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Finding You Again #1
Love is Messy
"Love is messy, plain and simple–yet not simple at all."
It's true. I should know.
I'm your typical wife and mother. I never miss a PTA meeting, school function, or fund-raiser event. On the outside, my life seems perfect. I have an amazing, successful husband, three incredible children, and the best friends and in-laws a girl could hope for.
However, nothing in life is as it seems, right?
It takes an earth-shattering encounter from my past for me to wake up. I need a change. I'm ready to fight my demons, my past secrets, and stop hiding behind my cookie-cutter lifestyle.
In my desperation, I find the place I belong, but now I can never go back to Boston. But what will that mean for my family? Especially when I can't stop myself from wanting Matt.
It's true. I should know.
I'm your typical wife and mother. I never miss a PTA meeting, school function, or fund-raiser event. On the outside, my life seems perfect. I have an amazing, successful husband, three incredible children, and the best friends and in-laws a girl could hope for.
However, nothing in life is as it seems, right?
It takes an earth-shattering encounter from my past for me to wake up. I need a change. I'm ready to fight my demons, my past secrets, and stop hiding behind my cookie-cutter lifestyle.
In my desperation, I find the place I belong, but now I can never go back to Boston. But what will that mean for my family? Especially when I can't stop myself from wanting Matt.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2019
4 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 9, 2022
This was a NTM author that wrote a book I really enjoyed. It flowed nicely. It was interesting reading about a couple already married. The way the issues were dealt with felt realistic and not overly drawn out. Also, the movie theater was great.
January 28, 2019
These days it seems increasingly difficult to find a book that is a love story with real substance, and that's exactly what Love is Messy is. This story is about Bridget, a woman struggling to cope with long-standing and deep-rooted pain and a harrowing incident from her recent past that ultimately drives an emotional wedge in her marriage. Gripped with desperation, Bridget flees from her home in search of something, but she doesn't know what it is.
There are so many things I loved about this book. Primarily, and what can be seen right off the bat, is the vivid scene-setting and immersive world Sutcliffe created in the town of Asbury Hills. This book is truly an escape to a charming small town in New England, and the settings and characters leap off the page.
I am a real sucker for books that don't just allow the heroine and hero to exist in their own little bubble, rather have a cast of quirky, unique, realistic character, and I especially love stories about main characters who belong to a tight-knit group of friends. In Love is Messy, you get two groups like that, one being Bridget's small circle of old friends who have always been there, and the other being the vivacious community she stumbles upon in Asbury Hills.
As for the major conflict, describing it would involve big spoilers, however, Bridget's conflicts are masterfully spliced throughout the book, and within this sweet story of a women fighting for her sanity and reason, you get a gripping dose of suspense--which is not what I expected at all. This is the kind of story that glues you to your Kindle, because just when you think things have settled down a little, you are thrown back into the intense drama of the experiences plaguing Bridget.
The major issues tackled in this book are ones that many women have experienced, and they are treated with reverence and empathy. Women who have gone through what Bridget went through will come away from this story with a sense of validation that is unfortunately rare. I cried several times, but the depths of grief dealt with are balanced expertly by the story structure, and Sutcliffe knows exactly when to draw back and lighten the mood again.
Love is Messy is so aptly named and delivers an unwavering truth about love and life and relationships, and reminds you that if you have faith, hope, and love, along with the support of a solid community of friends, you can get through anything. This book will make you feel good about life.
This is a truly spectacular debut novel, and I can't wait for the sequel.
There are so many things I loved about this book. Primarily, and what can be seen right off the bat, is the vivid scene-setting and immersive world Sutcliffe created in the town of Asbury Hills. This book is truly an escape to a charming small town in New England, and the settings and characters leap off the page.
I am a real sucker for books that don't just allow the heroine and hero to exist in their own little bubble, rather have a cast of quirky, unique, realistic character, and I especially love stories about main characters who belong to a tight-knit group of friends. In Love is Messy, you get two groups like that, one being Bridget's small circle of old friends who have always been there, and the other being the vivacious community she stumbles upon in Asbury Hills.
As for the major conflict, describing it would involve big spoilers, however, Bridget's conflicts are masterfully spliced throughout the book, and within this sweet story of a women fighting for her sanity and reason, you get a gripping dose of suspense--which is not what I expected at all. This is the kind of story that glues you to your Kindle, because just when you think things have settled down a little, you are thrown back into the intense drama of the experiences plaguing Bridget.
The major issues tackled in this book are ones that many women have experienced, and they are treated with reverence and empathy. Women who have gone through what Bridget went through will come away from this story with a sense of validation that is unfortunately rare. I cried several times, but the depths of grief dealt with are balanced expertly by the story structure, and Sutcliffe knows exactly when to draw back and lighten the mood again.
Love is Messy is so aptly named and delivers an unwavering truth about love and life and relationships, and reminds you that if you have faith, hope, and love, along with the support of a solid community of friends, you can get through anything. This book will make you feel good about life.
This is a truly spectacular debut novel, and I can't wait for the sequel.
December 8, 2022
“One thing I could always be certain would never fail me. Stories.” - Callie Sutcliffe
Sometimes while chasing our dreams, life gets in the way and you find yourself settled in a life that doesn’t fulfill you, instead of you going after the things you’ve always wanted. Especially when there are past events that haunt you. I related so much with Bridget’s struggle and I think everyone must feel like this at times. After everything She went through, she had to figure out how to land on her feet. She had to figure out how to navigate her emotional pain without the crutch of depending on someone who just wants to fix everything for you, but doesn’t quite understand how. There are just some things we need to do on our own to become whole again.
Bridget’s story is gut wrenching at times, but the complicated, yet loving, relationship she shares with her husband, Matt, and the bursts of humor at the perfect moment, weave a beautifully layered story. This is what makes this book so unforgettable. I felt everything through Bridget, her pain, her confusion, her determination to get back to herself after some very traumatic events, and eventually her utter happiness at following her dreams.
‘Love is Messy’ pulls out all the feels: angst, yummy spice (the hero is hottt), family moments, funny moments and moments of joy. Ashbury, MA is a place I’d love to visit and I really need Marshall’s Instapot hot chocolate recipe.
This is the kind of story you will get swept up in, with characters that stay with you long after you’ve read ‘the end’. Looking forward to reading Sutcliffe’s other books!
Sometimes while chasing our dreams, life gets in the way and you find yourself settled in a life that doesn’t fulfill you, instead of you going after the things you’ve always wanted. Especially when there are past events that haunt you. I related so much with Bridget’s struggle and I think everyone must feel like this at times. After everything She went through, she had to figure out how to land on her feet. She had to figure out how to navigate her emotional pain without the crutch of depending on someone who just wants to fix everything for you, but doesn’t quite understand how. There are just some things we need to do on our own to become whole again.
Bridget’s story is gut wrenching at times, but the complicated, yet loving, relationship she shares with her husband, Matt, and the bursts of humor at the perfect moment, weave a beautifully layered story. This is what makes this book so unforgettable. I felt everything through Bridget, her pain, her confusion, her determination to get back to herself after some very traumatic events, and eventually her utter happiness at following her dreams.
‘Love is Messy’ pulls out all the feels: angst, yummy spice (the hero is hottt), family moments, funny moments and moments of joy. Ashbury, MA is a place I’d love to visit and I really need Marshall’s Instapot hot chocolate recipe.
This is the kind of story you will get swept up in, with characters that stay with you long after you’ve read ‘the end’. Looking forward to reading Sutcliffe’s other books!
November 28, 2022
Small-town Charm
This is my first book by Callie Sutcliffe and I fell in love with her books instantly.
Bridgett just needed to get a way from life for a while and decides to just drive but she didn’t expect her car to break down on her in a small town quite a distance away from home. Staying here for a while, Bridgett finds herself again, the self she lost many years ago. Now, the question is will Bridgett return to her home in Boston or will she give up her husband and family for her new, old life and stay here Asbury Hills?
This is my first book by Callie Sutcliffe and I fell in love with her books instantly.
Bridgett just needed to get a way from life for a while and decides to just drive but she didn’t expect her car to break down on her in a small town quite a distance away from home. Staying here for a while, Bridgett finds herself again, the self she lost many years ago. Now, the question is will Bridgett return to her home in Boston or will she give up her husband and family for her new, old life and stay here Asbury Hills?
December 8, 2022
This book definitely pulled at my heart strings. Bridget suffered a terrible attack and that started a ripple affect in her marriage and herself. Then her car breaks down and she finds herself in a little town that stirs something in her. She quickly makes friends and realizes she could be happy here. That she belongs here and could live the life she has always dreamed of. But kept it a secret from everyone especially her husband Matt.
I loved how even after 13 years and 3 children herself and Matt were still crazy about each other and couldn't keep their hands off each other. Although they had a lot to get through before either of them for the life they longed for.
I loved how even after 13 years and 3 children herself and Matt were still crazy about each other and couldn't keep their hands off each other. Although they had a lot to get through before either of them for the life they longed for.
July 7, 2021
Ms. Sutcliffe wrote the best summer beach read. In today's world, we need a little love. It's a great, easy read and highly recommend it!
December 8, 2022
Full disclosure: I’m not typically someone who gravitates toward books about already married couples, but this changed my perspective. I was afraid there wouldn’t be enough romance to keep me invested, but boy was I wrong.
The story follows Bridget, a married woman who suffers a traumatic experience that becomes the catalyst to her finding her true self. Problem is, her true self and her marriage to Matt are at odds. I loved how the author was able to show Bridget’s internal struggle, while still revealing how deeply she and Matt love each other. The journey they both go through runs the gambit of emotions. I found myself rooting for the choice I thought she should make, and then rooting for the opposite a page later. It was a deft balancing act that the author navigated seamlessly and kept me reading to find out how it all would end.
And although the story is angsty and touching, there are some pretty hot scenes in there as well, which made my little heat loving heart very happy. The writing is strong and the characters well fleshed-out. I thoroughly enjoyed the heck out of this book!
(I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.)
The story follows Bridget, a married woman who suffers a traumatic experience that becomes the catalyst to her finding her true self. Problem is, her true self and her marriage to Matt are at odds. I loved how the author was able to show Bridget’s internal struggle, while still revealing how deeply she and Matt love each other. The journey they both go through runs the gambit of emotions. I found myself rooting for the choice I thought she should make, and then rooting for the opposite a page later. It was a deft balancing act that the author navigated seamlessly and kept me reading to find out how it all would end.
And although the story is angsty and touching, there are some pretty hot scenes in there as well, which made my little heat loving heart very happy. The writing is strong and the characters well fleshed-out. I thoroughly enjoyed the heck out of this book!
(I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.)
December 8, 2022
Full disclosure: I’m not typically someone who gravitates toward books about already married couples, but this changed my perspective. I was afraid there wouldn’t be enough romance to keep me invested, but boy was I wrong.
The story follows Bridget, a married woman who suffers a traumatic experience that becomes the catalyst to her finding her true self. Problem is, her true self and her marriage to Matt are at odds. I loved how the author was able to show Bridget’s internal struggle, while still revealing how deeply she and Matt love each other. The journey they both go through runs the gambit of emotions. I found myself rooting for the choice I thought she should make, and then rooting for the opposite a page later. It was a deft balancing act that the author navigated seamlessly and kept me reading to find out how it all would end.
And although the story is angsty and touching, there are some pretty hot scenes in there as well, which made my little heat loving heart very happy. The writing is strong and the characters well fleshed-out. I thoroughly enjoyed the heck out of this book!
(I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.)
The story follows Bridget, a married woman who suffers a traumatic experience that becomes the catalyst to her finding her true self. Problem is, her true self and her marriage to Matt are at odds. I loved how the author was able to show Bridget’s internal struggle, while still revealing how deeply she and Matt love each other. The journey they both go through runs the gambit of emotions. I found myself rooting for the choice I thought she should make, and then rooting for the opposite a page later. It was a deft balancing act that the author navigated seamlessly and kept me reading to find out how it all would end.
And although the story is angsty and touching, there are some pretty hot scenes in there as well, which made my little heat loving heart very happy. The writing is strong and the characters well fleshed-out. I thoroughly enjoyed the heck out of this book!
(I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.)
May 30, 2021
Callie delivers a heart warming story of friendship, family, community, and love.
When life throws a wrench, or in this case car troubles, in the path of Bridget, she comes face to face with a town and people who help her on her journey of self discovery, acceptance, and love.
Asbury Hills is the quintessential idyllic small town. You’ll find yourself wanting to move there and never leave. It’s easy to see why Bridget falls in love with the place and it’s residents so quickly, rediscovering her true self after months of turmoil and doubt. But when faced with life changing decisions, will she decide to return to her life in Boston, or will she give up her husband and family for this new life that she’s found.
Finding your passion and the thing that truly sparks your soul is at the heart of this story. And writing is obviously a passion for Callie and it shows in her stories. Her characters are ones you can relate to and it makes for an enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to her next book in the series too.
I was given an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
When life throws a wrench, or in this case car troubles, in the path of Bridget, she comes face to face with a town and people who help her on her journey of self discovery, acceptance, and love.
Asbury Hills is the quintessential idyllic small town. You’ll find yourself wanting to move there and never leave. It’s easy to see why Bridget falls in love with the place and it’s residents so quickly, rediscovering her true self after months of turmoil and doubt. But when faced with life changing decisions, will she decide to return to her life in Boston, or will she give up her husband and family for this new life that she’s found.
Finding your passion and the thing that truly sparks your soul is at the heart of this story. And writing is obviously a passion for Callie and it shows in her stories. Her characters are ones you can relate to and it makes for an enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to her next book in the series too.
I was given an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2021
The main character of the story is Bridget, a married woman with three children. She’s unfulfilled in her roles as wife and mother, and a traumatic experience which dredges up her past causes her to run away with only an overnight bag packed. When her car breaks down in Asbury Hills and the townspeople are so friendly and helpful, she takes it as a sign from the universe and stays. Communications with her husband are tense, as he can’t understand her being drawn to the town, and only sees that she doesn’t want to be with him. She finds a purpose for herself in saving the town’s bookstore, and finds healing. In the end, her husband comes around to her way of thinking and the family is reunited.
May 30, 2021
Bridget, a privileged woman who has let go of her dreams to care for her family has a secret. She drives off after a fight with her husband and her car serendipitously breaks down in the picturesque town of Asbury Hills. While waiting for repairs over the weekend, members of the community warmly embrace her and she stays on in the town. Of course, there is still that secret, the problems with her marriage, and her lost dreams.
Callie Sutcliffe brings the characters and the setting to life in this tale of one woman's struggle to find her place in life.
Callie Sutcliffe brings the characters and the setting to life in this tale of one woman's struggle to find her place in life.
June 1, 2021
Interesting hook at the beginning that pulls you into the story. The characters feel natural and make decisions in ways that make sense based on their personalities.
Plus the story of Bridget giving up her dreams to live the life she's supposed to live is something I think most people can relate to. When she breaks down in the small town and starts to see things from a different perspective, I was rooting for her to break out of her old patterns and mindsets.
If you're looking for an uplifting story, this is a great read.
Plus the story of Bridget giving up her dreams to live the life she's supposed to live is something I think most people can relate to. When she breaks down in the small town and starts to see things from a different perspective, I was rooting for her to break out of her old patterns and mindsets.
If you're looking for an uplifting story, this is a great read.
December 8, 2022
I really enjoyed this story and I'm not one to read a lot of second chance romance books with angst. However, Callie has a way of making you root for Matt and Bridget to figure it out and make it work. Their seemingly perfect life holds a very big secret and they need to overcome a past trauma and move forward together. At times, I was shaking my kindle and begging for them to work it out-- because it's clear how much they still love each other. Thank goodness for happily-ever-afters...oh, and plenty of steamy fun! Five stars!
September 6, 2021
Love is Messy 🥰
4 🌟 read!
This story was a mix between a Hallmark fil and a Lifetime film. The story in all was good and I would have loved to give it 5 stars but I felt it was drawn out.
To be honest the secret was hidden for far too long, Matt was a total meany for no real reason and a continued to allow his wife to blame herself for so much! I understood both had to grieve and process but i did not feel any understanding from him until the very end, I think that's the biggest issue I had with this story.
Otherwise, I loved the journey Bridget had to go on for self discovery, especially with everything she had gone through! The poor thing. So glad she found such a charming, sweet town in Asbury Hills and friendship in the people there when she needed it most.
4 🌟 read!
This story was a mix between a Hallmark fil and a Lifetime film. The story in all was good and I would have loved to give it 5 stars but I felt it was drawn out.
To be honest the secret was hidden for far too long, Matt was a total meany for no real reason and a continued to allow his wife to blame herself for so much! I understood both had to grieve and process but i did not feel any understanding from him until the very end, I think that's the biggest issue I had with this story.
Otherwise, I loved the journey Bridget had to go on for self discovery, especially with everything she had gone through! The poor thing. So glad she found such a charming, sweet town in Asbury Hills and friendship in the people there when she needed it most.
December 10, 2022
This was an awesome read. It truly moved me in so many ways. It gives us a look into a marriage worth fighting for. It gives us a perspective into a marriage on the rocks and fighting to come back. The author touched on a few subjects that many could not give it justice. She gives a voice to a woman who has endured an assault and the loss of baby. And it has an amazing HEA. I can't wait for the next in the series.
May 25, 2021
Love is Messy is the kind of story that makes a great Hallmark movie. The mix of relatable characters and interesting events bring to life the everyday challenges of love, family, and career within the context of personal and spiritual growth. But it’s not too heavy. Neither is it too light. The thread that weaves through the specifics of the story is hopeful redemption. If you’re looking to be inspired, this story shows that both self-reflection and empathy are the ingredients for the change in perspective required for deeper connection with self and others.
May 30, 2021
Callie Sufcliff's Love Is Messy is perfect for romance lovers for all ages who are seeking a heart-felt story about love, trust, and secrets. Even for a reader who usually does not venture into the romance genre, the book was pleasant, easy to read, and simply lovely. Highly recommended for lovers of nuanced romance and women's lit.
September 8, 2021
This is Bridget's story and it's a heartfelt one. You'll be taken through her journey of self discovery, of finding herself and her way back. This is a great read.
December 23, 2022
OMG…this book. I can’t even put into words how much I connect with Bridget in this book. I love my family however I still feel like something is missing. Bridget took the bill by the horns and found her happy place. Matt is an amazing husband but like most men, he’s clueless. I was cheering for this couple from the start. I can’t wait to read the next installment!!!
December 14, 2022
Outstanding
This book is exquisite. It captures the very heart of trauma. The complete unbalance it causes. The grief of what was and was not. The shame of a secret and the dispair of a fall out. This story is all about growth and courage and overcoming the very worst things life can throw at you. And whilst this may sound maudlin, deep, dark and depressive, it's absolutely not. Because it all happens within a beautiful community that offers every opportunity it can to enable someone to get what they need to feed their soul. Whether it's battling through, armoured up or sinking into a bookstore to breathe new life. But the epicentre of this outstanding story is the love Matt and Bridget have for each other. Watching them come to terms with what happened to each of them while desperately needing space but also a tether around each of them that pulls them together, is remarkably well written. You can't help but pray these two find a way, because they are absolutely one hundred percent IT for each other. But as this book proves, you can't get through everything without a little upheavel, alot of soul searching and a listening ear. I would give this story a thousand stars if I could.
This book is exquisite. It captures the very heart of trauma. The complete unbalance it causes. The grief of what was and was not. The shame of a secret and the dispair of a fall out. This story is all about growth and courage and overcoming the very worst things life can throw at you. And whilst this may sound maudlin, deep, dark and depressive, it's absolutely not. Because it all happens within a beautiful community that offers every opportunity it can to enable someone to get what they need to feed their soul. Whether it's battling through, armoured up or sinking into a bookstore to breathe new life. But the epicentre of this outstanding story is the love Matt and Bridget have for each other. Watching them come to terms with what happened to each of them while desperately needing space but also a tether around each of them that pulls them together, is remarkably well written. You can't help but pray these two find a way, because they are absolutely one hundred percent IT for each other. But as this book proves, you can't get through everything without a little upheavel, alot of soul searching and a listening ear. I would give this story a thousand stars if I could.
December 8, 2022
All Glow-ed Up
A review of the revised December 8, 2023 edition of Love is Messy by Callie Sutcliffe
In the re-release of Love is Messy by author Callie Sutcliffe --the main character and the author are each brave and braver. It is a brave thing to look at your work or your life and decide you aren’t happy. It is braver still to do something about it.
With the re-release after a glow-up, the author has bravely reclaimed the story she intended to write before debut author nerves, and poor advice got in the way. While I liked the original manuscript, the new one is better, truer, and steamier.
Love is Messy is an angsty love story of recovery after the unimaginable, overcoming secrets to become who you are, and healing both personally and in your relationships. The main character digs deep to face her demons and renew her marriage and connections to friends and family.
A series starter, I look forward to the rest of the stories.
A review of the revised December 8, 2023 edition of Love is Messy by Callie Sutcliffe
In the re-release of Love is Messy by author Callie Sutcliffe --the main character and the author are each brave and braver. It is a brave thing to look at your work or your life and decide you aren’t happy. It is braver still to do something about it.
With the re-release after a glow-up, the author has bravely reclaimed the story she intended to write before debut author nerves, and poor advice got in the way. While I liked the original manuscript, the new one is better, truer, and steamier.
Love is Messy is an angsty love story of recovery after the unimaginable, overcoming secrets to become who you are, and healing both personally and in your relationships. The main character digs deep to face her demons and renew her marriage and connections to friends and family.
A series starter, I look forward to the rest of the stories.
July 8, 2021
I loved this story. There is real depth to the conflict between the protagonist, Bridget, and her husband, and I found myself rooting for both of them. The characters we meet are so likeable, and I absolutely fell in love with Asbury Hills. Callie Sutcliffe did a tremendous job with world-building and bringing her characters to life, and the story offers a lot of suspense as we learn more about Bridget's life. This was a really hard book to put down, and I highly recommend it for fans of romance and women's lit.
June 10, 2021
I don’t read a lot of romance novels, but I really enjoyed Callie’s Love is Messy. It is clear from the beginning that a lot of Bridget’s troubles stem from miscommunication and lack of communication between her husband and her. A series of events leads Bridget on a path of self-discovery and forces her to reconcile with her past. It is well-written and easy to read. I can’t wait to read the next book!
July 14, 2021
Charming and suspenseful romance
I normally don’t read romance books, but I took a chance on this book and enjoyed it. The secret of the main character’s past kept me reading after the charm drew me in.
I normally don’t read romance books, but I took a chance on this book and enjoyed it. The secret of the main character’s past kept me reading after the charm drew me in.
February 23, 2023
Bridget Sheffield didn’t plan on running away when she left home that Saturday morning. She just needed time to think so she planned to drive around for a while and maybe stay with a friend overnight. But she just kept driving until her car breaks down in the mall town of Ashbury Hills, an hour and a half from Boston. She could call her husband Matt to come and get her, but she doesn’t. She is tired of being protected from life, tired of letting Matt, his family and her friends make decisions for her. So, she decides to stay in Ashbury Hills for a few days so she can breathe and think about what she wants.
Matt loves Bridget but since she was attacked 3 months earlier by a man from her past, he wants to keep her close and safe. He struggles to understand why she won’t come home, why she wants to stay in such a small town that’s so different from the affluent neighborhood and life she has in Boston.
But Bridget starts to bond with the women of Ashbury and gets involved with the community, fitting in more and more. She knows if their marriage is going to survive, Matt needs to see what she sees in the slower lifestyle in the small town. She misses her children, but Matt brings them on the weekends, and they start to make friends and love the small town too.
This is a story where love isn’t enough, at least not unless things change. Matt fights to keep Bridget and together they find a way to stay together. It’s also a story about realizing that no matter how perfect life looks from the outside, we don’t know what other people are really going through. In the end, this is a beautiful love story.
Matt loves Bridget but since she was attacked 3 months earlier by a man from her past, he wants to keep her close and safe. He struggles to understand why she won’t come home, why she wants to stay in such a small town that’s so different from the affluent neighborhood and life she has in Boston.
But Bridget starts to bond with the women of Ashbury and gets involved with the community, fitting in more and more. She knows if their marriage is going to survive, Matt needs to see what she sees in the slower lifestyle in the small town. She misses her children, but Matt brings them on the weekends, and they start to make friends and love the small town too.
This is a story where love isn’t enough, at least not unless things change. Matt fights to keep Bridget and together they find a way to stay together. It’s also a story about realizing that no matter how perfect life looks from the outside, we don’t know what other people are really going through. In the end, this is a beautiful love story.
December 12, 2022
This book had me on several highs and lows. At times I wished it didn’t drag out but at others I wanted it to slow down. I love a romance story about rekindling a marriage because let’s face it, marriage isn’t “happily ever after.” Marriage takes a lot of work and at times it does feel like it is easier to walk away. Especially after a trauma. Only one of you understands what you have been through. You don’t think about the trauma the other person in the relationship has suffered because of your trauma. This story explained both points of view and I loved that.
I loved the bond that Bridget had with the women in Asbury Hills. I worked in Boston for several years and I get the congestion of cars and people. Between the commute I had getting in and out, and then the congestion of all the people, I got it. I can’t imagine staying after being attacked. I loved that Matt wasn’t going to give up on their love. How his family enveloped her through this transition. Ultimately, finding herself with that much needed space. I loved that Callie made Bridget’s happiness the priority as well. If you can’t be happy with yourself, you can’t make others happy. Thankfully, Matt finally understood that and they found their way through this story.
I loved the bond that Bridget had with the women in Asbury Hills. I worked in Boston for several years and I get the congestion of cars and people. Between the commute I had getting in and out, and then the congestion of all the people, I got it. I can’t imagine staying after being attacked. I loved that Matt wasn’t going to give up on their love. How his family enveloped her through this transition. Ultimately, finding herself with that much needed space. I loved that Callie made Bridget’s happiness the priority as well. If you can’t be happy with yourself, you can’t make others happy. Thankfully, Matt finally understood that and they found their way through this story.
December 8, 2022
Some stories hit you right in the heart, making you laugh, and think, and cry, and even rage a little. And Love is Messy by Callie Sutcliffe is one of those stories. It’s an angsty, heart-felt, deep journey of self discovery where nothing is perfect and the HEA feels so much stronger after the tidal wave of emotions experienced.
Sutcliffe does a wonderful job of weaving intense emotions into her characters, creating a rich and beautiful web of connections, bringing families and lives together. Themes of healing and recovery permeate the narrative creating a sense of depth and authenticity in the characters’ actions and interactions. And within all that is light, and joy, and humor and a true sense of kindred spirits, highlighting the bonds of found family and friendship.
Sutcliffe also builds a beautiful foundation for a series of books centered on a core group of friends, their struggles and triumphs, and their togetherness on a journey through love and life. I cannot wait to read Love is Messy again, and to dive into the stories Sutcliffe brings us next.
Sutcliffe does a wonderful job of weaving intense emotions into her characters, creating a rich and beautiful web of connections, bringing families and lives together. Themes of healing and recovery permeate the narrative creating a sense of depth and authenticity in the characters’ actions and interactions. And within all that is light, and joy, and humor and a true sense of kindred spirits, highlighting the bonds of found family and friendship.
Sutcliffe also builds a beautiful foundation for a series of books centered on a core group of friends, their struggles and triumphs, and their togetherness on a journey through love and life. I cannot wait to read Love is Messy again, and to dive into the stories Sutcliffe brings us next.
February 22, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! It deals with PTSD in a way that I had never seen described before. The reader is drawn into the drama and feelings of a married couple who love each other but are divided by what they find to be important in their lives. A scary tragedy in her past leaves Bridget on a path to deal with the aftermath of a violent encounter, leading her to a small town filled with caring individuals who help her find her way back to mental health. Her husband tries to go along for the journey, only to figure out what is really important to him. A wonderful read. I highly recommend it.
January 29, 2023
Wow!
What an intense story about life and love, loss and pain! There was so much depth and emotion to the story! I was so sad for the heroine at times. But the NEW made it worth it. 4 stars because I wanted more of the H in the story. This is mostly the heroines perspective.
What an intense story about life and love, loss and pain! There was so much depth and emotion to the story! I was so sad for the heroine at times. But the NEW made it worth it. 4 stars because I wanted more of the H in the story. This is mostly the heroines perspective.
January 14, 2023
I enjoyed this story and the fact that it wasn't a instant fix. The small town feel and how each character grew and became more understanding of the other was another aspect that I loved. I am excited to see if there is a new book in the series.
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