The Essence of Opals

by A.J. Shaub

Ellie Allister is desperate for a fresh start after her future takes a disastrous turn. When she meets the handsome and hard-to-read Colby Opal and befriends Ruby and Quin, his free-spirited sisters, Ellie takes them up on the offer of a lifetime; quit her job and spend the summer with them on their road trip down the East Coast while they spread their parents' ashes.

But as the states pass and Ellie’s feelings for Colby grow, she begins to suspect that there is more to this road trip than any of the Opals are telling her. And when she finds out their secret, she will be forced to make a choice: protect her heart by walking away from the man she unexpectedly fell in love with and the family she finally found, or take a risk even bigger than simply going on a spontaneous road trip with three strangers.

257 pages, Paperback

Published July 13, 2026

About the author

AJ Shaub was born and raised in Pennsylvania. She has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember and knows that her younger self (typing away on an old Windows 98) would be proud of her current self taking the risk and publishing. Besides reading and writing, she loves coffee, hiking, and rewatching The Office, New Girl, and Parks and Recreation. AJ lives in York, PA, with her husband (who is also her BFF), their son, and their Saint Bernard.

The Essence of Opals is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Rachel Nahabedian]

Rating: Loved It (rounded up)

☀️ Perfect Summer Read
🚐 Road Trip in a Camper Van
📍 Forced Proximity
💙 Best Friend's Brother
🏡 Found Family
🖤 Grief & Healing
🤫 Secrets
🌱 Taking Risks
✨ Starting Over

The fact that this is a debut novel is honestly wild to me.

Ellie is on a journey to figure out who she is and where she wants her life to go. As someone who's currently going through my own re-evaluation after heartbreak, her story really resonated with me. Watching her slowly come into her own felt authentic, and I loved every step of that journey.

The Opal sisters, Quinn and Ruby, were an absolute joy to get to know. They're exactly what you'd expect from sisters. They bicker, tease, and drive each other crazy, but it was obvious there was so much love and also something deeper simmering beneath the surface. They're the kind of best friends every girl deserves: the ones who listen without judgment, have your back no matter what, and make you laugh so hard you forget why you were crying in the first place. But like any real friendship, they can also be the source of a few tears. Watching Quinn and Ruby (and Quinn and Ellie) navigate the complicated intersections of friendship, family, and loyalty was heartbreakingly beautiful.

And then there's Colby...sweet, sweet Colby.

This man is trying so hard to be everything for everyone while quietly carrying his own burdens, and he feels like he's failing at all of it. The one thing he feels he's failing at the most, though, is Ellie. Every one of the Opal siblings processes their grief differently, yet they instinctively understand what the others need because they're living through the same loss. As an only child, that sibling dynamic was fascinating to witness and felt incredibly authentic and foreign to me.

I suspected the twist fairly early on. I even slid into AJ's DMs hoping she'd calm my growing sense of dread (she absolutely did not). Even though I had a feeling about what was coming, it didn't lessen the emotional impact one bit. When it finally happened, I was completely crushed and ended up crying in my car during my commute to work.

Please check the trigger warnings. What I expected to be a fluffy best friend's brother, summer road trip romance turned into something so much deeper. Yes, you get the delicious slow-burn romance between Ellie and Colby, but you also get messy family dynamics, found family, grief, healing, and the journey of discovering who you are and what kind of life you want to build.

Thank you, AJ, for the ARC. If this is the kind of debut you're giving us, I genuinely cannot wait to see what you write next.

[Andrea_books201]

DNF 62%

Unfortunately I have to DNF this one 😔

I was actually enjoying the book, especially the characters, which I think are a major selling point, but at the same time, it started to feel repetitive to me, even when the setting shifted to different cities or the activities changed; it’s a hard feeling to put into words, honestly.
I put it aside for a few days to see if I’d feel differently upon returning to it with more interest, but at the end i'm stopping especially as I have plenty other ARCs to read too. 😅

That said, I think it would appeal to anyone looking for a summer read featuring the beach, a road trip along the U.S. coast with friends, a romance, and a bit of drama.

Thanks to the author, A. J. Shaub, for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Deanna Thomas]

Thank you to the author for the advanced copy in an exchange for an honest review!

3 ⭐️
eARC 📖
2 🌶️ skippable spice
❤️‍🩹: grief over parents

Loved the roadtrip setting of this story, along with found family and a touch of romance! I felt like I could relate to the main female character as she felt trapped in a small town, and so after her breakup when she said yes to a roadtrip across the country, I totally got how she felt when her eyes were opened to the big world around her. I love how traveling opened her heart to dream big again and discover what she really wanted out of life! They traveled to St. Augustine, FL, which was fun to read as I live about an hour away from there!

I did feel as though I wanted more depth from the romantic relationship throughout the book, I wanted to see the characters open up and their conversations about their life, not a paragraph saying he told her about his childhood, about his career, memories of this, etc. but actual dialogue. That being said, I could see how their relationship grew throughout the story and I think the author did a great job with a lower page count book!

Overall a quick read that takes low brain power, which everyone needs every now and then!

[Kylee Saez]

I was lucky enough to read this book as an ARC from the author.

The Essence of Opals is a perfect summer read. The journey we went on with Ellie and the Opals was one of growth and self-discovery. It challenges you, as a reader, to evaluate your own life and the opportunities you may be taking for granted.

I enjoyed watching Ellie’s character grow as she moved from heartbreak to falling in love with somebody who truly values her. Getting to know each of the Opals personalities, loyalty towards one another, and love for Ellie as a new member of their family was so enjoyable.

The ending brought all the moments together so perfectly. The Essence of Opals is a beautiful debut novel of love, adventure, bravery, friendship, and self-discovery.

[A G]

The Essence of Opals is a contemporary romance that follows Colby and Ellie. They each carry different kinds of grief and are trying to make sense of lives that no longer look the way they expected. Circumstances bring them together on a road trip. What starts as a shared journey slowly becomes a path toward healing.

What surprised me the most wasn't even the romance; it was the family.

Colby, Quinn, and Ruby are, without a doubt, my favorite part of this book. They are complete opposites, yet together they somehow work perfectly. Their dynamic is messy, loud, affectionate, and occasionally feels like a Molotov cocktail waiting for someone to light the match, just as the author describes. Each sibling has a distinct personality, and they never blend together on the page. Watching them tease, annoy, and support one another felt incredibly genuine. I honestly could have read an entire book about the Opal family alone.

The romance itself was a bit more complicated for me.

There were moments I genuinely enjoyed, but there were also times that reminded me just how young these characters can feel. For instance, Colby insisting on giving Ellie the bed while they’re traveling in such a cramped space- despite being the one driving - felt more performatively chivalrous than practical. Sweet? Yes. Slightly ridiculous? Also yes.

The same happened with some of the more swoony moments. A few scenes leaned into that breathless, butterflies-from-a-whisper kind of romance that I think younger readers will absolutely adore, but they didn’t always resonate with me. There were a couple of emotional beats where I couldn’t help rolling my eyes just a little.

I’m also not usually a fan of the "fixing a broken person" trope. Real life isn’t that simple. People don’t magically heal because they fall in love. However, I appreciated that this story doesn’t place that responsibility entirely on one person. Colby and Ellie help each other move forward, certainly -but so do Quinn and Ruby. Healing here feels like something built through connection rather than romance alone, and I liked that.

One scene, however, didn’t quite work for me. When the narrative frames Ellie as needing to be "the brave one" and take the first step, I found myself wishing Colby had taken that step fully. After everything leading up to that moment, it felt like the emotional weight landed a little unevenly.

Oddly enough, I still can’t decide whether I’d call this a slow burn or a fast burn. The relationship develops fairly quickly, yet some emotional realizations seem to take the characters forever to reach. It’s an interesting combination that somehow manages to be both.

The only technical issue I ran into was with the letter from the parents. I read an electronic ARC, and the font chosen for that section was difficult to read. It may look beautiful in the finished print edition, but on an e-reader, it required considerably more effort than the rest of the novel. Readers with weaker eyesight might find that section challenging.

But the thing I want to praise most is the journey.

I’m from Latvia. Growing up, we used blank outline maps (Isarithmic map type) in geography class, filling in countries, rivers, and mountain ranges by hand. North America was just another map to memorize for a test. It felt abstract - just names on paper. This book changed that.

After almost every chapter, I found myself opening Google Maps to look up every town, island, and stop along the Opals' route. I wanted to see where they were, what the roads looked like, and how far they’d traveled. Little by little, I stopped feeling like I was reading about places I’d never seen and started feeling like I was traveling with them.

Well... with one or two exceptions, if you know what I mean. :)

By the time I reached the final pages, I realized that North America no longer looked like a blank map in my mind. It had become a collection of real places tied to memories from this story.

Who knew a romance novel would make me want to pack a bag and actually go somewhere? Whenever I finally get the chance to visit North America, I have a feeling this book will be coming with me not as a novel this time, but as a travel guide and memory journal.

I want to thank the author very much for allowing me to experience the story of Opals and Ellie. I really appreciate it. The perfect book for summer.

[Amber Hayes]

The Essence of Opals | ARC Reader Review

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

I've rated this book in a weighted form, dissecting each piece of the composition as it resonated with me. My opinions are my own and I've rounded up as GR does not allow for partial stars.

Overall Thoughts
I enjoyed this read a lot. It's easy to get into and gripped me pretty quickly with the main characters general conflict & tension. The plot of the book made me feel a lot of different emotion... The primary feelings being suspenseful, playful, nostalgic and heartwarming.

Personal Impact & Relevancy | 5 of 5
Shaub made me question everything. The kind of love I want to receive and give, the type of life I want to have. Do I want to live in a way that's stale and boring, or do I want to lead, take risks, be scared but also have the time of my life doing it? What is the legacy I want to leave for my children? And because I asked myself that so many times during reading, I just want to give Schaub a standing fucking ovation on her debut novel.

Research & World Building | 5 of 5
The amount of research and description of the East Coast was absolutely brilliant. I have found myself looking up some of these places thinking "Wow that would be an incredible place to vacation". I have vowed to make it to Chincoteague Island at some point in my life with my kids to "meet" Misty.

Writing Style | 5 of 5
With this being Shaub's debut novel, I'm blown away with her skill and writing craftsmanship. She describes all of the different places, the characters range of emotions and how they're displayed, physical descriptions so effectively. I'm so impressed with this author and think she's incredibly talented. The ratio of dialogue to descriptive writing was perfect for me.

Structure & Pacing | 4 of 5
The pacing was pretty consistent to me throughout the book. There were no major points where it seemed like things were moving really fast or we were jumping to something quickly. Something I would have LOVED in this novel was multiple points of view, maybe just like one more either the love interests POV or Ruby (his sister).

Main Conflict & Tension | 4.5 of 5
At times, the conflict between the main female character and her love interest did feel repetitive which slightly took me out of it. The added conflict among the group later in the novel was a bit anticipated for me. I think the author made that high stakes scene feel very natural and organic though... The way Shaub shephered me through the storm of emotions that Ellie felt was very skilled. However, there were a lot of moments where I'd be thinking to myself "omg is she seriously going to ask that question/blame herself right now?!" in regard to the FMC. She was a little too scapegoat-esque to herself at times.


"I wrote Ellie for anyone who needed the reminder to take the risk and go, and to see what the world has to offer you beyond the comforts of the familiar. I hope you always choose to go on the adventure" ---- OK A.J. I'll send you my therapy bill because I am ten thousand percent needing to unpack that in my soul now :)

xoxoxoThe Essence of OpalsThe Essence of Opals

[Genevieve]

Let me start off with this - I loved this book and I am very glad I read it.

Now for the stream of conscious bit, because I can't decide what to say or not to say. I'm not entirely sure why, but for some reason I had it in my head (based on the blurb) that the "secret" was going to turn out to be something nefarious, like a mystery novel, and when I requested this advance copy I was in the mood for a mystery, but then I wasn't in the mood for a mystery so I put off reading it (alas if only past me knew then what present me knows now). So I guess what I'm saying is - this is not a mystery.

That said, as a woman in my late 40s reading from my comfortable rocking chair I was getting irritated with Ellie, a 26 y/o woman whose life has just been turned inside out, for not seeing what I was seeing. I literally wrote a note early on predicting the secret, but when it's revealed to Ellie, the fact that she missed the signs is part of what she needed to work through to decide what to do about the situation.

So. The book is not a mystery. It is also not "a romance." Does a romance occur during the book? Yes (I'd call it mostly fade to black and definitely slow burn). But it is not the point of the book. Rather, I would say the book is about the journey(s) we take to discover who we are, who we want to be, and whether we're willing and able turn the former into the latter.

While the book is told from Ellie's perspective, she is not the only one going through this process, and while we get more of Colby's journey than his sisters' due to the romance, we do get quite a bit of Colby and Quinn and a little bit of Ruby's. I love the way each stage of the deepening friendships/situationship is framed by each of the locations visited, and it was fun to learn some of the touristy facts about each location as well.

Backing up to my "mystery" misunderstanding, at no point is there a sense of danger or unease about Ellie joining the Opal siblings; their parents' summer home was next door to Ellie, and they were friendly neighbors. We get to experience a couple of Ellie's interactions with them through flashbacks, and so Ellie's trust of the Opal siblings was founded in part on her relationship with their parents.

This was a really good book, I will absolutely read future books by A.J. Shaub and am excited by the chance to share my thoughts about The Essence of Opals, but I actually don't feel the need for a direct sequel or series about Quinn and Ruby. I think that the story The Essence of Opals tells is perfectly encapsulated in this road trip book. That said, I wouldn't not read a sequel about Quinn or Ruby because I trust the author's ability to tell their stories.

[Nicole Chasing Chapters]

What an unforgettable debut! The Essence of Opals completely swept me away from the very first page. I was so invested in Ellie and the Opals that I finished this book in just 48 hours because I couldn't wait to see where their journey would lead.

A.J. Shaub has a beautiful way of bringing every setting to life. Traveling the East Coast alongside these characters felt incredibly immersive I could almost feel the sand beneath my feet and found myself craving an ice cream stop along the way. Every destination added another layer of heart to an already emotional story.

What truly stood out to me was the depth of the characters and the emotions woven throughout the novel. Ellie’s journey felt raw, relatable, and deeply personal. As someone who knows what it feels like to feel stuck in life, I connected with her in a way that made every triumph and heartbreak hit even harder. It felt like I was experiencing the emotional roller coaster right beside her.

The romance is a beautifully written slow burn with a heartfelt payoff, but the real heart of this story is the found family, the sisterhood, and the reminder that family isn't always defined by blood. Sometimes the strongest bonds are the ones we choose, and this book captures that message perfectly. It also reminds us that life is too short not to take chances.

By the final page, I wasn't ready to say goodbye. I found myself wishing I could continue following these characters long after the story ended. This is the kind of book that would make an incredible series or even a Netflix adaptation.

I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to read this as an ARC, and I'm beyond excited to see what A.J. Shaub writes next. Congratulations on such a heartfelt and memorable debut you've created something truly special.

[Bella]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Essence of Opals was such a heartfelt and emotional journey. From the very beginning, I found myself rooting for Ellie as she tried to piece her life back together after everything she had been through. Her decision to take a chance on a road trip with complete strangers felt both terrifying and exciting, and it made for a story that was full of self discovery, healing, and unexpected connections.

The Opal family completely stole my heart. Their bond with one another felt genuine, and I loved watching Ellie slowly become part of something she didn't even realize she was missing. Colby was definitely intriguing. He kept me guessing for a good portion of the book, and I enjoyed seeing his layers slowly unfold as the story progressed. The chemistry between him and Ellie was sweet and developed naturally alongside everything else happening on the trip.

Overall, this is a touching story about taking chances, finding family in unexpected places, and learning that sometimes the path you never planned is exactly the one you were meant to take. If you enjoy emotional contemporary romance with family, healing, and a memorable road trip, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Renee K]

The Essence of Opals (6/22-6/25; 4 stars).

Note: I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel follows the FMC and three siblings she befriended as they go on a road trip up and down the East Coast. The FMC is fresh off of a breakup of a longer-term relationship and is feeling stuck in her life. So, when her new friend invites her along on the road trip with her two siblings, she quits her job and goes. There was a bit of a twist that could at least be known was coming - although exact details were not clear until it was revealed. I love found family stories with a HEA as the FMC and the friend’s brother connect more on this road trip.
What worked:
Realistic sibling battles on a road trip and in close living quarters, likable characters dealing with grief in their own way, found family, cracked door, characters questioning how we are spending our short time in life.
What didn’t work:
I don’t really have anything to say that didn’t work.
Trigger warnings: Grief, Anticipatory Grief - although most of the focus was on the relationships and road trip activities. Grief was the backdrop.
Spice: 1.5/5

[Abby]

I received an ARC copy of this novel from the author, and I consider it a privilege to have read this work before it hits the rest of the world (in just a few days)! A perfect summer read, this book- and Ellie’s journey- spoke to me as someone who has known what it feels like to be stuck in life. Her emotions as well as the overall emotional tone of the novel were visceral ones, and I felt like I was sitting next to her on the emotional rollercoaster of this story.

I loved the way that I got to travel along with Ellie and the Opals as they journeyed down the East Coast, visiting places I’ve been and ones that I now want to visit. It made me hungry for an ice cream cone from Island Creamery and eager to feel sand between my toes. Most significant, this novel was a lovely reminder that families form in a number of ways, and that the bond of a family- biological and chosen- is a powerful one. The Essence of Opals would make a perfect opening novels of a series (or an amazing Netflix adaptation), and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Samantha B]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What an absolute gem of a debut novel!
I finished this book in just 48 hours because I couldn’t wait to get back to these characters. From the very first page, I was completely immersed.
One of my favorite parts was the author’s ability to bring every setting to life. Each location was described so beautifully that I felt like I was standing right alongside the characters.
The romance was heartfelt, the slow burn felt natural, and the emotional payoff was incredibly satisfying. But what stayed with me most was the found family, the sisterhood, and the reminder that life is too short not to take chances.
By the time I reached the final page, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I found myself wishing I could continue following each of these characters long after the story ended.
A beautiful debut that left me excited to see what this author writes next.
Thank you for trusting me with my very first ARC. Getting to read your debut, share my theories along the way, and cheer you on made this experience one I’ll never forget. Congratulations on such a wonderful debut!

[Heather Sweeney]

Follow Ellie, a recently single female in her mid-twenties from a small town in Maine struggling with how her life has panned out following her break-up. When she quickly forms a connection with her former neighbour’s eldest daughter, she’s invited to join a summer road trip in a camper with her and her two siblings. Ultimately, this story was so fun and full of adventure. The road-trip setting and close proximity kept things interesting with family dynamics.

Along with themes of deep connection, grief, and finding yourself—I became so invested in the relationships of these characters! There were moments that made me laugh and others that made me emotional.

The pacing kept me engaged from start to finish, and I found it hard to put down. Overall, this was a touching and memorable read that blended adventure, family dynamics, and romance.

[Maria Parker-Harris]

Heartbreaking, yet life affirming story of fate, love and taking a chance.

I absolutely needed to read this book right now. The story of being stuck in a rut, feeling trapped and scared of what path to take next is painfully familiar. Ellie needs a good hard shove, but when she jumps the adventure is magnificent.

Travel with the Opals is not plain sailing, especially when the brother is a smoking hot, knight in shining armour. There is a sense of impending heartache throughout the trip, with so much foreboding. They are all keeping secrets and when they explode, the heartbreak is massive.

The road trip is so vivid and full of highs and lows, it made me crave travel and exploring new places. I loved the slow burn of Colby and Ellie's love story, you find yourself willing them along.

The ending is heart-wrenching and full of joy in equal measure. Beautifully written!

[Erin Mizer]

Absolutely loved this book! I received an ARC from the author and am so grateful I had the opportunity to read it before it was published. Loved the development and interaction of the siblings with Ellie and how they really welcomed her into the family on the trip. Loved the slow burn of the relationship, but really appreciated how respectful Colby was with regards to not making it weird for his sisters! The ending was quite surprising, but I had an inkling that something was off with Quinn, but glad it ended on a positive note! Really hoping we get sequels to find out what happens to the Opals!

[Alexandra Huot]

It’s a lovely summer romance. Reading the novel made me want nothing more than to go on a road trip.

I liked the characters right away. The relationship between the three siblings felt realistic, and they are all endearing. I felt like I could relate a bit to Ellie. She's a girl who finds her life boring but is afraid to take action to improve things.

It’s a light, feel-good read. It’s funny at times and sad at others, but ultimately it’s touching and makes you want to go on a wonderful adventure.

I received an advance copy and I'm leaving my honest opinion voluntarily.

[Erin Henderson]

This book was a fantastic debut. A.J. created a world in which I was able to imagine so clearly I could have been there myself. Not only did The Essence Of Opals evoke deep emotions within me, it inspired me to indulge in adventure when the opportunity arises, to be the best version of myself, to live with integrity, and to live heart first.
Bravo, A.J. I love reading indie authors because it’s where you discover the diamonds in the rough.

[Lindsey Hospodar]

Took this book to a lakeside vacation, and it was the perfect read! The characters are easily relatable, and the storyline has a good balance between details and moving the story along with a length of less than 250 pages. If you’re looking for a feel-good book with a bit of drama and romance, this is it! 🥰

[Lia Christie]

A Cozy Read on Risking It All

This book is one of those reads I absolutely devoured. It was such a pleasant read that always made me feel cozy, not to mention it’s one of those books that offers a fresh perspective on pursuing what you want and taking the risk to figure out what that truly is.

[Teresa Nelson]

GREAT read!

It took me a chapter of two to get hooked but then it was something I couldn't wait to read more of! I loved the freedom and playfulness expressed by the characters. Each character was easy to love and relate to. I enjoyed reliving some of my past travel experiences through this book. I hope the author has plans for more books.

[Shannon]

I read this book in 1 sitting. It is so good. The story follows Ellie, Colby, Quinn, and Ruby on a road trip down the east coast. I will warn you, it is a total tear jerker. If you like a story that causes emotional responses then you definately need to read this book.

[Kayla]

If you are looking for the perfect summer beach read look no further! Adventure, heart, and romance all wrapped into one. This book will make you want to go out and experience your own life changing adventure just like Ellie! ♥️♥️♥️

[Melissa Koszewski]

Seriously didnt want to stop reading. A nice slow burn reading, kept me wondering which way things would go. Hope there's another in the works!

[Martrice]

You are going to love this book! The story unfolds deliberately and I could not stop reading. I wanna see this on Netflix some day. :) Hats off to the author for this beautiful story.

[Megan Fairbrother]

Beautiful story

Such a lovely book about love, bravery and wanting more out of life. The characters are relatable and ones you want to root for! Really enjoyed this!