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Everything But Mine: A Friends to Lovers Betrayal Romance
When Amanda’s world shatters, she finds herself turning to her oldest friend. Moving in with Eric is supposed to be temporary, but the pull of his quiet, brooding steadiness feels dangerously close to something more.
Eric has loved Amanda from afar for longer than he cares to admit. Now that she’s closer than he ever dared hope, it feels like a gift and a punishment. Because Amanda isn’t sure she’s ready to fall again, and Eric doesn’t think he deserves the chance.
As the lines between friendship, love, and guilt begin to blur into a picture of what they could be, past wounds resurface. How long can you be “just friends” with someone who’s everything you’ve ever wanted—except yours?
Everything But Mine is an angsty, slow-burn second-chance romance where childhood friends must overcome betrayal (past on-page physical cheating) and an unexpected pregnancy. With a touch of forced proximity, plenty of tender hurt/comfort, and a tortured hero determined to heal, they'll earn every moment of their happily ever after.
Eric has loved Amanda from afar for longer than he cares to admit. Now that she’s closer than he ever dared hope, it feels like a gift and a punishment. Because Amanda isn’t sure she’s ready to fall again, and Eric doesn’t think he deserves the chance.
As the lines between friendship, love, and guilt begin to blur into a picture of what they could be, past wounds resurface. How long can you be “just friends” with someone who’s everything you’ve ever wanted—except yours?
Everything But Mine is an angsty, slow-burn second-chance romance where childhood friends must overcome betrayal (past on-page physical cheating) and an unexpected pregnancy. With a touch of forced proximity, plenty of tender hurt/comfort, and a tortured hero determined to heal, they'll earn every moment of their happily ever after.
436 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2026
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September 16, 2026There were so many things wrong with this book. I could go on and on and on but it's just not worth it. so i will only mention the 2 things that annoyed me the most.
The author's obsession with having the fmc constantly getting cheated on both by the mmc and om.
then giving us a sappy story on why the mmc cheated, then another sappy story of him " stepping " in to be her child's father so can swoon over him after his cheating.
secondly the mmc needing serious therapy, and apparently the fmc's bestfriend is the best solution ?? she's a mental health professional with access to alot of specialists that she can recommend, yet her first option was her bestfriend ?? she doesn't seem to think there is something fundamentally wrong with having her bestie as his therapist?? who also knows and hangs out with him irl btw.
any person with any kind of common sense knows you do not get therapy from someone you have a personal relationship with or know outside of " le cadre thérapeutique " ( i'm too annoyed to remember what that's called in English).
The author's obsession with having the fmc constantly getting cheated on both by the mmc and om.
then giving us a sappy story on why the mmc cheated, then another sappy story of him " stepping " in to be her child's father so can swoon over him after his cheating.
secondly the mmc needing serious therapy, and apparently the fmc's bestfriend is the best solution ?? she's a mental health professional with access to alot of specialists that she can recommend, yet her first option was her bestfriend ?? she doesn't seem to think there is something fundamentally wrong with having her bestie as his therapist?? who also knows and hangs out with him irl btw.
any person with any kind of common sense knows you do not get therapy from someone you have a personal relationship with or know outside of " le cadre thérapeutique " ( i'm too annoyed to remember what that's called in English).
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was so excited to read this book, and I am grateful to have received an ARC of this story. Thank you!
This was a tough book to read, not because of the writing, but because of the heavy topics it deals with, like childhood trauma, abuse and a lot of angst. I’m really glad the author included trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, as they helped me know what to expect.I loved how the author showed how trauma can shape a person and ultimately how said trauma can influence their decisions. I also enjoyed the writing style in this book. It’s simple yet beautiful, and I admire how the author managed to tell a fascinating story that drew me in and kept me reading.
However… The storyline was kind of confusing, and it made reading a bit difficult at times. The story would randomly jump timelines, without any warning whatsoever. Personally, I’d have used italics for the flashbacks. Aside from the sudden time jumps, I also felt like the flashbacks were thrown in randomly, because they didn’t really connect to any of the scenes happening in the present. I kept wondering if I missed a couple of pages.
The conflict that plays a big part in this book sits in a grey area, because it raises the question whether the betrayal between Eric and Amanda counts as cheating or not. Personally, I think Eric cheated on Amanda, and some scenes had me grinding my teeth.
I got the impression that Eric was the sun and everybody else was simply orbiting around him. But it was Eric who (may or may not have) cheated and who deliberately kept using his trauma as an excuse for his actions. To make matters worse, his friends kept making excuses for him as well, as though his abusive upbringing makes it all okay for him to cheat. In fact, I found his friends to be apologizing for his actions so much so, that it almost read like Eric was blameless, and that Amanda was the one who should have put in the work and the effort to repair their relationship.
While the story is told from both Amanda’s and Erics point of views, it seemed to me that the story was solely focused on Eric. I do appreciate how the author fleshed out the MMC by explaining his life story and trauma’s. It felt great to understand his behavior, as much as it angered me. Because of his dad’s abuse, Eric developed self-sabotaging tendencies. It described Eric perfectly and it was easy for me to be understanding of his character. Understanding, yes, but sadly not forgiving. To me, his tendencies to self-sabotage his life were unfortunately used as a poor explanation for him cheating and repeatedly rejecting Amanda. I can forgive cheating in fiction if I find that the cheater has sufficiently redeemed themselves. Eric hasn’t, though. If anything, I started to dislike him more and more as the story went on.
Amanda, on the other hand, was a great character, but I was getting tired of feeling like everybody was on Eric’s side instead of hers. I wish she had more support on her side, especially from her so called best friend (see spoilers below) and her brother.
Spoilers ahead
I do want to make it clear that this is by no means a bad book. There were just a few things that didn’t quite work for me. I struggled with the unethical therapy sessions and some of the excuses made for Eric’s behavior, and at times I felt the story dragged on a bit too much. There was also a too much of “will they, won’t they” for my liking, while I would have loved to see more of Amanda and Eric actually being together. Since Amanda was pregnant, I also found myself wishing for more moments that focused on her pregnancy.
That said, I really liked how well fleshed out the characters were, and the writing itself was great. The author clearly put a lot of thought into the characters and their backstories, which made it easy for me to become invested in them. I thoroughly enjoyed the epilogue, as I got to see both of them happy together!
2.5 stars
This was a tough book to read, not because of the writing, but because of the heavy topics it deals with, like childhood trauma, abuse and a lot of angst. I’m really glad the author included trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, as they helped me know what to expect.I loved how the author showed how trauma can shape a person and ultimately how said trauma can influence their decisions. I also enjoyed the writing style in this book. It’s simple yet beautiful, and I admire how the author managed to tell a fascinating story that drew me in and kept me reading.
However… The storyline was kind of confusing, and it made reading a bit difficult at times. The story would randomly jump timelines, without any warning whatsoever. Personally, I’d have used italics for the flashbacks. Aside from the sudden time jumps, I also felt like the flashbacks were thrown in randomly, because they didn’t really connect to any of the scenes happening in the present. I kept wondering if I missed a couple of pages.
The conflict that plays a big part in this book sits in a grey area, because it raises the question whether the betrayal between Eric and Amanda counts as cheating or not. Personally, I think Eric cheated on Amanda, and some scenes had me grinding my teeth.
I got the impression that Eric was the sun and everybody else was simply orbiting around him. But it was Eric who (may or may not have) cheated and who deliberately kept using his trauma as an excuse for his actions. To make matters worse, his friends kept making excuses for him as well, as though his abusive upbringing makes it all okay for him to cheat. In fact, I found his friends to be apologizing for his actions so much so, that it almost read like Eric was blameless, and that Amanda was the one who should have put in the work and the effort to repair their relationship.
While the story is told from both Amanda’s and Erics point of views, it seemed to me that the story was solely focused on Eric. I do appreciate how the author fleshed out the MMC by explaining his life story and trauma’s. It felt great to understand his behavior, as much as it angered me. Because of his dad’s abuse, Eric developed self-sabotaging tendencies. It described Eric perfectly and it was easy for me to be understanding of his character. Understanding, yes, but sadly not forgiving. To me, his tendencies to self-sabotage his life were unfortunately used as a poor explanation for him cheating and repeatedly rejecting Amanda. I can forgive cheating in fiction if I find that the cheater has sufficiently redeemed themselves. Eric hasn’t, though. If anything, I started to dislike him more and more as the story went on.
Amanda, on the other hand, was a great character, but I was getting tired of feeling like everybody was on Eric’s side instead of hers. I wish she had more support on her side, especially from her so called best friend (see spoilers below) and her brother.
Spoilers ahead
I do want to make it clear that this is by no means a bad book. There were just a few things that didn’t quite work for me. I struggled with the unethical therapy sessions and some of the excuses made for Eric’s behavior, and at times I felt the story dragged on a bit too much. There was also a too much of “will they, won’t they” for my liking, while I would have loved to see more of Amanda and Eric actually being together. Since Amanda was pregnant, I also found myself wishing for more moments that focused on her pregnancy.
That said, I really liked how well fleshed out the characters were, and the writing itself was great. The author clearly put a lot of thought into the characters and their backstories, which made it easy for me to become invested in them. I thoroughly enjoyed the epilogue, as I got to see both of them happy together!
2.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
Fair warning this book is going to have your emotions on a roller coaster, because that is what Nadia is best at. It is filled with truama and angst not to mention cheating.
Amanda and Eric have been in each others lives for a long time and it has not always been an easy relationship. When the chips are down though Eric is the one that Amanda turns to for help, even when he has hurt her in the past.
Eric has more than his fair share of trauama and that has caused him to make some really bad decisions that had dire consquences for both him and Amanda. Seeing these two work their way through that was gut wrenching at times.
This a tough read, the angst is next level and trust me when I tell you you will be feeling all the feels with this one. Ultimately this a great read and I loved the ending.
Amanda and Eric have been in each others lives for a long time and it has not always been an easy relationship. When the chips are down though Eric is the one that Amanda turns to for help, even when he has hurt her in the past.
Eric has more than his fair share of trauama and that has caused him to make some really bad decisions that had dire consquences for both him and Amanda. Seeing these two work their way through that was gut wrenching at times.
This a tough read, the angst is next level and trust me when I tell you you will be feeling all the feels with this one. Ultimately this a great read and I loved the ending.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the first offering in the Missing Pieces series by a talented author and it is filled with longing, yearning, secrets, mistakes and redemption all wrapped up in a consuming love. There are themes of past parent neglect, infidelity, addictions, unplanned pregnancy, family conflict, anxiety, guilt and emotional damage but it culminates in a hard-fought HEA for the main couple. Pay attention to the author’s content warnings before the start of the story.
Amanda discovers her boyfriend cheating when she goes to disclose her own pregnancy to him, so she leaves him and asks an ex and close friend for some accomodation and a place to get her head together. She doesn’t admit it to anyone let alone herself, but deep down she has always loved Eric, though circumstances conspired to put a rift between them and now he just is her person and she is his. She is heartbroken that he is everything to her but hers - can they possibly work towards a second chance at forever?
Eric had a broken childhood, a father that never claimed him and his anxiety for his past has caused him to muck up his chance with Amanda time and time again. Now that she has come to him pregnant and alone, he asks to co-parent the baby with her and hopes to develop their bond into a second chance at redemption, if his fears of guilt and trauma don’t get in his way.
There were many secrets, fears and events that happened throughout this story and the palpable tension and push/pull of their relationship all played a part in their evaluation of each other, their spirals down to depths of despair and their proclivity for self-sabotaging actions. There were heavy topics discussed, trauma from past and present and this made it a tough book to read but one that was also enthralling and emotionally satisfying in the end. The longstanding friendship between Eric and Amanda, their close partnership with their best friends Diego and Val and the banter between other characters provided some light-hearted relief between bouts of frustration and the pain of the angsty drama of the storyline.
I was taken in by the breathless prose of this tale and feverishly kept reading till the end. I have thoroughly enjoyed the hours of respite this reading has gifted me and thank the author for giving me the opportunity to enjoy the arc and provide my voluntary review.
Amanda discovers her boyfriend cheating when she goes to disclose her own pregnancy to him, so she leaves him and asks an ex and close friend for some accomodation and a place to get her head together. She doesn’t admit it to anyone let alone herself, but deep down she has always loved Eric, though circumstances conspired to put a rift between them and now he just is her person and she is his. She is heartbroken that he is everything to her but hers - can they possibly work towards a second chance at forever?
Eric had a broken childhood, a father that never claimed him and his anxiety for his past has caused him to muck up his chance with Amanda time and time again. Now that she has come to him pregnant and alone, he asks to co-parent the baby with her and hopes to develop their bond into a second chance at redemption, if his fears of guilt and trauma don’t get in his way.
There were many secrets, fears and events that happened throughout this story and the palpable tension and push/pull of their relationship all played a part in their evaluation of each other, their spirals down to depths of despair and their proclivity for self-sabotaging actions. There were heavy topics discussed, trauma from past and present and this made it a tough book to read but one that was also enthralling and emotionally satisfying in the end. The longstanding friendship between Eric and Amanda, their close partnership with their best friends Diego and Val and the banter between other characters provided some light-hearted relief between bouts of frustration and the pain of the angsty drama of the storyline.
I was taken in by the breathless prose of this tale and feverishly kept reading till the end. I have thoroughly enjoyed the hours of respite this reading has gifted me and thank the author for giving me the opportunity to enjoy the arc and provide my voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love a good tale of friends to lovers. The relationship between Eric and Amanda is long and complicated. This book spans years telling the story of where they are now and where they started. Nadia Nevsky brings the angst like it’s no one’s business in their story. It starts in the present where Amanda learns she is pregnant and then immediately finds out that her live in boyfriend, Daray, is cheating on her and impregnated the other woman as well. She is left homeless and pregnant and seeks out the support of her best friend Eric.
This is where we learn about the long and sometimes painful relationship between Eric and Amanda. It is important to pay attention to trigger warnings, if you have triggers. Eric has not had an easy life and my heart hurt for him so much. I have to admit that at times I got a little upset with Amanda. They could have benefitted from an honest conversation long before they had one. There were so many missed chances before they finally found their way back to each other.
Eric’s father and half brother were terrible people. I wouldn’t treat my worst enemy the way they treated Eric. They were not good people and I was a little surprised that Amanda would date one of his half brother’s friends, because you can tell the caliber of a person by the company they keep. I almost think she may have been acting out by dating Daray. It was par for the course, though, when it came to her and Eric, though. I will admit that I 🤦🏻♀️ on a few occasions at the way they avoided having candid conversations.
I was so happy when they finally had a real conversation and laid all their cards on the table. I was rooting for them soooo hard and sooo wanted them to finally get their act together. The pay off was so satisfying and their HEA was hard fought for and earned. I loved it! 💜
This is where we learn about the long and sometimes painful relationship between Eric and Amanda. It is important to pay attention to trigger warnings, if you have triggers. Eric has not had an easy life and my heart hurt for him so much. I have to admit that at times I got a little upset with Amanda. They could have benefitted from an honest conversation long before they had one. There were so many missed chances before they finally found their way back to each other.
Eric’s father and half brother were terrible people. I wouldn’t treat my worst enemy the way they treated Eric. They were not good people and I was a little surprised that Amanda would date one of his half brother’s friends, because you can tell the caliber of a person by the company they keep. I almost think she may have been acting out by dating Daray. It was par for the course, though, when it came to her and Eric, though. I will admit that I 🤦🏻♀️ on a few occasions at the way they avoided having candid conversations.
I was so happy when they finally had a real conversation and laid all their cards on the table. I was rooting for them soooo hard and sooo wanted them to finally get their act together. The pay off was so satisfying and their HEA was hard fought for and earned. I loved it! 💜
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars
Missing Piece Series: Eric and Amanda
Oh my lord… such a good story. But also… such a hard one to read.
There was SO much trauma, tension, angst, and back-and-forth that I felt emotionally exhausted by the end.
And I have to talk about the cheating trope, because this one sits firmly in the grey area. Whether you consider what happened cheating is probably going to come down to personal interpretation… but for me, it was really hard to move past.
There were definitely a few rage-inducing moments. And honestly, at times I felt like there wasn’t quite enough resolution or closure.
Eric made choices that completely changed their lives, yet his trauma seemed to become everyone’s fallback explanation for why it happened. Then somehow the blame was also placed on Amanda for walking away…
Personally? I would have lit a match first. IYKWIM…
That said, I really did love the emotional depth of this story. The friendship, the hurt, the slow burn, the longing, and that complicated feeling of loving someone who feels like home but also represents so much pain.
One thing that did frustrate me was the timeline. The story would randomly jump into the past without much explanation, and more than once I genuinely wondered if I had accidentally skipped pages. It took me out of the story a few times as it took me a while to work out the timeline.
Despite all of that, I was completely invested.
The friendship between Eric and Amanda, the longing, the hurt/comfort, the slow burn, the guilt, the complicated history between them… it all kept me turning the pages.
Eric is absolutely tortured, and Amanda has her own wounds to work through. Watching them navigate everything that happened between them was painful, frustrating, and sometimes incredibly poignant.
This is definitely not a fluffy second-chance romance. It's messy. It's angsty. There is betrayal, an unexpected pregnancy, trauma, forced proximity, and two people trying to figure out whether love is enough to overcome everything that happened.
And while I didn't always agree with the characters' choices (and there were MANY moments where I wanted to scream at them) I couldn't stop reading.
Everything But Mine really did make me feel ALL the things.
Frustration. Anger. Heartbreak. Hope. And, eventually, that little bit of satisfaction when you finally get to see where everything has been leading.
Definitely a story that will have you yelling at or throwing your Kindle.
Missing Piece Series: Eric and Amanda
Oh my lord… such a good story. But also… such a hard one to read.
There was SO much trauma, tension, angst, and back-and-forth that I felt emotionally exhausted by the end.
And I have to talk about the cheating trope, because this one sits firmly in the grey area. Whether you consider what happened cheating is probably going to come down to personal interpretation… but for me, it was really hard to move past.
There were definitely a few rage-inducing moments. And honestly, at times I felt like there wasn’t quite enough resolution or closure.
Eric made choices that completely changed their lives, yet his trauma seemed to become everyone’s fallback explanation for why it happened. Then somehow the blame was also placed on Amanda for walking away…
Personally? I would have lit a match first. IYKWIM…
That said, I really did love the emotional depth of this story. The friendship, the hurt, the slow burn, the longing, and that complicated feeling of loving someone who feels like home but also represents so much pain.
One thing that did frustrate me was the timeline. The story would randomly jump into the past without much explanation, and more than once I genuinely wondered if I had accidentally skipped pages. It took me out of the story a few times as it took me a while to work out the timeline.
Despite all of that, I was completely invested.
The friendship between Eric and Amanda, the longing, the hurt/comfort, the slow burn, the guilt, the complicated history between them… it all kept me turning the pages.
Eric is absolutely tortured, and Amanda has her own wounds to work through. Watching them navigate everything that happened between them was painful, frustrating, and sometimes incredibly poignant.
This is definitely not a fluffy second-chance romance. It's messy. It's angsty. There is betrayal, an unexpected pregnancy, trauma, forced proximity, and two people trying to figure out whether love is enough to overcome everything that happened.
And while I didn't always agree with the characters' choices (and there were MANY moments where I wanted to scream at them) I couldn't stop reading.
Everything But Mine really did make me feel ALL the things.
Frustration. Anger. Heartbreak. Hope. And, eventually, that little bit of satisfaction when you finally get to see where everything has been leading.
Definitely a story that will have you yelling at or throwing your Kindle.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had me emotionally invested in Eric and Amanda from the very beginning.
Everything But Mine is the kind of second-chance romance I love most—the kind where the feelings never really disappeared. They were just buried under years of hurt, bad timing, mistakes, and all the things neither of them was brave enough to say.
And Eric? He absolutely made this book for me.
The way he loves Amanda is so painfully obvious even when he is trying to convince himself that friendship is enough. Watching him find out she is pregnant with another man’s baby and still choose to be there for her—not because he expects anything in return, but simply because she is his person—completely got me. His relationship with the baby and the way becoming a father ultimately becomes part of his own healing was especially beautiful.
I also loved that Amanda and Eric have so much history. There are years of missed chances between them, and you can feel that history in every interaction. The jealousy, the longing, the tiny domestic moments, the tension whenever they get too close… it made the slow progression from “we’re just friends” to something neither of them can deny incredibly satisfying.
This isn’t a simple, fluffy friends-to-lovers romance. Both characters are carrying baggage, and Eric in particular has some deeply rooted insecurities he needs to work through. That emotional messiness made their HEA feel earned rather than inevitable.
And that epilogue? Exactly what I needed. Seeing Eric with Amanda and Beckett after everything that happened was such a perfect full-circle moment.
If you love second chances, he-fell-first, years of unresolved feelings, found family, a hero who steps up when it matters, and the delicious agony of two people insisting they’re “just friends” when absolutely no one believes them, this one is worth reading.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Everything But Mine is the kind of second-chance romance I love most—the kind where the feelings never really disappeared. They were just buried under years of hurt, bad timing, mistakes, and all the things neither of them was brave enough to say.
And Eric? He absolutely made this book for me.
The way he loves Amanda is so painfully obvious even when he is trying to convince himself that friendship is enough. Watching him find out she is pregnant with another man’s baby and still choose to be there for her—not because he expects anything in return, but simply because she is his person—completely got me. His relationship with the baby and the way becoming a father ultimately becomes part of his own healing was especially beautiful.
I also loved that Amanda and Eric have so much history. There are years of missed chances between them, and you can feel that history in every interaction. The jealousy, the longing, the tiny domestic moments, the tension whenever they get too close… it made the slow progression from “we’re just friends” to something neither of them can deny incredibly satisfying.
This isn’t a simple, fluffy friends-to-lovers romance. Both characters are carrying baggage, and Eric in particular has some deeply rooted insecurities he needs to work through. That emotional messiness made their HEA feel earned rather than inevitable.
And that epilogue? Exactly what I needed. Seeing Eric with Amanda and Beckett after everything that happened was such a perfect full-circle moment.
If you love second chances, he-fell-first, years of unresolved feelings, found family, a hero who steps up when it matters, and the delicious agony of two people insisting they’re “just friends” when absolutely no one believes them, this one is worth reading.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
September 29, 2026
4✨
3🌶️
I thought this one was going to be hard to rate, just due to some things on this book that I am heavily against reading. But Nadia wove this story beautifully. There was no right or wrong way how things came about with our MMC's. Eric's struggles were profound in the way that it took everyone in his vicinity by force.
I felt that the best thing that could've happened to him was for Mandy to get pregnant by someone else. I felt like he NEEDED that pain to bring out his true feelings. Eric had a way of burying the pain, not letting anyone inside his bubble—not even the love of his life, Mandy. Through the pain of seeing her have a child with her ex, he basically took the bull by the horns and decided, then and there, that her child was going to be his child as well.
And Mandy needs all the praise. She stood strong, even when heartbreak drove her away from Eric. And while I believe that some pain will never truly go away, it can be forgiven.
Those two had a rough past, a rough present, but an incredible and wound-healing future.
3🌶️
I thought this one was going to be hard to rate, just due to some things on this book that I am heavily against reading. But Nadia wove this story beautifully. There was no right or wrong way how things came about with our MMC's. Eric's struggles were profound in the way that it took everyone in his vicinity by force.
I felt that the best thing that could've happened to him was for Mandy to get pregnant by someone else. I felt like he NEEDED that pain to bring out his true feelings. Eric had a way of burying the pain, not letting anyone inside his bubble—not even the love of his life, Mandy. Through the pain of seeing her have a child with her ex, he basically took the bull by the horns and decided, then and there, that her child was going to be his child as well.
And Mandy needs all the praise. She stood strong, even when heartbreak drove her away from Eric. And while I believe that some pain will never truly go away, it can be forgiven.
Those two had a rough past, a rough present, but an incredible and wound-healing future.
Review of advance copy received from Author
In the story Eric grew up with deep abandonment issues. His father is cruel, coward, disgusting human being who not only denied acknowledging Eric as his son in public but also humiliated him every step of the way. It really hurts impressionable child’s self worth. He developed tendencies of self sabotaging. He ends up hurting and betraying Amanda his best friend and love of his life because of his insecurities and unresolved issues. But he never ever stopped loving Amanda. My heart really hurts for him throughout the story. Amanda is a strong person who always loved Eric too. But when he betrayed her, she tried to move on. His hopes of getting her dashed when he learned she was pregnant and having her boyfriend’s baby. But she found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her and impregnated other woman. Eric did everything possible to be worthy of raising this baby as his own child and for the future with Amanda. Their love and family got stronger and their happily ever is really sweet. There is a hint of comeuppance for all the villains in the story. I really like the story.
September 19, 2026
Ok leaving my short review here, but plan to come back to add details later!
Ok before I start I need to clarify some things. This has friends become lovers BUT if you think you are getting some sweet little story with a little hiccup before they get together, I want to tell you right now that is not this story!!! There is a whole lot of unrequited love going on and for a little while we even have some enemies to lovers element! My emotions were all over the place. Again we see how trauma as a child can shape us and cause us to make choices that mess up our lives! Our hero is full of trauma! His mistake(and it was a big one, read the author note!!!) caused him to lose his best friend and his unrequited love, the heroine. Now their friendship was carved over many years, so they do make their way back to friends, but after his betrayal, she firmly closed the door on anything else with him. And by the way, our hero suffers from his betrayal in a very, “physical” way. He had a psychosomatic reaction to losing his one chance with the heroine! Our heroine moved on and moved in with her boyfriend, only to find him cheating on her with the woman that was just a coworker! (And in their bed!!!) She goes to her best friend Eric, and tells him what happens! She had already told him she was pregnant and was going to tell the baby daddy, but he was otherwise occupied. When Eric first found out about the pregnancy he knew he lost his chance to be more than friends with her….but now with the new revelation of the cheating, he sees a small opening. He volunteers to be a coparent. He wants to keep Amanda near him at all costs and already sees the future they could have. Amanda is keeping him firmly in the friend zone…until she doesn’t. BUT before we get to that our hero needs to fix himself and become whole. We get lots of flashbacks and oof they are painful at times. Our heroine needs to learn how to trust the hero, and he needs to know he is worthy! They have friends to help them along the way, and they have enemies trying to put up roadblocks! In the end they get their hea! This is an angsty slow burn second chance romance! So buckle up, as the road to the happily ever after is bumpy with detours along the way!!!!!
Ok before I start I need to clarify some things. This has friends become lovers BUT if you think you are getting some sweet little story with a little hiccup before they get together, I want to tell you right now that is not this story!!! There is a whole lot of unrequited love going on and for a little while we even have some enemies to lovers element! My emotions were all over the place. Again we see how trauma as a child can shape us and cause us to make choices that mess up our lives! Our hero is full of trauma! His mistake(and it was a big one, read the author note!!!) caused him to lose his best friend and his unrequited love, the heroine. Now their friendship was carved over many years, so they do make their way back to friends, but after his betrayal, she firmly closed the door on anything else with him. And by the way, our hero suffers from his betrayal in a very, “physical” way. He had a psychosomatic reaction to losing his one chance with the heroine! Our heroine moved on and moved in with her boyfriend, only to find him cheating on her with the woman that was just a coworker! (And in their bed!!!) She goes to her best friend Eric, and tells him what happens! She had already told him she was pregnant and was going to tell the baby daddy, but he was otherwise occupied. When Eric first found out about the pregnancy he knew he lost his chance to be more than friends with her….but now with the new revelation of the cheating, he sees a small opening. He volunteers to be a coparent. He wants to keep Amanda near him at all costs and already sees the future they could have. Amanda is keeping him firmly in the friend zone…until she doesn’t. BUT before we get to that our hero needs to fix himself and become whole. We get lots of flashbacks and oof they are painful at times. Our heroine needs to learn how to trust the hero, and he needs to know he is worthy! They have friends to help them along the way, and they have enemies trying to put up roadblocks! In the end they get their hea! This is an angsty slow burn second chance romance! So buckle up, as the road to the happily ever after is bumpy with detours along the way!!!!!
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August 25, 2026Cuando Amanda se entera de que está embarazada, no lo puede creer. No sabe cómo cambiará su vida, pero al menos tiene la certeza de que su novio, Daray, estará a su lado para afrontar lo que viene. O eso cree.
Todo se viene abajo cuando descubre que él le ha sido infiel y que la vida que imaginaba ya no existe. Con el corazón roto y sin saber qué hacer, Amanda termina recurriendo a Eric, su mejor amigo y la persona que siempre ha estado ahí para ella, bueno casi siempre.
Eric sabe que este debería ser un momento para ayudarla, no para pensar en lo que siente. Después de tantos años guardando sus sentimientos, lo último que quiere es aprovecharse de la situación.
Ahora Amanda tendrá que descubrir qué quiere para ella y para su bebé, mientras Eric se enfrenta a una pregunta que lleva demasiado tiempo evitando: ¿qué pasaría si la mujer que siempre ha amado finalmente pudiera verlo de la misma manera?
__
Algo que no me gustó fue que Val se convirtiera en la terapeuta de Eric y espero en la versión final se cambie. Sé que se deja claro que, como se conocen, ella no puede ser realmente su terapeuta y que supuestamente solo le enseñaría y le daría herramientas para ayudarlo. Pero lo que ellos hacían era terapia y eso se puede ver claramente en el capítulo 25, porque al final no era algo beneficioso para ninguno de los dos.
Val es amiga de Amanda y conoció a Eric por ella. Además, conoce toda la historia entre ambos y, antes de empezar estas sesiones, estaba en contra de que pasara algo entre ellos. De repente cambia de opinión, sus conversaciones con Amanda cambian de tono y ahora se convierte en una defensora de Eric.
Como dije, en el capítulo 25 prácticamente tienen una especie de sesión de pareja. Hay una parte en la que Amanda no quiere hablar sobre el pasado y se puede ver claramente cómo Val intenta presionarla para que lo haga e incluso ya esta del lado de él.
Gracias Nadia por el ARC.
Todo se viene abajo cuando descubre que él le ha sido infiel y que la vida que imaginaba ya no existe. Con el corazón roto y sin saber qué hacer, Amanda termina recurriendo a Eric, su mejor amigo y la persona que siempre ha estado ahí para ella, bueno casi siempre.
Eric sabe que este debería ser un momento para ayudarla, no para pensar en lo que siente. Después de tantos años guardando sus sentimientos, lo último que quiere es aprovecharse de la situación.
Ahora Amanda tendrá que descubrir qué quiere para ella y para su bebé, mientras Eric se enfrenta a una pregunta que lleva demasiado tiempo evitando: ¿qué pasaría si la mujer que siempre ha amado finalmente pudiera verlo de la misma manera?
__
Algo que no me gustó fue que Val se convirtiera en la terapeuta de Eric y espero en la versión final se cambie. Sé que se deja claro que, como se conocen, ella no puede ser realmente su terapeuta y que supuestamente solo le enseñaría y le daría herramientas para ayudarlo. Pero lo que ellos hacían era terapia y eso se puede ver claramente en el capítulo 25, porque al final no era algo beneficioso para ninguno de los dos.
Val es amiga de Amanda y conoció a Eric por ella. Además, conoce toda la historia entre ambos y, antes de empezar estas sesiones, estaba en contra de que pasara algo entre ellos. De repente cambia de opinión, sus conversaciones con Amanda cambian de tono y ahora se convierte en una defensora de Eric.
Como dije, en el capítulo 25 prácticamente tienen una especie de sesión de pareja. Hay una parte en la que Amanda no quiere hablar sobre el pasado y se puede ver claramente cómo Val intenta presionarla para que lo haga e incluso ya esta del lado de él.
Gracias Nadia por el ARC.
September 27, 2026
New Author, Authentic Storytelling
First, this was a story that was a great surprise to find. It was a good story and dialogue with lots of feelings from both POVs.
Honestly, I enjoyed this so much that the editing errors were just chapter notes that didn’t get me out of the story, made me want to mark them and send them to author. Considering the number of AI creations that have taken over everywhere, PPC and even on KU, I’d much rather point out the small errors and help a good writer improve and encourage her for future projects because of how hard it is to find quality storytelling here.
The story — it’s a slow burn of two people that have defined their lives with a self- fulfilling prophecy. It’s them living through life loving and hurting each other. After years of self sabotage and the likes, they finally discover if they can get through past hurts and prevent new ones to be able to be together.
Without his POV I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy this story.
Spoiler— stop reading if you don’t want anymore spoilers!
I do wish that we got to take a look at how they handled things after they got together and how they experience the lows together. And what happens with the family gathering that last cabin trip before the baby. Did anything change in those relationships or even with Max?
First, this was a story that was a great surprise to find. It was a good story and dialogue with lots of feelings from both POVs.
Honestly, I enjoyed this so much that the editing errors were just chapter notes that didn’t get me out of the story, made me want to mark them and send them to author. Considering the number of AI creations that have taken over everywhere, PPC and even on KU, I’d much rather point out the small errors and help a good writer improve and encourage her for future projects because of how hard it is to find quality storytelling here.
The story — it’s a slow burn of two people that have defined their lives with a self- fulfilling prophecy. It’s them living through life loving and hurting each other. After years of self sabotage and the likes, they finally discover if they can get through past hurts and prevent new ones to be able to be together.
Without his POV I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy this story.
Spoiler— stop reading if you don’t want anymore spoilers!
I do wish that we got to take a look at how they handled things after they got together and how they experience the lows together. And what happens with the family gathering that last cabin trip before the baby. Did anything change in those relationships or even with Max?
Review of advance copy received from Author
* Emotional manipulation and
* Gaslighting
* Infidelity (present and not between the main couple; past between main couple)
* Unplanned pregnancy
* Mental health challenges (depression and suicidal ideation references)
* Family conflict and emotional neglect
* FMC Amanda x MMC Eric
* Karma
* Family isn't always blood
When you are taught from an early age that your father never wanted you and you're not good enough in his eyes, whilst watching him dote on your sibling, you end up breaking the love you have for your soul mate.
A story revolving around continued trauma and self sabotage, about correcting what went wrong and actually working on it.
The story takes place in the present but we have snapshots of past events and this shows us the depth of trauma that led to the main couples original and repeated demise. Nevsky does a great job in brining out the readers emotions and shows the real impact on people's psyches from repeated trauma and abuse.
Favourite quote:
"There was nothing wrong with me. There are a thousand things wrong with my father, and any man who just chooses not to love a child. Any child. In every hug, kiss, or inside joke, I’m reminded that I’m deserving and worthy."
* Gaslighting
* Infidelity (present and not between the main couple; past between main couple)
* Unplanned pregnancy
* Mental health challenges (depression and suicidal ideation references)
* Family conflict and emotional neglect
* FMC Amanda x MMC Eric
* Karma
* Family isn't always blood
When you are taught from an early age that your father never wanted you and you're not good enough in his eyes, whilst watching him dote on your sibling, you end up breaking the love you have for your soul mate.
A story revolving around continued trauma and self sabotage, about correcting what went wrong and actually working on it.
The story takes place in the present but we have snapshots of past events and this shows us the depth of trauma that led to the main couples original and repeated demise. Nevsky does a great job in brining out the readers emotions and shows the real impact on people's psyches from repeated trauma and abuse.
Favourite quote:
"There was nothing wrong with me. There are a thousand things wrong with my father, and any man who just chooses not to love a child. Any child. In every hug, kiss, or inside joke, I’m reminded that I’m deserving and worthy."
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, this was an emotional roller coaster! I started to read while the author was writing, and I was eagerly looking for updates!
Eric had my heart cracking open! Amanda is a strong woman who finally gets over her heartache and is willing to help Eric, along with their loyal friends, see himself in a positive light.
While yes, there is cheating, and no there is really no excuse for it, you will get the painful background of Eric’s upbringing and emotional abuse from his father , who never gave him the time of day.
Amanda, finds out her boyfriend(Deray),whom she lives with is cheating with her BF. He is someone you want to be hit by a bus throughout the book. You may see some Karma! Amanda also finds out she pregnant with Deray’s child… Amanda reaches out to Eric for support, read on to see how they navigate their relationship.
This is an intense read, but what you will find is two people fighting for each other and facing obstacles together.
Eric had my heart cracking open! Amanda is a strong woman who finally gets over her heartache and is willing to help Eric, along with their loyal friends, see himself in a positive light.
While yes, there is cheating, and no there is really no excuse for it, you will get the painful background of Eric’s upbringing and emotional abuse from his father , who never gave him the time of day.
Amanda, finds out her boyfriend(Deray),whom she lives with is cheating with her BF. He is someone you want to be hit by a bus throughout the book. You may see some Karma! Amanda also finds out she pregnant with Deray’s child… Amanda reaches out to Eric for support, read on to see how they navigate their relationship.
This is an intense read, but what you will find is two people fighting for each other and facing obstacles together.
September 17, 2026
I love an angsty betrayal and second chance romance and this did not disappoint.
The story follows Amanda and Eric, childhood friends who have always had feelings for each other but have a lot of past hurt standing between them. When Amanda’s world shatters she ends up moving in with Eric, but being close again brings back old feelings, guilt and all the things they have never really dealt with.
This was emotional from the start. Eric has loved Amanda for so long but he also has his own insecurities and self sabotage that get in the way. Amanda has already been through so much and my heart hurt for her.
There was angst, heartache, forced proximity and second chance tension. I was so invested in seeing how they would find their way back to each other.
If you love emotional second chance romance with childhood friends, hurt comfort and lots of angst, this is definitely one to pick up.
The story follows Amanda and Eric, childhood friends who have always had feelings for each other but have a lot of past hurt standing between them. When Amanda’s world shatters she ends up moving in with Eric, but being close again brings back old feelings, guilt and all the things they have never really dealt with.
This was emotional from the start. Eric has loved Amanda for so long but he also has his own insecurities and self sabotage that get in the way. Amanda has already been through so much and my heart hurt for her.
There was angst, heartache, forced proximity and second chance tension. I was so invested in seeing how they would find their way back to each other.
If you love emotional second chance romance with childhood friends, hurt comfort and lots of angst, this is definitely one to pick up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advanced copy from the author .
3.5⭐
In the end this was a lovely story, but man was it hard to follow at first. There were random time jumps/flashbacks with no warning but with the same characters, so it took the page to understand where we were. It made the first half frustrating and slow.
Also, spoiler, in a friendship group that close no one would have let a little boy be treated like that.
The built family story, the love was sweet. A slow burn that isn't really a slow burn, just a really long one. Therapy, talking, friendship & live.
Definitely worth the read.
3.5⭐
In the end this was a lovely story, but man was it hard to follow at first. There were random time jumps/flashbacks with no warning but with the same characters, so it took the page to understand where we were. It made the first half frustrating and slow.
Also, spoiler, in a friendship group that close no one would have let a little boy be treated like that.
The built family story, the love was sweet. A slow burn that isn't really a slow burn, just a really long one. Therapy, talking, friendship & live.
Definitely worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2026
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Couple: Eric & Amanda
❋❋❋❋❋❋
First time reading this author and I believe this may have been the first story she had written, not first published. I liked the story enough and it held my attention. I will definitely be giving her other books a try. This whole book was just messy. Eric and Amanda, messy. Their friends and adults around them, messy. The whole situation was just a lot, and messy. A lot of the times I was sitting here wondering how people could really act this way or be this way. It definitely was a hard hea, but they got there.
Couple: Eric & Amanda
❋❋❋❋❋❋
First time reading this author and I believe this may have been the first story she had written, not first published. I liked the story enough and it held my attention. I will definitely be giving her other books a try. This whole book was just messy. Eric and Amanda, messy. Their friends and adults around them, messy. The whole situation was just a lot, and messy. A lot of the times I was sitting here wondering how people could really act this way or be this way. It definitely was a hard hea, but they got there.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Intense and emotional read from the beginning. Eric likes Amanda and when he has a chance to actually be with her, because her ex cheated and she left him, he does everything to self-sabotage the relationship. She finds she is also pregnant when she leaves her ex.
This is a second chance book for Eric more so than Amanda. He makes questionable decisions and has to live with real consequences. We get all the angst, heart ache, and emotional conflict as they work toward an HEA.
This is a second chance book for Eric more so than Amanda. He makes questionable decisions and has to live with real consequences. We get all the angst, heart ache, and emotional conflict as they work toward an HEA.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a great book, I love angst and second chance, the characters were so well written, I could feel all the emotions. I could of shouted a few times, talk to each other, but the angst and ending was totally worth it, thank you for my arc
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved the book. Everyone got the ending they deserved!
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August 24, 2026Enjoyed the storyline, felt it was a little dragged out in places, could have been shorter. Overall tho, a good read and I loved the HEA. *I received this as an ARC*
September 18, 2026
Holy emotional rollercoaster/slowburn/angst a thon!
I enjoy reading this authors books and this was no exception. I can’t wait for Diego and Val’s story.
I enjoy reading this authors books and this was no exception. I can’t wait for Diego and Val’s story.
September 19, 2026
It's a very well written book. I've never been a fan of memory flashes in books but in this one its well done.
September 21, 2026
Every adult failed Eric, and his mother didn't get enough smoke for me. I was angry the whole story on Eric's behalf.
September 23, 2026
What an amazing book. An emotional roller coaster. Just wow. Absolutely loved Eric and Amanda’s story. I was reeled in from the get go. Can’t wait for the next book by Nadia Nevsky!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an amazing book. I just loved it! It has all my favorite topes. It's an angsty book where childhood friends over come betrayal and a pregnancy. It's a slow burn second chance story.
Eric has loved Amanda a long time and he is upset when she tells him she is pregnant with her partner's baby, but then Amanda not only catches her partner cheating, but he's got the other woman pregnant as well. Amanda goes to Eric for help. Eric is 100% there for Amanda but he has his own demons to overcome, and he works on healing himself.
You will love this story as it's beautifully written. I hope you give it a go you won't be disappointed.
Eric has loved Amanda a long time and he is upset when she tells him she is pregnant with her partner's baby, but then Amanda not only catches her partner cheating, but he's got the other woman pregnant as well. Amanda goes to Eric for help. Eric is 100% there for Amanda but he has his own demons to overcome, and he works on healing himself.
You will love this story as it's beautifully written. I hope you give it a go you won't be disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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