5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I absolutely loved the first book in this series, but this one was somehow even better.
This story follows Alice Jones as she returns home after leaving a controlling relationship that caused her to lose herself. What stood out most to me was her journey of rediscovery. Watching Alice slowly rebuild her confidence, start trusting her own decisions again, and figure out what she actually wants from her life was incredibly emotional and really well done. It never felt rushed, and you could genuinely feel her growth throughout.
The family dynamic added so much depth to the story. Kathy is still grieving the loss of her husband, and that grief is present in such a raw and realistic way. It’s not something that’s quickly resolved, and I really appreciated how it was handled. Noah, her brother, is protective but clearly loves her deeply, and their relationship felt very real. The way her family was involved in her life, supporting her but also challenging her when needed, made the story feel grounded and meaningful.
Her friendships with Emma and Ivy were another highlight. They weren’t just there for light moments, they genuinely supported Alice through everything and gave her the space to be herself again. It was so nice to see strong, positive female friendships that actually felt important to the story.
The relationship between Alice and Luke was a perfect example of rivals to lovers done right. Their history, the tension between them, and the way their dynamic shifts over time felt natural and believable. What I liked most was that their connection wasn’t just built on attraction, it developed through trust, understanding, and the way they showed up for each other. Luke’s actions, especially, spoke much louder than words, and that made their relationship feel even more genuine.
The storyline around the bar and Alice creating something new for herself added such a hopeful and empowering layer to the book. It wasn’t just about romance, it was about her building something of her own, making choices for herself, and stepping into a version of her life that actually made her happy. That aspect of the story really stayed with me.
Tyler, her ex, was genuinely awful. His behaviour highlighted just how much Alice had been held back and made it even more satisfying to see her stand her ground and refuse to fall back into that version of herself. Every interaction with him reinforced how far she had come, and I found myself fully rooting for her to choose herself every time.
It was also great to see Penny, Ethan and Tasha again, which helped make the world feel more connected and added an extra layer of familiarity to the story.
This book had me completely invested from start to finish. It was emotional, comforting, and genuinely satisfying to read.
An easy five stars. I didn’t want it to end, and I already miss these characters. 😭
I cannot wait for book 3 and 4!! 🥰