
Member Reviews

Thank you so much for this book. I so deeply enjoyed this story and the characters. Will definitely pick upore by this author in the future!

I LOVED this book! I went into it expecting a typical romcom type read but was pleasantly surprised to find something much more than that. Don’t get me wrong - there is tons of grin-your-face-off cheesy romance. However, I personally found there was a depth to Bea’s character that you don’t always get in a romance novel and that I loved exploring.
Career women in romance novels get such a bad rap. The importance they place on their job is always their “fatal flaw” - the thing they must overcome and bend on to become “lovable”. This is one of the rare novels I’ve read (and the only one that does it well) where the conflict between her career and her family is not her downfall, but instead a driving force. There’s a balance that needs to be found, but her unwillingness to compromise her core desire to stay in a career she is passionate about is not construed as a negative, but actually a positive. It was a super refreshing angle that made me want to read a million more novels by Ali Rosen.
Highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a romance novel but also wants a female protagonist who appreciates #girlboss energy. So grateful to have been given the chance to review an ARC!

Roses: Bash was the cutest kid character I have read lately. Bea was such a good lead character and I loved her journey in this story. She wasn’t on,y making gains in her job but she was also making gains in herself with figuring out how to speak for what she wants. She became a better version of herself towards the end. I didn't mind that the romance here was kind of a secondary plot to her growth but I loved when we got those romantic moments between her Jack. Jack was a good character and grew overtime with Bea to create a relationship that was fitting for the two of them. They both grew to understand each other and what each other needed to be their best selves. Bea’s friend group was really great and I enjoyed them so much.
Thorns: Jack was not as swoon inducing as I thought he would have been. He definitely had his moments but I was wanting a lot more from him. I thought the Lucas plot line could have been used more. I feel what I got from his time on page that I wish he just wasn’t involved in the story. He didn’t bring much to me as a reader besides being the ex husband. Beas overall development seemed to flatline through the book and then all of a sudden skyrocketed and then plateaued again. It just made the flow weird to me.

I've been coming to really enjoy well-written second chance romances. It's hard finding ones that guarantee you romantic feelings that grow organically, but are at least a little "Oh no, him again?! I hate him, but there's no denying that he still makes my heart race like it used to" without feeling like it's fated and the adults in the room don't see reason like the rest of us. Ali Rosen excels at the tiny parts of those conversations that Bea and Jack fall into. I'm not an extensive note taker, but I know it's great reading when it gives me more than 10+ annotations.
"Aww, you used your words instead of hoping I'd intuit what you were thinking." (Straight to my self-healing curmudgeon soul.
I feel for Bea and the 30's era imposter syndrome, but she really gets excellent specific support from everyone around her, including her definitely-smarter-than-everyone kid. My only lament is now really really wanting a space-themed party.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
I've never read a book that used the word obfuscate so often :)
What a lovely surprise to find adult characters who know how to communicate, who support each other without backstabbing, who form a loving community amongst each other. No third act breakup - hurray! I loved all of these characters. I loved how Jack pushed Bea out of her comfort zone. She showed so much growth throughout the story. I loved how Bea stood up for Jack when he needed it most. Bea's boss, Brigid, is a badass and I want to be her when I grow up. Bash was absolutely adorable and I kept picturing him as Young Sheldon. I really enjoyed the writing style and will definitely read her again. I'm still thinking about this one days later. I didn't want it to end.
4.5 stars rounded up (a bit of a slow start)

I finished this book in 1 day- I could not put it down. I really liked the characters and found their conflicts to be very relatable (although Bea was a little annoying at times). I don’t typically like second chance romances but this was 4 solid stars.
I was given an Advanced Reader Copy by NetGalley for an honest review.

Though this is not really the kind of book I usually read, I love it once in a while. It's so easy to read, it almost felt like a gab sess with friends. I had a blast!

Second chance romance with character depth - check
Forced proximity - check
Workplace romance - check
Travel - check
Best friends that steal their scenes - check
Bea and Jack first met in high school where he was the popular jock and she was the smart nerd. They form a very special bond, but one that is kept between just the two of them. Things end on a very rocky note and then fast forward 20 years where they meet again at Bea’s company retreat in Ireland.
What follows is a year long journey between the two where we discover how they have been, and what curve balls life has thrown them. They slowly develop a deep friendship where they actually communicate with each other all while being “sex friends.” Their lives haven’t been perfect and each has had issues to grapple with (IVF, divorce, family drama, etc…).
Ali Rosen’s sophomore novel is a fantastic read and now it’s time to go read her freshman novel!

I enjoy a good second chance romance. I thought the story was cute but the pace was a bit slow. The characters were relatable, and even though the ending was a bit predictable, I wasn’t upset by it.

I have so much praise for Ali Rosen, this one was so hard to put down and I managed to finish it within 3 days
I found everything about Alternate endings so relatable, especially the Characters. It is a slower paced second chance rom com with some truly brilliant characters and dialogue.
Beatrice and Jack were both well developed characters that I could often see myself relating to, at times even likening situations to my own. Their relationship, interactions and friendships all felt very real to me, which I enjoy from time to time.
It gets you thinking I can relate to that!
I must say that Beatrice’s son Bash was a favourite of mine, his radiance and banter was so refreshing. The energy of a young child is always beautiful.
If you are a fan of Emily Henry I think that you would also enjoy Ali Rosen’s work as I have.
I know I will be recommending this book to anyone looking for a good rom com.
Review will be published in my Instagram page, good reads account and website on the 3rd May 2024

The book is a great read. It starts out slow, I love overall story. If you like stories with seeing your high school ex and reuniting into adulthood, this is the story for you.

A second-chance love story with delightful chemistry between Bea and Jack! Set against both New York and Ireland as the place themselves give insight and help round out a story of unexpected love and letting go of the past to find love in the present.

When Bea is faced with major life changes and a blast from her past (Jack), she has to learn how to bend and be willing to open up to new opportunities.
I enjoyed the aloof, but caring, boss, and all of Bea's opinionated friends. There was satisfying character growth for both the main characters, and switching between settings of the US and Ireland lent to variety and interest. The relationship between Bea and Bash was heartwarming.
Alternate Endings was an enjoyable read, but it did take me a while to get sucked into the story. Once invested, the last quarter of the book flew by, and I would encourage others to give it a try!
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Alternate Endings by Ali Rosen. Bea is divorced butstill sharing a home with her ex, her boss just decided to relocate the company partly to Ireland, and the new CTO is her first love from high school, Jack, who ghosted her when he went to college. I really enjoyed the characters of Bea and Jack. Both were distinctly adult, bringing age and experience to the table, but also needing to heal a part of themselves. Ita funny how you can be in your mid thirties or 40s, have a kid, and sometimes still feel like a kid looking around wondering "How did I get here?" I related to Bea in this way. Going along and not remembering her power after difficulties in her fertility journey. This was handled so beautifully and realistically. It's nice to see this in a novel that would be considered a rom-com. Jack's patience, his quiet, his accepting nature, all made him a complex and interesting character. I loved the message of being quiet to allow space for someone else. I liked that there was no third act contrived issue. Everything that happened in this book was part of a natural progression. I couldn't wait to turn the pages, but also was reluctant for the book to end. I definitely looked goofy with a smile on my face while reading this. Definite recommend 4.5 stars. Thanks to Amazon publishing, Montlake, and Net Galley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

https://instagram.com/p/C3hDHGsLTNS/
I wrote my review on instagram. if you would please go see it there.
I do love your books and i would love to read more if you have any more coming out soon. Thank you and have a great day!

Thanks to Netgalley & Montlake for access to this E-ARC! So cute! Loved the premise & the writing style. New favorite author!

Thanks to Ali and Netgalley for my first ever ARC experience! What a special book to begin with - this gem of a story centered around a divorced mom named Beatrice who had such an authentic personality and echoed the challenging sentiments of navigating a career and parenting, plus reflected on family dynamics and secondary infertility galore. One of my favorite quotes that I really related to was “adulthood is about finding beauty in the gray”. Her relationship with Jack over time was adorably developed and felt so realistic plus Brigid was hilarious. Finally a second chance romcom that felt like the perfect length too!

The story follows Beatrice, a woman in her 30s, who is juggling her career as she’s going through a divorce, while trying to maintain custody of her son. Beatrice meets her high school ex-boyfriend who is a new hire at her company, and we see how the two of them rekindle their friendship. I found this book to be an easy and fun read. I loved Beatrice and Jack’s characters so much and reading the scenes with Bash was such a delight! I feel like this would be a perfect beach read because there wasn’t anything heavy going on with the plot as the build-up was very gradual (which I personally enjoy when I want to just turn my brain off after a chaotic week) and it was super light-hearted. I would recommend this book to those who love a quick and easy read.

Ali Rosen's "Alternate Endings" explores the complexities of modern relationships, love, and the unexpected paths life can take. The novel follows Bea Leal, a successful book editor, whose seemingly stable life is thrown into disarray when her boss's divorce forces her to travel frequently to Ireland. Bea's personal life is equally complicated. Her divorce and the custody agreement with her ex-husband create constant tension and uncertainty. Amidst this chaos, she reconnects with Jack Sander, the boy who broke her heart two decades prior. While initially hesitant, Bea and Jack embark on a "work fling" that challenges their preconceptions about happiness and the expectations they have for their lives. Rosen skillfully weaves Bea's professional and personal struggles, highlighting the interconnectedness of different aspects of our existence. Bea's demanding job and the constant travel disrupt her custody agreement, creating a conflict between her responsibilities as a mother and her career aspirations. The author delves into the emotional toll this takes on Bea, forcing her to confront the complexities of being a modern woman and the societal pressures that come with it. At the heart of the novel is Bea's relationship with Jack. Their initial fling evolves into something deeper, forcing them to confront their past and the choices they have made. Rosen's exploration of second chances and the possibility of finding happiness in unexpected places is both poignant and relatable. Through Bea's journey, Rosen challenges conventional notions of what a "happy ending" looks like. The novel suggests that happiness is not always about having a perfect life or a clear path forward. Instead, it lies in embracing the messiness and unexpected turns that life throws our way. Bea and Jack's story is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit, and the transformative power of love. In conclusion, "Alternate Endings" is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of modern life, relationships, and the search for happiness. Ali Rosen's characters are relatable and flawed, and her writing is both poignant and insightful. Through Bea Leal's journey, Rosen challenges our expectations and leaves us pondering the alternate endings that our own lives may hold.

A big thank you to Montlake for granting me the opportunity to read an ARC of Alternate Endings, which is set to hit the shelves on May 7th, 2024.
I found the plot and characters of this romance novel intriguing. While the pace was a tad slower than my preference, I was still captivated by certain parts of the story. I formed a deep connection with Beatrice and Jack and found Bash to be an absolute delight. His character infused the story with humor and wit, adding tremendous value to the narrative. The author has done a fantastic job addressing important topics and creating genuine and authentic characters. The friendships depicted in the novel are simply unparalleled. Life can be unpredictable, and the unexpected people who come into our lives often teach us the most valuable lessons.
Although the ending was somewhat predictable, I felt content and uplifted. This is a good read, and I would recommend it to anyone seeking a heartwarming romance novel. I would rate it a 3.5, but I'm rounding it down for consistency in my reviews.