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Finding Us
429 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was blessed with the opportunity to Beta Read this with an ARC.
Carrie has once again shown how she can take a cozy lake romance full of emotions and love and shove it into a tiny little novel. What I mean is, when you read her work you feel like you are reading something larger. You can see everything in your mind using her words. This novel is no exception.
I was immediately connected to Chloe, the FMC. I think that Chloe is portrayed a strong, smart, and tactical woman. I really enjoyed her character and the way she showed who she was just by being who she was, over and over. I think people will be able to connect and relate to this. There is a huge subset of woman who either have an overbearing mother in law, overbearing boss, overbearing (insert anyone) that are going to watch her path and triumphs along the way, and resonate with it. She has the potential to be such a strong influence.
Harrison was everything you want in a hero main male main character. I don't want to share too much or spoil anything, but you have to watch and see the arc his character takes.
There is a bit of tension with Marjorie, Harrison's mother, but I want to leave that for you to see for yourself.
Overall, if you are looking for a cozy closed door read, something to sit by the lake and just devour, this is it. Do not waste one minute, get yourself set up to read this novel!! And buckle in, because Willow Creek is here to stay.
All the Tropes and Fun to Expect:
✨Small-town romance
✨Closed-door romance
✨Cozy community vibes
✨Complicated Family Dynamics
✨Teacher heroine
✨The hero who always shows up
✨ Slow-burn romance
Carrie has once again shown how she can take a cozy lake romance full of emotions and love and shove it into a tiny little novel. What I mean is, when you read her work you feel like you are reading something larger. You can see everything in your mind using her words. This novel is no exception.
I was immediately connected to Chloe, the FMC. I think that Chloe is portrayed a strong, smart, and tactical woman. I really enjoyed her character and the way she showed who she was just by being who she was, over and over. I think people will be able to connect and relate to this. There is a huge subset of woman who either have an overbearing mother in law, overbearing boss, overbearing (insert anyone) that are going to watch her path and triumphs along the way, and resonate with it. She has the potential to be such a strong influence.
Harrison was everything you want in a hero main male main character. I don't want to share too much or spoil anything, but you have to watch and see the arc his character takes.
There is a bit of tension with Marjorie, Harrison's mother, but I want to leave that for you to see for yourself.
Overall, if you are looking for a cozy closed door read, something to sit by the lake and just devour, this is it. Do not waste one minute, get yourself set up to read this novel!! And buckle in, because Willow Creek is here to stay.
All the Tropes and Fun to Expect:
✨Small-town romance
✨Closed-door romance
✨Cozy community vibes
✨Complicated Family Dynamics
✨Teacher heroine
✨The hero who always shows up
✨ Slow-burn romance
September 25, 2026
Finding Us is a sweet, soft, feel-good romance that will leave you feeling hopeful about love.
Chloe and Harrison are in a budding relationship. The story tells us how they balance that relationship and the relationship between Harrison and his mother (who is not the nicest person!) It’s a story of strength, awakenings, and wonder.
If you love closed-door, flirty, slow-burns with meet-cutes then you’ll love this delightful book!
**Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy**
Chloe and Harrison are in a budding relationship. The story tells us how they balance that relationship and the relationship between Harrison and his mother (who is not the nicest person!) It’s a story of strength, awakenings, and wonder.
If you love closed-door, flirty, slow-burns with meet-cutes then you’ll love this delightful book!
**Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy**
September 22, 2026
I received an advanced copy of Finding Us from the author. Finding Us by Carrie Costello was such a sweet, heartwarming read. I loved watching Chloe, an English teacher who's given up on dating, slowly fall for Harrison. Their late-night conversations and growing friendship made the romance feel genuine. When Chloe spends the summer in Linden Lake, the small-town charm, family dynamics, and Harrison's disapproving mother add just the right amount of tension. This story was a lovely romance!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finding Us was just so freaking sweet! This was the perfect kind of lakeside summer romance —a soft, feel-good, closed-door love story about two people figuring out what they want their lives to look like together.
What I loved most was watching these two grow and change together as they built their relationship and their home. Rather than staying the same simply because that’s what the people around them expected, they learned how to grow together and create a life that actually fit them. They honestly fit together so perfectly, and their relationship was just incredibly sweet to read!
If you’re looking for a low-angst, closed-door romance with a cozy summer setting and a really sweet love story, definitely add this one to your list!
Thank you to Carrie Costello for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Finding Us was just so freaking sweet! This was the perfect kind of lakeside summer romance —a soft, feel-good, closed-door love story about two people figuring out what they want their lives to look like together.
What I loved most was watching these two grow and change together as they built their relationship and their home. Rather than staying the same simply because that’s what the people around them expected, they learned how to grow together and create a life that actually fit them. They honestly fit together so perfectly, and their relationship was just incredibly sweet to read!
If you’re looking for a low-angst, closed-door romance with a cozy summer setting and a really sweet love story, definitely add this one to your list!
Thank you to Carrie Costello for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 22, 2026
This story had me from the very first meet-cute. It was everything I like about real first dates and getting-to-know-each-other moments, awkward and sweet. Chloe and Harrison’s love story wasn’t easy. Their relationship worked, but one obstacle had the power to ruin everything. Even so, Chloe showed up for Harrison every step of their relationship, and Harrison, the steady peacemaker, did everything he could to keep his love for Chloe safe and strong in the best way he could. I adored this couple and their characters.
Best of all, I love when a closed-door romance never lacks romance, intimacy, or connection. Not once did I feel like anything was missing. If anything, their bond felt even stronger. Maybe it was those accidental touches, the sweet hand-holding moments, or all the will-they-kiss yearnings. Either way, these two were so beautiful together, and I enjoyed reading their story. I highly recommend this book. Just loved it!
Best of all, I love when a closed-door romance never lacks romance, intimacy, or connection. Not once did I feel like anything was missing. If anything, their bond felt even stronger. Maybe it was those accidental touches, the sweet hand-holding moments, or all the will-they-kiss yearnings. Either way, these two were so beautiful together, and I enjoyed reading their story. I highly recommend this book. Just loved it!
October 9, 2026
Loved this one!
I was hooked on Chloe from page one. She’s completely no-nonsense, but she handles everything without ever being rude or mean. That said, she’s definitely not going to let anyone walk all over her!
Enter Harrison, who has spent years letting his toxic mother’s behavior slide just to keep the peace. When he and Chloe meet at a party, the connection is instant. I loved how natural and easy their relationship felt—their conversations just flowed, with zero pretense or mind games. Deciding to live together for the summer in his small hometown of Linden Lake gives them a chance to test the waters.
Then there’s Marjorie, Harrison’s mom. She’s the ultimate passive-aggressive nightmare—a member of “The Pearls,” a group of town matriarchs who act like they own the place (think Regina George from Mean Girls, but decades older). Carrie Costello wrote this character so accurately: sweet to your face, painting the picture of a perfect mother and community pillar, but constantly pulling strings behind the scenes with backhanded compliments.
Marjorie definitely met her match in Chloe! What I appreciated most was how Chloe handled her. She didn’t sink to her level or get into petty arguments. She fought back simply by being authentically herself and refusing to perform for anyone's approval. It was such a healthy, grounded approach, and it was exactly what Harrison needed to see. I honestly walked away with some great insights on how to handle difficult situations in my own life—I want to be Chloe when I grow up!
Content notes: Fade-to-black intimacy; unmarried couple moves in together for the summer.
Thank you to the author for providing an advance reading copy (ARC) and an advanced listening copy (ALC). All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
I was hooked on Chloe from page one. She’s completely no-nonsense, but she handles everything without ever being rude or mean. That said, she’s definitely not going to let anyone walk all over her!
Enter Harrison, who has spent years letting his toxic mother’s behavior slide just to keep the peace. When he and Chloe meet at a party, the connection is instant. I loved how natural and easy their relationship felt—their conversations just flowed, with zero pretense or mind games. Deciding to live together for the summer in his small hometown of Linden Lake gives them a chance to test the waters.
Then there’s Marjorie, Harrison’s mom. She’s the ultimate passive-aggressive nightmare—a member of “The Pearls,” a group of town matriarchs who act like they own the place (think Regina George from Mean Girls, but decades older). Carrie Costello wrote this character so accurately: sweet to your face, painting the picture of a perfect mother and community pillar, but constantly pulling strings behind the scenes with backhanded compliments.
Marjorie definitely met her match in Chloe! What I appreciated most was how Chloe handled her. She didn’t sink to her level or get into petty arguments. She fought back simply by being authentically herself and refusing to perform for anyone's approval. It was such a healthy, grounded approach, and it was exactly what Harrison needed to see. I honestly walked away with some great insights on how to handle difficult situations in my own life—I want to be Chloe when I grow up!
Content notes: Fade-to-black intimacy; unmarried couple moves in together for the summer.
Thank you to the author for providing an advance reading copy (ARC) and an advanced listening copy (ALC). All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The PERFECT cozy closed door read!!
Chloe our FMC is a strong, smart, and definitely can quickly think on her feet. She stayed true to herself from start to finish of this book and I really enjoyed that.
Harrison our MMC is exactly what you want in a man. Protective of the woman he truly loves and cares for.
Marjorie, done pissed me off more than once, and had me saying “be so reals” over and over and over again.
Y’all need to read this book to truly understand why. I don’t wanna give too much away because this book is one thousand percent worth the read.
Thank you so much to Carrie Costello for allowing me to receive an ARC.
I can’t wait to see how the story continues!!
Chloe our FMC is a strong, smart, and definitely can quickly think on her feet. She stayed true to herself from start to finish of this book and I really enjoyed that.
Harrison our MMC is exactly what you want in a man. Protective of the woman he truly loves and cares for.
Marjorie, done pissed me off more than once, and had me saying “be so reals” over and over and over again.
Y’all need to read this book to truly understand why. I don’t wanna give too much away because this book is one thousand percent worth the read.
Thank you so much to Carrie Costello for allowing me to receive an ARC.
I can’t wait to see how the story continues!!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews