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The Has-Been: Delleth College Series Book One
Not yet published
Expected 9 Sep 26- GenresHockey Romance
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 9, 2026
About the author
Wren Riley
2 books11 followersWren Riley is a writer of all things real-life romance, which is why her stories are filled with angst, sadness, and a little heartbreak. Don’t fret...she does believe in happy endings.
Born and raised in Southern Indiana, Wren is, at heart, just a small-town girl chasing big dreams. If she’s not slumped over her desk, you’ll likely find her bothering her husband or giving her golden retriever, Mae, unlimited pets.
Born and raised in Southern Indiana, Wren is, at heart, just a small-town girl chasing big dreams. If she’s not slumped over her desk, you’ll likely find her bothering her husband or giving her golden retriever, Mae, unlimited pets.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 3, 2026
4 stars!! rtc closer to release date!
July 4, 2026
This story might take place in the frigid temperatures of fall/winter in Michigan. But boy will it warm your soul. This book made me feel every emotion in the best possible way. From kicking my feet laughing, to teary eyes and to overwhelming joy. This book had it all. I’m so excited to continue this series with these amazing characters. Eager to see where Wren takes us next!
5🌟💗
5🌟💗
June 27, 2026
Such an easy read! Excited to see more from Wren Riley.
Review of advance copy
4 ⭐️
Second-chance romance? Emotional damage? Two people who desperately need therapy before they need each other? Say less. 🤭
The Has-Been is all about two people who lost themselves after life completely pulled the rug out from under them and had to figure out who they wanted to be before they could find their way back to each other.
Aubrey and Liam thought they had it all figured out. They were young, in love, and ready to take on the world…until a career-ending injury ripped hockey away from Liam. Instead of dealing with everything head-on, he buried it, shut everyone out, and unfortunately Aubrey ended up paying the price. Watching their relationship crumble was heartbreaking because you could see that neither of them was a villain…they were just hurting.
When they’re forced back into each other’s lives, there isn’t some magical fix. They have to rebuild everything from the ground up, starting with friendship and learning how to trust each other again. Every step forward felt earned, and by the time they found their way back to each other, their relationship felt so much stronger than it ever had before.
One thing Wren did really well was show how messy healing actually is. Trauma doesn’t magically disappear because you fall in love, and this book never tried to pretend otherwise. There were good days, bad days, setbacks, growth, and lots of hard conversations. It made the emotional journey hit so much harder.
And can we talk about the found family for a second? Because they were everything. The side characters brought so much heart to the story and reminded both Aubrey and Liam that they had people in their corner, even when they couldn’t see it themselves.
Overall, this one gave me all the feelings. It’s emotional, hopeful, and full of characters who have to learn that sometimes loving someone also means doing the work to love yourself first. If you like second-chance romances where the healing is just as important as the romance, definitely add this one to your TBR.
Thank you Wren and Rattle The Stars PR for advanced reader copy of The Has-Been (publishing September 9, 2026).
Second-chance romance? Emotional damage? Two people who desperately need therapy before they need each other? Say less. 🤭
The Has-Been is all about two people who lost themselves after life completely pulled the rug out from under them and had to figure out who they wanted to be before they could find their way back to each other.
Aubrey and Liam thought they had it all figured out. They were young, in love, and ready to take on the world…until a career-ending injury ripped hockey away from Liam. Instead of dealing with everything head-on, he buried it, shut everyone out, and unfortunately Aubrey ended up paying the price. Watching their relationship crumble was heartbreaking because you could see that neither of them was a villain…they were just hurting.
When they’re forced back into each other’s lives, there isn’t some magical fix. They have to rebuild everything from the ground up, starting with friendship and learning how to trust each other again. Every step forward felt earned, and by the time they found their way back to each other, their relationship felt so much stronger than it ever had before.
One thing Wren did really well was show how messy healing actually is. Trauma doesn’t magically disappear because you fall in love, and this book never tried to pretend otherwise. There were good days, bad days, setbacks, growth, and lots of hard conversations. It made the emotional journey hit so much harder.
And can we talk about the found family for a second? Because they were everything. The side characters brought so much heart to the story and reminded both Aubrey and Liam that they had people in their corner, even when they couldn’t see it themselves.
Overall, this one gave me all the feelings. It’s emotional, hopeful, and full of characters who have to learn that sometimes loving someone also means doing the work to love yourself first. If you like second-chance romances where the healing is just as important as the romance, definitely add this one to your TBR.
Thank you Wren and Rattle The Stars PR for advanced reader copy of The Has-Been (publishing September 9, 2026).
August 3, 2026
3.5 stars!
- exes to lovers (second- chance romance)
- mental health rep
- college setting
check tw’s before reading!!
thank you to Wren’s ARC team for the ARC!
The Has-Been is the first in the interconnected Delleth College series, following the lives of the Vaughn cousins.
This debut novel is really promising! The story building scenes of a wintery campus, really does bring the reader in for a cozy experience. This being the first book in this series definitely sets the bar pretty high, as this was an easy ready that will leave you wanting more of the Vaughn family’s history & future.
With heavy themes, this author does a great job of giving you a a well rounded perspective of both the past and present of each character. (With exes to lovers trope especially, that’s really important to do) Being angry at a character on one page, just to sympathize with them a few chapters later was my favorite experience about this!
Having a male mmc struggle with a prescription addiction was particularly refreshing to read (men’s mental health is taboo & shouldnt be) Particularly Liam having a therapist who challenged him to get better was a welcome change from shying away from mental health issues in the book space.
i’d say my only “critiques” were wishing Liam & Aubrey had more communication/ scenes together with more dialogue between them. Also wish that the side characters’s weren’t so lengthy, as I felt it took away from screen time of Liam & Aubrey.
- exes to lovers (second- chance romance)
- mental health rep
- college setting
check tw’s before reading!!
thank you to Wren’s ARC team for the ARC!
The Has-Been is the first in the interconnected Delleth College series, following the lives of the Vaughn cousins.
This debut novel is really promising! The story building scenes of a wintery campus, really does bring the reader in for a cozy experience. This being the first book in this series definitely sets the bar pretty high, as this was an easy ready that will leave you wanting more of the Vaughn family’s history & future.
With heavy themes, this author does a great job of giving you a a well rounded perspective of both the past and present of each character. (With exes to lovers trope especially, that’s really important to do) Being angry at a character on one page, just to sympathize with them a few chapters later was my favorite experience about this!
Having a male mmc struggle with a prescription addiction was particularly refreshing to read (men’s mental health is taboo & shouldnt be) Particularly Liam having a therapist who challenged him to get better was a welcome change from shying away from mental health issues in the book space.
i’d say my only “critiques” were wishing Liam & Aubrey had more communication/ scenes together with more dialogue between them. Also wish that the side characters’s weren’t so lengthy, as I felt it took away from screen time of Liam & Aubrey.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to the author for my arc of this book.
Now I am typically a fantasy romance girly and I’ve honestly never picked up a sports romance in my life. Let me say, my eyes have been opened! I get it now 👏🏻
I loved this, I decided I wanted to read it based on the cover, the character art is gorgeous! (And my favorite color is purple 🤣) This book will be the reason I pick up another sports romance!
I loveddddd the collage setting, as a girl who didn’t go to college or live with roommates I was obsessed with the friendship dynamic. And don’t even get me started on Reid (the male friend side character) he was actually SO funny, I had tears streaming down my face trying to tell my husband what Reid did in the book 🤣
The story follows Liam (the MMC) and Aubrey the (FMC) as they navigate going to collage and trying to avoid each other while being in the same friend group and still in love with each other. It’s the perfect right person, wrong time story.
I read this book in two sittings, overall it was a fun quick read that kept me wanting more. I will be recommending this to everyone I know! I was actually shocked how fast I read it and I absolutely want more! I can’t wait to see what the author writes next!
Now I am typically a fantasy romance girly and I’ve honestly never picked up a sports romance in my life. Let me say, my eyes have been opened! I get it now 👏🏻
I loved this, I decided I wanted to read it based on the cover, the character art is gorgeous! (And my favorite color is purple 🤣) This book will be the reason I pick up another sports romance!
I loveddddd the collage setting, as a girl who didn’t go to college or live with roommates I was obsessed with the friendship dynamic. And don’t even get me started on Reid (the male friend side character) he was actually SO funny, I had tears streaming down my face trying to tell my husband what Reid did in the book 🤣
The story follows Liam (the MMC) and Aubrey the (FMC) as they navigate going to collage and trying to avoid each other while being in the same friend group and still in love with each other. It’s the perfect right person, wrong time story.
I read this book in two sittings, overall it was a fun quick read that kept me wanting more. I will be recommending this to everyone I know! I was actually shocked how fast I read it and I absolutely want more! I can’t wait to see what the author writes next!
August 3, 2026
💜The Has-Been - Wren Riley
~Summary~
Liam Anderson returns to campus knowing that running into his ex Aubrey Vaughn will only be a matter of time. Coming back is hard as nothing is as it was before. His hockey career now over Liam struggles to face his demons. When he and Aubrey meet again sparks fly in every direction and neither of them knows what to do. Scared of their shared traumatic past they avoid each other, but fate has other plans for them.
~My thoughts~
I devoured this book! The setting, the story, the characters, everything was perfect. I loved the given depth to those two. They have a dark past and yes I did hurt and cry alongside them!
The best part? It isn’t over! This is book 1 of 4 and let me tell you Aubrey and her girls the Vaughn cousins are amazing! The banter is exclusive and each of them is hilarious in their own way. Their stories will be told in the upcoming books of the Delleth College series!
Pre-orders are available now at the link in Wren Riley’s bio on instagram! “The Has-Been Releases” on September 9th, 2026.
💜A big thank you goes to the the author Wren Riley and to RattleTheStars PR. I am beyond happy to be part of the RTS PR Team and of course will have to read the rest of this series!
~Summary~
Liam Anderson returns to campus knowing that running into his ex Aubrey Vaughn will only be a matter of time. Coming back is hard as nothing is as it was before. His hockey career now over Liam struggles to face his demons. When he and Aubrey meet again sparks fly in every direction and neither of them knows what to do. Scared of their shared traumatic past they avoid each other, but fate has other plans for them.
~My thoughts~
I devoured this book! The setting, the story, the characters, everything was perfect. I loved the given depth to those two. They have a dark past and yes I did hurt and cry alongside them!
The best part? It isn’t over! This is book 1 of 4 and let me tell you Aubrey and her girls the Vaughn cousins are amazing! The banter is exclusive and each of them is hilarious in their own way. Their stories will be told in the upcoming books of the Delleth College series!
Pre-orders are available now at the link in Wren Riley’s bio on instagram! “The Has-Been Releases” on September 9th, 2026.
💜A big thank you goes to the the author Wren Riley and to RattleTheStars PR. I am beyond happy to be part of the RTS PR Team and of course will have to read the rest of this series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Some books remind you why second chance romances have such a hold on readers, and *The Has-Been* is one of them. Wren Riley didn't just tell a love story. She gave us two people who had to grow separately before they could finally find their way back to each other, and every step of that journey felt earned.
I'm always a sucker for a **right person, wrong time** romance, and this one delivered in every way. Watching these exes find their way back to each other felt so authentic, especially as they worked through everything life had thrown at them. The mental health representation was handled with so much care, and it added another layer of depth to an already emotional story.
I also loved that this wasn't just a romance. The chosen sisterhood and found family relationships were just as impactful, making the entire story feel warm, supportive, and real. Add in the college sports setting and forced proximity, and I was completely hooked. And this is only the beginning! *The Has-Been* is the first book in the series that will follow the Vaughn Cousins!
I'm always a sucker for a **right person, wrong time** romance, and this one delivered in every way. Watching these exes find their way back to each other felt so authentic, especially as they worked through everything life had thrown at them. The mental health representation was handled with so much care, and it added another layer of depth to an already emotional story.
I also loved that this wasn't just a romance. The chosen sisterhood and found family relationships were just as impactful, making the entire story feel warm, supportive, and real. Add in the college sports setting and forced proximity, and I was completely hooked. And this is only the beginning! *The Has-Been* is the first book in the series that will follow the Vaughn Cousins!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a great weekend read for me. The pace was easy and fast to read, I had a hard time setting the book down. I loved the mental health representation in the male's mind. All the triggers he faces, the ways he is working to overcome them. You could feel the secrets lingering between the main male and female from the first interaction. I loved the second chance romance, it felt well paced and sincere.
The ending left me with enough of a smile to tell you its worth a weekend read and has enough hockey in it if you want to feel the sports side. The Has Been focused more on the injury or preventing injuries which was another interesting side to see in the sport realm.
The Has Been releases on September 9th, add to your goodreads for a little second chance romance, sports fun for your weekend read.
The ending left me with enough of a smile to tell you its worth a weekend read and has enough hockey in it if you want to feel the sports side. The Has Been focused more on the injury or preventing injuries which was another interesting side to see in the sport realm.
The Has Been releases on September 9th, add to your goodreads for a little second chance romance, sports fun for your weekend read.
August 3, 2026
Thank you to Rattle The Stars PR and Wren Riley for this ARC!
I was so excited for this one - and I’m incredibly grateful that it lived up to my expectations.
Aubrey and Liam have been through so much together; devastating losses, unbearable hurt, and traumas that nobody at their age should have to face. Watching them come together, their push and pull, their yearning and anger and fear, felt so real. With everything they endured, I understood their fluctuating feelings.
Their chemistry was undeniable, and it’s clear that their love was true with the way they fall into each other’s lives so easily without meaning to.
I’d love to know how they met, how they fell in love and fell apart. I would love another book with these two, but can’t wait for book 2.
I was so excited for this one - and I’m incredibly grateful that it lived up to my expectations.
Aubrey and Liam have been through so much together; devastating losses, unbearable hurt, and traumas that nobody at their age should have to face. Watching them come together, their push and pull, their yearning and anger and fear, felt so real. With everything they endured, I understood their fluctuating feelings.
Their chemistry was undeniable, and it’s clear that their love was true with the way they fall into each other’s lives so easily without meaning to.
I’d love to know how they met, how they fell in love and fell apart. I would love another book with these two, but can’t wait for book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Had the opportunity to read this as an Arc.
And let me just say, add this to your TBR right now!! I’ll wait….
Okay now that you’ve added it…
-second chance
-talk deceased parent
-injury/ trauma
-mourning
-self destruction
-one bed
-found family
- redemption
This book literally ate and left no crumbs! I could read this over and over again. I absolutely loved the characters, the side characters, all of it. The way you can just feel how the two main characters are mourning the loss of each other, but long to be with each other again. The emotion, the pain, the heartbreak, it’s all there. There’s banter, funny moments, sweet moments, you name it.
And let me just say, add this to your TBR right now!! I’ll wait….
Okay now that you’ve added it…
-second chance
-talk deceased parent
-injury/ trauma
-mourning
-self destruction
-one bed
-found family
- redemption
This book literally ate and left no crumbs! I could read this over and over again. I absolutely loved the characters, the side characters, all of it. The way you can just feel how the two main characters are mourning the loss of each other, but long to be with each other again. The emotion, the pain, the heartbreak, it’s all there. There’s banter, funny moments, sweet moments, you name it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review!!!
I am thankful for an arc from Wren. I loved every bit of this book, I couldn’t put it down. Liam has my heart I love every bit of him and a couple of spots I wanted to hug him and never let go. I have such a connection to Liam because I am a wife of a recovering addict. Aubrey is so strong,tough and loves with her whole heart. Now the cousins they are just little balls of fire each of them has a different personality and you can’t help but love them all. I think my favorite is Rory she had me laughing so hard at a couple of points.
I am so sad that this book is done because now I need book 2!!!
I am thankful for an arc from Wren. I loved every bit of this book, I couldn’t put it down. Liam has my heart I love every bit of him and a couple of spots I wanted to hug him and never let go. I have such a connection to Liam because I am a wife of a recovering addict. Aubrey is so strong,tough and loves with her whole heart. Now the cousins they are just little balls of fire each of them has a different personality and you can’t help but love them all. I think my favorite is Rory she had me laughing so hard at a couple of points.
I am so sad that this book is done because now I need book 2!!!
Review of advance copy
Can I give this like a hundred stars please?!?? This book was EVERYTHING. it had the spice. It had the laughter. And damn did it have the tears. But it was so beautiful and i know this book will go down as one i will always remember this is not a book you read and forget about. This is one you unintentionally compare every other book you read to. This is one you will sit days, weeks, months from now and randomly remember and be hit with the same wave of emotions that hut when you read it. I found my self constantly wanting more. This book was truly addicting.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Man I don't even have the words to express how this book made me feel. It was such a beautiful journey of learning how to heal from your own trauma while letting those you love back into your life after closing those doors. This book had it all, drama, love, healing, family, and friends. I love a book that shows the raw vulnerability of characters because as humans were never perfect so reading flaws and poor decisions in a book makes us feel so much better. I also love the cousins and all of their personalities, I cannot wait to read more in this series as these books release!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am a sucker for a second chance romance! When we meet our characters, we immediately feel all of the tension and yearning that is cap sized by their own individuals issues and things from the past.
This is a dual pov…but I love hearing from our guy Liam the most. He is crawling to get back to himself but the way he pushing her…desires her…shows that he will not leave again and will be present, I loveddddd!! I can’t wait to hear more from this series with our other characters. I’m just as invested in their story as well!
This is a dual pov…but I love hearing from our guy Liam the most. He is crawling to get back to himself but the way he pushing her…desires her…shows that he will not leave again and will be present, I loveddddd!! I can’t wait to hear more from this series with our other characters. I’m just as invested in their story as well!
Review of advance copy
This was such a cute, light-spice, heavy-yearning, “remember when” style romance. It offers a fresh take on the sports romance genre by exploring an angle of the sports world that most readers probably wouldn’t expect.
While the story is sweet, wholesome, and full of heart, it also tackles some genuinely heavy themes. Those moments are written with so much care that you don’t just read them—you truly feel them alongside the characters.
This book was an absolute page-turner, and I completely devoured it.
While the story is sweet, wholesome, and full of heart, it also tackles some genuinely heavy themes. Those moments are written with so much care that you don’t just read them—you truly feel them alongside the characters.
This book was an absolute page-turner, and I completely devoured it.
August 4, 2026
ARC Read♥️ Thank you so much Wren and Rattle the stars PR!!
5 ⭐️ if I could give this higher than 5 stars I totally would. I ate this book up. I am in love with this book. Liam, that man has my heart and soul and I don’t think I’m ever going to get it back. His backstory, his development over this book, his love for Aubrey, was just top tier for me. And Aubrey.. I also loved her!
I can’t wait for the next book to come out!!
5 ⭐️ if I could give this higher than 5 stars I totally would. I ate this book up. I am in love with this book. Liam, that man has my heart and soul and I don’t think I’m ever going to get it back. His backstory, his development over this book, his love for Aubrey, was just top tier for me. And Aubrey.. I also loved her!
I can’t wait for the next book to come out!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
One of the best books! So glad I get to finally review and talk about it! This will tug at your heart strings ! It’s such a wonderful romance second chance book and I love how wonderful the story line is, the emotion, the spicy scenes and the detail is just phenomenal can’t wait for the book to be out so I can buy the physical copy! It’s worth the read for everyone!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced Reader Copy from AUTHOR
A beautifully written, emotionally charged book about second chances, the power of love, and the strength of redemption. If you’re looking for your next ‘binge worthy’ series then look no further!
A beautifully written, emotionally charged book about second chances, the power of love, and the strength of redemption. If you’re looking for your next ‘binge worthy’ series then look no further!
Review of advance copy
Okay seriously flew through this book. It was an easy read but packed with emotion. I loved the characters and excited that this is a series. Def got teary eyed a couple of times but I love a book that makes me feel!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Really cute debut! Aubrey is one of four cousins away at college and her senior year brings back her ex bf who stayed away due to his hockey injury over a year ago. The two have a HEAVY past and reasons for their break up and the second chance was so sweet.
3.75/5 pacing was a little off for me
3.75/5 pacing was a little off for me
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