This book was hard to get in to. The flow was off and I had a hard time believing the relationship between characters.

Really loves this story of two people figuring themselves out and working towards each other without either giving up much of themselves. Would like to read more of the author. Note: the Stephen King book was referenced incorrectly as 11/22/73 when it should be 11/22/63.

Three Stars

“Is this happily ever after?”

I was really disappointed while I was reading this novel. I was very close to DNFing but I just couldn’t bring myself to do that. The book had a beautiful idea, but it was just a little boring for me. The third person POV threw me off just because of how much extra detail the book had. Sometimes it felt a little unnecessary or dragged on.

The ending though was so cute, and I was very happy that Jack and Kristen got their happily ever after.

I really think I would’ve liked this story a little more if it wasn’t so detailed. I feel as if a lot of rambling went on and there was a lot of detail just about meals that the characters were eating.

The book was meaningful in the sense that it was meant to show the healing process of someone who just feels so lost and not stable when leaving something toxic. But it was very repetitive, I’m not saying that would be a bad thing but, in this book, I feel as if it was maybe almost over done.

The characters were likeable though and they felt very real. Kristen was relatable and you really knew just how stranded she felt. Watching her healing journey was very heartwarming and you were honestly rooting for Kristen the whole time.

Jack was also really easy to like because he was always so supportive. I really liked her character because how simple he was. He didn’t need to be an extravagant male lead but instead just a simple love interest, which in some cases is the most realistic option.

The couple is probably the reason this book is three stars just because how easy to relate and love they were. They had such a healthy dynamic which was a nice break from other novels. You could truly feel their friendship and love growing throughout the entire novel.

Overall, With You was not the right book for me but there are definitely people who would love and connect with this book!

A special thank you to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who has been in the MC shoes its so nice to see more stories about healing from an abusive relationship. There are so many books that deal with the situation but not the aftermath, and the ones I have read have not handled it well. I will say if you are expecting a book filled with drama, this is not for you. This is a book full of ordinary days about mental health, supportive friends and family, and personal growth. I will say I felt like there was a lot of talk about food, eating and prepping it. It kinda made me hungry, but the last 25% was really good and by the end.

This a very cute story in which a woman to finds herself, her voice, and most importantly, her peace after being in an abusive relationship. I have read a lot of books about the abuse part of life, but not a lot about the after. With that said, if you are expecting a book riddled with drama, this is not for you. This is a book full of ordinary days about mental health, supportive friends and family, and personal growth. With that said, this fun book is also fuuuullllll of meals. I feel like most of the stories in the first 75% of the story are vivid descriptions about the preparation, eating, or cleaning up of a meal. It was a lot of food. So if you are a foodie, this may also be for you. I wasn’t completely into the first portion of the book. But the last 25% was really good and by the end I wanted more. I would recommend this book for a fun palette cleanser!

Through friendship and love, anywhere can be home.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Black Rose Publishing for the ARC! I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Against a backdrop of sun-soaked afternoons by the lake and cool autumn evenings by the fire, Amanda Waters explores haunted pasts and delicate new beginnings in her exquisitely tender story centered around two guarded introverts.

After living in the same Chicago apartment for 20 years, Kristen finds herself feeling disillusioned and decides a change of scenery must be what she needs. She swaps the hustle and bustle of the city for a small-town community, relocating to Riverton where her dad lives, but promises to stay just a year. She quickly befriends her neighbours—the unbelievably considerate and excessively thoughtful Celia and Levi—as well as their cousin Jack, who's rugged and charming in equal measure. Since experiencing a whirlwind abusive marriage at just 18 years old, Kristen has closed herself off to romance, but now, after years of being alone, she finds herself craving connection.

Wayfarer Jack, with a habit of bolting when life gets serious, is never in town more than a few weeks at a time, but after laying eyes on Kristen, he's eager to stick around. Jack and Kristen are immediately drawn to each other. He to her assertive, confident nature and she to his gentle kindness. (Okay, maybe there is mention of long legs and crooked smiles..) But will they overcome their fear of vulnerability to make it work?

Waters's second romance novel employs a selection of well-loved tropes (best friend's relative, meet-cute, miscommunication, etc) but avoids feeling formulaic due to the unexpected depth of her characters. Throughout her enchanting slow-burn romance, Waters studies the effects of trauma, the stages of grief, and the importance of communication with nuance and care, creating characters that are just.. so human.

She writes with luscious prose, attentive to all five senses, building a stunning sense of community surrounded by vibrant nature. I read this on a cold, dreary day in November, and it was every bit as warm and wholesome as I'd hoped. With home-made lemonade, freshly baked pies, sunlit kitchens, and the aroma of wet soil greeting you when you open the door.. With You will leave you longing for a homely cabin in the woods.

What makes With You so wholesome, though, isn't the blossoming (healthy!) romance or even the serene wildlife setting; it's the friendships Kristen makes during her stay in Riverton. Featuring some admittedly unrealistic dialogue with introspective, profound quotes that you maybe wouldn't hear in real life, Waters nurtures friendships that are sympathetic and understanding among characters who genuinely want the best for each other.

With whimsical prose and love of all kinds, With You is wonderfully warming. A perfect comfort read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kristen is feeling restless in her life, so she decides to move closer to her dad for a year for a change of pace. She quickly finds a few friends and a sense of community. And then she meets Jack. Jack seems as restless as she is, not staying in any one place for too long and not letting anyone get close. But maybe now, the two of them can find some comfort together.

I really liked the idea of this story, but the execution missed the mark for me. I found myself bored during some parts. I also felt like it left a lot of development opportunities on the table. Allusions to past situations were made, but then we never really get more info. Overall I would give it 3 stars,

I'm honestly surprised I finished this book... there were many times I wanted to give up. It was just very vanilla. I kept waiting for it to turn around, but unfortunately it never happened for me. It felt more like a stream of consciousness of others' thoughts than a cohesive story. I'm sure some readers will enjoy this book, but it was not my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the copy. The characters are likable and come alive on the pages. A plethora of characters but easy to keep track. Love and romance…starting over…family and friends…get togethers and book clubs…the main character has her new friends meet her old friends…they mesh. This is a book I would read again. I liked the story…I really liked the story…the characters, although intriguing, are somewhat flawed. Interesting…real…