With You: As the summer unravels, so do the girls' secrets

by Ellison Clark, Prince Enyiemah (Illustrator), Kirsten Rees (Editor)

Sun, friendship, romance and three little words… Jhett leans on her three best friends for just about everything. The four are practically inseparable as they navigate life in their early twenties. But Jhett’s current relationship is fast-moving and she’s been spending all of her time with her boyfriend...who’s ready to put a ring on her finger. Thanks to a much needed girls’ weekend away at a luxurious lakefront hotel, the girls finally get to spend some quality time together. Their minds are set on sun, sea, sand and...mimosas. But it’s not long before the foursome run into some very charming young men, and Jhett finds herself drawn to handsome, sexy Roo. When the weekend comes to an end, and reality brings them back to their normal lives, Jhett starts to question her relationship with the boyfriend who’s eagerly awaiting her return. Will she return to her head-over-heels-in-love boyfriend with a moving truck and agree to be his fiancée? Or will this weekend leave her with more questions than answers? As for Jhetts friends, they have their own struggles. Clarissa is excited to make a change in her life. She finally takes the leap to apply to her dream college across the country, but her father has always held the power in her decision-making process. Will he dictate her choice or does someone else make that call for her? Kia is a bold and blunt health nut who’s always trying to get her friends and family to eat healthier or join in a fun, new workout. But is it all just a distraction from her relationship with her boyfriend? Danielle is the girl who will always have your back, but after years of dating her boyfriend she feels the relationship is heading off track and she’s not feeling the mutual love. Will Danielle find inspiration from her friends to make a change? Follow the girls as they grow and mature through the difficult things that come their way.

343 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2020

Reviews

[Kim fix · Rating 5 out of 5]

A one sitting kind of read

Loved the book. It was a quick easy read! I was hooked the first page, and can’t wait for the sequel. I have to admit I was a little bummed with only a little left, but pleasantly surprised with the ending.

[Tori Cretton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't usually read romance novels, but it was a nice change. Book kept me interested the entire time. Although it was a little predictable for me, it was the anticipation of what was to come that kept me going. Can't wait to read book two, the end had me wanted to know more!!!

[April Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is so good! I couldn’t put it down once I started reading. Highly recommend!

[Tricia Talso · Rating 5 out of 5]

With You

I was very excited to read this book! I loved the story line and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I can’t wait for the next book. 🙂

[Ashley Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a fun and enticing read! I love getting to know the girls and I feel like anyone and everyone can relate to the characters and story in some way!

[Katie Tenpas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page turner! Could not put this book down! A fun and easy read, can’t believe this is her first book!

[Bethany Mock (bethanyburiedinbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoops I accidentally read this one in one day yesterday. 😂 I consider Ellison one of my new Midwest friends! I feel I could hang out with her after reading this book. Do you ever do that? Relate so well to a book and think…yup I fit right in here? Well first let me tell you I feel like this could have been easily my college age experience or early twenties. Not only did Ellison make me want to take a girls trip (which I adore) she made me reminisce about my college days and my very best friends. In addition, as a total unexpected bonus the food and drink she mentions in this book are so yummy and right up my alley I want to maybe she if she will meet me to eat out. 😂 Ok ok AND the places…Some of the cities and places I have been to and envisioned as I read. Muah 🤌🏻it was perfect. College days. Young love. Dating scene. Midwest love. I am here for all of it. Thank you @ellison.books for gifting me a copy to read. Plus the cover! Yesssss! 🥰

[Sandy Honzik · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! I loved how the story line played out and loved the ending. I can’t wait for book #2 Knowing the author personally really made reading this book fun! I loved how she added some tid bits of her personal life.
Its an easy and fun read. The story line will keep you turning the pages.

[Tricia Talso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Can’t wait for the sequel... or better yet... trilogy! 🥰

[Samantha Shimek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book....easily related to all the characters and found myself wanting to know more and more about them;) cant wait for the sequel!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked it up from an adorable (and delicious) coffee shop while vacationing in northern Wisconsin, since it was from an author local to the area. I was excited to dive in, based on the description on the back cover and I really wanted to love this book.

Overall, I felt very "meh" about this book. The writing wasn't as polished as I would like (with grammatical errors and poorly structured sentences). The female characters all felt juvenile and self-centered. I realize this may be the point, since they're in their early twenties; however, it made them all bit unlikeable. I really didn't care for Jhett and her dumb mistakes that all seemed to work out fine for her in the end.

The timeline progressed too quickly in spots without paragraph or page breaks to help you know the scene has changed to another time and/or place. Then, of course, the end wrapped up quickly without any real answers. I know a sequel is coming, but I don't think I care enough to read it.

My expectations are likely too high, especially for a debut author, but I've read so many phenomenal books that this one just didn't hit the mark. However, if you're looking for a light, easy read, this might hit your mark.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book and I am so glad she did. I started reading it as part of my new bedtime wind-down routine and I devoured it across just a few nights.

The characters in this book were developed so well, by the time I had finished the first half of the book I felt like these girls were MY friends. I really enjoyed how involved the storyline was, covering all kinds of issues in the girls’ lives, from relationships to jobs, family, and all the things we chat about with our friends.

Seriously excited for the sequel … I will definitely buy it when it’s released!

[Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

One weekend changes everything…
A story of friendship that feels like family, love and lust and loss (and confusion!) Jhett, Danielle, Clarissa, and Kia are besties fresh out of college. Add a mix of men, new guys and seasoned boyfriends—and let the games begin. Real-life drama of dating and friendship and growing up all keep this novel fast-paced.

Down to the very last pages I was begging for a conclusion not a cliffhanger! Thankfully the reader is left with some closure…but there is a sequel!

WITH YOU is filled with lots of food, fun dates, and plenty of nods to beautiful Wisconsin.

[Jill Groelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

From someone who is not a reader. This book was very entertaining and kept me always wanting more! A lot of twists and turns and I kept turning the pages!! For a first time author I am impressed with the detail and visual I get while reading as if I’m actual there with her!! Can not wait for the sequel and to find out how this story ends!

Jill

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast, easy read with some interesting characters and their relationships. There's no great surprises here but enough drama to keep me interested and an ending that makes me want to find out the next installment in these young women's lives.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Ana Ban · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun story about friendship and love. Reminded me what it was like to be twenty again!

[Claire Braillard Bibbee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I truly didn’t really like it. The story is okay but the writing, in my opinion is mediocre and there are so many typos.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this so fast, I couldn’t put it down! Then I had to patiently wait for the sequel!

[Kasey Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read! I couldn’t set this book down. It’s the first book I have read within 24 hours. So well written and relatable. It would make a great gift for a friend too.

[Carrie Lambries · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book 3 times. It was amazing. So quick and enjoyable.

[Keasha Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a treat to read. It's a great bath and wine kind of book! It's romantic, but fun! It's a great book to cuddle up with and enjoy your night! 10/10.

[Christy DuBois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreads giveaway winner
I absolutely LOVED this book. Once I started reading it I couldn't stop. The author writes very well. I'll definitely be buying the 2nd book in the series.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story analysis: I enjoyed that we got to know some of Jhett’s friends as well as Jhett during this book. Given, it was from Jhett’s perspective, but I still feel like we got to know Kia, Danielle, Clarissa, and Emma a bit as well. The story progressed nicely and didn’t get hung up on plot points too much, although I would have appreciated a quicker breakup with Sai. We didn’t need it to drag out while Jhett was talking, and seeing, Roo. Which brings me to Jhett’s character. I’m fully aware nobody is perfect, and I feel like this is a fair representation of the dating life of a 20-something, but Jhett wasn’t entirely repeatable to me. For the most part, she was. But then she has an emotional affair with Roo while still dating Sai. She knew she wasn’t going to stay with Sai, so why drag it out while continuing to talk to and meet up with Roo? I feel like she would call a friend out for that behavior, but it didn’t seem to stop her. Then she goes and sleeps with Jordan right after Roo wasn’t returning her calls and texts? She was livid of a past relationship with Angie that Roo didn’t fully disclose, but then has a very brief fling with Danielle’s cousin that she was warned to stay away from? Strike 2 Jhett; your behavior, while probably typical, is not something you would condone your significant other or close friends doing, so don’t try to justify it. Being fair, knowing she has these flaws makes her relatable and human. But this is a book and I want to like my main character (or hate them). I feel no strong emotion to her.
Grammar: I hate this about myself, but any punctuation and grammar errors jump out at me. There were a lot of instances that the beginning or ending quotation marks were dropped during speaking parts. There was also at least one name inconsistency that jumped out at me, but I really think there was a second one. The one I’m thinking of is after Danielle and Ben break up, and and I believe Danielle is having her house warming party. I don’t have the book on me while I’m writing this, but I believe it says Kia and Ben were off together. Clearly it meant James since Ben wasn’t at the party and James is Kia’s beau, but I did reread that sentence a few times because my brain just couldn’t compute it.
Overall, I am so glad that I was gifted With You and Remarkably You for Christmas. It’s so nice as a northern Wisconsin girl to have read a local author and enjoyed the story like I did.