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We Could've Been: A Los Oceania Novelette
61 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
July 21, 2026
Short and sweet. Aubree never disappoints. Kerys and Cyanna were destined for each other.
July 31, 2026
Cyanna and Karys are a prime example of closed mouths don’t get fed. These two have been in love with each other since middle school but, for some unknown reason, they’ve never expressed how they felt for one another. Miscommunication, a backstabbin’ roommate, a jealous girlfriend, and a wedding the bride clearly doesn’t want to go through with keeps these unrequited friends apart. That is until Karys finally stops longing for his best friend from the sidelines and goes and gets his woman. Give me a novelette by Aubreé Pynn any day of the week. IMO, this is where she shines. These 60 pages or less novelettes never let me down and they always get the job done.
August 11, 2026
So so freaking short and super cool.
July 25, 2026
Yessss
Just how I like it! Quick, to the point, and happy endings! This was a very good novelette! 10/10 I read it in one sitting!
Just how I like it! Quick, to the point, and happy endings! This was a very good novelette! 10/10 I read it in one sitting!
July 25, 2026
More than Friends
3.5 stars
This was a fast paced friends to lovers romance. Karys and Cyanna had been friends most of their lives. Being young and scared to mess up the love they had they avoided their true feelings for each other.
Now through some drama and fate they have a chance to finally act on the love they feel for each other.
3.5 stars
This was a fast paced friends to lovers romance. Karys and Cyanna had been friends most of their lives. Being young and scared to mess up the love they had they avoided their true feelings for each other.
Now through some drama and fate they have a chance to finally act on the love they feel for each other.
July 22, 2026
This was short but packed a punch. We got longing, some mess, and a sweet “it was always supposed to be you” ending that was completely satisfying.
I really liked the main characters and their dynamic. They both could have saved themselves some heartache if they spoke up, but fear of losing what was established kept them stuck. The side characters definitely had me shaking my head at their audacity, but overall this was a quick, enjoyable read that gave me exactly what I was looking for.
I really liked the main characters and their dynamic. They both could have saved themselves some heartache if they spoke up, but fear of losing what was established kept them stuck. The side characters definitely had me shaking my head at their audacity, but overall this was a quick, enjoyable read that gave me exactly what I was looking for.
July 28, 2026
the trigger warnings/author's note already told us not to expect a follow up.
Honestly, I see why it had to be said like that because they way she wrote this story- FLAWLESS.
Such a complete story but the way she wrote the chemistry of our main couple- she KNEW we would want more.
Absolutely loved everything about this novelette and highly recommend also long as the trigger warnings aren't an issue.
UGH- I loved this read!!!
Honestly, I see why it had to be said like that because they way she wrote this story- FLAWLESS.
Such a complete story but the way she wrote the chemistry of our main couple- she KNEW we would want more.
Absolutely loved everything about this novelette and highly recommend also long as the trigger warnings aren't an issue.
UGH- I loved this read!!!
July 23, 2026
This book was a nice little snack. I really enjoyed this novella because I needed something like this to get me out of my reading slump. Overall good book
July 21, 2026
I enjoyed this! Short and sweet. Just enough to make you feel and fall in love with the characters.
July 29, 2026
Perfect if you like the friends-to-lovers trope
This novelette does deliver what the author promises with some, for me, coming up short moments. I'm not a huge fan of friends-to-lovers and every single reason for why that is is brought up in this book. That's not a knock on the author, that means she's leaning into the trope well, it's totally me response. The MMC in my opinion just didn't come hard enough in a lot of areas and situations. It definitely felt scared pushover energy because in true F2L fashion there's a lot of imaginary obstacles that caused a huge mess. The FMC is no different, she too was making bizarro moves that aligns with F2L but not for how I like things to be handled. The pacing is also slow in this romance. It takes a while for them to shake off the drama and then we quickly watch the pieces come together for them to clean up the mess but the fallout and then seeing them in a relationship is incredibly short. It left me feeling like something was missing.
This novelette does deliver what the author promises with some, for me, coming up short moments. I'm not a huge fan of friends-to-lovers and every single reason for why that is is brought up in this book. That's not a knock on the author, that means she's leaning into the trope well, it's totally me response. The MMC in my opinion just didn't come hard enough in a lot of areas and situations. It definitely felt scared pushover energy because in true F2L fashion there's a lot of imaginary obstacles that caused a huge mess. The FMC is no different, she too was making bizarro moves that aligns with F2L but not for how I like things to be handled. The pacing is also slow in this romance. It takes a while for them to shake off the drama and then we quickly watch the pieces come together for them to clean up the mess but the fallout and then seeing them in a relationship is incredibly short. It left me feeling like something was missing.
August 3, 2026
I love this cover!!
Friends-to-lovers will always have my heart, and Karys and Cyanna’s chemistry was undeniable from the very beginning.
Every interaction had me rooting for them, and for a novella, this story had depth into such a short read.
DaMari, Jackie and Yanieca 🤦🏽♀️🙈
And Karys- Whew. He said what he said!!
“F*ck that moral compass if it’s not pointing to me—to us, it doesn’t mean sh*t. I don’t care about the nigga you married. You were never his. You’ve always been MINE.”
Short, and full of chemistry 🥰🥰
Friends-to-lovers will always have my heart, and Karys and Cyanna’s chemistry was undeniable from the very beginning.
Every interaction had me rooting for them, and for a novella, this story had depth into such a short read.
DaMari, Jackie and Yanieca 🤦🏽♀️🙈
And Karys- Whew. He said what he said!!
“F*ck that moral compass if it’s not pointing to me—to us, it doesn’t mean sh*t. I don’t care about the nigga you married. You were never his. You’ve always been MINE.”
Short, and full of chemistry 🥰🥰
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2026
4.5⭐️
cyanna and karys were truly meant to be together.
“karys did you trap me?” “i didn’t trap you princess. i made up for lost time. i’ve masked this want to have you for a long time. i’m not waiting another year of our time. we built that house for us. for our family”
cyanna and karys were truly meant to be together.
“karys did you trap me?” “i didn’t trap you princess. i made up for lost time. i’ve masked this want to have you for a long time. i’m not waiting another year of our time. we built that house for us. for our family”
July 21, 2026
cute, sweet, and straight to the point. second chance romance!
July 24, 2026
A short novella but gave everything it was supposed to give!!!
August 7, 2026
We Could’ve Been by Aubrée Pynn
This may be a novelette, but it didn’t feel lacking at all. Aubrée Pynn managed to tell a complete story while still making me care deeply about the characters, and that’s not easy to do in such a short amount of time. The chemistry between the characters was there from the start, and I loved how emotional their journey felt. Even with fewer pages, nothing felt rushed. Every interaction had a purpose, and I found myself completely invested in seeing where their story would end. One thing Aubrée continues to do well is write characters who feel real. They have flaws, emotions, and relationships that feel authentic, which made it easy to connect with them. Overall, this was an easy 5-star read for me. It was heartfelt, beautifully written, and proof that you don’t need hundreds of pages to tell a love story that leaves an impact. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quick but meaningful romance.
This may be a novelette, but it didn’t feel lacking at all. Aubrée Pynn managed to tell a complete story while still making me care deeply about the characters, and that’s not easy to do in such a short amount of time. The chemistry between the characters was there from the start, and I loved how emotional their journey felt. Even with fewer pages, nothing felt rushed. Every interaction had a purpose, and I found myself completely invested in seeing where their story would end. One thing Aubrée continues to do well is write characters who feel real. They have flaws, emotions, and relationships that feel authentic, which made it easy to connect with them. Overall, this was an easy 5-star read for me. It was heartfelt, beautifully written, and proof that you don’t need hundreds of pages to tell a love story that leaves an impact. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quick but meaningful romance.
July 22, 2026
perfection
Overall Thoughts:
This is your next lunchtime read!
A straight-to-the-point, feel-good romance that keeps you invested from start to finish.
Book Overview:
Karys and Cyanna have been best friends for years, but deep down, they both know they’re meant to be more. Instead of acting on their feelings, they’ve spent their time keeping their distance, hoping those emotions would eventually fade.
Everything changes when Karys discovers that Cyanna’s marriage is falling apart and that her husband isn’t treating her the way she deserves. Realizing he’s wasted enough time, Karys decides he’s done standing on the sidelines. This time, he’s ready to fight for the woman he’s always believed was meant to be his.
If you love friends-to-lovers romance with plenty of heart and longing. Add this book to your TBR.
Overall Thoughts:
This is your next lunchtime read!
A straight-to-the-point, feel-good romance that keeps you invested from start to finish.
Book Overview:
Karys and Cyanna have been best friends for years, but deep down, they both know they’re meant to be more. Instead of acting on their feelings, they’ve spent their time keeping their distance, hoping those emotions would eventually fade.
Everything changes when Karys discovers that Cyanna’s marriage is falling apart and that her husband isn’t treating her the way she deserves. Realizing he’s wasted enough time, Karys decides he’s done standing on the sidelines. This time, he’s ready to fight for the woman he’s always believed was meant to be his.
If you love friends-to-lovers romance with plenty of heart and longing. Add this book to your TBR.
July 24, 2026
Short and sweet but full of everything. Now telling us not to ask for more is crazyyyyyyyy. Let me see that wedding, baby shower and a few more things lol jk jk. Cyanna and Karys have been tethered to one another for so long as bffs. I know we all were shouting at those pages like Karys just tell her right now!! But when the friendship is so strong and beautiful no one wants to face the possibility of losing it all.
Cyanna girllllllllll you had me stressed. Doing all that suffering… For what? Could they both have saved themselves some heartache? Yes. Should Karys have spoken up sooner? Yes…. But the beauty of destiny and the universe, is it will always align with the right person at the right time. The side characters were a mess and karma was served beautifully. I really enjoyed their chemistry and dynamics but I loved that “it was always supposed to be you” energy!!!
Cyanna girllllllllll you had me stressed. Doing all that suffering… For what? Could they both have saved themselves some heartache? Yes. Should Karys have spoken up sooner? Yes…. But the beauty of destiny and the universe, is it will always align with the right person at the right time. The side characters were a mess and karma was served beautifully. I really enjoyed their chemistry and dynamics but I loved that “it was always supposed to be you” energy!!!
July 26, 2026
I gave this book 4.5/5 stars. Even though it's a novella, it managed to deliver so much in such a small number of pages. I enjoyed the flow of the book.
The author warns us readers at the beginning not to ask for more from this couple, but I have to admit…that's exactly what I wanted! Not because the story felt unfinished, but because I was so invested in them that I wasn't ready to let them go. Their chemistry (and the drama in between) was so enjoyable that I would have happily spent another 100+ pages with them.
That said, I do think everything that actually needed to be addressed was covered. The story didn't leave me feeling like there were unanswered questions or missing plot points. I simply loved spending time with these characters, and that's what made me wish it had been longer.
This is the kind of book I can already tell I'll come back to whenever I need a quick comfort read. I'll definitely be picking up a physical copy because it's one I know I want in my personal library.
The author warns us readers at the beginning not to ask for more from this couple, but I have to admit…that's exactly what I wanted! Not because the story felt unfinished, but because I was so invested in them that I wasn't ready to let them go. Their chemistry (and the drama in between) was so enjoyable that I would have happily spent another 100+ pages with them.
That said, I do think everything that actually needed to be addressed was covered. The story didn't leave me feeling like there were unanswered questions or missing plot points. I simply loved spending time with these characters, and that's what made me wish it had been longer.
This is the kind of book I can already tell I'll come back to whenever I need a quick comfort read. I'll definitely be picking up a physical copy because it's one I know I want in my personal library.
July 29, 2026
😍
Aubree, you’re foolish to think people aren’t going to ask you for more 🤣🤣🤣 Like, you coulda just wrote 20 more pages of a little more karma, a shower and a wedding? 🤭
Seriously, though! I never want your books to end and you always leave your readers wanting more. “Maybe for The Summer,” remains to be my favorite and my go to book. However, I am just as far filled with this book as I am every time I re read your longer books. How you manage to cram so much goodness and entertainment in your novelette as you do your novels says so much about you! Keep writing! It’s your calling! 🤗
Aubree, you’re foolish to think people aren’t going to ask you for more 🤣🤣🤣 Like, you coulda just wrote 20 more pages of a little more karma, a shower and a wedding? 🤭
Seriously, though! I never want your books to end and you always leave your readers wanting more. “Maybe for The Summer,” remains to be my favorite and my go to book. However, I am just as far filled with this book as I am every time I re read your longer books. How you manage to cram so much goodness and entertainment in your novelette as you do your novels says so much about you! Keep writing! It’s your calling! 🤗
August 8, 2026
Messy to forever
This is a novelette. The author earns you at the start to not start whining about the length or any follow ups! Even with the brevity, it’s a solid story. It helps, as it usually does, that there’s history between the main characters, so we don’t spend time getting from point A to point B.
Cyanna and Karys are life long friends. They should also be in a relationship together but they’re hard headed. It takes them both experiencing betrayals to wake up to what’s in front of them.
The sexy sexy times is quick (it’s a really short story after all) but impactful. We still get our HEA and you’ll also want to beg the author for a follow up!
This is a novelette. The author earns you at the start to not start whining about the length or any follow ups! Even with the brevity, it’s a solid story. It helps, as it usually does, that there’s history between the main characters, so we don’t spend time getting from point A to point B.
Cyanna and Karys are life long friends. They should also be in a relationship together but they’re hard headed. It takes them both experiencing betrayals to wake up to what’s in front of them.
The sexy sexy times is quick (it’s a really short story after all) but impactful. We still get our HEA and you’ll also want to beg the author for a follow up!
July 24, 2026
I went into this story knowing it was a novelette. I read the million and one warnings at the beginning of the book. Did that stop me from wanting more after this story was over? No, it did not stop me. This book is only 61 pages but it had everything I love. Thae best friend trope is a new fave of mine. They wasted their time being with other people for no reason. I wish my girl Cyanna let them send her husband where he belongs for playing in her face. These books, with 400 pages and more, have ruined me. Surely we could have more of this story?
July 23, 2026
July Read: We Could've Been by Aubree Pynn — 4⭐️ Karys and Cyanna let something that could have been beautiful slip away. It took unexpected obstacles and time with others for them to realize what they truly meant to each other. Watching that realization unfold made the journey worth it. This was a short, sweet novella that delivered an emotional second-chance romance without overstaying its welcome.
July 23, 2026
The love. The unspoken feels. The care. The gentleness. The will to see the other one happy. Cyanna and Karys were made for each other. Time and people got in the way. But life has a funny way of saying, it’s time. This was beautiful. This was good. This gave ENERGY. Yes you will want more, but it gave us what it was suppose to. I just wished Damari had a little accident. Outside of that, chef’s kiss Big Pynnie!!!
Stamped,
The Urban Fiction Librarian
Stamped,
The Urban Fiction Librarian
July 24, 2026
Embracing a Prince
We Could've Been: A Los Oceania Novelette by Aubree Pynn was a quick, entertaining best friends-to-lovers story packed with plenty of drama. Pynn reminds readers that sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs before finding your prince, while also showing just how far some people are willing to go to maintain a life of luxury. It was a fast, engaging read that kept me invested from beginning to end
We Could've Been: A Los Oceania Novelette by Aubree Pynn was a quick, entertaining best friends-to-lovers story packed with plenty of drama. Pynn reminds readers that sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs before finding your prince, while also showing just how far some people are willing to go to maintain a life of luxury. It was a fast, engaging read that kept me invested from beginning to end
August 15, 2026
Too Good! 🔥 🔥 🔥
This was so good, I read it back to back!!!!! Would I like more, yes! But, she said there will be no follow up (#3) Kary is book Bae, I love the way he came for Cyanna. Mr. Luther knew from the beginning Cyanna was making a mistake. The secretary should have been escorted out of the building, she needed to be embarrassed.
Every page was filled with anticipation of what's next, just a page turner. I loved this book down!!!!
This was so good, I read it back to back!!!!! Would I like more, yes! But, she said there will be no follow up (#3) Kary is book Bae, I love the way he came for Cyanna. Mr. Luther knew from the beginning Cyanna was making a mistake. The secretary should have been escorted out of the building, she needed to be embarrassed.
Every page was filled with anticipation of what's next, just a page turner. I loved this book down!!!!
July 21, 2026
Yup
When it comes to a short aubree pynn does wonders. Karys and Cyanna lost out on something that could have been wonderful from the get-go. But sometimes it takes obstacles and heartache to actually get to what you want. And baby, was it worth the weight jackie yanisa and dumpster dive can go to hell.
When it comes to a short aubree pynn does wonders. Karys and Cyanna lost out on something that could have been wonderful from the get-go. But sometimes it takes obstacles and heartache to actually get to what you want. And baby, was it worth the weight jackie yanisa and dumpster dive can go to hell.
July 22, 2026
Hmmph 🧞♀️
Girlllllll 😒🙄😩🥰🧞♀️😌🙄 you so petty lol
Anywho. I mean it’s an Aubree Pynn book, you know it was bomb. 10/10, highly recommend lol. I just feel like they both, well all three got off easy. You went real light, and idk how I feel about that lol. They were everything! *sigh*
Girlllllll 😒🙄😩🥰🧞♀️😌🙄 you so petty lol
Anywho. I mean it’s an Aubree Pynn book, you know it was bomb. 10/10, highly recommend lol. I just feel like they both, well all three got off easy. You went real light, and idk how I feel about that lol. They were everything! *sigh*
July 22, 2026
Aubree I’m really sick of FIN.
I don’t care how many times I go into these stories, knowing that they must come to an end I still get mad every time. lol. Y’all this is such a cute quick read. And she said don’t ask for more but danggggg girl, how you gone make me fall for Karys like that and expect me to be chill. Like be so for real.
I don’t care how many times I go into these stories, knowing that they must come to an end I still get mad every time. lol. Y’all this is such a cute quick read. And she said don’t ask for more but danggggg girl, how you gone make me fall for Karys like that and expect me to be chill. Like be so for real.
July 24, 2026
Closed Mouths Don’t Get Fed
A man who is in competition with another man just sickens me. A super quick read and baby the way it ended, I don't need more but I wanna know if karma did what she do. Los Oceania really is the place to be. What's for you will always be for you and NOBODY can stop it.
A man who is in competition with another man just sickens me. A super quick read and baby the way it ended, I don't need more but I wanna know if karma did what she do. Los Oceania really is the place to be. What's for you will always be for you and NOBODY can stop it.
July 25, 2026
😍😍😍Amazing😍😍😍
Yes it is a novelette! But it is so good!
I got everything I needed in this short story. There is a plot, an awesome story, characters to love and some to hate.
Two best friends who love each other since childhood but were too afraid to past go; finally have the chance they dreamed about.
Yes it is a novelette! But it is so good!
I got everything I needed in this short story. There is a plot, an awesome story, characters to love and some to hate.
Two best friends who love each other since childhood but were too afraid to past go; finally have the chance they dreamed about.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews