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All Alone with You
Hacks gets a romantic twist in the vein of Jenn Bennett in this “simmering” (Publishers Weekly) novel about a standoffish teen girl whose loner status gets challenged by a dynamic elderly woman and a perpetually cheerful boy.
Eloise Deane is the worst and doesn’t care who knows it. She’s grumpy, prefers to be alone, and is just slogging through senior year with one get accepted to USC and move to California. So when her guidance counselor drops the bombshell that to score a scholarship she’ll desperately need, her applications require volunteer hours, Eloise is up for the challenge. Until she’s paired with LifeCare, a volunteer agency that offers social support to lonely seniors through phone calls and visits. Basically, it’s a total nightmare for Eloise’s anxiety.
Eloise realizes she’s made a huge mistake—especially when she’s paired with Austin, the fellow volunteer who’s the sunshine to her cloudy day. But as Eloise and Austin work together to keep Marianne Landis—the mysterious former frontwoman of the 1970s band the Laundromats—company, something strange happens. Eloise actually…likes Marianne and Austin? She isn’t sure what to do with that, especially when her feelings toward Austin begin to blur into more-than-friends territory.
And when ex-girlfriends, long-buried wounds, and insecurities reappear, Eloise will have a choice to go all in with Marianne and Austin or get out before she gets hurt.
Eloise Deane is the worst and doesn’t care who knows it. She’s grumpy, prefers to be alone, and is just slogging through senior year with one get accepted to USC and move to California. So when her guidance counselor drops the bombshell that to score a scholarship she’ll desperately need, her applications require volunteer hours, Eloise is up for the challenge. Until she’s paired with LifeCare, a volunteer agency that offers social support to lonely seniors through phone calls and visits. Basically, it’s a total nightmare for Eloise’s anxiety.
Eloise realizes she’s made a huge mistake—especially when she’s paired with Austin, the fellow volunteer who’s the sunshine to her cloudy day. But as Eloise and Austin work together to keep Marianne Landis—the mysterious former frontwoman of the 1970s band the Laundromats—company, something strange happens. Eloise actually…likes Marianne and Austin? She isn’t sure what to do with that, especially when her feelings toward Austin begin to blur into more-than-friends territory.
And when ex-girlfriends, long-buried wounds, and insecurities reappear, Eloise will have a choice to go all in with Marianne and Austin or get out before she gets hurt.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2023
27 people are currently reading
2397 people want to read
About the author
Amelia Diane Coombs
10 books281 followersAmelia Diane Coombs is the author of Keep My Heart in San Francisco; Between You, Me, and the Honeybees; Exactly Where You Need to Be; and All Alone With You. She’s a Northern California transplant living in Seattle, Washington, with her spouse and their Siberian cat. When she isn’t writing or reading, Amelia spends her time playing video and tabletop games, road-tripping, and hiking the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
March 30, 2025
i really wasn’t expecting much from this book, but it was just so adorable and fun that giving it anything other than a five star feels wrong.
what really shines is how endearing the characters are, they are all so easy to fall in love with <3 such a precious read that i will forever treasure ! 🎀
⊹ “i’m a romantic, eloise. most musicians are.”
what really shines is how endearing the characters are, they are all so easy to fall in love with <3 such a precious read that i will forever treasure ! 🎀
August 25, 2023
Are you looking for a book with anxiety depression rep? An elderly mentor? An EASY to love male crush? New Wave kids stuck in the year 2023?
Then read All Alone With You.
Amelia Coombs has such a fun writing style. The story is absolutely endearing, with great pacing, wonderful characters and quirky wit.
A large portion of the story is dedicated to Lou's depression and anxiety and how that makes her interpret the world around her even when those interpretations aren't true. She is a self loathing character who holds everyone at arms length and uses rudeness as a way to keep them there. She's not a likable character per say but I did she where she was coming from and found her to be an interesting/dynamic character.
ALL the stars go to Austin who is one of the most lovely characters i've read about in a while. He pushes past her prickly exterior and makes her realize that being rude isn't entirely the best lifestyle choice. I could go on and on about how great and sweet and wonderful Austin is but just take my word for it. He has the patience of a SAINT and the sweetest humor to go along with it.
This is a great story full of self worth and discovery, mental illness rep, friends to more, and learning that life is better when you don't always victimize yourself and let others in. Loved the music rep (Austin is in a band) and I immediately had to go blast the soundtrack found in the back of the book...I mean come on...I'm a huge Talking Heads fan.
What I didn't love: entirely too much strong language for a YA book, and sometimes I don't love the I hate everyone but you. I hope Lou learns from her mistakes and starts reacting with more kindness towards others (mainly her family and siblings)...I just don't like when rudeness is justified.
BUT overall this was a wonderful read that I had an easy time binging, I would't hesitate to pick another book up from this author.
Then read All Alone With You.
Amelia Coombs has such a fun writing style. The story is absolutely endearing, with great pacing, wonderful characters and quirky wit.
A large portion of the story is dedicated to Lou's depression and anxiety and how that makes her interpret the world around her even when those interpretations aren't true. She is a self loathing character who holds everyone at arms length and uses rudeness as a way to keep them there. She's not a likable character per say but I did she where she was coming from and found her to be an interesting/dynamic character.
ALL the stars go to Austin who is one of the most lovely characters i've read about in a while. He pushes past her prickly exterior and makes her realize that being rude isn't entirely the best lifestyle choice. I could go on and on about how great and sweet and wonderful Austin is but just take my word for it. He has the patience of a SAINT and the sweetest humor to go along with it.
This is a great story full of self worth and discovery, mental illness rep, friends to more, and learning that life is better when you don't always victimize yourself and let others in. Loved the music rep (Austin is in a band) and I immediately had to go blast the soundtrack found in the back of the book...I mean come on...I'm a huge Talking Heads fan.
What I didn't love: entirely too much strong language for a YA book, and sometimes I don't love the I hate everyone but you. I hope Lou learns from her mistakes and starts reacting with more kindness towards others (mainly her family and siblings)...I just don't like when rudeness is justified.
BUT overall this was a wonderful read that I had an easy time binging, I would't hesitate to pick another book up from this author.
December 13, 2025
i don't know. i cried like three times. but that's not really a great way to measure a book, ya know. i did like it though. i don't know know WHY i was crying. this is a me problem. ---
this is the second book i've read by coombs (the other being "you, me, and the honeybees"). in both books, coombs does this thing where the guy and the girl meet and, it's not instalove, but they immediately are like, i need to spend all of my time with you. and i'm obsessed with that. i think a lot of books are relying on tropes like "enemies to lovers" and "friends to lovers" and, arguably i guess this book could be either, depending on what you want to sell, but i think it's neither. and that's super refreshing.
(for clarity: the "enemies to lovers" - eloise has a grumpy personality so she doesn't IMMEDIATELY vibe with austin, but, thank god, she recognizes that being grumpy all the time is not always a trait that goes over well, so she gets over herself fairly quickly. the "friends to lovers" - they meet on page so it's not a "childhood friends" situation, but most of the book is watching them become friends)
eloise's previous friendships are not wrapped up at all - which, honestly i kind of respect. sometimes friendships just end badly, unforch, and there isn't much you can do about it. i wouldn't have liked a half-assed scene where everyone apologizes and their friendship is now fine again. i appreciate the authenticity.
i wish we got more book in general, but it's a YA novel so i get why it's not 500 pages long. but i think i would've liked it to be. the pacing felt rushed at the end, i would've liked more time with marianne and more cutesy relationship moments between eloise and austin.
thank you amelia diane coombs and simon & schuster for the arc <3
this is the second book i've read by coombs (the other being "you, me, and the honeybees"). in both books, coombs does this thing where the guy and the girl meet and, it's not instalove, but they immediately are like, i need to spend all of my time with you. and i'm obsessed with that. i think a lot of books are relying on tropes like "enemies to lovers" and "friends to lovers" and, arguably i guess this book could be either, depending on what you want to sell, but i think it's neither. and that's super refreshing.
(for clarity: the "enemies to lovers" - eloise has a grumpy personality so she doesn't IMMEDIATELY vibe with austin, but, thank god, she recognizes that being grumpy all the time is not always a trait that goes over well, so she gets over herself fairly quickly. the "friends to lovers" - they meet on page so it's not a "childhood friends" situation, but most of the book is watching them become friends)
eloise's previous friendships are not wrapped up at all - which, honestly i kind of respect. sometimes friendships just end badly, unforch, and there isn't much you can do about it. i wouldn't have liked a half-assed scene where everyone apologizes and their friendship is now fine again. i appreciate the authenticity.
i wish we got more book in general, but it's a YA novel so i get why it's not 500 pages long. but i think i would've liked it to be. the pacing felt rushed at the end, i would've liked more time with marianne and more cutesy relationship moments between eloise and austin.
thank you amelia diane coombs and simon & schuster for the arc <3
February 8, 2023
okay! this is a real review because it was a paperback ARC from work and this is only the third real review on goodreads so far!
this is a very sweet book and I ended up caring very deeply about Eloise and Austin. also, I used to live with a strange, semi-famous 82 year old woman and have ghosted my friends due to mental illness in the past, so perhaps I was vulnerable to be invested here. we meet Eloise after an especially rough year and she is trying her best to stay on track and meet the academic goals she's set for herself, and then follow her as she makes some new friends, learns better coping mechanisms, and starts enjoying her little life! overall a super thoughtful book with endearing characters--this would have been meaningful to me if I read this in high school, I think. I definitely will be bringing in a couple copies for the bookstore and would recommend to anyone aged 12-16 (ish, all relative) who likes "better than the movies," "five feet apart," etc. this is for someone who wants a warm book, is okay with romance and sliiiightly heavier themes.
overall surprisingly really enjoyed this! Eloise and Austin had believable chemistry and cute moments! it even made me cry in the third act!
MY MAJOR ISSUE: is whoever decided to compare this to "hacks" in promo! why does this sentence even appear, especially as the FIRST, on goodreads! it is not the same vibe as hacks at ALL and it is a disservice to do this, especially because the target audiences are NOT the same???? bad publicity work, sorry they did this to you Amelia.
I have very few qualms, but here they are: this is a little snarky (and not related to the read) but the author's bio is a bit cringe, very millennial speaking in ways that I felt was reminiscent of tumblr in 2012 (derogatory). which is weird because I didn't feel the book reflected that at all, save for maybe some of the texting (this was forgivable because it's part of Austin's character) and the term "doggo voice" in the first act. plot-wise:
this is a very sweet book and I ended up caring very deeply about Eloise and Austin. also, I used to live with a strange, semi-famous 82 year old woman and have ghosted my friends due to mental illness in the past, so perhaps I was vulnerable to be invested here. we meet Eloise after an especially rough year and she is trying her best to stay on track and meet the academic goals she's set for herself, and then follow her as she makes some new friends, learns better coping mechanisms, and starts enjoying her little life! overall a super thoughtful book with endearing characters--this would have been meaningful to me if I read this in high school, I think. I definitely will be bringing in a couple copies for the bookstore and would recommend to anyone aged 12-16 (ish, all relative) who likes "better than the movies," "five feet apart," etc. this is for someone who wants a warm book, is okay with romance and sliiiightly heavier themes.
overall surprisingly really enjoyed this! Eloise and Austin had believable chemistry and cute moments! it even made me cry in the third act!
MY MAJOR ISSUE: is whoever decided to compare this to "hacks" in promo! why does this sentence even appear, especially as the FIRST, on goodreads! it is not the same vibe as hacks at ALL and it is a disservice to do this, especially because the target audiences are NOT the same???? bad publicity work, sorry they did this to you Amelia.
I have very few qualms, but here they are: this is a little snarky (and not related to the read) but the author's bio is a bit cringe, very millennial speaking in ways that I felt was reminiscent of tumblr in 2012 (derogatory). which is weird because I didn't feel the book reflected that at all, save for maybe some of the texting (this was forgivable because it's part of Austin's character) and the term "doggo voice" in the first act. plot-wise:
May 3, 2024
‘im a romantic, eloise, most musicians are.’
ACKKKKKK I LOVED THIS BOOK SMMMM
i loved austin he was actually the cutest (and he plays bass so that’s a tick for me) and marianne was like the best old lady ever.
eloise was a bit of a character but she turned out well in the end so yeah
ACKKKKKK I LOVED THIS BOOK SMMMM
i loved austin he was actually the cutest (and he plays bass so that’s a tick for me) and marianne was like the best old lady ever.
eloise was a bit of a character but she turned out well in the end so yeah
August 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this book!!! 🥺🥺🥺
Eloise was supposed to be a flawed and kind of unlikeable MC, but honestly I really liked her! I had such a soft spot for this girl, but perhaps that’s because I was a little too similar to her. 😳😅 The author did such a great job portraying Eloise’s depression and social anxiety. Her being too nervous to hang out with people and always thinking the worst in social situations hit a bit too close to home, ngl. I related a lot to Eloise having no friends and always hanging out just by herself.
I was so happy when she started befriending Marianne and Austin (and his friends)! Seeing Eloise come out of her shell, opening up, not being alone all the time, her family noticing that she was actually *happy* when she started befriending Austin… It was all just so - - - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🥹🥹🥹 It made me soooooooooo happy!!!!! (also when will it be my turn? 🥲).
And Austin was such an amazing LI!!!!! 🥹 First of all, the grumpy x sunshine trope only works on m/f ships if the girl is the grumpy one and the guy is the sunshine, which is exactly what the author gave me, and for that I am thankful. 🙏🏻 I am SICK AND TIRED of mean men in books, so having a super sweet and caring male LI is always appreciated. 🫶🏻
And Austin and Eloise’s dynamic was SO GOOD! I appreciated that Austin wasn’t just a doormat lol. He was the nice one in their friendship, but he often pushed back when Eloise was being moody. And I loved their banter! How they jokingly insulted each other, and pushed each other’s buttons, but never in a pressuring way. Austin was just trying to get Eloise out of her comfort zone, but always gave her an out, which I (someone with a lot of social anxiety, just like Eloise) really appreciated. 👌🏻
I LOVED seeing their friendship develop and, as I mentioned above, seeing Eloise opening up and becoming happier was so amazing! And Austin just cared sooooo much about her!!!! He was always so sweet and caring and lovely and aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!! Once again: WHEN’S IT MY TURN?! 😩
I also really liked Marianne! I didn’t expect to care this much about this old woman, but her dynamic with Eloise was also super enjoyable! I loved that they were so similar, but their dynamic ended up being kind of similar to Eloise and Austin’s: they pushed each other’s buttons, but always in a joking, friendly way. I also really liked seeing Marianne, Austin and Eloise hanging out all together.
I really appreciate that the 3rd act conflict in this book ACTUALLY MADE SENSE?!?!?! (It’s a rarity in romance books, ngl).
I know this book is already on the longer side for a romance, but honestly???? I would’ve gladly read 50 (or maybe 100) more pages of these characters just hanging out! 😅 I just wanted to see more of Eloise and Austin’s friendship, and their relationship once they got together, and them hanging out with Marianne, and Austin’s bandmates, and Eloise and her family…… I just wanted more lol.
Why this isn’t a 5 star:
➤ The fact that Austin was the “sunshine” was stated 1 too many times lol.
➤ Eloise partly choosing what university to go to because of her boyfriend of 5 months was kinda lame, ngl. I wish there’d been more hints throughout the book that she wanted to go to that university, so that the choice didn’t seem to come out of nowhere and be so influenced by the fact that Austin was going to that uni too.
➤ Also, saying “I love you” after knowing each other for 2 months? Too soon.
➤ I would’ve liked to see more of her family. I know it was explained that she didn’t have much in common with her family and didn’t love hanging out with them, but still.
➤ There were a couple of instances of “telling instead of showing”. They were very well implemented, don’t get me wrong! The only reason I’m complaining is bc I kind of wanted to see some of those things played out lol (like them planning their Halloween movie night, Austin meeting Eloise’s family, etc – these things were mentioned, but we didn’t actually *see* them happen). I just liked these characters so much that I wanted more 😅.
But these don’t even matter that much, tbh! I enjoyed this book so much that I now want to read everything the author had written (at least until she does me wrong lol). I REALLY liked this book! 💕💕💕💕💕
Eloise was supposed to be a flawed and kind of unlikeable MC, but honestly I really liked her! I had such a soft spot for this girl, but perhaps that’s because I was a little too similar to her. 😳😅 The author did such a great job portraying Eloise’s depression and social anxiety. Her being too nervous to hang out with people and always thinking the worst in social situations hit a bit too close to home, ngl. I related a lot to Eloise having no friends and always hanging out just by herself.
I was so happy when she started befriending Marianne and Austin (and his friends)! Seeing Eloise come out of her shell, opening up, not being alone all the time, her family noticing that she was actually *happy* when she started befriending Austin… It was all just so - - - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🥹🥹🥹 It made me soooooooooo happy!!!!! (
And Austin was such an amazing LI!!!!! 🥹 First of all, the grumpy x sunshine trope only works on m/f ships if the girl is the grumpy one and the guy is the sunshine, which is exactly what the author gave me, and for that I am thankful. 🙏🏻 I am SICK AND TIRED of mean men in books, so having a super sweet and caring male LI is always appreciated. 🫶🏻
And Austin and Eloise’s dynamic was SO GOOD! I appreciated that Austin wasn’t just a doormat lol. He was the nice one in their friendship, but he often pushed back when Eloise was being moody. And I loved their banter! How they jokingly insulted each other, and pushed each other’s buttons, but never in a pressuring way. Austin was just trying to get Eloise out of her comfort zone, but always gave her an out, which I (someone with a lot of social anxiety, just like Eloise) really appreciated. 👌🏻
I LOVED seeing their friendship develop and, as I mentioned above, seeing Eloise opening up and becoming happier was so amazing! And Austin just cared sooooo much about her!!!! He was always so sweet and caring and lovely and aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!! Once again: WHEN’S IT MY TURN?! 😩
I also really liked Marianne! I didn’t expect to care this much about this old woman, but her dynamic with Eloise was also super enjoyable! I loved that they were so similar, but their dynamic ended up being kind of similar to Eloise and Austin’s: they pushed each other’s buttons, but always in a joking, friendly way. I also really liked seeing Marianne, Austin and Eloise hanging out all together.
I really appreciate that the 3rd act conflict in this book ACTUALLY MADE SENSE?!?!?! (It’s a rarity in romance books, ngl).
I know this book is already on the longer side for a romance, but honestly???? I would’ve gladly read 50 (or maybe 100) more pages of these characters just hanging out! 😅 I just wanted to see more of Eloise and Austin’s friendship, and their relationship once they got together, and them hanging out with Marianne, and Austin’s bandmates, and Eloise and her family…… I just wanted more lol.
Why this isn’t a 5 star:
➤ The fact that Austin was the “sunshine” was stated 1 too many times lol.
➤ Eloise partly choosing what university to go to because of her boyfriend of 5 months was kinda lame, ngl. I wish there’d been more hints throughout the book that she wanted to go to that university, so that the choice didn’t seem to come out of nowhere and be so influenced by the fact that Austin was going to that uni too.
➤ Also, saying “I love you” after knowing each other for 2 months? Too soon.
➤ I would’ve liked to see more of her family. I know it was explained that she didn’t have much in common with her family and didn’t love hanging out with them, but still.
➤ There were a couple of instances of “telling instead of showing”. They were very well implemented, don’t get me wrong! The only reason I’m complaining is bc I kind of wanted to see some of those things played out lol (like them planning their Halloween movie night, Austin meeting Eloise’s family, etc – these things were mentioned, but we didn’t actually *see* them happen). I just liked these characters so much that I wanted more 😅.
But these don’t even matter that much, tbh! I enjoyed this book so much that I now want to read everything the author had written (at least until she does me wrong lol). I REALLY liked this book! 💕💕💕💕💕
August 28, 2024
✨3.75✨
Such cute friends -to-lovers romcom
Such cute friends -to-lovers romcom
October 16, 2023
this book was so good 😭😭
July 4, 2023
*4.5 Stars
“You fight like hell for what you think you want, but you don’t fight for what you already have.”
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: depression, anxiety, death of a parent (past), grief, car accident (past, mentioned)
This book was a ray of sunshine! Eloise was one of my favourite aspects of All Alone With You. I related to her in so many ways and was rooting for her from the very first chapter. Her humour and sarcasm were on point and I could definitely picture us being friends and hanging out together. The depiction of Eloise's anxiety was also very well done. I appreciated that her experience was a journey that she made gradual progress on. I also couldn't get enough of her relationship with Austin! The romance is slow-burn and so satisfying! And the grumpy and sunshine trope? Perfectly done! What I loved the most was watching their friendship blossom and seeing them bring out the best in each other. And Marianne! She is the best! She brought a lot of insight and fun to the story, plus the fact that she was a retired rock star was so unique and intriguing. However, I wish we could have seen a bit more of the side characters' personalities and stories. In terms of the writing, it flowed smoothly and made it so bingeable I actually read this whole book in a day or two! I also loved the lyrics from Marianne's band, The Laundromats, at the beginning of each chapter. I could easily picture the band performing them and it gave the book a great vibe.
With an adorable romance that will give you all the butterflies and an inspiring story of self-growth and finding your confidence, All Alone With You is the perfect book to read this summer!
“You fight like hell for what you think you want, but you don’t fight for what you already have.”
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: depression, anxiety, death of a parent (past), grief, car accident (past, mentioned)
This book was a ray of sunshine! Eloise was one of my favourite aspects of All Alone With You. I related to her in so many ways and was rooting for her from the very first chapter. Her humour and sarcasm were on point and I could definitely picture us being friends and hanging out together. The depiction of Eloise's anxiety was also very well done. I appreciated that her experience was a journey that she made gradual progress on. I also couldn't get enough of her relationship with Austin! The romance is slow-burn and so satisfying! And the grumpy and sunshine trope? Perfectly done! What I loved the most was watching their friendship blossom and seeing them bring out the best in each other. And Marianne! She is the best! She brought a lot of insight and fun to the story, plus the fact that she was a retired rock star was so unique and intriguing. However, I wish we could have seen a bit more of the side characters' personalities and stories. In terms of the writing, it flowed smoothly and made it so bingeable I actually read this whole book in a day or two! I also loved the lyrics from Marianne's band, The Laundromats, at the beginning of each chapter. I could easily picture the band performing them and it gave the book a great vibe.
With an adorable romance that will give you all the butterflies and an inspiring story of self-growth and finding your confidence, All Alone With You is the perfect book to read this summer!
July 3, 2023
One of those books that remind me of why I love YA 😌😌😌
I enjoyed this so much!! I loved the characters. I loved how Eloise, Austin and Marianne were each in a situation where they didn’t have many (if any) friends, and yet they were all wonderful people (Austin especially lol), so it really took the stigma out of it. Sometimes that’s just the situation you find yourself in because you haven’t found your people and it’s not your fault, nor does it say anything bad about you.
I really loved and could relate to Eloise. While she dealt with her anxiety and social anxiety by being grumpy, snarky and sometimes downright mean, which is not how I handled it at her age - I was more of a “be completely silent and talk to no one” person - I could really understand what she was feeling and where she was coming from. And I loved seeing her form such close bonds with Austin and Marianne, and not only them, but be accepted by Austin’s bandmate friends and realize that just because her ex-best friends basically ditched her and she’d been alone for nearly a year, it doesn’t mean she is unlovable - it just means she hadn’t found the right people who she could really click with.
I also loved how since Eloise was not even expecting to make friends, she sure wasn’t expecting to find someone she would have a romantic relationship with - so I love how that snuck up on her and it wasn’t ever something she would have considered for herself. And it was so sweet watching their connection develop and their relationship unfold, even when Eloise had such a hard time seeing it for what it was - falling asleep on FaceTime is not something casual friends do together, Eloise!! You’re in love with each other, okay!!
All in all, so wonderful! Lots to love! Already put a hold on one of the author’s other books ❤️
I enjoyed this so much!! I loved the characters. I loved how Eloise, Austin and Marianne were each in a situation where they didn’t have many (if any) friends, and yet they were all wonderful people (Austin especially lol), so it really took the stigma out of it. Sometimes that’s just the situation you find yourself in because you haven’t found your people and it’s not your fault, nor does it say anything bad about you.
I really loved and could relate to Eloise. While she dealt with her anxiety and social anxiety by being grumpy, snarky and sometimes downright mean, which is not how I handled it at her age - I was more of a “be completely silent and talk to no one” person - I could really understand what she was feeling and where she was coming from. And I loved seeing her form such close bonds with Austin and Marianne, and not only them, but be accepted by Austin’s bandmate friends and realize that just because her ex-best friends basically ditched her and she’d been alone for nearly a year, it doesn’t mean she is unlovable - it just means she hadn’t found the right people who she could really click with.
I also loved how since Eloise was not even expecting to make friends, she sure wasn’t expecting to find someone she would have a romantic relationship with - so I love how that snuck up on her and it wasn’t ever something she would have considered for herself. And it was so sweet watching their connection develop and their relationship unfold, even when Eloise had such a hard time seeing it for what it was - falling asleep on FaceTime is not something casual friends do together, Eloise!! You’re in love with each other, okay!!
All in all, so wonderful! Lots to love! Already put a hold on one of the author’s other books ❤️
April 11, 2023
Okay, whoever decided to comp this to Hacks has clearly either never read this book or never watched Hacks - show me where this was anything resembling that story line except that Eloise is young and Marianne is old. I'll wait.
That aside, this book was a delight. I went in looking for something light that would give me the warm and fuzzies and while I cried MULTIPLE times reading that (accurate portrayals of social anxiety just hit different okay) it did in fact deliver on the warms and the fuzzies. The characters were the kind that you instantly wanted to get to know and were definitely the strength of the book. But honestly I almost rounded it up to a 5 star because that cover is everything. A) I want to look half as cool as Eloise looks on that cover (and never will), and B) I love when people do that thing where they hold up an album or a book and like, complete it with their bodies (???) and it kind of looks like that.
Also worth noting is that I read this almost immediately after reading Daisy Jones and the Six so in my head Marianne was absolutely Daisy. It was like reading the teen teetotaler younger sister of DJATS.
That aside, this book was a delight. I went in looking for something light that would give me the warm and fuzzies and while I cried MULTIPLE times reading that (accurate portrayals of social anxiety just hit different okay) it did in fact deliver on the warms and the fuzzies. The characters were the kind that you instantly wanted to get to know and were definitely the strength of the book. But honestly I almost rounded it up to a 5 star because that cover is everything. A) I want to look half as cool as Eloise looks on that cover (and never will), and B) I love when people do that thing where they hold up an album or a book and like, complete it with their bodies (???) and it kind of looks like that.
Also worth noting is that I read this almost immediately after reading Daisy Jones and the Six so in my head Marianne was absolutely Daisy. It was like reading the teen teetotaler younger sister of DJATS.
July 15, 2023
3.75 stars
rep: protagonist with anxiety, Korean-American love interest, lesbian side character
cw: mentions of past suicide ideation
While I hadn’t read any books by this author before, the summary of this book really pulled me in. A grumpy / sunshine romance is also always really cute! All Alone with You follows a girl with anxiety who signs up for a volunteer agency outside of her comfort zone, ultimately befriending the boy partnered with her who’s the complete opposite.
After her father is laid off, Eloise knows she needs a big scholarship in order to go to her dream school. The only issue is that her resume is severely lacking in volunteer hours, so her counselor suggests that she volunteer with LifeCare, a program that socializes with lonely seniors. This is so far from what Eloise is comfortable with, even more so when a fellow volunteer Austin invites her to make a house call with Marianne Landis, the reclusive former lead singer of a popular rock band. As Eloise starts spending more time with Austin—at LifeCare and at school—as well as with Marianne, she starts realizing it isn’t so bad to go outside the bounds of what she wants to do.
I particularly enjoyed Eloise’s character arc throughout this book. She has anxiety, and she’s virtually been friendless since her two best friends abandoned her during a period of severe depression. Hanging out with Austin is the last thing she wants to do, especially since he has such a sunny personality compared to her grumpy one, but she grows to learn that isolating yourself for so long has more adverse effects and spending time with other people can, actually, lift your spirits.
The romance was also so cute! Again, Eloise dislikes Austin somewhat when they first meet but as they spend more time together, they both start enjoying each other’s company more and more. Their conversations were so enjoyable to read; I particularly enjoyed the moment where, after eating lunch together every day, Eloise misses Austin when he’s out sick one day.
I also really liked the side characters! While Marianne had less of a presence than a Hacks-comp would suggest, I really liked seeing her friendship with Austin and eventually Eloise. Eloise’s family were great too, and I liked seeing their support for her. Austin also pulls Eloise into his friend group, including his band, and although this brings up complications with his ex-girlfriend always hanging around, Eloise finds herself enjoying herself more and more with them.
Overall, All Alone with You was a fun book that also deals with mental health and how loneliness can exacerbate your worst thoughts. I really liked the characters and the romance and would definitely need to go read this author’s other works! If you’re a fan of grumpy/sunshine romances, you should definitely pick up All Alone with You.
this was cute! I really liked elouise and austin
read on my blog
rep: protagonist with anxiety, Korean-American love interest, lesbian side character
cw: mentions of past suicide ideation
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
While I hadn’t read any books by this author before, the summary of this book really pulled me in. A grumpy / sunshine romance is also always really cute! All Alone with You follows a girl with anxiety who signs up for a volunteer agency outside of her comfort zone, ultimately befriending the boy partnered with her who’s the complete opposite.
After her father is laid off, Eloise knows she needs a big scholarship in order to go to her dream school. The only issue is that her resume is severely lacking in volunteer hours, so her counselor suggests that she volunteer with LifeCare, a program that socializes with lonely seniors. This is so far from what Eloise is comfortable with, even more so when a fellow volunteer Austin invites her to make a house call with Marianne Landis, the reclusive former lead singer of a popular rock band. As Eloise starts spending more time with Austin—at LifeCare and at school—as well as with Marianne, she starts realizing it isn’t so bad to go outside the bounds of what she wants to do.
I particularly enjoyed Eloise’s character arc throughout this book. She has anxiety, and she’s virtually been friendless since her two best friends abandoned her during a period of severe depression. Hanging out with Austin is the last thing she wants to do, especially since he has such a sunny personality compared to her grumpy one, but she grows to learn that isolating yourself for so long has more adverse effects and spending time with other people can, actually, lift your spirits.
The romance was also so cute! Again, Eloise dislikes Austin somewhat when they first meet but as they spend more time together, they both start enjoying each other’s company more and more. Their conversations were so enjoyable to read; I particularly enjoyed the moment where, after eating lunch together every day, Eloise misses Austin when he’s out sick one day.
I also really liked the side characters! While Marianne had less of a presence than a Hacks-comp would suggest, I really liked seeing her friendship with Austin and eventually Eloise. Eloise’s family were great too, and I liked seeing their support for her. Austin also pulls Eloise into his friend group, including his band, and although this brings up complications with his ex-girlfriend always hanging around, Eloise finds herself enjoying herself more and more with them.
Overall, All Alone with You was a fun book that also deals with mental health and how loneliness can exacerbate your worst thoughts. I really liked the characters and the romance and would definitely need to go read this author’s other works! If you’re a fan of grumpy/sunshine romances, you should definitely pick up All Alone with You.
original review:
this was cute! I really liked elouise and austin
June 2, 2023
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really really enjoyed this book!! I am a sucker for a good “grumpy meets sunshine”, and it’s not very often that the girl is the grumpy one, so I welcomed the change from the norm! The story was adorable and heartfelt, the characters were lovable and relatable, and it was such an easy read and I was so invested that I read it in one sitting, in just a few hours! I definitely recommend if you need a light-hearted, sweet YA story.
August 11, 2023
It's so cliché at times, I thought I'd hate it... but it's also so fucking cute!
September 7, 2023
4.5 stars
All Alone with You is the perfect example of the grumpyXsunshine trope.
Eloise was the best prickly protagonist. I think we need more of them in young adult literature. I think that they showcase a side of young women that we need more of and I think Coombes did a really good job here highlighting that.
Austin was also the perfect little sunshine boy who used emojis and he was just so full of light and happiness, and he really balanced Eloise out well, and I think that readers will really really fall in love with him.
But, the absolute best character I think in this novel is Marianne. I think she delivers so much more depth to this piece. She’s funny and whip-smart and provides depth and insight not only to the protagonist, Eloise, but also to the reader. She also adds this fun 70s - Fleetwood Mac vibe to the whole book which is a whole other level of fun.
My only downside was the cursing. It just felt too much, personally, for a young adult novel. I would have liked to see the characters not limit their language in that way.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!
All Alone with You is the perfect example of the grumpyXsunshine trope.
Eloise was the best prickly protagonist. I think we need more of them in young adult literature. I think that they showcase a side of young women that we need more of and I think Coombes did a really good job here highlighting that.
Austin was also the perfect little sunshine boy who used emojis and he was just so full of light and happiness, and he really balanced Eloise out well, and I think that readers will really really fall in love with him.
But, the absolute best character I think in this novel is Marianne. I think she delivers so much more depth to this piece. She’s funny and whip-smart and provides depth and insight not only to the protagonist, Eloise, but also to the reader. She also adds this fun 70s - Fleetwood Mac vibe to the whole book which is a whole other level of fun.
My only downside was the cursing. It just felt too much, personally, for a young adult novel. I would have liked to see the characters not limit their language in that way.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!
May 31, 2023
4.5 stars. This BOOK!!! *swoons*
I always have a hard time reviewing books that I really, really love, so I’ll do my best here. The best parts of All Alone With You are Eloise’s relationship with Austen and her relationship with Marianne.
Austen is such a sweet sunshine puppy. I adored him from the first page we met him. The nicknames, the banter, and the emojis really did me in. The friends to lovers of it all made me so happy. I forgot how much I love that trope.
As for Marianne, she’s an absolute icon and I loved her dearly. I’ll take no criticism of Marianne, please and thank you.
Also, I really appreciated the author’s depiction of Eloise’s anxiety as someone who has an anxiety disorder. I can (unfortunately) confirm that the overthinking and spiraling are true to form, at least in my experience.
You’re probably thinking “Michaela, if you really loved this book, why aren’t you giving it 5 stars?” Well, it’s true: I LOVED THIS BOOK! However, there was just too much cursing. It felt like every other page dropped the f-bomb to the point where it became distracting. So, hence the -0.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I always have a hard time reviewing books that I really, really love, so I’ll do my best here. The best parts of All Alone With You are Eloise’s relationship with Austen and her relationship with Marianne.
Austen is such a sweet sunshine puppy. I adored him from the first page we met him. The nicknames, the banter, and the emojis really did me in. The friends to lovers of it all made me so happy. I forgot how much I love that trope.
As for Marianne, she’s an absolute icon and I loved her dearly. I’ll take no criticism of Marianne, please and thank you.
Also, I really appreciated the author’s depiction of Eloise’s anxiety as someone who has an anxiety disorder. I can (unfortunately) confirm that the overthinking and spiraling are true to form, at least in my experience.
You’re probably thinking “Michaela, if you really loved this book, why aren’t you giving it 5 stars?” Well, it’s true: I LOVED THIS BOOK! However, there was just too much cursing. It felt like every other page dropped the f-bomb to the point where it became distracting. So, hence the -0.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 13, 2023
3.75 stars
I ended up enjoying this book but, man, was it a slow start. There isn’t much of an active driving force in this novel. It relies on the characters to keep you invested and…honestly? The characters were nothing special. Nothing about this book was particularly special or unique, really. Every aspect, from the romantic tropes to the themes explored and the character archetypes have been done many times before, and quite frankly, they’ve been done better. It was a good book, but it was hard to become invested.
By about the 60% mark, I’d grown to care about Eloise, so I finally had some investment. I enjoyed her relationship with Marianne and her friendship with Austin. I wish it had stayed on the friendship level, because I never felt a chemistry between them. The characters and the plot grew on me slowly, and I really loved the Seattle setting, as someone from the Seattle area. I don’t regret reading this, but admittedly, if it hadn’t been an ARC, or if it hadn’t had the fun little interest of taking place where I live, I likely would have DNFed.
I ended up enjoying this book but, man, was it a slow start. There isn’t much of an active driving force in this novel. It relies on the characters to keep you invested and…honestly? The characters were nothing special. Nothing about this book was particularly special or unique, really. Every aspect, from the romantic tropes to the themes explored and the character archetypes have been done many times before, and quite frankly, they’ve been done better. It was a good book, but it was hard to become invested.
By about the 60% mark, I’d grown to care about Eloise, so I finally had some investment. I enjoyed her relationship with Marianne and her friendship with Austin. I wish it had stayed on the friendship level, because I never felt a chemistry between them. The characters and the plot grew on me slowly, and I really loved the Seattle setting, as someone from the Seattle area. I don’t regret reading this, but admittedly, if it hadn’t been an ARC, or if it hadn’t had the fun little interest of taking place where I live, I likely would have DNFed.
April 17, 2023
Entering into her senior year, Eloise has one goal in sight which is to get into USC. The only problem is that according to her guidance counselor, Eloise needs to put in some community service to make her application stand out. Her counselor suggests Lifecare as a great place to earn the time and seeing no other option, Eloise agrees. However, she isn't the best at talking to people and prefers to keep to herself so the outcome doesn't look promising.
Enter Austin. He is the ray of sunshine to her dark rain cloud. After their first encounter, Eloise knows Austin is someone she doesn't want to be around. He rubs her wrong by nicknaming her Lou the first time they meet and she hates it. But Austin is persistent and watches as Eloise struggles to talk to the elderly people, so he offers a solution. She should make house calls with him to visit with Marianne. Figuring anything is better than her horrific experience on the phone, she tags along not expecting her view on the world to be changed in the process.
ALL ALONE WITH YOU is a young adult romance with underlying themes of anxiety and mental health awareness. Eloise doesn't trust easily because she's been burned before and finds it difficult to form and maintain a bond with both Austin and Marianne. For someone with anxiety, it's so much easier to shut down and shut people out. Eloise faces the decision to continue developing relationships with these two very different people or retreating into her shell. As new problems arise, she finds her daily mental health challenged in the best and worst ways.
Eloise is a very relatable character for those who suffer from anxiety. Her reactions to situations are realistic and I felt my heart soar and drop with her as I read. I absolutely adore Austin and his upbeat personality. The two of them clash throughout the story but Austin doesn't give up. I also love Marianne's character and that it shows how someone who was so famous can be lonely too. She's fun, witty, and energetic and adds to the comedic relief of the story while maintaining a serious tone.
Final Verdict: Overall, this is a gritty young adult romance where the main character is a ball of anxiety and someone I could relate to. I would recommend this to fans of stories that bring about mental health awareness with a touch of sweet young love.
Enter Austin. He is the ray of sunshine to her dark rain cloud. After their first encounter, Eloise knows Austin is someone she doesn't want to be around. He rubs her wrong by nicknaming her Lou the first time they meet and she hates it. But Austin is persistent and watches as Eloise struggles to talk to the elderly people, so he offers a solution. She should make house calls with him to visit with Marianne. Figuring anything is better than her horrific experience on the phone, she tags along not expecting her view on the world to be changed in the process.
ALL ALONE WITH YOU is a young adult romance with underlying themes of anxiety and mental health awareness. Eloise doesn't trust easily because she's been burned before and finds it difficult to form and maintain a bond with both Austin and Marianne. For someone with anxiety, it's so much easier to shut down and shut people out. Eloise faces the decision to continue developing relationships with these two very different people or retreating into her shell. As new problems arise, she finds her daily mental health challenged in the best and worst ways.
Eloise is a very relatable character for those who suffer from anxiety. Her reactions to situations are realistic and I felt my heart soar and drop with her as I read. I absolutely adore Austin and his upbeat personality. The two of them clash throughout the story but Austin doesn't give up. I also love Marianne's character and that it shows how someone who was so famous can be lonely too. She's fun, witty, and energetic and adds to the comedic relief of the story while maintaining a serious tone.
Final Verdict: Overall, this is a gritty young adult romance where the main character is a ball of anxiety and someone I could relate to. I would recommend this to fans of stories that bring about mental health awareness with a touch of sweet young love.
July 27, 2023
this was good. this was great. was it show stopping, never seen before, an outworldly phenomenon? no. but this did what it had to do! personal attack after personal attack... did the job of diagnosing me with a psychiatric illness too bc i resonated with every thought, every word that came out of elouise' mouth. the whole time it was just 'wait i say that, hold up i think that' it was accurate representation of anxiety and depression
i wouldn't call it a romance strictly bc while it was the main theme, it wasn't just that. it was elouise figuring out what to do with those feelings bc shit id be terrified too if i fucked up my only and fairly new friendship. resultantly, it was sloooow burn. they got to me! but... this would've been a 5 star if it wasn't for the ending. now, this is a personal pet peeve of mine and i expect a stable minded person to not get annoyed by this as i did but the confession was cornY. girl confessing before the guy is distasteful sorry! not a fan of girl falls harder/first, whatever the case this was. her confession may have been crucial to her arc and growth but i did not care for it. secondly, not getting admission in usc was soo predictable and disappointing. she strived for it for years just to not get it. ok maybe the rejection was better than if she got it and chose not to go bc that would've hurt me to the core. also, i wish she made up with her ex bestie whatshername julia? jade? and i wish marianne was a little more developed. ok bye!
i wouldn't call it a romance strictly bc while it was the main theme, it wasn't just that. it was elouise figuring out what to do with those feelings bc shit id be terrified too if i fucked up my only and fairly new friendship. resultantly, it was sloooow burn. they got to me! but... this would've been a 5 star if it wasn't for the ending. now, this is a personal pet peeve of mine and i expect a stable minded person to not get annoyed by this as i did but the confession was cornY. girl confessing before the guy is distasteful sorry! not a fan of girl falls harder/first, whatever the case this was. her confession may have been crucial to her arc and growth but i did not care for it. secondly, not getting admission in usc was soo predictable and disappointing. she strived for it for years just to not get it. ok maybe the rejection was better than if she got it and chose not to go bc that would've hurt me to the core. also, i wish she made up with her ex bestie whatshername julia? jade? and i wish marianne was a little more developed. ok bye!
January 5, 2024
3.5 ☆
this book hit a little too close to home for comfort. eloise's character hit a little too close to home for comfort. her fears, anxieties, struggles, her whole internal monologue might have well been my own, we're that much alike. which was nice as well as slightly terrifying. the only thing i didn't appreciate was how she blamed herself for her fallout with her ex-best friend(s). she seemed to work on those conflicting feelings throughout the novel but kind of landed back at square one by the end of it—because i don't think that she should have to forgive and/or work to fix a relationship she didn't ruin.
the romance was cute, but no more than that. i didn't feel the "crazy chemistry" between austin and eloise that shy mentioned, and some of their early interactions were extremely corny, but their progression from annoyance to friendship to eventually love was sweet. i loved that eloise found her favorite person in austin, because she needed and deserved someone that values her as much as he does.
i also feel somewhat neutral about marianne. she was funny and her presence was also very necessary to eloise's growth, but i can't say that she made a lasting impression on me.
to be honest, nothing about this book did, but it was still very enjoyable to read! totally a lovely way to start the year.
this book hit a little too close to home for comfort. eloise's character hit a little too close to home for comfort. her fears, anxieties, struggles, her whole internal monologue might have well been my own, we're that much alike. which was nice as well as slightly terrifying. the only thing i didn't appreciate was how she blamed herself for her fallout with her ex-best friend(s). she seemed to work on those conflicting feelings throughout the novel but kind of landed back at square one by the end of it—because i don't think that she should have to forgive and/or work to fix a relationship she didn't ruin.
the romance was cute, but no more than that. i didn't feel the "crazy chemistry" between austin and eloise that shy mentioned, and some of their early interactions were extremely corny, but their progression from annoyance to friendship to eventually love was sweet. i loved that eloise found her favorite person in austin, because she needed and deserved someone that values her as much as he does.
i also feel somewhat neutral about marianne. she was funny and her presence was also very necessary to eloise's growth, but i can't say that she made a lasting impression on me.
to be honest, nothing about this book did, but it was still very enjoyable to read! totally a lovely way to start the year.
April 25, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.
Okay okay, where do I start? How about a brief synopsis?
Eloise is a senior in high school who has a dream of going to USC. When a meeting with her counselor ends with her having to do community service in order for her college app to be more appealing, she ends up at LifeCare where she meets Austin and Marianne. Austin is the complete opposite of Eloise, the sunshine to her grumpy. Throughout her time at LifeCare, she gets to know Austin and a friendship grows between them. There is also an adorable friendship that grows between Eloise and Marianne because of how similar they are.
Now let me start off with what I loved about the book, which is pretty much everything. I love how the author described both depression and anxiety. As someone who deals with it myself, this was the most accurate representation of both anxiety and depression that I have come across. I also very much enjoyed the gaming aspect of it, which was more in depth than any book I’ve read that’s talked about gaming. There was such an authenticity to this book and it really pulled me into the story. Lastly, I ADORED the pacing of the book. The romance took a while to develop which I loved because it wasn’t an instant infatuation. They slowly became friends before becoming anything more.
There was only one thing I disliked, which is minuscule and became a less of an issue the further I got into the book. In the beginning, the wording was a bit repetitive when describing Austin as “golden retriever energy”. It happened often in the beginning and slowly died off. I noticed “chain smoked” was used often as well, but wasn’t as bad.
With all that being said, a solid 4.5/5 which I have rounded up to five. It’s a quick and easy read, plus absolutely delightful. I absolutely recommend this to readers looking for a cute romance.
Okay okay, where do I start? How about a brief synopsis?
Eloise is a senior in high school who has a dream of going to USC. When a meeting with her counselor ends with her having to do community service in order for her college app to be more appealing, she ends up at LifeCare where she meets Austin and Marianne. Austin is the complete opposite of Eloise, the sunshine to her grumpy. Throughout her time at LifeCare, she gets to know Austin and a friendship grows between them. There is also an adorable friendship that grows between Eloise and Marianne because of how similar they are.
Now let me start off with what I loved about the book, which is pretty much everything. I love how the author described both depression and anxiety. As someone who deals with it myself, this was the most accurate representation of both anxiety and depression that I have come across. I also very much enjoyed the gaming aspect of it, which was more in depth than any book I’ve read that’s talked about gaming. There was such an authenticity to this book and it really pulled me into the story. Lastly, I ADORED the pacing of the book. The romance took a while to develop which I loved because it wasn’t an instant infatuation. They slowly became friends before becoming anything more.
There was only one thing I disliked, which is minuscule and became a less of an issue the further I got into the book. In the beginning, the wording was a bit repetitive when describing Austin as “golden retriever energy”. It happened often in the beginning and slowly died off. I noticed “chain smoked” was used often as well, but wasn’t as bad.
With all that being said, a solid 4.5/5 which I have rounded up to five. It’s a quick and easy read, plus absolutely delightful. I absolutely recommend this to readers looking for a cute romance.
July 23, 2023
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an E-Arc of this book. The following is my honest opinion *
."All Alone with You" is about high school senior Eloise who is struggling with her mental health and autopiloting through her last year of school. Pushed out of her comfort zone, she meets fellow high schooler Austin and senior citizen Marianne, who play a big part into Eloise learning its okay to not be okay.
Where do I even start?? The mental health representation and genuineness and realistic nature of this book is top tier. This book felt like a hug and fresh air to me. I really enjoyed how Amelia Diane Coombs portrayed the main characters, in particular Eloise, her mental health battle and her coping mechanisms. I felt Eloise in my bones. I relate to the struggle so much and just seeing her growth throughout the book was amazing. Coombs portrayed the story in such a way that it felt as if I was talking to Eloise and hearing the story from her myself. It was beautifully written.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the authors other works!
."All Alone with You" is about high school senior Eloise who is struggling with her mental health and autopiloting through her last year of school. Pushed out of her comfort zone, she meets fellow high schooler Austin and senior citizen Marianne, who play a big part into Eloise learning its okay to not be okay.
Where do I even start?? The mental health representation and genuineness and realistic nature of this book is top tier. This book felt like a hug and fresh air to me. I really enjoyed how Amelia Diane Coombs portrayed the main characters, in particular Eloise, her mental health battle and her coping mechanisms. I felt Eloise in my bones. I relate to the struggle so much and just seeing her growth throughout the book was amazing. Coombs portrayed the story in such a way that it felt as if I was talking to Eloise and hearing the story from her myself. It was beautifully written.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the authors other works!
February 17, 2024
actually you know what i cant decide if this is a 4.5 or a 5 star read for me LIKE I LOVED IT SO MUCH and i was so invested and i loved the characters so much and the story and UGH i dont think i even found a single flaw in it 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
it is the first y/a romance i have read in a looooooooong time, cause i often pick ones that are literally so cringe that i want to smash up my kindle into pieces. but this book was written so perfectly for a y/a and its safe to say this is the book that takes me out of my romance slump
this whole story was just so lighthearted and cute, so big up to this random author i found, i will now be reading your backlog.
thx for reading and comment and subscribe down below
it is the first y/a romance i have read in a looooooooong time, cause i often pick ones that are literally so cringe that i want to smash up my kindle into pieces. but this book was written so perfectly for a y/a and its safe to say this is the book that takes me out of my romance slump
this whole story was just so lighthearted and cute, so big up to this random author i found, i will now be reading your backlog.
thx for reading and comment and subscribe down below
May 4, 2023
Angsty loner Eloise would much rather be spending her time gaming than logging volunteer hours at LifeCare--an elder care service that's at odds with her social anxiety--but that's what her guidance counselor says she has to do if she wants a scholarship to her dream school. Along with fellow volunteer, Austin, Eloise resigns herself to weekly visits keeping an old woman company. It's a prospect made much more nerve-wracking (but all the more intriguing) when Eloise learns the old woman in question, Marianne Landis, is the famous former frontwoman of The Laundromats--and that she can be every bit as prickly as Eloise. At first, Eloise is annoyed by Austin's perpetual cheerfulness but eventually she warms to his sunshiny persona and the two of them become friends outside their shared LifeCare shifts. It's a sweet, slow-burn friendship-turned-romance, and the Seattle setting is fun, with lots of invented locales mixed in with actual places, especially with the music scene tie-ins.
October 17, 2023
My first book from this author and I absolutely loved it! It is very easy to read, super cute interactions with characters and a very relatable main character.
It is very opposites attract but it is done in such a great way that it is not annoying or overbearing especially since they do have similar pasts/hobbies. I love how they both compliment each other and change for the better.
The ending was a whirlwind but I loved every second of this book and will recommend to everyone this book. It hit my spot with grumpy x sunshine and wish there was more to read.
It is very opposites attract but it is done in such a great way that it is not annoying or overbearing especially since they do have similar pasts/hobbies. I love how they both compliment each other and change for the better.
The ending was a whirlwind but I loved every second of this book and will recommend to everyone this book. It hit my spot with grumpy x sunshine and wish there was more to read.
July 29, 2023
Amelia Diane Coombs has become one of my new favorite authors because of the way she writes about having anxiety. All Alone With You follows a girl named Eloise who desperately wants to get into USC, but needs community service to do it. Never good at making friends (or keeping them) she is nervous but wants to do well. But plans were never meant to stay in place for long. Highly recommend this!
November 5, 2023
Incredibly relatable anxiety rep, grumpy/sunshine trope that has my heart, characters I just love love love love. A new favorite, 200% recommending this. <3
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram
July 27, 2023
Thank you to Book Club Favorites and Simon and Schuster for the gifted copy.
REACHED MY SOUL.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I know that depression and anxiety have many, many different representations. And I gotta say, I loved the way this book portrayed them. As someone with both, I thought it was a great representation. Realistic, frustrating, and just doing your best.
The dynamics between Austin and Eloise were PERFECT. Reverse grumpy x sunshine at its finest. I loved the way they balanced each other out and the way they went from strangers to friends to having a relationship was so sweet. Filled with some teenage drama and a little bit of angst, I thought it was great for the YA category (and there’s only kisses!).
I adored the plot and the growth I saw throughout the book from Eloise. I really felt so much of what she was going through and the doubt that anxiety creates. I loved Marianne and learning her story and just how this entire cast functioned together.
It was a great read. I have no major complaints and this is my new favorite book by this author!
Overall audience notes:
- Young Adult Contemporary Romance
- Language: strong (I will say it’s a bit strong for a YA book)
- Romance: kisses
- Trigger/Content Warnings: depression and social anxiety depictions, loss of a father (side character, mentioned), stroke
REACHED MY SOUL.
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I know that depression and anxiety have many, many different representations. And I gotta say, I loved the way this book portrayed them. As someone with both, I thought it was a great representation. Realistic, frustrating, and just doing your best.
The dynamics between Austin and Eloise were PERFECT. Reverse grumpy x sunshine at its finest. I loved the way they balanced each other out and the way they went from strangers to friends to having a relationship was so sweet. Filled with some teenage drama and a little bit of angst, I thought it was great for the YA category (and there’s only kisses!).
I adored the plot and the growth I saw throughout the book from Eloise. I really felt so much of what she was going through and the doubt that anxiety creates. I loved Marianne and learning her story and just how this entire cast functioned together.
It was a great read. I have no major complaints and this is my new favorite book by this author!
Overall audience notes:
- Young Adult Contemporary Romance
- Language: strong (I will say it’s a bit strong for a YA book)
- Romance: kisses
- Trigger/Content Warnings: depression and social anxiety depictions, loss of a father (side character, mentioned), stroke
August 17, 2023
quite possibly my favorite book i have ever read
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