What do you think?
Eternally Yours
They broke each other's hearts. Now they're working side by side to fix everyone else's.
Poppy isn't looking for love - she's looking for a way to get her mum on the client list of Eternally Yours, the most exclusive matchmaking agency in town. So when she lands a summer job there, she's ready to fake her passion for romance and keep her head down.
Except her ex-boyfriend Salman is also working there. And he somehow still knows exactly how to make her laugh when she's trying to hate him.
As they're forced to plan dates for other people, Poppy and Salman find themselves revisiting their own history - and maybe rewriting it. But will they be able to find their way back to each other for good?
A sweet second-chance summer romance from the YA Book Prize shortlisted author of This is How You Fall in Love. Perfect for readers of Jenny Han, Joya Goffney and Adiba Jaigirdar!
Poppy isn't looking for love - she's looking for a way to get her mum on the client list of Eternally Yours, the most exclusive matchmaking agency in town. So when she lands a summer job there, she's ready to fake her passion for romance and keep her head down.
Except her ex-boyfriend Salman is also working there. And he somehow still knows exactly how to make her laugh when she's trying to hate him.
As they're forced to plan dates for other people, Poppy and Salman find themselves revisiting their own history - and maybe rewriting it. But will they be able to find their way back to each other for good?
A sweet second-chance summer romance from the YA Book Prize shortlisted author of This is How You Fall in Love. Perfect for readers of Jenny Han, Joya Goffney and Adiba Jaigirdar!
- GenresRomance
Paperback
About the author
Anika Hussain
6 books125 followersAnika Hussain was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden but currently lives and writes in Bristol. She is a graduate of the Bath Spa MAWYP. Not having seen herself in the books she read as a teenager, Anika writes YA novels with South Asian characters at the heart of the story.
In her free time, Anika rewatches Love Island, listens to too many true crime podcasts, and sings pop-punk songs loudly around her apartment.
Anika is represented by Alice Sutherland-Hawes at ASH Literary.
In her free time, Anika rewatches Love Island, listens to too many true crime podcasts, and sings pop-punk songs loudly around her apartment.
Anika is represented by Alice Sutherland-Hawes at ASH Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 18, 2026
Book club read 📚
Overall feeling towards this one = neutral.
It was a gentle second-chance romance that was cute enough but it did feel super YA and at times a little cringe. I related to Poppy a lot in the way of her being a control freak and super planner 😂 and I quite liked how it also touched on the occasional difficulties of being in a friendship trio. Otherwise though it was just a little bit meh for me - have just come off of a mega streak of books though, I guess they can’t all be 5 stars.
Overall feeling towards this one = neutral.
It was a gentle second-chance romance that was cute enough but it did feel super YA and at times a little cringe. I related to Poppy a lot in the way of her being a control freak and super planner 😂 and I quite liked how it also touched on the occasional difficulties of being in a friendship trio. Otherwise though it was just a little bit meh for me - have just come off of a mega streak of books though, I guess they can’t all be 5 stars.
July 18, 2026
⭐️3.75
“It's been worth it. The torture. The agony. It's all been worth it because you're worth it”
Review:
For someone who used to vlog date ideas in the past, this sounded very interesting to me.
Imagine working at a match making agency to find out your ex is also working there. Why is he there please?? 😂 But if he wanted to he would!!
Salman was honestly a gentle soul. You could tell that he cared for Poppy but at the same time he loved being a little annoying. This story also touched on how break ups shape mutual friendship groups and how it could put a strain on those involved. I thought the twist was really sweet as well.
The overall story was really cute and perfect for those who love a light hearted YA romance 🥰
A quote I loved:
“Most people think that matchmaking is about putting people together, but most of the time it's about putting yourself together. Making space for the parts of yourself you've been avoiding”
“It's been worth it. The torture. The agony. It's all been worth it because you're worth it”
Review:
For someone who used to vlog date ideas in the past, this sounded very interesting to me.
Imagine working at a match making agency to find out your ex is also working there. Why is he there please?? 😂 But if he wanted to he would!!
Salman was honestly a gentle soul. You could tell that he cared for Poppy but at the same time he loved being a little annoying. This story also touched on how break ups shape mutual friendship groups and how it could put a strain on those involved. I thought the twist was really sweet as well.
The overall story was really cute and perfect for those who love a light hearted YA romance 🥰
A quote I loved:
“Most people think that matchmaking is about putting people together, but most of the time it's about putting yourself together. Making space for the parts of yourself you've been avoiding”
August 22, 2026
Gentle, fun teen romance with South Asian characters and only kissing, no real spice.
July 19, 2026
this had nothing to offer
July 20, 2026
Second-chance romance about exes working together in a matchmaking agency?
Sign me up! (To the story, not the agency. I’m already taken😅)
Ah, Anika, Anika… Will you ever write a book that won’t make me smile like an idiot while reading it?😂 I adore the plot of this book and both of our main characters! Reading about their time and work in Eternally Yours was so entertaining! And the banter was so cute🥰
I also really love how much we could find out about Poppy and Salman through their “potential matches” they were creating and date ideas for the people looking to find love through this agency. I find it really interesting how well their perspectives worked together, even though they both had slightly different views on how to approach matching people and how to read their personalities and needs from the forms they filled out.
I find the way Anika portrayed grief and being able to “move on” really intriguing. Everyone experiences grief differently and everyone should have a right to deal with it in their own way. The same goes for deciding when to move on and possibly start looking for someone else, as in the case of Poppy’s mum.
I also like the way Anika approached the fear of being abandoned and how different people handle that fear. (I’d love to say more about this but I’d have to spoil a thing or two so I’ll leave it at that).
I think the romance between Salman and Poppy was very sweet and push-and-pull moments were understandable taking into consideration what happened between them.
Right, aaaand now I have to unfortunately point out the one thing that didn’t work for me. I think the reason for the whole conflict/ conflicts in this book was quite weak. I know, I know, that’s the whole point in the context of processing grief and avoiding being hurt but I think it all could have been a bit more developed. And because this reason felt so benign, it didn’t give the ending and the resolution much to work with, so tying of the plot threats felt a bit rushed in my opinion.
Anyway, I still had lots of fun reading this book and love Anika’s writing with all my being. She’s one of my “if she writes it, I’ll read it” authors and I will always be exited to read her books 🥰🥰
Massive thank you to NetGalley and Hot Key Books for this arc💕💕💕
Sign me up! (To the story, not the agency. I’m already taken😅)
Ah, Anika, Anika… Will you ever write a book that won’t make me smile like an idiot while reading it?😂 I adore the plot of this book and both of our main characters! Reading about their time and work in Eternally Yours was so entertaining! And the banter was so cute🥰
I also really love how much we could find out about Poppy and Salman through their “potential matches” they were creating and date ideas for the people looking to find love through this agency. I find it really interesting how well their perspectives worked together, even though they both had slightly different views on how to approach matching people and how to read their personalities and needs from the forms they filled out.
I find the way Anika portrayed grief and being able to “move on” really intriguing. Everyone experiences grief differently and everyone should have a right to deal with it in their own way. The same goes for deciding when to move on and possibly start looking for someone else, as in the case of Poppy’s mum.
I also like the way Anika approached the fear of being abandoned and how different people handle that fear. (I’d love to say more about this but I’d have to spoil a thing or two so I’ll leave it at that).
I think the romance between Salman and Poppy was very sweet and push-and-pull moments were understandable taking into consideration what happened between them.
Right, aaaand now I have to unfortunately point out the one thing that didn’t work for me. I think the reason for the whole conflict/ conflicts in this book was quite weak. I know, I know, that’s the whole point in the context of processing grief and avoiding being hurt but I think it all could have been a bit more developed. And because this reason felt so benign, it didn’t give the ending and the resolution much to work with, so tying of the plot threats felt a bit rushed in my opinion.
Anyway, I still had lots of fun reading this book and love Anika’s writing with all my being. She’s one of my “if she writes it, I’ll read it” authors and I will always be exited to read her books 🥰🥰
Massive thank you to NetGalley and Hot Key Books for this arc💕💕💕
July 4, 2026
ARC review.
After reading Anika Hussain’s last release Heartbreaker and absolutely loving it, I was really excited to read Eternally Yours. We follow Poppy who gets a summer job at a dating agency. After loosing her father and preparing to leave for university all she wants is her mother to not be alone. She hopes by getting the job she can get her mum on the exclusive list at the agency and find her love. What she doesn’t expect is her ex boyfriend Salman to also be working there over the summer. He dumped her out of the blue leaving Poppy heartbroken and the last thing she wants is to spend the summer with him. But the more time they spend together Poppy remembers how much she liked Salman and as they are forced to work together matchmaking can they rekindle their own romance?
This felt like the perfect representation of what it’s like to be a teenager. Poppy felt a very realistic character and I could relate to her feelings when I was her age. The mixed feelings about being left out of her friendship group alongside her feelings for Salman made for a very realistic young adult read that I would definitely recommend to that audience. The setting of the dating agency felt really unique for a YA and think it worked really well. As someone who is no longer in the age bracket of YA, I did find it be quite young for me personally but this is why I think it is great for the age group it is marketed at. The reason I did not give it more stars is whilst it was enjoyable and I liked seeing Poppy and Salman grow through their prank wars and messages was I wish there was more to why they broke up. I could totally understand the reason but when it was all revealed alongside the family feuds I felt Salman could have handled things better. (But again perfectly age appropriate reactions!)
I have read two YA books by this author now and they will definitely be my go when asking for recommendations for teenagers!
After reading Anika Hussain’s last release Heartbreaker and absolutely loving it, I was really excited to read Eternally Yours. We follow Poppy who gets a summer job at a dating agency. After loosing her father and preparing to leave for university all she wants is her mother to not be alone. She hopes by getting the job she can get her mum on the exclusive list at the agency and find her love. What she doesn’t expect is her ex boyfriend Salman to also be working there over the summer. He dumped her out of the blue leaving Poppy heartbroken and the last thing she wants is to spend the summer with him. But the more time they spend together Poppy remembers how much she liked Salman and as they are forced to work together matchmaking can they rekindle their own romance?
This felt like the perfect representation of what it’s like to be a teenager. Poppy felt a very realistic character and I could relate to her feelings when I was her age. The mixed feelings about being left out of her friendship group alongside her feelings for Salman made for a very realistic young adult read that I would definitely recommend to that audience. The setting of the dating agency felt really unique for a YA and think it worked really well. As someone who is no longer in the age bracket of YA, I did find it be quite young for me personally but this is why I think it is great for the age group it is marketed at. The reason I did not give it more stars is whilst it was enjoyable and I liked seeing Poppy and Salman grow through their prank wars and messages was I wish there was more to why they broke up. I could totally understand the reason but when it was all revealed alongside the family feuds I felt Salman could have handled things better. (But again perfectly age appropriate reactions!)
I have read two YA books by this author now and they will definitely be my go when asking for recommendations for teenagers!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
story takes place in an elite matchmaking agency called Eternally Yours. The book explores South Asian representation and features deep subplots such as adult friendships fallout and pressure on teenagers whilst trying to find their career paths.
The romantic side of the book is illustrated sweetly between Poppy and Salman. Poppy, our FMC takes a summer job at Eternally Yours with the idea to help her widow mother get back into the dating game whilst she is off to Edinburgh for her studies. What happens next is that her ex-boyfriend Salman is her new colleague. They need to work together on planning dates for potential couples while trying to ignore their own dating history. Salman our MMC is charming, witty, caring and still has feelings for Poppy. Their shared time within the agency brings a sweet, underlying tension that slowly revisit the heartbreak of their past.
The character growth, the family dynamics, and the undeniable chemistry between Poppy and Salman made this read a joy for the hot summer days.
The romantic side of the book is illustrated sweetly between Poppy and Salman. Poppy, our FMC takes a summer job at Eternally Yours with the idea to help her widow mother get back into the dating game whilst she is off to Edinburgh for her studies. What happens next is that her ex-boyfriend Salman is her new colleague. They need to work together on planning dates for potential couples while trying to ignore their own dating history. Salman our MMC is charming, witty, caring and still has feelings for Poppy. Their shared time within the agency brings a sweet, underlying tension that slowly revisit the heartbreak of their past.
The character growth, the family dynamics, and the undeniable chemistry between Poppy and Salman made this read a joy for the hot summer days.
July 24, 2026
A beautifully written second chance romance between two Bengali teens living in Bristol.
After losing her father, seventeen-year-old Poppy is determined to look for love for her Bengali mother. As a result, she begins working as a personal assistant at Eternally Yours an infamous matchmaking agency among South Asian Bristolians. She doesn't anticipate spending the entirety of summer working with her ex boyfriend Salman.They are both forced to plan dates for potential clients in the agency whilst attempting not to fall in love again...
This like Heartbreaker by Anika Hussain was such a fun and cute read. I absolutely love a forced proximity workplace romance, but make it South Asian!!
Poppy and Salman held such a sweet connection and it was so touching to read about their rekindle love considering culturals implications played a major factor in their initial breakup. Poppy was portrayed as a realistic Brown teenager, especially with how her panicked thoughts subsequently impacting her future behaviour. The exploration of Brown families and community also felt incredibly close to home.
Thank you to Insta Book Tours and Hot Key Books for having on this tour.
After losing her father, seventeen-year-old Poppy is determined to look for love for her Bengali mother. As a result, she begins working as a personal assistant at Eternally Yours an infamous matchmaking agency among South Asian Bristolians. She doesn't anticipate spending the entirety of summer working with her ex boyfriend Salman.They are both forced to plan dates for potential clients in the agency whilst attempting not to fall in love again...
This like Heartbreaker by Anika Hussain was such a fun and cute read. I absolutely love a forced proximity workplace romance, but make it South Asian!!
Poppy and Salman held such a sweet connection and it was so touching to read about their rekindle love considering culturals implications played a major factor in their initial breakup. Poppy was portrayed as a realistic Brown teenager, especially with how her panicked thoughts subsequently impacting her future behaviour. The exploration of Brown families and community also felt incredibly close to home.
Thank you to Insta Book Tours and Hot Key Books for having on this tour.
August 25, 2026
When I picked up this book I didn't realise that it was a second chance lovers trope of romance, since I don't really trust the second chance genre on a specific level but Salman made me believe again that the right men do come back for a second chance at love, not the ones who believe that they love the idea of it, not actually the romance.
ANIKA HUSSAIN MADE ME LOVE SECOND CHANCE ROMANCES!!!
But hear me out, I NEED ETERNALLY YOURS TO BE REAL!!!!!! To whoever is named Sadia in this world please please pleaseeeeeeee create Eternally Yours and employ two teens for the summer who are exes to work together because I would happily work at Externally Yours myself just to watch the drama unfold, in a good way don't worry.
Before I picked up this book I'd never heard of Anika Hussain and let's just say, I shall be reading many more of her books, if she has them in stock so prettyyyy pleaseeeeee ☺️💓
ANIKA HUSSAIN MADE ME LOVE SECOND CHANCE ROMANCES!!!
But hear me out, I NEED ETERNALLY YOURS TO BE REAL!!!!!! To whoever is named Sadia in this world please please pleaseeeeeeee create Eternally Yours and employ two teens for the summer who are exes to work together because I would happily work at Externally Yours myself just to watch the drama unfold, in a good way don't worry.
Before I picked up this book I'd never heard of Anika Hussain and let's just say, I shall be reading many more of her books, if she has them in stock so prettyyyy pleaseeeeee ☺️💓
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I want to start this review by saying a huge thanks to the team at Insta Book Tours for having me on this tour. The premise of this book sounded so different and refreshing and it most certainly delivered.
I really liked Poppy as a protagonist and I warmed to her quite quickly. I found her intentions to be pure and her caring nature to shine through.
The YA vibes of this novel were spot on - all the content felt purposeful & added a new dimension to the storyline and kept the relationships between characters ticking over.
I just really liked this one and will definitely be looking for more of Hussain’s future work 🫶🏼
August 9, 2026
Firstly, thank you so much for the chance to be able to receive this ARC. This was my first introduction to Anika Hussain's work. Although my review is late, I had an enjoyable time with this book. However, it took me ages to get into it, hence the late review. I did like the second-chance trope and I liked the overall premise of the book. However the reason for the couple's break up was brushed over in my opinion and not really explained. To me, the reason for a break up is a big part of second-chance romance because without the breakup, there would be no second chance. I do think I will revisit this book in the future to see if my opinion changes.
July 24, 2026
I don't normally read rom coms but as with Anika Hussain's previous novels, once I started reading Eternally Yours I just couldn't put it down. As the story unfolds so do multiple mysteries, with relationship and family drama infused with likeable characters and sparky dialogue. Anika Hussain is clearly a master of her craft and Eternally Yours is a great read. Highly recommended.
July 18, 2026
The thing about Anika's books are that you know exactly whats going to happen.... but its HOW we get to the end that is so fun to read! Loved the concept, I loved the characters. Its a very light second chance romance but Salman was definitely a lover boy and that is my faveeeeee type of man 🤣
June 25, 2026
This was adorable!! 😊
July 22, 2026
Poppy will be spending summer working at Eternally Yours, a matchmaking agency. The last person she’s expecting to see there is her ex-boyfriend Salman who’ll also be working there. As Poppy and Salman reconnect will the spark between them reignite.
I really enjoy reading books by this author and this was such a cute and sweet read. The storyline included romance and the enemies to lovers and second chance romance tropes.
I would describe Poppy as quite selfless. She decides to spend the summer at Eternally Yours with the hope of finding a way to get her mother on their matchmaking list. She misses her father since he passed but doesn’t want her mother to be lonely which I thought was really sweet. But her goal becomes further complicated when Salman appears on the first day. Initially Poppy believes he wants to join the agency as a client but instead it transpires he will be helping with social media. Poppy quickly learns that they’ve been paired up to not only make matches but also to organise and oversee dates.
I loved the banter between Poppy and Salman. Poppy is still mad and hurt that Salman ended their relationship without a reason so spending time with him in such close proximity is something she’d rather avoid. Salman however, is every cheeky and seems to want to spend time with Poppy. They definitely get on each other’s nerves but they do work well together. The more time they spend together the feelings they have for each other start to creep back. But Poppy and Salman still have other hurdles to face including the fact that their mother’s who were once close friends are no longer speaking. Working together means that they have to be honest with each other and face what happened in the past in order to move forward.
A cute YA second chance romance.
I really enjoy reading books by this author and this was such a cute and sweet read. The storyline included romance and the enemies to lovers and second chance romance tropes.
I would describe Poppy as quite selfless. She decides to spend the summer at Eternally Yours with the hope of finding a way to get her mother on their matchmaking list. She misses her father since he passed but doesn’t want her mother to be lonely which I thought was really sweet. But her goal becomes further complicated when Salman appears on the first day. Initially Poppy believes he wants to join the agency as a client but instead it transpires he will be helping with social media. Poppy quickly learns that they’ve been paired up to not only make matches but also to organise and oversee dates.
I loved the banter between Poppy and Salman. Poppy is still mad and hurt that Salman ended their relationship without a reason so spending time with him in such close proximity is something she’d rather avoid. Salman however, is every cheeky and seems to want to spend time with Poppy. They definitely get on each other’s nerves but they do work well together. The more time they spend together the feelings they have for each other start to creep back. But Poppy and Salman still have other hurdles to face including the fact that their mother’s who were once close friends are no longer speaking. Working together means that they have to be honest with each other and face what happened in the past in order to move forward.
A cute YA second chance romance.
July 29, 2026
DNF 55% In
August 2, 2026
Eternally grateful Anika wrote this amazing book! Anika is such a talented YA romance writer and, one again, she delivered a truly gorgeous, funny, and swoony read.
August 3, 2026
3.75⭐️
RTC
RTC
August 31, 2026
Such a cute YA romance!! 🩷
Second chance romance X Rivals to Lovers in a way.
Really interesting setting with the dating agency.
I adored all the friendships!!
Second chance romance X Rivals to Lovers in a way.
Really interesting setting with the dating agency.
I adored all the friendships!!
July 18, 2026
If you're after a warm, lighthearted and utterly sweet read for these summer months, Eternally Yours may just be the book for you.
Free book given in exchange for an honest review.
This book was the perfect book to read sat in the sun! It's my second Anika Hussain read and I really love her writing style.
Eternally Yours was a book I found it so quick and easy to read and lose myself in. Whilst it is a lighthearted, cute romance book on the surface, I loved how there were layers of emotions intertwined within the story. Themes of grief, isolation and reflection were also present, and written in such a way that felt like a natural inclusion to the plot.
Our main cast of characters were all written with their own unique voices, and I do now of course have a soft spot for Salman! I loved the setup of the book, and really wish Eternally Yours was real, because those dates sound so fun!
This was a lovely book to escape into and reading it during summer made it all the more immersive. I love Anika Hussain's writing, and this was another book of hers that made me smile for sure!
Free book given in exchange for an honest review.
This book was the perfect book to read sat in the sun! It's my second Anika Hussain read and I really love her writing style.
Eternally Yours was a book I found it so quick and easy to read and lose myself in. Whilst it is a lighthearted, cute romance book on the surface, I loved how there were layers of emotions intertwined within the story. Themes of grief, isolation and reflection were also present, and written in such a way that felt like a natural inclusion to the plot.
Our main cast of characters were all written with their own unique voices, and I do now of course have a soft spot for Salman! I loved the setup of the book, and really wish Eternally Yours was real, because those dates sound so fun!
This was a lovely book to escape into and reading it during summer made it all the more immersive. I love Anika Hussain's writing, and this was another book of hers that made me smile for sure!
August 10, 2026
Such a fun and heartwarming YA romance! Anika does a great job of creating relatable teenage characters and balancing the complexities of their lives and emotions with humour. Excited to see what Anika writes next!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoy Anika Hussain’s writing. Every book she’s done has been different, but they’ve all just been really fun to sink into and read. This one had some really great characters and an engaging story.
I really liked the parts of the story that were about the parents as well as the ones about the kids. It was interesting to see the pressure that a friendship fallout in adults can put on kids, especially ones who are dating. It’s also rare to see friendship fall outs in adults at all, let alone parents in YA books.
It was also really good to have a bit part of the plot being Poppy finding what she’s good at and what she’s interested in doing for a career. There are so many teenagers her age who are being pressured to dedicate their lives to pursuing a career when they’re still so young and don’t know their passions yet. So I liked that being represented.
Overall I just really had a good time reading it.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cross-posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk
I really liked the parts of the story that were about the parents as well as the ones about the kids. It was interesting to see the pressure that a friendship fallout in adults can put on kids, especially ones who are dating. It’s also rare to see friendship fall outs in adults at all, let alone parents in YA books.
It was also really good to have a bit part of the plot being Poppy finding what she’s good at and what she’s interested in doing for a career. There are so many teenagers her age who are being pressured to dedicate their lives to pursuing a career when they’re still so young and don’t know their passions yet. So I liked that being represented.
Overall I just really had a good time reading it.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cross-posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews