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Patterns of Us
Meet Russell and Loukas. Five years ago, grief tore them apart. Can it now bring them back together?
Russell and Loukas were that couple in university. The one that was joined at the hip and does everything together. Until they weren’t.
After five years of tactically avoiding anything to do with each other, they find themselves thrust back together and facing their biggest challenge yet — co-parenting.
Packed with angst and yearning, Patterns of Us follows Russell and Loukas in their past and present. Can they learn from their mistakes and finally build the life they dreamed of?
Russell and Loukas were that couple in university. The one that was joined at the hip and does everything together. Until they weren’t.
After five years of tactically avoiding anything to do with each other, they find themselves thrust back together and facing their biggest challenge yet — co-parenting.
Packed with angst and yearning, Patterns of Us follows Russell and Loukas in their past and present. Can they learn from their mistakes and finally build the life they dreamed of?
332 pages, Paperback
Published May 21, 2026
About the author
S.J Gathercole
4 books9 followersSteph started reading at a very young age and quickly fell in love with stories and storytelling.
Her debut novel The People We Trust, was a passion project over several years to bring more representation into the murder mystery genre.
Throughout many turbulent times in her own life she turned to poetry to help put a voice to the thoughts that whirled around inside her head.
The 'Teenager's Guide' series, which consists of three poetry collections, were hugely cathartic to write, and she hopes they're just as cathartic to read.
Her debut novel The People We Trust, was a passion project over several years to bring more representation into the murder mystery genre.
Throughout many turbulent times in her own life she turned to poetry to help put a voice to the thoughts that whirled around inside her head.
The 'Teenager's Guide' series, which consists of three poetry collections, were hugely cathartic to write, and she hopes they're just as cathartic to read.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 4, 2026
I don’t even know where to start with this because it completely snuck up on me in the best way.
I read Patterns of Us as an ARC and I made a conscious decision not to binge it, which is very unlike me, but I’m so glad I didn’t. This is one of those stories you actually want to sit with and take your time over.
At its core, yes, it’s a romance. But it’s also proper contemporary fiction with real weight to it. It deals with grief from the very beginning in such a quiet, honest way. The loss that brings everything together isn’t just there for plot, you feel it the whole way through. It genuinely got me a few times, not in an overdramatic way, just in that slow, creeping “oh god” kind of way.
Russell and Loukas were everything. I loved both of them individually and even more together. The history, the tension, the second chance element, the yearning… it just worked. Nothing felt rushed or forced. It felt like two people with actual lives and baggage trying to figure things out.
I also really appreciated the representation. You’ve got ADHD, chronic health issues, and it’s all just part of who these characters are. It’s not tokenistic, it’s not overexplained, it just exists naturally within the story.
Them suddenly having to step up and care for a child could have felt chaotic, but instead it added this really grounded, emotional layer to everything.
The writing itself is beautiful. Not in a try-hard way, just really thoughtful and immersive. The dual timeline worked so well and added so much depth to their relationship. Every time it shifted, it felt purposeful.
There are quite a few side plots and characters, but none of them take over. They’re just woven in really nicely and make the whole world feel fuller. By the end, I felt like I actually knew these people.
Also worth noting, it’s closed door. The focus is fully on the emotional side of the relationship, which honestly made it hit harder.
I absolutely loved this. It’s one of those books that feels full of heart from start to finish. I’ll be pushing this on people in my life without hesitation.
I read Patterns of Us as an ARC and I made a conscious decision not to binge it, which is very unlike me, but I’m so glad I didn’t. This is one of those stories you actually want to sit with and take your time over.
At its core, yes, it’s a romance. But it’s also proper contemporary fiction with real weight to it. It deals with grief from the very beginning in such a quiet, honest way. The loss that brings everything together isn’t just there for plot, you feel it the whole way through. It genuinely got me a few times, not in an overdramatic way, just in that slow, creeping “oh god” kind of way.
Russell and Loukas were everything. I loved both of them individually and even more together. The history, the tension, the second chance element, the yearning… it just worked. Nothing felt rushed or forced. It felt like two people with actual lives and baggage trying to figure things out.
I also really appreciated the representation. You’ve got ADHD, chronic health issues, and it’s all just part of who these characters are. It’s not tokenistic, it’s not overexplained, it just exists naturally within the story.
Them suddenly having to step up and care for a child could have felt chaotic, but instead it added this really grounded, emotional layer to everything.
The writing itself is beautiful. Not in a try-hard way, just really thoughtful and immersive. The dual timeline worked so well and added so much depth to their relationship. Every time it shifted, it felt purposeful.
There are quite a few side plots and characters, but none of them take over. They’re just woven in really nicely and make the whole world feel fuller. By the end, I felt like I actually knew these people.
Also worth noting, it’s closed door. The focus is fully on the emotional side of the relationship, which honestly made it hit harder.
I absolutely loved this. It’s one of those books that feels full of heart from start to finish. I’ll be pushing this on people in my life without hesitation.
April 14, 2026
A huge thank you to S. J. Gathercole for the early ARC 🤍
This story follows Russell and Loukas, who were once lovers until their relationship broke down. Five years later, their worlds are turned upside down and they’re forced to face each other again and everything they left unresolved.
Told through past and present timelines, I really enjoyed seeing their story unfold and understanding how they got to where they are now. It’s emotional, honest, and explores whether love can survive when life puts you through its biggest challenges.
A really lovely, heartfelt read that I’m so glad I was lucky enough to be picked 🤎📚
This story follows Russell and Loukas, who were once lovers until their relationship broke down. Five years later, their worlds are turned upside down and they’re forced to face each other again and everything they left unresolved.
Told through past and present timelines, I really enjoyed seeing their story unfold and understanding how they got to where they are now. It’s emotional, honest, and explores whether love can survive when life puts you through its biggest challenges.
A really lovely, heartfelt read that I’m so glad I was lucky enough to be picked 🤎📚
April 15, 2026
Copy kindly gifted by the author ahead of publication May 21st!
I loved the dual timelines and dual POV of this book, it really got to explain what had happened in their past and how it lead to their current now. I felt hooked from the initial explanation as to why they were suddenly ex’s coparenting and I’m a sucker for a second chance romance too!
The ADHD representation- I felt seen! 💖 The chronic illness representation was explored with care and realism, especially of handling a relationship when you are both different and opposite people and have your own battles to face! Miscommunication is usually a no from me, but it highlighted the flaws of the characters and was beautifully explored💖
I just found there were a few of my lesser liked tropes throughout, which is personal preference and not a reflection of the novel at all!
Thank you to Steph for a copy of this novel and get your pre orders in ahead of May 21st! ✨
I loved the dual timelines and dual POV of this book, it really got to explain what had happened in their past and how it lead to their current now. I felt hooked from the initial explanation as to why they were suddenly ex’s coparenting and I’m a sucker for a second chance romance too!
The ADHD representation- I felt seen! 💖 The chronic illness representation was explored with care and realism, especially of handling a relationship when you are both different and opposite people and have your own battles to face! Miscommunication is usually a no from me, but it highlighted the flaws of the characters and was beautifully explored💖
I just found there were a few of my lesser liked tropes throughout, which is personal preference and not a reflection of the novel at all!
Thank you to Steph for a copy of this novel and get your pre orders in ahead of May 21st! ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Russell and Loukas, who were the couple at university who were joined at the hip. But five years ago it all fell apart and they have tactically avoided one another ever since. Now, after the tragic deaths of their best friends Kieran and Millie, they have been thrown back together after being named as co-parents to the couple’s young son, Henry. Not only that, but the will states that they must live and parent under one roof. Moving between timelines, we follow Russell and Loukas in their past and present, watching as they fall in love, fall apart and then try to come back together for Henry.
I love an emotional read but was still unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster I went through reading this book and it will take my heart some time to recover. S. J. Gathercole has crafted a compelling and unforgettable love story that is intricately interwoven with grief. Steph perfectly conveys the overwhelming pain grief causes, how hard it is to enjoy life again and how it catches you off guard out of nowhere. It’s heartfelt, poignant and filled with yearning.
I loved Russell and Loukas. They are charismatic characters who were easy to like and root for. Because the story is told from both points of view it felt like I really got to know both of them and moving between past and present gave us a fuller picture of their whole relationship and an understanding of why they were behaving certain ways in the present. It was apparent early on that these two belonged together. They were yin and yang. Soulmates. And Steph knew what she was doing with the will they/won’t they storyline, keeping me on tenterhooks as I kept screaming at them in my head to just admit they were meant for each other.
As someone with a chronic illness, I loved the representation in Russell’s character through his Psoriatic Arthritis. Because of my own personal experience, Steph asked me to be a sensitivity reader for the book and what she wrote was pitch perfect. She made Russ’s illness honest and real, showing us how it affected every facet of his life but also how determined he was and that he is more than his illness. I appreciated how seamlessly it was woven into the story and felt very seen, especially in terms of how it affected his confidence. Seeing him so worried about Loukas deserving someone better, someone who isn’t ill, felt very relatable. Loukas is a sweetheart and I love that he saw past Russ’s illness and thought of ways to help him rather than resenting the limitations it brought into their lives. Thank you, Steph, for writing a character and a story that will help so many understand what it is like to live and have a relationship with chronic illness.
I love an emotional read but was still unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster I went through reading this book and it will take my heart some time to recover. S. J. Gathercole has crafted a compelling and unforgettable love story that is intricately interwoven with grief. Steph perfectly conveys the overwhelming pain grief causes, how hard it is to enjoy life again and how it catches you off guard out of nowhere. It’s heartfelt, poignant and filled with yearning.
I loved Russell and Loukas. They are charismatic characters who were easy to like and root for. Because the story is told from both points of view it felt like I really got to know both of them and moving between past and present gave us a fuller picture of their whole relationship and an understanding of why they were behaving certain ways in the present. It was apparent early on that these two belonged together. They were yin and yang. Soulmates. And Steph knew what she was doing with the will they/won’t they storyline, keeping me on tenterhooks as I kept screaming at them in my head to just admit they were meant for each other.
As someone with a chronic illness, I loved the representation in Russell’s character through his Psoriatic Arthritis. Because of my own personal experience, Steph asked me to be a sensitivity reader for the book and what she wrote was pitch perfect. She made Russ’s illness honest and real, showing us how it affected every facet of his life but also how determined he was and that he is more than his illness. I appreciated how seamlessly it was woven into the story and felt very seen, especially in terms of how it affected his confidence. Seeing him so worried about Loukas deserving someone better, someone who isn’t ill, felt very relatable. Loukas is a sweetheart and I love that he saw past Russ’s illness and thought of ways to help him rather than resenting the limitations it brought into their lives. Thank you, Steph, for writing a character and a story that will help so many understand what it is like to live and have a relationship with chronic illness.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have the joy of writing the first review for this book because I had the joy of being its first reader!
Patterns of Us is an unputdownable story exploring the perspectives of Russell and Loukas’ journey back into each other’s lives. Arising from multiple heartbreaks, the story delivers on its promise of drama, tension and yearning. Loukas and Russell are two loveable characters among a cast of iconic and often hilarious other characters. I found myself laughing out loud, gasping out loud and, at times, almost shaking my book hoping that Loukas and Russell just give in to their obvious desire for each other (obvious to anyone but themselves, of course). And the ending is devastating, magical and wholesome - an emotional rollercoaster for sure.
Alongside the wonderful writing and dripping story is inclusivity that chimes with me personally in many levels. The depiction of queer and genderqueer characters alongside disability (chorionic pain and neurodiversity) is done tenderly and with sensitivity that is applaudable.
Many congratulations on your second novel! I can’t wait for more!
Patterns of Us is an unputdownable story exploring the perspectives of Russell and Loukas’ journey back into each other’s lives. Arising from multiple heartbreaks, the story delivers on its promise of drama, tension and yearning. Loukas and Russell are two loveable characters among a cast of iconic and often hilarious other characters. I found myself laughing out loud, gasping out loud and, at times, almost shaking my book hoping that Loukas and Russell just give in to their obvious desire for each other (obvious to anyone but themselves, of course). And the ending is devastating, magical and wholesome - an emotional rollercoaster for sure.
Alongside the wonderful writing and dripping story is inclusivity that chimes with me personally in many levels. The depiction of queer and genderqueer characters alongside disability (chorionic pain and neurodiversity) is done tenderly and with sensitivity that is applaudable.
Many congratulations on your second novel! I can’t wait for more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
After the death of their two best friends, Russell and Loukas find themselves taking custody and co-parenting their best friends’ eighteen-month-old toddler. However, Russell and Loukas were once in love and have been trying to avoid each other ever since (not admitting to anyone, especially themselves, that they are still in love with each other).
Steph writes conflict so well, painting such intense scenes between two angsty yet yearning characters. It is an incredible depiction of both chronic illness and ADHD, and Steph shows so well how the characters live with these. This book was deeply emotional and gripping, with such highs and lows. I loved the LGBTQ+ diversity too (I always have a soft spot for books with genderqueer characters). Loukas was such a sweetheart and is now in my top ten favourite book boyfriends list.
Overall, an intense and angsty book, yet with a softer side that melts your heart Congratulations, Steph, on your 2nd novel. I am looking forward to your next book!
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book, which I received in exchange for an honest review.
Steph writes conflict so well, painting such intense scenes between two angsty yet yearning characters. It is an incredible depiction of both chronic illness and ADHD, and Steph shows so well how the characters live with these. This book was deeply emotional and gripping, with such highs and lows. I loved the LGBTQ+ diversity too (I always have a soft spot for books with genderqueer characters). Loukas was such a sweetheart and is now in my top ten favourite book boyfriends list.
Overall, an intense and angsty book, yet with a softer side that melts your heart Congratulations, Steph, on your 2nd novel. I am looking forward to your next book!
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book, which I received in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review - this book starts with heartbreak and takes you on a journey.
This is so much more than an LGBT romance book it's a story filled with personal growth, reflection, learning to love yourself and others which navigating loss and new life routines.
It has heartbreak, found family, loss and rediscovery.
There is some humour, tension, it has the reader shouting at the characters to get a grip and also smiling at yourself when they finally do.
I couldn't put this down!
This is so much more than an LGBT romance book it's a story filled with personal growth, reflection, learning to love yourself and others which navigating loss and new life routines.
It has heartbreak, found family, loss and rediscovery.
There is some humour, tension, it has the reader shouting at the characters to get a grip and also smiling at yourself when they finally do.
I couldn't put this down!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews