Of Lockers and Love

Marley Creek Romance #6

by Victoria Hamel

She was the cute girl with the top locker. He was her high school crush. When they meet again 25 years later, will the spark become a flame?

Full Blurb to come.

Interconnected series stand-alone. Perfect for anyone who loves stories of people over forty finding love!

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2026

Reviews

[Charlene (pageandplace) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Victoria Hamel, Publisher PB & A Publishing and Happily Booked PR for the opportunity to read this book. I received a gifted copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.

This is book 6 of the Marley Creek romances. I had not read any of the others but I felt confident that I could jump in at #6 and be ok with the interconnected standalone.
Twenty five years ago, she had the locker above his and he was her high school crush. Today they are both walking the halls of their old high school with their teenage children. As fate may have it their kids lockers bring them back in each-others orbit.

I really appreciated the more mature characters and how real the story felt. Single parenting, teenage children, the struggle between home and work and making friends as an adult. It was a cute storyline- I loved the lockers and how Dylan and Liz were brought back together after all the years apart.

“He had no interest in anything that wasn’t a relationship of equals.”

“Bedtime story? He nodded. One with a happily-ever-after.”

I would definitely give the rest of the series a shot, I’m sure they’re just as cute!

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is my first time reading Victoria Hamel, but I will definitely be looking into her other works. Of Lockers and Love is a wonderful read about later in life parents, coming home, and finding the love you deserve. Book 2 in her Later in Life series, I loved the nostalgia she provides as our two MCs met in high school. As they come face to face again after 25 years apart, with so much life lived amongst those years, they find a steadiness that is both needed and welcomed.

While I am not a single mom, I was still able to relate to Liz’s life easily. My oldest has just started high school this year, so the feelings of watching your first baby become a young adult definitely rooted in me. I adored Liz and everything she does to provide the best life for her boys. She definitely has her hands full, but she never lets her kids feel the stress. She is resilient, caring, and works hard for the life they have. At her son’s freshman orientation, she has a wave of nostalgia wash over her and she decides to visit her old locker. A face from the past is the last thing she expects to see amongst the halls of her alma mater though.

Dylan never really thought he would go back to his small hometown, but here he is. Running a company, raising kids, and trying to be the best single father possible. I have to give Dylan massive kudos as he is trying too hard to be everything to everyone, yet he doesn’t take a lot of time for himself. When he sees an old classmate, who has grown into a beautiful woman, he can’t help but say hi. They slowly begin to spend time together, allowing feelings to mature from so long ago.

I loved reading about these two getting their second chance. The older in life MCs definitely provide more mature communication and our MCs know what they want and need. Dylan and Liz have lived single for so long that routines are hard to break, but making time for each other is Dylan’s downfall. He has kept busy with work for so long, he doesn’t know how to say no. Victoria does an excellent job in writing a story about making room for love and a healthy work/life balance. Loved, loved, loved this story.

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🎒Small Town Romance
💛Second Chance Romance
🎒High School Classmates
💛Friends to More
🎒Single Parents
💛Later in Life MCs
🎒Love After Loss
💛Boy Mom FMC
🎒Divorced MMC

[Holly Towe · Rating 4 out of 5]

💕📚 BOOK REVIEW: OF LOCKERS AND LOVE 📚💕
✍️ Author: Victoria Hamel

Okay, this was such a cute and heartwarming read! 🥹❤️

I absolutely loved that this story featured an older couple getting a second chance at love! There’s just something about two people finding their way back to each other after years apart that gets me every time! 🥰

Both characters are divorced, have kids around the same age, and are navigating a completely different stage of life than when they first knew each other. Seeing them reconnect after all those years and figure out where they fit into each other’s lives again was so sweet!

One of my favorite things about this book was the plot and character development! ❤️ I loved watching the characters grow throughout the story. It wasn’t just about falling in love again, but also about navigating family, past relationships, and everything that comes with starting over.

I also really enjoyed that the characters were older and had real-life responsibilities. It made the romance feel more relatable, and I loved seeing how their relationship developed while balancing their lives as parents.

Overall, this was such a cute, enjoyable romance! The storyline kept me interested, the characters had depth, and I loved seeing how everything came together. Definitely a sweet second-chance love story! 💕

💋 Tropes & Themes:
💕 Second-Chance Romance
❤️ Older Main Characters
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Single Parents
🥹 Reconnecting After Years Apart
💞 Love After Divorce
✨ Character Growth

📖 Final Thoughts: Sometimes love deserves another chance, even when life looks completely different the second time around! ❤️

#OfLockersAndLove #VictoriaHamel #BookReview #SecondChanceRomance #RomanceBooks #BookBesties #BookRecommendations

[Barbara Mann · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

3.75/5...I really enjoyed the premise of Liz and Dylan reconnecting at their old high school and seeing how much life had changed for both of them. Liz was especially relatable as a single mom trying to keep all the plates spinning while juggling work, bills, and raising three boys. Her tendency to put everyone else's needs ahead of her own made her easy to root for, and I loved seeing her slowly realize that she deserved happiness, too. Dylan was an interesting character as he struggled with his new identity after divorce and stepping away from the successful career that had once defined him. I liked that both characters had insecurities and personal struggles to work through rather than having everything neatly figured out. Their growing connection through coffee dates, PTA conversations, and everyday interactions felt warm and natural. It was also nice seeing a romance centered on people who are older, have responsibilities, and are navigating the realities of life rather than just falling head over heels without a care in the world. I especially appreciated the themes of self-worth, second chances, and learning to make room for happiness even when life feels overwhelming. Liz and Dylan had some lovely moments together, and their journey was a reminder that the right person can help you see yourself in a different light. There were a few moments when I wanted the characters to get out of their own heads and trust what was developing between them. I received an advanced copy for review for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of Lockers and Love by Victoria Hamel is a sweet, heartwarming later-in-life romance that reminds us it's never too late for a second chance at love! I loved the idea of Liz and Dylan reconnecting twenty years after high school and discovering that an old crush could turn into something much more. Both characters have real-life struggles, insecurities, and responsibilities that made them relatable. Liz is a hardworking single mom who puts everyone else first, while Dylan is trying to find his purpose after divorce and leaving his business behind. Their connection is genuine and sweet, and I enjoyed watching them navigate new feelings while learning to believe in themselves and what they deserve. The story beautifully captured the challenges of starting over, finding happiness, and opening your heart again. Overall, Of Lockers and Love is a lovely addition to the Marley Creek series!

I received an ARC copy from Happily Booked PR. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this novel and share my honest review of the novel

[Erin Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book!

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a short, cozy read about a couple in their late 30s (BLESS!) and both just trying to navigate through single parenting. Liz and Dylan went to high school together, and then go their separate ways for 25 years. They meet again when their kids start freshman year at their old high school, and they start a friendship.

I liked their relationship. It seemed honest and very relatable. Liz was incredibly relatable in the fact that she may not have it all together, but she has a lot of love and happy kids, and that is what matters most. Dylan, a recovering work-a-holic, is still trying to figure it all out.

I read this book in 24 hours and it was terrific!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liz and Dylan are a very sweet couple and I appreciate the lack of drama regarding their coparents that seems near constant in every other romance I've read involving single parents. As a couple they did kind of go from 0 to 100 pretty quickly which was slightly jarring but given my own real world relationship not completely unrealistic lol. Their kids are also sweet and I appreciated how they played a part in the story but it didn't completely revolve around them. Liz and Dylan were also open with the kids about their relationship which was also very refreshing from a lot of other single parent romances that try to hide it which always felt off to me. Overall I enjoyed the book and plan on reading it again.

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an entertaining love story between these main characters. I was hooked and I was on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't even put it down literally. Was this going to be a happy ending for with romance and laughter in this sweet moment.
I highly recommend this book and you won't be disappointed. I received advance copy this book Happily Booked PR via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Trina Jones

[Nenesbooks13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liz and Dylan went to highschool together and they reconnected after many years apart. Being in there thirties both Liz and Dylan have struggles, insecurities, both have been divorced. There kids are around the same age also but seeing Liz and Dylan come together was priceless. This was such a quick, heartwarming and sweet read and you should definitely add this to you TBR. Thank you Victoria and Happily Booked PR for this arc.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how the kids were scheming to get Liz and Dylan together. It was fun reading their antics. The story is low stakes with no big villains or anything. It’s how life would be.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute story with Dylan and Liz. I loved this being a later in life romance. Especially when all the kids were getting together to put them both in one another’s path. This was a really sweet and core story. And these two were absolutely adorable.

[Angel Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a cute older setting rom com in my opinion. It shows struggles of teens and single parents.
If I remember the ages the main characters are in their 40s.
This is an arc and its a willing review.

[Michelle C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, fun read about second chances and life. Just have a good time with Dylan & Liz on their adventure. Enjoy

[CONNIEBENNETT26 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Victoria Hamel writing style.
I love a second chance romance .
Dylan and Liz are sweet and original characters that are REAL.!