So True

Tierney Bay #2

by Serena Bell

A passionate first love. A deep betrayal. One last chance to make it right.

Jax Walker left Chiara Campbell behind without a word, but he’s never forgotten how it felt to love that fiercely. Not that it matters—he can never go back to Tierney Bay, because the secret he’s keeping would tear them both apart.

Chiara has written Jax out of her life and her memory—until he shows up at the shop where she works. All the hurt she thought she’d buried is still there, and so is her fiery attraction to him. The more Chiara and Jax work together to save the shop, the more she wants things she can’t have.

She knows she’s going to get her heart broken again. She knows it’s going to hurt like hell.

And she’s pretty sure that when he kisses her, she’ll kiss him right back.

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2020

About the author

Newest Release!


USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.

Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.

When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.

Sign up for new release updates here! http://www.serenabell.com/newsletter

Reviews

[Ilaria 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a glutton for well written slow burn and this author has potential with that story telling style
I loved the slow building of their story and nice reshaping thrust between the h and H
Chiara and had slowly rebuild their friendship and relationship
Well written and developed
Four well deserved stars

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Tierney Bay series and can be read as a standalone. Second chance romance between Chiara and Jax. There were together when they were in high school and she thought they would have a future until he left without a word. 10 years pass and he is back in town to see his brother and he runs into her at the gaming store his brother owns. The past hurt is front and center between them and they have to figure out how to deal with that while working together to get the store up and running successfully. Will they be able to work everything out and possibly get the HEA they deserve or will it crash and burn like it did many years ago. Great read and I can’t wait to visit Tierney Bay again.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

So True by Serena Bell is a well written second chance romance.

The storyline is emotional, heartfelt and held my interest from start to end and I enjoyed watching Chiara and Jax's relationship unfold.

Overall this is a beautiful second chance love story and I highly recommend it.

Get your copy ~
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*Thank you to the author for the advance copy*

[pageswithpayten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Jelsba Media Group and Serena Bell for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
So True is book number two of Serena Bell’s Tierney Bey series, but my first time reading her work!
I’m a sucker for a good second chance romance troupe and So True did not disappoint! Ten years ago a passionate relationship developed between two teens, Jax Walker and Chiara Campbell. He’s from the wrong side of the tracks trying to raise his younger brother, Evan, and keep his alcoholic mother awake long enough to keep a roof over their heads. Chiara Campbell is that girl. The one who gets perfect grades, is on every committee available and who is going places. After a night together baring it all, Jax and his family leave town with no word. Now it’s been ten years and Jax has rolled back into town checking on his brother. What he finds is a game shop in desperate need of a face lift and Chiara Campbell.
A good author can give you the backstory in a second chance romance without overshadowing the present. Serena Bell created such believable and realistic characters that felt relatable throughout. Jax and Chiara’s reunion is a slow burn and then BAM! Full steam ahead, pun intended. These two have great chemistry that’s fun to read and keep you rooting for their HAE.
The drama in this one is realistic and not over the top. Eye-rolling drama in a good romance is the worst. I really appreciated the way the major conflict was introduced and resolved. There were also little side plots that involved themes like pressures for perfection from parents (say that 5 times fast), chronic illness and alcoholism. I thought Serena Bell handled these side conflicts with grace and allowed them to teach the characters/readers something without it becoming too busy.
Serena Bell is definitely on my Authors To Watch list and now I get to go back and read book number one while waiting for book number three!

[Cotes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in a series. I hadn’t read the first Tierney Bay book, but that didn’t make any difference.
I really love Serena Bell’s books (especially Sleepover). She writes contemporary romances where you really get a good sense of why the couple gets together. So True is no exception. It’s a second chance romance. Chiara is living in her hometown near her family after college and business school. Her high school love, Jax, ghosted her and left down right before prom, but it’s ten years later and she’s totally over him. His younger brother, Eric, has moved back to their tiny Oregon town and has started a gaming store that’s not doing very well. Chiara is still close to Eric, and is covering his shop while Eric’s having surgery for his Crohn’s. Jax comes to town to track down Eric. He sees Chiara for the first time in ten years. Plot ensues.
Bell’s books are low-key. They are grounded in the everyday.. Chiara and Jax haven’t seen each other in ten years, but there’s still a connection, and Bell puts them together for multiple scenes before they hook up.
This book comes down to the idea that a relationship needs people who love and allow themselves to be loved, and it is often that vulnerability that’s the hardest. Jax and Chiara are better for having remet one another, and a HEA is completely believable..
Even the villain in the book is humanized. While they may have done the wrong thing, they aren’t evil, and grappling with the consequences of their actions produces character growth for both Chiara and Jax.
If you’re a fan of Serena Bell, you’ll enjoy So True. And if you haven’t read one of her books yet but like contemporary romances with a slow burn and an unannoying small town, then give this one a try. I’ll definitely keep reading the rest of the Tierney Bay series.

*I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley. All opinions are mine.

[Maria Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

So happy to be back in Tierney Bay! I loved the first in the series, So Close (an enemies to lovers romance) and just like that one, this features a likable cast of characters in an emotional plot though it's a second chance romance this time.

A teenaged love affair between Chiara and Jax ended in heartbreak when Jax left town with his mother and brother without a word or any further contact. For several years this was the status quo until Jax's brother Ethan (who has Crohn's disease) comes to town to open a comic book shop and Jax soon follows him (since Ethan is in fact supposed to be in college). Seeing Jax again rips open old wounds for Chiara, but also gives them the chance to come to terms with the past, find out what really happened and see if they can repair the damage and try again. Chiara's family make for excellent secondary characters as they are a close knit bunch. It's a heartwarming story with some laughs and some more serious bits, and will pull you in to wanting to read all the books in the series. Definitely recommended.

Content warning for child sexual abuse and alcoholism

A copy of this story was provided by the author.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the second book in the Tierney Bay series but can easily be read as a standalone. I always enjoy this author's books because she writes relatable characters with real lives and this was no exception. But I suggest you grab a box of tissues and be prepared to use them! This was a very emotional read for me because I became invested in Chiara & Jax's tumultuous journey rather quickly. These two characters endured so many disappointments, together and apart, that your heart aches for both of them and wishes and hopes for their HEA. But it was Evan's character that really moved me to tears--what a sweet, kind, soulful kid who dealt with life's difficulties and sufferings with incredible courage. I'm not familiar with gaming so this aspect of the book was quite informative and intriguing as well. I highly recommend this read and look forward to what Ms. Bell has in store for us next. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

[Fedora · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO TRUE is the second in Serena Bell’s Tierney Bay series, and is absolutely spectacular. In it, Jax Walker and Chiara Campbell get a second chance.

Life has not been easy in Jax and Chiara’s lives. What Serena Bell does incredibly well is show us how love makes life better, more beautiful, and absolutely worth living.

Jax and Chiara are well written, and their emotions and struggles are all too real. From the joyful camaraderie with their families to the irresistible affection and attraction they share with each other, the small moments build a picture of the life they could have longer term. If only they are brave and clear-sighted enough to take hold.

Ms. Bell’s So True also does a terrific job giving readers a glimpse of the gaming world as Jax and Chiara work with Jax’s brother Evan to make his comic/game shop succeed.

So True rings absolutely true for me. I’m already looking forward to rereading this again!

[E-Reader Addict · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

I’m always perplexed when I find a series that I really, really liked, but then several other books by the author don’t work for me. Ms. Bell’s Returning Home series was SO good (well, except for the fourth book, but that one was probably more a case of “it’s me, not you”) - they were heartbreaking and heartfelt, and pulled heavily on my heart strings. So even though the last couple of books I’ve read by this author failed to have that effect, I was crossing my fingers for this one.

It ended up being a mixed bag…

Jax and Chiara (author lost points for having a name I wasn’t sure how to pronounce for half the book) had a brief but intense relationship when they were seniors in high school. But then one day Jax left town with his family and never spoke to Chiara again. Until he shows up back in town 10 years later and now they are going to work together to help Jax’s brother’s struggling comic book/game store survive.

The first half of the book was glacially slow and I seriously thought about DNFing my second book for the month. There was lots and lots of the heroine thinking about how hawt the hero is. LESS PECS MORE PLOT is my motto! The hero is good looking...we got it...you don’t need to go on and on about it in every chapter.

Also, I’m not a fan of when an author holds back information for the sake of building suspense (in this case, why Jax left suddenly without explanation and never contacted her) and constantly referring to it over and over. Seldom is the reason for keeping the secret a good one. In this case, the reason for leaving and not telling was understandable, the reason for not contacting for so long...was not.

Then, there were flashback scenes about superhero alter egos of Jax and Chiara and they created a whole story when they were seniors in high school and...I don’t know...I just found that whole storyline contrived and hokie. I think this was another instance of an author having a particular interest - or loved ones with an interest - and so she created a storyline around it. But it didn’t work for me, nor did it help move the storyline forward.

That being said, I really liked the last 40%, where the author finally had the characters deal with the past so they could move forward. I also give the author credit for having a heroine who held onto her mad and didn’t crumble at the sight of the hero’s hot body, or at his first apology. I LOVE when a hero has to work for his forgiveness!

The strength of this author are her family relationships and the dialogue between the characters. Unfortunately, those positive things were bogged down by too much other stuff that I didn’t like. At this point, this author has about a 50/50 record with me. I don’t have any interest in reading the first book in this series, nor do I think I have interest in reading the next book. But we will see…

* thank you to NetGalley and Jelsba Media Group for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Misty (Reds Romance Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time Jax Walker meant the world to her, then he packed his bags, left town, and never looked back. And broke her heart in a million pieces in the process, for which she has never forgiven him for. Chiara Campbell has done her best to get over him and let all of her memories of him go, but when he comes waltzing through the door of the store she works at, it all comes rushing back.

She doesn't want him here, stirring up old hurts, but he isn't there for her. He's there to get his brother back on track and save his failing store... with her help of course! Working alongside one another is bound to end in disaster, but they both want to help Evan, so they put their differences aside and try their best to ignore all the sparks brewing between them. They've been there and done that and they are not going back... or are they?

So True is a story of second chances, mending broken hearts, forgiveness, and finding home. These two had a lot of animosity floating around between them, and their old hurts weren't nearly as buried and forgotten as they thought, all it took was one look to bring it all back again. But that wasn't the only thing to make a reappearance, the love they once shared started to bloom all over again. They were both adamant that they weren't going there again, but the more time they spent with one another the harder that plan became to deny. I enjoyed watching these two find their happily ever after, they brought loads of humor, emotion, and steam to the pages and kept my eyes glued to the words from beginning to end... they were quite a captivating pair! If you like second chance romances heavy on emotion and heart then I have no doubt that you will love what you find here, these two will have you swimming in feels the whole way through! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that is about a second chance at love but really before you even get anywhere near that part. Chiara Campbell must know the real reason why Jax Walker up and left with his mother and younger brother ten years ago. This right before the senior prom which there were to go together with and shortly after they did it for the first time.
Now she is helping his younger brother who has returned to town after ten years and is wanting to open a game and comic book store. Though she is not thrilled with the store that he rented she is making the best of it for she is a gamer as well. It just so happens that Evan who has had Crohn’s disease his whole life is now in the hospital having emergency surgery on his intestine. Jax who had given Evan money for college and has been ghosted by him decides to go to college and finds out what has happened. He also after calling and hearing a familiar voice on the other end realizes that Evan has returned to Tierney Bay the one and last place on earth he did not want to go to. After having a not so good talk on the phone with Chiara it does not get any better for him when he finally arrives in town and decides to help his brother with the store.
Here is when the story really picks up and though Chiara has issues with Jax she never lets up with him even after he apologizes which really makes for a good story. All of the interaction between her siblings also add to the story as well as the two of them working on the store which really was a nice touch to the story. When you finally get to the meat of the real reason, he left she is stuck with once again dealing with the past, and will he run away once again? See what happens with this very good book with really good characters. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet, sweet story.

I love it when strong characters find it in themselves to open up and be vulnerable. I find that Chiara is like that.

Chiara was thrown, alongside her brothers and sisters, into growing up alone and raising the younger siblings, and while she has fulfilled her dreams, and keeps on working towards accomplishing everything she set up for herself, she’s doing it all with compassion and fierceness. But still, when another curve ball is thrown at her, she embraces it with everything she is.

That’s basically the feeling I had reading So True, in regards to Chiara’s story arc.

What’s the curve ball, you’re wondering? That would be Jax Walker, her high-school sweetheart that broke her heart. But Jax has always regretted leaving Tierney Bay, and had his very valid reasons for doing so. There’s little more important than family, and when you’re already living in a broken home, you’ll do anything you can to keep it whole and heal it as best you can.

A second chance love story centered in a small vacation town, even more centered around a gaming store, is absolutely adorable. I’m so not into gaming, and assuming all the references made in the story were to actual games, I feel like my childhood was very lacking (LOL), but it all tied together so nicely; the figurative ways paralleling to reality, weaving that world into the complexities of their romance, using it to enhance feelings and scenes, it was all wonderful.

While there were some parts where I felt things were predictable, everything that wasn’t definitely made up for those predictable parts.

Favorite Scene

I’m going to start adding my favorite scene to every review I post, so here it goes:

When Chiara is standing up to Levi outside the diner. She’s strong, articulate, emotional and very determined. Absolutely no-nonsense. I loved that part.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Tierney Bay series features Chiara, the oldest sister in the Campbell clan and Jax, the guy who stood her up for prom, broke her heart, and disappeared without a word, totally ghosting her. Ten years later, his much younger brother, Evan, shows up in Tierney Bay, sinks all of his savings into opening up a struggling games store, and Chiara, who is now the town marketing/small business whiz, steps in to help. When Evan ends up in the hospital due to chronic health problems, Jax, who didn't even know that Evan had used his college tuition to open the store, shows up. Sparks immediately fly between Chiara and Jax and it's obvious that their attraction to each other is as strong as ever, but why did he leave in the first place and can Chiara ever forgive him?

This was an emotional, second chance love story between two people who were always meant to be together. Difficult choices and outside influences broke them apart the first time around, but nothing can change the feelings that they have for each other. Serena Bell always does a good job in depicting relationships in which the two parties strengthen each other and bring out the best in each other and this book is no exception. I'm not a fan of plots where one character keeps a secret from the other so as not to hurt them, but in this case, I can understand why Jax didn't want to tell Chiara the truth about what was happening 10 years prior and why even now, he didn't want to reveal it. These two were meant to be together though, and their HEA is totally believable. I received an ARC from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 Stars for the slow burn, sweet romance!

Jax broke Chiara's heart ten years ago when he disappeared with his family without so much as a goodbye. Now Jax's little brother is back in Tierney Bay and is opening a gaming store, but he landed up in the hospital and Chiara is helping him out. What she didn't expect was Jax to walk into the store, but what she really didn't want was Jax helping get the store up and running ... but that's exactly what happened. Now all she can think of is their last night together.

Jax thought he could be in and out of Tierney Bay without seeing Chaira. He did not expect to come face to face with her the minute he stepped into his brother's store .., but there she was, even more beautiful than he remembered. Chiara could never learn the truth as to why he really left ... it would break her heart forever.

This book just gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings. I just loved Chiara ... she was such a mother to all her siblings and even the whole town, always helping everyone. And Jax ... he would do anything for his family and he proved it by giving up Chiara when he was 18. I loved all the characters in the book and the banter between them was very realistic. It took me back to my hometown and what small town living is like.

I didn't read the first book in the series ... but I'm sure going to have to now, because I enjoyed this one so much. I can't wait for the next book either.

I received an early copy courtesy of Jelsba Media Group through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Up All Night With Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars
Review by Lisa
Late Night Support Group
Up All Night With Books Blog

Second chances at its best. Unanswered questions, left in the middle of the night, years later doesn't even begin to describe So True by Serena Bell's latest release. So True is also the second story in the Tierney Bay series. Being back in the small town Tierney Bay we do get a glimpse of Aubrun and Trey and their Beachcrest Inn. But this time is Auburn's sister Chiara and Jax turn.

A passionate first love. A deep betrayal. One last chance to make it right.

Some say first love is just that first love. But for some that first love can be the one and only everlasting love. Chiara and Jax were only together a short time in high school when Jax and his brother moved to town. But the time together was everything until it wasn't and Jax was no longer there.

We are taken on the events that bring Jax back around and the power of fate and pull of can't deny the attraction story of Jax and Chiara. Smooth moves, working close together can bring out truths. But once those truths are out can they survive the outcome?

This one of the swoon-worthy second chance romances that just melts your heart and wishing for more. Well written that you just absorb all the words that make this story what it is.

As you don't need to read book one, So Close, as each is standalone it is more enjoyable reading them in order.

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review***

[Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

TW: child abuse and alcoholism

The second book in Serena Bell's Tierney Bay series and although I didn't love it quite as much as the first book, it was still a highly enjoyable read.

The storyline is based around second chance love which I really enjoyed.
Chiara our lead female and Jax the lead male were teenage sweethearts but Jax and his family left without any notice and broke Chiara's heart. The story is 10 yeads down the line when they meet for the first time since Jax left all that time ago.
I thought the characters worked really well together although I thought they acted younger than the couple in the first book when Chiara is actually 2 years older than Auburn. Still, I really liked her character and especially loved more of the family dynamic we got in book one.
Jax also brought a new family dynamic as his younger brother (who suffers from crohn's disease) plays a large role in this book. The chronic illness aspect was thankfully written very well and with respect for how hardnit is to live with the disease.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait for book three at the beginning of 2021!!

Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Anguish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chiara fell in love with Jax as teenagers, however, after their first night together and making plans for prom he suddenly disappeared without a trace. Leaving with his mum and younger brother. Ghosted. Something she has never quite gotten over. Although she doesn't hold this against his younger brother Evan who has recently moved back and opened up a games store.

With plans to land a job in Seattle, she is hoping to leave the town behind and all the memories that go with it. Until Jax suddenly appears at the games store one day asking where Evan is. As it transpires that Evan has used his college tuition money to open the store instead of enrolling as he'd told his brother.

The chill between them is obvious, but so is that familiar spark of chemistry. But no way can they put the past behind them. She is headed for Seattle and Jax will be heading home - a fling would be a recipe for disaster.

A two-sided story sharing the tension and the reasons behind Jax's sudden departure. The second novel in this series, however, it works as a standalone read.

[Jenn the Readaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Jax and Chiara’s story and, while it was the second book in a series, I didn’t feel lost by not reading the first book. Jax and Chiara had some painful memories to work out and a lot of truths to tell each other after so many years, but they managed to finally find their way. And if they had to face some ugly facts along the way, at least they got to face them together. They had to piece together what went wrong, why Jax ghosted everyone, how Chiara’s reality was definitely not as it seemed, and how to help Evan’s shop succeed, all while also trying to keep Evan safe and healthy without smothering him.

Overall, this was a good second chance story of just how far Jax was willing to go to save his brother and give the only woman he ever loved a life she deserved (or so her father said). And if there were a few tears along the way, so be it. I’d definitely read more from this author.

[Trader (RedHotBlueReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second chance romance from Serena Bell, Chiara Campbell is ready to move on to bigger and better things than the small town of Tierney Bay. She's a top candidate for a job four hours away in Seattle when the man who broke her heart ten years ago returns to town.

Jax was never supposed to return to Tierney Bay, but when his brother is hospitalized, he comes back to find that his brother and Chiara have a gaming store that isn't doing well. They try to stay away from each other, but it isn't long before Chiara and Jax have rekindled their passion. These two are hot, hot, hot together, that's for sure.

A secret threatens to keep Chiara and Jax apart. I really loved Chiara's reaction to what happened and how they were finally able to put the past behind them and embrace a whole new future.

So True is a very sweet and sexy second chance love story between two people who should have never split up in the first place. It's an easy-to-read romance with a nice dash of angst for good measure.

An ARC was provided for review.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always in for a good read when it comes to Serena Bell. She delivers a sweet poignant second chance story. This is Tierney Bay #2, however, you do not need to read Tierney Bay #1 before reading this book. It can read as a complete standalone. So True displayed how young love can stay with you, how it shapes you, and can later define you in life. The ebbs and flows of young love penetrating your life years after it has left you. I will say there were some cheesy parts of this book but nothing that outweighed the sweet nature of this book. Serena has a talent for weaving sweet and sexy into one long web. The writing kept me flipping the pages as fast as I could.

#avidreaderbookblog #readingislife #bookblogger #newrelease #comingsoon #angst #steamy #sweet #sexualtension #romance #friendstolovers #bookaddict #booklover #books #serenabell

[Juli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book (given by the author)...

This is a second chance romance.

This book focuses on Chiara and her high school sweetheart, Jax.

I really wanted to love this book, but it fell a little flat for me; I found myself skimming over passages and the progress felt a bit too drawn out. When they were teens, Jax completely ghosted Chiara after spending a very special night together and he never contacted her again, until he comes back 10 years later to Tierney Bay looking for his little brother, Evan. In my opinion, it felt like things were progressing painfully slow, it felt like nothing very interesting happened until 65% into the book.

I guess I didn’t completely understand Jax’s reasoning for handling the situation the way did, in which he waited 10 years and then he wasn’t even in Tierney Bay fix past wrongs. I guess I felt like the emotions were not authentic, I mean you would think a little hostility or some type of big emotion would be released especially with how things ended up, but everyone was so nice and understanding. Also I did get annoyed with Chiara when Levi was just trying to protect her by telling her to be cautious but she was being a brat; and then who did she run to when she got her heart broken again?

This book was just not for me and that’s okay because I am still interested in the Campbell family.




















Also the whole Stan situation did irk me a bit: for one thing him getting away with it and did the mother get into any trouble for putting her children in direct danger? I mean the whole book portrayed the mother as an useless alcoholic who never helped her family even out them in danger. Yet it sounds like she never suffered any consequences like wtf?

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do so love a good second-chance story, and Serena Bell is SO good at them! It took me a minute to get back into Tierney Bay, but once I was, I was all in. It had just enough feels balanced with just enough hotness to make me want to devour it without stopping. And of course, a picture perfect HEA! All the good stuff. I can't wait for the next!



**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and I'm kicking myself for not reading it sooner!

[Downward dog · Rating 4 out of 5]

So True is a heartfelt and emotional second chance romance. There are great dynamics between the two main characters, Jax and Chiara. It is easy to see Jax and Chiara are meant to be together, but they go through a lot before they finally get their HEA. Don’t miss this captivating story.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Jax and Chiara’s second chance story. Each of them was dealing past hurts and each had to work through them before they could get their HEA. I love the family dynamics also. I was on a emotional roller coaster as I read this book. 3.5 stars

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I really liked this second chance story. The characters are great and you really root for them, individually and together. Can't wait to see what else is in store for this family!

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I've read and enjoyed several books by Serena Bell, and I enjoyed this one, too. Much like those other novels, once the relationship at the heart of the story (friends/neighbors/childhood loves/frenemies etc.) transitions into a love affair, the novel becomes a bit too sticky sweet for this reader. Bell writes entertaining, sexy love stories featuring couples with crazy chemistry, but she isn't nearly as strong in the 'angst' department. The pathos feels a bit manufactured, and the resolutions are always one step removed from easy breezy, magical resolution!

Chiara Campbell once loved Jax Walker. She envisioned a future with him, and planned to have sex with him after prom. But he left town that night and never contacted her again. She's spent ten years pretending she's over him, earning a degree from Stanford (go big Ms. Bell!), and then returning home and living in a small town with her family and friends, and volunteering for every committee/organization on earth as their treasurer/accountant. She's busy but bored, and when So True kicks off, she's decided to make some changes. BIG CHANGES. A major company in Seattle wants to hire her, and Chiara is determined to score the job and relocate - and restart - her life. Unfortunately, until they make her a formal offer, she's stuck in Tierney Bay, helping a hospitalized friend keep his shop from going under.

Jax Walker hasn't heard from his brother in weeks and he's fed up. When he shows up on campus to see how he's doing, he discovers his brother isn't enrolled at the school any longer. Instead, he's taken Jake's tuition money and invested in a shop that sells comic books and games. Naturally, Jake's pissed. But when he shows up at the shop he doesn't find his brother at the cash register, he spots Chiara. The girl he's always loved. The girl he had to abandon for some mysterious reason the author doesn't want us to know. The one he can't have.

Except this is a Serena Bell story and a romance, so we know Jax and Chiara WILL eventually wind up together, and that the sex will be crazy good. Check those boxes folks because once Jax decides to help his brother out and fix up his shitty excuse for a game/comic book shop, Chiara won't be sidelined. She loves games, and she's an artist! So she can design a store just like the one Jax's brother opened on a whim! And she once drew a comic strip! She loves games and art and comic strips and she's AMAZING AT ALL OF THEM. Chiara is perfect for this job EXCEPT SHE DOESN'T REALIZE IT and thinks accounting is better. Because she's smart, but dumb. You be you, Chiara. Anyway, Chiara insinuates herself into the fixer upper project, and duh, proximity leads to crazy lust, staring, and LOVE.

Look, I liked these two and I'm happy they reconnected. Unfortunately, the backstory behind Jax's disappearance is clunky. There are betrayals, blackmails, and a pedophile all lurking behind the scenes and while I empathized with Jax and the reasons he left Chiara behind without a word, once the truth comes out, Ms. Bell seems to get cold feet on the whole premise for Jax having to leave. The author chose this history, and then largely glossed over A VERY SIGNIFICANT event and it's repercussions on the people involved. Instead, we get a weird side plot related to Chiara and her dad. He was a demanding dickhead with a heart of gold. Or something? I don't want to spoil who did what to whom, but these revelations deserved more gravitas than this story provides.

Jax and Chiara have great chemistry, and I mostly enjoyed their road to happily ever after. When they're loved up things are great; when Jax has to step up, he stumbles.

Side note: I'm still not sure the store is gonna make it. Seems VERY niche for this small town. IMO.

Recommended for fans of Ms. Bell & small town romances.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 8/20/2020.

Second chance romances can be tricky--the author not only has to bring her MCs to an HEA, but they also have to show readers reasons why *this* time those crazy kids will make it, even though the first time it was a bust. It took quite a while for us to find out the whole story of what went wrong last time (though the fact that they were still teens and not 100% in charge of their own lives the first time around made it more believable even before reasons were given) and the lack of communication/confession of WHY made me a little crazy at times, Serena Bell pulled it off in spades this time!

Chiara and Jax's story was just wonderful, minor frustrations along the way aside. I loved Kee's SuperKee/SuperJax cartoon (and will totally volunteer to bother Mr. Bell until he recreates them--still waiting for that promised phone number! Check her IG feed for her "Five things you need to know about SO TRUE" post to find out what I'm talking about) and the game store setting was so much fun! I'm not a real gamer--let's face it, I'd rather be reading--but pretty much my whole family is, and I know just enough about them to even geek out a little at the descriptions of the goings-on at Meeples. (Plus knowing the Easter egg moment about one of the scenes there made it more poignant--check her IG post!)

And of course, let's not forget the romance, because that was fantastic too! Even though I wanted truths to come out sooner, I really can't complain about how things played out in the end. Ms Bell made a good case for why things weren't revealed then, and for them coming out now in the way that they did. I especially loved that her hero and heroine showed that they had indeed grown up in the ten years since and worked through their problems like adults in the end instead of sitting around acting butthurt over slights as so often happens in these situations.

And OMG, was it steamy! I was grateful that it had cooled off a bit around here while I was reading, because whoa... ;)

So True is the second book in the Tierney Bay series, but it really could work as a standalone. If you've read other books by Ms Bell, though, you may also enjoy knowing that Lily and Kincaid (but mostly Lily) from Turn Up the Heat make cameos here too, because yep, they also live in Tierney Bay. So for newbies, yep, this is a great book to start with, but fans of Ms Bell's? You. Will. Love. It!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in the Tierney Bay series brings us a second chance romance for Chiara Campbell and her high school sweetheart, Jax Walker. So True takes a more serious tone than So Close, book 1 in the series, but Serena Bell still works in some of the wit and humor I expect from her, especially during character dialogue. It doesn't hurt that she has the not so small Campbell family in the small town of Tierney Bay to work with, and siblings often do make for witty dialogue. The romance is a bit of a slow burn, especially for a second time around, but it works for this couple. I really like that Chiara doesn't fall all over Jax and get all weak in the knees at first sight - okay, maybe she does get a little weak in the knees (it wouldn't make much of a second chance romance if she didn't), but she's a strong character who isn't going to be walked on no matter how much she still cares. She does what I wish so many women in romance would do; she makes him work for it. She also has a really good support system in her family even though it takes her a bit to remember that. And I'll stop there before I give spoilers. The story does have a bit of suspense with the romance, concerning Jax's reason for leaving and not reaching out, which is where the earlier mentioned serious tone comes in. All in all, this is a solid addition to the series, and I can't wait to see which Campbell sibling gets bitten by the lovebug next.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Serena Bell's book, So True. It is the second book in her Tierney Bay series, but it works well as a stand alone. Chiara Campbell lives in an Oregon Coast town. Jax Walker worked for her dad at Cape House when she was a senior. Cape House was the hotel her parents had run before they died in a boating accident. Jax and Chiara had gotten involved but then he skipped town without telling anyone. That was ten years ago and Chiara never heard from him again. Life hasn't been easy for Jax. His younger brother, Evan, has Crohn's and his mother has a problem with alcohol. Jax learns that Evan spent the college tuition money he gave him on a comic book store and then needed emergency surgery, so he returns to Tierney Bay to help him. Chiara has been working in the store, so they try to improve the store and help Evan, they also get to know each other again. This is a second chance story with likable characters, some long kept secrets, and choices to be made for the future.

[Beth McLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serena Bell writes a great story. They’re very unique, with storylines that are different than anything you’ve read before. This series is about the Campbell family, who live in a small Oregon coastal town.

This second book in the series tells Chiara’s story of her second chance romance with the her first love, Jax, and their complicated history. (Those are some of my favorite types of stories!) All the Campbells have a role to play, as well as Jax’s brother Evan, who is more of a main character and whose story affects Jax and Chiara in a major way.

There’s no trumped up misunderstanding here, which is a tool many authors use to cause drama; there are real emotions and very fun sexy times! Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.