Five months after Rosenfeld confesses his love to Ryleigh, their happily ever after is just a plane ride away when he takes a position with an Ann Arbor paper.
But a lot can change in five months and distance creates space for deception.
The pair are reunited in Michigan, but Ryleigh quickly realizes the once familiar details of Peter’s life have become a mystery.
His mood is unpredictable.
His scent now comes laced with tobacco.
His clothes swallow his weathered frame.
Ryleigh remains in the dark regarding his behavior until Janet drops a bomb Peter seemed ready to take to the grave: his father suffered a stroke.
A night of reconciliation in her dorm room transforms their connection, but the most beautiful evening of Ryleigh’s life also proves to be the most devastating, perhaps stirring up more fear than pleasure and leaving her to reckon with the painful fact that love is more complicated than she could have foreseen.
Leighann Hart is the author of the Rosenfeld duet and the Confessional trilogy. She is a huge mental health advocate and this sometimes—okay, oftentimes—bleeds into her love stories.
She consumes heinous amounts of espresso and pays tithe daily to the New York Times Spelling Bee. Her biggest regret is that she probably will not meet Rick Moranis before he dies.
Leighann lives with her husband, daughter, and Sugar the Shetland Sheepdog in a convection oven—er, Georgia.
[I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for a review through BookSprout]
This was a wonderful sequel with a story that was just as full of drama, angst, and heartwarming moments as it’s predecessor and Hart’s poetic prose is beautiful as always. Despite the high note that Loving Rosenfeld ended on, reality has hit for Ryleigh and Peter, who are trying to handle the first year of university and a new job, respectively, along with dealing with the ramifications of their significant age gap as well as Peter’s slide back into depression. There were so many twists and heart wrenching moments that I honestly didn’t know what was going to happen to them and could hardly put it down. This was definitely a perfect final half to this duology and I’m so glad I got to read it!
After reading the first instalment, I had high hopes for this book and it certainly did not disappoint. It had the perfect amount of angst and sweetness, the perfect book if you want to smile and shed a few tears. Although the ending was a bit rushed for me, here are my thoughts:
Following on from Loving Rosenfeld, the first book in this duet, I just fell even more in love with Ryleigh, Peter and their relationship. I think they are just honestly perfect for each other, I loved how real and raw their relationship was. I felt as if I was seeing a live couple right in front of me, and not just reading about a fictional couple on my screen. The pacing of their relationship was perfect for me and I loved how they loved each other. It was all honest and full of real fears and doubts.
I loved Peter. He was sincere and always wanted the best for his woman. There were times when I didn't agree with his decisions and how he dealt with his actions but I think that just really showcased how real his character was. He made impulsive decisions but one thing he knew how to do was love his woman, wholeheartedly.
Ryleigh, on the same case, captured my heart from the very beginning. She is a young woman and she still has her whole life in front of her but I loved how mature she was and how she had no shame getting what she wanted. I loved how she stayed with Peter, despite all his recklessness and imperfections, she stayed by his side and loved him throughout everything.
I feel like this book really changed how I viewed love and here is the perfect quote to prove it: "She supposed that must have been the true measure of love, not just falling for a person but falling for everything that came along with loving them."
Ryleigh and Rosenfeld were such a amazing couple to read about. They had so many obstacles thrown against them as well as so much care for each other. It was a real and raw story for these two and absolutely perfect in every way. Definitely recommend if you want a sweet story and to shed a few tears!
Determined to make their relationship work, Ryleigh and Peter are constantly having obstacles thrown at them, testing the strength of their relationship. Be it the age gap between them, jealousy, to depression. Ryleigh may think she has found her prince, but this story is no fairy tale.
Having Rosenfeld, the second book of the Rosenfeld Duet paints a brutally honest picture of the fragility of relationships, and the painful truth that it takes effort to make them work. Leighann Hart tells the story of a relationship that seems to have everything going for it and against it at the same time, taking the reader along for the ride.
First, clear your schedule. Second, if you haven't already done so, read Loving Rosenfeld, the 1st book in the Rosenfeld Duet. Third, seriously...is your schedule clear? Because you will devour Having Rosenfeld and be a total "Peter Rosenfeld" the next day (meaning you'll be a grumpy waif with a caffeine drip) if you start this book at night (ask me how I know.)
Hart's writing is just perfection. See for yourself:
"The comment earned Peter a small smile and gave him the confidence to seize her hand. It seemed he could not bear to let go of it since their reunion some 30-odd minutes earlier, not for long anyway. That innocent though tender physical connection was a way of affirming that Ryleigh was really there and disproved the theory that he lingered in the company of a lavishly constructed figment of his imagination."
Many authors claim to take their characters on a journey through hell and back, but not many actually allow them to linger in the 9th Circle. Every step forward in Peter and Ryleigh's relationship seemed to be met with two devastating steps backward. But that's the brilliance of Having Rosenfeld. Peter is that very real, very flawed character who grapples with his mental health, while Ryleigh is the very real character who has little choice but to love him through it. Hart is exploring more than just a simple age-gap romance, but the nature of depression (and, I suspect, other mental illnesses) and what it looks like, in this case, to love a person at their most self-destructive without resorting to co-dependency.
This is the second book in a duet and you must read the first book to understand what is going on. Peter and Ryleigh are not your typical couple but will have to deal with typical life situations if their relationship is going to work.
This book starts out with Peter landing a job in the city where Ryleigh will be going to college. Their age gap meant one of them giving up where they were at in life. Peter didn’t want it to be Ryleigh so he uprooted his life to be with her. This was an amazing development because of the depression that Peter struggles with.
There will be a lot of dealing with his depression in this book. A lot of heartbreak and tears for his character. Leighann does a beautiful job writing the effect that his depression has on his health, his relationship, and his life. Ryleigh is by his side as much as he will let her be and supports him as much as she can.
There are many more things that come their way. They have to deal with jealousy because of a persistent classmate as well as a flirtatious coworker. There is loss of a loved one that affects them both deeply. There is the acceptance of family and friends of their age gap relationship. This couple goes through the ringer and definitely don’t have it easy. Read their story to find out if they make it through and how they deal with the situations as they unfold.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
After reading the first book in the installment, I knew I was in for a treat with the sequel. Hart's writing is so compelling that you have no option other than to root for the characters. I mean it. Even when I wanted to smack Rosenfeld up the side of his head for being a jerk or other times where I literally laughed out loud at a funny scene.
The realism with which the characters traverse life is insane. It read like something you'd have happen randomly in your life. Hart's writing ability is innate and brings you on a journey worth taking! I fear if I say anymore I'd spoil the whole thing but it's *chef's kiss*
I love where the characters end up and how they grow and their relationship dynamics change. It is beautifully written and overall a great novel! Highly recommend!
I started this book and let my cynicism win over me. I'm not typically a romance reader (original, i know). I set it down for a few months, but gathered my courage and picked it back up. When i did, i finished it in 2 sittings. The relationship that develops in this sequel is sweet even with the titular Rosenfeld's trademark stubbornness. It was refreshing to see how the protagonists worked through the challenges of their relationship and the story was wrapped up neatly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I loved this! I really related to Ryleigh & Peter, even though I'm quite a bit older that her. They faced so many obstacles, but were able to overcome them all. Really great book. Thank you for letting me read it early.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the perfect book if you want to cry over a sweet story. Ryleigh and Peter have so many things against them, that watching them struggle and make it through warms your heart and keeps you rooting for them throughout the story. The way the characters deal with mental health and loss of a loved one was written perfectly and I could have asked for more. Leighann Hart did a wonderful job with this story. I can’t wait to see what see writes next!
I loved this book even more than the first one! I literally had to make myself put it down at night. I loved seeing how the story unfolded and am so sad this is the end. I can’t wait to read Leighann’s future endeavors!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.