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Finding Me Choosing You: Riceville Springs Collection
It’s not easy to let your guard down, especially when your own parents abandoned you. That’s why Ashley Matthis is the queen of avoiding any and all feelings. That includes pretending to be oblivious to her brother’s best friend when he very openly wants her. Her entire life, she has kept people at arm’s length, and that’s exactly what she plans to continue doing. However, one night, a leggy blonde draped over her friend with benefits' arm has her feeling things she never thought she would.
Being obsessed with your best friend’s little sister is setting yourself up for failure. Hunter White is all too familiar with this. What started as a crush, some hookups, and hanging out quickly developed into much, much more…for him at least. He’s very aware that Ash doesn’t share the same feelings towards him. That’s why he chooses to move on, find someone who wants a relationship, and settle down. Except, all he can think about is auburn hair and blue eyes.
Now, they find themselves at their best friend’s wedding, where everything begins to shift. Maybe it’s the love in the air or jealousy, but inside the small chapel on the outskirts of town, their lives do a complete one-eighty. Insecurities and fear plague them from the start, but maybe, just maybe, they can overcome it. After all, Liam and Bailey did, so why can’t they?
Being obsessed with your best friend’s little sister is setting yourself up for failure. Hunter White is all too familiar with this. What started as a crush, some hookups, and hanging out quickly developed into much, much more…for him at least. He’s very aware that Ash doesn’t share the same feelings towards him. That’s why he chooses to move on, find someone who wants a relationship, and settle down. Except, all he can think about is auburn hair and blue eyes.
Now, they find themselves at their best friend’s wedding, where everything begins to shift. Maybe it’s the love in the air or jealousy, but inside the small chapel on the outskirts of town, their lives do a complete one-eighty. Insecurities and fear plague them from the start, but maybe, just maybe, they can overcome it. After all, Liam and Bailey did, so why can’t they?
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 27, 2026
I went back and forth on how I was going to address this review. On one hand, it had one of the sweetest, most down bad MMC’s I’ve read in a very long time, whom my heart just ached for. On the other, it had one of the least likable FMC’s I think I have ever read. It truly DEVASTATES me to have to write this because I was so excited to read this book. I had such high hopes and could truly see the potential in Ashley and Hunter’s story, but sadly the execution was just not there. To be honest and completely transparent, I think that this story needed a better sensitivity reader. I am a huge advocate for mental health, trauma and illness rep in books, because I have lived it, this however, was extremely insensitive and angered me. As someone who has struggled with A LOT of the same issues for my entire life that Ashley struggled with in this book, it was truly heartbreaking to see that this is how those topics were addressed and spotlighted. The toxicity in this book was astounding and not in a good way. It got to a point where I don’t think I was even rooting for them to end up together and I was borderline upset with Hunter for forgiving her as easily as he did. I truly NEVER feel comfortable writing reviews like this because I am very much a glass half full reader, trying to find things that I can love about a story. However, reading these things is usually cathartic and therapeutic for people like me when written within the right scope and this just wasn’t. It honestly was a very rough read for me and let me be crystal clear here: these topics are not “triggers” for me. So before anyone can say “don’t read it if it’s triggering for you”, I have done the work, I have been able to read them within the proper headspace for quite some time and haven’t had an issue until they are written as what comes off as rage bait. Do I want to go back and read the previous stories to maybe understand better? Sort of? I just worry I will see more of Ashley and I’m not sure that’s something I want to sign up to do. A very heartbreaking 2.75/5 stars. PLEASE READ THE TWs.
::What to Expect::
•Friends with benefits
•He falls first and so hard
•She’s sworn off all relationships
•Brother’s best friend
•Small Town
•Found family
•Mental health rep
::What to Expect::
•Friends with benefits
•He falls first and so hard
•She’s sworn off all relationships
•Brother’s best friend
•Small Town
•Found family
•Mental health rep
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2026
I LOVE THIS SERIES! This is the second book in the riceville spring series and it just keeps getting better! I was lucky enough to read this as an ARC and Ahhhhh Hunter is the definition of a yearning man. I felt so connected to this book because of what Ashley the main FMC what she mentally goes through and the overall experience of her character. This was such a great book yall please check it out.. Already IN NEED OF THE THIRD BOOK!
September 7, 2026
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️
I went back and forth on how to approach this review because, on one hand, Hunter is one of the sweetest and most painfully down-bad MMCs I’ve read in a long time.
On the other hand, Ashley is one of the least likable FMCs I have ever encountered.
The duality. The distress. The way I spent the entire book wanting to wrap Hunter in a blanket and relocate him to a different romance.
This genuinely devastates me to write because I was so excited for Ashley and Hunter’s story. The premise had so much potential, and there were pieces of their relationship that could have become something incredibly emotional.
Unfortunately, the execution just wasn’t there for me.
✨ Brother’s Best Friend
✨ Former Friends with Benefits
✨ Friends to Lovers
✨ Second Chance
✨ Small-Town Romance
✨ Found Family
✨ He Falls First and HARD
✨ She’s Sworn Off Relationships
✨ Mental-Health Representation
✨ Jealousy
Hunter deserves every flower I can find.
This man is thoughtful, patient, caring, and completely devoted to Ashley. He doesn’t simply fall first—he falls directly through the earth’s crust and apparently decides to live there permanently.
He loves her even when he tries not to. He sees the parts of her that are struggling and repeatedly attempts to meet them with compassion. His heart ached for her, and mine ached for him because he kept offering love to someone who seemed determined to punish him for having it.
I understand loving a complicated FMC. Actually, I usually prefer complicated women. Give me someone angry, traumatized, self-destructive, morally gray, or difficult to understand. Women do not need to be endlessly pleasant, emotionally polished, or perfectly healed to deserve their own love stories.
But there is a difference between writing a flawed character and repeatedly excusing the harm she causes.
That distinction is where this book lost me.
Ashley is struggling with her mental health, pushing people away, and using avoidance as a coping mechanism. Those behaviors can be deeply realistic. Trauma and mental illness can affect how someone communicates, interprets other people’s intentions, and responds when intimacy begins to feel threatening.
I know that firsthand.
I am a huge advocate for thoughtful portrayals of mental illness and trauma in fiction because I have lived with many of the same struggles Ashley faces. When that representation is handled with care, reading it can feel cathartic. It can make people feel understood instead of isolated.
This did not feel cathartic to me.
It felt insensitive.
And I want to be very clear: I am not saying these topics should never be portrayed messily. Mental illness is messy. Recovery is not linear. People relapse into harmful patterns, make mistakes, and hurt the people they love.
But representation needs more than pain and recognizable symptoms. It also needs self-awareness, accountability, and enough emotional context for the reader to understand what the story is asking us to take away from that behavior.
Ashley’s actions repeatedly hurt Hunter, but I never felt that the narrative meaningfully confronted the weight of that harm. Her struggles explained why she behaved the way she did, but the story often seemed to treat that explanation as an absolution.
Mental illness can explain behavior.
It does not erase impact.
That doesn’t mean Ashley needed to become perfectly healed, grovel endlessly, or perform recovery to earn love. It means I needed to see her genuinely acknowledge what her choices had done to Hunter and actively participate in rebuilding the relationship.
Instead, Hunter’s patience became almost limitless, and his forgiveness arrived so easily that I was borderline upset with him for accepting so little in return.
SIR. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE NEEDS TOO.
Being the patient, understanding partner does not mean becoming an emotional crash mat for someone who keeps throwing herself—and you—off the roof.
The longer the story continued, the less I rooted for Ashley and Hunter to end up together. That is a major problem in a romance, especially when one half of the couple is as lovable as Hunter.
I wanted him to be happy.
I just wasn’t convinced that being with Ashley was the way to accomplish that.
There were moments when I could see the relationship this book wanted to portray: two people with a complicated history finding their way back to one another, a woman learning not to run from love, and a man proving that he will remain steady when everything inside her expects abandonment.
That could have destroyed me in the best way.
Instead, the toxicity overwhelmed the tenderness. Hunter’s devotion began to feel less romantic because the emotional labor was so unbalanced. He continued understanding, waiting, forgiving, and choosing Ashley while I waited for her to show that she was equally capable of choosing him in a healthy and meaningful way.
My Kindle and I held several emergency meetings.
None of them went well for Ashley.
I also think this story would have benefited from a stronger sensitivity read, particularly around the mental-health themes. Some moments felt designed to provoke rather than illuminate, and at times the representation came dangerously close to feeling like rage bait.
That was especially heartbreaking because the book was dealing with experiences that could have resonated deeply with readers who have lived them.
Before anyone says, “You shouldn’t have read it if those topics trigger you,” that is not what happened here.
These subjects are not automatic triggers for me. I have done the work required to engage with them in the right headspace, and I have read many books containing similar themes without an issue. My reaction came from how the material was framed and resolved—not from the simple fact that it existed.
There is an important difference between being uncomfortable because a book is honestly examining something painful and being frustrated because the examination feels careless.
This was the latter for me.
That said, I don’t believe Ashley needed to be “likable” in a traditional sense. An FMC can make terrible choices and still be fascinating. But if a romance asks me to celebrate her happy ending with the person she repeatedly hurts, I need emotional growth substantial enough to earn that celebration.
I needed more from Ashley.
More accountability. More reflection. More effort. More recognition that Hunter’s love did not make him invulnerable.
Mostly, I needed the reconciliation to feel like two people choosing each other—not one person doing all the choosing while the other was repeatedly forgiven.
There were still things I appreciated. The book was a quick read, and the small-town and found-family elements gave the story warmth. Hunter’s love for Ashley was sincere, and his tenderness was easily the strongest part of the romance. Readers who enjoy deeply devoted heroes, complicated heroines, and emotionally messy second chances may connect with this story differently than I did.
And that’s okay.
A critical review is not a declaration that nobody else should read the book. Everyone brings different experiences, boundaries, and expectations to a story. Someone else may see themselves in Ashley’s journey and receive something from it that I couldn’t.
But for me, the emotional imbalance was impossible to overlook.
FINDING ME CHOOSING YOU had the foundation for a powerful story about mental health, fear, unconditional love, and the difficult work of choosing someone after you’ve convinced yourself that relationships are unsafe.
I just wish it had given Ashley the growth—and Hunter the consideration—necessary to make that love story feel earned.
Three stars, with most of them tucked carefully into Hunter’s pocket.
Please check the author’s content warnings before reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Haylee Trew is an author I gravitate to because of how she writes her characters. In the first book of the Riceville Springs series, the female main character (FMC), Bailey, returns to town after leaving her controlling, cheating boyfriend. In Finding Me, Choosing You, the FMC, Ashley Matthis, deals with the mental anguish of her parents abandoning her and her brother, Liam, when she was just eight years old.
Ashley allows the grief of her parents’ departure to manifest and fester into depression. She keeps this struggle hidden from her best friend, Bailey, and from Liam. Only Hunter, her brother’s best friend and her friend with benefits, has witnessed her depression. While he does not know the full extent of her continuous suffering, his secret love for her drives him to use their arrangement to quietly watch over her. Unfortunately, Ashley relies on lies and cruel treatment to hide her vulnerability. In this heartbreaking dynamic, she risks permanently losing the man who loves her and whom she loves back, despite being subconsciously blind to her own feelings.
Hunter is the ideal partner for Ashley. He is willing to do anything for her without expectation, a devotion he proved when he looked after her during one of her depressive episodes. Even though he gives her the space she asks for, the truth is that Ashley purposely distances herself from romantic relationships because of her mental health struggles.
It is deeply frustrating to watch Ashley suffer, knowing she needs help but refuses to ask for it. Her life could be completely different if she simply allowed her brother and friends to support her. Tragically, this isolation reflects the painful reality that many people facing mental health issues experience. By writing Ashley this way, Haylee successfully raises awareness about the complex, heartbreaking nature of depression.
While the story handles some heavy themes, it never overshadows the romance. A perfect example is when Hunter takes Ashley to a place where she can escape her problems and just focus on him, which completely solidifies their chemistry. They make such a beautiful couple, and I really hope we see more of them in future Riceville Springs books!
We are also introduced to a new face in town, Blake, and get reacquainted with Caleb. Caleb brings plenty of laughs with his clumsy flirting, but I would honestly love to see him lead his own book as the romantic hero.
Ashley allows the grief of her parents’ departure to manifest and fester into depression. She keeps this struggle hidden from her best friend, Bailey, and from Liam. Only Hunter, her brother’s best friend and her friend with benefits, has witnessed her depression. While he does not know the full extent of her continuous suffering, his secret love for her drives him to use their arrangement to quietly watch over her. Unfortunately, Ashley relies on lies and cruel treatment to hide her vulnerability. In this heartbreaking dynamic, she risks permanently losing the man who loves her and whom she loves back, despite being subconsciously blind to her own feelings.
Hunter is the ideal partner for Ashley. He is willing to do anything for her without expectation, a devotion he proved when he looked after her during one of her depressive episodes. Even though he gives her the space she asks for, the truth is that Ashley purposely distances herself from romantic relationships because of her mental health struggles.
It is deeply frustrating to watch Ashley suffer, knowing she needs help but refuses to ask for it. Her life could be completely different if she simply allowed her brother and friends to support her. Tragically, this isolation reflects the painful reality that many people facing mental health issues experience. By writing Ashley this way, Haylee successfully raises awareness about the complex, heartbreaking nature of depression.
While the story handles some heavy themes, it never overshadows the romance. A perfect example is when Hunter takes Ashley to a place where she can escape her problems and just focus on him, which completely solidifies their chemistry. They make such a beautiful couple, and I really hope we see more of them in future Riceville Springs books!
We are also introduced to a new face in town, Blake, and get reacquainted with Caleb. Caleb brings plenty of laughs with his clumsy flirting, but I would honestly love to see him lead his own book as the romantic hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2026
I really dislike Ash, I totally understand that she's going through so much shit but she has no right to be such a bitch to Hunter (my sweet hunter 🥹)
I get it that she has depression and abandonment issues because of her parents, when she was 8 and not all people are the same (I went through depression) but if u know that your like this it's not wrong to ask for help! She could of asked her brother since they both went through the same situation.
Oh hunter you have so much patience that in my eyes your a saint 🥹 she treats you so bad and your still sticking around. She doesn't deserve you 😭😭😭
He's just so thoughtful and caring 😫 what I love about him is that he's not afraid to show his feelings or express them and that's so rare in a man.
In all seriousness Ash is very selfish thinking that hunter was always going to be there for her at her beck and call
And in all I'm glad that she finally knew that she needed help and asked for it. I liked Blake even more when she gave that talk to Ash cuz deep down she need to hear it from the outside view. She needed a wake up call and she got it when hunter started dating Blake.
Wow the ending was written so beautifully 🥹 I loved that finally Ash asked for help and told her brother what was happening to her and that Hunter was with her through it all. Glad that she saw how much she loved Hunter and everyone saw it but her.
The ending was just perfect for this story
I was so excited to be selected for this ARC and this book lived up to my expectations.
🌶️🌶️
I get it that she has depression and abandonment issues because of her parents, when she was 8 and not all people are the same (I went through depression) but if u know that your like this it's not wrong to ask for help! She could of asked her brother since they both went through the same situation.
Oh hunter you have so much patience that in my eyes your a saint 🥹 she treats you so bad and your still sticking around. She doesn't deserve you 😭😭😭
He's just so thoughtful and caring 😫 what I love about him is that he's not afraid to show his feelings or express them and that's so rare in a man.
In all seriousness Ash is very selfish thinking that hunter was always going to be there for her at her beck and call
And in all I'm glad that she finally knew that she needed help and asked for it. I liked Blake even more when she gave that talk to Ash cuz deep down she need to hear it from the outside view. She needed a wake up call and she got it when hunter started dating Blake.
Wow the ending was written so beautifully 🥹 I loved that finally Ash asked for help and told her brother what was happening to her and that Hunter was with her through it all. Glad that she saw how much she loved Hunter and everyone saw it but her.
The ending was just perfect for this story
I was so excited to be selected for this ARC and this book lived up to my expectations.
🌶️🌶️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What to Expect
Brother’s best friend
Former friends with benefits
Small town romance
Contemporary romance
He falls first x she’s anti love
Mental health rep
Second chance
Forced proximity
This was such a fun brother's-best-friend romance with plenty of chemistry, emotional walls, jealousy, and that delicious "he's been in love with her forever" energy. The MCs (Ashley and Hunter) have a complicated dynamic from the start, especially with the FMC (Ashley) doing everything she can to keep everyone at a safe distance.
The journey from casual hookups and unspoken feelings to finally confronting what was between them had plenty of emotional moments, and the wedding setting was the perfect catalyst for everything to come to a head.
The FMC's (Ashley) abandonment issues and fear of letting people in added some depth to her character, while the MMC's (Hunter) patience and determination made it easy to root for him. I especially liked seeing them work through their insecurities instead of having everything magically fall into place.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, emotional romance with great chemistry and a satisfying journey toward happily ever after. 💕
I received this book as an eARC, although it had no effect on my ability to provide a thoughtful and honest review.
Brother’s best friend
Former friends with benefits
Small town romance
Contemporary romance
He falls first x she’s anti love
Mental health rep
Second chance
Forced proximity
This was such a fun brother's-best-friend romance with plenty of chemistry, emotional walls, jealousy, and that delicious "he's been in love with her forever" energy. The MCs (Ashley and Hunter) have a complicated dynamic from the start, especially with the FMC (Ashley) doing everything she can to keep everyone at a safe distance.
The journey from casual hookups and unspoken feelings to finally confronting what was between them had plenty of emotional moments, and the wedding setting was the perfect catalyst for everything to come to a head.
The FMC's (Ashley) abandonment issues and fear of letting people in added some depth to her character, while the MMC's (Hunter) patience and determination made it easy to root for him. I especially liked seeing them work through their insecurities instead of having everything magically fall into place.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, emotional romance with great chemistry and a satisfying journey toward happily ever after. 💕
I received this book as an eARC, although it had no effect on my ability to provide a thoughtful and honest review.
August 23, 2026
This is the first story I've read from Haylee Trew.
Finding Me Choosing You is a quick read, I was able to complete the book in under 24 hours.
I appreciate a story that showcases the downfalls and struggles with mental health. As humans, we make mistakes and that's what is most natural.
Hunter, our MMC is super thoughtful, caring and oh so patient with the love of his life, Ashley. He was absolutely obsessed with her and couldn't let her go, even when he tried.
Ashley, our FMC, is struggling with many things, letting Hunter go... strugging with her mental health and pushing people away, her way of coping.
If I'm honest, I adore Hunter and really wanted the story to end differently. I know that there are reasons behind her actions, but I wasn't actively cheering for Ashley. Everything was so confusing.
Did I love this story? No. Would I recommend it to others? Yes, everyone deserves to make their own decisions on books. I simply yearned for more and really felt like Hunter deserved more.
TL:DR
⭐️ 3/5
💙 Brother's best friend
💔 Former friends with benefits
🏠 Small town romance
🔁 Second chance romance
🖤 He falls first and he's down bad
🧠 Mental health rep
😍 Friends to lovers
🥵 Jealousy
🌶️ 2/5
Finding Me Choosing You is a quick read, I was able to complete the book in under 24 hours.
I appreciate a story that showcases the downfalls and struggles with mental health. As humans, we make mistakes and that's what is most natural.
Hunter, our MMC is super thoughtful, caring and oh so patient with the love of his life, Ashley. He was absolutely obsessed with her and couldn't let her go, even when he tried.
Ashley, our FMC, is struggling with many things, letting Hunter go... strugging with her mental health and pushing people away, her way of coping.
If I'm honest, I adore Hunter and really wanted the story to end differently. I know that there are reasons behind her actions, but I wasn't actively cheering for Ashley. Everything was so confusing.
Did I love this story? No. Would I recommend it to others? Yes, everyone deserves to make their own decisions on books. I simply yearned for more and really felt like Hunter deserved more.
TL:DR
⭐️ 3/5
💙 Brother's best friend
💔 Former friends with benefits
🏠 Small town romance
🔁 Second chance romance
🖤 He falls first and he's down bad
🧠 Mental health rep
😍 Friends to lovers
🥵 Jealousy
🌶️ 2/5
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
*I received a copy of this book as an ARC. This review and thoughts are mine alone.*
Rating: 3.5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
I’m a HUGE mental health advocate. I suffer from depression, bipolar, and self-sabotaging anxiety. I have been where Ash was. I still have bouts of time where i physically can’t even fathom washing my hair, getting out of bed, or doing anything but sleeping. So please take this as you will.
I spent approximately 48% of this book wanting to smack Ash. Her jealousy at the restaurant was probably the moment that made me want to DNF. If she truly cared about him, and wanted him for herself, he was quite literally BEGGING her silently to tell him. She KNEW. And girl please don’t make me side with a man.
And Hunter? The patience of a SAINT. Truly the man that deserves to be loved out loud, not in private. Regardless of their feelings, he never falters in being there for her.
I loved the last book so much, and was so excited for this one.
I am hoping we get a book for Blake next as she’s really the girls girl we all need in our lives.
Rating: 3.5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
I’m a HUGE mental health advocate. I suffer from depression, bipolar, and self-sabotaging anxiety. I have been where Ash was. I still have bouts of time where i physically can’t even fathom washing my hair, getting out of bed, or doing anything but sleeping. So please take this as you will.
I spent approximately 48% of this book wanting to smack Ash. Her jealousy at the restaurant was probably the moment that made me want to DNF. If she truly cared about him, and wanted him for herself, he was quite literally BEGGING her silently to tell him. She KNEW. And girl please don’t make me side with a man.
And Hunter? The patience of a SAINT. Truly the man that deserves to be loved out loud, not in private. Regardless of their feelings, he never falters in being there for her.
I loved the last book so much, and was so excited for this one.
I am hoping we get a book for Blake next as she’s really the girls girl we all need in our lives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
One of my favorite things about Haylee Trews writing are the imperfect characters, characters that struggle with mental health and make mistakes.
While there were a lot of times Ash annoyed me with how “mean” she was, getting defensive and pushing people away was her coping mechanism. She had to overcome a lot of mental health issues to be able to not only give Hunter the love he deserved, but to also love herself.
& sweet Hunter. He was thoughtful, caring and so so patient. He was so in love and obsessed with Ash. He stuck around through SO much.
I wanted so badly to dislike Blake when she was first introduced but i ended up loving her & her personality so much! (And i really really hope she gets a book👀).
I also LOVED getting to see past characters from previous books, it makes my heart so happy every time.💗
The ending of this story was SO beautiful! Ash finding herself, and being able to open up was the perfect ending for the roller coaster that was their relationship.🫣
While there were a lot of times Ash annoyed me with how “mean” she was, getting defensive and pushing people away was her coping mechanism. She had to overcome a lot of mental health issues to be able to not only give Hunter the love he deserved, but to also love herself.
& sweet Hunter. He was thoughtful, caring and so so patient. He was so in love and obsessed with Ash. He stuck around through SO much.
I wanted so badly to dislike Blake when she was first introduced but i ended up loving her & her personality so much! (And i really really hope she gets a book👀).
I also LOVED getting to see past characters from previous books, it makes my heart so happy every time.💗
The ending of this story was SO beautiful! Ash finding herself, and being able to open up was the perfect ending for the roller coaster that was their relationship.🫣
Review of advance copy received from Author
(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5) Short & sweet!
It took five-ever for Ash to push herself towards some growth. Hunter made the best decision for both of them by walking away. He deserved love & peace and Ash needed time to face her emotions and heal. Hunter’s patience was unreal though because the mask she puts on is mean as hell. She made me mad there for a bit.
They had sweet, sweet chemistry & Hunter cared so very deeply Ash. I felt for her, but I wanted her to push herself out of the way so bad. I loved them together so much, they had such a good baseline friendship that brought them back together.
Justice for Blake! A true girls girl. I hope we get a book about her happy ending. She deserves it.
It took five-ever for Ash to push herself towards some growth. Hunter made the best decision for both of them by walking away. He deserved love & peace and Ash needed time to face her emotions and heal. Hunter’s patience was unreal though because the mask she puts on is mean as hell. She made me mad there for a bit.
They had sweet, sweet chemistry & Hunter cared so very deeply Ash. I felt for her, but I wanted her to push herself out of the way so bad. I loved them together so much, they had such a good baseline friendship that brought them back together.
Justice for Blake! A true girls girl. I hope we get a book about her happy ending. She deserves it.
Review of advance copy
Finding Me Choosing You was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Ash had a lot of past trauma that led her to being very guarded and not wanting to let anyone get close to her. She was majorly depressed but didn't want to seek help. Hunter has been in love with her forever and seen her at her lowest and was always there for her. He knew the walls around her heart were high but continued to love her quietly. When he finally decided to make himself happy and want more than their situationship, it pushed Ash into more of a tailspin. It took some time but she was able to realize how much she needed him and wanted to get help.
August 26, 2026
I met both Ash and Hunter in the first book of the series and was ready for their story. I'll be honest and say that I didn't expect Hunter to be, well, Hunter. He is one patient man and just so in love that he doesn't see his worth. Ash struggles with herself She carries fears that are valid, but they play such a big role in what she truly wants out of life and who she wants beside her once she finally actually "lives."
I absolutely loved seeing more of Bailey and Liam and the closeness between everyone. Sometimes it really is a long road to getting where you're supposed to be and I was happy with where Ash and Hunter ended up.
Thank you to Haylee Trew for the ARC.
I absolutely loved seeing more of Bailey and Liam and the closeness between everyone. Sometimes it really is a long road to getting where you're supposed to be and I was happy with where Ash and Hunter ended up.
Thank you to Haylee Trew for the ARC.
August 21, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• ARC REVIEW •
This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions. I read this book in under 24 hours. The first half of the book - I was sucked in, practically glued to my Kindle! I was so absorbed into Ashley and Hunter’s lives. Then 50% hit and I almost threw my Kindle. ASHLEY!!! UGH!!!! That’s all I have to say! Then 75% hit and I was calm and congratulating Blake on being a true girl’s girl. Finally 90% hit and I was smiling and kicking my feet.
Haylee did a great job at representing mental health in her book and how important it is, especially to the people in your life.
• ARC REVIEW •
This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions. I read this book in under 24 hours. The first half of the book - I was sucked in, practically glued to my Kindle! I was so absorbed into Ashley and Hunter’s lives. Then 50% hit and I almost threw my Kindle. ASHLEY!!! UGH!!!! That’s all I have to say! Then 75% hit and I was calm and congratulating Blake on being a true girl’s girl. Finally 90% hit and I was smiling and kicking my feet.
Haylee did a great job at representing mental health in her book and how important it is, especially to the people in your life.
September 1, 2026
This is actually the first Haylee Trew book I’ve DNF’d (33%), and unfortunately, it was entirely because of the FMC. I just could not connect with Ashley or get past the way she treated Hunter. More than anything, though, I really struggled with how her mental health was handled. I expected a much more thoughtful approach to her struggles and the way she was coping with them. Instead, a lot of it felt frustrating and, at times, uncomfortable to read. I was already rooting for Hunter to kick her to the curb and find his HEA. I ultimately couldn’t continue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW 📚✨
Finding Me, Choosing You Haylee Trew
Tropes:
💞 Brother’s best friend
❤️🔥 Friends with benefits
🥹 He falls first
🏡 Small town
👀 Jealousy
💕 Friends to lovers
🫶 Longtime crush
I really enjoyed this one! Ashley has spent her whole life keeping people at arm’s length, while Hunter has been completely gone for her for YEARS. Give me a man who falls first and is down bad and I’m sold. 😂
I loved their whole friends-with-benefits situation turning into something so much more, especially once the jealousy started creeping in. Ashley definitely had her walls up, but watching Hunter slowly break through them and make her realise she actually wanted more was so good.
Such a cute, emotional small-town romance with plenty of tension, feelings and a man who knew exactly who he wanted. ❤️
Thank you Haylee Trew for the ARC copy! 🤍
Finding Me, Choosing You Haylee Trew
Tropes:
💞 Brother’s best friend
❤️🔥 Friends with benefits
🥹 He falls first
🏡 Small town
👀 Jealousy
💕 Friends to lovers
🫶 Longtime crush
I really enjoyed this one! Ashley has spent her whole life keeping people at arm’s length, while Hunter has been completely gone for her for YEARS. Give me a man who falls first and is down bad and I’m sold. 😂
I loved their whole friends-with-benefits situation turning into something so much more, especially once the jealousy started creeping in. Ashley definitely had her walls up, but watching Hunter slowly break through them and make her realise she actually wanted more was so good.
Such a cute, emotional small-town romance with plenty of tension, feelings and a man who knew exactly who he wanted. ❤️
Thank you Haylee Trew for the ARC copy! 🤍
August 23, 2026
For me it was an emotional rollercoaster, it has some depression and anxiety so I suggest you look up the trigger warnings if that is something you have a hard time with?
Hunter is the ideal and perfect partner suspect for Ash, he is willing to do anything for her without expecting to get anything in return. And watching their journey of struggles, depression and romance along the way it’s both frustrating and beautiful.
Hunter is the ideal and perfect partner suspect for Ash, he is willing to do anything for her without expecting to get anything in return. And watching their journey of struggles, depression and romance along the way it’s both frustrating and beautiful.
September 15, 2026
When I signed up for this book, I knew that I was going to love it. Bu I wasn't ready for how MUCH I loved it!!
This book took me from one emotion to the next! These characters were some of my absolute favorite that I have read this year! THAT says ALOT! I just didn't realize this book was going to put me through the emotions!
Thank you to ✨️ Haylee Trew ✨️ for the complimentary 📖 ARC 📖 in exchange for my opinion that are my own, honest, and voluntary.
This book took me from one emotion to the next! These characters were some of my absolute favorite that I have read this year! THAT says ALOT! I just didn't realize this book was going to put me through the emotions!
Thank you to ✨️ Haylee Trew ✨️ for the complimentary 📖 ARC 📖 in exchange for my opinion that are my own, honest, and voluntary.
August 13, 2026
O my gosh!!! I absolutely loved this book. Loved the story line. I really appreciate how she respectfully covered the depression and anxiety subjects in this book. As someone that has these and can relate she did an awesome job with that. The love story was amazing as usual and the smut wasn’t over powering. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book
August 24, 2026
***ARC Review***
My favorite of the series! This was such a fun read. All the emotions! Hunter (MMC) was such a lovable character right from the very beginning. Ashley (FMC) was a very relatable character. Both were equally well written. I fell in love with both of them right away and of course, rooting for their love story.
My favorite of the series! This was such a fun read. All the emotions! Hunter (MMC) was such a lovable character right from the very beginning. Ashley (FMC) was a very relatable character. Both were equally well written. I fell in love with both of them right away and of course, rooting for their love story.
October 4, 2026
It’s my first book of this author and I didn’t like it at all!!😫 The MF character was not for me, I understand that she was really struggling with mental health but she was really mean and i didn’t really connect with her, i guess the story was okay, I’m going to try this author again and read Strike Three😊
August 27, 2026
ARC REVIEW
Oh my god. It's not uncommon for me to cry because of a book. It is however uncommon for me to cry from the very first chapter. The way Ashley is portrayed just hit the nail. Ugh, i'll be having a hangover for the next couple of days.
Oh my god. It's not uncommon for me to cry because of a book. It is however uncommon for me to cry from the very first chapter. The way Ashley is portrayed just hit the nail. Ugh, i'll be having a hangover for the next couple of days.
September 5, 2026
I absolutely loved this book and it was a great addition to this series. As much as I loved Bailey in the first book I think I like Ash a lot more after learning her history. I honestly can’t wait to see how this series continues and can’t wait for the next book.
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June 27, 2026Alpha read. Full RTC!
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July 1, 2026alpha 🫶🏼
August 23, 2026
I was chosen to read the ARC. I absolutely loved this book. It gave me all the feels. Cried in the best way possible. My favorite of the series.
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