absolutely adored All I Ever Wanted, when I was teachers four to about the second book in the series I was all for it! Falling back into this small town and the characters I loved was like coming back home and this story was such a good one!
Beck has not had the easiest time, her relationship with her parents is on the rocks and her narcissistic ex boyfriend won’t leave her alone. She’s struggling to get back on her feet and refuses any help because she knows either her ex will hold it over her head or she’ll feel guilty about accepting it. In swoops Ryan, who swore he would never do relationships and was supposed to be avoiding Beck at all costs. But soon finds himself obsessed with ensuring Beck is taken care of…I think we all know where this ends up.
This book was such an incredible breath of fresh air. Amazing communication from all parties, beautiful found family atmosphere, mental health rep (MMC is a therapist), and just an overall healthy relationship. I loved Ryan and how even when Beck tried to push him away, he was there in the background, making sure she knew she had his support no matter what.
Having been through similar situations as Beck, this story hit hard, knowing exactly how she felt, the loneliness and guilt. I loved that Beck got to see what a real man looks like, and Ryan was honestly perfect for her. And yes the spice was incredible but their actual connection held so much more weight for me.
Can’t wait to read more from Lowie and this small town I’ve fallen in love with.
Thank you to Luna Literary and Lowie Black for the earc in exchange for my review. All opinions that follow are honest and my own.
Having absolutely adored All I Ever Wanted, when I was teachers four to about the second book in the series I was all for it! Falling back into this small town and the characters I loved was like coming back home and this story was such a good one!
Beck has not had the easiest time, her relationship with her parents is on the rocks and her narcissistic ex boyfriend won’t leave her alone. She’s struggling to get back on her feet and refuses any help because she knows either her ex will hold it over her head or she’ll feel guilty about accepting it. In swoops Ryan, who swore he would never do relationships and was supposed to be avoiding Beck at all costs. But soon finds himself obsessed with ensuring Beck is taken care of…I think we all know where this ends up.
This book was such an incredible breath of fresh air. Amazing communication from all parties, beautiful found family atmosphere, mental health rep (MMC is a therapist), and just an overall healthy relationship. I loved Ryan and how even when Beck tried to push him away, he was there in the background, making sure she knew she had his support no matter what.
Having been through similar situations as Beck, this story hit hard, knowing exactly how she felt, the loneliness and guilt. I loved that Beck got to see what a real man looks like, and Ryan was honestly perfect for her. And yes the spice was incredible but their actual connection held so much more weight for me.
Can’t wait to read more from Lowie and this small town I’ve fallen in love with.
May 21, 2026
All I Ever Desired was such an emotional, heartfelt read that hooked me immediately. Beck is trying to rebuild her life after a breakup that still has its claws in her, while Ryan has spent years guarding his heart after loss and never believing he could truly open himself up again. The tension between wanting each other and being terrified to trust again was done so well, and the yearning absolutely got me in my feelings.
This was my first book by Lowie Black and it definitely will not be my last. Watching Ryan slowly prove to Beck that she could trust and rely on him felt so genuine and emotional. His vulnerability with his past trauma and his willingness to let Beck see the broken parts of him made their relationship feel incredibly real. “I want you to know me. All of me. Even the broken parts.” The way he stood by her through issues with her ex, even getting caught in the middle himself, just made me love him more. The found family surrounding them added so much warmth to the story, and even little details like Grandpa William gave it an extra emotional pull for me personally as it was my grandpa's name.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of jumping into the series here, but it also made me excited to go back and read the previous book and continue with future stories. Overall, this was a quick, emotional read full of heart, healing, and second chances at love.
Perfect for readers who love small town romance, age gap relationships, emotional healing, and found family dynamics.
This was my first book by Lowie Black and it definitely will not be my last. Watching Ryan slowly prove to Beck that she could trust and rely on him felt so genuine and emotional. His vulnerability with his past trauma and his willingness to let Beck see the broken parts of him made their relationship feel incredibly real. “I want you to know me. All of me. Even the broken parts.” The way he stood by her through issues with her ex, even getting caught in the middle himself, just made me love him more. The found family surrounding them added so much warmth to the story, and even little details like Grandpa William gave it an extra emotional pull for me personally as it was my grandpa's name.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of jumping into the series here, but it also made me excited to go back and read the previous book and continue with future stories. Overall, this was a quick, emotional read full of heart, healing, and second chances at love.
Perfect for readers who love small town romance, age gap relationships, emotional healing, and found family dynamics.
Review of advance copy received from Author
All i ever desired by Lowie black
This is my first read by this author and I had the privilege of receiving an ARC. I adore Beck and Ryan, the way she loves to wind him up cracks me up 😂
I don't think she just thought this about him. I think she thought everyone was judging her to a certain extent. Afterwards she's been through you can't blame her.
“𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎? 𝙸’𝚖 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚍𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙸’𝚖 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎.”
Ryan's reaction to waking up cuddling her was hilarious 😂
“𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚔,” 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎, 𝚝𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜. “𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗?”
His vulnerability here broke my heart 💔
“𝙸’𝚖 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚑𝚎𝚛.”
After what his been through I can't understand why his terrified.
“𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐.”
Logan and the gnomes made me laugh 😂
“𝙵𝚞𝚌𝚔, 𝚗𝚘,” 𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚜𝚙𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢. “𝙸’𝚖 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚎. 𝙿𝚕𝚞𝚜, 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚕𝚞𝚌𝚔. 𝙸𝚏 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠.”
I wasn't expecting Ryan to have such a dirty mouth. He seemed more the gentle type but I should have known 🥵
“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 *𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎, 𝙱𝚊𝚋𝚢? 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚞𝚙?”
Love how Ryan's Grandad loved having them there 💙
“𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝.”
What better way then so be together through all the tough times.
“𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚝.”
This is my first read by this author and I had the privilege of receiving an ARC. I adore Beck and Ryan, the way she loves to wind him up cracks me up 😂
I don't think she just thought this about him. I think she thought everyone was judging her to a certain extent. Afterwards she's been through you can't blame her.
“𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎? 𝙸’𝚖 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚍𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙸’𝚖 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎.”
Ryan's reaction to waking up cuddling her was hilarious 😂
“𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚔,” 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎, 𝚝𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜. “𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗?”
His vulnerability here broke my heart 💔
“𝙸’𝚖 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚑𝚎𝚛.”
After what his been through I can't understand why his terrified.
“𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐.”
Logan and the gnomes made me laugh 😂
“𝙵𝚞𝚌𝚔, 𝚗𝚘,” 𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚜𝚙𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢. “𝙸’𝚖 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚎. 𝙿𝚕𝚞𝚜, 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚕𝚞𝚌𝚔. 𝙸𝚏 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠.”
I wasn't expecting Ryan to have such a dirty mouth. He seemed more the gentle type but I should have known 🥵
“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 *𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎, 𝙱𝚊𝚋𝚢? 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚞𝚙?”
Love how Ryan's Grandad loved having them there 💙
“𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝.”
What better way then so be together through all the tough times.
“𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚝.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2026
All I Ever Desired is a messy but tender, slow-burn romance about two people who weren’t looking for love but ended up finding exactly what they needed in each other. At its heart, this is a story about healing, resilience, and learning to trust again after a heartbreak. It doesn’t pretend that recovery is straightforward or that love magically fixes old wounds. Instead, it shows how safety is built through consistency, patience, and choosing each other day after day.
Beck and Ryan’s relationship shines because of the little things. Their banter feels like a language only they understand, and the quiet acts of care carry just as much weight as the bigger romantic moments. Lowie Black balances the heavier themes beautifully, reminding readers that sometimes the people who seem the strongest are carrying the deepest hurts. Love here isn’t an escape or a cure. It’s a partnership between two people learning how to stand beside each other without losing themselves.
The cozy small-town setting, the wonderful found family, and the well-written spice all add to the charm without ever overshadowing the emotional core of the story. If you’re looking for a romance that aches as much as it heals, features a genuinely compelling green-flag hero, and shows that real love is built on trust rather than intensity, this is one I’d absolutely recommend picking up.
Full review on : pagesofyue.com
Beck and Ryan’s relationship shines because of the little things. Their banter feels like a language only they understand, and the quiet acts of care carry just as much weight as the bigger romantic moments. Lowie Black balances the heavier themes beautifully, reminding readers that sometimes the people who seem the strongest are carrying the deepest hurts. Love here isn’t an escape or a cure. It’s a partnership between two people learning how to stand beside each other without losing themselves.
The cozy small-town setting, the wonderful found family, and the well-written spice all add to the charm without ever overshadowing the emotional core of the story. If you’re looking for a romance that aches as much as it heals, features a genuinely compelling green-flag hero, and shows that real love is built on trust rather than intensity, this is one I’d absolutely recommend picking up.
Full review on : pagesofyue.com
Review of advance copy received from Author
*ARC Read* first I want to thank Lowie for giving me the opportunity to ARC read this next installment in her adorable and magnetic series.
I looooved Ryan and Beck so much. They are just so real, two people working through their baggage both past and present together, and getting past their prior surface-level impressions and interactions.
I love drama and angst as much as the next gal, but there is something so refreshing about this story in particular that had no over the top drama or crazy blowups between these two. Yes there was conflict and emotions ran high but it all felt like things my real life friends could go through and face, instead of something so wild it’s unrelatable.
I also loved how easy it was (for me) at first to be judgy and dismiss Beck’s baggage as her being a silly stupid girl just to stop and really put myself in her shoes and realize this could, unfortunately, happen to any of us. How easy it is to have good graces and a good heart be taken advantage of, and I loved her friends’ ability to give their two cents while still showing up and supporting her while she figures her stuff out and breaks free of her past.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this series has sucked me in and I have loved every minute. I cannot wait to see where it goes!!
I looooved Ryan and Beck so much. They are just so real, two people working through their baggage both past and present together, and getting past their prior surface-level impressions and interactions.
I love drama and angst as much as the next gal, but there is something so refreshing about this story in particular that had no over the top drama or crazy blowups between these two. Yes there was conflict and emotions ran high but it all felt like things my real life friends could go through and face, instead of something so wild it’s unrelatable.
I also loved how easy it was (for me) at first to be judgy and dismiss Beck’s baggage as her being a silly stupid girl just to stop and really put myself in her shoes and realize this could, unfortunately, happen to any of us. How easy it is to have good graces and a good heart be taken advantage of, and I loved her friends’ ability to give their two cents while still showing up and supporting her while she figures her stuff out and breaks free of her past.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this series has sucked me in and I have loved every minute. I cannot wait to see where it goes!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A messy, tender, slow‑burn romance about two people who weren’t looking for love but needed each other more than they realized.
This story is all heart, hurt, and hard‑won hope. Beck is a 30 year old tattoo artist who’s exhausted, and still being dragged down by a shitty ex who refuses to let her move on. But she’s also a fierce, sassy, resilient woman clawing her way back to herself one stubborn step at a time. Watching her fight for her independence feels raw and real. You’re rooting for her the whole time.
Ryan is forty, stoic, serious, and a man who has sworn off relationships so completely he practically wears it like armor. Their connection starts as two wounded people orbiting each other, a hesitant friendship that slowly becomes the safest place either of them has ever landed. And the way he begins caring for her before he even admits it to himself? That quiet, protective devotion hits so hard.
Their romance is messy in the best way. It’s emotional, vulnerable, full of tension and tenderness. He protects her without taking over. She cracks him open without trying. Together, they build something that feels like healing rather than an escape.
All I Ever Desired is a beautifully human story about resilience, and unexpected love between two perfectly imperfect souls.
A huge thank you to the author Lowie Black & Luna Literary for the early copy!!
This story is all heart, hurt, and hard‑won hope. Beck is a 30 year old tattoo artist who’s exhausted, and still being dragged down by a shitty ex who refuses to let her move on. But she’s also a fierce, sassy, resilient woman clawing her way back to herself one stubborn step at a time. Watching her fight for her independence feels raw and real. You’re rooting for her the whole time.
Ryan is forty, stoic, serious, and a man who has sworn off relationships so completely he practically wears it like armor. Their connection starts as two wounded people orbiting each other, a hesitant friendship that slowly becomes the safest place either of them has ever landed. And the way he begins caring for her before he even admits it to himself? That quiet, protective devotion hits so hard.
Their romance is messy in the best way. It’s emotional, vulnerable, full of tension and tenderness. He protects her without taking over. She cracks him open without trying. Together, they build something that feels like healing rather than an escape.
All I Ever Desired is a beautifully human story about resilience, and unexpected love between two perfectly imperfect souls.
A huge thank you to the author Lowie Black & Luna Literary for the early copy!!
June 2, 2026
All I Ever Desired by Lowie Black is the second book in the All I Ever series. This story follows Ryan, a therapist and bit of a recluse, and Beck, a tattoo artist who is recovering from a terrible relationship. The two have been dancing around their feelings for a while, but when Ryan is asked to help care for Beck while she's sick, their relationship begins to shift in unexpected ways.
This opposites-attract, forced-proximity romance with a strong found-family element was a 4-star read for me and is definitely worth picking up.
My favorite part of this book was the found-family trope. The characters in this friend group are people I would love to spend time with, and the loyalty they have for one another is incredible. I loved seeing them rally around each other whenever someone needed help. I'm especially excited to read more about Riot and Claire, as well as Meg and her special someone.
One thing I really appreciate about this series is that each book can be read as a standalone. I was fortunate enough to read the first book, but readers who haven't won't feel lost. The important events from book one are explained early on, making it easy to jump right into the story.
Thank you to Lowie Black and Luna Literary for the opportunity to read this book. I can't wait to see where the All I Ever series goes next!
This opposites-attract, forced-proximity romance with a strong found-family element was a 4-star read for me and is definitely worth picking up.
My favorite part of this book was the found-family trope. The characters in this friend group are people I would love to spend time with, and the loyalty they have for one another is incredible. I loved seeing them rally around each other whenever someone needed help. I'm especially excited to read more about Riot and Claire, as well as Meg and her special someone.
One thing I really appreciate about this series is that each book can be read as a standalone. I was fortunate enough to read the first book, but readers who haven't won't feel lost. The important events from book one are explained early on, making it easy to jump right into the story.
Thank you to Lowie Black and Luna Literary for the opportunity to read this book. I can't wait to see where the All I Ever series goes next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
Healing. Aching. Bickering. Banter.
This was my first Lowie Black book and I went in blind. I was completely captivated with how authentically these characters were written and how real they felt.
Beck is trying to rebuild her life after a toxic relationship but is still being weighed down by some lingering entanglement she can’t quite yet escape and Ryan has held himself back from having any kind of meaningful relationship for a long time due to a traumatic past that he has worked really hard to work through his guilt and overcome.
The banter between Ryan and Beck had me itching for more and Ryan was so intuned to Beck and noticed everything about her, even the little things. When and unfortunate set of circumstance for Beck give them the opportunity to spend more time together outside their friend group, you can see how their relationship blossoms into something more than friendship. It feels organic and natural.
The maturity both of them show in the relationship and the way they communicate is refreshing. They both had their own baggage but handled it with care and respect for each other… it’s truly beautiful.
If you love small town romance, emotional healing, age gap and some spice, I would recommend this read.
Healing. Aching. Bickering. Banter.
This was my first Lowie Black book and I went in blind. I was completely captivated with how authentically these characters were written and how real they felt.
Beck is trying to rebuild her life after a toxic relationship but is still being weighed down by some lingering entanglement she can’t quite yet escape and Ryan has held himself back from having any kind of meaningful relationship for a long time due to a traumatic past that he has worked really hard to work through his guilt and overcome.
The banter between Ryan and Beck had me itching for more and Ryan was so intuned to Beck and noticed everything about her, even the little things. When and unfortunate set of circumstance for Beck give them the opportunity to spend more time together outside their friend group, you can see how their relationship blossoms into something more than friendship. It feels organic and natural.
The maturity both of them show in the relationship and the way they communicate is refreshing. They both had their own baggage but handled it with care and respect for each other… it’s truly beautiful.
If you love small town romance, emotional healing, age gap and some spice, I would recommend this read.
June 12, 2026
✨️ARC REVIEW✨️
4🌟
1.5🌶
Thank you to Lowie Black and Luna Literary Management for the opportunity to read this heartwarming story.
Overall Thoughts & Emotional Reactions:
I loved being back in Emerley and finally getting to see more of the dynamic with Ryan and Becks. I lived for their tension in book 1. I fell deeply in love with their back story and watching them grow together. Ryan, oh Ryan, that man is EVERYTHING he loves so deeply, even when Becks thought he hated her. And Becks, girl, I simultaneously wanted to shake her and wrap her in a big hug! Their back and forth and the SASS, my God, the sass. It made this book. If you're looking for a healing journey without an extremely dark back story, this is a perfect read!
Tropes:
Small Canadian Town
Age Gap - 10 years
Forced Proximity
Opposites Attract
Tattoo Artist FMC
Psychologist MMC
Hurt/Comfort
Reluctant to Love
Found Family
Favorite Quotes:
"She’s going to have to get used to my praise. Good thing we have time, and I’m a patient man.”
“You make me want to break all my rules.”
“It’s very confusing to crave independence but also want someone to take care of you.”
I received an advanced copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The above opinions are my own.
4🌟
1.5🌶
Thank you to Lowie Black and Luna Literary Management for the opportunity to read this heartwarming story.
Overall Thoughts & Emotional Reactions:
I loved being back in Emerley and finally getting to see more of the dynamic with Ryan and Becks. I lived for their tension in book 1. I fell deeply in love with their back story and watching them grow together. Ryan, oh Ryan, that man is EVERYTHING he loves so deeply, even when Becks thought he hated her. And Becks, girl, I simultaneously wanted to shake her and wrap her in a big hug! Their back and forth and the SASS, my God, the sass. It made this book. If you're looking for a healing journey without an extremely dark back story, this is a perfect read!
Tropes:
Small Canadian Town
Age Gap - 10 years
Forced Proximity
Opposites Attract
Tattoo Artist FMC
Psychologist MMC
Hurt/Comfort
Reluctant to Love
Found Family
Favorite Quotes:
"She’s going to have to get used to my praise. Good thing we have time, and I’m a patient man.”
“You make me want to break all my rules.”
“It’s very confusing to crave independence but also want someone to take care of you.”
I received an advanced copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The above opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
All I Ever Desired by Lowie Black
5/5 stars
This book took a hold of me in the best way. The SLOW BURN, my goodness did it hurt in all of the best ways! The yearning was top notch and had me spiraling until I could NOT handle it anymore, but it was done with a type of devotion I longed to read.
BECK. My poor baby and all that she had to go through. Picking up the pieces and rebuilding from the ground up is so hard and she does it so well once you really get into her mind. A loving and trusting heart will get “taken advantage “ of quite often, but will always prevail in the end.
RYAN. We love to see a patient man that builds the trust that he didn't cause in the first place. The way he allows B to gain trust in herself while being so tortured himself in the first place? Love it, fantastic. GIVE ME MORE.
From the main characters to all of the side characters, I really enjoyed this book and I am quickly becoming a member of this town as well.
Thank you to @lowies_always_writing and @lunaliteracy.management for an eARC for review.
Catch this amazing book out on May 26th!
All I Ever Desired by Lowie Black
5/5 stars
This book took a hold of me in the best way. The SLOW BURN, my goodness did it hurt in all of the best ways! The yearning was top notch and had me spiraling until I could NOT handle it anymore, but it was done with a type of devotion I longed to read.
BECK. My poor baby and all that she had to go through. Picking up the pieces and rebuilding from the ground up is so hard and she does it so well once you really get into her mind. A loving and trusting heart will get “taken advantage “ of quite often, but will always prevail in the end.
RYAN. We love to see a patient man that builds the trust that he didn't cause in the first place. The way he allows B to gain trust in herself while being so tortured himself in the first place? Love it, fantastic. GIVE ME MORE.
From the main characters to all of the side characters, I really enjoyed this book and I am quickly becoming a member of this town as well.
Thank you to @lowies_always_writing and @lunaliteracy.management for an eARC for review.
Catch this amazing book out on May 26th!
May 31, 2026
Healing Hurts, Loving Heals
This book worked for me because it blended emotional depth with the kind of slow‑burn tension that makes you feel every inch of the journey. Beck’s healing arc was written with so much honesty that it hit on a deep, personal level, and Ryan’s quiet steadiness balanced her perfectly. The banter, the longing, the tenderness underneath all the walls. It all came together in a way that felt raw, intimate, and beautifully human. Lowie Black captured that rare mix of vulnerability and chemistry that makes a romance feel lived‑in rather than performed.
I’d recommend this book to readers who love character‑driven romance with emotional weight, especially those who connect with stories about rebuilding after toxic relationships, learning to trust again, and finding safety in someone who shows up consistently. If you’re drawn to slow burn, small‑town warmth, found family, mental‑health realism, and a green‑flag MMC who communicates and respects boundaries, this one will absolutely land for you.
This book worked for me because it blended emotional depth with the kind of slow‑burn tension that makes you feel every inch of the journey. Beck’s healing arc was written with so much honesty that it hit on a deep, personal level, and Ryan’s quiet steadiness balanced her perfectly. The banter, the longing, the tenderness underneath all the walls. It all came together in a way that felt raw, intimate, and beautifully human. Lowie Black captured that rare mix of vulnerability and chemistry that makes a romance feel lived‑in rather than performed.
I’d recommend this book to readers who love character‑driven romance with emotional weight, especially those who connect with stories about rebuilding after toxic relationships, learning to trust again, and finding safety in someone who shows up consistently. If you’re drawn to slow burn, small‑town warmth, found family, mental‑health realism, and a green‑flag MMC who communicates and respects boundaries, this one will absolutely land for you.
Review of advance copy
I couldn't put this down once I started reading!!
This was my first read from Lowie and I was enamored with how well the characters of the book were portrayed.
This is the second book in a series of interconnected standalones so I went in blind, having not read the first book. I can tell you you don't need to read the first one to understand this one but it would be advised as it contains a couple spoilers for the first book!
I love Beck so much! She goes through so many bad situations because of her ex and she just can't get rid of him! He's for sure a sick b*stard.
Ryan is such a sweet character, he also went though some bad things when he was younger and he's tried to keep his distance from Beck for so long. I'm just glad he finally caved and figured out he would be better right beside Beck!!
Loved the two of them together, loved their chemistry and how well they fit each other.
Looking forward to the next book!
Thank you for the e-arc!!
This was my first read from Lowie and I was enamored with how well the characters of the book were portrayed.
This is the second book in a series of interconnected standalones so I went in blind, having not read the first book. I can tell you you don't need to read the first one to understand this one but it would be advised as it contains a couple spoilers for the first book!
I love Beck so much! She goes through so many bad situations because of her ex and she just can't get rid of him! He's for sure a sick b*stard.
Ryan is such a sweet character, he also went though some bad things when he was younger and he's tried to keep his distance from Beck for so long. I'm just glad he finally caved and figured out he would be better right beside Beck!!
Loved the two of them together, loved their chemistry and how well they fit each other.
Looking forward to the next book!
Thank you for the e-arc!!
June 10, 2026
⭐️ Overall Rating: 4.75/5
🔥 Burn Level: 4/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 3/5
💧 Emotional: 4/5
This was my first Lowie Black book, and I absolutely loved it.
Ryan and Beck’s relationship was one of my favorite parts of the story. Ryan has sworn off relationships, but he can’t seem to stop coming to Beck’s rescue, and honestly, those moments melted my heart every single time.
Beck is such a ray of sunshine, even after everything she’s been through with her ex, and watching her slowly break down Ryan’s walls was so satisfying. Their frenemy-to-lovers dynamic created great chemistry while still allowing both characters to heal and grow.
The emotional moments balanced perfectly with the romance, making this a story that felt authentic and easy to become invested in.
I’ll definitely be picking up more books by Lowie Black after this one.
Thank you to Luna Literary Management and Lowie Black for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🔥 Burn Level: 4/5
🌶️ Spice Level: 3/5
💧 Emotional: 4/5
This was my first Lowie Black book, and I absolutely loved it.
Ryan and Beck’s relationship was one of my favorite parts of the story. Ryan has sworn off relationships, but he can’t seem to stop coming to Beck’s rescue, and honestly, those moments melted my heart every single time.
Beck is such a ray of sunshine, even after everything she’s been through with her ex, and watching her slowly break down Ryan’s walls was so satisfying. Their frenemy-to-lovers dynamic created great chemistry while still allowing both characters to heal and grow.
The emotional moments balanced perfectly with the romance, making this a story that felt authentic and easy to become invested in.
I’ll definitely be picking up more books by Lowie Black after this one.
Thank you to Luna Literary Management and Lowie Black for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was such a feel good romance.
Starting off with Ryan five years before the book is set, it tells us he’s attracted to Beck. Being part of the same friend group for years but never actually having any one on one time to get friendly with each other.
Ryan has spent 20 years of his life with no relationships and very little company. His bestfriend has dragged him out for his birthday and that’s when he sees her… BECK!
Beck has noticed Ryan before now and has admitted that he’s not her usual type of lad but that doesn’t stop the attraction towards him. With a push - pull relationship she tries to annoy Ryan
What they don’t expect is when becks car breaks down and Ryan stumbles upon her that feelings change.
This book has the best of plot twists and honestly is just a feel good read.
Starting off with Ryan five years before the book is set, it tells us he’s attracted to Beck. Being part of the same friend group for years but never actually having any one on one time to get friendly with each other.
Ryan has spent 20 years of his life with no relationships and very little company. His bestfriend has dragged him out for his birthday and that’s when he sees her… BECK!
Beck has noticed Ryan before now and has admitted that he’s not her usual type of lad but that doesn’t stop the attraction towards him. With a push - pull relationship she tries to annoy Ryan
What they don’t expect is when becks car breaks down and Ryan stumbles upon her that feelings change.
This book has the best of plot twists and honestly is just a feel good read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
OMG—-once I started reading this I couldn’t put it down! This was my first time reading Lowe Black and I was not disappointed in the least.
This book everything I loved:
Age Gap ✅
Found Family ✅
Opposites Attract ✅
Emotional Healing ✅
And it didn’t hurt that it was set in a Canadian town and reminded me of home 🇨🇦.
I loved the characters of Beck and Ryan. There were some heavy topics that were addressed beautifully. The banter between Ryan and Beck as their feelings were evolving was top notch. Ryan is a walking green flag despite his past trauma, always wanting to help and protect—-“Tell me what you need”
Great first read of a new to me author. Would definitely read another one of her books and recommend that anyone picks this one up and gives it a chance.
This book everything I loved:
Age Gap ✅
Found Family ✅
Opposites Attract ✅
Emotional Healing ✅
And it didn’t hurt that it was set in a Canadian town and reminded me of home 🇨🇦.
I loved the characters of Beck and Ryan. There were some heavy topics that were addressed beautifully. The banter between Ryan and Beck as their feelings were evolving was top notch. Ryan is a walking green flag despite his past trauma, always wanting to help and protect—-“Tell me what you need”
Great first read of a new to me author. Would definitely read another one of her books and recommend that anyone picks this one up and gives it a chance.
May 20, 2026
Aww, the story is so cool with emotions pouring out from every corner. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it from start to finish, and got to see every aspect of a relationship. This is the first book I read by Lowie Black, and I loved how she wrote her story, and how the characters were so mature to handle the complexities of a relation.
Ryan and Beck were totally adorable with Ryan being all serious and thoughtful whereas Beck was bubbly and full of life. The baggage they brought was beautifully handled by the other. The moments enjoyed with their friends are fun to read, and are very lighthearted. It made me want to have those type of friends too. Simply put, it’s a must read.
It’s a 4.5⭐️ for me.
Ryan and Beck were totally adorable with Ryan being all serious and thoughtful whereas Beck was bubbly and full of life. The baggage they brought was beautifully handled by the other. The moments enjoyed with their friends are fun to read, and are very lighthearted. It made me want to have those type of friends too. Simply put, it’s a must read.
It’s a 4.5⭐️ for me.
June 14, 2026
4.5 out of 5 stars
- Tattoo Artist FMC x Therapist MMC
- Frenemies to Lovers
- Age Gap
- Small Town Romance
- Found Family
- Toxic Ex
- Slow Burn
My first book from Lowie Black and did not disappoint. Our FMC, Beck, is stuck with a broken relationship with her parents and a toxic ex who won't leave her alone. Despite, this she keeps her head up and thrives as a successful, stubborn tattoo artist. Then comes in our MMC, Ryan, who buts heads with her at every turn but can't keep away despite having sworn off love. This story was quite...calm for a lack of a better word. No unnecessary drama(minus toxic ex) just FMC healing and finding what real love is like with MMC's help.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
- Tattoo Artist FMC x Therapist MMC
- Frenemies to Lovers
- Age Gap
- Small Town Romance
- Found Family
- Toxic Ex
- Slow Burn
My first book from Lowie Black and did not disappoint. Our FMC, Beck, is stuck with a broken relationship with her parents and a toxic ex who won't leave her alone. Despite, this she keeps her head up and thrives as a successful, stubborn tattoo artist. Then comes in our MMC, Ryan, who buts heads with her at every turn but can't keep away despite having sworn off love. This story was quite...calm for a lack of a better word. No unnecessary drama(minus toxic ex) just FMC healing and finding what real love is like with MMC's help.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I absolutely loved it! It was both emotional and incredibly funny. I found myself laughing out loud and repeating lines enthusiastically. It was just so good.
This is the second book in the series, and I dove into it without prior knowledge. However, as I read, I wished I had read the first one to grasp a bit more context and ensure I wasn’t missing anything.
I admire how the characters move on, forgiving themselves for their past, and continue to progress. I’m truly excited to follow this series!
Thank you for this amazing opportunity to read your eARC, and I am happy to provide my honest review in return.
This is the second book in the series, and I dove into it without prior knowledge. However, as I read, I wished I had read the first one to grasp a bit more context and ensure I wasn’t missing anything.
I admire how the characters move on, forgiving themselves for their past, and continue to progress. I’m truly excited to follow this series!
Thank you for this amazing opportunity to read your eARC, and I am happy to provide my honest review in return.
Review of advance copy received from Author
All I Ever Desired
by Lowie Black
4🌟
3🌶️
Loved 🥰 Beck & Ryan’s emotional but sweet romance.
This is the second book in the series and I did read the first book.
And once I started reading , I did start to recall some of characters from the small town of “Emerley “
Author Lowie Black has a way of writing these beautifully crafted characters who will steal your heart.
Both of these characters have a bunch of issues from their pasts .
But thankfully they grow and in the process they find true love.
Always loved the found family / close friends tropes and this story definitely has that!
So if you love a good small town romance , Found Family, some Emotional Healing, age gap, with some added spicy moments! Then I would recommend this book!
Thank you Lowie Bkack and Luna Literary Management for this ARC!
by Lowie Black
4🌟
3🌶️
Loved 🥰 Beck & Ryan’s emotional but sweet romance.
This is the second book in the series and I did read the first book.
And once I started reading , I did start to recall some of characters from the small town of “Emerley “
Author Lowie Black has a way of writing these beautifully crafted characters who will steal your heart.
Both of these characters have a bunch of issues from their pasts .
But thankfully they grow and in the process they find true love.
Always loved the found family / close friends tropes and this story definitely has that!
So if you love a good small town romance , Found Family, some Emotional Healing, age gap, with some added spicy moments! Then I would recommend this book!
Thank you Lowie Bkack and Luna Literary Management for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Now that was something, oh my god. I went in blind for this book and i was pleasantly surprised by it. My first read from Lowie Black and definitely not gonna be my last one. Beck and Ryan , what can I say I am absolutely in love with them. There is something to say about people who know what they want and are not wishy washy in what their life goals are. Beck after having come out of a bad relationship is still struggling and Ryan who has his own demons he is overcoming are two people who do not make sense together but they do. This book took me on a ride and I am here for it. I absolutely loved reading this one. I loved the dynamics of Beck and Ryan and I want more.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Thank you to Lowie Black and Luna Literary Management for the ARC of All I Ever Desired. This was a journey I am glad I got to go on. The emotional growth both main characters had is amazing. Beck seems like such a strong take no crap person from the outside but once Ryan is able to get through to her soft center you see just how much she was hiding. Ryan is honestly the same way, for being a therapist he wasn't very well versed in opening up. I enjoyed the story these two shared. The spice was just right. The urge to paint my house yellow and start collecting gnomes is strong now.
May 24, 2026
What a great story! Thank you Lowie and Luna Lit for this arc! All I ever wanted was one of the first book I arc read! And going back to Emerly was amazing! That crew is lively! That’s one of the things I loved about in this book the found family, also Ryan and his slutty little glasses and all his mature energy 🙂↕️ the way he treats Beck all the time, how he took care of her and how he couldn’t stop falling hard for our girl was amazing to read!!
I enjoyed so much this book!! I can’t wait to go back for book 3 👀😍
I enjoyed so much this book!! I can’t wait to go back for book 3 👀😍
Review of advance copy
This book stole my heart with the yearning and slow burn romance. Add in the found family, the emotional healing and I couldn’t get enough. Beck and Ryan, they try so hard not to fall in love but between the tension and attraction, it was only a matter of time before these to gave in.
Beck, she is stubborn but she has a vulnerability to her. She is rediscovering/rebuilding herself after her horrible relationship with her ex.
Ryan is caring and protective without being controlling. When he opened up about his own vulnerabilities to show Beck that she could trust him, I was a puddle of
Beck, she is stubborn but she has a vulnerability to her. She is rediscovering/rebuilding herself after her horrible relationship with her ex.
Ryan is caring and protective without being controlling. When he opened up about his own vulnerabilities to show Beck that she could trust him, I was a puddle of
May 26, 2026
If you wanna read a romance that'll tear your heart out and make you cry on your kindle, you'll love All I Ever Desired.
This book was well-written and I really liked how the story flowed. The author is great, and I look forward to reading more from Lowie Black.
But I just can't with these two characters right now. Beck's situation is too realistic and I've watched it happen enough in real life without the guaranteed HEA.
Currently DNF at 66% because my heart can't take it rn
✨ Review of advance copy received from Lowie Black & Luna Literary ✨
This book was well-written and I really liked how the story flowed. The author is great, and I look forward to reading more from Lowie Black.
But I just can't with these two characters right now. Beck's situation is too realistic and I've watched it happen enough in real life without the guaranteed HEA.
Currently DNF at 66% because my heart can't take it rn
✨ Review of advance copy received from Lowie Black & Luna Literary ✨
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