A Guide to Getting Lost

by Ashley Witkowski

After a fallout in her small Ohio hometown leaves her labeled as the local cautionary tale, Willa Thorne transfers to Boston hoping for one anonymity. In a city this big, she can finally disappear - just another face in a crowded lecture hall.

But the university’s “City Souls” program has other plans. Instead of fading quietly into the background, Willa is assigned a campus Julian Vance.

Julian used to see poetry in skylines and stories in brick buildings. Now he’s spent over a year sleepwalking through his life, determined to keep everything, and everyone - at a safe distance. Showing a transfer student around the city is the last thing he wants.

But as Julian reluctantly introduces Willa to Boston’s hidden corners - late-night T rides, quiet bookstores, and forgotten streets - they both begin to realize something unexpected.

The city isn’t the only thing they’re learning how to navigate.

Willa is running from a past that refuses to stay buried, and Julian is standing still inside walls he built to protect himself. As their worlds begin to collide, they’ll have to decide what’s more staying safe… or finally letting someone see who they really are.

A Guide to Getting Lost is a heartfelt story about second chances, finding your voice, and discovering that sometimes the wrong map can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.

Genres: Romance

398 pages, Paperback

Published March 14, 2026

Reviews

[Marlen]

ARC READ - 3.5 Rating

“It was no longer a story hovering at the edge of possibility. It was a life. “

Willa Thorne has just transferred to a new university in Boston looking to start a brand new life away from her small town and then she meets Julian. Julian the almost robot like guide studying architecture that for some reason she can’t stop thinking about.

A Guide to Getting Lost is a love letter to Boston through and through. It’s clear how well the author knows the city by how she maps out the time and places the characters spend time in. It starts off pretty quickly with Willa’s move to Boston and meeting Julian a few chapters in. While this is a love story, it lacks romance. I don’t know if the lack of romance is because of their age and them growing up since they are in college or due to the writing but their love felt very sweet and first love style throughout the book. The characters somehow become obsessed with each other off the bat even though Julian is rushing their tour and Willa is dealing with processing a bad break up. Both characters have a life they pictured for each other and in a matter of three meetings and one date they decide to completely change up the trajectory of their life for each other which sounds so romantic but the way it was written actually feels a little unbelievable especially when we learn why Julian is so guarded.

Once the characters get together nothing climactic happens. There a scene where Willa stands up for Julian to his ex girlfriend but there wasn’t any dialogue the reader was just told a summary of what happened. The relationship seems to keep moving forward based on the story but it feels very robotic and with time jumps to have the charecters hit milestones.

With all that said, it was a nice read. I enjoyed being transported back to Boston. I enjoyed being transported back to college love and the rush of falling in love, becoming adults, and figuring out who you want to be in this world. This definitely felt like a coming of age book.

[Jessica]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This was a bit of a mixed experience for me. There are moments where the story really shines—especially early on. Willa and Julian have a naturally engaging dynamic, and the sunshine/grumpy pairing brings some genuinely sweet and memorable interactions. The writing itself has flashes of charm and wit, and certain scenes (the bookstore date, in particular) stood out in the best way.

Unfortunately, those highlights weren’t enough to carry the story as a whole.

I struggled with the overall execution, particularly when it came to editing and development. The narrative often felt repetitive, and there were inconsistencies that made it difficult to stay grounded in the story. At times, important details or character connections were either glossed over or introduced without enough context, which pulled me out of the experience.

The pacing didn’t quite land for me either. Key emotional and relationship moments felt rushed, while other scenes seemed to drag without adding anything new. Because of that imbalance, the emotional impact—especially Willa’s journey—didn’t feel as strong or as earned as it could have been, which made it harder to fully connect.

There’s a good story somewhere within these pages, and I can see what the author was aiming for. With more polish and tighter development, this could have been something really compelling. As it stands, it just didn’t fully come together for me.

[Hannah Burke]

Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book!

This was such a cute, lighthearted romance! Ashley did a wonderful job of researching and understanding all of her characters ins and outs when writing her first novel!

I loved the sunshine vs. grumpy trope between Willa and Julian. Early on, we learned so much about the depth of the characters and what their expectations are from their college experiences. I have a fine arts degree, and I loved reading the accuracy of the descriptions of the architecture Julian was encountering on his first meeting with Willa.

If you love a forced proximity and slow burn trope… please support this new author!

[Savannah]

⭐2.5 Stars

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a review.

Cute college romance story set in Boston. Willa has just moved to town as a transfer student and is set up with Julian to help show her around town. Willa is running from a bad experience and ‘scandal’ in her hometown and is ready to be anonymous. Julian is a shell of a person who doesn’t want to get close to another person after his last breakup. Obviously, they fall for each other (it’s a romance novel after all) and their relationship helps each of them heal from their previous relationship wounds.

While the story has a good premise, I found the writing and pace hard to read. I was not emotionally invested in either character. I felt like the author repeated ideas/descriptions too much and I felt like yelling ‘We get it!’ more than once. There also appeared to be some inaccurate timelines with a couple of the chapters at the end of the story that could be fixed with another round of editing.

I did appreciate the description and love of Boston. It’s a great city and I did feel like I was a part of it while reading this story.

Thank you to Ashley for letting me be an early reader. Keep at it!!

[Jenn]

I was grateful for the opportunity of an ARC of this book.

A reader's escape to college life in Boston. Coming of age, mild romance.

Sweet connection but not really believable chemistry for me. The big feelings developed too quickly for me to feel there could be that much interest.

She's attaching herself to a 1-dimensional character because she so badly wants her life to shift. But he's emotionally unavailable and maybe I just got annoyed with her creating bigger feelings than there was any indication to have. I get it if someone is interesting to you and you want to help pull them out of their shell. But the love interest part wasn't something I was excited about.

Although the dual perspectives was appreciated, I found the chapters to be a bit too long to go back that far to hear the other person's POV. Maybe if there was a breakdown within a chapter from one and the other, or one day in her perspective, the next in his?

[Brooke Smith]

4.5 ⭐️

Truly enjoyed reading about Willa and Julian. Their story really shows that how getting in your own way can risk ruining something good. I loved the character development between the two as well. Also loved the fact that everything the two main characters were going through they had their best friend by their side. Nothing helps you clear your head more than having a supportive friend by your side. Gave it 4.5 because at times I got lost in the plot and thought I read something twice and had to go back to piece it together. Overall this was beautiful and congrats on your first ever book!

Thank you Ashely for allowing me to an ARC of Willa and Julian. I can’t wait to see what else you publish.

[Ashley Sloan]

What a cute romantic read! I loved this story line! A perfectly executed gurmpyxsunshine. It started to slow down for me closer to the end but i did enjoy reading! “I just stood there like a ghost, watching her exist in a world that seemed much more colorful that mine” I absolutley loved Julian and willa and their growing relationship

[Kayla Kipper]

The emotional depth in this story far surpassed any other book I’ve read this year. I loved Julian and Willa from the friendship to the sweet connection. It’s such a beautifully articulated story. I found myself thinking this would make a great movie! I loved the chemistry and how clean this book was. I will be thinking about it for a long time.

[Jennifer Rosen]

This book was a cute feel good love story. The characters drew me in right away and had me in all my feels throughout. Highly recommend

[Jess]

(ARC Reader) I adored this book. As a former transfer student who found herself at her university, I truly resonated with Willa's character. Despite creating a very full life of my dreams at my university, the process or transferring wasn't an easy road. It could often be lonely, and I longed for the representation Ashley Witkowski has now created. I love that she gave this unique experience a voice and a place in the romance genre. I also love the Boston atmosphere. I've never visited so I can't speak on the realism, but I can say that Ashley captured the feeling of wandering a new city full of art, soul, and history with no clear purpose other than to get lost in its wonder.

**** Spoilers beyond this point ****





One of my favorite aspects of A Guide to Getting Lost (such a perfect title btw), was that the story didn't end when the two MCs made their relationship official. Maybe I just haven't come across it, but I rarely see that experience reflected in the romance genre. Many focus on the push and pull of starting the relationship and admitting to your feelings, so I appreciated that Ashley Witkowski went beyond that. It really reflected the spot in my life I'm currently in, so I really connected to this story🥰.

I do feel like some parts were a tad repetitive but it didn't really take away from the story and, instead portrayed the realistic repetition of daily life and of starting traditions with someone. There was a quote when Willa and Julian are in their coffee shop that explained exactly this:

"The coffee shop in the South End had become ours in the quiet, unofficial way places sometimes do when you return to them often enough with the same person and begin, without deciding to, to associate certain tables and certain windows and the exact color of the late afternoon light with the shape of a shared life."

Overall, this was a lovely story about two people sharing their individual journey of being themselves and accepting their own human experiences. It was a beautiful story about creating your own home, embracing your humanity, and giving yourself permission to hope, to grow, and to love.

[Between Art&Pages]

Thank you author for the ARC. It was given to me for an honest review
A Guide to Getting Lost by Ashley Witkowski, is a book in which Willa Thorne, a transfer student looking for a fresh start in Boston, hopes to become invisible. Julian Vance, her guide in the city, is known as a robot and wants nothing more than a strict and disciplined life. Being invisible in a loud city may have been their plan but together, an anonymous life is not a choice.
A Guide to Getting Lost is a cute romance set in Boston, exploring parts of the old city that are often overlooked by even people who live here. It’s about confronting one's fears and having the courage to put them in the light.
I love how the author sets Boston into a new light. It’s a beautiful city with so many secrets ready to be explored, and Willa and Julian did just that. Willa is such a sunshine while Julian is a “I can’t have feelings” type, the contrast each needs to confront the obstacles and grow in life. It’s a warm and kick your feet story. My favorite quote is: "I stopped treating invisibility like a goal, I thought if I were anonymous enough, I’d be safe. But all being invisible really did was make me lonely." It really summarizes all of our struggles and how most people are today.
Although the book has positive traits, it needs extra attention to repetition and inconsistency. I was reading the same internal struggles of both characters, scenes, and dialogues (including the side characters), consequently losing the characters’ individuality and their experiences. The timeline was not consistent, there were moments when I was confused about when things were happening. I wish the side characters were more than just people there pointing out the obvious to the main leads. I loved Margo, Theo, and Sam. Another point was Julian’s trauma. What Claire did to him changed his whole perspective on life for two years, the confrontation scene felt rushed. Boy did I want at least a slap when they were outside.
Overall, it’s a good, heart-felt, grounded story. I recommend a revision because the plot is good and it has so much potential.

[Lisa Britton]

2.75 stars

A Guide to Getting Lost is an enjoyable, low-spice contemporary romance with witty banter, a charming setting, and a grounded take on relationships. While I had a good time reading it, I ultimately wanted more from the characters and their emotional journeys.

The strongest part of the novel was the beginning. I found myself chuckling out loud several times, especially during the banter between Willa and Julian. Their chemistry was fun from the start, and I loved Julian's uptight, rigid personality and watching him interact with Willa's more carefree nature. Witkowski also does a wonderful job bringing Boston to life. The descriptions of the city's neighborhoods and architecture created a vivid backdrop that made the setting feel like a character in its own right.

As the story progressed, though, I felt the momentum began to fade. While Willa and Julian were initially compelling, I kept waiting for them to grow in more meaningful ways. Instead, their character development felt fairly flat, and the romance became repetitive after the first quarter of the book, with many of their interactions and emotional reflections covering the same ground.

That said, I appreciated that the relationship felt more realistic than many romances. The characters faced believable challenges, and their connection developed in a way that felt authentic rather than overly dramatic. The tradeoff was that the story remained very low stakes throughout, leaving me wanting a bit more tension to keep the narrative moving.

Overall, A Guide to Getting Lost has a strong opening, entertaining banter, and an immersive Boston setting, but the lack of character growth, repetitive romance, and consistently low stakes kept it from reaching its full potential. Readers looking for a cozy, low-spice romance with a realistic relationship and a sweet ending may still enjoy this one.

Thank you to Ashley Witkowski for providing me with an e-copy and the opportunity to give an honest review.

[Ally Bair]

S/O to Ashley for sending me an ARC!

Before I dive into my review, I want to talk about my personal connection with this book. I have been trying to get more experience reading BETAs and ARCs, and I found Ashley and her book through Instagram. It turns out that the Instagram algorithm really did its thing this time. For work, I manage college tour guides, so this book was practically written for me.

In my opinion, A Guide to Getting Lost is a promising debut. I enjoyed the witty banter between the two MCs, Willa and Julian, and their consistent characterization. I understood who these two were from their first appearances, and their actions throughout the novel remained consistent with my ideas of them. This was particularly apparent with Julian, who never waivers from the logic-based designer who wants to make livable buildings.

Like Willa, I also think Ashley excels at humanizing settings. I was especially drawn to her description of the abandoned movie theater that Willa and Julian renovate. While reading her rich descriptions, I felt not only like I was there, but also that it was a place I wanted to tell all my friends about. I need to find an abandoned movie theater to hang out at ASAP.

For me, the biggest issue with this novel was the lack of focus in the second half. It felt like Ashley wanted to get a lot in, and because of that, we were told about the MCs emotional journeys rather than getting to experience them for ourselves in various scenes. For example, I really wanted to see the confrontation with Claire instead of getting a summary. I also feel like an epilogue might have been a good tool to give us all the information post-graduation while not sacrificing the experience while they’re still in college.

All in all, Ashley has genuine talent, and I’m excited to see where she goes next. I’d be happy to get lost with her as my literary guide any day!

[Angela Mae]

ARC read: 3.5 ⭐️

“It was part of the first draft of the story. And even when the next draft turns out better, you don’t destroy the earlier pages. You keep the, quietly, as proof of how far you’ve come.”

I think the author did a really good job at painting Boston and the setting of the characters. I felt like I was taken to Boston myself to see the architecture and places the characters described.

The story itself is a bit fast paced for me. I got lost on some parts of the storyline. Within three meetings of each other, Willa and Julian already had strong feelings for each other and the progress of their relationship was very quick for me. Not so much the timing of everything but I would have liked to know them personally and some more information on key events in their relationship. For example, Willa confronting Julian’s ex girlfriend or possibly more details on what Willa wanted to leave in Ohio. Also would have loved to know more about Theo and Margo.

But overall, I loved the setting of the story and how relatable Willa & Julian are, individually and as a couple. I think it’s so relatable that Willa moved to start over and run away from her hometown or how Julian was so closed off after trusting someone so much. I liked how they both changed and grew together in their relationship - the communication, understanding, and compromise they had with each other as they lived together. I loved Willa’s columns!! There are also so many quotes i loved in the book!

Thank you Ashley for letting me get to know Willa & Julian. It was a pleasure to know and learn from them.

“We’re built on everything that almost broke us and didn’t.”

[Melanie Gates]

A Guide to Getting Lost is a super cute college-age romance between Willa and Julian. A classic sunshine x grumpy trope, which is one of my favorites. There was a lot of thought and detail put into these characters to give them a story that led with raw emotion, true feelings and showed vulnerability in realistic situations. Navigating your early 20s is not an easy feat, writing about it is another feat.

It was an easy-to-read story as I was able to get through it relatively quickly. It kept me engaged, even when some of the jumps in the timeline confused me. I had to go back a few times and make sure I understood the "timeframe." The story began strongly, the pacing slowed a bit in the middle, but I enjoyed the ending. I would have loved to see it drawn out a bit more to tell more of their story together.

Overall, it's very charming and is a solid pick for anyone looking for a cute, college-style romance story that feels like it's one straight out of the movies.

I want to thank Ashley for allowing me to be an ARC reader for her debut novel. I promised to give an honest review, but first, congratulations to Ashley for achieving a goal and putting her passion out there to share with others. I look forward to seeing additional stories from you and seeing how you grow as a writer as well.

TL;DR
✅ Tropes: Sunshine x Grumpy, College Romance
✅ Spice Level: 0, kissing
✅ Pacing: Strong start, pacing slowed in the middle, satisfying ending
✅ Vibe: Cute, emotional, coming-of-age romance
✅ Best For: Readers who enjoy a character-driven, early 20s love story

[Taneesha]

After leaving her small Ohio hometown behind, Willa Thorne transfers to Boston hoping for a fresh start and a chance to disappear into anonymity. But when she’s paired with guarded campus guide Julian Vance, the city’s hidden corners begin bringing them closer together. As Willa struggles to escape her past and Julian fights to let people in again, they discover that getting lost might be the first step toward finding themselves.

I picked this book up a while ago, but work has completely consumed me this year. From the very first chapter, this story hooked me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t give it the undivided attention it deserved at the time. Now that things are finally winding down, I’ve had the chance to come back and fully appreciate this gem of a book.

Ashley Witkowski’s writing is vivid and immersive, especially her descriptions of Boston in the fall, which made the setting feel just as alive as the characters themselves. I loved all the characters, even when Julian tested my patience at times. I really enjoyed getting to know them through her story. The friendships are so important, and the care, loyalty, and understanding between them came through so naturally.

I also really appreciated how honestly this story explored the uncertainty and challenges that come with graduating college, figuring out careers, and navigating what comes next in life. It made the characters and their journeys feel even more relatable. This was such a lovely debut, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

[martha lorena.]

OK this is a very cute Boston based romance book. It's very much force proximity and a slow burn which I didn't mind because I really liked how you literally can see that they're building up their feelings for each other it wasn't rushed whatsoever which I appreciate it. It's also very grumpy x sunshine vibes with them. It's overall a very good read and I loved getting to know Julian and Willa. I also very much enjoyed their views on like a new perspective as she's from a small town in another state that she escaped to a bigger city to sort of like run from a personal issue and although he was from there he also went through personal issues that kind of made him like be closed also both of them navigating this new perspective of not running away was very good to read. I also very much enjoyed that there were still more to the book after they got together which is very different and I feel like typically as soon as the main characters get together that's kind of where the book ends and if we're lucky we get like a epilogue chapter so it was very nice to see that it didn't immediately end after and we got to see how they progressed in their relationship.
I'll attach my favorite quote of the book.

"I want you," I said again, more quietly now. "And that terrifies me, because I can’t control any part of it. But I’m done pretending that means it isn’t real." - Julian Vance, everybody !!

[Keri]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

There were parts of this story that I genuinely enjoyed, especially early on. The dynamic between Willa and Julian has a lot of charm, and the “sunshine vs. grouchy” energy made for some really cute moments. There are also lines and scenes that stand out; the writing can be clever and very sweet (their bookstore date was a highlight for me).

That said, this ultimately didn’t come together in a way that worked for me.

The biggest challenge was the need for heavier editing and development. I found myself getting pulled out of the story frequently due to repetition, inconsistencies, and moments where key details felt either underdeveloped or unclear. Some plot points and character references were confusing or introduced without enough context, which made it difficult to stay fully immersed.

The pacing and structure also made it hard to stay engaged. Important relationship developments felt rushed, while other scenes were repeated or lingered without adding new depth. Because of that, the emotional reactions, particularly Willa’s, didn’t always feel fully earned; which made it harder to connect with her character as the story progressed.

There are definitely pieces of a really sweet and compelling story here, and I can see the potential. With more development and refinement, this could have been a much stronger read.

[Lani Bausewein]

I cannot give a star rating as I DNF this book, however if I was judging it based on where I stopped at page 177, it would be 2⭐.

I received an ARC of this book from the author,in exchange for my honest review. I found Ashley on Instagram - she super lovely and I want her to succeed in her writing career! I feel with more time and development, she will be a force in the industry.

The premise of this book sounded cute, and I wanted to love this story, but it fell flat for me in several ways. It needs significant development in the plot, the characters, and overall writing of the story. The bones are there - it's a solid premise - it just needs a bit of polishing.

- the writing and storytelling were a bit juvenile - perhaps this was intended to be YA but it's being marketed to adults.
- the timeline jumps drastically and is implausible. They hung out twice, not in a relationship, never kissed, yet she's taking WEEKS to get over him? She wants him to choose between her and a dream internship? My eyes rolled far too many times.
- there are editing issues that need to be resolved, but this is an ARC, not the final version, so take that with a grain of salt...

I think this story could be great, but it needs to be reigned in a bit, the characters need to be more developed, the plot tightened up, figure out the timelines and pacing and formatting.

Thank you again for the opportunity to read this book and my sincere apologies for not enjoying it enough to continue to the end.

[Aida Rivero]

A Guide to Getting Lost
By Ashley Witkowski
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

Tropes:
* Stranger-to-something-more
* Found vulnerability / emotional healing
* Grumpy x sunshine (subtle version)
* New city, new beginnings
* “Running from the past”
* Slow burn connection
A Guide to Getting Lost is a beautifully written, emotional story that surprised me with how deeply it resonated. The author’s writing is soft, immersive, and effortlessly evocative—especially in the way Boston is brought to life through quiet moments like late-night T rides and hidden bookstores. There’s a reflective, almost poetic quality to the prose that draws you into both the setting and the emotional core of the story.
Willa and Julian are the heart of this book. Willa’s desire to disappear feels raw and relatable, while Julian’s guarded, detached nature adds a quiet depth that makes his character especially compelling. Their relationship unfolds slowly and naturally, built on small, meaningful moments that feel genuine rather than rushed. Watching them learn to open up—both to each other and themselves—was incredibly rewarding.
The story explores vulnerability, healing, and self-discovery with a gentle but impactful touch. I only wish we had a bit more depth when it came to Willa’s past, but overall, this was a heartfelt, character-driven read that lingers long after the final page.

10/10 Would recommend this book to all family and friends.

[Natalie Mercado]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a review (2.5 rating if possible on here)

As much as I appreciate a cute romance, I was not fully sold on this book. Starting off with what I liked: the alternating POVs between chapters and the highly descriptive writing for the theater, the streets of Boston, and each character's emotions/thoughts. I also really enjoyed the dynamic between Willa and Julian with lighthearted and witty banter among the grumpy/sunshine duo while experiencing more serious moments whilst discovering truths about themselves through their budding relationship.

The execution however, is where I was lost a little. There were times the story felt very repetitive and I caught a few inconsistencies that threw me off occasionally. I wish I could have gotten to see Willa and Julian interacting more before developing the relationship, making them getting together more meaningful/impactful. I feel as though the timeline of their relationship moved way too quickly and made me lose interest towards the end. This fast paced timeline made big, important milestones in their relationship feel less significant or impactful as they should have.

I feel as though the author had a good plot and much talent in descriptive writing yet fell short in terms of execution. Being a debut novel, I hope with more time and experience, the author can produce a great novel that will catch and hold my attention.

[Jayda Johnson]

I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review!

This book is a cute grumpy x sunshine set in Boston. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book. Writer meets grumpy architect and finds his soft spot - how cute! However, the 3rd act breakup was resolved at 50%. The conflict was derived from the few short times they spent together, most of them the MMC was not being himself. After 50% I felt like we lost the plot.

The two characters I felt had a lot of potential at the beginning. They both had some past feelings they had to work through to be in the relationship together. But I feel like we missed some important emotional parts of the story with a summary. For example, I really wanted to read the confrontation with Claire. But, it was summarized in a few paragraphs.

There were also a few timeline shifts that confused me. One chapter they graduated and moved in together, then next it was back to February and they were still in school, then the next chapter they were graduating and getting an apartment again.

Overall, I feel like this book has a lot of potential. I really enjoyed the fall in Boston feeling. Ashley did a really good job with making the reader feel the giddiness of being in Boston and falling in love. She is a very talented writer, with some further editing to the plot I think this book could be really strong!

[Wendy]

I was delighted by A Guide to Getting Lost by Ashley Witkowski.

This romance read hits all of the nostalgia points as characters learn about themselves through architecture and writing.

Willa is a transfer student to a university in Boston. It's a huge leap of faith to switch schools for senior year but she feels drawn by the anonymity of a big city as her clean start from head break and small-town life.

Julian is logical and precise, living life like the pristine buildings he creates as an architecture student and has lost the excitement and life he used to breathe into creations to protect against betrayal.

Meeting at mandatory tours/orientation, Julian is thrown off by Willa's passion for stories and life and how she got him to feel again. Initially pushing against his attraction, Julian and Willa explore the city, internship opportunities, and writing to discover parts of themselves and how they fit together and can support each other.

I loved how Boston was the backdrop and analogy for character growth and challenge. The fact that Willa and Julian were willing to be vulnerable with each other and acknowledge relationships take work was refreshing when lots of romance books make things seem easy or just have arguments for the sake of a third act break-up to build tension.

Willa's roommate and Julian's best friend were great side characters. Will there be a book 2 where they get together and we get to see how life continues to take Willa and Julian?

Add this to your TBR for all the good feelings and HEA but also thought-provoking questions about growing up and making life your own.

Thanks to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Getpast40pages]

This is a very cute Grumpy x Sunshine clean college romance. The MMC is studying to be an architect and becomes a tour guide for school credit. The FMC is new to the school and required to attend 3 tours to meet mandatory requirements.

The concept of this book is so cute and the beginning draws you in immediately.

The book is a little long and the plot softens in the middle. The typical 3rd Act breakup happening at the 50% mark in the book was a bit abrupt since they'd only gone on a couple "informal" dates. Around that mark, it feels like the book naturally would end once they got back together, but that's really where it starts.

There were a few scenes in the book that felt a bit forced, random, or brief, like the run-in with the ex or the fight over the bookshelf, but overall, for a debut novel this book had virtually no typos and was written well.

I was left wishing there was just a bit more excitement in the story, but if you're looking for a clean romance with a HEA, this is for you.

I received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Erin G]

Received an ARC, thank you to the author Ashley.

First time reading a debut author and am very impressed. This is a sweet story with character development and all about self discovery. I saw parts of myself in both Willa and Julian. They take actions that you can only wish other FMCs and MMCs would.

Side characters are also funny, definitely can see possibility for a 2nd book with 2 of them.

Writing is very poetic and thoughtful.
Imagery has me wanting to book a trip to Boston.

I appreciated getting to see the characters develop their relationship instead of ending at the “getting together” stage we see most commonly.


3 favorite quotes:

“He didn't even ask if I liked the color gray, which was apparently his entire aesthetic.”

"There’s showing someone the city, and then there’s showing someone why you used to love the city”


"Willa, if a guy who normally only talks to buildings invites you to get pastries on a Saturday, it’s not for the ‘data.’ Even I know that, and I spend most of my time talking to 18th-century ghosts."

[Kristin Putney]

This is one of the best books I've read this year. It is the author's debut novel but it felt like she has been writing forever. It was that good. It took me a little longer to read it than most books because I didn't want it to end. If your someone who enjoys annotating books this one is definitely for you. There is so many wonderful sentences written that have meaning and a purpose about really living and seeing this life we live not just merely existing or trying to be invisible. Living for yourself and the ones you love not living up to others expectations or what society deems appropriate. It's about altering things around you to fit who you are. Not altering yourself to fit those things. It has amazing emotional depth between two broken but not ruined people who helped each other find their true selves. It's a extroadinary love story. But its not merely just a romance novel. It speaks to anyone who has every made mistakes, failed, been hurt, afraid or feel like their life is completely ruined. Second chances are real and the ruined parts are just a first draft that can turn into something wonderful if you have the courage to keep going and not get lost along the way. DEFINITELY A MUST READ!!!!!!! 10 OUT OF 5 STARS. ❤❤❤

[Andi Robbins]

This was such a human, emotionally grounded read that really stayed with me.

The story feels very real and believable, with characters and situations that don’t feel exaggerated or overdone. It leans into raw emotion in a way that makes it easy to connect to what’s happening.

At its core, it’s a cute romance, but it carries more depth than you might expect. Watching everything come full circle by the end makes the journey feel worth it.

The emotional weight is definitely there. This is one of those books where you’ll want a box of tissues nearby because it doesn’t hold back when it comes to showing the harder, more vulnerable parts of being human.

This is one of those stories that pulls you in quietly. You’re not just reading it, you’re feeling it as it unfolds.

Overall, it’s a heartfelt, emotional read that balances romance with real, raw moments.

If you like character-driven stories with emotional depth and a touch of romance, this is worth picking up.

[cassandra]

i read this book so quickly! it was super easy to follow and i felt engaged within the first chapter. i thought the pacing was appropriate and i loved watching the characters develop. i felt like i was able to relate to both julian and willa, which doesn’t often happen for me. i loved watching julian come out of his grumpy little shell and blossom into a much more colorful character. i enjoyed the dynamic between him and willa. the ending made my heart happy and i loved watching them overcome their challenges to be together.

i also felt like the author did a lot of research and made julian’s architecture knowledge very realistic. i work in construction so this was very important for me and the dedication made the book that much better for me.

all in all, this book was a bit out of my typical comfort zone, but i did enjoy it and will definitely read more of ashley’s work in the future!

i received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Alley Stewart]

Wow, where to start? I was so fortunate to receive this book as an ARC! It’s hard to believe this is Ashley’s first novel debut with her writing style. It’s so elegant and detailed to where the small details are the bigger picture and mean the most in this amazing story. The entire premise of the relationship is SO refreshing because it’s a slow burner that shows such an intricate development between a couple and individually among themselves. It’s the most deeply rooted, most intimate relationship without having anything past kissing which is so difficult to master, and Ashley did it effortlessly. My true rating is a 4.5, and only because I felt like some parts were repeated a few times. For example, she painted the best picture of the characters’ developments, but it felt like they had to explain it every chapter. This book is SO good, and you won’t be disappointed! I also LOVE and truly appreciate how Ashley first thanks God in her acknowledgement at the end.

[Madison Foulkes]

2⭐️: My first ARC!! I’d like to thank the author for giving me an advanced copy. I had high hopes that slowly dwindled the more I read.

Both main characters were not very likeable and I felt myself getting frustrated with how they could have been written. The MMC was super stiff, and while I recognize that is the point, it was not working.

The plot had many holes and did not feel believable. There was a lot of repetition which could have been cut but made it challenging to keep up with the story. I lost interest at multiple points throughout the book because nothing truly grabbed my attention and the plot felt extremely forced. Poetic lines could’ve added depth but honestly felt thrown in to break up parts of the story.

The editing and structure of the story was poor. I easily got distracted by the lack of formatting and the inconsistencies, which made me question if I had misread or completely missed things when they should have been revised or edited out.