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Second Chances #4
It Should Have Been Me
Trigger warning: Contains cheating!
Catalina Diaz was my dream come true. Catalina Diaz was my future. Catalina Diaz promised me forever, and I was foolish enough to believe her. She lied. Forever, as it turns out, was just an infinite amount of happiness condensed into a very finite amount of time.
“I’ll be back in a year,” she told me before she boarded a plane, but that wasn’t true either. On the day she left, we didn’t realize that our paths were going to lead in two separate directions. The distance grew between us, and what we had slowly dissipated into something we couldn’t salvage. We both moved on, she found love again, and I accepted she was lost to me forever.
Well, I thought I accepted it…until I see her again.
Karma has always enjoyed messing with me, and this time is no exception. Her sister is getting married to my best friend and what better circumstance to run into my ex-fiancé again than at a wedding? Just one interaction and Catalina Diaz turns my whole life upside down. See, I still want her, but she’s happy with someone else. It’s painstakingly gruesome.
I keep telling myself that I just have to get through two weeks and then she’ll hop on a plane, and we can go our separate ways again. Just two weeks and then I can put all the memories of Catalina Diaz out of my mind for good. Easy, right? An infinite amount of torture condensed into a very finite amount of time. I’m sure I can do it.
Guide to read this series:
Book 1: It just had to be you - Can be read as a standalone or with book 4
Book 2: My Debacle with De Lorenzo - Must be read with Book 3.
Book 3: My Infatuation with Isabella - Must be read with book 2.
You do not need to read Book 1 to read Book 2 and 3, but it is recommended.
Book 4: It Should've Been Me (Cat and Scott part 2) - Must be read with book 1
You do not need to read Book 2 and 3 to read book 4, but it is recommended.
Book 5: Peter and Lia - Will be published in April/ May 2023
Catalina Diaz was my dream come true. Catalina Diaz was my future. Catalina Diaz promised me forever, and I was foolish enough to believe her. She lied. Forever, as it turns out, was just an infinite amount of happiness condensed into a very finite amount of time.
“I’ll be back in a year,” she told me before she boarded a plane, but that wasn’t true either. On the day she left, we didn’t realize that our paths were going to lead in two separate directions. The distance grew between us, and what we had slowly dissipated into something we couldn’t salvage. We both moved on, she found love again, and I accepted she was lost to me forever.
Well, I thought I accepted it…until I see her again.
Karma has always enjoyed messing with me, and this time is no exception. Her sister is getting married to my best friend and what better circumstance to run into my ex-fiancé again than at a wedding? Just one interaction and Catalina Diaz turns my whole life upside down. See, I still want her, but she’s happy with someone else. It’s painstakingly gruesome.
I keep telling myself that I just have to get through two weeks and then she’ll hop on a plane, and we can go our separate ways again. Just two weeks and then I can put all the memories of Catalina Diaz out of my mind for good. Easy, right? An infinite amount of torture condensed into a very finite amount of time. I’m sure I can do it.
Guide to read this series:
Book 1: It just had to be you - Can be read as a standalone or with book 4
Book 2: My Debacle with De Lorenzo - Must be read with Book 3.
Book 3: My Infatuation with Isabella - Must be read with book 2.
You do not need to read Book 1 to read Book 2 and 3, but it is recommended.
Book 4: It Should've Been Me (Cat and Scott part 2) - Must be read with book 1
You do not need to read Book 2 and 3 to read book 4, but it is recommended.
Book 5: Peter and Lia - Will be published in April/ May 2023
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 27, 2022
36 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 7, 2023
Trigger Warnings:
This is the fourth book in the second chances series, the first being It Just Had to Be You, the second being My Debacle with De Lorenzo, and the third being My Infatuation with Isabella. If I’m being completely honest, I recommend you read the first book and act like the other books don’t exist. I adored the second book but honestly, my favourite ships all sank in the third book. I love the author’s writing style but what happened to the characters pissed me off. I loved Scott and Cat in Book 1 and when I found out they broke up my heart broke. My curiosity pushed me to read the other books and I ended up rage-reading the third book. This series is entertaining, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t like the characters much after I finished. Cat felt more selfish in this book just like Dylan was ruined for me in the last book, but I do still love Scott.
This is a second-chance romance between Scott and Cat. After getting engaged, Cat got some opportunities and went outta the country, promising Scott she would return in a year. After a year, she promises to come back in a coupla months. It keeps going for the next two years and Scott breaks up with her. 4 and a half years later, Cat’s sister is marrying Scott’s best friend. Scott and Cat are reunited after years and they wanna avoid each other.
“Baby, I gave up everything to be with you...but I can’t...I can’t give this up, too.”
Now for spoilers
Stay safe folks!
This is the fourth book in the second chances series, the first being It Just Had to Be You, the second being My Debacle with De Lorenzo, and the third being My Infatuation with Isabella. If I’m being completely honest, I recommend you read the first book and act like the other books don’t exist. I adored the second book but honestly, my favourite ships all sank in the third book. I love the author’s writing style but what happened to the characters pissed me off. I loved Scott and Cat in Book 1 and when I found out they broke up my heart broke. My curiosity pushed me to read the other books and I ended up rage-reading the third book. This series is entertaining, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t like the characters much after I finished. Cat felt more selfish in this book just like Dylan was ruined for me in the last book, but I do still love Scott.
This is a second-chance romance between Scott and Cat. After getting engaged, Cat got some opportunities and went outta the country, promising Scott she would return in a year. After a year, she promises to come back in a coupla months. It keeps going for the next two years and Scott breaks up with her. 4 and a half years later, Cat’s sister is marrying Scott’s best friend. Scott and Cat are reunited after years and they wanna avoid each other.
“Baby, I gave up everything to be with you...but I can’t...I can’t give this up, too.”
Now for spoilers
Stay safe folks!
February 5, 2023
Scott and Cat were ruined for me. The author does say that this isn’t what she wanted with this book but they were just so awful that I actually didn’t want them to end up together which really surprised me since I loved their relationship in the first book.
I don’t like cheating stories even if it’s the main characters getting together while they are still in a relationship with other people. Cat had a boyfriend who seems like a jerk at first but is actually an ok guy. She cheats on him with Scott…
Also cheating is a choice not a mistake (like Cat’s mom says) and Cat chose to do it over and over again with Scott, a bad case of body betrayal syndrome I suppose.
I’m going to go read It Just Had To Be You again and hope it helps me to forget this book.
I don’t like cheating stories even if it’s the main characters getting together while they are still in a relationship with other people. Cat had a boyfriend who seems like a jerk at first but is actually an ok guy. She cheats on him with Scott…
Also cheating is a choice not a mistake (like Cat’s mom says) and Cat chose to do it over and over again with Scott, a bad case of body betrayal syndrome I suppose.
I’m going to go read It Just Had To Be You again and hope it helps me to forget this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2023
I woke up this morning trying to remember the last time I had a good, ugly cry with a book. My first thought immediately went to Cat, Scott, Isabella, Dylan and Peter and their stories. My thoughts then drifted to Jasmintha and Kevin in Journey to the Unknown. I already reread the Second Changes series twice this year and thought a third time was borderline obsession over these characters, so I decided I would give Journey to the Unknown a second read. First, let me just check to see if the 4th book in the Second Chances series is out. Imagine my surprise when I checked Amazon and it was there! I was so giddy! Christmas came two days later, but it still came! I could either go back to bed at 7 AM or start reading! You know which choice I made.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book! It was everything I didn’t know I wanted or needed in Cat and Scott’s story and there was definitely some ugly crying going on. Scott’s sadness was palpable, and Cat’s denial was heartbreaking. My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer. I read in the Author’s Notes on one of the previous books that readers complain about her books being too long. I couldn’t disagree more. Yes, they are long, but it’s because the characters need time to come to realization. With that said, I think Cat’s switch at the end was too quick and needed a little more time to develop. Maybe I’m just being selfish because I wanted the book to last longer. Sorry, author! You can’t please us all! Some of us want the books shorter while others want them longer!
A lot of people will have an issue with how the story progresses. Trust me, it made me pause, but I wholeheartedly agree with the Author’s note at the end that there was just no other way around it.
Maybe now that I have a major book hangover, I will reread Journey to the Unknown.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book! It was everything I didn’t know I wanted or needed in Cat and Scott’s story and there was definitely some ugly crying going on. Scott’s sadness was palpable, and Cat’s denial was heartbreaking. My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer. I read in the Author’s Notes on one of the previous books that readers complain about her books being too long. I couldn’t disagree more. Yes, they are long, but it’s because the characters need time to come to realization. With that said, I think Cat’s switch at the end was too quick and needed a little more time to develop. Maybe I’m just being selfish because I wanted the book to last longer. Sorry, author! You can’t please us all! Some of us want the books shorter while others want them longer!
A lot of people will have an issue with how the story progresses. Trust me, it made me pause, but I wholeheartedly agree with the Author’s note at the end that there was just no other way around it.
Maybe now that I have a major book hangover, I will reread Journey to the Unknown.
December 27, 2022
What a mission it was to get this one out, but by the skin of my teeth, I managed to get it published before the end of December. I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting. Scott and Cat's story is finally complete and I truly hope you enjoy it!
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Amazon ONE-click link
January 18, 2023
I’m torn on this book.
I can see and appreciate that there’s symmetry in Scott and Catalina’s relationship. In Book 1, Scott is guilty of causing a LOT of pain and suffering in Catalina’s life. Throughout the book Scott works to fix what he burned down. Their love story is amazing.
In Book 2, it’s Catalina’s turn to cause a lot of pain and stuffing in Scott’s life, but in a different way. Scott sacrificed everything for Cat and he was ALL IN FOREVER with her. But Cat… she left. She broke his heart.
I can see and understand how the author made these decisions. She wanted Cat to have a career and amazing life experiences after her heavy childhood. But… do I believe Cat would have thrown everything away? She hadn’t even visited her family for TWO YEARS at the time of this book. What? Her mom and sister were very important to her. She had everything before she left— the love of her family, friends AND Scott. When she left she literally had no one except JP. How can you lay down roots when you’re constantly moving to different countries? Do I believe the Catalina from book one would do this? I’m not sold on that concept entirely.
Now, back to the symmetry discussion. While they both are guilty of inflicting pain, the differences in book 2 are huge. One, they are older and should be maturing. Catalina should be more self-aware and capable of using her words. She literally still clams up and refuses to use words like she did when she was 17. Shouldn’t she be moving beyond this? Two, Catalina doesn’t sacrifice NEARLY as much as Scott did in book 1. Scott sacrificed his money, his reputation, football, and his family (as broken as they were). He literally turned his life upside down. Cat lost her contract or whatever, but she had no life or people she was leaving, besides poor JP. She didn’t lose her family. If anything, everyone welcomed her back with open arms and she barely had to do anything to get it all back.
IMO, the story needed to be longer and I needed to see Cat’s commitment. At this point I’m not convinced Cat won’t break Scott’s heart again. I didn’t see her apologize to JP (the guy deserves a long letter explaining herself, even if he chooses not to read it). I didn’t see her apologize to her family members she abandoned and or see her work to rebuild those relationships. I didn’t see her sacrificing in the day-to-day for Scott the same way he did for her. In fact, it seems like Catalina is still getting pretty much everything she wants. I’m terrified that in 10 years or whatever, she’ll abandon Scott again. There wasn’t enough to seal the deal. In contrast, there’s zero doubt in my mind that Scott will stay with Cat forever.
Side note, I feel like this ENTIRE scenario could have been easily avoided. Pete, whose dad is a prominent director in Hollywood, could have probably hooked Cat up with some contracts. Why can’t she work in the movie industry making sculptures, set designs, etc? Wasted opportunity. And then Cat would have been able to stay local and avoided this whole thing.
I can see and appreciate that there’s symmetry in Scott and Catalina’s relationship. In Book 1, Scott is guilty of causing a LOT of pain and suffering in Catalina’s life. Throughout the book Scott works to fix what he burned down. Their love story is amazing.
In Book 2, it’s Catalina’s turn to cause a lot of pain and stuffing in Scott’s life, but in a different way. Scott sacrificed everything for Cat and he was ALL IN FOREVER with her. But Cat… she left. She broke his heart.
I can see and understand how the author made these decisions. She wanted Cat to have a career and amazing life experiences after her heavy childhood. But… do I believe Cat would have thrown everything away? She hadn’t even visited her family for TWO YEARS at the time of this book. What? Her mom and sister were very important to her. She had everything before she left— the love of her family, friends AND Scott. When she left she literally had no one except JP. How can you lay down roots when you’re constantly moving to different countries? Do I believe the Catalina from book one would do this? I’m not sold on that concept entirely.
Now, back to the symmetry discussion. While they both are guilty of inflicting pain, the differences in book 2 are huge. One, they are older and should be maturing. Catalina should be more self-aware and capable of using her words. She literally still clams up and refuses to use words like she did when she was 17. Shouldn’t she be moving beyond this? Two, Catalina doesn’t sacrifice NEARLY as much as Scott did in book 1. Scott sacrificed his money, his reputation, football, and his family (as broken as they were). He literally turned his life upside down. Cat lost her contract or whatever, but she had no life or people she was leaving, besides poor JP. She didn’t lose her family. If anything, everyone welcomed her back with open arms and she barely had to do anything to get it all back.
IMO, the story needed to be longer and I needed to see Cat’s commitment. At this point I’m not convinced Cat won’t break Scott’s heart again. I didn’t see her apologize to JP (the guy deserves a long letter explaining herself, even if he chooses not to read it). I didn’t see her apologize to her family members she abandoned and or see her work to rebuild those relationships. I didn’t see her sacrificing in the day-to-day for Scott the same way he did for her. In fact, it seems like Catalina is still getting pretty much everything she wants. I’m terrified that in 10 years or whatever, she’ll abandon Scott again. There wasn’t enough to seal the deal. In contrast, there’s zero doubt in my mind that Scott will stay with Cat forever.
Side note, I feel like this ENTIRE scenario could have been easily avoided. Pete, whose dad is a prominent director in Hollywood, could have probably hooked Cat up with some contracts. Why can’t she work in the movie industry making sculptures, set designs, etc? Wasted opportunity. And then Cat would have been able to stay local and avoided this whole thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2023
5 SCOTTALINA HEA STARS
Where do I begin. Let me start off by saying that Don't and I mean, DON'T let the bad reviews on this book sway you from reading it. I didn’t want to read it because I LOVED Scottalinas' happy ending in the first book It Just Had To Be You. So when I found out that they broke up in Dylan and Isa's and books My Debacle with De Lorenzo and My Infatuation with Isabella. Well, needless to say, I was PISSED.
I was like DICK MOVE Jacqueline.
Then, I read the reviews and decided to steer clear of this one and keep the first story as their only story. But then Peters book got released, and well... curiosity got the better of me. I know Peters' book can be read as a stand-alone, but...
And it just wouldn't have felt complete. I love these characters and all of this authors' books, but I really went into this one ready to hate every bit of it.... And yes, I know, how could I ever hate a book that has Scott in it...
I gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised. From reading the reviews, I went into this book completely hating on Cat, I already made up my mind that she was selfish, and then to find out she still had the damn nerve to move on...
And then, when she sees him again, she comes across as completely indifferent? I was annoyed with her from the start. I was so upset, not just with her but with this author. Jacqueline Francis, first you kill off Perry on Journey to the Unknown, and now THIS.
But as I continued, still keeping my guard up and expectations low. I saw that EVERYTHING is pretty much explained in the first chapter. LITERALLY! IN. THE. FIRST. CHAPTER! So I decided to take a step back and put myself in Cats shoes. She was only 18 at the end of the first book and I realized that she still had her whole life ahead of her. If her career didn't kick off, she wouldn't have been able to afford going to college, so what job would she have had? Would she and Scott have been able to survive on just love alone. Or would he have to take care of her with the little money he had, which is something Scott also mentions in this book? Granted, I would have never had these questions if they never broke up in the first place, but this is where we were in their story, so I needed to re-evaluate.
Don't get me wrong, I was Team Scott before I even opened this book. BUT this damn author. laughs sheepishly
If you've read any of her other books, you know that she's known for sticking true to the authenticity of her characters. She always has a way of showing real-life issues in her books, and the fact of the matter is that life isn't a fairy tale. We don't always get the ending we hope for. Shit happens, people change, people grow, mistakes are made, and things don't always turn out the way we plan. And because this is shown in this book, it makes these characters so much more real and much easier to relate to. Maybe some people hated that, I did too at first, but as this story progressed, it was that very realness that drew me in and made me fall even more in love with this couple.
Cats' career took off, and she found herself traveling a lot and experiencing everything she had never gotten to experience before. Scott came from a wealthy family, and he saw all he wanted to see in the world. Vacationing wherever he wanted since he was a kid so that life didn't appeal to him anymore, yet for Cat, she was experiencing all of this for the first time. This eventually leads to Scott ending things because he cant handle the distance anymore.
After 3 months of phone calls and texts trying to get Scott back. Cat finally decides to stop trying. She feels so rejected that he won't take her calls that she forces herself to move on. And you soon realize that the reason she seems so indifferent toward him at first is because she never truly moved on.
My wandering heart made peace with the past and finally stayed in one place long enough to fall in love again. Look, it wasn’t easy. This stupid heart of mine used to skip the country all the time, desperately seeking the man I left behind, the same man who had ruthlessly torn me apart inside, and yet the damn thing still refused to let go. I’d have to calmly convince it that that part of my life was over. Every time it happened, my poor heart returned from its travels aching and sore, but after I rationalized and explained that I didn’t need Scott Carter in my life anymore, it would settle down...Well, for a few weeks, and then it would escape custody and fuck off again.
She then starts dating and eventually moves in with her now bf JP. She actively tried to avoid Scott every time she went back home to visit her family, but now her sister is getting married to one of Scott's best friends and she won't be able to avoid him this time. There is a lot of tension (sexual and otherwise), resentment, and hurt between them. She ends up cheating on JP with Scott, she feels disgusted for doing that to JP and as much as she wants to hold onto the life that she's built with him, her heart keeps pulling her back to Scott. She finds herself unable to stay away from him. This starts confusing Scott because she made it very clear that was still going to be leaving after the wedding. But as it continues, oh dear lawd, watching these two find their way back to each other.
It gave me EVERYTHING I didn't know I wanted from their story. We get to see so much of the other characters as well which just made this one even more enjoyable. I loved how the scenes with the other characters made Cat see just how much she was missing out on. I loved seeing more of Tommy because FUCK I just love Tommy and the school boy crush he has on Dana, Dylan's sister. Every scene with Tommy had me laughing out loud.
I look a little cheap.”
“Very cheap,” Tommy agrees with a nod. “If I sold you for a dollar, I’d probably get change.” ~ Tommy to Cat
“Why do you insist on touching me?”
“I don’t know. You come across as the type who was deprived of affection as a child. I’ll give you all the love you need, Conman.” Tommy grabs his face with both hands and forces him to look up. “So, are you joining us for some lingerie shopping, you beautiful ginger man-child?” ~ Tommy to Connor
I loved seeing more of Scott's adorably, sexy arrogance and getting to witness the evolution of Scott and his Dad's relationship. Edward is just a ball of cuteness.
“I’ve been practicing,” my dad assures me. “I think we might stand a chance this week.”
“Yeah, I’m not buying that. Dad, I love ya, which is why I’m going to be straight with you. You’re like the kid on the team that’s only ever gonna get the participation award.”
“Practice has made me better...much better than the last time.”
To prove my point, Peter tosses the ball to him. “Here, catch.”
My father tries to catch it by looping both arms around it, but ends up catching fresh air and sunlight instead. Peter puts his head down to hide his laughter.
“What exactly have you been practicing, dad?”
“I didn’t physically practice...but I watched a lot of games.”
And as for Peter's crush on Cat's mom and the back and forth jabs between him and Keith...
“Geez, relax. You know I’m just kidding. I’m totally holding out for her mother.”
“I heard that,” Keith yells from the kitchen.
Peter steps away from us and into the open-plan kitchen, taking a seat next to my dad on a barstool at the island. “What’s for breakfast this morning, Mrs. Diaz?”
“It’s Mrs. Hart,” Keith corrects, but Pete pretends he doesn’t hear him.
“Any chance you might be on the menu?”
And don't even get me started on the Scott, Peter, Dylan Bromance. What they have goes so much deeper than friendship. They're brothers from different mothers. The way they understand each other. Their insults, the banter, the sarcasm, the teasing and deep conversations. And at the end of all that, the things that they're willing to do for each other shows you how much they value this "brotherhood". You really feel their friendship and the love they have for one another. I just LOVE the bond between these 3 incredible men. These guys are IT for me!
“You nervous, Dyl?”
“No. Why would I be nervous?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because it’s your wedding day.”
“Oh, is that today? I was wondering what all the flowers were for.”
Peter walks in then with Tommy right behind him. “Hey, what’s up with all the flowers? Is someone getting married today?”
“Scott says it might be me.”
Peter feigns shock, then throws his arm around Dylan and slaps a kiss on his temple. “Well then, congratulations, boy!”
“Let’s bring it in for a group hug first.”
I smile as we all huddle together. Dyl has always been the sentimental type. It used to bug me to the nth degree when we were younger, but now it’s one of the things I appreciate most about him. I bring objective logic to our small circle of friends. I come with facts and hard-core truth whether they want to hear it or not. Pete brings perspective and understanding because he is generally the voice of reason when Dylan and I get into it (and we’ve had many heated arguments over the years). But Dylan...Dylan brings heart. He’s compassion personified.
This book really has it all. Angst, Bromance, tension, emotional parts and let's not forget the mind blowing sex. I mean that night of the bachelor party and morning after sex scene... FML
Again, it gave me everything I didn't know I wanted, everything I didn't know I needed. It has sooo much humor, family and friendship bonds. And as for the romance, well...
“And I get it. Sometimes love isn’t enough. You need more, and I won’t stand in the way of that, but I want you to be fully aware that giving this up is your choice, not mine. In a few seconds, you’re gonna turn and take one step away from me. In the grander scheme of things, one step seems insignificant, like choosing clay at a toy store or saying hi to the new kid at school. But that one step will lead to another...and then another. Our paths will diverge, and we’ll get further and further apart. Time will continue to move forward at a steady rate of one second per second and eventually, you’ll find yourself one day in the future feeling the true butterfly effect of this choice.” ~ Scott to Cat
I guess at the end of this journey, the only thing I didn't like was the fact that Cat cheated on JP. I know, who could blame her right cause I mean, well.... it's SCOTT CARTER. But I still didn't like that, especially because, as much as I tried to dislike JP, I just couldn't. He was sweet, amazing and romantic in his own way. But Cat eventually did the right thing in the end.
Aside from that, I loved every minute of it, especially because there were parts at the end that reminded me of moments in the first book, and that brought back all those feelings as the reader. Everything came full circle. I can safely say that I was not disappointed.
She drops her forehead against mine. “Do you know what it’s like to love someone so much that you’d give up everything for them?”
I chuckle. “I have a vague idea.”
“So that’s what I did. I chose to give it all up, a choice in a series of choices that inevitably led me back to you.”
AMAZING READ!!! But that's what you get with this author. There is always something to learn from her books. Jacqueline has these intellectual, scientific, mathematic hidden gems that are so brilliantly intertwined in the story. In Journey to the Unknown it was Newtons Laws. In Dylan's and Isa's books in was Schrodinger's Cat and in this one it was Phi. The Butterfly Effect conversation that Cat and Scott had, really made me think, not just in terms of the book but in terms of my life. It was really profound and deep and I thoroughly enjoyed that.
And can I just say that Scott as a dad had me SWOOOOOONING
“Daddy, I want to change my name,” Anji says as I slide in another clip. That gets my attention. “Why do you want to change your name?”
“Charlie says it’s too hard to say?”
“Who’s Charlie?”
“He’s the new kid at daycare,”
Cat shouts from the bedroom.
“Yes, he’s my boyvren.”
“Your boyfriend? Your boyfriend got a job that he’s running his mouth like that, cupcake?”
“Um...I don’t think so.”
“That’s what I thought. So, why don’t you tell Charlie⸺”
“Scott,” Cat warns.
I grit my teeth. “Your name is very special, so you can tell Charlie that we won’t be changing it.”
“Why is my name special?”
“Well, mommy chose your name because Anjanique means gift of God’s favor,” I explain. “But daddy chose it because it’s a mixture of Anjae and unique. Anjae means butterfly, which is perfect for you.” I rub my nose against hers. “Because you are the butterfly effect of a single choice.”
FUCKING BEAUTIFUL!!!
Really glad I gave this book a chance, if you're willing to look past the fairy tale ending and enjoy a more relatable story, then give this one a try, if not, it best to skip.
But I gotta say, this book made me even more excited to read Pete's book...
Where do I begin. Let me start off by saying that Don't and I mean, DON'T let the bad reviews on this book sway you from reading it. I didn’t want to read it because I LOVED Scottalinas' happy ending in the first book It Just Had To Be You. So when I found out that they broke up in Dylan and Isa's and books My Debacle with De Lorenzo and My Infatuation with Isabella. Well, needless to say, I was PISSED.
I was like DICK MOVE Jacqueline.
Then, I read the reviews and decided to steer clear of this one and keep the first story as their only story. But then Peters book got released, and well... curiosity got the better of me. I know Peters' book can be read as a stand-alone, but...
And it just wouldn't have felt complete. I love these characters and all of this authors' books, but I really went into this one ready to hate every bit of it.... And yes, I know, how could I ever hate a book that has Scott in it...
I gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised. From reading the reviews, I went into this book completely hating on Cat, I already made up my mind that she was selfish, and then to find out she still had the damn nerve to move on...
And then, when she sees him again, she comes across as completely indifferent? I was annoyed with her from the start. I was so upset, not just with her but with this author. Jacqueline Francis, first you kill off Perry on Journey to the Unknown, and now THIS.
But as I continued, still keeping my guard up and expectations low. I saw that EVERYTHING is pretty much explained in the first chapter. LITERALLY! IN. THE. FIRST. CHAPTER! So I decided to take a step back and put myself in Cats shoes. She was only 18 at the end of the first book and I realized that she still had her whole life ahead of her. If her career didn't kick off, she wouldn't have been able to afford going to college, so what job would she have had? Would she and Scott have been able to survive on just love alone. Or would he have to take care of her with the little money he had, which is something Scott also mentions in this book? Granted, I would have never had these questions if they never broke up in the first place, but this is where we were in their story, so I needed to re-evaluate.
Don't get me wrong, I was Team Scott before I even opened this book. BUT this damn author. laughs sheepishly
If you've read any of her other books, you know that she's known for sticking true to the authenticity of her characters. She always has a way of showing real-life issues in her books, and the fact of the matter is that life isn't a fairy tale. We don't always get the ending we hope for. Shit happens, people change, people grow, mistakes are made, and things don't always turn out the way we plan. And because this is shown in this book, it makes these characters so much more real and much easier to relate to. Maybe some people hated that, I did too at first, but as this story progressed, it was that very realness that drew me in and made me fall even more in love with this couple.
Cats' career took off, and she found herself traveling a lot and experiencing everything she had never gotten to experience before. Scott came from a wealthy family, and he saw all he wanted to see in the world. Vacationing wherever he wanted since he was a kid so that life didn't appeal to him anymore, yet for Cat, she was experiencing all of this for the first time. This eventually leads to Scott ending things because he cant handle the distance anymore.
After 3 months of phone calls and texts trying to get Scott back. Cat finally decides to stop trying. She feels so rejected that he won't take her calls that she forces herself to move on. And you soon realize that the reason she seems so indifferent toward him at first is because she never truly moved on.
My wandering heart made peace with the past and finally stayed in one place long enough to fall in love again. Look, it wasn’t easy. This stupid heart of mine used to skip the country all the time, desperately seeking the man I left behind, the same man who had ruthlessly torn me apart inside, and yet the damn thing still refused to let go. I’d have to calmly convince it that that part of my life was over. Every time it happened, my poor heart returned from its travels aching and sore, but after I rationalized and explained that I didn’t need Scott Carter in my life anymore, it would settle down...Well, for a few weeks, and then it would escape custody and fuck off again.
She then starts dating and eventually moves in with her now bf JP. She actively tried to avoid Scott every time she went back home to visit her family, but now her sister is getting married to one of Scott's best friends and she won't be able to avoid him this time. There is a lot of tension (sexual and otherwise), resentment, and hurt between them. She ends up cheating on JP with Scott, she feels disgusted for doing that to JP and as much as she wants to hold onto the life that she's built with him, her heart keeps pulling her back to Scott. She finds herself unable to stay away from him. This starts confusing Scott because she made it very clear that was still going to be leaving after the wedding. But as it continues, oh dear lawd, watching these two find their way back to each other.
It gave me EVERYTHING I didn't know I wanted from their story. We get to see so much of the other characters as well which just made this one even more enjoyable. I loved how the scenes with the other characters made Cat see just how much she was missing out on. I loved seeing more of Tommy because FUCK I just love Tommy and the school boy crush he has on Dana, Dylan's sister. Every scene with Tommy had me laughing out loud.
I look a little cheap.”
“Very cheap,” Tommy agrees with a nod. “If I sold you for a dollar, I’d probably get change.” ~ Tommy to Cat
“Why do you insist on touching me?”
“I don’t know. You come across as the type who was deprived of affection as a child. I’ll give you all the love you need, Conman.” Tommy grabs his face with both hands and forces him to look up. “So, are you joining us for some lingerie shopping, you beautiful ginger man-child?” ~ Tommy to Connor
I loved seeing more of Scott's adorably, sexy arrogance and getting to witness the evolution of Scott and his Dad's relationship. Edward is just a ball of cuteness.
“I’ve been practicing,” my dad assures me. “I think we might stand a chance this week.”
“Yeah, I’m not buying that. Dad, I love ya, which is why I’m going to be straight with you. You’re like the kid on the team that’s only ever gonna get the participation award.”
“Practice has made me better...much better than the last time.”
To prove my point, Peter tosses the ball to him. “Here, catch.”
My father tries to catch it by looping both arms around it, but ends up catching fresh air and sunlight instead. Peter puts his head down to hide his laughter.
“What exactly have you been practicing, dad?”
“I didn’t physically practice...but I watched a lot of games.”
And as for Peter's crush on Cat's mom and the back and forth jabs between him and Keith...
“Geez, relax. You know I’m just kidding. I’m totally holding out for her mother.”
“I heard that,” Keith yells from the kitchen.
Peter steps away from us and into the open-plan kitchen, taking a seat next to my dad on a barstool at the island. “What’s for breakfast this morning, Mrs. Diaz?”
“It’s Mrs. Hart,” Keith corrects, but Pete pretends he doesn’t hear him.
“Any chance you might be on the menu?”
And don't even get me started on the Scott, Peter, Dylan Bromance. What they have goes so much deeper than friendship. They're brothers from different mothers. The way they understand each other. Their insults, the banter, the sarcasm, the teasing and deep conversations. And at the end of all that, the things that they're willing to do for each other shows you how much they value this "brotherhood". You really feel their friendship and the love they have for one another. I just LOVE the bond between these 3 incredible men. These guys are IT for me!
“You nervous, Dyl?”
“No. Why would I be nervous?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because it’s your wedding day.”
“Oh, is that today? I was wondering what all the flowers were for.”
Peter walks in then with Tommy right behind him. “Hey, what’s up with all the flowers? Is someone getting married today?”
“Scott says it might be me.”
Peter feigns shock, then throws his arm around Dylan and slaps a kiss on his temple. “Well then, congratulations, boy!”
“Let’s bring it in for a group hug first.”
I smile as we all huddle together. Dyl has always been the sentimental type. It used to bug me to the nth degree when we were younger, but now it’s one of the things I appreciate most about him. I bring objective logic to our small circle of friends. I come with facts and hard-core truth whether they want to hear it or not. Pete brings perspective and understanding because he is generally the voice of reason when Dylan and I get into it (and we’ve had many heated arguments over the years). But Dylan...Dylan brings heart. He’s compassion personified.
This book really has it all. Angst, Bromance, tension, emotional parts and let's not forget the mind blowing sex. I mean that night of the bachelor party and morning after sex scene... FML
Again, it gave me everything I didn't know I wanted, everything I didn't know I needed. It has sooo much humor, family and friendship bonds. And as for the romance, well...
“And I get it. Sometimes love isn’t enough. You need more, and I won’t stand in the way of that, but I want you to be fully aware that giving this up is your choice, not mine. In a few seconds, you’re gonna turn and take one step away from me. In the grander scheme of things, one step seems insignificant, like choosing clay at a toy store or saying hi to the new kid at school. But that one step will lead to another...and then another. Our paths will diverge, and we’ll get further and further apart. Time will continue to move forward at a steady rate of one second per second and eventually, you’ll find yourself one day in the future feeling the true butterfly effect of this choice.” ~ Scott to Cat
I guess at the end of this journey, the only thing I didn't like was the fact that Cat cheated on JP. I know, who could blame her right cause I mean, well.... it's SCOTT CARTER. But I still didn't like that, especially because, as much as I tried to dislike JP, I just couldn't. He was sweet, amazing and romantic in his own way. But Cat eventually did the right thing in the end.
Aside from that, I loved every minute of it, especially because there were parts at the end that reminded me of moments in the first book, and that brought back all those feelings as the reader. Everything came full circle. I can safely say that I was not disappointed.
She drops her forehead against mine. “Do you know what it’s like to love someone so much that you’d give up everything for them?”
I chuckle. “I have a vague idea.”
“So that’s what I did. I chose to give it all up, a choice in a series of choices that inevitably led me back to you.”
AMAZING READ!!! But that's what you get with this author. There is always something to learn from her books. Jacqueline has these intellectual, scientific, mathematic hidden gems that are so brilliantly intertwined in the story. In Journey to the Unknown it was Newtons Laws. In Dylan's and Isa's books in was Schrodinger's Cat and in this one it was Phi. The Butterfly Effect conversation that Cat and Scott had, really made me think, not just in terms of the book but in terms of my life. It was really profound and deep and I thoroughly enjoyed that.
And can I just say that Scott as a dad had me SWOOOOOONING
“Daddy, I want to change my name,” Anji says as I slide in another clip. That gets my attention. “Why do you want to change your name?”
“Charlie says it’s too hard to say?”
“Who’s Charlie?”
“He’s the new kid at daycare,”
Cat shouts from the bedroom.
“Yes, he’s my boyvren.”
“Your boyfriend? Your boyfriend got a job that he’s running his mouth like that, cupcake?”
“Um...I don’t think so.”
“That’s what I thought. So, why don’t you tell Charlie⸺”
“Scott,” Cat warns.
I grit my teeth. “Your name is very special, so you can tell Charlie that we won’t be changing it.”
“Why is my name special?”
“Well, mommy chose your name because Anjanique means gift of God’s favor,” I explain. “But daddy chose it because it’s a mixture of Anjae and unique. Anjae means butterfly, which is perfect for you.” I rub my nose against hers. “Because you are the butterfly effect of a single choice.”
FUCKING BEAUTIFUL!!!
Really glad I gave this book a chance, if you're willing to look past the fairy tale ending and enjoy a more relatable story, then give this one a try, if not, it best to skip.
But I gotta say, this book made me even more excited to read Pete's book...
January 1, 2023
Just wow
This was a beautiful ending to a tumultuous story. I really feel there is no need to apologise for their break up in the first place because their characters needed the separation to finish growing. This book is very mature with such introspection by Scott and Cat and was an amazing read. Thank you for your hard work Jackie 💜 thank you for allowing all these stories to take their natural course even though it also messed you up inside.
Spoilers
At first I hated JP as a character because I was convinced he was a gold digger using our girl 😤 but eventually we get to spend time with him and he’s a good guy. I loved the raw honesty, the fact it wasn’t justified or made okay, the fact that the implosion of that relationship was basically like a natural disaster.
Very well done and can’t wait to finally learn what the heck is up with Pete and Lia ! 🤣
This was a beautiful ending to a tumultuous story. I really feel there is no need to apologise for their break up in the first place because their characters needed the separation to finish growing. This book is very mature with such introspection by Scott and Cat and was an amazing read. Thank you for your hard work Jackie 💜 thank you for allowing all these stories to take their natural course even though it also messed you up inside.
Spoilers
At first I hated JP as a character because I was convinced he was a gold digger using our girl 😤 but eventually we get to spend time with him and he’s a good guy. I loved the raw honesty, the fact it wasn’t justified or made okay, the fact that the implosion of that relationship was basically like a natural disaster.
Very well done and can’t wait to finally learn what the heck is up with Pete and Lia ! 🤣
January 5, 2023
This is definitely one of my favorite series! I'm not great at reviews and rarely do them, but this series deserves all the stars! In love with these characters and their stories. I can't wait to add these to my bookshelf.
January 5, 2023
Emotionally Wrecked, But Worth It
Jacqueline Francis' writing is impeccable. It is the little details that bring the charcters to life. The banter between characters is phenomenal. I had some good laughs when it came to almost anything Tommy did or said. Hoping he gets his story🤞. While I suffered so much heartache from Scott & Cat's story, it was worth it in the end 💕
Jacqueline Francis' writing is impeccable. It is the little details that bring the charcters to life. The banter between characters is phenomenal. I had some good laughs when it came to almost anything Tommy did or said. Hoping he gets his story🤞. While I suffered so much heartache from Scott & Cat's story, it was worth it in the end 💕
October 16, 2024
4.5 Stars ⭐️
What can I say?! Scott and Catalina will forever hold a special place in my heart. I didn’t want to let go of their relationship so soon and reading this book proved how much I craved this chapter of their lives to be told honestly after they’ve matured to explore their identities a bit more. Jacqueline Francis has become one of my favorite authors only cuz of Scott and Catalina’s story. They have come so far from the first book I read of them. It felt surreal to finally have a closure to their story. Absolutely LOVED this book but book 1 will forever be my favorite hence 4.5 stars instead of 5! 🤗
What can I say?! Scott and Catalina will forever hold a special place in my heart. I didn’t want to let go of their relationship so soon and reading this book proved how much I craved this chapter of their lives to be told honestly after they’ve matured to explore their identities a bit more. Jacqueline Francis has become one of my favorite authors only cuz of Scott and Catalina’s story. They have come so far from the first book I read of them. It felt surreal to finally have a closure to their story. Absolutely LOVED this book but book 1 will forever be my favorite hence 4.5 stars instead of 5! 🤗
April 18, 2024
MY FIRST 6 STARS READ THIS YEAR!!
This duet was such a treat. Ms Francis, you're a great author.
The banters were brilliant, all the games were well thought of, the intense scenes are very swoony.
And the main point is I love how Scott is written. This guy got the brains, sweet, douchey (but who doesn't love this), he's so smart my sapiosexual heart keeps falling for him.
I wish this book gets more love. It's unputdownable. I finished the duet in 2 days (unfortunately I have a job).
This duet was such a treat. Ms Francis, you're a great author.
The banters were brilliant, all the games were well thought of, the intense scenes are very swoony.
And the main point is I love how Scott is written. This guy got the brains, sweet, douchey (but who doesn't love this), he's so smart my sapiosexual heart keeps falling for him.
I wish this book gets more love. It's unputdownable. I finished the duet in 2 days (unfortunately I have a job).
March 26, 2023
Scott and Cat Part II
First, know that if you read these books out of order you will not get the full effect.
Second, know that you can stop after book one and enjoy Scott and Cat’s fascinating love story - there’s no cliffhanger, so you really can stop there. But, if you’re like me, and you get attached to characters and want the full story, then you have to take the good the bad and ugly and hopefully still appreciate the whole journey.
The character development is just as well-written as the previous three books, so in my opinion it’s worth it to continue this journey with JF. I do think it’s 5-star writing, I just struggled a little with the content- IYKYK.
Side note to JF: thank for the clarification from inside your head at the end. It helped forgive some of the heartbreak.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
First, know that if you read these books out of order you will not get the full effect.
Second, know that you can stop after book one and enjoy Scott and Cat’s fascinating love story - there’s no cliffhanger, so you really can stop there. But, if you’re like me, and you get attached to characters and want the full story, then you have to take the good the bad and ugly and hopefully still appreciate the whole journey.
The character development is just as well-written as the previous three books, so in my opinion it’s worth it to continue this journey with JF. I do think it’s 5-star writing, I just struggled a little with the content- IYKYK.
Side note to JF: thank for the clarification from inside your head at the end. It helped forgive some of the heartbreak.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
February 4, 2023
I was so excited to continue Cat and Scott's journey. Unfortunately it was nothing like book 1. It was simply a very long extension of book 1 with a mediocre plot.
Scott was an annoyingly sweet simp. Once they reconnected, they became an old married couple. There was zero drama or angst to keep them apart. The daily monotony of their lives seemed contrived.
Overnight, Cat changes her mind and decides she's now over her wanderlust and completely ready to settle down for a boring married life. She gives up her career and dreams and somehow they don't resent each other. Farfetched!
Only reason I didn't dnf was because I was invested. But the sequel just wasn't up to par, same as Dylan and Isabelle's sequel. This author should just write standalones.
Scott was an annoyingly sweet simp. Once they reconnected, they became an old married couple. There was zero drama or angst to keep them apart. The daily monotony of their lives seemed contrived.
Overnight, Cat changes her mind and decides she's now over her wanderlust and completely ready to settle down for a boring married life. She gives up her career and dreams and somehow they don't resent each other. Farfetched!
Only reason I didn't dnf was because I was invested. But the sequel just wasn't up to par, same as Dylan and Isabelle's sequel. This author should just write standalones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2023
This book crushed me. I wish I would have never noticed it was written. To sum it up and keep it short - I hated Cat! She was a selfish b*tch and totally ruined this book and the first book for me. She does not deserve Scott!
To go into detail - 🛑 SPOILERS 🛑
I LOVED book 1. I have read and reread it many times when I wasn't finding anything good and in major book slumps. Scott and Cat were everything! Now... she's a selfish b*tch who will never be good enough for him. Why do I feel that way about her?
1. Scott gave up everything for her. She claims to have loved him with "her whole soul" and never wanted anything else, BUT rather adventure with the snakes in Colombia and eat bugs in the jungle. Look, I am all for a strong female and I LOVE to travel. Would I put traveling above the people I love and the relationships I value? NO! Oh but Cat did. She needed to see the world and leave everyone behind.
2. But wait it gets worse... While she was out traveling the world and chasing her dream she wanted Scott to give up everything AGAIN and follow her around. I mean how could he be so stubborn and want to make something of himself after giving up everything when he could just follow Cat around the world catering to her every whim.
3. Ok, then she comes back for the wedding and proceeds to hurt him and only do what makes her happy. Such as answer a phone call from JP and tell him she loves him right in front of Scott. You couldn't just call him back in a bit to save this person you claim to have loved with everything you are a little pain? Not to mention she inserts herself into his life. Just starts showing up for runs and cooking and spending the day together when she had NO intentions of staying with him. Just leading him on when she knows how he feels.
Can we say it again for the people in the back…. SELFISH!
She starts making money and turns into everything she use to hate. Leaves her big, loving family behind, bails on Scott, and travels the world in search of accolades and excitement.
When she finally shows back up at the end, she's crying harder than she ever has, but wait... those tears are not because she has ripped Scott apart, it's because she had to give up her contract on her big project! Heaven forbid she gives anything up for him!! Ugh... Did I mention I hate her? I just think Scott is way too good for her. He put everything into their relationship and cared about her above all else. She does not reciprocate. She did not feel for him half of what he felt for her. Or at least she sure doesn't show it!
To go into detail - 🛑 SPOILERS 🛑
I LOVED book 1. I have read and reread it many times when I wasn't finding anything good and in major book slumps. Scott and Cat were everything! Now... she's a selfish b*tch who will never be good enough for him. Why do I feel that way about her?
1. Scott gave up everything for her. She claims to have loved him with "her whole soul" and never wanted anything else, BUT rather adventure with the snakes in Colombia and eat bugs in the jungle. Look, I am all for a strong female and I LOVE to travel. Would I put traveling above the people I love and the relationships I value? NO! Oh but Cat did. She needed to see the world and leave everyone behind.
2. But wait it gets worse... While she was out traveling the world and chasing her dream she wanted Scott to give up everything AGAIN and follow her around. I mean how could he be so stubborn and want to make something of himself after giving up everything when he could just follow Cat around the world catering to her every whim.
3. Ok, then she comes back for the wedding and proceeds to hurt him and only do what makes her happy. Such as answer a phone call from JP and tell him she loves him right in front of Scott. You couldn't just call him back in a bit to save this person you claim to have loved with everything you are a little pain? Not to mention she inserts herself into his life. Just starts showing up for runs and cooking and spending the day together when she had NO intentions of staying with him. Just leading him on when she knows how he feels.
Can we say it again for the people in the back…. SELFISH!
She starts making money and turns into everything she use to hate. Leaves her big, loving family behind, bails on Scott, and travels the world in search of accolades and excitement.
When she finally shows back up at the end, she's crying harder than she ever has, but wait... those tears are not because she has ripped Scott apart, it's because she had to give up her contract on her big project! Heaven forbid she gives anything up for him!! Ugh... Did I mention I hate her? I just think Scott is way too good for her. He put everything into their relationship and cared about her above all else. She does not reciprocate. She did not feel for him half of what he felt for her. Or at least she sure doesn't show it!
January 18, 2023
5 stars for writing and 3 stars for satisfaction...so I'll average them for a 4 with a Warning Label.
First, this author owns emotional storytelling. Each time I finish one of her books, I wonder how she takes her readers through all of the feels.
Second, if you want to stay in love with Scottalina, I would skip this book. I read it because I wanted to know their whole story, but I think I wish I hadn't. They do end up together, but it's not satisfying. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Scott, and I couldn't care less about Cat. How is this even possible?? She was the victim of horrible abuse in the first book, and I was team Cat the whole way through that book. The only thing that changed was how we viewed Scott because HE changed, and he joined Team Cat, too. Book 2...I was team Scott and I never cared about Catalina. I didn't care about her emotions when she saw Scott again. I didn't care that she lost her boyfriend (poor JP). She was a man-eater...USS Catalina destroying everything around her. I cared about every character in this book other than her. I cared about each member of her family, each friend. The disaster that her life ended up being (under the façade of being exciting and amazing) was the result of her choosing her career and her addiction of chasing the high of the next adventure over everything and everyone she claimed to love. She wasn't even the maid of honor at her sister's wedding--shouldn't that have been a wake up call? Hello? Earth to Cat!
Maybe I could have cared about Cat if more time had been given to the reconciliation--she just chooses to come back and that's it. She doesn't even apologize to any of her friends or family for bailing on them. The only reason I ended up being happy Scottalina was endgame was because there was no happy future for Scott without her. If there was, I'd be rooting for it because Cat is a means to an end....the end being a happy Scott.
I think I'd still be happy having not read this one....despite my admiration for the masterful way this author plays my heartstrings.
I don't even know how to rate this book. Well written? Yes. Satisfying? No.
5 stars for writing and 3 stars for satisfaction...so I'll average them for a 4 with a Warning Label.
First, this author owns emotional storytelling. Each time I finish one of her books, I wonder how she takes her readers through all of the feels.
Second, if you want to stay in love with Scottalina, I would skip this book. I read it because I wanted to know their whole story, but I think I wish I hadn't. They do end up together, but it's not satisfying. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Scott, and I couldn't care less about Cat. How is this even possible?? She was the victim of horrible abuse in the first book, and I was team Cat the whole way through that book. The only thing that changed was how we viewed Scott because HE changed, and he joined Team Cat, too. Book 2...I was team Scott and I never cared about Catalina. I didn't care about her emotions when she saw Scott again. I didn't care that she lost her boyfriend (poor JP). She was a man-eater...USS Catalina destroying everything around her. I cared about every character in this book other than her. I cared about each member of her family, each friend. The disaster that her life ended up being (under the façade of being exciting and amazing) was the result of her choosing her career and her addiction of chasing the high of the next adventure over everything and everyone she claimed to love. She wasn't even the maid of honor at her sister's wedding--shouldn't that have been a wake up call? Hello? Earth to Cat!
Maybe I could have cared about Cat if more time had been given to the reconciliation--she just chooses to come back and that's it. She doesn't even apologize to any of her friends or family for bailing on them. The only reason I ended up being happy Scottalina was endgame was because there was no happy future for Scott without her. If there was, I'd be rooting for it because Cat is a means to an end....the end being a happy Scott.
I think I'd still be happy having not read this one....despite my admiration for the masterful way this author plays my heartstrings.
I don't even know how to rate this book. Well written? Yes. Satisfying? No.
5 stars for writing and 3 stars for satisfaction...so I'll average them for a 4 with a Warning Label.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2023
I'm not going to lie, It Should Have Been Me seriously upset me a great deal since I really thought Cat & Scott were over all the immature drama of high school, and I LOVED the beginning of their story (It Just Had to Be You) despite all the bad things it started out as and after the last book I was excited for this round. I will say it was impossible to put down even though I really wanted to since Cat was completely ruined for me this round so yeah, I'm a tad upset at everything. I don't want to get into all the details since it would be spoilers but let's just say, there were things that I would have never expected Cat to do, and yet she did. And Scott was this a**hat in school, but yet, he turned into something I never saw coming after everything he put me through back in the day (and I'm not saying it was all bad either). It's an emotional terrorism at its finest, and I'm not sure I'll ever be over it but I'm not going to stop reading this author either since she does try to keep things real, it's just I get a little too much real in life so I need a tad less real in my stories LOL! Anyway, I'm going to stop here, and again I couldn't put the book down so I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
May 1, 2024
The story is romantic, dramatic and steamy. This is a second chance contemporary romance. The readers must read Book 1 to understand the couple. The protagonists have grown individually in the five years they have been separated. But the spark between the two didn’t dissipate in the slightest. The moment they met, they were back to square one. The emotional scenes will make the hearts of the readers clench and the beautiful ending will make them ecstatic. It is a highly recommended book for readers who like this genre.
Personally Take:
After the beautiful ending in Book 1, the author took the story one step further where the characters grew apart. Until they met again, they thought they moved but they couldn’t stop their attraction towards each other. The emotional bond between the couple was so strong then even after years, it felt like it was a normal for them. The heart clenching emotional scenes and the heart warming end made the book worthwhile for me.
Personally Take:
After the beautiful ending in Book 1, the author took the story one step further where the characters grew apart. Until they met again, they thought they moved but they couldn’t stop their attraction towards each other. The emotional bond between the couple was so strong then even after years, it felt like it was a normal for them. The heart clenching emotional scenes and the heart warming end made the book worthwhile for me.
May 15, 2024
It is so bad I wanna give you a zero but that’s not possible so I give you a one. Way to ruin perfectly fine characters🙄 It feels illegal to think Cat from book 1 is the same as the Cat here because it isn’t.
For those of you that have read book 1 stay there and keep your sanity and happy ending but for me I’m just going to imagine her with JP actually JP doesn’t deserve such a miserable life, I’m going to imagine her alone so she can focus on her projects and live her miserable life and Scott my baby finds a woman truly deserving of his love because that man has lots of love to give and deserve lots in return something a certain someone couldn’t do.
If you’re a fvcked up person and you hated Cat in the first book (I freaking loved her in the first book) well here’s a new version just for you, hope you enjoy.
For those of you that have read book 1 stay there and keep your sanity and happy ending but for me I’m just going to imagine her with JP actually JP doesn’t deserve such a miserable life, I’m going to imagine her alone so she can focus on her projects and live her miserable life and Scott my baby finds a woman truly deserving of his love because that man has lots of love to give and deserve lots in return something a certain someone couldn’t do.
If you’re a fvcked up person and you hated Cat in the first book (I freaking loved her in the first book) well here’s a new version just for you, hope you enjoy.
July 23, 2025
Why did the author take a good ending (book 1) and ruin it with this book?
I liked book 1 and Scott and Cat. I looked to see who book 2 would feature, and wasn’t too surprised it was Isa and Dylan. Then I saw there was a book 3 about them again, and then a book 4 and it had Cat and Scott again - what!!?
So I read the synopsis and I hated that they would break up so I knew I had to read this book.
And now I hate Cat. She was awful and selfish, did I say awful? I hated her through pretty much the whole book. Even the epilogue didn’t redeem her. I still didn’t like her.
Scott, him I still love. And even JP, poor JP was likable. Cat was the villain. This book was just disappointing. A train wreck I had to read to the end to see how Scott and Cat would come back together. I just didn’t know I would end up hating Cat almost immediately and that wouldn’t be resolved as we went along.
Disappointing.
I liked book 1 and Scott and Cat. I looked to see who book 2 would feature, and wasn’t too surprised it was Isa and Dylan. Then I saw there was a book 3 about them again, and then a book 4 and it had Cat and Scott again - what!!?
So I read the synopsis and I hated that they would break up so I knew I had to read this book.
And now I hate Cat. She was awful and selfish, did I say awful? I hated her through pretty much the whole book. Even the epilogue didn’t redeem her. I still didn’t like her.
Scott, him I still love. And even JP, poor JP was likable. Cat was the villain. This book was just disappointing. A train wreck I had to read to the end to see how Scott and Cat would come back together. I just didn’t know I would end up hating Cat almost immediately and that wouldn’t be resolved as we went along.
Disappointing.
March 5, 2023
This is the fourth book in this series, and the second part of Scott and Catalina’s story. The first past about this couple is “It Just Had to Be You” and is the beginning of their story. Scott has sacrificed so mush for Cat, but she just broke his heart. Cat has moved on with her life, and only returns home for her sister’s wedding, who is marrying Scott’s best friend, so crossing paths is unavoidable. This is a well written story which is an emotional roller coaster, which is raw, gritty, and intriguing, with family, friendships, heartbreak, humor, witty banter, denial, twists, turmoil, angst, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to a compelling page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
December 7, 2024
If you loved the first book please do not read this. Ignorance is bliss and all that. It just made me hate Cat. And now that I've read it I'm gonna try hard to pretend this book didn't happen and they have happily ever after in the first book.
I started reading it and I'm regretting it. It's breaking my heart for Scott. Cat sounds so selfish. Her growth in the character didn't take a good turn. I'm hating seeing her with JP. There's a part where she is saying how she can't imagine not seeing him for few weeks but she was okay with not seeing Scott for years and years. Now I kinda wish this book ended with Scott being with someone else even tho I know that wouldn't happen.
I started reading it and I'm regretting it. It's breaking my heart for Scott. Cat sounds so selfish. Her growth in the character didn't take a good turn. I'm hating seeing her with JP. There's a part where she is saying how she can't imagine not seeing him for few weeks but she was okay with not seeing Scott for years and years. Now I kinda wish this book ended with Scott being with someone else even tho I know that wouldn't happen.
February 16, 2025
I am so disappointed I could cry..
It Just Had To Be You was one of my favorite books of all time. I left an awesome review. I posted that book many times as suggestions on FB. I raved about the author.
Now it's all ruined.
This book was such a huge disappointment.
I wish I could un-read it.
Cat is the worst. She doesn't deserve another chance. Scott has no self respect.
It Just Had To Be You was one of my favorite books of all time. I left an awesome review. I posted that book many times as suggestions on FB. I raved about the author.
Now it's all ruined.
This book was such a huge disappointment.
I wish I could un-read it.
Cat is the worst. She doesn't deserve another chance. Scott has no self respect.
Want to read
February 4, 2024I just wanted to cone here and rant.. I was very excited about this book and fortunately I read some spoilers but what the actual fuck? Why the author had to ruin their story????
Scott literally left everything for Cat.. And she literally took his love for granted.
Scott literally left everything for Cat.. And she literally took his love for granted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2025
Jackie did it again!
This book was a roller coaster of feelings. It was great getting Scott and Cat again but not without their HEA. Not a fan of cheating but yea Jackie you didn't do too bad here. Couldn't hate JP, he was a real man. Love that they finally got their happy ending
This book was a roller coaster of feelings. It was great getting Scott and Cat again but not without their HEA. Not a fan of cheating but yea Jackie you didn't do too bad here. Couldn't hate JP, he was a real man. Love that they finally got their happy ending
March 5, 2025
loved it
I loved this so much because this series is about second chances. This is Cat and Scott’s story and it’s not a perfect journey, like everyone else’s journey in life. Perfectly imperfect. I loved the writing. It was so hard to put this book down.
I loved this so much because this series is about second chances. This is Cat and Scott’s story and it’s not a perfect journey, like everyone else’s journey in life. Perfectly imperfect. I loved the writing. It was so hard to put this book down.
June 15, 2025
absolutely LOVED!
I couldn’t get enough of Scott and Cat’s story after the first book. I read the first book probably 10 times only to finally see the whole series! Talk about an early Christmas present when I realized that! I am only hoping you write a book for Tommy now…
I couldn’t get enough of Scott and Cat’s story after the first book. I read the first book probably 10 times only to finally see the whole series! Talk about an early Christmas present when I realized that! I am only hoping you write a book for Tommy now…
January 21, 2023
My favorite characters already got their HEA 😍
July 31, 2023
the writer spoiled the book.
It spoiled their love story. CATALINA You cheating, selfish fucking bitch.
It spoiled their love story. CATALINA You cheating, selfish fucking bitch.
November 15, 2024
3.5
Don’t cheat!
Don’t cheat!
April 10, 2025
fun read. I like mmc banter and that he for once, he is not a millionaire. fmc was good too . a little repetitive at the end but very relatable
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