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A Modern Fairytale #8
Love is Never Lost
Sometimes, the journey is the love story.
On the night of his high school graduation, Ripley Van Winkle—local quarterback, prom king and all-around big man on campus—swan dives off the top of the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse. . . and lands on jagged pile of rocks. Suffering massive brain trauma, Rip isn’t expected to live, but he somehow manages to beat the odds: most of his physical injuries heal, though he remains in a deep coma for the next twenty years.
When Rip awakens two decades later, he will need to relearn his body’s most basic functions, in addition to catching up on twenty years’ worth of history, progress and change.
Something called the “internet” has the answer to every question you could ever dream of asking, and people are reliant on mobile telephones smaller than a Walkman. His high school girlfriend is married with children, and he has an eighteen-year-old sister who was born while he was “sleeping.”
As Rip struggles to find his place in this strange, new world, one presence in his life will become both a beacon and guide: his childhood friend, Katrina Van Tassel. But Trina has a challenging adult life of her own, and there’s no guarantee she has space in her life or her heart from her one-time high school crush . . . Rip Van Winkle.
On the night of his high school graduation, Ripley Van Winkle—local quarterback, prom king and all-around big man on campus—swan dives off the top of the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse. . . and lands on jagged pile of rocks. Suffering massive brain trauma, Rip isn’t expected to live, but he somehow manages to beat the odds: most of his physical injuries heal, though he remains in a deep coma for the next twenty years.
When Rip awakens two decades later, he will need to relearn his body’s most basic functions, in addition to catching up on twenty years’ worth of history, progress and change.
Something called the “internet” has the answer to every question you could ever dream of asking, and people are reliant on mobile telephones smaller than a Walkman. His high school girlfriend is married with children, and he has an eighteen-year-old sister who was born while he was “sleeping.”
As Rip struggles to find his place in this strange, new world, one presence in his life will become both a beacon and guide: his childhood friend, Katrina Van Tassel. But Trina has a challenging adult life of her own, and there’s no guarantee she has space in her life or her heart from her one-time high school crush . . . Rip Van Winkle.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2021
115 people are currently reading
730 people want to read
About the author
Katy Regnery
116 books4,277 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery has a heart for smart romance featuring strong women and decent men. Almost exclusively self-published, Katy claims authorship of over 60 titles, including three RITA® finalists. Translated into French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Turkish, Katy has sold over 1.8 million books worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
March 16, 2021
5 Stars!
... Rip Van Winkle's fairytale retelling.
I always prefer my romance reads to be emotional. A little bit of drama with it would be perfection. But a fairytale with everything on it? Sounds amazing. It was amazing indeed.
Note: This is a friends to lovers, slow burn romance.
Ripley Van Winkle and Katrina Van Tassel were childhood friends. They'd been with each other's company for so long. But Ripley was forced apart from Katrina because of social status and expectations. When he found out that he was betrayed by the people who he treated as "friends," he began to question everything. I once told him, "Just follow your heart Rip, and you will never be lost," and I was sure he'd heard it because it was exactly what he did.
An accident shattered Ripley's life forever. When he woke up from a coma, it was 20 years after, and everything and everyone he'd known had changed. But there was a girl who remained constant; who never stopped losing hope; who sitted by his side every chance she got; and who he once left behind but never once gave up on him.
This book was purely magical. The characters were filled with love and hopefulness. I was instantly a fan of them. Katrina captivated me with her strength and devotion, and Ripley inspired me in so many ways. I was heartbroken by their struggles, but I was awe-inspired by their battles through time. It wasn't an easy war, but they won, and got the most beautiful happy ever after they both deserved.
Overall, I extremely loved the book. I couldn't help but love these characters, main and supporting. I couldn't help but enchanted by Katy Regnery's spellbinding words. And I couldn't help but give this book the stars it all deserves.
I absolutely recommend this to those who likes: Katy Regnery, slow burn, friends to lovers, fairytale, emotional read, and a happy ever after.
ARC received from the author - this is my honest opinion.
... Rip Van Winkle's fairytale retelling.
I always prefer my romance reads to be emotional. A little bit of drama with it would be perfection. But a fairytale with everything on it? Sounds amazing. It was amazing indeed.
Note: This is a friends to lovers, slow burn romance.
"If you don’t expect anything, then everything will be a miracle."
Ripley Van Winkle and Katrina Van Tassel were childhood friends. They'd been with each other's company for so long. But Ripley was forced apart from Katrina because of social status and expectations. When he found out that he was betrayed by the people who he treated as "friends," he began to question everything. I once told him, "Just follow your heart Rip, and you will never be lost," and I was sure he'd heard it because it was exactly what he did.
An accident shattered Ripley's life forever. When he woke up from a coma, it was 20 years after, and everything and everyone he'd known had changed. But there was a girl who remained constant; who never stopped losing hope; who sitted by his side every chance she got; and who he once left behind but never once gave up on him.
“Love is never lost,” he recited, staring into her green eyes and still mesmerized, after all these years, by their beauty and strength. “You never gave up on me. On us. You are the definition of constancy, of hope, of faith, of devotion. You are the definition of love, Katrina Van Tassel."
This book was purely magical. The characters were filled with love and hopefulness. I was instantly a fan of them. Katrina captivated me with her strength and devotion, and Ripley inspired me in so many ways. I was heartbroken by their struggles, but I was awe-inspired by their battles through time. It wasn't an easy war, but they won, and got the most beautiful happy ever after they both deserved.
Overall, I extremely loved the book. I couldn't help but love these characters, main and supporting. I couldn't help but enchanted by Katy Regnery's spellbinding words. And I couldn't help but give this book the stars it all deserves.
I absolutely recommend this to those who likes: Katy Regnery, slow burn, friends to lovers, fairytale, emotional read, and a happy ever after.
ARC received from the author - this is my honest opinion.
“There is no scenario on earth in which I choose anyone but him.”
March 17, 2021
4.25 Stars
Katy Regnery delivers a modern-day twist for the beloved storybook character of Rip Van Winkle. The story kept this reader on her toes and the writing was very nicely paced and enjoyable. I adored the heroine and found the hero’s point of view and character development sweet!
“I love you. Even after a lifetime together, yours is the face that lights my darkness, the voice that soothes my soul, the one heart on earth that beats in tandem with mine. I could sleep for a million years, and I would still wake up to fall in love—all over again—with you.”
*ARC provided for an exchange for an honest review*
Katy Regnery delivers a modern-day twist for the beloved storybook character of Rip Van Winkle. The story kept this reader on her toes and the writing was very nicely paced and enjoyable. I adored the heroine and found the hero’s point of view and character development sweet!
“I love you. Even after a lifetime together, yours is the face that lights my darkness, the voice that soothes my soul, the one heart on earth that beats in tandem with mine. I could sleep for a million years, and I would still wake up to fall in love—all over again—with you.”
*ARC provided for an exchange for an honest review*
March 15, 2021
I have loved Katy Regnery's writing since the first time I picked up one of her books. But her Modern Fairytale series is a thing of such beauty, it's hard to put it into words. They are filled with so much emotion and the depth of the story takes my breath away.
So, I knew going into this that I was going to experience all the feels. I was apprehensive about the whole coma angle of things. I really couldn't understand how Katy could make that romantic, but she nailed it. The initial part of the story was a little hard to read. Trina was having such a terrible time of her high school experience and I felt for her.
Rip was a typical teenage boy, caught between being the king of the popular people and being who he was inside. And there were moments that I hated him and other moments where I loved him. But when he came out of his coma he was amazing.
The whole after part of the story was beautiful. I couldn't put it down. And the "update" at the end was the perfect cherry on the cake.
So, I knew going into this that I was going to experience all the feels. I was apprehensive about the whole coma angle of things. I really couldn't understand how Katy could make that romantic, but she nailed it. The initial part of the story was a little hard to read. Trina was having such a terrible time of her high school experience and I felt for her.
Rip was a typical teenage boy, caught between being the king of the popular people and being who he was inside. And there were moments that I hated him and other moments where I loved him. But when he came out of his coma he was amazing.
The whole after part of the story was beautiful. I couldn't put it down. And the "update" at the end was the perfect cherry on the cake.
October 12, 2021
RELEASE DAY: MARCH 14, 2021!!
(PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE ON FEB 14, 2021)
(PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE ON FEB 14, 2021)
April 9, 2021
Maybe I'll write a review if I can get my thoughts together. If not, just know that this book was outstanding, and really touched my heart.
March 25, 2021
I swear, the magic of a Katy Regnery fairytale is unparalleled.
I keep thinking that I love fairytale retellings because I have loved these so much. But it turns out that what I love is these fairytale retellings, with their beautiful, carefully chosen, nearly poetic words and their captivating, breathtaking romance. I get completely swept away and Lord, I will never get enough of this.
I loved Rip and Trina's story. I fell into it effortlessly - first tickled with amusement by the behavior and pop culture references that were spot on for the mid-eighties setting in which they took place. Then, as the story progressed, my heart filled with ache for the struggles that befell both of these magnificent characters. The storyline is pretty heavy, but it didn't feel that way. It was somehow tempered by the sweet tenderness of Rip and Trina's feelings toward each other and how eloquently Rip's recovery was handled. There were certainly moments that left my heart aching. But there were so many other moments that lit it up, made it flutter, and filled it so full of joy. It was just a beautiful romance. But then, that's what I've come to expect from this author, and these stories.
It was also interesting. Not only did the romance appeal to my emotions in the exact way that I wanted it to, but Rip's story was fascinating to me. The juxtaposition of his before & after versus Trina's before & after was striking. His recovery was gripping and rewarding to read. Truly, this book was the full package, and I loved every piece of it.
Love is Never Lost felt a little bit like coming home. These lovely words were a balm to my heart. The smart and engaging storytelling reminded me of why these stories will go down as some of my favorites of all time. Original and unputdownable, this story was an absolute romance lovers delight. ~ Shelly, 5 stars
I keep thinking that I love fairytale retellings because I have loved these so much. But it turns out that what I love is these fairytale retellings, with their beautiful, carefully chosen, nearly poetic words and their captivating, breathtaking romance. I get completely swept away and Lord, I will never get enough of this.
I loved Rip and Trina's story. I fell into it effortlessly - first tickled with amusement by the behavior and pop culture references that were spot on for the mid-eighties setting in which they took place. Then, as the story progressed, my heart filled with ache for the struggles that befell both of these magnificent characters. The storyline is pretty heavy, but it didn't feel that way. It was somehow tempered by the sweet tenderness of Rip and Trina's feelings toward each other and how eloquently Rip's recovery was handled. There were certainly moments that left my heart aching. But there were so many other moments that lit it up, made it flutter, and filled it so full of joy. It was just a beautiful romance. But then, that's what I've come to expect from this author, and these stories.
It was also interesting. Not only did the romance appeal to my emotions in the exact way that I wanted it to, but Rip's story was fascinating to me. The juxtaposition of his before & after versus Trina's before & after was striking. His recovery was gripping and rewarding to read. Truly, this book was the full package, and I loved every piece of it.
Love is Never Lost felt a little bit like coming home. These lovely words were a balm to my heart. The smart and engaging storytelling reminded me of why these stories will go down as some of my favorites of all time. Original and unputdownable, this story was an absolute romance lovers delight. ~ Shelly, 5 stars
March 15, 2021
2.5 ✨
Review to come later.... Maybe
Disclamer:
**Some GR members (you know who you are, not worth mentioning your profile names) think I hate all books. 😏🤣 i only hate books that have weak, doormat and pathetic heroines. They’ve said that I have no right to read books that I hate. 😏 please, like you pay for my books. News flash, I can read what I want, when I want, and rate them how I want. The day you pay for my books then maybe you’ll have a right, but in the meantime sit the fuck down, don’t be pathetic and kindly fuck off!** 😏
Merged review:
1.5 ✨
Review to come later.... Maybe
Disclamer:
**Some GR members (you know who you are, not worth mentioning your profile names) think I hate all books. 😏🤣 i only hate books that have weak, doormat and pathetic heroines. They’ve said that I have no right to read books that I hate. 😏 please, like you pay for my books. News flash, I can read what I want, when I want, and rate them how I want. The day you pay for my books then maybe you’ll have a right, but in the meantime sit the fuck down, don’t be pathetic and kindly fuck off!** 😏
Review to come later.... Maybe
Disclamer:
**Some GR members (you know who you are, not worth mentioning your profile names) think I hate all books. 😏🤣 i only hate books that have weak, doormat and pathetic heroines. They’ve said that I have no right to read books that I hate. 😏 please, like you pay for my books. News flash, I can read what I want, when I want, and rate them how I want. The day you pay for my books then maybe you’ll have a right, but in the meantime sit the fuck down, don’t be pathetic and kindly fuck off!** 😏
Merged review:
1.5 ✨
Review to come later.... Maybe
Disclamer:
**Some GR members (you know who you are, not worth mentioning your profile names) think I hate all books. 😏🤣 i only hate books that have weak, doormat and pathetic heroines. They’ve said that I have no right to read books that I hate. 😏 please, like you pay for my books. News flash, I can read what I want, when I want, and rate them how I want. The day you pay for my books then maybe you’ll have a right, but in the meantime sit the fuck down, don’t be pathetic and kindly fuck off!** 😏
March 11, 2021
In some instances, time changes the love you feel for someone. Or in some cases, it is what sustains you.
This book is a tale of perseverance. Lost time. Relearning life. Finding what makes you stronger. Discovering that the love that has lain dormant within you is part of the miracle that has brought you back to life.
This wondrous journey, containing such emotion and written in the beautiful words of Katy Regnery, will captivate you.
This book is a tale of perseverance. Lost time. Relearning life. Finding what makes you stronger. Discovering that the love that has lain dormant within you is part of the miracle that has brought you back to life.
This wondrous journey, containing such emotion and written in the beautiful words of Katy Regnery, will captivate you.
March 17, 2021
Imagine falling to sleep in 1985 and waking up in 2005. Or for you all that can't imagine 1985 at all think about being 17, just graduated from high school and waking up 20 years later and being 37! How different would the world be? How do you deal with thinking you're 17- your thought processes, what you like, who you find attractive, what your body and health are like? What your parents look like!? How do you navigate 20 years passing overnight.
This book was tragic and heartbreaking but fantastical and hopeful. Rip wasn't always the ideal person. He didn't always make the right choice. But he was absolutely loveable. I wanted so much for him. Trina was so relatable. She was so strong in her quiet devotion. I loved her. So I loved it! Five stars for me! 💛
If you haven't read Katy Regnery 's Modern Fairytales, you should absolutely get on that quick. This one may have taken the place of my top favorite The Vixen and The Vet. Maybe. That’s tough... Happy reading
This book was tragic and heartbreaking but fantastical and hopeful. Rip wasn't always the ideal person. He didn't always make the right choice. But he was absolutely loveable. I wanted so much for him. Trina was so relatable. She was so strong in her quiet devotion. I loved her. So I loved it! Five stars for me! 💛
If you haven't read Katy Regnery 's Modern Fairytales, you should absolutely get on that quick. This one may have taken the place of my top favorite The Vixen and The Vet. Maybe. That’s tough... Happy reading
April 5, 2021
3.5 stars
unfortunately this one wasn't for me. i truly adored Trina's love for Rip. Falling into a coma and only waking up 20 years later, Rip struggled to adapt to his new life. Even with that, Trina was still the one silently loving and supporting him, just like their high school times. It's a beautiful book but i guess.. it's just me 😅3.5 stars!
unfortunately this one wasn't for me. i truly adored Trina's love for Rip. Falling into a coma and only waking up 20 years later, Rip struggled to adapt to his new life. Even with that, Trina was still the one silently loving and supporting him, just like their high school times. It's a beautiful book but i guess.. it's just me 😅3.5 stars!
July 1, 2021
I found it interesting that the story started in 1985, a time when my parents would have been in college.
Ripley Van Winkle and Katrina Van Tassel are both seniors in high school. They were childhood friends, but after Katrina's mom died, the families have lost touch and Ripley doesn't really talk to Katrina in school because he's really popular...and she's, well not. Then suddenly that changes and they grow close, even falling in love when a terrible accident occurs and Ripley is sucked into a twenty-year coma. Can they find their way back to each other?
I really liked Part I, with the whole glimpses of high school that were interesting and realistic. Ripley had a girlfriend (not Katrina) that was the head cheerleader, pretty but shallow, the girl everyone expected him to date.
Part II, when Ripley awakes from his coma (I know obviously this was for the story to work, but I was surprised the parents had him on life support for 20 years and for the rest of his life had he not woken up!!) is realistic as Ripley can barely talk coherently and has to patiently gain muscle and strength to do the most basic of daily functions and even walk.
My biggest complaint is that I could have used more steam in the book. I think there was only one sex scene and it took place at the end of the novel.
Since I know almost nothing about the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, I'm curious to learn about it and see how this story compares to the original tale! I love how Katy Regnery bases these books on fairy tales. It was such a wonderful idea.
Ripley Van Winkle and Katrina Van Tassel are both seniors in high school. They were childhood friends, but after Katrina's mom died, the families have lost touch and Ripley doesn't really talk to Katrina in school because he's really popular...and she's, well not. Then suddenly that changes and they grow close, even falling in love when a terrible accident occurs and Ripley is sucked into a twenty-year coma. Can they find their way back to each other?
I really liked Part I, with the whole glimpses of high school that were interesting and realistic. Ripley had a girlfriend (not Katrina) that was the head cheerleader, pretty but shallow, the girl everyone expected him to date.
Part II, when Ripley awakes from his coma (I know obviously this was for the story to work, but I was surprised the parents had him on life support for 20 years and for the rest of his life had he not woken up!!) is realistic as Ripley can barely talk coherently and has to patiently gain muscle and strength to do the most basic of daily functions and even walk.
My biggest complaint is that I could have used more steam in the book. I think there was only one sex scene and it took place at the end of the novel.
Since I know almost nothing about the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, I'm curious to learn about it and see how this story compares to the original tale! I love how Katy Regnery bases these books on fairy tales. It was such a wonderful idea.
March 21, 2021
Oh man! It’s been too long … K. Regnery just reminded me how much I missed her writing and her stories. This one is especially emotional and just a beautiful heartfelt love story. Rip and Katrina have been friends since childhood up until high school when they drifted apart. Rip is popular – local quarterback, prom king with no shortage of pretty girls falling all over him. Katrina always has a crush on Rip. Her feelings deepened as they grew up but Rip is always just a little bit out of her league. One faithful night, Rip was supposed to meet Katrina at the lighthouse. Before they had a chance to talk, Rip dived off the top and landed on pile of rocks below. For the twenty years that followed Rip was in a state of coma. Katrina never really left his side except for the years she spent at college. Katrina always believe that Rip will someday wake up. She was not wrong – Rip miraculous awakened but he is not the same. There are much to learn and to catch up on as Rip’s mind is still in the past. Can Rip and Katrina bridge the gap between past and present?
Wow I just adore Katrina – she is patience, kind, sweet and dedicated. Rip and Katrina journey to HEA was not all roses and rainbow. Rip’s struggle to adapt with this new strange world at the same time slowly finding out some heartbreaking news from his past. Katrina has a demanding career and a young daughter to raise. They both have to find their places and common ground as a new couple. Rip and Katrina romance is a true testament of friendship, perseverance and unconditional love. This author once again delivered an epic modern-day fairytale. Beautifully written. Fantastic read. You don’t want to miss any of KR’s Modern Fairytale (she got 8) :)
Wow I just adore Katrina – she is patience, kind, sweet and dedicated. Rip and Katrina journey to HEA was not all roses and rainbow. Rip’s struggle to adapt with this new strange world at the same time slowly finding out some heartbreaking news from his past. Katrina has a demanding career and a young daughter to raise. They both have to find their places and common ground as a new couple. Rip and Katrina romance is a true testament of friendship, perseverance and unconditional love. This author once again delivered an epic modern-day fairytale. Beautifully written. Fantastic read. You don’t want to miss any of KR’s Modern Fairytale (she got 8) :)
Read
March 29, 2021Review to come......
March 15, 2021
***4 Stars***
This was a quick, sweet read that not only brought ‘Rip Van Winkle’ to life in a more contemporary setting, but also pulled in a bit of a Sleepy Hollow feel that had me getting lost in the story and wishing I could have spent more time with Katrina and Ripley and their friends and family.
I kinda adored Katrina. Getting to meet her as a teenager and experiencing all that she was dealing with had me empathizing with her, so seeing the woman she grew into was quite satisfying. She was always strong and determined, but not everyone saw it, as is typical in highschool, but she truly shined as an adult. Ripley took me a little longer to warm up to. I didn’t not like him, but he was the BMOC in highschool and didn’t always follow his heart. But seeing him work through some things and having a few epiphanies before his accident had me warming up to him. After waking up, well, it’s hard not to love the man he became.
Their journey to their HEA was a rough one in a lot of ways, but it was an enjoyable ride in the end. Rip and Trina both go through a lot, before and after his accident, and I really liked watching as they reconnected each time. They had a flow that worked for me and I love how their HEA played out in the end.
I’ve read quite a few of the author’s Modern Fairytales and have enjoyed how she’s made them her own while not changing it up entirely, and she’s done a great job here. There are triggers, there are situations that may be uncomfortable for some, but they are all handled well and necessary for the evolution of the characters. My one thing about this book is that, while I did enjoy it, I feel like I needed more. That there were certain situations that I really wished I’d been able to experience that would have made all that Rip and Trina went through deeper. It’s hard to explain without spoilers, so I just have to leave it there. But overall, this was a great read and the non-epilogue was a great way to wrap things up.
~ Copy provided by Elle Woods PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
This was a quick, sweet read that not only brought ‘Rip Van Winkle’ to life in a more contemporary setting, but also pulled in a bit of a Sleepy Hollow feel that had me getting lost in the story and wishing I could have spent more time with Katrina and Ripley and their friends and family.
I kinda adored Katrina. Getting to meet her as a teenager and experiencing all that she was dealing with had me empathizing with her, so seeing the woman she grew into was quite satisfying. She was always strong and determined, but not everyone saw it, as is typical in highschool, but she truly shined as an adult. Ripley took me a little longer to warm up to. I didn’t not like him, but he was the BMOC in highschool and didn’t always follow his heart. But seeing him work through some things and having a few epiphanies before his accident had me warming up to him. After waking up, well, it’s hard not to love the man he became.
Their journey to their HEA was a rough one in a lot of ways, but it was an enjoyable ride in the end. Rip and Trina both go through a lot, before and after his accident, and I really liked watching as they reconnected each time. They had a flow that worked for me and I love how their HEA played out in the end.
I’ve read quite a few of the author’s Modern Fairytales and have enjoyed how she’s made them her own while not changing it up entirely, and she’s done a great job here. There are triggers, there are situations that may be uncomfortable for some, but they are all handled well and necessary for the evolution of the characters. My one thing about this book is that, while I did enjoy it, I feel like I needed more. That there were certain situations that I really wished I’d been able to experience that would have made all that Rip and Trina went through deeper. It’s hard to explain without spoilers, so I just have to leave it there. But overall, this was a great read and the non-epilogue was a great way to wrap things up.
~ Copy provided by Elle Woods PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
March 15, 2021
Beautiful and emotional. This was a real page turner. I devoured it.
This is a fairytale retelling and the author did an amazing job with her characters and storytelling.
Ripley had it all. He was famous and handsome. He had his future open and bright in front of him. Until he had an accident and fell into a coma for 20 years.
When he wakes up he has to face many challenges. The girl who has loved him since they were little will be there for him.
I loved Katrina. I could see myself in her and that is always amazing to me.
I loved the pacing, the character development, the ups and downs. This is a beautiful read that you should not miss.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
This is a fairytale retelling and the author did an amazing job with her characters and storytelling.
Ripley had it all. He was famous and handsome. He had his future open and bright in front of him. Until he had an accident and fell into a coma for 20 years.
When he wakes up he has to face many challenges. The girl who has loved him since they were little will be there for him.
I loved Katrina. I could see myself in her and that is always amazing to me.
I loved the pacing, the character development, the ups and downs. This is a beautiful read that you should not miss.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
March 14, 2021
4.5 Stars
Love is Never Lost is part of the series A Modern Fairytale, where author Katy Regnery recounts the story of Ripley Van Winkle. I really like this series, and this story captivated me from beginning to end.
The book is divided into two parts: Past and Present, where in the first we can see Ripley and Katrina two young people who grew up together and after the death of Katrina's mother they ended up moving away and in the teenager they ended up moving away until an event makes them return to spending time together and the friendship is reborn and we feel loving too until an accident with Ripley makes him go into a coma for 20 years.In the Present we have Ripley waking up from a coma and discovering that many years have passed and everyone else, at the same time we see a more mature Katrina, who has a 6 year old daughter and her own dilemmas to deal with while dealing with helping Ripley adjust to this new reality , while trying not to revive your feelings for the same.
I loved this book, and although it has a beautiful love story that lasts for 20 years, my favorite part of the book was seeing Ripley deal with her new reality, emotionally and also with her physical limitations. I loved watching his progress and how he worked hard to get his life back and become a companion for Katrina. The link between them was strong and it was sweet to see them getting to explore their romance. Their relationship with Katrina's daughter was also a great addition to the book and brought sweet moments.
This book brings me one of the most different epilogues I read in a book and I thought it was great and it fit this story perfectly. I loved the story of these characters.
➖➖➖
Love is Never Lost faz parte da série A Modern Fairytale, onde a autora Katy Regnery reconta a história de Ripley Van Winkle. Eu gosto muito dessa série, e essa história me cativou do início ao fim.
O livro é dividido em duas partes: Passado e Presente, onde no primeiro podemos ver Ripley e Katrina dois jovens que cresceram juntos e após a morte da mãe de Katrina acabaram se afastando e na adolescente acabaram se distanciando até que um evento faz eles voltarem a passar tempo juntos e a amizade renasce e com ela os sentimos amorosos também até que um acidente com Ripley o faz entrar em coma por 20 anos. No Presente temos Ripley acordando do coma e descobrindo que muitos anos se passaram e tudo mundo, ao mesmo tempo vemos uma Katrina mais madura, que tem uma filha de 6 anos e seus próprios dilemas para lidar enquanto lida com ajudar Ripley se ajustar nessa nova realidade, ao mesmo tempo que tenta não reascender seus sentimos pelo mesmo .
Eu amei esse livro, e embora ele traga uma linda história de amor que perdura por 20 anos, minha parte favorita do livro foi ver Ripley lidando com sua nova realidade, emocionalmente e também com suas limitações físicas. Adorei acompanhar o progresso dele e como ele trabalhou duro para recuperar sua vida de volta e se tornar um companheiro para Katrina . O Elo entre eles forte e foi doce ver eles conseguindo explorar o romance deles . A relação de ambos com a filha de Katrina tbm foi uma ótima adição ao livro e trouxe momentos doces .
Esse livro traz pra mim um dos epílogos mais diferentes que eu li em um livro e eu achei genial e que coube perfeitamente a essa história . Eu amei a história desses personagens .
Love is Never Lost is part of the series A Modern Fairytale, where author Katy Regnery recounts the story of Ripley Van Winkle. I really like this series, and this story captivated me from beginning to end.
The book is divided into two parts: Past and Present, where in the first we can see Ripley and Katrina two young people who grew up together and after the death of Katrina's mother they ended up moving away and in the teenager they ended up moving away until an event makes them return to spending time together and the friendship is reborn and we feel loving too until an accident with Ripley makes him go into a coma for 20 years.In the Present we have Ripley waking up from a coma and discovering that many years have passed and everyone else, at the same time we see a more mature Katrina, who has a 6 year old daughter and her own dilemmas to deal with while dealing with helping Ripley adjust to this new reality , while trying not to revive your feelings for the same.
I loved this book, and although it has a beautiful love story that lasts for 20 years, my favorite part of the book was seeing Ripley deal with her new reality, emotionally and also with her physical limitations. I loved watching his progress and how he worked hard to get his life back and become a companion for Katrina. The link between them was strong and it was sweet to see them getting to explore their romance. Their relationship with Katrina's daughter was also a great addition to the book and brought sweet moments.
This book brings me one of the most different epilogues I read in a book and I thought it was great and it fit this story perfectly. I loved the story of these characters.
➖➖➖
Love is Never Lost faz parte da série A Modern Fairytale, onde a autora Katy Regnery reconta a história de Ripley Van Winkle. Eu gosto muito dessa série, e essa história me cativou do início ao fim.
O livro é dividido em duas partes: Passado e Presente, onde no primeiro podemos ver Ripley e Katrina dois jovens que cresceram juntos e após a morte da mãe de Katrina acabaram se afastando e na adolescente acabaram se distanciando até que um evento faz eles voltarem a passar tempo juntos e a amizade renasce e com ela os sentimos amorosos também até que um acidente com Ripley o faz entrar em coma por 20 anos. No Presente temos Ripley acordando do coma e descobrindo que muitos anos se passaram e tudo mundo, ao mesmo tempo vemos uma Katrina mais madura, que tem uma filha de 6 anos e seus próprios dilemas para lidar enquanto lida com ajudar Ripley se ajustar nessa nova realidade, ao mesmo tempo que tenta não reascender seus sentimos pelo mesmo .
Eu amei esse livro, e embora ele traga uma linda história de amor que perdura por 20 anos, minha parte favorita do livro foi ver Ripley lidando com sua nova realidade, emocionalmente e também com suas limitações físicas. Adorei acompanhar o progresso dele e como ele trabalhou duro para recuperar sua vida de volta e se tornar um companheiro para Katrina . O Elo entre eles forte e foi doce ver eles conseguindo explorar o romance deles . A relação de ambos com a filha de Katrina tbm foi uma ótima adição ao livro e trouxe momentos doces .
Esse livro traz pra mim um dos epílogos mais diferentes que eu li em um livro e eu achei genial e que coube perfeitamente a essa história . Eu amei a história desses personagens .
March 13, 2021
5 FANTASTIC STARS!!! Everytime I read one of Katy Regnery’s modern fairytales, I swoon. I say at the end of each one I really hope she finds another fairytale! I don’t want this to ever end.
This is a complete stand alone but is a part of “The Modern Fairytale” series. I love this damn series!!
*Reader-made teaser. I acknowledge the copyrights of the photographers who own these images.
Ok when I read the first half of the book (the “past”) I thought no way is this book gonna be as good in the second half (the “present”) but I was wrong!! I am obsessed with this entire book. I have been in a slump and with work I just don’t feel like reading the same old stuff. Well, this is beautiful and fucking heartbreaking at the same time. But if you have not read this author then let me tell you by the end you are in love. She always ends on a happy note.
I wanted to smack Trina a few times and tell her to know her worth. BUT a certain someone made her open up her eyes. Oooh if you read the book then you will get the last sentence is a funny little pun. Anyways, Trina is a beauty and she is wicked smart. As for, Rip, he is super hot, charming and not as shallow as he leads you to believe.
This author creates magic on the page. The words grab ahold of you and force you to keep thinking about this book when you are away. I even had it like a tv series going on in my head. These modern fairytales have me hooked. Who would have thought I would fall for Rip Van Winkle?!?! This book definitely is 5 star material!!!
**I received this book as an ARC and in return gave my honest review** ~Melissa J
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This is a complete stand alone but is a part of “The Modern Fairytale” series. I love this damn series!!
*Reader-made teaser. I acknowledge the copyrights of the photographers who own these images.
Ok when I read the first half of the book (the “past”) I thought no way is this book gonna be as good in the second half (the “present”) but I was wrong!! I am obsessed with this entire book. I have been in a slump and with work I just don’t feel like reading the same old stuff. Well, this is beautiful and fucking heartbreaking at the same time. But if you have not read this author then let me tell you by the end you are in love. She always ends on a happy note.
I wanted to smack Trina a few times and tell her to know her worth. BUT a certain someone made her open up her eyes. Oooh if you read the book then you will get the last sentence is a funny little pun. Anyways, Trina is a beauty and she is wicked smart. As for, Rip, he is super hot, charming and not as shallow as he leads you to believe.
This author creates magic on the page. The words grab ahold of you and force you to keep thinking about this book when you are away. I even had it like a tv series going on in my head. These modern fairytales have me hooked. Who would have thought I would fall for Rip Van Winkle?!?! This book definitely is 5 star material!!!
**I received this book as an ARC and in return gave my honest review** ~Melissa J
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March 9, 2021
What a clever book!! When I first heard that Katy Regnery was writing a book loosely based on the folk tale/fairy tale about Rip Van Winkle, I was immediately all in. I couldn't wait to get a hold of the book. It was simply brilliant!!
The story revolves around Ripley Van Winkle. The "it" guy of his high school. Everything goes his way. He is the star athlete, dates the cheerleading captain and has a glorious future ahead of him playing college lacrosse. Then, the unthinkable happens and he is thrown into a coma.
Ripley (aka Rip) had a childhood friend named Katrina (Trina) who didn't hang out with the "populars." Katrina was more of an adademic than an athlete. In addition, she had some difficult events happen to her and wasn't exactly someone people could easily associate with. Even so, Rip and Trina find themselves rediscovering their friendship shortly before his accident happens.
The book then jumps twenty years into the future when Rip wakes up and finds everything he knew has changed and he lost out on twenty years of his life. Not only are the physical challenges difficult to deal with, his emotional development is still that of a seventeen year old that is stuck in a thirty-seven year old body. The world has moved on without him. Technology has changed by leaps and bounds. Rip has a great deal to adjust to.
Trina has lived her own life for the past twenty years. However, she never forgot her friend and long-time crush, Ripley. She and his family remain close and she is called to his bedside when he awakes. However, Trina has a daughter of her own, an ex-husband and a great deal of personal baggage to go along with it all. As much as she's glad to see Rip wake up, she isn't sure what she really expects to happen.
There's so much to this story that I want to share, but I don't want to spoil anything. It's another wonderful fairy tale adaption by Ms. Regnery and I enjoyed every magical word.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
The story revolves around Ripley Van Winkle. The "it" guy of his high school. Everything goes his way. He is the star athlete, dates the cheerleading captain and has a glorious future ahead of him playing college lacrosse. Then, the unthinkable happens and he is thrown into a coma.
Ripley (aka Rip) had a childhood friend named Katrina (Trina) who didn't hang out with the "populars." Katrina was more of an adademic than an athlete. In addition, she had some difficult events happen to her and wasn't exactly someone people could easily associate with. Even so, Rip and Trina find themselves rediscovering their friendship shortly before his accident happens.
The book then jumps twenty years into the future when Rip wakes up and finds everything he knew has changed and he lost out on twenty years of his life. Not only are the physical challenges difficult to deal with, his emotional development is still that of a seventeen year old that is stuck in a thirty-seven year old body. The world has moved on without him. Technology has changed by leaps and bounds. Rip has a great deal to adjust to.
Trina has lived her own life for the past twenty years. However, she never forgot her friend and long-time crush, Ripley. She and his family remain close and she is called to his bedside when he awakes. However, Trina has a daughter of her own, an ex-husband and a great deal of personal baggage to go along with it all. As much as she's glad to see Rip wake up, she isn't sure what she really expects to happen.
There's so much to this story that I want to share, but I don't want to spoil anything. It's another wonderful fairy tale adaption by Ms. Regnery and I enjoyed every magical word.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
March 14, 2021
“Who do you want?” he whispered.
“You,” she answered, her voice thick with emotion as tears slipped down her cheeks. “Only, ever, you.”
I loved this modern day fairytale. Love Is Never Lost is a romance retelling of the story of Rip Van Winkle.
My full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
“You,” she answered, her voice thick with emotion as tears slipped down her cheeks. “Only, ever, you.”
I loved this modern day fairytale. Love Is Never Lost is a romance retelling of the story of Rip Van Winkle.
My full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 23, 2021
Pov: male & female
Main characters: Rip & Trina
Minor characters: Brom (his best friend), Becky (his girlfriend), Mary (her daughter)
My thoughts:
I really enjoy this series based on fairytales. This one isn’t my favorite but I still enjoy it. I liked the attention to detail regarding Rip’s vocabulary. Rip goes into a coma as a 17 year old kid from the 80s. When he wakes up as a 37 year old man he still uses words like “rad” and “totally.”
Overall though, I found this story a little lacking in terms of showing Rio and Trina falling in love as adults. Once they got together the book was practically over. I still liked it though.
Synopsis:
Rip and Trina grew up as best friends, since their parents were best friends. Her mom died unexpectedly before high school. Trina was depressed and put on a ton of weight. Rip and his family drifted away from Trina and her father because it was hard to be around them with her mother missing.
Rip became the popular jock in school. Trina became the quiet outcast. They never talked.
Their senior year he and Brom are best friends and he’s dating Becky. He knows Brom likes Becky and it bothers him, but he knows Becky chose him.
On prom night he goes to the convenience store to buy beer with his fake id. Trina is the cashier. He talks her into letting him buy beer and they get busted by the cops. They’re forced to do community service at a local hospital.
They become close again. He starts to realize he doesn’t love Becky, that he barely likes her. He starts acknowledging Trina at school, which Becky hates.
He knows something happened between Brom and Becky on prom night but they deny it. He’s more hurt that they’re lying to him than that they probably hooked up.
Trina knows she’s in love with him, but knows it’s one sided. He realizes he’s falling for her but denies it at first.
They finish their community service and she wonders if their friendship is over.
They graduate and his parents invite everyone over for a celebration dinner. He finds out from Broms girlfriend that Brom and Becky had sex on prom night. That someone caught them. He realizes the whole school knew about it, and no one told him.
There’s a party at the local lighthouse and he invites Trina. He goes and gets drunk. He climbs the lighthouse and confronts Brom. He sees Trina arrive and decides to jump down to get to her. He jumps and lands on the rocks below.
He ends up in a coma.
Trina visits him all the time in the hospital. She becomes close with his parents again.
She goes to college and becomes a doctor. She gets offered a residency in Miami and moves away. She meets a guy and they end up getting married, even though they’re not in love. She ends up having a baby, Mary.
5 years later her husband is arrested for embezzling money out of the retirement home he ran. He’s sentenced to 5 years in jail. She moves back home into her family home.
20 years after his fall Rip wakes up. He’s confused and can’t remember anything from the prom night or after.
He has a hard time reconciling that he lost 20 years. His parents are older and he has an 18 year old sister he never met.
He has to relearn how to write, read and walk. He’s attracted to Trina. She comes by weekly to talk him through every year he missed. He meets Mary and loves her. He enjoys her company but feels confused by their relationship. One day he reaches out to touch her and she flinches away.
She tells him he’s acting impulsively because he’s emotionally still a 17 year old boy. He gets angry and tells her he’s not her patient. That he’s a grown man. She tells him his getting upset over her not acting like he wants is proof of his immaturity. He tells her she’s confusing him and hurting him by coming each week.
She realizes he’s right and decides to stop coming. They both miss each other.
Eventually he’s released and goes home. He’s happy with how far he progressed, but still notices how far he has to go.
His parents throw a welcome home party and invite Trina, Mary, Brom and Becky. Rip just wants to spend time with Trina.
Trina mentions her babysitter is going out of town for a while so Rip offers to watch Mary. She agrees and he loves having Mary over. Trina picks Mary up after work and they spend time together. One night they kiss.
One day he asks her to be his girlfriend. She says yes.
Her babysitter comes back so she stops taking Mary. He misses them. They invite him to dinner and her ex shows up. Her ex, who’s also a doctor, realizes he’s the coma patient and insults Rip.
When the ex leaves Rip tells Trina he loves her and wants to be with her. She tells him she loves him too and they sleep together.
Time passes and she asks him to move in. He says yes.
Months later he proposes.
They get married and have a baby.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2022
I really want to like this series bc fairy tale retellings are my fave but none of them have reached the level of the first book, The Vixen and the Vet, which I loved.
If I was the female lead, I would’ve just gotten together with the hot doctor like 😭🤚 pls
Instead, she stays with an emotionally 17 year old man who was a bystander while she was bullied in high school. Byeeee
A good third of the story was also in the past when everyone was in high school and their experience was just an All American high school story (popular jock x unliked nerd). Add in some good doses of fatphobia and an Indian friend who falls within rigid stereotypes, and that’s what you get. (Although I did appreciate the addition of the female lead’s good friend Parvati, I question why she had to be typecasted as the valedictorian and so “academically-driven” Indian).
Also at one point the male lead called the female lead “exotic”?????? 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢 (just bc she had kinky hair?? even tho she got some Afro-Caribbean roots from a grandpa she by all accounts yt) and 20 years later someone else calls her exotic and she’s like “it was cute when male lead said it but not anymore in 2005” like SIS it shouldn’t have been cute no matter what year 😭😭😭 get a hold of ur dignity.
I really liked the female lead’s circumstances (single doctor mom living her life with her daughter) but her insecurities never really get addressed, unless getting together with her high school crush whose friends used to make fun of her is the resolution the author was trying to give her. (I’d rather have the hot doctor??) I can’t even get started on how nonsensical the male lead was. It’s the way he was flirting with teens after waking up from his coma plsssss 😭😭🤚🤚🤚🤚 he almost gets an erection after checking out a girl 20 years younger than him I 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 yo WHAT???? I like that the female lead calls him out on his immaturity too (also a dissonance from when she was like “he was really mature for a 17 year old” NO SIS HE WASNT. He got super drunk and caused the accident that happened??? How is that maturity??) but idk it never really looks like he grew out of it. Towards the end he punches the hot doctor just bc the hot doctor was trying to get back with the female lead. Can’t he have a civil conversation, omg.
Anyway, I guess everyone who enjoyed this book just likes man-children as their male leads. Katrina deserved better.
If I was the female lead, I would’ve just gotten together with the hot doctor like 😭🤚 pls
Instead, she stays with an emotionally 17 year old man who was a bystander while she was bullied in high school. Byeeee
A good third of the story was also in the past when everyone was in high school and their experience was just an All American high school story (popular jock x unliked nerd). Add in some good doses of fatphobia and an Indian friend who falls within rigid stereotypes, and that’s what you get. (Although I did appreciate the addition of the female lead’s good friend Parvati, I question why she had to be typecasted as the valedictorian and so “academically-driven” Indian).
Also at one point the male lead called the female lead “exotic”?????? 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢 (just bc she had kinky hair?? even tho she got some Afro-Caribbean roots from a grandpa she by all accounts yt) and 20 years later someone else calls her exotic and she’s like “it was cute when male lead said it but not anymore in 2005” like SIS it shouldn’t have been cute no matter what year 😭😭😭 get a hold of ur dignity.
I really liked the female lead’s circumstances (single doctor mom living her life with her daughter) but her insecurities never really get addressed, unless getting together with her high school crush whose friends used to make fun of her is the resolution the author was trying to give her. (I’d rather have the hot doctor??) I can’t even get started on how nonsensical the male lead was. It’s the way he was flirting with teens after waking up from his coma plsssss 😭😭🤚🤚🤚🤚 he almost gets an erection after checking out a girl 20 years younger than him I 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 yo WHAT???? I like that the female lead calls him out on his immaturity too (also a dissonance from when she was like “he was really mature for a 17 year old” NO SIS HE WASNT. He got super drunk and caused the accident that happened??? How is that maturity??) but idk it never really looks like he grew out of it. Towards the end he punches the hot doctor just bc the hot doctor was trying to get back with the female lead. Can’t he have a civil conversation, omg.
Anyway, I guess everyone who enjoyed this book just likes man-children as their male leads. Katrina deserved better.
December 5, 2021
Love is Never Lost, by Katy Regnery. Let me just say... wow. Where has this author been in all the years that I have been reading?! I’m crying for Rip. I’m crying for Trina.
I’m crying for twenty years lost and I’m crying for this amazing, well written, made for the movies, romantic love story. Words can not describe how truly magnificent this book is. The authors writing skills hit every mark of being a true and talented writer. There are few writer’s out there, whom I can say, deserves to sit at the table with James Patterson. Katrina Regnery is one of those few.
I need to shout this to the roof tops people. This book was phenomenal. The writer took hold of my imagination and pulled me into this very sweet. Very romantic. Very emotional. Very heartwarming love story. This book reads with ease. The writer made sure that there was not one dull moment in the book. Each page held its own with details that provided the readers information to feed their imagination. Each encouraging word and the love and support was pivotal to this love story jubilation.
I was actually able to play out the story in my mind as I read the story. The dialogue and conversations between the characters was flawless. This for me made the chapters fly by so fast. The conversations for me where definitely entertaining. My emotions were spinning out of control.
The drama was to much, but to much in a good way. Through all the highs and lows from the reality’s of life. I felt as though I rode those waves with Rip and Trina. The story reads with realism and informative details. The romance between Rip and Trina is so beautiful and romantic.
Their love touched my heart so much that I cried at the end. I really did. So with that I say, I give this book two snaps and a twist! Becky, Becky,Becky. All I can do is shake me head. Until next time fellow readers... read on!
I’m crying for twenty years lost and I’m crying for this amazing, well written, made for the movies, romantic love story. Words can not describe how truly magnificent this book is. The authors writing skills hit every mark of being a true and talented writer. There are few writer’s out there, whom I can say, deserves to sit at the table with James Patterson. Katrina Regnery is one of those few.
I need to shout this to the roof tops people. This book was phenomenal. The writer took hold of my imagination and pulled me into this very sweet. Very romantic. Very emotional. Very heartwarming love story. This book reads with ease. The writer made sure that there was not one dull moment in the book. Each page held its own with details that provided the readers information to feed their imagination. Each encouraging word and the love and support was pivotal to this love story jubilation.
I was actually able to play out the story in my mind as I read the story. The dialogue and conversations between the characters was flawless. This for me made the chapters fly by so fast. The conversations for me where definitely entertaining. My emotions were spinning out of control.
The drama was to much, but to much in a good way. Through all the highs and lows from the reality’s of life. I felt as though I rode those waves with Rip and Trina. The story reads with realism and informative details. The romance between Rip and Trina is so beautiful and romantic.
Their love touched my heart so much that I cried at the end. I really did. So with that I say, I give this book two snaps and a twist! Becky, Becky,Becky. All I can do is shake me head. Until next time fellow readers... read on!
March 13, 2021
This is a story of triumph over tragedy.
Rip Van Winkle is the popular high school jock who seems to have everything going for him, an elite group of friends, awards, scholarship, social status, and is revered by everyone. But even the most popular of guys can have doubts, be self-absorbed, and make mistakes.
Katrina Van Tassel was his childhood friend, but due to circumstances, they grew apart in high school. She is firmly in the unpopular crowd and is often overlooked or bullied. She is overweight, awkward, cautious, closed off, and just trying to get by so she can start a new life at college. But she always has had a soft spot and a crush on Rip.
During the last few weeks of their senior year some things happen that put them back in more close proximity. Rip is beginning to remember how much he actually liked Trina. He is starting to question the people he has surrounded himself with. He is starting to try to make amends for some of his own mistakes. But at a turning point, everything changes.
Twenty years later, Rip is beginning to emerge from a coma to a new world. The people he knew have all changed. The world has moved on without him and he has to relearn everything.
This is a heartfelt, inspiring, childhood friends-to-lovers, second chance love story. The first part of this book in the past was not so easy to read. I could totally sympathize with Trina and her insecurities when younger. But she was such a strong, caring, devoted, and loyal friend. Even though Rip upset me at times in the beginning, I felt he had a good heart and was starting to try to do better. One mistake ruined his life and changed everything.
And the present is a whole other situation of fear, insecurities, doubt, and frustration. Rip will have to dig deep and work to find his way towards a new life. And hopefully, now he will be able to see who has really stood by his side along the way. But she is not the same girl as before either.
I liked the unique premise of the story. I will admit that I was frustrated with the characters and their behavior at times. And for some reason, I did not get quite as emotionally connected as I expected to and I am not sure exactly why. The story elements were there and there were definite opportunities for the characters to show growth and change...and for redemption. I did feel empathy for them during the challenges and hard situations. I admired Rip's determination and strength, and Trina's devotion and resilience. I liked them getting a chance together and wanted them to finally find happiness. I totally adored Mary Mae. I enjoyed the final update. I just cannot put my finger on that mystical something that kept me from getting really emotionally attached. Maybe it was the character's own awkwardness or issues trying to figure out what they or others were truly thinking. Maybe it was the distance of third-person point of view when I tend to prefer first. But it could have just been me, since I seem to be in the minority here.
As a side note, I work in the rehabilitation field, so I was glad to see that from the beginning the author states that she took some liberties with recovery for the sake of the story. So I was mentally prepared that I might have issues with it and I might just need to let them go (or be annoyed), but I was surprised that the medical stuff did not actually bother me. I felt like Rip's recovery was not shown as particularly easy even if it might be a modern miracle, but she at least showed that he was determined and willing to work very hard to achieve his goals in a step-by-step way. So I thought it was handled in an effective way both from a rehab standpoint and for the needs of the story.
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Rip Van Winkle is the popular high school jock who seems to have everything going for him, an elite group of friends, awards, scholarship, social status, and is revered by everyone. But even the most popular of guys can have doubts, be self-absorbed, and make mistakes.
Katrina Van Tassel was his childhood friend, but due to circumstances, they grew apart in high school. She is firmly in the unpopular crowd and is often overlooked or bullied. She is overweight, awkward, cautious, closed off, and just trying to get by so she can start a new life at college. But she always has had a soft spot and a crush on Rip.
During the last few weeks of their senior year some things happen that put them back in more close proximity. Rip is beginning to remember how much he actually liked Trina. He is starting to question the people he has surrounded himself with. He is starting to try to make amends for some of his own mistakes. But at a turning point, everything changes.
Twenty years later, Rip is beginning to emerge from a coma to a new world. The people he knew have all changed. The world has moved on without him and he has to relearn everything.
This is a heartfelt, inspiring, childhood friends-to-lovers, second chance love story. The first part of this book in the past was not so easy to read. I could totally sympathize with Trina and her insecurities when younger. But she was such a strong, caring, devoted, and loyal friend. Even though Rip upset me at times in the beginning, I felt he had a good heart and was starting to try to do better. One mistake ruined his life and changed everything.
And the present is a whole other situation of fear, insecurities, doubt, and frustration. Rip will have to dig deep and work to find his way towards a new life. And hopefully, now he will be able to see who has really stood by his side along the way. But she is not the same girl as before either.
I liked the unique premise of the story. I will admit that I was frustrated with the characters and their behavior at times. And for some reason, I did not get quite as emotionally connected as I expected to and I am not sure exactly why. The story elements were there and there were definite opportunities for the characters to show growth and change...and for redemption. I did feel empathy for them during the challenges and hard situations. I admired Rip's determination and strength, and Trina's devotion and resilience. I liked them getting a chance together and wanted them to finally find happiness. I totally adored Mary Mae. I enjoyed the final update. I just cannot put my finger on that mystical something that kept me from getting really emotionally attached. Maybe it was the character's own awkwardness or issues trying to figure out what they or others were truly thinking. Maybe it was the distance of third-person point of view when I tend to prefer first. But it could have just been me, since I seem to be in the minority here.
As a side note, I work in the rehabilitation field, so I was glad to see that from the beginning the author states that she took some liberties with recovery for the sake of the story. So I was mentally prepared that I might have issues with it and I might just need to let them go (or be annoyed), but I was surprised that the medical stuff did not actually bother me. I felt like Rip's recovery was not shown as particularly easy even if it might be a modern miracle, but she at least showed that he was determined and willing to work very hard to achieve his goals in a step-by-step way. So I thought it was handled in an effective way both from a rehab standpoint and for the needs of the story.
March 15, 2021
Love Is Never Lost is the fairytale retelling of Rip Van Winkle by Katy Regnery. I was extremely lucky and honoured to receive an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Regnery’s words are always so powerful, they crawl into my soul and get under my skin, and make me feel and fall in love time and time again. Her words are beautiful -pure magic - and I’ve been an avid reader and fan of her romances for almost a decade.
Love Is Never Lost is a beautiful love story of Katrina and Ripley, two teenagers who share an incredible amount of history as children, teenagers and well into their adult years. Their story is complicated, oftentimes painful, but it’s also one of all consuming love that stands the test of not only time but many obstacles thrust and thrown in their way.
When Rip suspects his high school girlfriend of cheating with his best friend, he’s tormented, betrayed but also not surprised. He is pained from feeling lied to, and turns to Katrina, his childhood best friend. She is a voice of reason, an outsider of his situation, and offers him a support and comfort. But she is also the girl his friends tease, the one who is called a dweeb, and as one of the popular kids, Rip is forced to grapple with the complexity of his friendships, feelings and relationships.
But one evening when the truth of betrayal is uncovered Rip suffers a fatal accident. It is one which shakes his whole world, and shatters the budding closeness which has been forming, and when he wakes up, it’s no longer 1985, but 2005! Through his pain and struggle, his constant is Trina; the girl who has always sat patiently and desperately by his bedside. But nothing is as it previously was, and with all memories erased, will Rip ever be able to piece together the truth? And when he does, will he remember the love which he’s almost lost?
This story is utterly breathtaking. It’s emotional, it’s romantic, but above all it felt so brutally and incredibly real. It contained all the stereotypical high school drama and jealousy, and transported me right back to the 80’s. I loved the clever ties of the iconic Sleepy Hollow, and everything about this story spelt pure genius.
Regnery is a writer who provides uniquely special love stories, and her words are a true gift to all those who get to read and embrace them. I am so thankful to have been gifted a copy of this incredible book, and I have tried my hardest to summarise what there is honestly no words good enough to depict. You have to read this book!
This book is the perfect read for those who love passionate heartfelt romances, and those who really enjoy modern fairytale retellings. If you have never read a Regnery story, then do so, her words are pure magic and I love being under their spell. I cannot wait to see if anymore of these books are released.
Regnery’s words are always so powerful, they crawl into my soul and get under my skin, and make me feel and fall in love time and time again. Her words are beautiful -pure magic - and I’ve been an avid reader and fan of her romances for almost a decade.
Love Is Never Lost is a beautiful love story of Katrina and Ripley, two teenagers who share an incredible amount of history as children, teenagers and well into their adult years. Their story is complicated, oftentimes painful, but it’s also one of all consuming love that stands the test of not only time but many obstacles thrust and thrown in their way.
When Rip suspects his high school girlfriend of cheating with his best friend, he’s tormented, betrayed but also not surprised. He is pained from feeling lied to, and turns to Katrina, his childhood best friend. She is a voice of reason, an outsider of his situation, and offers him a support and comfort. But she is also the girl his friends tease, the one who is called a dweeb, and as one of the popular kids, Rip is forced to grapple with the complexity of his friendships, feelings and relationships.
But one evening when the truth of betrayal is uncovered Rip suffers a fatal accident. It is one which shakes his whole world, and shatters the budding closeness which has been forming, and when he wakes up, it’s no longer 1985, but 2005! Through his pain and struggle, his constant is Trina; the girl who has always sat patiently and desperately by his bedside. But nothing is as it previously was, and with all memories erased, will Rip ever be able to piece together the truth? And when he does, will he remember the love which he’s almost lost?
This story is utterly breathtaking. It’s emotional, it’s romantic, but above all it felt so brutally and incredibly real. It contained all the stereotypical high school drama and jealousy, and transported me right back to the 80’s. I loved the clever ties of the iconic Sleepy Hollow, and everything about this story spelt pure genius.
Regnery is a writer who provides uniquely special love stories, and her words are a true gift to all those who get to read and embrace them. I am so thankful to have been gifted a copy of this incredible book, and I have tried my hardest to summarise what there is honestly no words good enough to depict. You have to read this book!
This book is the perfect read for those who love passionate heartfelt romances, and those who really enjoy modern fairytale retellings. If you have never read a Regnery story, then do so, her words are pure magic and I love being under their spell. I cannot wait to see if anymore of these books are released.
March 9, 2021
I was really looking forward to this book, and I was not disappointed. Thank you to Katy Regnery for the ARC. I’m also thankful for the preface in which the author reminds the reader that this is a retelling of a fairytale so there is not much point in analyzing the likelihood of a recovery such as Rip’s. This enabled me to surrender to the story without allowing doubt to creep in, as it would have inevitably done. And it allowed me to enjoy a truly wonderful fairytale.
There were a couple of phrases in the story that I just loved, like Rip’s initial analysis of his new life as the “ache of living.” The truth of this phrase was demonstrated over and over in the various challenges that Rip faced, most especially the emotional ones. The story is sweet and unusual. The conversations between Trina and Rip were laden with emotion and caring for one another, bringing me to tears several times. Although, this particular one made me laugh because it was so easy to imagine experiencing this myself: “She blurted out the words without meaning to. Even as she heard herself saying them, she had a mental image of herself shoving the words back into her mouth and stuffing them down her throat.” Who hasn’t had that feeling?
Without getting too much into the character of Micah, there was one conversation he had with Trina that I found especially comical. Trina was embarrassed about her ex-husband and expected Micah to judge her based on his actions. His response was priceless: “He finished his sandwich and wiped a dot of mustard from his upper lip. ‘Uh-huh. And my sister makes macrame plant hangers, which probably should be a crime, but, you know, whatever. I don’t hold it against her, and I hope no one holds it against me. It’s a big world, Katrina. Lots of weirdos out there. I can only control myself.”
There is something both heartbreaking and hopeful about this story, and although the final section (vows) bordered on saccharine, I didn’t care. I loved it anyway. And the author tried something I’ve never seen before, but I thought it was very effective. The final section was, “Instead of an Epilogue...An Update.” It was clever and amusing and the perfect way to wrap up the story, because I have to be honest, there was a part of me that kept thinking, but how long could he possibly live? Apparently, the answer is: love is never lost.
There were a couple of phrases in the story that I just loved, like Rip’s initial analysis of his new life as the “ache of living.” The truth of this phrase was demonstrated over and over in the various challenges that Rip faced, most especially the emotional ones. The story is sweet and unusual. The conversations between Trina and Rip were laden with emotion and caring for one another, bringing me to tears several times. Although, this particular one made me laugh because it was so easy to imagine experiencing this myself: “She blurted out the words without meaning to. Even as she heard herself saying them, she had a mental image of herself shoving the words back into her mouth and stuffing them down her throat.” Who hasn’t had that feeling?
Without getting too much into the character of Micah, there was one conversation he had with Trina that I found especially comical. Trina was embarrassed about her ex-husband and expected Micah to judge her based on his actions. His response was priceless: “He finished his sandwich and wiped a dot of mustard from his upper lip. ‘Uh-huh. And my sister makes macrame plant hangers, which probably should be a crime, but, you know, whatever. I don’t hold it against her, and I hope no one holds it against me. It’s a big world, Katrina. Lots of weirdos out there. I can only control myself.”
There is something both heartbreaking and hopeful about this story, and although the final section (vows) bordered on saccharine, I didn’t care. I loved it anyway. And the author tried something I’ve never seen before, but I thought it was very effective. The final section was, “Instead of an Epilogue...An Update.” It was clever and amusing and the perfect way to wrap up the story, because I have to be honest, there was a part of me that kept thinking, but how long could he possibly live? Apparently, the answer is: love is never lost.
March 12, 2021
This is book eight in A Modern Fairytale series and it is Rip and Trina's story and omg what an amazing and truly magical story. Rip was a star quarterback, Prom King and a popular man around campus only to jump of a lighthouse and he was not expected to live but is in a coma for twenty years but will be ever wake up. Trina was at school with Rip and they used to be childhood friends as there two families spent a lot of time together and there mothers were best friends but then Trina's mother died and things are not the same and Trina is really struggling and feels like her life is falling apart in so many ways. Twenty years later and Trina is a doctor radiologist and a single mum to Mary Mae and she was also divorced and she moved back to her childhood home after her dad died the year before then she gets a phone call that she was not expecting and that was that Rip had woken up after being in a coma for twenty years and that in it's self is a miracle. Rip is struggling with what has happened to him and everything that has gone on while he has been in a coma and now he will have to learn how to do everything and overcome so much but will he ever be able to life a normal life. There are so many twists and turns in This story that will have you on the edge of your seat and so emotional that you will be in tears while reading it. I couldn't put this book down and I had to keep turning the pages as I had to see what would happen next and it was so addictive. The characters and storyline pulled you in right from the first page to the last and I couldn't get enough of this story and I definitely recommend you read this book and others by Katy and you will definitely not be disappointed. Katy Regnery is an amazing author and writer and she certainly didn't disappoint her reader's and she knows how to keep her reader's attention through out this story which was absolutely amazing. I
I Voluntarily Reviewed an Arc Copy of this Amazing Book.
I Voluntarily Reviewed an Arc Copy of this Amazing Book.
March 11, 2021
This was another amazing hit of the author’s fairytale retelling and it gripped my heart in ways I didn’t see coming. Rip and Trina have known each other since they were babies and now that they are in high school their dynamics have changed. After losing her mother Trina gained weight, turned inward, and was not part of the in crowd. Rip became a superstar overnight, was Mr. popular, and left Trina behind because his reputation had no room for her in his life. He was kind of cruel towards Trina and she was always in love with him, and she told him how it was, so he started to change how he saw her, but one ill fated night changed the course of everyone’s life. Rip fell into a 20-year coma only to come to impressing doctors and family, Trina never really left his side only for a small amount of time and that changed her life differently. The author knows how to take a story and create something so beautiful and emotional that you can’t help but fall in love with it and the characters. I loved Rip and Trina’s story and how Rip took something so difficult and turned it into something amazingly beautiful.
March 15, 2021
Absolutely love this fairy tale re telling based on Rip Van Winkle. It was such a powerful and wonderful read, I absolutely love it, such great characters who developed as the story unfolded.
The story first starts as young Rip and Trina, childhood friends but they are total opposites. Then theres an accident and Part two of the story begins.
A very touching and inspiring story. Really loved it!
The story first starts as young Rip and Trina, childhood friends but they are total opposites. Then theres an accident and Part two of the story begins.
A very touching and inspiring story. Really loved it!
March 15, 2021
Katy Regnery’s ability to take a fairy tale and make it her own is absolutely amazing. Before I dove into Love Is Never Lost, I read the short story that inspired it and I prefer this re-imagining of Rip Van Winkle to the original a thousand times over. Handsome, athletic, and popular Ripley is much preferable to old, lazy Rip and shy, smart, insecure Trina is a vast improvement over the termagant Dame Van Winkle.
Content notes: fat-shaming and death of a parent are prominent themes in the story
See my full review at Carpe Diem Chronicles.
Content notes: fat-shaming and death of a parent are prominent themes in the story
See my full review at Carpe Diem Chronicles.
April 16, 2021
Love Is Never Lost by Katy Regnery
I loved fairy tales as a child. I’ve loved Katy’s fairy tales as an adult ever since reading The Vixen and the Vet many years ago. Her newest, Love Is Never Lost, is based on Rip Van Winkle and what a warm and heartfelt story it is! I was lucky to receive an ARC of this book.
Ripley Van Winkle, star quarterback and high school heartthrob, was dealt an almost fatal blow which put him in a coma for almost 20 years. Through it all, his family, along with his childhood friend, Katrina Van Tassel, never lost hope. Now a doctor and a divorced mother to Mary Mae, Katrina rushes to the hospital when she hears he is awake. Her love for him was never lost, and their story is one of hope, hard work, and determination.
No one retells fairy tales like Katy does. I highly recommend this story for anyone who loves romance, second chances, and the most delightful happy ending.
I loved fairy tales as a child. I’ve loved Katy’s fairy tales as an adult ever since reading The Vixen and the Vet many years ago. Her newest, Love Is Never Lost, is based on Rip Van Winkle and what a warm and heartfelt story it is! I was lucky to receive an ARC of this book.
Ripley Van Winkle, star quarterback and high school heartthrob, was dealt an almost fatal blow which put him in a coma for almost 20 years. Through it all, his family, along with his childhood friend, Katrina Van Tassel, never lost hope. Now a doctor and a divorced mother to Mary Mae, Katrina rushes to the hospital when she hears he is awake. Her love for him was never lost, and their story is one of hope, hard work, and determination.
No one retells fairy tales like Katy does. I highly recommend this story for anyone who loves romance, second chances, and the most delightful happy ending.
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