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McLaughlin Brothers #1

This Changes Everything

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See that gorgeous guy over there? Standing behind his brother at the altar, best man while I’m maid of honor. Zach McLaughlin. He was my first love. Hot, enticing, out of reach.

Now he’s back in my life, the two of us reconnecting when my best friend marries his brother. I haven’t seen Zach for years, now he’s next to me, irresistible in his tux. He looks at me with his sweet blue eyes, and his mouth quirks just a little. Enough to show me he’s noticing me, and wondering how we’ll get through this.

I’ll try to keep it casual, but I know inside that seeing Zach after all these years ... is going to change everything.



The McLaughlin Brothers are light, fun, humorous, short, feel-good romances. Meet the four McLaughlins: Ryan, Zach, Ben, and Austin, who will do anything for each other, and their spirited heroines: Calandra, Abby, Erin, and Brooke

148 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 2020

313 people are currently reading
396 people want to read

About the author

Jennifer Ashley

215 books7,329 followers
NY Times Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance, historical mysteries, and urban fantasy as Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner.

Jennifer's novels have been translated into many different languages, and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly. More about her books at http://www.jenniferashley.com and http://gardnermysteries.com.

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5 stars
132 (28%)
4 stars
133 (28%)
3 stars
139 (30%)
2 stars
41 (8%)
1 star
16 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer Ashley.
Author 215 books7,329 followers
Read
May 30, 2020
Book One of a short, light-hearted contemporary series. What happens when Zach meets up with Abby, his first kiss, at his brother's wedding?

Four-book series available in print and e-book.
1) This Changes Everything
2) Why Don't You Stay ... Forever?
3) Never Say Never
4) Give Me One Night

Meet the sexy McLaughlin brothers and the ladies who win their hearts.
Profile Image for Jenn (The Book Refuge).
2,669 reviews4,499 followers
July 6, 2022
Well.. this one was a tad bit jarring. From One Night Stand to engaged in 2 weeks flat.

But, it was sweet so I didn't hate it. Just didn't quite have enough tl connect me to the characters.

3 stars
2 on the spice scale.
Profile Image for Ami.
6,241 reviews489 followers
June 17, 2020
2.75 stars rounded up

I think this is the first time Jennifer Ashley writes true contemporary ... I've read her works in historical and urban fantasy genre of course. It is meant to be quick and light; it being novella and all. And I think Ashley takes the "easy" way of Zach and Abby as childhood friends, and shared first kiss, to shorten the whole relationship development progress. They're not exactly strangers...

While I can accept their familiarity -- Abby's best friend marries Zach's older brother -- to each other, but I felt that there were still a LOT of things being glossed over. Summarize of actions / conversations in exchange for some steamy scenes (there are too many steamy scenes for a novella for my preference, even of they're quick ones!)

Because of that, felt like it was too fast and coming out of nowhere!!

Oh, and I also wasn't a fan of . Why not before?? I thought it wasn't a professional move for Abby as well.

In any case, it was an okay read for me. I still liked the characters enough and I'm quite curious with the other brothers. So I think I'll read their story as well...
Profile Image for Alvina.
413 reviews24 followers
June 12, 2020
DNF

Is this a YA novel? Why is the writing like this?

See that gorgeous guy over there? Standing behind his brother at the altar, best man while I’m maid of honor. Zach McLaughlin. He was my first love. Hot, enticing, out of reach.

Thats part of the book summary but the first few chapters read exactly like that.
Profile Image for Melissa.
312 reviews29 followers
June 17, 2020
I'm not a huge fan of first person POV, and I really don't enjoy the chatty tone of this book. It just felt...juvenile. Everyone was doing adult thing but acting like teenagers, and talking that way too.
1,630 reviews33 followers
August 5, 2020
Easy mindless novella, cute but too simple. The alternating first person views made it too much of a new adult style read. I like this authors historical quite a bit, and this didn’t show her skill well enough. Ok, but not memorable.
Profile Image for Melany.
226 reviews1 follower
June 26, 2021
Muy rápido todo, QUIEN ES SU SANO JUICIO LE PIDE CASAMIENTO EN MENOS DE UNA SEMANA A ALGUIEN?

Pero fuera de eso, es muy ligero el libro y seguramente si se da la oportunidad lea el resto de las historias. Por mera curiosidad.

2.5/5⭐ bye Jennifer
Profile Image for Marta US.
230 reviews31 followers
April 19, 2022
Si buscas una comedia romántica pastelona este es tu libro. No esperes mucho de este lectura, si buscas entretenerte es lo tuyo. No me ha gustado demasiado porque los libros tan rápido con un amor tan “instantáneo” me resulta muy poco creíble.
Profile Image for Lissa.
1,623 reviews10 followers
January 23, 2021
This series is short sweet stories of the families son's falling in love. Not much conflict, not terribly original. Just a sweet quick read.
Profile Image for Alberta.
794 reviews
March 16, 2021
DNF @ 14%

This book was not for me. Found characters mildly interesting and the internal narrative too wordy. Skipped to the end which confirmed my initial assessment.
Profile Image for Glittergirl.
938 reviews16 followers
June 13, 2020
This is a cute kinda second chance contemporary story written in alternating first person. Abby Warren is the Maid of Honor for her best friend Calandra's wedding. The Best Man is the groom Ryan's brother Zach. Twenty years ago they were each other's first kiss at 13. Abby and her mother moved away when her parents divorced and they haven't seen each other in years. The chemistry hasn't died and they hook-up at the wedding. They keep in contact and find there is more there to explore. This is a short, hot and sweet story that is full of family.
Profile Image for Christy.
359 reviews7 followers
June 14, 2020
A light, fun, first kiss as teens to meeting up years later at a wedding romance.
Jennifer Ashley writes great family stories where everyone is up in everyone else’s business in a good way. That concept reminds me of her MacKenzie brothers series. (If you haven’t read those, look for them ASAP)

I read this in a day and am looking forward to the next story in the McLaughlin Brothers series which is coming out soon on June 23.
Profile Image for PepperP0t .
5,108 reviews86 followers
February 7, 2021
Zach McLaughlin and Abby Warren didn’t try too hard to make it work as preteens. Twenty years later while standing as best man and maid of honor at his brother’s/her best friend’s wedding, it a whole new thing. Flirting for all they’re worth the pair can’t help but realize what they’d been missing.

Expecting an adult outing, this reader didn’t appreciate the alternating NA/YA feel and alternating first person POV in a very rushed short.
Rating: 3stars
1,245 reviews8 followers
May 21, 2021
Great story

Contemporaries aren't usually my thing, but I love everything Jennifer Ashley writes so when I was between books on my TBR list I dove in. Zach and Abby have a sweet romance that's all about family and connecting. Being from the Valley, I also liked the setting and could picture all of the places in my head. I'll keep reading to see how the rest of the family turns out.
Profile Image for Will Decker.
Author 23 books17 followers
July 2, 2021
Although there is some great character development in this story, I missed the graphic spice in the bedroom. The story went from exciting with anticipation of exciting things to come to blase when they got behind closed doors. But I still enjoy this author's writing style and her way of adding believability with a nice plot flow. The editing is clean too, which always adds to the enjoyment factor.
Profile Image for Ashley.
696 reviews5 followers
December 17, 2020
Was it cute? Yes.
Do I love the idea of people who at 13 were eachother's first kiss ending up together? Totally.
But this goes from a one night stand, to dinner to they're engaged. Probably an issue with the fact that it's so short there isn't time to develop the plot between them hooking up and him popping the question. It was fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessica CW.
1,035 reviews12 followers
December 21, 2021
Reunion

They knew each other as kids. They had a connection then but did adulthood change them? No seeing each other again at the wedding seemed to rekindle that connection and make it stronger...

This is a cute, quick book about knowing right away who is your match and making it work.
Profile Image for Susan Clair Holt.
1,362 reviews1 follower
April 5, 2024
This Changes Everything

The McLaughlin brothers romances start with the eldest, Ryan, finally marrying his long time girlfriend. This story is actually about the second eldest, Zach and his love story with Abby, his first kiss at age thirteen and now meeting up after 20 years at his brother and her best friend's wedding. Happily ever after for them.
Profile Image for sheila.
566 reviews
Read
June 10, 2020
Different

It's not like the others I've read of Jennifer Ashley. It's lighter, sweeter even gentle. Not a bad different. Still have me a feel good at the end. And of course, I will get the others. It's Jennifer Ashley!
Profile Image for Sandi .
18 reviews2 followers
June 20, 2020
Cute light and fun!

I love reading Jennifer's books. This is not the same writing as in the Shifter series. But it is light easy read that made me laugh and chuckle. I can't wait to read the rest the series.
Profile Image for Lindy Studt.
249 reviews
June 23, 2020
Abby and Zach

Zach's family is in home renovation s. Abby is in marketing and sales. Her boss is a tyrant. When they were thirteen, they started their first kiss. The question is does the chemistry still work?
401 reviews2 followers
March 12, 2021
Short and sweet

Family humor, a hot guy and a truly sweet girl. This book is well written, has likable characters and is pretty hot. I enjoyed reading it and finishing the in one day!
Profile Image for Samantha Kauchis.
Author 1 book6 followers
April 10, 2021
Dunno, I usually love, love anything by Jennifer Ashley, but this fell short for me. Maybe it's the fact that it's first person? That's not my favorite pov... Could be the rushed, novella feel of it too. Going to the next one, but... not loving it. 😕
330 reviews
May 2, 2021
A Kiss at 13

Bad and good, long ago memory brings two friends back into each others arms. Well there was a wedding too. Funny short story from one of my favorite
authors, Jennifer Ashley.
Profile Image for katie.
114 reviews
January 19, 2022
Overly wordy, which can be forgiven if the writing is decent enough, but it was all so juvenile it felt like a child had written it, add that to the "sexy scenes", it was all sorts of wrong. It's a novella, which is why it probably didn't end up in my DNF pile.
Profile Image for Dar.
4,535 reviews92 followers
September 25, 2025
These two sizzled! The heat between them was instantaneous and never wavered. They had a lightness and fun to them as well, and though they don’t wear their hearts on their sleeves, they definitely didn’t hide them away <3
Profile Image for Mary Hart.
1,117 reviews27 followers
June 10, 2020
4 stars

Light read, ideal in this Covid-19 world.

301 reviews3 followers
June 12, 2020
Contemporary novella

Very light, very quick read. Instant attraction, chemistry, sex. I guess I just felt it all happened too fast. But it's a novella, so that's to be expected.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

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