Where It Hurts: A small town, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance

by Julia Soren

Genres: Romance, Second Chance

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2026

Reviews

[marilyn silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes: small town romance❤️
one sided enemies to lovers (she hates him he has been love with her for years)❤️
Best friend's brother❤️
slow burn❤️
forced proximity❤️
he falls first and harder❤️
forbidden romance❤️

First and foremost, I would like to thank Netgalley, the author, Julia Soren, and her team for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I truly appreciate the opportunity.
This book was quite unexpected for me, and it’s also my first read from Julia Soren. A heart-wrenchingly beautiful small-town romance filled with angst, yearning, and just the right amount of spice 🥵—it had me completely hooked.
Nathan, our MMC, was everything. His patience and quiet yearning made him so easy to fall for 😭. And Ellie, our FMC, carries the weight of a tragic loss that has shaped her into someone strong on the outside, yet deeply loyal and grounded at heart. The chemistry between them was undeniable and beautifully written.
One thing I truly admired was how the book portrayed the raw and valid emotions of someone experiencing loss—it felt real and deeply moving. That said, I personally felt that including more flashback moments from their childhood—especially surrounding their memories and the incident—could have made the emotional connection even stronger.
Overall, this was a deeply emotional and touching story that stayed with me long after I finished reading. Despite a few things I wished for, it was still a beautiful journey of love and loss that many readers will connect with.

[beachbum bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok read for me. I just didn't care for the fmc, and it made me struggle to feel invested in their relationship. I really wanted to love a new small town romance, so I may have had too high of expectations. If you are a fan of one sided enemies to lovers or small town romances you may enjoy.
I would like to thank netgalley, the author Julia Soren, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written story. This one grabbed my heart and held in until the end. I always love a good second chance romance and this one did not disappoint. Both Ellie and Nathan were such wonderful people. Ellie dealing with trauma that she struggled with. Nathan was supportive and patient. I loved how they were able to with through their past and come together again. A truly wonderful story.

[Nicole Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hurt in the best way.
Second chance romance is always a gamble for me, but this one delivered. The tension between the heroine and Nathan is immediate and layered, and I loved how much of their story was shaped by what went unsaid. There is history here that feels heavy and real, not just a convenient plot device.
Nathan was my favorite part. He is gentle, steady, and so patient it almost aches to read. The way he tries to earn trust instead of demanding it made every interaction feel meaningful. You can tell he carries his own regrets, even if he does not fully understand hers.
The heroine is more guarded and harder to love at first, but that felt intentional. Her anger and resistance make sense given what she knows, and watching her unravel emotionally is where the story really shines.
The pacing leans more emotional than plot driven, so if you are looking for constant action, this might feel slower. But if you want tension, longing, and complicated feelings that build over time, this absolutely delivers.
That ending gave me exactly what I needed.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Julia Soren has a masterful way of capturing raw emotion, and Where It Hurts is a stunning example of that. This small-town romance hit me right in the chest.
The way Julia portrays Ellie’s grief is incredibly profound. You can truly feel the weight of the loss she carries for her father and the deep hurt she’s navigating. It felt authentic, messy, and deeply moving.
And then there is Nathan. His consistency and devotion—waiting for Ellie for ten long years—was everything. Their connection and the way their history is woven into the present made for such a compelling love story. Everything felt like it connected perfectly, and the ending was exactly what the story needed (though I still found myself wanting even more because I wasn't ready to leave these characters!).
If you love a romance that isn't afraid to dive into the heavy stuff while delivering a beautiful, patient "he falls first" dynamic, you need to read this.

[BookishAlexia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5⭐️

Tropes:
🌸 Small town romance
🌸 ER Nurse x Cowboy
🌸 Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
🌸 He falls first and harder
🌸 Forbidden love

This book was sooo incredibly cute. I really enjoyed it and read the whole thing in one day.

I loved the story of Ellie and Nathan, who hadn't seen each other in 10 years after Ellie suddenly left town. The relationship between them was definitely complicated and faced so many obstacles connected to their complicated history.

For me, Nathan was definitely the highlight of the story. The love he holds for Ellie really jumps off the pages, and he has this fierce but quiet way of protecting her and caring for her. Ellie struggled more with her emotions and really faced an uphill battle because of their shared history. However, unlike some books that can drag a bit, this one left me wanting more. I would have loved to see more of Nathan and Ellies history, and to see some more emotional depth and deeper understanding of the characters' backgrounds, motivations, and feelings. At times, the writing felt a bit stilted and made it a bit more difficult to connect to the characters and their love story on a deeper level. But once the story evolved and the main characters connected more deeply, they were genuinely so cute together, and the spicy scenes were hot.

I will say that the pacing of the story felt off at times, and I noticed a few gaps in the timeline that pulled me out of the story a bit. The enemies-to-lovers angle also felt too rushed and leaned more towards frenemies-to-lovers, in my opinion.

Overall, a solid, quick, and easy-to-read small-town romance for lovers of small-town drama, childhood friends to (one-sided) enemies to lovers, and cowboys.

Thank you to Julia Soren and her team for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ivana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Julia Soren, and it definitely won’t be my last.

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and the way the story was developed. The plot was engaging and kept me interested from beginning to end.

What stood out the most to me was the emotional depth of the story. It deals with some heavy themes, yet at the same time it feels warm, heartfelt, and deeply emotional. That balance made the story even more impactful.

The chemistry between the main characters was noticeable from the very beginning—intense, natural, and completely believable. It added so much to the story and made their journey even more compelling.

Overall, a beautifully written, emotional, and engaging read, and I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Kay Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second arc I read by this author. Let me just say I enjoyed every second of it. Thank you Julia for writing another magnificent book. This book intertwined a little bit with Burn for you Espically at the Fourth of July cook out scene. So I do recommended reading burn for you before reading this one.

For starters I love the small town cowboy romance who was cashing his dreams of training horses. Nathan your MMC
Then you have Ellie who was also from the small town that Nathan was from but she was the nurse who always enjoyed saving lives. She was the FMC, they were enemies to lovers. This was a cute cozy romance read that I plan on reading for a second time.

Ellie and Nathan faced troubles which takes you back on a journey of what went wrong 10 years ago. I fell in love with how sweet he was as a cowboy who still loved Ellie to this day and decided to never give up on her. The spice they had between each other was steamy and couldn’t keep their hands off of each other. There were several chapters throughout this book that had me on my toes with how steamy it was. It was based in chestnut falls again the blue ridge mountains which created a mountain too steamy scenery scene.

🤠👩‍⚕️🗻❤️😍🌶️

Trigger warning: cancer and death

[Alyssa Dovey · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Where it hurts' is such an emotional story, pulling on your heart strings from start to finish. I absolutely devoured this book, reading at every chance I got to learn more of the beautiful love story between Ellie and Nathan.

Ellie comes home after being away for 10 years, following a heartbreaking accident. We see firsthand how hard it is for her to come to terms with news that comes to light about said accident, and how she copes with reintegrating into the community.
Nathan is quite the gentleman, and is so understanding and supportive with Ellie right the way through.

I felt the level of spice to plot was absolutely perfect, never feeling too much.
One thing that I found funny was the amount of times Chester, the family cat, was mentioned!

Overall, I really enjoyed this and would happily recommend it to anybody who enjoys romance novels.

I'd like to thank Julia Soren for a review copy of 'Where it hurts', what an honour it has been to be able to be one of the first to read this lovely story.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Soren does it again! Her writing just gets better & better 🫶🏻.

Ellie Moran is out with her friend Paige one night at a bar. She interacts with a man who just had an incident resulting in his hand being cut. Ellie being a ER nurse fixes him up. As they talk Ellie impulsively kisses him. To her surprise the man knows her name & it turns out he’s Nathan Callahan a childhood friend. His family owns the farm where tragically her Father lost his life & apparently a suspicious cover up happened.

Ellie is determined to not be anywhere in Nathan’s vicinity. Of course that doesn’t happen when she takes over her Mom’s volunteer work & Nathan is there as well to her dismay. There are definitely still feelings between them. I did not like how Ellie was treating Nathan. Did he have something to do with her Dad’s death or is she just taking it out on him cause of his last name? But I still get it, his family caused her & Mom a lot of pain but to take it out on him?

-Once they finally get together it was well worth it!

-The steamy scenes were 🔥🔥🔥🔥!

-Some Characters from “Burn for You” (Book 2) make a cameo appearance.

-Nathan’s Father is such a scumbag.

I received the arc from the Author & this is my honest review.

Final Rating: 5 stars!

[Amber Keehn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book delivered exactly what it promised: small-town friends-to-enemies-to-lovers with all the angst and emotion. Nathan’s been in love with Ellie forever, but family secrets change everything. The feminine rage in this book was SO good. My only issue was the pacing at times, but overall it was a cute, emotional small-town romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I enjoyed being an ARC reader in this one! I enjoyed the emotional roller coaster set in a small Georgia town in the Blue Ridge Mountains! I am totally here for the HEA for Nathan & Ellie! You get the small town friends to enemies to lovers, childhood drama, and a sexy cowboy on horseback!

[Fireborn Reader Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, Thank You to Julia Soren for the ARC of Where It Hurts! Each book in this series has just gotten better each time. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this one.

Where It Hurts is probably now my favorite one, however, I have very much loved all three!
I love how the plot stays so relevant while simultaneously letting the love story,and all the spicy goodness, coexist. I was angry alongside Ellie and felt the ten years of yearning for Nathan. Even though it wasn't even in the book's timeline, I felt like I experienced it with him.
The characters from the previous books are involved seamlessly and I loved that rebuilding from the wild fire was a story in this one.
Hope there is more to come. I will read them.

[Emily Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so thrilled to have received an ARC of this book.

It’s such an enticing story, I was instantly hooked. The characters were perfectly written. A nurse and a cowboy, what a combination. Everyone deserves to find their Nathan.

There’s love, drama, loss, grief, acceptance, growth, illness, and strength.

The characters have history. Their families have history. They’re in a small town where the gossip spreads faster than melted butter on toast. There’s no chance at keeping secrets.

This is totally worth the read. I’m looking forward to reading more small town romances by Julia Soren!

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into Where It Hurts by Julia Soren thinking I’d get a little angsty small-town romance… and instead I got emotionally drop-kicked in the chest and thanked the book for it 😭💖

This story? It aches. Like the good kind of hurt. The kind that lingers in your ribs long after you close the last page.

From the FIRST scene… a rooftop, a cowboy, a kiss that feels like it’s been waiting ten years to happen?? I was DONE. Completely gone. And then BAM—his name drops and everything fractures. The tension isn’t just simmering, it’s practically clawing at the walls.

Nathan Callahan?? Sir. Please. The patience. The quiet, steady way he shows up over and over again, like he’s willing to take whatever scraps she gives him and still call it enough??? I cannot. He’s not loud or flashy, he’s just… constant. Like gravity. Like he decided a decade ago she was it and never updated the memo.

And HER?? I loved her. Messy, guarded, carrying guilt like it’s stitched into her skin. The way she fights her feelings, not because she’s cold but because she cares too much?? It made every interaction feel like walking a tightrope over broken glass.

The push and pull in this book is unreal. Every time they’re in the same space it’s like:
“just kiss already”
“no wait don’t kiss this is going to emotionally ruin me”
“actually kiss again I’ll deal with the consequences” 😩

And the SECRET?? Oh my god. The weight of it. The way it sits between them like a loaded gun the entire time?? I could feel the inevitable explosion coming and still wasn’t prepared when it hit.

Also can we talk about the setting for a second—Chestnut Falls feels so alive. The general store, the routines, the way everyone knows things without saying them. It wraps around the story like a warm blanket while everything else is quietly unraveling underneath.

This isn’t just a romance. It’s about guilt, forgiveness, coming home to things you tried to outrun, and realizing love doesn’t disappear just because you wish it would.

I devoured this. Highlighted like a maniac. Sat there after finishing just… staring at the wall processing my life choices.

If you love:
• second chance romance that actually earns it
• emotionally constipated cowboys with hearts of gold 🫠
• heroines who fight love like it personally offended them
• secrets that HURT when they come out

…this book will own you.

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is deeply emotional, angst-ridden and compelling. The death of her father over a decade ago changed not only Ellie and her mother’s lives, but also those of the people who they had considered to be friends. Ellie lost her best friend, then the boy she had secretly loved, Nathan. She also lost her sense of safety, and when the pain became too much to bear, her home. She left her small hometown ostensibly to train as a nurse, but never returned. She didn’t recognize Nathan at a party they both attended weeks ago, but he instantly recognized her. They shared a steamy kiss before he spoke her name and gave her his. Nathan is not the boy she left behind, the boy she had ruthlessly shut out of her heart and mind because he is the son of the man she holds responsible for her father’s death. She makes it clear she wants nothing to do with him. That proves to be impossible when she returns to their hometown to care for her cancer-stricken mother.

Her upset and outrage stun Nathan, especially after the connection and sparks he had felt between them at the party, everything he had dreamed of for years. He has never forgotten her, the girl who stole his heart as a teenager and never let go of it. When she returns to town a month later to take care of her mother, Nathan still hopes that he and Ellie can heal the rift between them. She is not about to make it easy, and does her best to avoid him and his family altogether. When her mother asks her to take her place in a community volunteer group, she repeatedly comes in contact with Nathan. An overheard tidbit of information about the circumstances surrounding her father’s death serves to bring all the pain, resentment and anger back for Ellie. She is soon on a path of self-destruction until Nathan steps in and forces her to face all of her emotions, including the ones she feels for him. As their story continues, secrets and lies are exposed, fears, doubts and deep regrets are confronted and healing finally begins for Ellie and Nathan.

These characters fascinated me and then effortlessly drew me into their intense and twisty love story. Their second chance at love is all the sweeter after all of the pain, secrets and lies have finally been exposed and confronted. This compelling book has my recommendation.

[Isla 💚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

First of all, thank you, Julia, for letting me be part of your ARC team again! It’s truly been an honor 💛

In this story, we return to Chestnut Falls a beautiful small-town setting that I absolutely love. Ever since reading Burn for You, I knew I would enjoy coming back to this charming place.

This time, we follow Ellie Moran and Nathan Callahan, who grew up together and were once close friends.

After the tragic death of Ellie’s father on the Callahan farm, Nathan’s father essentially paid them to stay silent about what really happened. While still grieving, Ellie left town without ever expecting to return.

Fast forward ten years: Ellie comes back home when her mother is diagnosed with cancer, determined to support her through chemotherapy.

Of course, it doesn’t take long before she finds herself face-to-face with Nathan again. Once friends, now enemies and practically strangers; they are forced into close proximity while volunteering to restore the land after last year’s devastating fire 🔥, helping with cleanup and replanting trees.

Julia’s writing is simply magnificent. Both the FMC and MMC are filled with complex emotions: betrayal, anger, love, longing and as they navigate all of this, so much unfolds. You experience everything alongside them; it feels incredibly real and personal.

And, of course, with small-town gossip spreading faster than a race car. You can’t help but feel for them - you almost wish you could stop it in its tracks. So I can tell you I was completely immersed in this story. 💛

There are quite a few plot twists in this book, so you’ll find yourself flying through the pages, eager to see if these enemies-turned-lovers get their happy ever after.

I highly recommend reading this one if you like:

🤠 horse trainer with sexy arms
💛 ER-Nurse
🤠 small town setting
💛 forbidden romance
🤠 horse riding date
💛 “beg me” moment

[Lynsey Astbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into Where It Hurts by Julia Soren expecting a cute cowboy romance and came out feeling like I’d been emotionally dragged through Chestnut Falls behind Nathan Callahan’s truck. It starts with a rooftop kiss that goes nuclear in two seconds flat “I kissed a cowboy. Green eyes. Rough hands. The second he told me his name, I had him thrown out of the bar.” I actually cackled. She’s got a ten year grudge and zero tolerance for Callahans, and I respected the hell out of that boundary. Then real life kicks in her mom gets sick, she has to come home to the one place she swore she’d never return to, and Nathan is suddenly everywhere. The general store, her volunteer shift, just existing in worn boots and being so damn decent it makes her and me want to scream. He’s not a typical romance hero who bulldozes in. He’s patient, gentle, thinks he can earn her trust like she’s one of his skittish horses, and that’s somehow more dangerous than if he was an asshole. The angst in this book isn’t manufactured drama for the sake of it. She knows a secret about his family that would wreck him, so every kind thing he does feels like a betrayal of the very reason she came home. I spent half the book yelling just tell him and the other half going oh no, I get why you can’t, which is exactly what good slow burn pining does to you. Soren writes tension like she wants to personally ruin your week, and it worked. If you hate secrets you’ll be feral, but if you live for that I hate him, I want him, and wanting him is a betrayal energy, this will destroy you in the best way. Nathan Callahan is now living rent free in my head for the crime of being a man who waits.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another engaging romance from Julia Soren. I’ve found her books to be really well written and absorbing, and this latest was no different.

Ellie and Nathan have known one another since they were children. And for Nate, it’s felt like he’s loved her just as long. But a tragedy in their past tore them apart and it’s only years later, when Ellie’s mom is sick, that they reconnect.

Ellie and Nathan were such great characters. Ellie was struggling with so much, but she kept showing up anyway. And when things got overwhelming for her, she had Nathan, even if she didn’t realize it.

Speaking of Nathan…

The way that man loved Ellie was just incredible. He was an absolute rock for her through everything she was dealing with. A man willing to go through all the highs and lows with someone is just so appealing. And the fact that he worked with troubled horses and rehabilitated them? Sigh. Yeah, definitely major boyfriend material. It took a lot of patience and understanding for Nathan to break through Ellie’s walls. But, just like the way he dealt with his horses, he gave Ellie what she needed to feel safe and loved with him.

This book had so much going for it. In addition to the beautiful love story between Ellie and Nathan, there was also the charming small town with the friendly neighbors, the danger and tension brought by a long ago tragedy, the love of a mother and daughter and even a grumpy, opinionated cat. I’m looking forward to more books in this series, though Nathan will be a hard book boyfriend to beat.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where It Hurts was an emotional, angsty small-town romance that really surprised me in the best way 🥹🤍
This was my first Julia Soren book, and it completely pulled me in. It’s filled with tension, longing, and that slow emotional build that makes every interaction between the MCs feel heavy with meaning.
Nathan was easily my favorite part 🫶🏼
patient, steady, quietly devoted… the kind of MMC who doesn’t demand trust, he earns it. His years of hidden love and regret made every moment between him and Ellie feel even more intense.
Ellie, on the other hand, is much more guarded. Her anger and emotional walls make sense based on her past, and watching her slowly unravel and confront what she’s been carrying is where the story really shines.
The chemistry between them is strong and layered, especially with the “she hates him / he’s been in love with her forever” dynamic and the best friend’s brother tension. The forced proximity and forbidden aspect just heighten everything even more.
✨ what I loved:
• emotional, angsty romance
• one-sided enemies to lovers (with hidden love on his side 😭)
• slow burn tension + yearning
• protective, patient MMC
• strong emotional payoff
✨ what I wished for:
• more childhood flashbacks to deepen emotional impact
• slightly more exploration of the past incident for added weight
The pacing leans heavily emotional over plot-driven, so it does feel slower at times—but if you love tension, longing, and messy feelings building over time, this one delivers.
overall: a deeply emotional, aching romance that lingers long after you finish reading 🥹🤍

[Tracys Book Shelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/6

Where it Hurts stole my heart within the first chapter. If you love a story of forbidden love, secrets that can destroy a family, and a cowboy who will risk it all for love, then here is your next read. I could feel Ellie's grief and her reluctance to return home while trying to protect her heart. I could feel Nathan's love and his desire to protect her at all costs.

As secrets start to surface and Ellie begins to unravel, Nathan steps in to guide her gently. She is determined to hate him, but her body refuses to listen. Nathan has waited ten years; he is not willing to walk away now. The yearning in this book is so beautiful and the longing is pure perfection. I love their chemistry and the gentleness of Nathan's heart. I love how Ellie navigates her grief and faces the things she ran from years ago.

Where it Hurts is a painfully beautiful love story of forbidden love and the secrets that could destroy that love. This story touched my heart and I am already anxious to read it again. I have a soft spot for a cowboy, and Nathan did not disappoint. There are so many moments in this story that I loved. I can not give away all the details, though, and you will be grateful as you uncover them for yourself. I could live in this story forever. It's so satisfying how Nathan loves with all his heart even when it can cost him everything.


Many thanks to Julia Soren for the gifted ARC of Where it Hurts. All opinions are my own. Fabulous story. I loved every word.

[Camille Wang · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 Genre: Forbidden Romance
🔥 Spice: Medium
🏷 Tropes: Small town, enemies to lovers, he falls first, forbidden, cowboy romance

Summary:
After ten years of running from anger, hate, and sadness, Ellie comes back home to care for her ill mother. Only to be thrust into the orbit of Nathan, her once childhood best friend's brother. His passion for her never wavered while she was gone, and when he catches her doing something she's not supposed to, that passion is reciprocated. The only catch, his family is responsible for the anger and sadness that had her running away in the first place.

My thoughts:
I thought this was a great story. Finally, an FMC that I don't want to throttle into space every five minutes! She does have a moment where I wanted to give her the evil eye, but she redeemed herself. Ellie is strong and wild in her anger. A woman who can work a sledgehammer and chooses a crowbar for violence. Sign me up. Then add in an MMC who yearns, Nathan had me hooked from the beginning.

At times, I did feel the story was rushed, and some situations could have been developed more, but that didn't take away from the characters themselves. The characters were strong, well-developed, and relatable. I loved the little snippets of past Men of High Country couples thrown in there (definitely worth the read).

This is a great book for anyone who needs an easy, no third-act breakup story with a sweet cowboy, a strong-minded heroine, and love conquering all.

[Amber Mock · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟 ARC Review 🌟

I was lucky enough to be part of the ARC team to read this book before its release.

If you like:
Cowboy Romance 🤠 ❤️
Friends to Enemies to Lovers 💜
Small Town 🌳
Forbidden Love & He Fell First 😍
Secret Dating w/ Forced Proximity, 🤫
Slow Burn w/ HIGH SPICE 🔥 🥵

Review: Okay, Nathan is the definition of a golden retriever MMC, and I am HERE for you. This man KNEW what and whom he wanted, and rather than actively chasing for her, he just let her be, and when she turned up again, he made it clear as to what he wanted and then just kept showing up, and MY GOODNESS YES PLEASE. He needs all the gold stars! Ellie didn’t have me as a fan at first, but once the story went on and I learned more of her backstory, I really felt for her and came to understand why she is the way she is, and she needed Nathan. not a man like him, but him specifically. Once again, Julia hit it out of the park with her book, from the plot to the character development and every line in between. This is a book I’d recommend people to read if the triggers are something you can cope with (they aren’t “dark” but might hit close to home for some). I love how the book ties in some of the previous couples and has a happy ending.

Fave Line: the dedication was SO relatable and then this line made me giggle because I may have thought that once or twice in my life 😉 “…I stabbed the steak 🥩. F**k him forever for being right.”

Dislikes: I wanted more of their story!!!

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathan and Ellie

* Small town romance
* Enemies-to-lovers
* Unrequited love
* Long-term pining
* Forbidden love
* Family secrets
* Cowboy MMC
* Returning home

This hurt.
And I was so mixed about how I felt about the characters, and their actions!

Nathan was completely gone for Ellie and was secretly supporting her family. He was such a sweetheart for her, and was just quietly in love, waiting all those years.
Ellie… she was justifiably angry, and it wasn’t until a bit of the way through, that she found out she wasn’t angry enough. A pay-off, a cover-up and the loss of her father absolutely devastated her and she had cut off Nathan and his sister Caroline when it first occurred.

Honestly, I was just rooting for them to get their HEA.
Even though her anger was so apparent, I completely understood why she had a hard time letting it go… It’s just a pity that she kept taking it out on Nathan (and Caroline), instead of the one that actually deserved it.

I loved Nathan. He was solid the entire way through, and showed that he would do absolutely anything for Ellie. Even though the story showed more of her POV, he was absolutely my favourite character.

Not a story to start before bed, because you won’t want to put it down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Knaus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie’s return home after a tragic loss a decade ago is messy, raw, and full of unresolved anger. She’s furious at the world, at the people who failed her, and especially at Nathan’s family. And then there’s Nathan himself, her ex–best friend’s older brother who’s suddenly everywhere she turns, steady and unshakably patient in a way that only makes her walls crack faster.

Their chemistry is sharp, charged, and impossible to ignore. As they dig into what really happened ten years earlier, the truth hits just as hard as the feelings they’ve both been avoiding. Nathan has loved Ellie for years, quietly and fiercely, and watching him handle her grief and anger with so much care makes their relationship all the more meant to be.

I really liked the premise but was frustrated by Ellie’s actions. She hurt people in the process of her own grief and was just so angry, she placed blame on people who had no part of it and didn’t stop to think about anyone else. I just couldn’t relate to these actions or the way Nathan didn’t say who he was when he first was talking to Ellie. These aspects really threw me off.

Spicy, angsty, and deeply healing, Where It Hurt delivers everything I love about enemies‑to‑lovers with a second‑chance twist.

A huge thank you to Julia Soren for the early copy!

[Mady · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story we're following Ellie and Nathan. Ellie came from Atlanta to care for her mother with cancer and Nathan is a small-town homegrown farm boy. When these childhood friends reconnect, we learn all the hurt and pain that had been building for the last 10 years.

Ellie was an ER nurse who moved to Atlanta right out of high school. Nathan worked with troubled horses, who refused to leave his family farm. Ellie hates Nathan, and even more, his father. Richard Callahan hid who killed Ellie's dad and revenge runs deep as Ellie destroys the farm. As Nathan tries to protect her, while his feelings keep growing, Ellie keeps running from him, denying her own.

Towards the end, Richard Callahan tried to frame Ellie for a destruction she did not cause. While Nathan took the fall for the other two incidents, Richard got caught in his own destruction. I felt like the attraction in this story was rushed due to this side plot. If the attraction from Ellie slowed in the beginning, and we experienced more of this plot line and the full investigation of it, I could see it working well within the story.

Overall, the story was a 3.75 - rounded up - because I did like the plot and the characters. I, also, enjoyed seeing a nurse side plot, because I don't come across those often, especially seeing them in action.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this may be book 3 in The High Country Men series, Where it Hurts reads easily as a standalone.

Julia Soren wastes no time diving right into the relationship tensions. She builds the connections with ease but doesn’t leave the reader feeling rushed. I was hooked after the first few pages and crushed this hot and heavy romance in a day.

Where it Hurts flips between Ellie and Nathan’s POV as we navigate through Ellie’s long lasting grief over the death of her father Bear, her mother’s cancer treatment, and her frustration of returning to the one place she’d sworn to never go back to — home.

With multiple hot and heavy open door scenes, Soren doesn’t leave any part of Ellie and Nathan’s enemies to lovers relationship in the dark.

A must read if you love hallmark small town vibes with nothing left to the imagination.

Reasons I didn’t rate higher than 3⭐️:
- the transition of Ellie leaving Atlanta for home was abrupt and disconnected
- the build up of Ellie and Jackson’s relationship was sweet but it felt cut off a little too soon. I think there could have been a little more there, especially with the tension Soren was building around it from Nathan’s POV
- Ellie’s immediate disconnect with her friends & work in Atlanta felt disconnected as well. The build to her staying in Chestnut Falls felt rushed and a little forced

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5/5
🔥 5/5
🌶️ 4/5
💧 5/5

Where It Hurts is an emotional, character-driven small-town romance that explores healing, past relationships, and second chances.

Ellie’s return home after ten years sets the foundation for a story centered on coping and recovery. As she navigates the aftermath of a life-changing event, her journey is portrayed with emotional depth, making her experience feel authentic and impactful.

Nathan serves as a steady and supportive presence throughout the story. His patience and understanding create a strong contrast to the emotional weight Ellie carries, allowing their dynamic to develop in a meaningful way.

The history between Ellie and Nathan adds complexity to their relationship, evolving from childhood friends to enemies and eventually into something more. This progression, combined with forced proximity and a slow-burn pace, allows their connection to build naturally over time.

The emotional tone of the story stands out, with moments that resonate deeply and create a lasting impact.

Overall, Where It Hurts is a heartfelt and emotionally engaging romance that balances tension, healing, and connection.

I received this book for free directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Julia Soren for the gifted copy of this book, all opinions are my own.🫶🏼

What to expect: small town, enemies to lovers (one-sided), secret relationship, revenge, suspense and spice, ER nurse FMC, horse trainer/cowboy MMC, best friends brother, forced proximity, healing and growth

Julia Soren does it again! I absolutely love her writing style. Her writing is captivating and really drew me into this story. Where it Hurts was filled with some of my favorite tropes and I really enjoyed reading it. Ellie and Nathan were great characters - one has spent 10 years pining after the other, while the other has spent 10 years hating the other. When Ellie returned to town, they were finally able to break down the barriers and fell hard for each other. There was plenty of growth and healing, and I really loved the build-up of their relationship.

There is a suspense element in this book, which I always love with a small-town romance. The ending wrapped things up nicely and I was happy with it. Once I started this one, it was hard for me to stop reading because I wanted to know how it was all going to end. Overall, I definitely recommend this book and already can't wait to read more from Julia Soren!

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
Where It Hurts by Julia Soren
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Where It Hurts is an emotional, character-driven romance that leans heavily into themes of love, loss, and healing. At its core, this story is about two people finding their way back to each other after being shaped and scarred by their past.

Ellie and Nathan’s story is messy and complicated, going from childhood friends to enemies to lovers adds so much tension, and you can really feel all that history between them. Watching them slowly figure things out and come back together was super satisfying.

Nathan was hands down my favourite of the book. The way he loves Ellie just jumps off the page. He’s not over-the-top about it, but more quiet and intense, with his fierce protectiveness and like he’d do anything for her without making a big deal about it.

I do wish we saw more of the past characters from the previous books and how their relationships were going now though.

It’s a heartfelt read that balances drama and tenderness, making it easy to become invested in the characters and their journey.

Overall, this is a moving and engaging romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy angsty, character-focused stories with second chances and strong emotional payoffs.