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You'll thank me later
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2026
About the author
Victoria Latouche
1 book1 followerHi, I’m Victoria. I write dark contemporary romance about toxic love, messy healing, and choosing better.
My stories live in that uncomfortable space between what feels good and what is actually good for you. Expect emotional tension, complicated characters, and love that tells the truth.
My stories live in that uncomfortable space between what feels good and what is actually good for you. Expect emotional tension, complicated characters, and love that tells the truth.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 13, 2026
From the first two chapters I was already convinced that this book wasn’t going to be for me. But I want to give every ARC I receive a fair chance so I pushed through, and thank god I did, because after about 150 pages I felt like I was reading a completely different book.
The first 100-ish pages were a struggle for me.
Those pages were written very… youthfully. The FMC reads like a teenager, but since she’s a chef in the beginning of the story, I’m assuming she’s older than that.
On top of that, the editing made the beginning hard to read sometimes because of rogue punctuation and missing spaces, which really negatively impacted my reading experience.
Strangely though, this significantly improved after those first 100 pages.
There were some inconsistencies in the story (for example: Sawyer and Samuel talking about getting ready for dinner… while they’re already at an all you can eat buffet, Sawyer being at work one moment but next to Samuel in bed the next) which could be a little confusing and pulled me out of the story.
The characters are written differently before and after the +/- 150 page mark, where there’s a time jump from 2017 to 2018.
In 2017, Sawyer needed therapy, not a new boyfriend. At no point was I under the impression that she was actually in love with Samuel instead of just using him as a distraction. She was honestly a little annoying. Like I already mentioned, she felt more like a teenager than a working adult.
It really annoyed me that Samuel was so incredibly chill about the fact that his girlfriend was still so obviously hung up on her ex. Good for her for finding such a man, but it started to feel unrealistic quite fast. He felt too naive and gullible. Also, the way he is possessive over her felt more toxic and a little bit creepy rather than sweet or romantic.
In 2018, Sawyer suddenly seems more mature. Going forward from that point, I do believe that Samuel is more than a distraction to her. The narrative shifts from being about Dante to being about what Dante did to her and the effects his behavior during their relationship still has on her today. Samuel stops coming across as overly obsessive, though it sometimes feels like all he cares about is sex. Mostly though, he is the loving, caring boyfriend he’s supposed to be.
Dante is an asshole throughout the book - but he’s the toxic ex so he’s supposed to be. Really 10/10 for that one.
Story-wise, we get to see Sawyer go from someone who is absolutely not over her ex but still thinks it’s a good idea to get under someone else, to someone who’s healing and recognizing that she was emotionally abused, to someone who is genuinely able to move on.
It’s a fairly quiet story. Nothing particularly huge or dramatic happens and that’s okay, though I would have loved to see a fight between Sawyer and Samuel for example - even if only to show conflicts can happen in healthy relationships too and they can be handled in a mature way.
In summary, the story starts reading smoothly starting around page 100. It’s honestly a struggle to get through those, but oh so worth it. I started liking the story about 33% in and I was genuinely emotionally invested in the story starting at around 66%. Really, it took me a hot minute to get into the story, but I did eventually. Sadly though, the first quarter of the book really ‘ruins’ it for the rest, because I feel like people might be inclined to DNF there (I know I almost did), not knowing that it does get better. I honestly believe this book would benefit enormously from an extra round of editing.
Because I really did enjoy reading a good chunk of the story, I’m choosing to partly ignore those first 100 pages and give this book three stars.
(I have received this book as an ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
The first 100-ish pages were a struggle for me.
Those pages were written very… youthfully. The FMC reads like a teenager, but since she’s a chef in the beginning of the story, I’m assuming she’s older than that.
On top of that, the editing made the beginning hard to read sometimes because of rogue punctuation and missing spaces, which really negatively impacted my reading experience.
Strangely though, this significantly improved after those first 100 pages.
There were some inconsistencies in the story (for example: Sawyer and Samuel talking about getting ready for dinner… while they’re already at an all you can eat buffet, Sawyer being at work one moment but next to Samuel in bed the next) which could be a little confusing and pulled me out of the story.
The characters are written differently before and after the +/- 150 page mark, where there’s a time jump from 2017 to 2018.
In 2017, Sawyer needed therapy, not a new boyfriend. At no point was I under the impression that she was actually in love with Samuel instead of just using him as a distraction. She was honestly a little annoying. Like I already mentioned, she felt more like a teenager than a working adult.
It really annoyed me that Samuel was so incredibly chill about the fact that his girlfriend was still so obviously hung up on her ex. Good for her for finding such a man, but it started to feel unrealistic quite fast. He felt too naive and gullible. Also, the way he is possessive over her felt more toxic and a little bit creepy rather than sweet or romantic.
In 2018, Sawyer suddenly seems more mature. Going forward from that point, I do believe that Samuel is more than a distraction to her. The narrative shifts from being about Dante to being about what Dante did to her and the effects his behavior during their relationship still has on her today. Samuel stops coming across as overly obsessive, though it sometimes feels like all he cares about is sex. Mostly though, he is the loving, caring boyfriend he’s supposed to be.
Dante is an asshole throughout the book - but he’s the toxic ex so he’s supposed to be. Really 10/10 for that one.
Story-wise, we get to see Sawyer go from someone who is absolutely not over her ex but still thinks it’s a good idea to get under someone else, to someone who’s healing and recognizing that she was emotionally abused, to someone who is genuinely able to move on.
It’s a fairly quiet story. Nothing particularly huge or dramatic happens and that’s okay, though I would have loved to see a fight between Sawyer and Samuel for example - even if only to show conflicts can happen in healthy relationships too and they can be handled in a mature way.
In summary, the story starts reading smoothly starting around page 100. It’s honestly a struggle to get through those, but oh so worth it. I started liking the story about 33% in and I was genuinely emotionally invested in the story starting at around 66%. Really, it took me a hot minute to get into the story, but I did eventually. Sadly though, the first quarter of the book really ‘ruins’ it for the rest, because I feel like people might be inclined to DNF there (I know I almost did), not knowing that it does get better. I honestly believe this book would benefit enormously from an extra round of editing.
Because I really did enjoy reading a good chunk of the story, I’m choosing to partly ignore those first 100 pages and give this book three stars.
(I have received this book as an ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book hurts in the quietest, most emotionally devastating way possible 👀🖤
Not because it’s loud or dramatic all the time—
but because it understands how hard it is to let go of someone who damaged you and still somehow lives inside your head anyway.
And honestly??
That emotional conflict felt painfully real.
Sawyer’s story isn’t just about choosing between two men. It’s about trying to understand the difference between chaos and love… and realizing those things aren’t always the same.
For years, Dante was the kind of relationship that consumes everything around it. The kind that leaves scars long after it’s over.
And the way his presence lingers throughout the story??
SO emotionally intense.
Even when he’s not physically there, you feel him constantly hanging over Sawyer’s thoughts, memories, and choices.
Then there’s Samuel 🥹
And honestly??
He completely broke my heart in a different way.
Because Samuel represents safety. Stability. Real love without conditions.
The way he loves Sawyer is soft, patient, and steady—and that contrast between him and Dante is what makes the emotional tension in this book so strong.
What really stood out to me is that the story doesn’t treat healing as something simple or linear. Sawyer still grieving parts of her past while trying to build a future felt incredibly honest and human.
The emotional writing in this book is BEAUTIFUL. Heavy at times, but deeply reflective in a way that makes you sit with the characters’ emotions instead of rushing past them.
✨ If you love:
• emotionally messy romance
• love triangles with real emotional depth
• healing after toxic relationships
• introspective, character-driven stories
• soft love interests vs emotionally damaging exes
This one is emotional, raw, and painfully honest in the best possible way 🖤✨
Not because it’s loud or dramatic all the time—
but because it understands how hard it is to let go of someone who damaged you and still somehow lives inside your head anyway.
And honestly??
That emotional conflict felt painfully real.
Sawyer’s story isn’t just about choosing between two men. It’s about trying to understand the difference between chaos and love… and realizing those things aren’t always the same.
For years, Dante was the kind of relationship that consumes everything around it. The kind that leaves scars long after it’s over.
And the way his presence lingers throughout the story??
SO emotionally intense.
Even when he’s not physically there, you feel him constantly hanging over Sawyer’s thoughts, memories, and choices.
Then there’s Samuel 🥹
And honestly??
He completely broke my heart in a different way.
Because Samuel represents safety. Stability. Real love without conditions.
The way he loves Sawyer is soft, patient, and steady—and that contrast between him and Dante is what makes the emotional tension in this book so strong.
What really stood out to me is that the story doesn’t treat healing as something simple or linear. Sawyer still grieving parts of her past while trying to build a future felt incredibly honest and human.
The emotional writing in this book is BEAUTIFUL. Heavy at times, but deeply reflective in a way that makes you sit with the characters’ emotions instead of rushing past them.
✨ If you love:
• emotionally messy romance
• love triangles with real emotional depth
• healing after toxic relationships
• introspective, character-driven stories
• soft love interests vs emotionally damaging exes
This one is emotional, raw, and painfully honest in the best possible way 🖤✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
You’ll Thank Me Later is emotional, reflective, and painfully honest about how difficult it can be to truly let go of someone who once consumed your entire heart. The story explores healing, emotional attachment, and the complicated space between moving on and still grieving a relationship that left lasting scars.
What stood out most to me was how realistic Sawyer’s emotional conflict felt. Samuel offers her stability, care, and the kind of healthy love she deserves, but the lingering emotional pull toward Dante never fully disappears. The story doesn’t simplify those feelings or try to make them easy, which made the emotional tension feel authentic throughout.
This leans more character-driven and introspective than dramatic, focusing heavily on emotional processing and vulnerability. At times the emotional heaviness can feel overwhelming, but it fits the story being told and makes the quieter moments hit even harder.
Overall, this was messy, emotional, and deeply human in the way it explores love, heartbreak, and the complicated process of healing.
What stood out most to me was how realistic Sawyer’s emotional conflict felt. Samuel offers her stability, care, and the kind of healthy love she deserves, but the lingering emotional pull toward Dante never fully disappears. The story doesn’t simplify those feelings or try to make them easy, which made the emotional tension feel authentic throughout.
This leans more character-driven and introspective than dramatic, focusing heavily on emotional processing and vulnerability. At times the emotional heaviness can feel overwhelming, but it fits the story being told and makes the quieter moments hit even harder.
Overall, this was messy, emotional, and deeply human in the way it explores love, heartbreak, and the complicated process of healing.
May 17, 2026
I was able to read the ARC and it was like reading my diary/journal and reliving moments in my life with different names, characters and places…but still, somehow, it was my story. A story I know many others can relate to. I couldn’t put this book down…it is raw and messy and just a complete dose of honesty on what the healing journey looks like after falling hard for the wrong one. We all have had a Dante in our lives, but I hope we find our Samuels.
This is Victoria’s debut as an author, at times you can see that through the book, but the sheer emotional attachment I had to this story just made me feel she was somehow taking notes in the background of my life and let me see how I too have come along so far from the version of me that I was back then to the version of me today. Definitely looking forward to seeing what else she has in store for us.
This is Victoria’s debut as an author, at times you can see that through the book, but the sheer emotional attachment I had to this story just made me feel she was somehow taking notes in the background of my life and let me see how I too have come along so far from the version of me that I was back then to the version of me today. Definitely looking forward to seeing what else she has in store for us.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author Victoria for the opportunity to read this as an ARC!
This story follows Sawyer through a few years of her life and all the struggles, challenges, growths, and life changes she goes through. Sawyer is in 2 different relationships over the span of the book. First with Dante and next with Samuel.
The premise of this book is beautiful and the topics are hard but very real and raw. I did feel that there was a lot of repetition throughout the story that could have been cut out to let things flow a little bit better. Some of the statements made I felt were overused and made it a little hard to read at times.
I did really enjoy watching Sawyer grow and find her own self worth and they beauty of her relationship with Samuel!
This story follows Sawyer through a few years of her life and all the struggles, challenges, growths, and life changes she goes through. Sawyer is in 2 different relationships over the span of the book. First with Dante and next with Samuel.
The premise of this book is beautiful and the topics are hard but very real and raw. I did feel that there was a lot of repetition throughout the story that could have been cut out to let things flow a little bit better. Some of the statements made I felt were overused and made it a little hard to read at times.
I did really enjoy watching Sawyer grow and find her own self worth and they beauty of her relationship with Samuel!
May 17, 2026
I read this book as an ARC reader it was amazing hoping the author Victoria Latouche writes more books!! The best thing about this book is that it keeps you intrigued and wanting more!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews