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Ghosted
He's a troubled young actor, Hollywood's newest heartthrob, struggling with fame as the star of the latest superhero franchise. Through scandal after scandal, addiction on top of addiction, a flurry of paparazzi hunt him as he fights to conquer his demons.
She's a single mother, assistant manager at a grocery store, existing in monotony with her five-year-old daughter. Every day when she goes to work, lurid tabloids surround her, the face of a notorious bad boy haunting her from their covers.
A man and a woman, living vastly different lives, but that wasn't always the case. Once, they were just a boy and a girl who bonded over comic books and fell in love unexpectedly.
When Kennedy Garfield met Jonathan Cunningham back in high school, she knew he had all the makings of a tragic hero. With stars in his eyes, and her heart on her sleeve, the pair ran away together to follow their dreams.
But dreams, sometimes, turn into nightmares.
Now, years later, the only thing they share is a daughter—one who has no idea her father plays her favorite superhero. But Jonathan is desperate to make amends, and at the top of his list is the woman who gave up everything for him and the little girl he hasn't yet met.
She's a single mother, assistant manager at a grocery store, existing in monotony with her five-year-old daughter. Every day when she goes to work, lurid tabloids surround her, the face of a notorious bad boy haunting her from their covers.
A man and a woman, living vastly different lives, but that wasn't always the case. Once, they were just a boy and a girl who bonded over comic books and fell in love unexpectedly.
When Kennedy Garfield met Jonathan Cunningham back in high school, she knew he had all the makings of a tragic hero. With stars in his eyes, and her heart on her sleeve, the pair ran away together to follow their dreams.
But dreams, sometimes, turn into nightmares.
Now, years later, the only thing they share is a daughter—one who has no idea her father plays her favorite superhero. But Jonathan is desperate to make amends, and at the top of his list is the woman who gave up everything for him and the little girl he hasn't yet met.
452 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2017
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December 31, 2024
I wanna wipe my memory of this book and read it for the first time again
(Third time reading: just as amazing as I remember)
(Third time reading: just as amazing as I remember)
September 19, 2017
When I first saw that J. M. Darhower had a new book out, I knew that I'd have to read it. However, I frequently get wild ideas in my head, which are totally unfounded in reality, based on my snap judgments from looking at the cover. That is exactly what happened with this one. I got it in my head that this was going to be a paranormal type of story and I put it in the "some day" category, since it isn't my go-to genre.
Of course, it isn't at all a paranormal book and I have nobody to blame but myself for my delay in reading this. When I started seeing all the rave reviews from friends start to roll in, I knew I had to read it pronto. Then, I was kicking myself because I absolutely LOVED this book!
'Ghosted' was the type of book that makes me want to call in to work so I can finish reading. It was that good. It was well-developed and made me burn with anticipation. It was beautiful, angsty, emotional and heartbreaking. This book was simply wonderful.
The story is told in alternating POVs and timeframes. Sometimes, this can be confusing or leave me feeling "disjointed". However, in this case it was done perfectly. The past and present intersected beautifully. Having read many stories that alternate between time periods in such a manner, I know how difficult it can be for an author to pull this off without losing the reader along the way. J. M. Darhower did this masterfully.
In fact, one of my favorite things about this story was the way that the past story and present story were revealed in such a manner that they were always "opposing". What I mean by that is that in the beginning of the book when the present-day relationship between Kennedy and Jonathan is most damaged, the contrasting story of their sweet, untainted beginning is told. Then, as their relationship begins to mend in present-day, it is contrasted with the "past" demise of their relationship that led them to where they were at the very beginning of the book.
The result was that there was an omnipresent sense of turmoil, leading to one hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride for the entirety of the book. As I grew to love Jonathan, I also felt the most intense anger toward him. Yet, it never crossed over into the realm of emotionally exhausting. The balance was perfect.
In a nutshell, the story is a second-chance romance of epic proportions. Kennedy and Jonathan met in high school and their relationship was a whirlwind. The two drop out of high school, moving to L. A. to pursue their dreams. However, the events that transpire change their relationship forever.
As Jonathan begins to get noticed in Hollywood, Kennedy takes a back seat. She gives up her own dreams to support his. Meanwhile, Jonathan's own insecurities lead him down a dangerous road. When Jonathan's behaviors become too much to handle, Kennedy is forced to make a decision about what the future holds for them.
The story begins years later, as Kennedy struggles to make ends meet. She is a single mom, living in her hometown and working as the Assistant Manager at the local grocery store. Her existence is vastly different from Jonathan's. He has risen to the height of success as an A-list actor, the star of the latest action film series.
For the most part, Kennedy's past connection to Jonathan has been forgotten by the town. She lives a low-key life, trying to fly under the radar. She has no interest in the type of attention that Jonathan draws, especially where it may impact her young daughter, Madison.
Set to film scenes for his next movie in nearby NYC, Kennedy is anxious about the likelihood that he will attempt to reenter her life again. The thought makes her both terrified at the thought of him showing up again and fearful that he may have finally moved on and given up. She's not sure which worries her more.
When he eventually does make contact again, old feelings rise to the surface. Anger, jealousy, distrust, shame...you name it and it was a factor. My emotions were all over the place. I desperately wanted this couple to work out their issues, but I couldn't blame Kennedy for her bitterness and lack of faith in Jonathan.
The more he started to redeem himself in the "present day" story, the more his "past" behavior justified Kennedy's standoffish demeanor. The sharp contrast between present and past was an ever-present reminder of why they were where they were. I was definitely torn.
From start to finish, I could not put this book down. I read it in one day. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year. I felt an immediate strong connection to the characters and their story. I also loved the fact that this story was a "slow burn", where the hero wasn't just forgiven without some hardcore groveling. Jonathan definitely had his work cut out for him, and rightfully so.
If you're sitting on the fence with this one, just read it. It is fabulous! It also happens to be offered on Kindle Unlimited if you're a member. I don't know how long you can count on it being there though.
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
Of course, it isn't at all a paranormal book and I have nobody to blame but myself for my delay in reading this. When I started seeing all the rave reviews from friends start to roll in, I knew I had to read it pronto. Then, I was kicking myself because I absolutely LOVED this book!
'Ghosted' was the type of book that makes me want to call in to work so I can finish reading. It was that good. It was well-developed and made me burn with anticipation. It was beautiful, angsty, emotional and heartbreaking. This book was simply wonderful.
The story is told in alternating POVs and timeframes. Sometimes, this can be confusing or leave me feeling "disjointed". However, in this case it was done perfectly. The past and present intersected beautifully. Having read many stories that alternate between time periods in such a manner, I know how difficult it can be for an author to pull this off without losing the reader along the way. J. M. Darhower did this masterfully.
In fact, one of my favorite things about this story was the way that the past story and present story were revealed in such a manner that they were always "opposing". What I mean by that is that in the beginning of the book when the present-day relationship between Kennedy and Jonathan is most damaged, the contrasting story of their sweet, untainted beginning is told. Then, as their relationship begins to mend in present-day, it is contrasted with the "past" demise of their relationship that led them to where they were at the very beginning of the book.
The result was that there was an omnipresent sense of turmoil, leading to one hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride for the entirety of the book. As I grew to love Jonathan, I also felt the most intense anger toward him. Yet, it never crossed over into the realm of emotionally exhausting. The balance was perfect.
In a nutshell, the story is a second-chance romance of epic proportions. Kennedy and Jonathan met in high school and their relationship was a whirlwind. The two drop out of high school, moving to L. A. to pursue their dreams. However, the events that transpire change their relationship forever.
As Jonathan begins to get noticed in Hollywood, Kennedy takes a back seat. She gives up her own dreams to support his. Meanwhile, Jonathan's own insecurities lead him down a dangerous road. When Jonathan's behaviors become too much to handle, Kennedy is forced to make a decision about what the future holds for them.
The story begins years later, as Kennedy struggles to make ends meet. She is a single mom, living in her hometown and working as the Assistant Manager at the local grocery store. Her existence is vastly different from Jonathan's. He has risen to the height of success as an A-list actor, the star of the latest action film series.
For the most part, Kennedy's past connection to Jonathan has been forgotten by the town. She lives a low-key life, trying to fly under the radar. She has no interest in the type of attention that Jonathan draws, especially where it may impact her young daughter, Madison.
Set to film scenes for his next movie in nearby NYC, Kennedy is anxious about the likelihood that he will attempt to reenter her life again. The thought makes her both terrified at the thought of him showing up again and fearful that he may have finally moved on and given up. She's not sure which worries her more.
When he eventually does make contact again, old feelings rise to the surface. Anger, jealousy, distrust, shame...you name it and it was a factor. My emotions were all over the place. I desperately wanted this couple to work out their issues, but I couldn't blame Kennedy for her bitterness and lack of faith in Jonathan.
The more he started to redeem himself in the "present day" story, the more his "past" behavior justified Kennedy's standoffish demeanor. The sharp contrast between present and past was an ever-present reminder of why they were where they were. I was definitely torn.
From start to finish, I could not put this book down. I read it in one day. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year. I felt an immediate strong connection to the characters and their story. I also loved the fact that this story was a "slow burn", where the hero wasn't just forgiven without some hardcore groveling. Jonathan definitely had his work cut out for him, and rightfully so.
If you're sitting on the fence with this one, just read it. It is fabulous! It also happens to be offered on Kindle Unlimited if you're a member. I don't know how long you can count on it being there though.
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
July 2, 2025
THIS WAS SO WHOLESOME!!!! Second chance romance perfection I love them so much my heartttttt!!
February 10, 2019
4.5 STARS
The hype is REAL.
Which means that for once I’m NOT doing the black sheep thing.
Which also means that I fucking LOVED this book.
Whis also means that I'm on cloud nine.
Confession: I didn’t plan to read it. In fact, I avoided it like the plague. I even removed it from my shelves as soon as I read the blurb and some of the reviews. A Hollywood's newest heartthrob, a weak heroine, a celibate heroine…blah blah blah… Just NO.
But when 99% of your GR friends who you trust 5-star a book, you don’t say NO to it.
There are so many great reviews of this book already, there's nothing more I can add. So I'll just say that this: Things are not always what they seem.
Because this book is AWESOME.
It’s GROVEL heaven.
It’s ANGST heaven.
It’s SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE heaven.
It’s STRONG AND SMART HEROINE heaven.
(That ‘weak’ heroine from the blurb? She is one of the strongest heroines I’ve read about.)
Did I have any issues? I did. But this book is written so beautifully (NOT in a cheesy way) that I can’t remember a thing.
The hype is REAL.
Which means that for once I’m NOT doing the black sheep thing.
Which also means that I fucking LOVED this book.
Whis also means that I'm on cloud nine.
Confession: I didn’t plan to read it. In fact, I avoided it like the plague. I even removed it from my shelves as soon as I read the blurb and some of the reviews. A Hollywood's newest heartthrob, a weak heroine, a celibate heroine…blah blah blah… Just NO.
But when 99% of your GR friends who you trust 5-star a book, you don’t say NO to it.
There are so many great reviews of this book already, there's nothing more I can add. So I'll just say that this: Things are not always what they seem.
Because this book is AWESOME.
It’s GROVEL heaven.
It’s ANGST heaven.
It’s SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE heaven.
It’s STRONG AND SMART HEROINE heaven.
(That ‘weak’ heroine from the blurb? She is one of the strongest heroines I’ve read about.)
Did I have any issues? I did. But this book is written so beautifully (NOT in a cheesy way) that I can’t remember a thing.
February 7, 2025
"𝓝𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓮𝓵𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂.”
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 3.5 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
We follow our FMC, Kennedy and our MMC, Jonathan. He's a troubled young actor, Hollywood's newest heartthrob, struggling with fame as the star of the latest superhero franchise. Through scandal after scandal, addiction on top of addiction, a flurry of paparazzi hunt him as he fights to conquer his demons.
She's a single mother, assistant manager at a grocery store, existing in monotony with her five-year-old daughter. Every day when she goes to work, lurid tabloids surround her, the face of a notorious bad boy haunting her from their covers.
This was definitely a feel-good story. I felt as if the themes of substance abuse and recovery were treated correctly, or at least I didn't find anything glaringly wrong with them. Jonathan wasn't magically cured, he still felt the urge to consume at times, but his resilience was stronger.
The only real complaints that I have is the flashback chapters were written really weird. I didn't like them and they threw me out of the story often. I found them jarring in comparison to the way the rest of the story was written.
I listened to the audio version of this and while for the most part, I do think the narrators did an excellent job - I hated them trying to do the child's voice. Didn't work for me whatsoever lol.
Emotional and resilient second chance love story! I really enjoyed it. I'm not rounding up on this one because it didn't impact me as much as I'd hoped, truly a beautiful story though.
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 3.5 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
We follow our FMC, Kennedy and our MMC, Jonathan. He's a troubled young actor, Hollywood's newest heartthrob, struggling with fame as the star of the latest superhero franchise. Through scandal after scandal, addiction on top of addiction, a flurry of paparazzi hunt him as he fights to conquer his demons.
She's a single mother, assistant manager at a grocery store, existing in monotony with her five-year-old daughter. Every day when she goes to work, lurid tabloids surround her, the face of a notorious bad boy haunting her from their covers.
This was definitely a feel-good story. I felt as if the themes of substance abuse and recovery were treated correctly, or at least I didn't find anything glaringly wrong with them. Jonathan wasn't magically cured, he still felt the urge to consume at times, but his resilience was stronger.
The only real complaints that I have is the flashback chapters were written really weird. I didn't like them and they threw me out of the story often. I found them jarring in comparison to the way the rest of the story was written.
I listened to the audio version of this and while for the most part, I do think the narrators did an excellent job - I hated them trying to do the child's voice. Didn't work for me whatsoever lol.
Emotional and resilient second chance love story! I really enjoyed it. I'm not rounding up on this one because it didn't impact me as much as I'd hoped, truly a beautiful story though.
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
October 8, 2017
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Ghosted (stand-alone). Side-tracked by the ghosts of fame, fortune & scandal can two high-school sweethearts find the way back to each other?
“He’s destined to do bigger things, and staying would be selfish, so as much as he wishes he could be with her forever, he has to let her go, because that’s what love means.”
Ghosted (stand-alone) is a second chance romance between movie star and Hollywood heartthrob Jonathan Elliot Cunningham aka Johnny Cunning and assistant store manager and single mother Kennedy Reagan Garfield.
They thought they were each other’s everything.
From high school sweethearts to struggling Hollywood wannabees to two exes no longer on speaking terms with a child caught in the middle. What tore them apart? And now seven years later… the long road back together…
Seven words to describe Jonathan Elliot Cunningham aka Johnny Cunning: Charismatic, remorseful, determined, flawed, lonely, reflective and trusting.
Seven words to describe Kennedy Reagan Garfield: Focused, heard-headed, nurturing, broken, lonely, responsible and strong.
Ghosted, told from dual POVs in first and second person, is an engaging with butterflies-in-your-belly moments and at times heart-breaking tale about love, loss, sacrifice and the healing power of love and forgiveness. A second chance at love, life, happiness and family.
***
Hero: ★★★★
Heroine: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★★
Storytelling: ★★★★★
Sexual tension: ★★★★1/2
Sex scenes: ★★★★
Story ending: ★★★★1/2
******************************************
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst: | HIGH FOCUS |
Darkness: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Humor: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Kink: | LOW FOCUS |
Romance: | HIGH FOCUS |
Sex frequency: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Suspense: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
September 11, 2017
4 Stars
This was a nice read. Not as...angsty as I thought it might be (which is a plus/minus depending on what you're in the mood for), and very sweet.
Full review later, maybe.
This was a nice read. Not as...angsty as I thought it might be (which is a plus/minus depending on what you're in the mood for), and very sweet.
Full review later, maybe.
May 8, 2023
5 loving stars.
I loved every second of it.
I was reculant at first ‘caus I’m not a fan of second chance romances with chapters that go back and forth between past and present but the way the author pulled their past with Kennedy’s notebook that related every important parts of their relationship was million years from boring.
The reunion between Johnathan and Maddie🥺, gah I just loved them so much.
Found family will always be superior.
I loved every second of it.
I was reculant at first ‘caus I’m not a fan of second chance romances with chapters that go back and forth between past and present but the way the author pulled their past with Kennedy’s notebook that related every important parts of their relationship was million years from boring.
The reunion between Johnathan and Maddie🥺, gah I just loved them so much.
Found family will always be superior.
June 10, 2025
4 stars
Ghosted is a beautifully raw and heart-wrenching story of Jonathan, a Hollywood star whose fame has spiralled into self-destruction, and Kennedy, a single mother just trying to survive day by day. Years ago, they were the perfect couple, young dreamers full of hope, but Jonathan’s rise to fame tore them apart in ways neither of them could have anticipated. Now, he's consumed by addiction and scandal, while Kennedy is raising their daughter, Maddie, who has no idea her father plays her favourite superhero. As Jonathan desperately tries to make things right, this story unfolds—a tale of love, regret, and the haunting possibility of redemption.
➸ I don’t even know where to begin, because this book absolutely wrecked me—in the best way possible. I honestly didn’t expect to cry a million rivers, and by the time I reached the last 20%, I was a mess of emotions. The depth of the story hit me like a tidal wave, and I couldn’t stop myself. The emotional payoff was everything I didn’t know I needed, and the character development left me in awe. Yes, there were moments that left me frustrated and unsure, but I had to admit those rough patches were what made the characters and their journey feel so real and unpolished. It wasn’t always easy, but maybe that’s exactly why it resonated so deeply.
Told from dual perspectives, the story shifts seamlessly between the present and the past, with flashbacks woven through Kennedy’s raw, intimate journal entries. This unique structure added so much depth, peeling back layers of their love story and allowing us to see not only where they’ve been but where they are desperately trying to go. It made the stakes feel higher, the emotional tension sharper, as I watched these characters fight their way through their shared history and toward an uncertain future.
My heart just kept on breaking for Kennedy throughout this book. She’s a woman who gives everything she has, only to find herself continually sacrificing for the ones she loves. Her strength was nothing short of awe-inspiring, yet it was clear that each choice, each sacrifice, was breaking her just a little more. What gutted me the most was the way she carried the weight of everything on her shoulders, always putting her daughter Maddie and Jonathan before herself. She’s a mother, a lover, a fighter, and you can’t help but feel her every ounce of pain and every drop of love. As the story unfolded, I kept wishing she would finally get the happiness she deserved, and by the end, it was impossible not to feel that she had earned every bit of peace.
Jonathan took me on a true emotional rollercoaster. At first, I couldn’t stand him. He was reckless, impulsive, and I felt so angry at him for the damage he had caused. His attempts to make amends never felt like enough, and for a long time, I wasn’t sure he was even redeemable. But then, as we learned about his battles with addiction, it became clear just how much pain he was trapped in. His journey was messy, but watching him fight, watching him strive for something better, made me realise that redemption isn’t a straight line—it’s jagged, painful, and filled with setbacks. The moment I began to see the real Jonathan—the man trying to be a father to Maddie and a better person to Kennedy—I was moved in ways I didn’t expect.
Kennedy & Jonathan—the chemistry, the tension, the unresolved love—it was like watching two forces of nature collide. What I loved most was the way they fought for each other, even after everything had gone wrong. Despite the years, the pain, and the mistakes, the love was still there, hidden beneath the wreckage. They didn’t just fall back into each other—they fought for each other, slowly rebuilding what was broken. Their journey to find each other again was not just about rekindling their romance but about growing into something new—stronger, more mature, more real. Watching them come back together was nothing short of magical, a reminder that sometimes love doesn’t just survive the storms—it grows from them.
I have to acknowledge how addiction in this book is not glamourised. It’s ugly, painful, and brutal—and it wrecks not just the person struggling but everyone around them.The author doesn’t sugarcoat Jonathan’s behaviour or his impact on Kennedy’s life. There are no easy fixes here. The devastation caused by his addiction was raw, and watching it unfold was difficult, but it made the moments of healing feel that much more earned. This story doesn’t just explore love—it explores the messy, complicated road to healing and the courage it takes to face the consequences of your actions. It’s a journey of growth, redemption, and the relentless hope that love can conquer even the darkest parts of ourselves.
The only small critique I have is that, while I truly loved Jonathan’s journey and the way he worked towards redemption, I personally felt he could have grovelled a little more. Yes, he did try to make amends and took responsibility for his past actions, but I just wanted to see him fight a bit harder for Kennedy’s forgiveness. Their love is undeniably strong, and I completely understand why she eventually accepted him back fairly quickly, but for me, I would’ve loved to see Jonathan put in just a little more effort, more vulnerability, or more heartache in showing how much he truly regretted what he put her through. Even though I appreciated his growth, I still think a bit more grovelling would’ve made his redemption feel that much more satisfying.
Overall, Ghosted is a powerful, heart-shattering journey of second chances, love, and forgiveness. Kennedy and Jonathan’s story—filled with regret, hope, and undeniable chemistry will remain etched in your memory long after you finish it. If you love a raw, emotional story that doesn’t shy away from the messiness of life, this book is one you’ll never forget. It’s a story that will make you believe in second chances, in the healing power of love, and in the courage it takes to confront your past.
────⟡⋆˙✩ ⋆˙⟡────
Heard this is second chance romance done well? Sign me tf up!
"Never make someone else the main character in your own story."
Ghosted is a beautifully raw and heart-wrenching story of Jonathan, a Hollywood star whose fame has spiralled into self-destruction, and Kennedy, a single mother just trying to survive day by day. Years ago, they were the perfect couple, young dreamers full of hope, but Jonathan’s rise to fame tore them apart in ways neither of them could have anticipated. Now, he's consumed by addiction and scandal, while Kennedy is raising their daughter, Maddie, who has no idea her father plays her favourite superhero. As Jonathan desperately tries to make things right, this story unfolds—a tale of love, regret, and the haunting possibility of redemption.
➸ I don’t even know where to begin, because this book absolutely wrecked me—in the best way possible. I honestly didn’t expect to cry a million rivers, and by the time I reached the last 20%, I was a mess of emotions. The depth of the story hit me like a tidal wave, and I couldn’t stop myself. The emotional payoff was everything I didn’t know I needed, and the character development left me in awe. Yes, there were moments that left me frustrated and unsure, but I had to admit those rough patches were what made the characters and their journey feel so real and unpolished. It wasn’t always easy, but maybe that’s exactly why it resonated so deeply.
Told from dual perspectives, the story shifts seamlessly between the present and the past, with flashbacks woven through Kennedy’s raw, intimate journal entries. This unique structure added so much depth, peeling back layers of their love story and allowing us to see not only where they’ve been but where they are desperately trying to go. It made the stakes feel higher, the emotional tension sharper, as I watched these characters fight their way through their shared history and toward an uncertain future.
“Worse is loving someone who disappears and never knowing if they’ll come back. Because how do you move on if you’re not even sure they’re gone? The answer is—you don’t. When you spend most of your life chasing ghosts, eventually, you become one.”
My heart just kept on breaking for Kennedy throughout this book. She’s a woman who gives everything she has, only to find herself continually sacrificing for the ones she loves. Her strength was nothing short of awe-inspiring, yet it was clear that each choice, each sacrifice, was breaking her just a little more. What gutted me the most was the way she carried the weight of everything on her shoulders, always putting her daughter Maddie and Jonathan before herself. She’s a mother, a lover, a fighter, and you can’t help but feel her every ounce of pain and every drop of love. As the story unfolded, I kept wishing she would finally get the happiness she deserved, and by the end, it was impossible not to feel that she had earned every bit of peace.
“But I just need to tell you… I need you to know… that even when I was completely fucked up, I never once stopped loving you.”
Jonathan took me on a true emotional rollercoaster. At first, I couldn’t stand him. He was reckless, impulsive, and I felt so angry at him for the damage he had caused. His attempts to make amends never felt like enough, and for a long time, I wasn’t sure he was even redeemable. But then, as we learned about his battles with addiction, it became clear just how much pain he was trapped in. His journey was messy, but watching him fight, watching him strive for something better, made me realise that redemption isn’t a straight line—it’s jagged, painful, and filled with setbacks. The moment I began to see the real Jonathan—the man trying to be a father to Maddie and a better person to Kennedy—I was moved in ways I didn’t expect.
“I mourn the years they lost, the time that was wasted, the love that maybe just wasn’t quite enough to overcome his demons sooner.”
Kennedy & Jonathan—the chemistry, the tension, the unresolved love—it was like watching two forces of nature collide. What I loved most was the way they fought for each other, even after everything had gone wrong. Despite the years, the pain, and the mistakes, the love was still there, hidden beneath the wreckage. They didn’t just fall back into each other—they fought for each other, slowly rebuilding what was broken. Their journey to find each other again was not just about rekindling their romance but about growing into something new—stronger, more mature, more real. Watching them come back together was nothing short of magical, a reminder that sometimes love doesn’t just survive the storms—it grows from them.
"Your dream has become my nightmare, and I’m begging you to let me wake up."
I have to acknowledge how addiction in this book is not glamourised. It’s ugly, painful, and brutal—and it wrecks not just the person struggling but everyone around them.The author doesn’t sugarcoat Jonathan’s behaviour or his impact on Kennedy’s life. There are no easy fixes here. The devastation caused by his addiction was raw, and watching it unfold was difficult, but it made the moments of healing feel that much more earned. This story doesn’t just explore love—it explores the messy, complicated road to healing and the courage it takes to face the consequences of your actions. It’s a journey of growth, redemption, and the relentless hope that love can conquer even the darkest parts of ourselves.
The only small critique I have is that, while I truly loved Jonathan’s journey and the way he worked towards redemption, I personally felt he could have grovelled a little more. Yes, he did try to make amends and took responsibility for his past actions, but I just wanted to see him fight a bit harder for Kennedy’s forgiveness. Their love is undeniably strong, and I completely understand why she eventually accepted him back fairly quickly, but for me, I would’ve loved to see Jonathan put in just a little more effort, more vulnerability, or more heartache in showing how much he truly regretted what he put her through. Even though I appreciated his growth, I still think a bit more grovelling would’ve made his redemption feel that much more satisfying.
Overall, Ghosted is a powerful, heart-shattering journey of second chances, love, and forgiveness. Kennedy and Jonathan’s story—filled with regret, hope, and undeniable chemistry will remain etched in your memory long after you finish it. If you love a raw, emotional story that doesn’t shy away from the messiness of life, this book is one you’ll never forget. It’s a story that will make you believe in second chances, in the healing power of love, and in the courage it takes to confront your past.
────⟡⋆˙✩ ⋆˙⟡────
Heard this is second chance romance done well? Sign me tf up!
October 26, 2017
So the hero was in fact a deadbeat dad that doesn't have anything to do with his child until she's 6 years old. I feel pretty betrayed by this author for having the heroine remain celibate while the hero slept with other women. What is with this sexist trash? Why must the heroine constantly remain celibate during a separation?! What? Mothers can't enjoy sex with anyone but the father of their child? It's so fucking infuriating.
But that isn’t the worst part. The hero? He was terrible. I hated him so much. The story goes back and forth between past and present (past is her POV)and it’s so painful to read. He was horrible when they were younger. I just felt so awful for the heroine over how damn selfish, inconsiderate, and self absorbed the hero was. She gave up everything for him. EVERYTHING. I never felt his love for her at all and that’s what made him being so easily forgiven in the present so difficult to read.
All the pain and neglect she went through when they were younger and then years later he just waltz back in like nothing happened? I needed major groveling. I need him to suffer. And no, I don’t think having been a junkie and an alcoholic was enough. I needed more than him just showing up one day and all is forgiven.
The heroine went through so much pain and heartache over this guy and I didn’t feel like he did anything to deserve her or their child’s forgiveness.
Meh
But that isn’t the worst part. The hero? He was terrible. I hated him so much. The story goes back and forth between past and present (past is her POV)and it’s so painful to read. He was horrible when they were younger. I just felt so awful for the heroine over how damn selfish, inconsiderate, and self absorbed the hero was. She gave up everything for him. EVERYTHING. I never felt his love for her at all and that’s what made him being so easily forgiven in the present so difficult to read.
All the pain and neglect she went through when they were younger and then years later he just waltz back in like nothing happened? I needed major groveling. I need him to suffer. And no, I don’t think having been a junkie and an alcoholic was enough. I needed more than him just showing up one day and all is forgiven.
The heroine went through so much pain and heartache over this guy and I didn’t feel like he did anything to deserve her or their child’s forgiveness.
Meh
September 7, 2017
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: I know I'm in the minority again -- I didn't love it. I enjoyed myself, but I feel like there were some holes in the story that I needed filled in order to love it. Like . I also felt like the relationship between them was just surface deep, and could've been so much better! It felt like it was just based on sex in both the past and the present, and that the deep connection parts were skimmed over or just vague. The ending was completely lackluster and I felt cheated (see below). I didn't even get all that emotional, and I think it was because I was waiting for this connection to the characters or a connection to their connection to each other, but I wasn't feeling it. I know lots of readers are loving it, and lots of readers are connecting enough to get emotional from it -- so it definitely could be a "it's just me, and not you" thing going on. Bummer 🙁
Brief Summary of the Storyline: I'm going to keep this vague in hopes of not ruining it. This is Kennedy and Jonathan's story. They meet in high school, and bond over their disinterest in school. They are connected instantly and fall in love, but years later after some rough times they are separated. About six years later, their reunion is about making up for past hurts and it takes a while for them to get back on track...but they do get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Kennedy and Jonathan's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good, but I did feel like the ending was rather abrupt. It does have some flashbacks mixed in with the present, and I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 3.5 stars. Jonathan. I liked him alright. I think he could've groveled a little bit more though.
h rating: 4 stars. Kennedy. She was pretty tough considering what she went through. I've heard some reviewers say she had no backbone, but I didn't get that at all.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed. I must really have a cold heart, because I never cried on this one and others are claiming that they did (and a lot). I'm not quite sure why it didn't effect me that way...
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This is my biggest issue!! We have all this stuff that they go through and leave us with that kind of ending?! I'm so incredibly frustrated with it. I would call it a HFN ending , but I am super picky and others might be fine with calling it a HEA.
How I got it: I got it with my kindle unlimited subscription.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: I know I'm in the minority again -- I didn't love it. I enjoyed myself, but I feel like there were some holes in the story that I needed filled in order to love it. Like . I also felt like the relationship between them was just surface deep, and could've been so much better! It felt like it was just based on sex in both the past and the present, and that the deep connection parts were skimmed over or just vague. The ending was completely lackluster and I felt cheated (see below). I didn't even get all that emotional, and I think it was because I was waiting for this connection to the characters or a connection to their connection to each other, but I wasn't feeling it. I know lots of readers are loving it, and lots of readers are connecting enough to get emotional from it -- so it definitely could be a "it's just me, and not you" thing going on. Bummer 🙁
Brief Summary of the Storyline: I'm going to keep this vague in hopes of not ruining it. This is Kennedy and Jonathan's story. They meet in high school, and bond over their disinterest in school. They are connected instantly and fall in love, but years later after some rough times they are separated. About six years later, their reunion is about making up for past hurts and it takes a while for them to get back on track...but they do get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Kennedy and Jonathan's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good, but I did feel like the ending was rather abrupt. It does have some flashbacks mixed in with the present, and I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 3.5 stars. Jonathan. I liked him alright. I think he could've groveled a little bit more though.
h rating: 4 stars. Kennedy. She was pretty tough considering what she went through. I've heard some reviewers say she had no backbone, but I didn't get that at all.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed. I must really have a cold heart, because I never cried on this one and others are claiming that they did (and a lot). I'm not quite sure why it didn't effect me that way...
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This is my biggest issue!! We have all this stuff that they go through and leave us with that kind of ending?! I'm so incredibly frustrated with it. I would call it a HFN ending , but I am super picky and others might be fine with calling it a HEA.
How I got it: I got it with my kindle unlimited subscription.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers
March 11, 2024
This was such a cute read🥹
Rtc!
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I´m in the mood for a cute second chance romance so here we goooo🤞🏼🤭
Rtc!
-----
I´m in the mood for a cute second chance romance so here we goooo🤞🏼🤭
September 1, 2023
★ 5 stars
this is one of my favorite books <3 it was my third time reading it (yes, as you can see, i’m obsessed) but since i didn’t write a review before, i’m gonna do it now!
i don’t even know where to start honestly, because words can’t describe how much i LOVE this book. the story is just... ugh, absolutely amazing and it’s so beautifully written. it also took me through a rollercoaster of emotions – i cried, i laughed, i got angry, i swooned, i squealed and everything in between.
i’m gonna write a quick summary of this book, but just a heads up first: the summary does NOT really contains spoilers, it’s just a detailed version of the blurb. still, i’m gonna hide a few stuff just in case!
so, Ghosted is a second chance romance that follows two highschool sweethearts, Jonathan Cunningham and Kennedy Garfield. it’s told in alternating chapters between past and present, but it’s kind of different; in this one we get to know more of their past from Kennedy’s notebook entries, where she wrote details of their story from the very first day they met. to sum it up, Jonathan has always dreamed of becoming an actor ever since he was a kid, and before his graduation he decides to run away to LA to pursue his dreams. he doesn’t want to leave Kennedy behind though, so he asks her to go with him, and she ends up accompanying him on this journey. they think it’ll be a story of triumph; but, of course, things aren’t that simple. the story officially starts 6 years later; Jonathan is now a successful actor, and Kennedy works as an assist manager at a local grocery store and is a single mother to a five-year-old named Maddie – who’s also Jonathan’s daughter.
Kennedy is such an amazing, selfless and strong character. i love her so much and i truly admire her in every way. my heart aches for her because she sacrificed everything to help Jonathan chase his dreams and all she got in return was heartbreak. she really didn’t deserve any of the things she went through. this woman deserves all the happiness in the world.
i couldn’t forget to mention that she is also an incredible mother – her relationship with Maddie is so precious and it’s one of my favorite things about this book. ah, and Maddie is literally the sweetest girl ever! she’s funny, smart, compassionate and, of course, absolutely adorable. i adore her with all my heart.
i love how Kennedy was consistently putting Maddie’s needs above her own, always protecting her and prioritizing her happiness and well-being no matter what.
*screaming, crying, throwing up*
THE WAY I WAS LITERALLY BAWLING MY EYES OUT READING THE LAST ENTRIES OF HER NOTEBOOK... i’ve never cried so much over a book before. i’m gonna sue the author for emotional damage.
Jonathan has made a lot of mistakes, that’s a fact. and i’m not gonna lie here, some of the things he did really upset meand there were times i wanted to punch him in the face but i can understand why he acted the way he did. he was going through some stuff and battling addiction is extremely hard so i won’t – and i can’t – judge him for that. the important thing is that he fought hard to get clean. it took him a few years yes, but he got there, and i was beyond proud to see him recovered, his character’s growth and development was truly wonderful. and seeing him finally being able to be a father to his daughter was the best thing ever! their relationship is the cutest and the love they have for each other is just so pure. i thoroughly enjoyed reading each one of their moments together. can confirm that they are the best father-daughter duo <3
i’m swooning. 🫶🏻
now, the romance was ✨top tier✨
the chemistry between Jonathan and Kennedy is off the charts and their connection is unmatched! these two owns my heart.
reading their story made me feel all the emotions possible, and that’s why i love second chance romances so much because you can feel everything all at once. they’ve been through a lot and yet they never, ever, stopped loving each other – for this reason their relationship just felt so... raw and real. oh, and the best part is that they also served so much angst and pain.
be right back i’m gonna go cry in the bathroom.
the epilogue was so sweet, and i was very glad to see them finally getting the happy ending they deserved, but i really wish it was longer and more detailed. i get so sad when i remember the author stopped writing books and never gave us an extended epilogue or a novella ☹️ i would give everything to see more of these characters.
but anyway... overall, this is one of the best books i’ve ever read and i think i’ll never be able to forget it <3 Jonathan, Kennedy and their little family will be always on my mind and in my heart.
— a few other quotes that i liked ♡
“I just wanted to know how long it took you to move on.”
“Oh, well, that’s an easy one,” he says. “It hasn’t happened.”
this is one of my favorite books <3 it was my third time reading it (yes, as you can see, i’m obsessed) but since i didn’t write a review before, i’m gonna do it now!
i don’t even know where to start honestly, because words can’t describe how much i LOVE this book. the story is just... ugh, absolutely amazing and it’s so beautifully written. it also took me through a rollercoaster of emotions – i cried, i laughed, i got angry, i swooned, i squealed and everything in between.
i’m gonna write a quick summary of this book, but just a heads up first: the summary does NOT really contains spoilers, it’s just a detailed version of the blurb. still, i’m gonna hide a few stuff just in case!
so, Ghosted is a second chance romance that follows two highschool sweethearts, Jonathan Cunningham and Kennedy Garfield. it’s told in alternating chapters between past and present, but it’s kind of different; in this one we get to know more of their past from Kennedy’s notebook entries, where she wrote details of their story from the very first day they met. to sum it up, Jonathan has always dreamed of becoming an actor ever since he was a kid, and before his graduation he decides to run away to LA to pursue his dreams. he doesn’t want to leave Kennedy behind though, so he asks her to go with him, and she ends up accompanying him on this journey. they think it’ll be a story of triumph; but, of course, things aren’t that simple. the story officially starts 6 years later; Jonathan is now a successful actor, and Kennedy works as an assist manager at a local grocery store and is a single mother to a five-year-old named Maddie – who’s also Jonathan’s daughter.
Kennedy is such an amazing, selfless and strong character. i love her so much and i truly admire her in every way. my heart aches for her because she sacrificed everything to help Jonathan chase his dreams and all she got in return was heartbreak. she really didn’t deserve any of the things she went through. this woman deserves all the happiness in the world.
i couldn’t forget to mention that she is also an incredible mother – her relationship with Maddie is so precious and it’s one of my favorite things about this book. ah, and Maddie is literally the sweetest girl ever! she’s funny, smart, compassionate and, of course, absolutely adorable. i adore her with all my heart.
I smile down at her. “Love you more than lunch breaks and paychecks.”
“Love you more than recess.”
“That’s a lot of love, little girl.”
“All of it in the whole world.”
i love how Kennedy was consistently putting Maddie’s needs above her own, always protecting her and prioritizing her happiness and well-being no matter what.
*screaming, crying, throwing up*
THE WAY I WAS LITERALLY BAWLING MY EYES OUT READING THE LAST ENTRIES OF HER NOTEBOOK... i’ve never cried so much over a book before. i’m gonna sue the author for emotional damage.
Jonathan has made a lot of mistakes, that’s a fact. and i’m not gonna lie here, some of the things he did really upset me
“It’s ‘cuz I love you.”
His expression shifts. I see it as those words strike him. “You love me?”
Maddie laughs. “Duh.”
Duh. She says that like he’s being ridiculous asking that question, like he’s supposed to just know, but love isn’t something he’s had a lot of.
“I love you, too,” he says.
“More than bacon?” she asks, munching on a piece.
“More than bacon,” he says quietly. “More than everything.”
“She’s beautiful, this kid—even more beautiful than I ever could’ve dreamed of. There’s a spark inside of her, one that echoes inside of me, the kind of spark I haven’t felt in a long time.”
I laugh as she hugs me. “Hey, pretty girl.”
She looks up at me. “You think I’m pretty?”
“What? Of course.” I kneel next to her, grinning as I press a finger to the tip of her nose. “You look like your mom.”
“You think Mommy’s pretty, too?”
“I think she's the most beautiful woman in the world.”
i’m swooning. 🫶🏻
now, the romance was ✨top tier✨
the chemistry between Jonathan and Kennedy is off the charts and their connection is unmatched! these two owns my heart.
“You’re the queen, baby. I’m just a commoner.”
reading their story made me feel all the emotions possible, and that’s why i love second chance romances so much because you can feel everything all at once. they’ve been through a lot and yet they never, ever, stopped loving each other – for this reason their relationship just felt so... raw and real. oh, and the best part is that they also served so much angst and pain.
“The two of us always seemed to be on the same page until the day we just weren’t anymore, and there was no way to get back to that place once we struggled so much to communicate. But for a time, we just… were. It’s the most comforting feeling in the world. When you lose it, though, it’s the most confusing. It’s like losing a piece of your soul.”
“I’m sorry for the way I hurt you,” he says. “Sorry for everything I did that led us to this point. And I get it, you know, if you hate me. Wouldn’t blame you at all. But I just need to tell you… I need you to know… that even when I was completely fucked up, I never once stopped loving you.”
the epilogue was so sweet, and i was very glad to see them finally getting the happy ending they deserved, but i really wish it was longer and more detailed. i get so sad when i remember the author stopped writing books and never gave us an extended epilogue or a novella ☹️ i would give everything to see more of these characters.
but anyway... overall, this is one of the best books i’ve ever read and i think i’ll never be able to forget it <3 Jonathan, Kennedy and their little family will be always on my mind and in my heart.
— a few other quotes that i liked ♡
“We have to be our own heroes. No guy in a costume is coming to save us. We have to save ourselves.”
“Ten years ago, you ran away with me so I could follow my dream. It’s time you follow yours. Wherever it takes you, I’ll be there.
Happy Dreamiversary.”
“Never make someone else the main character in your own story.”
“I wouldn’t say he’s kept me clean. He helps, but he’s not why I’m sober. You are.”
“Me?”
“And Madison,” I say. “This. That’s what has kept me clean.”
“I mourn the years they lost, the time that was wasted, the love that maybe just wasn’t quite enough to overcome his demons sooner.”
“Every smile they share today is the product of years of tears, of years of fighting and struggling and hoping and mourning but never, ever, ever quitting or giving up, because we’re here.”
“Love doesn’t give you a free pass to come and go.”
“Maybe that’s why you love acting so much. Maybe you’re tired of being yourself.”
“To me, she was the center of the universe, the sunlight that burned so bright, but she writes herself in the shadows, secondary in her own life. Instead, she made me the hero, the center of this alternate universe she invented around her.”
“He was the dreamer. The doer. The believer.
When he wasn’t high, when he wasn’t drunk, when he wasn’t so utterly screwed up, I saw something in him, something I see when I look at Maddie. The two of them, they have the same soul, they live with the same heart.”
“Worse is loving someone who disappears and never knowing if they’ll come back. Because how do you move on if you’re not even sure they’re gone? The answer is—you don’t. When you spend most of your life chasing ghosts, eventually, you become one.”
“But the world isn’t always kind to good people. Sometimes it eats them alive.”
December 26, 2023
“But I just need to tell you… I need you to know… that even when I was completely fucked up, I never once stopped loving you.”
OMFG This was one of the most beautiful book that I've ever read.😍😍😍 And I'm seriously in love with this talented woman!!!! JMD, you rock my world with each book! YOU.ARE.AMAZING! <3
And please forgive me, I have no fancy words for this review other than this but please, just please -in the name of God-, read this book like your life depends on it!!! Trust me, you won't regret this! <3
“I’m not asking you to give up your dream. I’m asking you to share it. Your work, it’s important, I know, but she’s important, too. You can’t get caught up and forget she’s sitting at home waiting for you. Because you live in a big, big world now, but hers is very small. A day without you is going to be like a day without the sun. Don’t let her days go dark.”
I get up, because I don’t want to do this right now.
"Is that how I made you feel?” he asks.
“It is.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I say. “It taught me something important.”
“What’s that?”
“Never make someone else the main character in your own story."
OMFG This was one of the most beautiful book that I've ever read.😍😍😍 And I'm seriously in love with this talented woman!!!! JMD, you rock my world with each book! YOU.ARE.AMAZING! <3
And please forgive me, I have no fancy words for this review other than this but please, just please -in the name of God-, read this book like your life depends on it!!! Trust me, you won't regret this! <3
“I’m not asking you to give up your dream. I’m asking you to share it. Your work, it’s important, I know, but she’s important, too. You can’t get caught up and forget she’s sitting at home waiting for you. Because you live in a big, big world now, but hers is very small. A day without you is going to be like a day without the sun. Don’t let her days go dark.”
I get up, because I don’t want to do this right now.
"Is that how I made you feel?” he asks.
“It is.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I say. “It taught me something important.”
“What’s that?”
“Never make someone else the main character in your own story."
January 11, 2025
5 STARS!!
- i would rate it a million stars if i could 🥹
this book was absolutely perfect- it’s my new everything. the book that i will forever compare all second chance, single parent romances to because, ugh, i adored everything about it. like at some point during my read i just had this epiphany, this thought where i knew i would finish and rate it 5 stars because i couldn’t find any faults with it. everything was top tier - the characters, the romance, the parental love, the angst and tension. all of it.
it’s even been days since i finished and i’m still hung up on it. tell me why i’m already chomping at the bit ready to reread it, that’s how much i loved it.
so let’s start with the characters - i never ever find a read where i love them all, so consider how shocked i was that i actually LOVED every single one. kennedy is just the most amazing character i’ve ever read. she’s strong, resilient, selfless and omg i could just feel all of the love pouring out of her for those around her. for all of her sacrifices and being a truly wonderful mother, i just wanted to reach through my kindle and give her the biggest hug. i loved her so much and i won’t be forgetting her any time soon (or ever).
then there’s jonathan. i honestly thought i wouldn’t like him for all the mistakes he made and what he put kennedy through. but actually, i really felt for him- for his struggles and his growth. i could feel how much he wanted to change and be the person that kennedy and maddie needed and gosh did i love how much he worked for it. he wasn’t perfect, but i loved him anyway. ugh, and his relationship with maddie? had me tearing up at every turn. i’m such a sucker for a parent loving their kid more than anything in the world.
now, second chance romances have never been my thing. when i happen to stumbled across one, i usually push it aside because i struggle to feel the connection between the mcs when their story all started before the events of the book. however, this book has me thinking that maybe i’ve just been reading the wrong second chance books because i am blown away. kennedy and jonathan’s story is not easy but their connection and chemistry? it bleeds through the pages and i couldn’t soak it up fast enough. i love love love them together and they are my new forever loves and have changed my mind about second chance.
another few small things i loved about this story (and kennedy specifically) were the super hero and writing aspects. if you know me, i’m super into marvel and dc and have even dabbled in reading comics myself throughout my life, so seeing it be incorporated into this story made it even more special and relatable for me. then, kennedy being a writer? tell me why she’s the most relatable character on the mf planet.
overall, i loved this book so so much and i hope everyone gives it a chance and falls in love with the characters the way i did. i truly give this my highest recommendation.
~ more quotes because i’m obsessed ~
i could probably copy and paste the whole book into this review, but for now i’ll leave it off here.
.・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・.
aah i loved this! starting my year off right by finding a new favorite book already 🥹 i would rate it more than 5 stars if i could, rtc!
꒰ pre-read. ꒱
here’s to my first read of 2025 🥂 i’ve seen so many good reviews for this and i really want something i can fall in love with 🥺 this sounds so perfect - second chance, family dynamic and a cute kid in the mix? i’m so excited for this one 💌
also, shoutout to my fav girl bruna for the rec <3
“Never make someone else the main character in your own story.”
this book was absolutely perfect- it’s my new everything. the book that i will forever compare all second chance, single parent romances to because, ugh, i adored everything about it. like at some point during my read i just had this epiphany, this thought where i knew i would finish and rate it 5 stars because i couldn’t find any faults with it. everything was top tier - the characters, the romance, the parental love, the angst and tension. all of it.
it’s even been days since i finished and i’m still hung up on it. tell me why i’m already chomping at the bit ready to reread it, that’s how much i loved it.
so let’s start with the characters - i never ever find a read where i love them all, so consider how shocked i was that i actually LOVED every single one. kennedy is just the most amazing character i’ve ever read. she’s strong, resilient, selfless and omg i could just feel all of the love pouring out of her for those around her. for all of her sacrifices and being a truly wonderful mother, i just wanted to reach through my kindle and give her the biggest hug. i loved her so much and i won’t be forgetting her any time soon (or ever).
then there’s jonathan. i honestly thought i wouldn’t like him for all the mistakes he made and what he put kennedy through. but actually, i really felt for him- for his struggles and his growth. i could feel how much he wanted to change and be the person that kennedy and maddie needed and gosh did i love how much he worked for it. he wasn’t perfect, but i loved him anyway. ugh, and his relationship with maddie? had me tearing up at every turn. i’m such a sucker for a parent loving their kid more than anything in the world.
now, second chance romances have never been my thing. when i happen to stumbled across one, i usually push it aside because i struggle to feel the connection between the mcs when their story all started before the events of the book. however, this book has me thinking that maybe i’ve just been reading the wrong second chance books because i am blown away. kennedy and jonathan’s story is not easy but their connection and chemistry? it bleeds through the pages and i couldn’t soak it up fast enough. i love love love them together and they are my new forever loves and have changed my mind about second chance.
another few small things i loved about this story (and kennedy specifically) were the super hero and writing aspects. if you know me, i’m super into marvel and dc and have even dabbled in reading comics myself throughout my life, so seeing it be incorporated into this story made it even more special and relatable for me. then, kennedy being a writer? tell me why she’s the most relatable character on the mf planet.
overall, i loved this book so so much and i hope everyone gives it a chance and falls in love with the characters the way i did. i truly give this my highest recommendation.
~ more quotes because i’m obsessed ~
“Am I still an actor if I don’t have an audience?”
“Is a writer still a writer if nobody reads what they wrote?”
“Sorry for everything I did that led us to this point. And I get it, you know, if you hate me. Wouldn’t blame you at all. But I just need to tell you… I need you to know… that even when I was completely fucked up, I never once stopped loving you.”
“I know you have to go… I know… and you have to follow your heart, but how can I follow mine if you’re gone?”
“But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from it all, it’s that we have to be our own heroes. No guy in a costume is coming to save us. We have to save ourselves.”
“I’m not asking you to give up your dream. I’m asking you to share it. Your work, it’s important, I know, but she’s important, too. You can’t get caught up and forget she’s sitting at home waiting for you. Because you live in a big, big world now, but hers is very small. A day without you is going to be like a day without the sun. Don’t let her days go dark.”
“Worse is loving someone who disappears and never knowing if they’ll come back. Because how do you move on if you’re not even sure they’re gone? The answer is—you don’t. When you spend most of your life chasing ghosts, eventually, you become one.”
i could probably copy and paste the whole book into this review, but for now i’ll leave it off here.
.・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・.
aah i loved this! starting my year off right by finding a new favorite book already 🥹 i would rate it more than 5 stars if i could, rtc!
꒰ pre-read. ꒱
here’s to my first read of 2025 🥂 i’ve seen so many good reviews for this and i really want something i can fall in love with 🥺 this sounds so perfect - second chance, family dynamic and a cute kid in the mix? i’m so excited for this one 💌
also, shoutout to my fav girl bruna for the rec <3
August 24, 2017
ALL THE STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!
“You’re the queen. I’m just a commoner.”
Oh my God, this book was just perfect! This is hands down second chance romance at its best. Definitely, an instant favorite and definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year. Once I started this one I couldn’t stop, this was ALL THE FEELS! All of them, it was beautiful, it was raw, it was angsty, it was funny, it was romantic, it was sexy. All the things! Wow, JM Darhower truly hit this one out the park. I’m completely in love.
“It takes everything out of me, because endings are hard. Endings are fucking impossible... especially endings that remind me of a girl I'm trying damn hard not to think about.”
So, you’ve read the blurb. He’s a Hollywood superstar, she’s works in a supermarket. He’s a mess, she’s sad and bitter. They have this amazing history together. They also have a daughter. A daughter that doesn’t know her father because honestly, he’s been a fuck up for a while, he’s lost himself in a world of drugs and alcohol and the heroine made the decision of raising her daughter alone. At the point the story picks up, he is clean and sober and making amends, getting a second chance to slowly find his way back home.
“I need you to leave.” You look at me, stunned. “I need you to go and not come back until you get better,” I say. “I’m asking you… no, I’m begging you… don’t come back here like this again. She’s going to need a father, a real one, someone who can love her more than everything. There’s no place here for an addict. So, please… leave, Jonathan.”
“Jonathan always was a dreamer, walking around with stars in his eyes. Seeing that light dim as the drugs took over was one of the worst feelings in the world. There was nothing I could do to stop it. I tried and failed every single time. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from it all, it’s that we have to be our own heroes. No guy in a costume is coming to save us. We have to save ourselves.”
The two main characters are seriously amazing. Kennedy is smart, sassy and so strong. She’s one remarkable woman. And Jonathan, oh Jonathan, so desperate for love and so desperate for redemption and forgiveness. It’s impossible not to like him. And it’s impossible not to feel their love, their chemistry and not to root for them to end up together.
“I’m sorry for the way I hurt you,” he says. “Sorry for everything I did that led us to this point. And I get it, you know, if you hate me. Wouldn’t blame you at all. But I just need to tell you… I need you to know… that even when I was completely fucked up, I never once stopped loving you.”
“Match made in heaven.” “Or hell. Depends on who you ask.” “You,” he says. “I’m asking you.” “I’d say a bit of both, then. We were fire and gasoline. We burned hot for a long time.”
Let me tell you something. I live for second chance romances. It’s without a doubt in my top tropes. And one of the things that make a second chance great is how you tell that back story. How you convey to the reader that love that these characters use to have for each other in the past. And in this book, this was executed perfectly. The way the author intertwined the present with the past is perfection, and one of my favorite things about this book. It was like little snippets, like little diary entries written in second person and strategically placed that just hooked you to the story so much more. Seamless. Perfection.
“And you don’t know this, but that girl? The one left outside of that school alone? She’s sitting there writing about you. You have all the makings of a modern-day tragic hero, and she’s never felt so compelled to explore somebody’s story before… even if that’s kind of creepy, ugh.”
“And you don’t know this, but that girl? She realizes, as your car speeds away, that she’s desperately falling in love with you. Her body’s sore, and her chest aches, her heart pounding wildly. She hasn’t had a moment of sleep, but that matters not a bit. She’s sky-high, and nothing can bring her down from this euphoria—not even when a nosy neighbor tells her father all about the blue Porsche that spent the night parked in the driveway. Not even when he notices the love bites around her neck from your frantic lips. Not even when he threatens to take your manhood and tells her she’s grounded for the rest of her life. Because the night that girl just spent with you? Worth it.”
“You don’t know this, but that girl? As she stands there, staring at you, seeing the light in your eyes and feeling so much love in her heart, she would’ve done anything you asked. Anything. She would’ve climbed any mountain and dug any hole. She would’ve lied, cheated, and stolen. That girl would’ve promised you forever. As long as you love her, for as long as you care, she’s yours. So walking to the park with you and climbing in that Porsche? Easiest decision she’s ever made.”
Like I said, this story is perfect. So unlike anything else I’ve read. The author also does an amazing job at exposing the not so glamorous side of Hollywood. The parties, the exploitation, the drugs, the influences from other people.
“He was the dreamer. The doer. The believer. When he wasn’t high, when he wasn’t drunk, when he wasn’t so utterly screwed up, I saw something in him, something I see when I look at Maddie. The two of them, they have the same soul, they live with the same heart. And that scares the daylights out of me.”
This book is super angsty, it just has to be given the backstory and the subject matter.
“You don’t know this, but that woman? Even as she smiles, she’s utterly terrified. Your love is more than enough for her, but she feels pieces of it slipping away. Something inside of her is disintegrating. Her dream. She’s losing it. She came here with you, not quite realizing what you were going through. You felt invisible, and you were desperate for an audience, but where does that leave your love? Because the more people who see you, it seems, the less you see her. And she can’t even tell her story now, not the way she wants, because her voice has been stolen and no one will ever get the chance to read her words.”
“You’re the caterpillar that went into the cocoon and emerged a glorious butterfly, but I’m the reminder that butterflies don’t stick around long, a few weeks at most before they’re gone.”
“Your dream has become my nightmare, and I’m begging you to let me wake up.”
But it’s also super romantic. These two main characters have such an amazing chemistry and you can tell they’re just destined to be with each other.
“I just wanted to know how long it took you to move on.”
“Oh, well, that’s an easy one,” he says. “It hasn’t happened.”
“You love me?” “More than anything,” you say. “More than drama club and dress rehearsals and Julius Caesar. More than annoying the shit out of Hastings. More than the goddamn park down the road. Hell, even more than I loved punching my father. I didn’t stick around here so long for any of that. I stayed for you. And if me loving you is enough—” “It is,” she says. “So come along,” you say. “Run away with me, baby.”
He turns to me as he says, “Thank you, K.”
“What are you thanking me for?”
“Giving me a second chance,” he says. “And a third, and a forth, and a fifth…”
“And a twentieth.”
He laughs lightly. “And a twentieth.”
“I don’t want to keep hurting you,” he whispers. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
“I know.” I push him back on the bed just enough to crawl onto his lap. My hands frame his face as I make him look at me. “I know, Jonathan. You've always wanted to make me feel good.”
“Because I love you,” he says.
“More than whiskey?” I ask.
“More than whiskey,” he agrees.
“More than cocaine.” “More than models-slash-actresses?”
“I don’t even like them most days. But I love you. I swear to fuck, I’ve loved you since before my eighteenth birthday when we sat on your father’s couch and watched me play dead on television.”
“My favorite thing you’ve ever done,” I whisper, kissing him. “You still owe me that autograph, dead kid on Law & Order.”
Oh, and let’s not forget Maddie, their daughter. She was so beautiful and such an amazing character. Experiencing Jonathan’s connection with her, both through his eyes and Kennedy’s was amazing.
“I mourn the years they lost, the time that was wasted, the love that maybe just wasn’t quite enough to overcome his demons sooner. Every smile they share today is the product of years of tears, of years of fighting and struggling and hoping and mourning but never, ever, ever quitting or giving up, because we’re here. And maybe it won’t last, I don’t know. Maybe tomorrow something will happen and the tears will come back, but I’m grateful for the moment, knowing he loves her more than anything.”
I don’t know what else to say. I want to say so much and yet I want to say nothing. I want you to read this one and experience it the way I did. I was searching for epic and absolutely found it in this one. I wholeheartedly recommend this one. It’s perfection in my eyes!
“Never make someone else the main character in your own story.”
**An ARC was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
“You’re the queen. I’m just a commoner.”
Oh my God, this book was just perfect! This is hands down second chance romance at its best. Definitely, an instant favorite and definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year. Once I started this one I couldn’t stop, this was ALL THE FEELS! All of them, it was beautiful, it was raw, it was angsty, it was funny, it was romantic, it was sexy. All the things! Wow, JM Darhower truly hit this one out the park. I’m completely in love.
“It takes everything out of me, because endings are hard. Endings are fucking impossible... especially endings that remind me of a girl I'm trying damn hard not to think about.”
So, you’ve read the blurb. He’s a Hollywood superstar, she’s works in a supermarket. He’s a mess, she’s sad and bitter. They have this amazing history together. They also have a daughter. A daughter that doesn’t know her father because honestly, he’s been a fuck up for a while, he’s lost himself in a world of drugs and alcohol and the heroine made the decision of raising her daughter alone. At the point the story picks up, he is clean and sober and making amends, getting a second chance to slowly find his way back home.
“I need you to leave.” You look at me, stunned. “I need you to go and not come back until you get better,” I say. “I’m asking you… no, I’m begging you… don’t come back here like this again. She’s going to need a father, a real one, someone who can love her more than everything. There’s no place here for an addict. So, please… leave, Jonathan.”
“Jonathan always was a dreamer, walking around with stars in his eyes. Seeing that light dim as the drugs took over was one of the worst feelings in the world. There was nothing I could do to stop it. I tried and failed every single time. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from it all, it’s that we have to be our own heroes. No guy in a costume is coming to save us. We have to save ourselves.”
The two main characters are seriously amazing. Kennedy is smart, sassy and so strong. She’s one remarkable woman. And Jonathan, oh Jonathan, so desperate for love and so desperate for redemption and forgiveness. It’s impossible not to like him. And it’s impossible not to feel their love, their chemistry and not to root for them to end up together.
“I’m sorry for the way I hurt you,” he says. “Sorry for everything I did that led us to this point. And I get it, you know, if you hate me. Wouldn’t blame you at all. But I just need to tell you… I need you to know… that even when I was completely fucked up, I never once stopped loving you.”
“Match made in heaven.” “Or hell. Depends on who you ask.” “You,” he says. “I’m asking you.” “I’d say a bit of both, then. We were fire and gasoline. We burned hot for a long time.”
Let me tell you something. I live for second chance romances. It’s without a doubt in my top tropes. And one of the things that make a second chance great is how you tell that back story. How you convey to the reader that love that these characters use to have for each other in the past. And in this book, this was executed perfectly. The way the author intertwined the present with the past is perfection, and one of my favorite things about this book. It was like little snippets, like little diary entries written in second person and strategically placed that just hooked you to the story so much more. Seamless. Perfection.
“And you don’t know this, but that girl? The one left outside of that school alone? She’s sitting there writing about you. You have all the makings of a modern-day tragic hero, and she’s never felt so compelled to explore somebody’s story before… even if that’s kind of creepy, ugh.”
“And you don’t know this, but that girl? She realizes, as your car speeds away, that she’s desperately falling in love with you. Her body’s sore, and her chest aches, her heart pounding wildly. She hasn’t had a moment of sleep, but that matters not a bit. She’s sky-high, and nothing can bring her down from this euphoria—not even when a nosy neighbor tells her father all about the blue Porsche that spent the night parked in the driveway. Not even when he notices the love bites around her neck from your frantic lips. Not even when he threatens to take your manhood and tells her she’s grounded for the rest of her life. Because the night that girl just spent with you? Worth it.”
“You don’t know this, but that girl? As she stands there, staring at you, seeing the light in your eyes and feeling so much love in her heart, she would’ve done anything you asked. Anything. She would’ve climbed any mountain and dug any hole. She would’ve lied, cheated, and stolen. That girl would’ve promised you forever. As long as you love her, for as long as you care, she’s yours. So walking to the park with you and climbing in that Porsche? Easiest decision she’s ever made.”
Like I said, this story is perfect. So unlike anything else I’ve read. The author also does an amazing job at exposing the not so glamorous side of Hollywood. The parties, the exploitation, the drugs, the influences from other people.
“He was the dreamer. The doer. The believer. When he wasn’t high, when he wasn’t drunk, when he wasn’t so utterly screwed up, I saw something in him, something I see when I look at Maddie. The two of them, they have the same soul, they live with the same heart. And that scares the daylights out of me.”
This book is super angsty, it just has to be given the backstory and the subject matter.
“You don’t know this, but that woman? Even as she smiles, she’s utterly terrified. Your love is more than enough for her, but she feels pieces of it slipping away. Something inside of her is disintegrating. Her dream. She’s losing it. She came here with you, not quite realizing what you were going through. You felt invisible, and you were desperate for an audience, but where does that leave your love? Because the more people who see you, it seems, the less you see her. And she can’t even tell her story now, not the way she wants, because her voice has been stolen and no one will ever get the chance to read her words.”
“You’re the caterpillar that went into the cocoon and emerged a glorious butterfly, but I’m the reminder that butterflies don’t stick around long, a few weeks at most before they’re gone.”
“Your dream has become my nightmare, and I’m begging you to let me wake up.”
But it’s also super romantic. These two main characters have such an amazing chemistry and you can tell they’re just destined to be with each other.
“I just wanted to know how long it took you to move on.”
“Oh, well, that’s an easy one,” he says. “It hasn’t happened.”
“You love me?” “More than anything,” you say. “More than drama club and dress rehearsals and Julius Caesar. More than annoying the shit out of Hastings. More than the goddamn park down the road. Hell, even more than I loved punching my father. I didn’t stick around here so long for any of that. I stayed for you. And if me loving you is enough—” “It is,” she says. “So come along,” you say. “Run away with me, baby.”
He turns to me as he says, “Thank you, K.”
“What are you thanking me for?”
“Giving me a second chance,” he says. “And a third, and a forth, and a fifth…”
“And a twentieth.”
He laughs lightly. “And a twentieth.”
“I don’t want to keep hurting you,” he whispers. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
“I know.” I push him back on the bed just enough to crawl onto his lap. My hands frame his face as I make him look at me. “I know, Jonathan. You've always wanted to make me feel good.”
“Because I love you,” he says.
“More than whiskey?” I ask.
“More than whiskey,” he agrees.
“More than cocaine.” “More than models-slash-actresses?”
“I don’t even like them most days. But I love you. I swear to fuck, I’ve loved you since before my eighteenth birthday when we sat on your father’s couch and watched me play dead on television.”
“My favorite thing you’ve ever done,” I whisper, kissing him. “You still owe me that autograph, dead kid on Law & Order.”
Oh, and let’s not forget Maddie, their daughter. She was so beautiful and such an amazing character. Experiencing Jonathan’s connection with her, both through his eyes and Kennedy’s was amazing.
“I mourn the years they lost, the time that was wasted, the love that maybe just wasn’t quite enough to overcome his demons sooner. Every smile they share today is the product of years of tears, of years of fighting and struggling and hoping and mourning but never, ever, ever quitting or giving up, because we’re here. And maybe it won’t last, I don’t know. Maybe tomorrow something will happen and the tears will come back, but I’m grateful for the moment, knowing he loves her more than anything.”
I don’t know what else to say. I want to say so much and yet I want to say nothing. I want you to read this one and experience it the way I did. I was searching for epic and absolutely found it in this one. I wholeheartedly recommend this one. It’s perfection in my eyes!
“Never make someone else the main character in your own story.”
**An ARC was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
September 19, 2019
CURRENTLY ON SALE!!! https://amzn.to/2nIUUe1
I know I say this with every books of hers, but really, this book was so fantastic! Perfection. Emotional and heartbreaking but SOOO sweet at the same time.
Ghosted tells the story of Jonathan Cunningham (aka Johnny Cunning) and Kennedy Garfield. They meet at the prestigious high school they're both enrolled in. Kennedy just wants to get good grades and make something of herself. Johnny couldn't care less about academics. He's a gifted actor with stars in his eyes and dreams of leaving his life behind to act.
They meet. They flirt. They fall in love. They both leave school to move to Hollywood to chase Johnny's dream of becoming an actor. But somewhere along the way, Johnathan lets the pressure and Hollywood life ruin the one good relationship he has and Kennedy fears she's loosing herself too.
He drinks. He does drugs. Kennedy leaves. And she's pregnant.
Years go by, and after becoming a HUGE star and FINALLY getting clean, Johnny wants to be back in Kennedy's life and meet the daughter he's never even seen. Kennedy is of course reluctant and still angry, but little by little she lets Johnathan back in her life and their daughter's, Maddie.
Besides the beautiful, perfectly done, slow burn rekindling of Johnathan and Kennedy's love:
..the relationship Johnathan builds with his daughter was such a freaking treat to read. Maddie honestly stole the show. Every. single. time. they had a scene together I had tears in my eyes. And anytime this child opened her mouth, I was either laughing or clutching at my heart.
How freaking cute is this kid??
There's SOOOOO many more quotes I'd love to share, but I really highlighted almost this entire book and I'll just give everything away. And I don't want to spoil JM's beautiful words.
But ok ok, just one more:
GOD, that ^ is just brilliant. But I wouldn't expect anything less from this author. She also has this amazing ability to tie up endings in such a perfect way you're never left wanting (Well. I'm lying. I'm always wanting more books from her. I want her to do nothing but sit in a closed room and write 24 hours a day so when I finish a book of hers I have a new one to read immediately after. But that's besides the point.)
I'm pretty sure by now people know of my obsession with JM's work. If anyone asks me for recommendations, her books are usually the first ones I say. And this book will be no different. HIGHLY recommended for ANYONE who enjoys romance and second chances.
Ghosted is out now!! | http://amzn.to/2w0Pyj8
Find Me On:
Instagram ❤ FB Page ❤ FB Blog ❤ Blog ❤ Twitter
I know I say this with every books of hers, but really, this book was so fantastic! Perfection. Emotional and heartbreaking but SOOO sweet at the same time.
Ghosted tells the story of Jonathan Cunningham (aka Johnny Cunning) and Kennedy Garfield. They meet at the prestigious high school they're both enrolled in. Kennedy just wants to get good grades and make something of herself. Johnny couldn't care less about academics. He's a gifted actor with stars in his eyes and dreams of leaving his life behind to act.
They meet. They flirt. They fall in love. They both leave school to move to Hollywood to chase Johnny's dream of becoming an actor. But somewhere along the way, Johnathan lets the pressure and Hollywood life ruin the one good relationship he has and Kennedy fears she's loosing herself too.
"You don’t know this, but that woman? Even as she smiles, she’s utterly terrified. Your love is more than enough for her, but she feels pieces of it slipping away. Something inside of her is disintegrating. Her dream. She’s losing it. She came here with you, not quite realizing what you were going through. You felt invisible, and you were desperate for an audience, but where does that leave your love? Because the more people who see you, it seems, the less you see her."
He drinks. He does drugs. Kennedy leaves. And she's pregnant.
Years go by, and after becoming a HUGE star and FINALLY getting clean, Johnny wants to be back in Kennedy's life and meet the daughter he's never even seen. Kennedy is of course reluctant and still angry, but little by little she lets Johnathan back in her life and their daughter's, Maddie.
"I’m playing with fire, like I don’t remember how much it hurts to get burned, but from here, where I’m standing, all I can seem to feel is the warmth."
___
I nod, looking down at my hands. “I wasn’t accusing you of cheating. I just wanted to know how long it took you to move on.”
“Oh, well, that’s an easy one,” he says. “It hasn’t happened.”
Besides the beautiful, perfectly done, slow burn rekindling of Johnathan and Kennedy's love:
“I hate you. That’s it. There’s nothing else to say. I hate everything about you. Your voice, your face… I hate it. Why aren’t you going away?”
“Because I can’t,” I tell her, “and I’m pretty sure you don’t really want me to.”
She scoffs. “You’re upset,” I say, “but you’re lying to yourself if you think you want me gone.”
“I do.”
“You don’t.”
“Leave.”
“No.”
“Go away.”
“I’m not.” As soon as that last word leaves my lips, she’s on me, slamming into me, her lips pressing against mine. She’s kissing me, and I’m so fucking stunned that it takes me a moment to react, a moment to consider kissing her back. She moans and wraps her arms around my neck, clinging to me damn near aggressively as she kicks the door closed.
..the relationship Johnathan builds with his daughter was such a freaking treat to read. Maddie honestly stole the show. Every. single. time. they had a scene together I had tears in my eyes. And anytime this child opened her mouth, I was either laughing or clutching at my heart.
“Next time,” she says, just like that, no question about it.
“Next time,” I say.
“And soda, too,” she says.
“No soda,” Kennedy chimes in.
Madison glances at her mother before leaning even closer, damn near right up on me, whisper-shouting, “Soda.”
“I’m not so sure your mom will like that,” I say.
“It’s okay,” Madison says. “She tells Grandpa no soda, too, but he lets me have it.”
“That’s because you emotionally blackmail him,” Kennedy says.
“Nuh-uh!” Madison says, looking at her mother. “I don’t blackmail him!”
Kennedy scoffs. “How do you know? You don’t even know what that means.”
“So?” Madison says. “I don’t mail him nothing!”
How freaking cute is this kid??
There's SOOOOO many more quotes I'd love to share, but I really highlighted almost this entire book and I'll just give everything away. And I don't want to spoil JM's beautiful words.
But ok ok, just one more:
“What could be lonelier than always being by yourself?
Worse is loving someone who disappears and never knowing if they’ll come back. Because how do you move on if you’re not even sure they’re gone? The answer is—you don’t. When you spend most of your life chasing ghosts, eventually, you become one.”
GOD, that ^ is just brilliant. But I wouldn't expect anything less from this author. She also has this amazing ability to tie up endings in such a perfect way you're never left wanting (Well. I'm lying. I'm always wanting more books from her. I want her to do nothing but sit in a closed room and write 24 hours a day so when I finish a book of hers I have a new one to read immediately after. But that's besides the point.)
I'm pretty sure by now people know of my obsession with JM's work. If anyone asks me for recommendations, her books are usually the first ones I say. And this book will be no different. HIGHLY recommended for ANYONE who enjoys romance and second chances.
Ghosted is out now!! | http://amzn.to/2w0Pyj8
Find Me On:
Instagram ❤ FB Page ❤ FB Blog ❤ Blog ❤ Twitter
August 27, 2017
5 STARS
EVERYTHING. This book was EVERYTHING. All of the things. Of the angsty, second chance romance feels variety.
You know when you see a book on your feed and find yourself wondering if it's really worth all of the hype? I can tell you with total conviction, that this book is. It's a huge step away from Darhower's other books, pure contemporary, and downright magical.
So what is it about this story that enraptured me so completely? Aside from the multi-layered characters that are full of depth and you can't help but fall for immediately, it was the writing. The way that this second chance romance unravels and the way the author gives the reader the POV from the past? Pure literary magic.
A troubled young actor, struggling with newfound sobriety and righting the wrongs of his past. A heart-broken, hardworking single mother with a spine of steel that was left in his rearview mirror as he chased his dream and got lost in a haze of alcohol and drugs. An adorable baby girl that brings the two of them a full circle. This was a powerful, incredibly realistic, and emotional story of second chances. Jonathan is not a perfect hero. He's nowhere close to it. You want to hate him for his mistakes, but as you learn the story through the eyes of the woman that loved him and get his POV in the present, you get to see a man that's determined to pay for his mistakes and make them right. He's a man that never stopped loving the girl from his past and the woman that never truly left his present. He's a man that knows that if she gives him just one more chance, though he doesn't deserve it, he won't squander it, and he'll do anything to convince her that he's worth the risk.
Once burned, twice shy. Kennedy gave up everything once for the man she loved to chase his dreams, and now six years later, she's still picking up the pieces that he left in his wake. It's impossible not to immediately love this character. There's this endearing vulnerability to go along with her spine of steel and determination to make a life for herself and her daughter that you have a tremendous amount of respect for. She struggles with trying to let go of her past and move on from the man that will always hold a piece of her heart.
Ghosted is perfectly paced, phenomenally written, and completely enrapturing. It was full of emotion and a beautiful romance that'll stay with me for a long, long time.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
Never make someone else the main character in your own story.”
EVERYTHING. This book was EVERYTHING. All of the things. Of the angsty, second chance romance feels variety.
You know when you see a book on your feed and find yourself wondering if it's really worth all of the hype? I can tell you with total conviction, that this book is. It's a huge step away from Darhower's other books, pure contemporary, and downright magical.
So what is it about this story that enraptured me so completely? Aside from the multi-layered characters that are full of depth and you can't help but fall for immediately, it was the writing. The way that this second chance romance unravels and the way the author gives the reader the POV from the past? Pure literary magic.
A troubled young actor, struggling with newfound sobriety and righting the wrongs of his past. A heart-broken, hardworking single mother with a spine of steel that was left in his rearview mirror as he chased his dream and got lost in a haze of alcohol and drugs. An adorable baby girl that brings the two of them a full circle. This was a powerful, incredibly realistic, and emotional story of second chances. Jonathan is not a perfect hero. He's nowhere close to it. You want to hate him for his mistakes, but as you learn the story through the eyes of the woman that loved him and get his POV in the present, you get to see a man that's determined to pay for his mistakes and make them right. He's a man that never stopped loving the girl from his past and the woman that never truly left his present. He's a man that knows that if she gives him just one more chance, though he doesn't deserve it, he won't squander it, and he'll do anything to convince her that he's worth the risk.
Once burned, twice shy. Kennedy gave up everything once for the man she loved to chase his dreams, and now six years later, she's still picking up the pieces that he left in his wake. It's impossible not to immediately love this character. There's this endearing vulnerability to go along with her spine of steel and determination to make a life for herself and her daughter that you have a tremendous amount of respect for. She struggles with trying to let go of her past and move on from the man that will always hold a piece of her heart.
Ghosted is perfectly paced, phenomenally written, and completely enrapturing. It was full of emotion and a beautiful romance that'll stay with me for a long, long time.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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June 23, 2023
Ok, so sorry but I do not get the hype.
The entire time I was rooting against the two main characters. I did not want them to get together. They struck me as two ill-fated people who kept trying to make a relationship work even though it was only ever going to make them and their kids unhappy.
The only character I really loved was Maddie, the two leads’ five-year-old daughter. She was adorable. However, she was way too calm and mature for a five year old. She acted more like a twelve year old. Anyone who’s ever even met a kid that age would know that they just aren’t capable of the kind of emotional maturity Maddie displays.
This tells me one of two things:
1. Maddie has been severely traumatized by a tumultuous childhood and two chronically absent parents, so she was forced to grow up far too quickly
or, more likely…
2. The author has no idea how to write kid characters.
Either way, it did not endear the story to me.
I’ll be taking a brief break from contemporary romance so that I can come back to the genre feeling fresher. I’ve had a few busts lately and it’s probably making me more critical than usual.
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Buddy read with Drew ✨✨✨
The entire time I was rooting against the two main characters. I did not want them to get together. They struck me as two ill-fated people who kept trying to make a relationship work even though it was only ever going to make them and their kids unhappy.
The only character I really loved was Maddie, the two leads’ five-year-old daughter. She was adorable. However, she was way too calm and mature for a five year old. She acted more like a twelve year old. Anyone who’s ever even met a kid that age would know that they just aren’t capable of the kind of emotional maturity Maddie displays.
This tells me one of two things:
1. Maddie has been severely traumatized by a tumultuous childhood and two chronically absent parents, so she was forced to grow up far too quickly
or, more likely…
2. The author has no idea how to write kid characters.
Either way, it did not endear the story to me.
I’ll be taking a brief break from contemporary romance so that I can come back to the genre feeling fresher. I’ve had a few busts lately and it’s probably making me more critical than usual.
--------
Buddy read with Drew ✨✨✨
June 22, 2018
5 stars!
What can I say about Ghosted that everyone hasn’t already said… it was pretty freaking perfect! I loved this one so much and I’m kicking myself for taking almost a year to read it! The audio book was amazing- Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell voiced Kennedy and Jonathan perfectly. I loved everything about this book!
Kennedy Garfield and Jonathan Cunningham used to be everything to each other. Now, they don’t even know each other anymore. Jonathan is a super star actor, and Kennedy is a single mom… to Jonathan’s child. Jonathan has missed out on so much of his daughters life, but he’s determined to get to know her. It forever changes his life.
I loved how the story went back into the past from when Kennedy and Jonathan first met, and to the present as well. Jonathan made a HUGE fuck up, I mean huge! But, I feel like he groveled and redeemed himself with time by his actions. Kennedy was the picture of strength. I loved how determined she was and how she was such a great mom. I wanted these two together so badly!
This book had just the right amount of angst, it was emotional, and sexy- seriously, it was pretty perfect! Don’t wait any longer to read it if you haven’t already. JM Darhower knocks it out of the park with this book!
“You’re the queen. I’m just a commoner.”
What can I say about Ghosted that everyone hasn’t already said… it was pretty freaking perfect! I loved this one so much and I’m kicking myself for taking almost a year to read it! The audio book was amazing- Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell voiced Kennedy and Jonathan perfectly. I loved everything about this book!
Kennedy Garfield and Jonathan Cunningham used to be everything to each other. Now, they don’t even know each other anymore. Jonathan is a super star actor, and Kennedy is a single mom… to Jonathan’s child. Jonathan has missed out on so much of his daughters life, but he’s determined to get to know her. It forever changes his life.
I loved how the story went back into the past from when Kennedy and Jonathan first met, and to the present as well. Jonathan made a HUGE fuck up, I mean huge! But, I feel like he groveled and redeemed himself with time by his actions. Kennedy was the picture of strength. I loved how determined she was and how she was such a great mom. I wanted these two together so badly!
This book had just the right amount of angst, it was emotional, and sexy- seriously, it was pretty perfect! Don’t wait any longer to read it if you haven’t already. JM Darhower knocks it out of the park with this book!
“To me, she was the center of the universe, the sunlight that burned so bright, but she writes herself in the shadows, secondary in her own life. Instead, she made me the hero, the center of this alternate universe she invented around her.”
June 10, 2020
”But the world isn’t always kind to good people. Sometimes it eats them alive.”
First things first:
Did this book restore my faith in f/m romances? - HELL, YES!!!
Was it the cute and adorable romance I expected it to be? – Nope, totally not but it was written so well that I could overlook the lack of those typical sweet and fluffy moments. I’m not saying there were none of them; they were just a whole lot different and way gentler than I expected them to be.
Okay, and now we’ve reached the moment where I actually have to write a review in order to explain my tender love for this book. XD I guess we all knew it would come to that, right?! *lol* So without further ado I’ll jump right in and tell you the reasons that made this such a special read.
1.) The idea and plot:
We all know those books where the girl falls for the boy and they have those sweet moments and slowly but gently fall in love. Or those books where they hit it right off from the start and fall madly and deeply in love. Well, this was NOT that kind of book! We get to know our MCs about 7 years after they were a couple and even though they have a child together they are far from being on friendly terms. Kennedy is a single mother and Jonathan is a movie star and except of their daughter they don’t seem to have anything in common. At first! Which was so damn refreshing and a welcome change! I mean they are both adults and they live in completely different worlds! They have to deal with daily life and its problems and boy did I love this realistic approach of the book! Kennedy and Jonathan just felt so real! <3
”But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from it all, it’s that we have to be our own heroes. No guy in a costume is coming to save us. We have to save ourselves.”
2.) The main characters:
I loved and adored Kennedy so much! She’s such a strong woman and she’s an amazing mother and even more important she was relatable af! I swear I could relate to everything she said and did! Maddie was her precious girl, the centre of her universe and there was nothing she wouldn’t have done for her daughter. Kennedy lived and breathed motherhood and it was so good to see an MC that reflected my own emotions when it comes to my kid. It’s so very rare to see a realistic approach when it comes to mothers in books, but J.M. Darhower definitely nailed it for me.
”Everything I do is all about her – anything to keep the smile on her face, because that smile is what keeps me going. It’s the reason I get out of bed in the morning. That smile tells me I’m doing okay. In a world filled with so much wrong, it’s nice to know I’m doing something right.”
”I want to pick her up and shove her in my pocket, shield her from everything for as long as I’m alive, but I can’t do that, because the truth is, she’s not just mine.”
”You can’t get caught up and forget she’s sitting at home waiting for you. Because you live in a big, big world now, but hers is very small. A day without you is going to be like a day without the sun. Don’t let her days go dark.”
”I love you,” I whisper, three words you haven’t said, as I put my hand on top of yours on my stomach. “More than everything… except for her.”
I could kiss Kennedy for that statement alone!! <33
So what about Jonathan Cunning our other MC? I really liked him as well and I felt sorry for him even though I probably shouldn’t. I mean he left his pregnant girlfriend to fend on her own but then again he didn’t. He tried to make amends over the years, but he just couldn’t fight his inner demons and Kennedy knew it and therefore banished him from her life. It would be too easy to blame Johnny for what he did, because there are always two sides of a story. Did he leave Kennedy alone? Yes, he did! Did he want to? No, but he knew that she didn’t want Maddie to live with an addict and so he accepted her wishes to stay away from them. Which actually showed that he cared!!! He knew he was in no condition to take care of his family and that he’d be poison for them, so he didn’t even dare to try it until he was sure he’d stay clean. He acted responsible even though it looked like he didn’t.
”I hate the personal questions and never answer them. I hate the prying. I hate the rumors. I hate it all and for good reason – there are too many skeletons in my closet, too many secrets I’ve been concealing. Too many things I can’t let them taint in a world so pure that I’m no longer welcome in it.”
”I mourn the years they lost, the time that was wasted, the love that maybe just wasn’t quite enough to overcome his demons sooner. Every smile they share today is the product of years of tears, of years of fighting and struggling and hoping and mourning but never, ever, ever quitting or giving up, because we’re here.”
”I’m sorry for the way I hurt you,” he says. “Sorry for everything I did that led us to this point. And I get it, you know, if you hate me. Wouldn’t blame you at all. But I just need to tell you… I need you to know… that even when I was completely fucked up, I never once stopped loving you.”
3.) The relationship between Kennedy and her parents:
I mean she basically ran away with Jonathan and started a new life. She left her parents to deal with the consequences, yet they both still loved her and took her in when she was in need of them. It shows the unconditional love you have for your kids, that no matter what they do and how much they screw up. They are still your kids and you love them to bits and pieces. I could understand why Kennedy’s father was reluctant to accept Jonathan back in her life. He only wanted to protect his daughter and her child and he definitely was entitled to be grumpy about his sudden reappearance! XD
”She pulls me to her, and I lay my head in her lap as I cry. And words spill out of me along with the tears, all the struggling and fighting, the lies and the broken promises, the resentment that grew when he got swept up in the hurricane and left me behind to battle the storm.”
4.) The relationship between Kennedy & Jonathan:
I really liked the idea of Kennedy’s journal entries. That way we didn’t only get a glimpse at what happened in the past but also were able to keep up with what happened in the present. It made me sad to see how their relationship deteriorated and how deep Jonathan fell and if I’m entirely honest it’s a wonder Kennedy actually gave him a second chance. *lol* I could understand her reluctance to accept him back in her life, but I could also relate so much to Jonathan. He wanted to be an active part of Maddie’s and Kennedy’s life and he was so sorry for everything he did. He knew he did such awful things and he tried to make amends as best as he could. He got clean for his family and despite all the shit he did before, this is what counts in the end.
”Up until then, I only saw your anger, but that day I saw your fear, like you were afraid of how much more pain I was going to cause you, when I wanted nothing more than to make it all better.”
”I wasn’t accusing you of cheating. I just wanted to know how long it took you to move on.”
“Oh, well, that’s an easy one,” he says. “It hasn’t happened.”
”Yeah, well, you gave me a run for my money on that one. I met my match with you.”
“Match made in heaven.”
“Or hell. Depends on who you ask.”
“You,” he says. “I’m asking you.”
“I’d say a bit of both, then. We were fire and gasoline. We burned hot for a long time.”
”Worse is loving someone who disappears and never knowing if they’ll come back. Because how do you move on if you’re not even sure they’re gone? The answer is – you don’t. When you spend most of your life chasing ghosts, eventually, you become one.”
The ending was very wholesome and yes, I admit it, quite a bit kitschy too, but it was a romance so DUH! What did you expect? *lol* All told I can really recommend “Ghosted”.
If you’re looking for an unusual second chance love story with relatable MCs and endearing side-characters, this is definitely the right book for you! ;-)
____________________________________
Meet book two I pulled out of my "Bookie Jar"!
It’s been ages I last read a straight romance and I’m not sure if I’m up for the challenge but I’ll give it a try. *lol*
I kind of turned away from the straight romance genre because it got boring after reading it for a while (hot billionaire, alpha male, overprotective man, you name it. *rolls eyes*) … plus I’m way too happy reading my LGBTQ+ books because they have all the sweet and fluffy feels I not only crave for but also need in my life! Guess they are just more relatable for me? XD
Well, anyway I read through the blurb and this sounds a little darker than your typical romance so I think I might be lucky this time around. =)
I’m trying to broaden my horizon again so wish me luck!
Hopefully this will restore my faith in cute f/m romances! *lol*
First things first:
Did this book restore my faith in f/m romances? - HELL, YES!!!
Was it the cute and adorable romance I expected it to be? – Nope, totally not but it was written so well that I could overlook the lack of those typical sweet and fluffy moments. I’m not saying there were none of them; they were just a whole lot different and way gentler than I expected them to be.
Okay, and now we’ve reached the moment where I actually have to write a review in order to explain my tender love for this book. XD I guess we all knew it would come to that, right?! *lol* So without further ado I’ll jump right in and tell you the reasons that made this such a special read.
1.) The idea and plot:
We all know those books where the girl falls for the boy and they have those sweet moments and slowly but gently fall in love. Or those books where they hit it right off from the start and fall madly and deeply in love. Well, this was NOT that kind of book! We get to know our MCs about 7 years after they were a couple and even though they have a child together they are far from being on friendly terms. Kennedy is a single mother and Jonathan is a movie star and except of their daughter they don’t seem to have anything in common. At first! Which was so damn refreshing and a welcome change! I mean they are both adults and they live in completely different worlds! They have to deal with daily life and its problems and boy did I love this realistic approach of the book! Kennedy and Jonathan just felt so real! <3
”But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from it all, it’s that we have to be our own heroes. No guy in a costume is coming to save us. We have to save ourselves.”
2.) The main characters:
I loved and adored Kennedy so much! She’s such a strong woman and she’s an amazing mother and even more important she was relatable af! I swear I could relate to everything she said and did! Maddie was her precious girl, the centre of her universe and there was nothing she wouldn’t have done for her daughter. Kennedy lived and breathed motherhood and it was so good to see an MC that reflected my own emotions when it comes to my kid. It’s so very rare to see a realistic approach when it comes to mothers in books, but J.M. Darhower definitely nailed it for me.
”Everything I do is all about her – anything to keep the smile on her face, because that smile is what keeps me going. It’s the reason I get out of bed in the morning. That smile tells me I’m doing okay. In a world filled with so much wrong, it’s nice to know I’m doing something right.”
”I want to pick her up and shove her in my pocket, shield her from everything for as long as I’m alive, but I can’t do that, because the truth is, she’s not just mine.”
”You can’t get caught up and forget she’s sitting at home waiting for you. Because you live in a big, big world now, but hers is very small. A day without you is going to be like a day without the sun. Don’t let her days go dark.”
”I love you,” I whisper, three words you haven’t said, as I put my hand on top of yours on my stomach. “More than everything… except for her.”
I could kiss Kennedy for that statement alone!! <33
So what about Jonathan Cunning our other MC? I really liked him as well and I felt sorry for him even though I probably shouldn’t. I mean he left his pregnant girlfriend to fend on her own but then again he didn’t. He tried to make amends over the years, but he just couldn’t fight his inner demons and Kennedy knew it and therefore banished him from her life. It would be too easy to blame Johnny for what he did, because there are always two sides of a story. Did he leave Kennedy alone? Yes, he did! Did he want to? No, but he knew that she didn’t want Maddie to live with an addict and so he accepted her wishes to stay away from them. Which actually showed that he cared!!! He knew he was in no condition to take care of his family and that he’d be poison for them, so he didn’t even dare to try it until he was sure he’d stay clean. He acted responsible even though it looked like he didn’t.
”I hate the personal questions and never answer them. I hate the prying. I hate the rumors. I hate it all and for good reason – there are too many skeletons in my closet, too many secrets I’ve been concealing. Too many things I can’t let them taint in a world so pure that I’m no longer welcome in it.”
”I mourn the years they lost, the time that was wasted, the love that maybe just wasn’t quite enough to overcome his demons sooner. Every smile they share today is the product of years of tears, of years of fighting and struggling and hoping and mourning but never, ever, ever quitting or giving up, because we’re here.”
”I’m sorry for the way I hurt you,” he says. “Sorry for everything I did that led us to this point. And I get it, you know, if you hate me. Wouldn’t blame you at all. But I just need to tell you… I need you to know… that even when I was completely fucked up, I never once stopped loving you.”
3.) The relationship between Kennedy and her parents:
I mean she basically ran away with Jonathan and started a new life. She left her parents to deal with the consequences, yet they both still loved her and took her in when she was in need of them. It shows the unconditional love you have for your kids, that no matter what they do and how much they screw up. They are still your kids and you love them to bits and pieces. I could understand why Kennedy’s father was reluctant to accept Jonathan back in her life. He only wanted to protect his daughter and her child and he definitely was entitled to be grumpy about his sudden reappearance! XD
”She pulls me to her, and I lay my head in her lap as I cry. And words spill out of me along with the tears, all the struggling and fighting, the lies and the broken promises, the resentment that grew when he got swept up in the hurricane and left me behind to battle the storm.”
4.) The relationship between Kennedy & Jonathan:
I really liked the idea of Kennedy’s journal entries. That way we didn’t only get a glimpse at what happened in the past but also were able to keep up with what happened in the present. It made me sad to see how their relationship deteriorated and how deep Jonathan fell and if I’m entirely honest it’s a wonder Kennedy actually gave him a second chance. *lol* I could understand her reluctance to accept him back in her life, but I could also relate so much to Jonathan. He wanted to be an active part of Maddie’s and Kennedy’s life and he was so sorry for everything he did. He knew he did such awful things and he tried to make amends as best as he could. He got clean for his family and despite all the shit he did before, this is what counts in the end.
”Up until then, I only saw your anger, but that day I saw your fear, like you were afraid of how much more pain I was going to cause you, when I wanted nothing more than to make it all better.”
”I wasn’t accusing you of cheating. I just wanted to know how long it took you to move on.”
“Oh, well, that’s an easy one,” he says. “It hasn’t happened.”
”Yeah, well, you gave me a run for my money on that one. I met my match with you.”
“Match made in heaven.”
“Or hell. Depends on who you ask.”
“You,” he says. “I’m asking you.”
“I’d say a bit of both, then. We were fire and gasoline. We burned hot for a long time.”
”Worse is loving someone who disappears and never knowing if they’ll come back. Because how do you move on if you’re not even sure they’re gone? The answer is – you don’t. When you spend most of your life chasing ghosts, eventually, you become one.”
The ending was very wholesome and yes, I admit it, quite a bit kitschy too, but it was a romance so DUH! What did you expect? *lol* All told I can really recommend “Ghosted”.
If you’re looking for an unusual second chance love story with relatable MCs and endearing side-characters, this is definitely the right book for you! ;-)
____________________________________
Meet book two I pulled out of my "Bookie Jar"!
It’s been ages I last read a straight romance and I’m not sure if I’m up for the challenge but I’ll give it a try. *lol*
I kind of turned away from the straight romance genre because it got boring after reading it for a while (hot billionaire, alpha male, overprotective man, you name it. *rolls eyes*) … plus I’m way too happy reading my LGBTQ+ books because they have all the sweet and fluffy feels I not only crave for but also need in my life! Guess they are just more relatable for me? XD
Well, anyway I read through the blurb and this sounds a little darker than your typical romance so I think I might be lucky this time around. =)
I’m trying to broaden my horizon again so wish me luck!
Hopefully this will restore my faith in cute f/m romances! *lol*
September 20, 2025
3.85 ⭐️ Eeeep!!! Such a sweet story 🥹🫶
I picked this up as a palate cleanser, but it turned out to be so much more than that. Not too emotional, but just emotional enough. Kennedy Garfield’s diary part??? I cried. And that note from Johnathan?? 🥹🫂 I had to take a moment.
I’m seriously so happy this book didn’t disappoint. It gave me exactly what I didn’t know I needed. And Maddie??? Omggg, she’s such a cutie 🤭 She made me giggle so much, honestly, part of why I fell in love with this story.
Kennedy is such a strong, admirable character. I’m so proud of her for not reacting recklessly or taking the easy way out. She handled everything with grace and strength 🥹🫶 And well Jonathan 👀 I’m sooo proud of him 🥹 Yes, he acted a bit different in the past but I’m glad he came to his senses in the end 🥹🫶 AND HE IS NOT A CHEATER!!!! yessss!!!! 🥹🥹
If you’re not against the second-chance trope, I highly recommend giving this book a shot. It might make you a bit emotional, but also so, so happy.
Also the prologue?? Hooked me immediately. The pacing was perfect all the way through. Not once did it feel like it was dragging or losing steam 🥹
Guess that’s it. Love y’all 🫶♥️
————————————————
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ pre-read ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
Friends-to-lovers?? Second Chance?? 🙂↕️♥️🙂↕️ I’m sold.
“You’re the queen, I’m just a commoner.”(Second chance trope served right.)
I picked this up as a palate cleanser, but it turned out to be so much more than that. Not too emotional, but just emotional enough. Kennedy Garfield’s diary part??? I cried. And that note from Johnathan?? 🥹🫂 I had to take a moment.
I’m seriously so happy this book didn’t disappoint. It gave me exactly what I didn’t know I needed. And Maddie??? Omggg, she’s such a cutie 🤭 She made me giggle so much, honestly, part of why I fell in love with this story.
Kennedy is such a strong, admirable character. I’m so proud of her for not reacting recklessly or taking the easy way out. She handled everything with grace and strength 🥹🫶 And well Jonathan 👀 I’m sooo proud of him 🥹 Yes, he acted a bit different in the past but I’m glad he came to his senses in the end 🥹🫶 AND HE IS NOT A CHEATER!!!! yessss!!!! 🥹🥹
If you’re not against the second-chance trope, I highly recommend giving this book a shot. It might make you a bit emotional, but also so, so happy.
Also the prologue?? Hooked me immediately. The pacing was perfect all the way through. Not once did it feel like it was dragging or losing steam 🥹
Guess that’s it. Love y’all 🫶♥️
————————————————
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ pre-read ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
Friends-to-lovers?? Second Chance?? 🙂↕️♥️🙂↕️ I’m sold.
May 14, 2023
"Never make someone else the main character in your own story."
I mean I don't even know where to start because this book is just so so so good. I really didn't expected it to be this amazing. It is a kind of book which will make you cry a lot but it also provides you comfort. It changed my perception of seeing addiction and struggles differently. I loved every bit of it. The best second chance romance book I have ever read. Honestly I felt so many emotions while reading this. I was crying for what Kennedy had to go through because of Jonathan's addiction. But I was also smiling like an idiot because of their adorable daughter Maddie.
Addiction is something that can destroy someone's life and the life of people who loves them. And this book portrayed it exactly the way it should've been. No sugar coating Kennedy and Jonathan's relationship when Jonathan was a struggling actor and their realtionship was becoming toxic. If Kennedy never asked Jonathan to leave her. He would never become a father his daughter needed. One thing that hurt me most in this book was that Kennedy choose Jonathan over her own dreams and he choose drugs, alcohol because he was tired of his life. She did everything for him but he said "Tell someone who fucking cares." When she tried to tell him about "The Thing". That scene broke my heart.
The 6 years separation was heartbreaking because he was still an alcoholic and he didn't even saw his daughter for once. But that was needed for his own good. Kennedy left Jonathan because he wasn't ready to be a good father to their daughter but later on Maddie became the only reason they both got back together. It was just so so so amazingly beautiful. How he was trying to be their for Maddie and how their father-daughter relationship developed. It was so so beautiful and adorable ❤️😭
The story starts after 6 years when Kennedy left Jonathan. They have a daughter and Jonathan knows about her but Kennedy would not let him meet her until he become sober. Jonathan is trying and he is sober for over a year now and Kennedy gave him a chance because she believes him and wanted her daughter to have a father she deserved. Jonathan and Maddie started spending time with each other and he proves himself to Kennedy and Maddie that he can now become the person they always wanted him to be. Maddie is a fan of Breezeo but she didn't knew that his father is the one who plays the role of her favourite superhero.
The book was written simple and yet so beautifully. The chapters goes back and forth from the time when Kennedy and Jonathan left their hometown so that Jonathan can have his big shot in Hollywood and the present where Jonathan is making amends with his daughter and Kennedy. The chapter which describes their past was constantly causing me to tear up. Their story started beautifully until it turned into a tragic story because of Jonathan's addiction. The story is fast paced and their were so many moments between Maddie and Jonathan that were just so so adorable and sweet😭😭💞
The characters were portrayed so beautifully and there was no sugar coating anything when it came to how he messed up everything. I thought he will messed up everything again but thank god he didn't.
Kennedy Garfield
She is such a strong and brave character to me. She went through so much ever since she met Jonathan and even after she left him. And I absolutely adore her for her strength. She raised her daughter own her own and she left him for Maddie's own good. She didn't get to follow her dream of becoming an author but she did everything for Jonathan just so he could follow his dream. But she still tried everything to provide her daughter with everything. She's so selfless and I love her so much. She deserves every happiness this world has to offer.
Jonathan Cunningham
It is of no doubt that he loved Kennedy so much but he took her love and everything she did for him for granted. He was drowning in his own sadness but he choose booze and drugs over Kennedy. But I'm happy that he tried to get sober even if it was after so many years. I loved his relationship with Maddid a lot and how he did everything she asked him to. They are the cutest 😭😭 I'm proud of him that he didn't forced anything on Kennedy when she asked him to leave her. Instead he tried and tried and tried until he became the best version of himself and the man Kennedy fell in love with when they were just teenagers.
Madison Jacqueline Garfield
The cutest sugarpie munchkin 😭💞
Omg she is just so so so cute and adorable 😭💞 well she is the mvp of this book and my favourite character ❤️ she is just a 5 year old girl but damn she understands everything. She is so easy going, intelligent and very lovable. And everytime she said "Duh!" Like you're being ridiculous now. That was just so adorable. And according to her you have to compliment your woman that she looks pretty and give her flowers otherwise you're not a good man. Yeah Yeah she knows everything 😌😆
Honestly I hate kids so it's very rare when I say they are cute and adorable so you gotta believe me then.
The ending was perfect and I'm happy that now Kennedy can fulfill her own dream and now they have become this perfect beautiful and adorable family that were always supposed to be. It took years but they are finally together and that's all that matters💖😭
—Favourite Quotes—
➸ I laugh as she hugs me. “Hey, pretty girl.”
She looks up at me. “You think I’m pretty?”
“What? Of course.” I kneel next to her, grinning as I press a finger to the tip of her nose. “You look like your mom.”
“You think Mommy’s pretty, too?”
“I think she's the most beautiful woman in the world.”
➸ "I need you to leave. I need you to go and not come back until you get better,” I say. "I’m asking you… no, I’m begging you… don’t come back here like this again. She’s going to need a father, a real one, someone who can love her more than everything. There’s no place in our lives for an addict. So, please… leave, Jonathan.”
➸ "I wasn’t accusing you of cheating. I just wanted to know how long it took you to move on.”
“Oh, well, that’s an easy one,” he says. “It hasn’t happened."
➸ "They chat. They laugh. I mourn.
I mourn the years they lost, the time that was wasted, the love that maybe just wasn’t quite enough to overcome his demons sooner. Every smile they share today is the product of years of tears, of years of fighting and struggling and hoping and mourning but never, ever, ever quitting or giving up, because we’re here. And maybe it won’t last, I don’t know. Maybe tomorrow something will happen and the tears will come back, but I’m grateful for the moment, knowing he loves her more than anything"
➸ "He’s destined to do bigger things, and staying would be selfish, so as much as he wishes he could be with her forever, he has to let her go, because that’s what love means. It’s loving someone enough to set them free."
➸ "I’ve missed the fuck out of her these past few years. I don’t deserve her time, not in the least, but I’m so desperate for some part of this woman back that I’ll steal every second that I can get."
➸ "You don’t know this, but the woman you love? The one you hung around for in New York when she was still just a girl, even though you were suffering, and wanting to go, but you stayed because of love? That woman, right now, is doing the same thing for you."
➸ "Worse is loving someone who disappears and never knowing if they’ll come back. Because how do you move on if you’re not even sure they’re gone? The answer is—you don’t. When you spend most of your life chasing ghosts, eventually, you become one."
➸ "To me, she was the center of the universe, the sunlight that burned so bright, but she writes herself in the shadows, secondary in her own life. Instead, she made me the hero, the center of this alternate universe she invented around her."
Just read this book once and you'll never regret it. Not even a second of it because everything about this book is perfect even though it made me cry a lot.
I mean I don't even know where to start because this book is just so so so good. I really didn't expected it to be this amazing. It is a kind of book which will make you cry a lot but it also provides you comfort. It changed my perception of seeing addiction and struggles differently. I loved every bit of it. The best second chance romance book I have ever read. Honestly I felt so many emotions while reading this. I was crying for what Kennedy had to go through because of Jonathan's addiction. But I was also smiling like an idiot because of their adorable daughter Maddie.
Addiction is something that can destroy someone's life and the life of people who loves them. And this book portrayed it exactly the way it should've been. No sugar coating Kennedy and Jonathan's relationship when Jonathan was a struggling actor and their realtionship was becoming toxic. If Kennedy never asked Jonathan to leave her. He would never become a father his daughter needed. One thing that hurt me most in this book was that Kennedy choose Jonathan over her own dreams and he choose drugs, alcohol because he was tired of his life. She did everything for him but he said "Tell someone who fucking cares." When she tried to tell him about "The Thing". That scene broke my heart.
The 6 years separation was heartbreaking because he was still an alcoholic and he didn't even saw his daughter for once. But that was needed for his own good. Kennedy left Jonathan because he wasn't ready to be a good father to their daughter but later on Maddie became the only reason they both got back together. It was just so so so amazingly beautiful. How he was trying to be their for Maddie and how their father-daughter relationship developed. It was so so beautiful and adorable ❤️😭
The story starts after 6 years when Kennedy left Jonathan. They have a daughter and Jonathan knows about her but Kennedy would not let him meet her until he become sober. Jonathan is trying and he is sober for over a year now and Kennedy gave him a chance because she believes him and wanted her daughter to have a father she deserved. Jonathan and Maddie started spending time with each other and he proves himself to Kennedy and Maddie that he can now become the person they always wanted him to be. Maddie is a fan of Breezeo but she didn't knew that his father is the one who plays the role of her favourite superhero.
The book was written simple and yet so beautifully. The chapters goes back and forth from the time when Kennedy and Jonathan left their hometown so that Jonathan can have his big shot in Hollywood and the present where Jonathan is making amends with his daughter and Kennedy. The chapter which describes their past was constantly causing me to tear up. Their story started beautifully until it turned into a tragic story because of Jonathan's addiction. The story is fast paced and their were so many moments between Maddie and Jonathan that were just so so adorable and sweet😭😭💞
The characters were portrayed so beautifully and there was no sugar coating anything when it came to how he messed up everything. I thought he will messed up everything again but thank god he didn't.
Kennedy Garfield
She is such a strong and brave character to me. She went through so much ever since she met Jonathan and even after she left him. And I absolutely adore her for her strength. She raised her daughter own her own and she left him for Maddie's own good. She didn't get to follow her dream of becoming an author but she did everything for Jonathan just so he could follow his dream. But she still tried everything to provide her daughter with everything. She's so selfless and I love her so much. She deserves every happiness this world has to offer.
Jonathan Cunningham
It is of no doubt that he loved Kennedy so much but he took her love and everything she did for him for granted. He was drowning in his own sadness but he choose booze and drugs over Kennedy. But I'm happy that he tried to get sober even if it was after so many years. I loved his relationship with Maddid a lot and how he did everything she asked him to. They are the cutest 😭😭 I'm proud of him that he didn't forced anything on Kennedy when she asked him to leave her. Instead he tried and tried and tried until he became the best version of himself and the man Kennedy fell in love with when they were just teenagers.
Madison Jacqueline Garfield
The cutest sugarpie munchkin 😭💞
Omg she is just so so so cute and adorable 😭💞 well she is the mvp of this book and my favourite character ❤️ she is just a 5 year old girl but damn she understands everything. She is so easy going, intelligent and very lovable. And everytime she said "Duh!" Like you're being ridiculous now. That was just so adorable. And according to her you have to compliment your woman that she looks pretty and give her flowers otherwise you're not a good man. Yeah Yeah she knows everything 😌😆
Maddie smiles, not sensing his sarcasm. “It’s ‘cuz I love you.”Cute I know right😭💖!!!!
His expression shifts. I see it as those words strike him. “You love me?”
Maddie laughs. “Duh.”
Duh. She says that like he’s being ridiculous asking that question, like he’s supposed to just know, but love isn’t something he’s had a lot of.
“I love you, too,” he says.
“More than bacon?” she asks, munching on a piece.
“More than bacon,” he says quietly. “More than everything.”
Honestly I hate kids so it's very rare when I say they are cute and adorable so you gotta believe me then.
The ending was perfect and I'm happy that now Kennedy can fulfill her own dream and now they have become this perfect beautiful and adorable family that were always supposed to be. It took years but they are finally together and that's all that matters💖😭
—Favourite Quotes—
➸ I laugh as she hugs me. “Hey, pretty girl.”
She looks up at me. “You think I’m pretty?”
“What? Of course.” I kneel next to her, grinning as I press a finger to the tip of her nose. “You look like your mom.”
“You think Mommy’s pretty, too?”
“I think she's the most beautiful woman in the world.”
➸ "I need you to leave. I need you to go and not come back until you get better,” I say. "I’m asking you… no, I’m begging you… don’t come back here like this again. She’s going to need a father, a real one, someone who can love her more than everything. There’s no place in our lives for an addict. So, please… leave, Jonathan.”
➸ "I wasn’t accusing you of cheating. I just wanted to know how long it took you to move on.”
“Oh, well, that’s an easy one,” he says. “It hasn’t happened."
➸ "They chat. They laugh. I mourn.
I mourn the years they lost, the time that was wasted, the love that maybe just wasn’t quite enough to overcome his demons sooner. Every smile they share today is the product of years of tears, of years of fighting and struggling and hoping and mourning but never, ever, ever quitting or giving up, because we’re here. And maybe it won’t last, I don’t know. Maybe tomorrow something will happen and the tears will come back, but I’m grateful for the moment, knowing he loves her more than anything"
➸ "He’s destined to do bigger things, and staying would be selfish, so as much as he wishes he could be with her forever, he has to let her go, because that’s what love means. It’s loving someone enough to set them free."
➸ "I’ve missed the fuck out of her these past few years. I don’t deserve her time, not in the least, but I’m so desperate for some part of this woman back that I’ll steal every second that I can get."
➸ "You don’t know this, but the woman you love? The one you hung around for in New York when she was still just a girl, even though you were suffering, and wanting to go, but you stayed because of love? That woman, right now, is doing the same thing for you."
➸ "Worse is loving someone who disappears and never knowing if they’ll come back. Because how do you move on if you’re not even sure they’re gone? The answer is—you don’t. When you spend most of your life chasing ghosts, eventually, you become one."
➸ "To me, she was the center of the universe, the sunlight that burned so bright, but she writes herself in the shadows, secondary in her own life. Instead, she made me the hero, the center of this alternate universe she invented around her."
Just read this book once and you'll never regret it. Not even a second of it because everything about this book is perfect even though it made me cry a lot.
August 29, 2017
“love doesn’t know titles.”
This book annihilated me. It hit hard, it hit perfect and it didn't stop hitting until the last word. Some stories allow their words to come alive and build the perfect fabrication around you. Very rarely do you come across a story that allows its words to make you come alive instead.
Jonathan and Kennedy's story is one that is not for the brave of heart, but it will result in making your heart brave. I loved this book to with every fibre, and am so honored that I let it annihilate me. I will very glady sit and glue myself together again, because it was worth it. It was so worth it
_______________
Chickens and Breads
I fell in love with each of these characters so much it hurts. They came off the page, each with their individual identity - flaws and vital characteristics. The realism strung through in this book was immaculate. I would just like to state now, if you haven't already realized - this whole review will me gushing and raving and overall just loving this book. This isn't a review in all honesty. This is a cry for help.
I would bring this book to every single Tuesday show and tell, and I would do it with a big ass grin on my face. My heart is full, my eyes are stinging and I probably should finish writing this review tomorrow - but I cannot go a day more without yelling about this fucking book, man.
If you are even thinking, hell - if you even looked at this book. Read it. I shit you not, you will not regret it. I'm going to go ahead and just say even if you haven't looked at this book - you should read it.
The Writing
Here's a confession: I did not like Sempre. It was a mediocre read for me. I loved the writing though and so I gave it a decent 3 star review. It was a good comfort zone to get into while reading it.
J. M Darhowers writing is soft. It is the soft that make's your heart ache and your stomach flip. It's the type of soft that only certain weathers can evoke in you, or even certain places. Because that's how fucking good it is.
Here's another confession: There are a total of 234 highlights and notes on my kindle just for this novel alone.
I am so glad I did not go into this book with the mindset that it was going to be another mediocre read for me, but in a way it doesn't matter, because even if I did - It would have justified itself.
I cried you guys. I am not talking a couple tears or a couple quiet sniffles.
There was nothing pretty about the state I was in while reading this.
Jonathan and Kennedy fucked me up. I love their love.
I thought I was a mess after the first few chapters, boyyyy did I speak too soon.
“I didn’t say you weren’t fine. I said you looked lost, not that you didn’t know your way.”
The Story
I felt the pain. Felt it because this story had a lot of aspects in it that I could connect with a few parts of my life. Be it from Kennedy, Jonathan, The father or even Jack!
I felt the love. Felt it because this story couldn't stop itself from being one that was overflowing with it. It is so much more than just a romance. Going into a league that very few novels go into, I felt the love because I not only experienced it through the characters - but I conjured up some of my own for the little things.
I felt the laughter. Felt it because this story was funny as fuck. 'Nuff said.
I felt the bittersweetness. Felt it because this story can be described that way in one word - bittersweet. It dealed with more issues than I thought it would and once I waltzed my way through it, I realized that bittersweet feelings usually coat some of the most memorable stories in our life.
Madison Jacqueline
THIS. GIRL.
THIS. ANGEL.
THIS. FUCKING. GIFT.
SHE WAS MY EVERYTHING. I AM INDEBTED TO A SIX YEAR OLD FOR REMINDING ME HOW PERFECT IT IS TO BE JUST YOURSELF.
Let me just get you started on a few moments, where Maddie stole the show. I closed the kindle multiple times and just saw there smiling like a complete idiot because of this child.
1)
2)
3) And After Maddie draws on her dad's cast and both of the loving parents are just having a moment...
___________________
Overall, I would just like to say that this book is not as plot dense as most new adults are with twists and shocks and story arcs across characters. It's perfect with it's simplicity. It's simplicity is what makes it such a complex story in a manner because we are left there with such intricately damaged and loving characters and we see them solve what they need to.
It was a wonderful journey - one that I would wish a lot more people find out about and read. This is one hell of a book and I don't think it will ever leave my system. <3
Note: This review has been sprinkled with all the chickens and breads, all the kale and if you look past the food, you might just see a piece of Alex's heart somewhere.
This book annihilated me. It hit hard, it hit perfect and it didn't stop hitting until the last word. Some stories allow their words to come alive and build the perfect fabrication around you. Very rarely do you come across a story that allows its words to make you come alive instead.
Jonathan and Kennedy's story is one that is not for the brave of heart, but it will result in making your heart brave. I loved this book to with every fibre, and am so honored that I let it annihilate me. I will very glady sit and glue myself together again, because it was worth it. It was so worth it
_______________
Chickens and Breads
I fell in love with each of these characters so much it hurts. They came off the page, each with their individual identity - flaws and vital characteristics. The realism strung through in this book was immaculate. I would just like to state now, if you haven't already realized - this whole review will me gushing and raving and overall just loving this book. This isn't a review in all honesty. This is a cry for help.
“ I didn’t stick around here so long for any of that. I stayed for you. And if me loving you is enough—”
“It is,” she says.”
I would bring this book to every single Tuesday show and tell, and I would do it with a big ass grin on my face. My heart is full, my eyes are stinging and I probably should finish writing this review tomorrow - but I cannot go a day more without yelling about this fucking book, man.
If you are even thinking, hell - if you even looked at this book. Read it. I shit you not, you will not regret it. I'm going to go ahead and just say even if you haven't looked at this book - you should read it.
“I do it, and I do it well, pouring my soul into every moment. It's nearing the end of the story, even though we're still at the beginning of filming. It takes everything out of me, because endings are hard. Endings are fucking impossible... especially endings that remind me of a girl I'm trying damn hard not to think about.”
The Writing
Here's a confession: I did not like Sempre. It was a mediocre read for me. I loved the writing though and so I gave it a decent 3 star review. It was a good comfort zone to get into while reading it.
J. M Darhowers writing is soft. It is the soft that make's your heart ache and your stomach flip. It's the type of soft that only certain weathers can evoke in you, or even certain places. Because that's how fucking good it is.
“Because I’ve wanted you since I was seventeen years old. Saying that is like promising forever. I need a real answer.”
He’s quiet for a moment, resting his head on top of mine before he asks, “What’s wrong with forever?”
“Nothing,” I say, “as long as you mean it.”
“Would you believe me if I promised it?”
“Yes,” I whisper. “That’s why I need you not to.”
Here's another confession: There are a total of 234 highlights and notes on my kindle just for this novel alone.
I am so glad I did not go into this book with the mindset that it was going to be another mediocre read for me, but in a way it doesn't matter, because even if I did - It would have justified itself.
I cried you guys. I am not talking a couple tears or a couple quiet sniffles.
There was nothing pretty about the state I was in while reading this.
Jonathan and Kennedy fucked me up. I love their love.
I thought I was a mess after the first few chapters, boyyyy did I speak too soon.
“I didn’t say you weren’t fine. I said you looked lost, not that you didn’t know your way.”
The Story
“The notebook holds a piece of my heart, a piece of my soul, the piece I gave to him long ago.
“You’re being an idiot,” Meghan says, popping up in the doorway behind me.
I laugh to myself. “I know.”
I felt the pain. Felt it because this story had a lot of aspects in it that I could connect with a few parts of my life. Be it from Kennedy, Jonathan, The father or even Jack!
I felt the love. Felt it because this story couldn't stop itself from being one that was overflowing with it. It is so much more than just a romance. Going into a league that very few novels go into, I felt the love because I not only experienced it through the characters - but I conjured up some of my own for the little things.
I felt the laughter. Felt it because this story was funny as fuck. 'Nuff said.
I felt the bittersweetness. Felt it because this story can be described that way in one word - bittersweet. It dealed with more issues than I thought it would and once I waltzed my way through it, I realized that bittersweet feelings usually coat some of the most memorable stories in our life.
“Sorry for everything I did that led us to this point. And I get it, you know, if you hate me. Wouldn’t blame you at all. But I just need to tell you… I need you to know… that even when I was completely fucked up, I never once stopped loving you."
Madison Jacqueline
THIS. GIRL.
THIS. ANGEL.
THIS. FUCKING. GIFT.
SHE WAS MY EVERYTHING. I AM INDEBTED TO A SIX YEAR OLD FOR REMINDING ME HOW PERFECT IT IS TO BE JUST YOURSELF.
Let me just get you started on a few moments, where Maddie stole the show. I closed the kindle multiple times and just saw there smiling like a complete idiot because of this child.
1)
“Hesitantly, I knock, hearing a flurry of footsteps inside before the door yanks open, the little ball of energy in front of me, grinning.
“Madison Jacqueline!” Kennedy shouts, popping up in my line of sight. “What did I say about answering the door like that?”
“Oh.” Her eyes widen, and before I can say a word, she swings the door shut, slamming it in my face. I stand here for a moment before the door cracks open again, her head peeking out as she whispers, “You gots to knock.”
As soon as it shuts again, I tap on the door.
“Who’s there?” she yells.
“Jonathan.”
“Jonathan who?”
2)
“I’ll be Breezeo and Barbie can be Maryanne for you,” she says, sitting down on the floor and patting the wood beside her.
“Wait, shouldn’t I be Breezeo?”
“You’re him all the time, so it’s my turn now.”
Well, can’t argue with that logic.”
3) And After Maddie draws on her dad's cast and both of the loving parents are just having a moment...
“Yeah, well, real world, remember? You had to know it wouldn’t last.”
“Yeah,” he mumbles, though he doesn’t seem to like that fact, his attention now on the drawings covering his cast. He traces the colorful lines with his fingertips.”
___________________
Overall, I would just like to say that this book is not as plot dense as most new adults are with twists and shocks and story arcs across characters. It's perfect with it's simplicity. It's simplicity is what makes it such a complex story in a manner because we are left there with such intricately damaged and loving characters and we see them solve what they need to.
It was a wonderful journey - one that I would wish a lot more people find out about and read. This is one hell of a book and I don't think it will ever leave my system. <3
Note: This review has been sprinkled with all the chickens and breads, all the kale and if you look past the food, you might just see a piece of Alex's heart somewhere.
January 14, 2024
5 ⭐’s/5
An angsty second chance romance that took my heart and crumpled it up like a piece of paper.
┌──❀*̥ 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑨𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 ❀*̥˚─┐
╰┈➤Play “Last Night”- by Morgan Wallen
🎵𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠
𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡
𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙩
𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮, 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮, 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜'𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣' 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙞𝙣'𝙩 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙩
𝙉𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩🎵
“𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮.”
➳Don’t mind this review being like 4 weeks late, my brain hasn’t been its usual self these days. Ok this review is bad, but like my brain just hasn’t been working these days so bear with me.
“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙗𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.”
This was the best second chance romance book I have ever read. I felt all the angst and emotions while reading this. Jonathan and Kennedy have my heart, and the situation they find themselves in was even more heartbreaking.
“𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨. 𝙉𝙤 𝙜𝙪𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙪𝙨. 𝙒𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨.”
Kennedy was such a strong, resilient, and amazing woman to read about. She truly captivated me while I was reading this. She puts everyone above herself, especially when she took care of Johnathon to the point where it was too much for her. She was definitely the most selfless woman I have ever met. Her relationship with her daughter Maddie was amazing, you can tell she loved her so much considering the whole situation with Johnathon; she put her daughters happiness above her own. It was so realistic to read about, I couldn’t imagine being in her shoes.
“𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪,” 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙮. “𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠. 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣. 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙮𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙. 𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝, 𝙆? 𝙈𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚?”
Jonathan was a complex character to read about. There were many things he did that made you want to smack him in the head, but he was also struggling with his own problems. He was also fighting addiction amongst other things so I will never judge him or hate him for that. Fighting addiction is hard enough, so seeing him try his best to become clean was just beautiful and heartbreaking to read about. I felt the angst, emotions, and tension reading about his character. I can never judge him for his mistakes because it’s hard enough for him on his end. I truly admired both of their strengths, they were both amazing to read about. I was so proud of him for working so hard on himself to become the father his daughter deserved. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking to read but it was just breathtaking overall to experience this masterpiece.
╰┈➤ 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬 ❤️🩹
“𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲?” 𝗜 𝗮𝘀𝗸. “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀.”
“𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂,” 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀. “𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄? 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗜 𝗮𝗺.”
“𝙄’𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨. “𝙎𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙚. 𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪… 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬… 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥, 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
“𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁. 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀, 𝗜’𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜’𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻. 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘆. 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄… 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆… 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘆… 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀, 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.”
“𝙅𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣,” 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙩.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙥.”
“𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙩.”
“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩?”
“𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙄’𝙢 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙩𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤, 𝙨𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙩.”
“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗜’𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆?”
“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁? 𝗢𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗺.”
“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘆’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆, 𝘁𝗼𝗼?”
“𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘀𝗵𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.”
“𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜,” 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙅𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣, 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚.”
“𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚.”
“𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂,” 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀. “𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”
“𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙢 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥.”
“𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆.- 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻”
»--•--«
𝟏𝟐/𝟐𝟏/𝟐𝟑
This book took my heart and crumpled it up like a piece of paper
------ 𝐫𝐭𝐜 ------
»--•--«
𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
Bookstagram brought me here with just one quote:
"𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪... 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬... 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥, 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪."
Am I gonna have my heart broken from this book?
An angsty second chance romance that took my heart and crumpled it up like a piece of paper.
┌──❀*̥ 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑨𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 ❀*̥˚─┐
╰┈➤Play “Last Night”- by Morgan Wallen
🎵𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠
𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡
𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙩
𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮, 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮, 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜'𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣' 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙞𝙣'𝙩 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙩
𝙉𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩🎵
“𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮.”
➳Don’t mind this review being like 4 weeks late, my brain hasn’t been its usual self these days. Ok this review is bad, but like my brain just hasn’t been working these days so bear with me.
“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙗𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.”
This was the best second chance romance book I have ever read. I felt all the angst and emotions while reading this. Jonathan and Kennedy have my heart, and the situation they find themselves in was even more heartbreaking.
“𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨. 𝙉𝙤 𝙜𝙪𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙪𝙨. 𝙒𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨.”
Kennedy was such a strong, resilient, and amazing woman to read about. She truly captivated me while I was reading this. She puts everyone above herself, especially when she took care of Johnathon to the point where it was too much for her. She was definitely the most selfless woman I have ever met. Her relationship with her daughter Maddie was amazing, you can tell she loved her so much considering the whole situation with Johnathon; she put her daughters happiness above her own. It was so realistic to read about, I couldn’t imagine being in her shoes.
“𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪,” 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙮. “𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠. 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣. 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙮𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙. 𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝, 𝙆? 𝙈𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚?”
Jonathan was a complex character to read about. There were many things he did that made you want to smack him in the head, but he was also struggling with his own problems. He was also fighting addiction amongst other things so I will never judge him or hate him for that. Fighting addiction is hard enough, so seeing him try his best to become clean was just beautiful and heartbreaking to read about. I felt the angst, emotions, and tension reading about his character. I can never judge him for his mistakes because it’s hard enough for him on his end. I truly admired both of their strengths, they were both amazing to read about. I was so proud of him for working so hard on himself to become the father his daughter deserved. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking to read but it was just breathtaking overall to experience this masterpiece.
╰┈➤ 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬 ❤️🩹
“𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲?” 𝗜 𝗮𝘀𝗸. “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀.”
“𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂,” 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀. “𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄? 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗜 𝗮𝗺.”
“𝙄’𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨. “𝙎𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙚. 𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪… 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬… 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥, 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
“𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁. 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀, 𝗜’𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜’𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻. 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘆. 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄… 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆… 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘆… 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀, 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.”
“𝙅𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣,” 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙩.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙥.”
“𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙩.”
“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩?”
“𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙄’𝙢 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙩𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤, 𝙨𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙩.”
“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗜’𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆?”
“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁? 𝗢𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗺.”
“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘆’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆, 𝘁𝗼𝗼?”
“𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘀𝗵𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.”
“𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜,” 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙅𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣, 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚.”
“𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚.”
“𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂,” 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀. “𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”
“𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙢 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥.”
“𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆.- 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻”
»--•--«
𝟏𝟐/𝟐𝟏/𝟐𝟑
This book took my heart and crumpled it up like a piece of paper
------ 𝐫𝐭𝐜 ------
»--•--«
𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
Bookstagram brought me here with just one quote:
"𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪... 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬... 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥, 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪."
Am I gonna have my heart broken from this book?
November 20, 2017
‘GHOSTED:’ Is a standalone second chance romance novel by J.M. Darhower, spoken in 'Dual Perspectives' In this we meet Kennedy Garfield & Jonathan Cunningham. Their story isn't pretty, but it's their story..And it's a story that must be told.
A second chance romance about a boy who loved a girl, who turns into a man that loves a woman.
I don’t know what it was about this book but as soon as I opened up that first page, and started reading I was hooked, this author just has a way with words, a unique storyline that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until you’ve inhaled that very last page. God the feels that came rushing at me, the love I felt consumed me, normally I’m not really a fan of second chance romances because you kind of know the layout of the story, past they break up, then they make up end of story, but this was done in such an outstanding way like pieces of a puzzle we’d be given pieces of their past that we’d make sense of to complete their future.
There is nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about this book!! What I loved most about it was the simplicity of it, the realness of it, you could see every scene in this book unfold in real life, nothing was over dramatised. So very life like.
If you've not read this book it comes with a highly recommend stamp from yours truly!! Take the plunge, one click you won't regret it, fall in love with these characters just like I did.
June 7, 2022
4.25 ⭐️ second chance romances will get me EVERY DAMN TIME!!!! I adored this story so much, even though it angered me sometimes. the comic’s fan inside me was SCREAMING at the plot!!! Kennedy was amazing & Jonathan’s character growth was *chefs kiss*!!!! I will say it took me a while to come around to them as a couple because I was really mad about everything that happened, I would’ve liked a bit more groveling. The addiction subject was done very well in my opinion. & Maddie made the entire book <3 also the epilogue??? adorable.
“you’re the queen, i’m just a commoner”
“you’re the queen, i’m just a commoner”
August 27, 2017
★4.5 Ghosted Stars★
J.M. Darhower has wowed me once again! Ghosted, her new second chance romance, is an absolute must read. Full of heart, superheroes, Hollywood scandal, and a little girl that will melt your heart, Darhower offers an unforgettable romance full of passion and forgiveness.
I cannot recommend this second-chance read enough. If you like Hollywood scandal, superheroes, complex characters, and a story full of heart, then look no further. Ghosted is an absolute must read for 2017! J.M. never disappoints. Her diverse writing style continues to amaze me, and I will forever be a fan of this author and her spectacular work!
*ARC graciously provided in exchange for an honest review!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
"Days feel like months without you."
J.M. Darhower has wowed me once again! Ghosted, her new second chance romance, is an absolute must read. Full of heart, superheroes, Hollywood scandal, and a little girl that will melt your heart, Darhower offers an unforgettable romance full of passion and forgiveness.
"I know what it's like to be somebody's lone captive audience."Kennedy Garfield is a single mom who has struggled to provide for her little girl. Assistant Manager of the Piggly Q Grocery Store, she is far from the aspiring writer she once dreamed of becoming. Jonathan Cunningham, Hollywood's hottest commodity, her first love, and the father of her daughter, has been absent from her life. Struggling with addiction and the demons of his past, Jonathan lost it all. After working to overcome the mistakes he has made, Jonathan returns home in hopes to reunite with Kennedy and finally make amends to her and his daughter. The obstacles in his path are great. As he strives to be the man he has always wanted to be, he will do whatever it takes to win his family back and keep them forever.
"His hands roam, stroking my side, one slipping beneath my shirt. He palms my breast, squeezing it, sliding beneath my bra."Told in dual POV and through the past and present, Ghosted offers a second chance romance like none that I have ever read before. The writing style is unique as it shifts from the past and the present and each characters POV. I was quite touched by the journey Jonathan, and Kennedy made both individually and together. Addiction is such a complex element to explore, and J.M. delivers a perfect perspective into the life of someone torn between love and addiction. The predominant theme in this read is the relationship between Jonathan, Kennedy, and their daughter Madison. As this family seeks to heal, Jonathan and Kennedy cling to the hope they have for their future and learn to forgive the sins of their past. The physical intimacy between Jonathan and Kennedy is intense as they both focus on reconnecting and learning to love again. The sacrifices for both characters are great, and the supporting characters enhance the story significantly with a continuous stream of loyalty and love showered on Kennedy, Jonathan, and Madison.
I cannot recommend this second-chance read enough. If you like Hollywood scandal, superheroes, complex characters, and a story full of heart, then look no further. Ghosted is an absolute must read for 2017! J.M. never disappoints. Her diverse writing style continues to amaze me, and I will forever be a fan of this author and her spectacular work!
*ARC graciously provided in exchange for an honest review!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
September 7, 2017
*****FIVE++++++++++++++++++STARS*****
One of the best books of 2017!
A PERFECT Second Chance Romance!
I'm in love with this reckless, starry-eyed fool who, in two day time, is going to walk out my front door, and all I can do is trust he'll come back with that same look of love in his eyes, because if he doesn't, it's going to break more hearts than just my own. And if he breaks hers, I'll never forgive him.
Believe the hype people! It's true.
This book was EVERYTHING!!
I am madly in love with Jonathan and my heart was bursting almost the entire time I was reading this. Little Maddie was just another fantastic character in this story.
I loved Kennedy for her strength and her determination and for the love she had for her little girl.
READ THIS BOOK PEOPLE!!!
I am so glad I gave this book a chance.
I wasn't going to read it because I know JM Darhower normally writes mafia romances and those are just not my favorites but boy did she prove she can write beautiful contemporary romances as well!!
One of the best books of 2017!
A PERFECT Second Chance Romance!
I'm in love with this reckless, starry-eyed fool who, in two day time, is going to walk out my front door, and all I can do is trust he'll come back with that same look of love in his eyes, because if he doesn't, it's going to break more hearts than just my own. And if he breaks hers, I'll never forgive him.
Believe the hype people! It's true.
This book was EVERYTHING!!
I am madly in love with Jonathan and my heart was bursting almost the entire time I was reading this. Little Maddie was just another fantastic character in this story.
I loved Kennedy for her strength and her determination and for the love she had for her little girl.
READ THIS BOOK PEOPLE!!!
I am so glad I gave this book a chance.
I wasn't going to read it because I know JM Darhower normally writes mafia romances and those are just not my favorites but boy did she prove she can write beautiful contemporary romances as well!!
November 9, 2022
”you’re the queen, i’m just a commoner."
i’m not gonna lie, this is the BEST second chance novel i have ever read! it was so hard to put this story down, i was that emotionally invested—im seriously suffering from a book hangover rn.
my heart was constricting while reading this book bc i could feel the tension, angst, heartbreak and love between jonathan and kennedy throughout the entire book.
— kennedy’s journal narration for the “then” chapters are so fucking heartbreaking but also beautiful. the writing was so unique and i loved it more than i expected, i loved reading their backstory. i just love everything abt them and maddie, she is SO ADORABLE—she is the star of this book 🫶🏼🫶🏼
”i need you to know…that even when I was completely fucked up, i never once stopped loving you.”
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