They've known one thing from their fateful first meeting in Central Park: they're meant to be. For Andrea and Jace, one of life's few certainties is that they will be together forever. Andrea Leighton-Hughes, an astonishingly affluent Upper East Sider who has been a chess piece in her family's games since she was born, understands what it's like to hide behind a mask. Her world revolves around deception, manipulation, and notoriety. Jace is the first and only person to see her true self. Jace Morgan has seen the worst of humanity, and he hasn't always kept his nose clean. Jace, a musical genius from the Bronx, and his brothers will go to any length to reach the top of the music charts. Andrea is the only person who has ever encouraged him to play from the heart. Nobody understands their bond. Nobody understands their passion. Life sets out to prove Jace and Andrea incorrect as they battle to stay together and prove that love overcomes all barriers. What happens when two individuals swear to be together forever, but life separates them?

An emotional-rollercoaster-rides love story that feels like it was written in a song. If you want to feel music and feel the stort behind lyrics, this book would be the one for you. I absolutely love how wonderful the storyline goes. It isn't perfect, there's lots of struggles and lies and misunderstanding, but everything comes to a better future. The pain, the love, the angst, the troubles, everything was raw and painful. But it made the story more poetic, realistic even. It made me believe in a phrase 'everything happens for a reason'. Despite the tension and pain, I'm glad Sarah gave a realistic happy ending because it would be too painful for me to not get one.

This story made me smile and made me cry. A truly amazing love story that spans many years.

'A Space Between' will leave you reminiscent - thinking fondly of your first love, your most true love, those songs that invoke strong memories and every moment in between.

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is the word beautiful brought to life.

One of the most touching stories I have had the pleasure of reading. When I first read the blurb in Ready’s newsletter, I had a feeling this book was going to be something. When I read the prologue, I knew this story would wreck my heart, but I didn’t know if I could handle it or not. I even emailed Sarah with my concerns and she told me I might want to hold off….so naturally I made it a few hours before I was downloading the ARC. I might have read part one, part three, part two, part three again, but my soul is changed. Jace’s lyrics rocked my world with their feeling, and the love between Andi and Jace will stick in your heart and remain in your soul forever. Five stars doesn’t do this book justice. I could not put it down once I started reading, and the ending has been filled with a sense of joy and peace that few authors can achieve.

I loved French Holiday (April 2023) by the author and was excited to see another book from her so soon. This is the story of first love and soul mates, Jace and Andrea, who come from different worlds. They meet when both are 17 and are seniors in high school. She is from an upper east side, business driven, extremely wealthy family. For breaks from her world she likes to dress down and walk in Central Park. Jace is poor, and has a scholarship to a good high school. His parents were shot in a bodega robbery and his older brother put his life plans on hold to keep the family together. Music is a legacy from their dad and both parents were the definition and example of love. The brothers play music in the park and dream of playing for the world.

The story is told from both POV’s but there is a stronger focus on Andi. For example in a large time break the book follows Andi’s story but does not go back and fill in details for Jace. To say I am emotionally invested in these characters is an understatement. I was so angry at the cause of the break up I almost dropped a star rating. I was disappointed that grace was given to the person involved because it never hints that they have regret or remorse for their actions. I would have been zero contact, but I’m petty and not the writer.

Andi is the perfect heroine willing to give up everything for love. She is smart and never truly breaks from all that is put on her. I also love Reid’s arc in the story. The author takes a character who is so easy to hate in the beginning and brings it full circle. I love his joy in making Andi smile again.

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC ebook and the audio book from W.W. Crown via NetGalley. I alternated between reading and listening to the story enjoying the narrators, especially Rachel F. Hirsch. I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy dramatic women’s fiction and especially if you believe in the power of first love. It is longer (just over 500 pages), but I relished every moment with Andi and her journey in love. I am leaving a voluntary review.

Sarah Ready just KNOWS how to write emotional romances. This is my fourth book of hers and I'd auto-buy anything she writes.
What I love in particular about this story (a multi-POV, 12 year epic first-love story with a sort-of love triangle) is how much you root for BOTH love interests. That's almost impossible to pull off: to make both leading men complex, real, and an investment...but she does this so superbly. You root for Jace just as much as you root for Reid. I also love Andi/Andrea (the main character at different points throughout the story) and just how well the narration flips back and forth during different 'times' in the characters' life.
The B storyline of music and power and wealth and family, and how these four things all intersect, is also tremendous
Five stars. I finished this in two nights. Excellent read and such a gripping story!

Wow, just wow.
This is an incredible rollercoaster full of love that made me smile and cry. The space between seemed so unnecessary and it hurts reading about it.
The characters are all believable - and most of them lovable.

Jace & Andi's story managed to hold my attention. This was such an emotional and raw read. The connection between Jace & And I was so strong because after all, there were each other's first love. Andi was smart, strong and capable and Jace was such a sweetheart, I also adored his family. This was kind of an "opposite sides of the track" book and I loved getting to know both Jace & Andi's worlds. The descriptions were so beautifully written too. Sarah Ready's writing hasn't disappointed me so far and I will gladly read anything she writes in the future! Overall this was poignant and touching and I enjoyed reading it!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange of an honest review

I have no words. I devoured this book in a day. It put me through the wringer. I felt all of the emotions. I was choked up and crying sad tears and smiling, laughing, and crying happy tears. I loved Andi and Jace with my entire being. Andi with her strong convictions and her ability to know exactly what she wanted. Jace with his sweet, loving, lyrical heart. Their story put my heart through a meat grinder and spit it out shredded until it was molded back into something new and better. Sarah did a magnificent job of making me feel connected to everyone. All the growth and relationships with characters you wouldn’t expect just made this book a million times better. I will be screaming from the rooftops for everyone to read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This is probably one of the most beautiful and emotional stories I have ever read. If you ever were so touched by a lyric or a love song that you wished it were a full length book, this would be it.

When Sarah first mentioned the story behind this book in her newsletter months ago, I got chills and a flutter in my chest. I thought, damn. That book is going to destroy me. I want to read it now.

So of course, when the opportunity to read the arc came, I jumped on it. I ignored all my current/tbr books and dived in. And... Damn. Yeah. It destroyed me. Or more accuretly, it destroyed my expectactions and view on true love stories. It broke me into tiny pieces and then put me back together. Not sure the glue holds though. It was so deeply, emotionally, devastatingly beautiful, that I can't put it into words. The magic the love, the music, the lyrics, the characters, their growth, their stories, their years apart, their hollowness and eventual healing, the beautiful prose and description of the landscapes, the world, the trips and overall life and love in its truest form borrowed themselves into my soul.
If I need to compare it to something, I'd say it's Emily Henry level- and I wish it received the same kind of recognition and praise. Yes it has some sad parts, but overall, it's a great read that everyone needs to experience. The lyrics, the joy, the small moments, the dancing in the park... They all bring so much beauty and joy that I really don't think it should be missed.

Everytime Andi smiles and says give me a lyric for this moment and everytime he does or sings on a stage but with love in his eyes only for her, you feel it. I wish I could be in this story forever.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it early, I feel blessed for having experienced it.
**** Full review will pe posted on social media closer to release date

An exceptional romance novel. You won't see it coming.
I enjoyed the storyline as well as the twists and turns. The timelines and how the input of what could really happen in real-life makes the story even more relatable.
OMG!

Thank you for the advanced copy, I was drawn to the cover. I am not normally a fan of romance to be honest but I have been left speechless by this, I think I may need to reread this at a later date, it's a lot to work through and process.

Truly beautiful writing and the plot twist......

I was captivated from early on and could not put it down. I wish I would have listened to the audio book to be honest! Jace and Andi are two beautiful central characters in this and we follow their ups and downs - the connection is so deep and my connection to them both made me feel emotional and I will admit it made me cry.

Highly recommended, I cannot wait to read more from this author

Summary
The Space Between by Sarah Ready follows the story of Jace Morgan and Andrea (Andi) Leighton-Hughes, polar opposite seventeen-year-olds. When they meet amidst misfortune in Central Park's shadowy shaded woods, it is friendship at first sight. They let their guards down and opened their young and trusting hearts to each other, and before long, their friendship blossomed into more of a love song. Life ultimately works against them, testing the strength of their devotion and placing their love into the hands of fate.

Review
Wow, what a breathtaking and gut-wrenching story of friendship, forgiveness, and fate. The Space Between by Sarah Ready is one of the most captivating love stories I have read, wrecking me, and then right when my heart began to recover, it was broken again. Thankfully though, love prevails, and my heart ever-so-slowly mended back together. Jace and Andi's challenges are real, raw, and relatable, bringing the reader a deep emotional connection. Their vulnerable moments brought me to tears and the grace and love with which they both lived created unforgettable characters that linger in the best way.

The presence of such sentiment is due to Sarah Ready's incredible ability to bring Jace and Andi to life. The character development is so strong that you feel like you're in Central Park among the winding trails and lush lawns alongside them. The lyrical prose and use of foreshadowing are meshed seamlessly into the dual point-of-view writing, creating a beautifully descriptive and poetic story that reads seamlessly while letting the reader experience each character's innermost thoughts.

The plot twist in The Space Between is such an unexpected and captivating addition to the storyline that it left my jaw nearly on the floor. Having the ability to create a plot twist and change how the reader feels about a character they have already formed a bias around is an actual work of art, and Sarah Ready accomplished this brilliantly. When you think you know a character, he changes, and you fall in love with him in a way you never expected.

This sensational story of redemption and resilience is a must-read! If you enjoy romance novels with twists and turns, ups and downs, and loads of feelings, you will enjoy this book as much as I do. I am genuinely excited to read more of Sarah Ready's works.

I am so thankful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC copy of The Space Between in exchange for my honest review!

4.5 ⭐️

Andrea comes from an extremely wealthy and powerful family that has far more interest in power and manipulation than in showing her love. Jace comes from a family that has far more love than money. They meet and quickly fall for one another, but then life and family tears them apart.

This is such an epic love story, and it keeps you engaged from the first, truly unputdownable.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I’m honestly still processing this book after finishing it earlier this morning. This book gutted me in the most bittersweet way. Sarah Ready took me on a emotional and heart-wrenching journey where I felt every emotions possible. The Space Between is a story of love, loss, betrayal, and forgiveness. It’s about discovering yourself and learning and accepting the unfortunate events and circumstances life throws at you. But most of all, it’s a coming of age story that centers around music, love, acceptance, and family.

The Space Between follows Andrea (or Andi as she prefers to be called) and Jace. The story begins when they first meet as seventeen year olds and is divided into three parts as they devastatingly weave in and out of each other’s lives.

This book was such an emotional read that after I’ve finished reading it, I had to sit and process what I’ve just read. Sarah writes beautifully and evocatively. Her portrayal of music and the impact it had on Jace and his brothers as well as on Andi had me ugly sobbing. This is Sarah at her finest. She wrote such a vulnerable and heart-rending story that broke me apart but eventually bound me back together again near the end. Sarah wrote a story on love in its purest form. The kind of unwavering and unconditional love that I could only dream of experiencing myself. Jace and Andi’s resolute and tenacious love they had for each other is unfaltering and steady. It’s precious and endearing and I love, love these characters with everything in me. Their journey was so bittersweet I honestly felt empty after finishing it.

The only thing that didn’t satisfy me was the lack of reader insight into Jace’s personal life during the years Andi and Jace were separated. Readers were given insight to Andi’s life, however, it was glossed over when it came to Jace’s. Did he meet anyone during their separation or was he single that entirety? It was briefly mentioned that he couldn’t be in a relationship when he was in love with someone else but how long did that last? It’s the minor details like that, that bothered me when I know it shouldn’t. But even minute details like that could bring even the smallest unimportant parts of the story together for a more cohesive and complete ending where every questions are answered.

Overall I love this book. I truly adore this book and I wholeheartedly recommend this to everyone. This is a love story where I’ll treasure the experience I’ve felt while reading it. I honestly am excited for all of Sarah’s future writing endeavors and I can’t wait to read more of her words.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Space Between" by Sarah Ready is an emotional roller coaster that left me captivated from beginning to end. This beautifully written novel explores the power of love and the strength we find in each other when faced with life's greatest challenges.

Andrea Leighton-Hughes, a young woman born into privilege and burdened by the expectations of her family, finds solace in the company of Jace Morgan, a talented musician from humble beginnings. Their connection is undeniable, and they become each other's refuge in a world that often feels suffocating. Ready's vivid descriptions and expert character development allowed me to fully immerse myself in their journey, feeling their hopes, fears, and the depth of their love.

The author effortlessly weaves a tale of heartbreak, sacrifice, and perseverance as Andrea and Jace face the trials that threaten to tear them apart. The obstacles they encounter are realistic and relatable, reminding us that life doesn't always go according to plan. The moments of vulnerability and heartache brought tears to my eyes, but it was the unwavering strength and unwavering love that left a lasting impact.
I highly recommend "The Space Between" to anyone who craves a heartfelt, beautifully written love story that will tug at your heartstrings. Sarah Ready has crafted a remarkable novel that resonates long after the final page. Prepare to be swept away in a tale of love, sacrifice, and the enduring strength found in the spaces between.

I highly recommend "The Space Between" to anyone who craves a heartfelt, beautifully written love story that will tug at your heartstrings. Sarah Ready has crafted a remarkable novel that resonates long after the final page. Prepare to be swept away in a tale of love, sacrifice, and the enduring strength found in the spaces between.

This is a gorgeous book in every sense. Lush characters, angsty backstory, deep development. The romance had me whooping and also sometimes crying. Highly recommend!

Sarah Ready is so good at what she writes about. The Space Between was no exception. I liked the story and became invested in the two MC's pretty quickly! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars!

Beyond excited for this beautiful book! I love that it is a Read now selection and lots of ppl will have access to it. Will be sharing a full review and thoughts but I just wanted to say how excited I am for a good love story and this one seems like this is going to be one for the ages! Very excited