Okay, The Heart Wants by Krystina Rivers? Total vibe. This book had me hooked from the jump with its emotional rollercoaster and relatable AF characters. The mix of romance and self-discovery hit just right, and the dialogue? Chef’s kiss—so real and raw. It’s giving all the feels.

The pacing was a little slow in spots, but honestly, the payoff made it worth it. If you’re into stories that make you laugh, cry, and scream “omg same,” this one’s for you. Big shoutout to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—I feel so blessed to have read this gem early.

It took me a while to connect with this one, but once I did I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. Although I'm not entirely certain I'd reread it, personally. I just wasn't entirely build for romance, it seems.

The Heart Wants delivers an emotional rollercoaster spanning decades, following Reagan, a dedicated military officer, and Sydney, an ambitious lawyer. Their chemistry is undeniable from their first meeting in Italy, but life, careers, and DADT keep pulling them apart. Every time they reconnect, I completely felt their love and the heartbreak of their circumstances.

The story offers glimpses into their evolving lives but leaves some gaps in fully understanding how they navigate their individual paths. Reagan’s military rigidity contrasts with Sydney’s complicated personal life, adding authenticity to their challenges.

This bittersweet romance is filled with angst, passion, and realistic moments, capturing the struggle of love against all odds. With a satisfying epilogue, The Heart Wants provides both closure and hope. Fans of second-chance romances with a dose of longing and complexity will find this book a rewarding read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

It seems to be a theme lately, but this is another book from a usually very dependable author that I was disappointed with. What I found was lacking in this book was an understanding of Juliette’s motivations of why she did what she did when they were teenagers. Without giving away spoilers I’ll just say It seemed like the author just slapped a very shallow reason on it and moved on and I was extremely let down and stopped reading at that point.

A beautiful love story

When Sydney and Reagan meet in an Italian café, they become instant best friends and spend their time sightseeing together. But Reagan is in the army, and her career is more important to her than anything else. So, despite the kiss they shared, they have to go their own way. For the next fifteen years, they run into each other a few times, and each time revives longings and scars that torture them more and more. Can they find a compromise to be together or will they have to relinquish their hearts' desires?

This book was a beautiful second chance romcom. I'm usually not a fan of romances that span a lot of years, but this one was well written and the pace was rather good, which made it easy to understand the characters and the reasons why they chose what they did. The romance between them is very inspiring and I loved how they discovered one another and how they clicked instantly. The different timelines made the story even more relatable and real to me, because even as the characters evolved and their lives changed, their feelings remained true and intense, which was beautiful. I did feel it drag a bit at the end, so the book was a bit too long in my opinion, but I still really enjoyed this story.

I recommend if you like second chance sapphic romances.

"Even though you were never mine, you still owned me."

„Reagan is worth anything. Everything. I’ve been a coward and too ignorant to see it. But I see it now. My heart, my mind, my soul all want the same thing. They’ve always wanted the same thing.”

First I want to thank NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books and Krystina Rivers for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars and i would have given it more if i could have!!!
This might be one of my favourite books of all time.
The story just seemed so real and the characters seemed like actual human beings!!!!

What I liked:
— the storyline
One thing that I usually do not like is when romance novels are too unrealistic or have the insta-love trope. While there was definitely a connection from the beginning, this book chose to focus on the way of getting to a relationship, rather than on that attraction. The story spans multiple years, during which Reagan and Sydney constantly spin in and out of each others orbits, until they are actually ready to be in a relationship.

— the characters
There was not a second while reading this that I didnt love the main characters. They are both deeply flawed individuals that have a very well thought out personality. They seem like real people, rather than idealized characters.

— the pacing
I just wanted to mention that I was never bored while reading this. Not once.

“Sydney smiled, flashing her dimple, and reagan knew she could take on anything with Sydney at her side.”

—special shoutout to:
“Her pesky gay urges didn’t help, and she lived in fear that someone would find out and point and yell, “She doesn’t belong here! She’s gay!”
Strong “she doesn't even go here!” Vibes

This review will be available on Goodreads and StoryGraph. I will be posting about this as soon as possible.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6679121149

I feel like this would have been a GREAT book if it didn't seem as if one of the FMCs was begging for love.
The plot is GREAT, the idea is there, the execution was a bit lost in the water.
The spicy scenes were a bit cringey , but only in some places.
It gave some of the most realistic accounts of lesbian sex I’ve read. But , it also seemed very repetitive and I often Found myself scanning through the smut scene ves until it was over.

⭐️⭐️

Krystina Rivers’ The Heart Wants is an emotional, decades-spanning romance that explores love, loss, and the harsh realities of military duty. The novel follows Reagan and Sydney, two women whose lives intertwine across fifteen years, their connection deepened by shared moments, long stretches of separation, and the ever-present constraints of Reagan’s military career under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy.

The story begins with an enchanting meet-cute in an Italian café, where Reagan, a young Army lieutenant stationed abroad, saves Sydney from disaster, sparking an immediate and intense friendship. As they explore Italy together, their bond becomes unmistakable, but Reagan, who is serving during the era of DADT, must keep her attraction to Sydney hidden. Their final night together, culminating in a forbidden kiss, sets the stage for a long journey of missed opportunities and lingering affection.

Rivers does an exceptional job capturing the painful tension between what Reagan desires and what her duty demands. The repeal of DADT comes as a pivotal moment in the novel, offering Reagan a chance to openly pursue Sydney, but even then, the realities of military service—deployments and geographic separation—continue to challenge their ability to be together.

The novel’s greatest strength is how it portrays the complexity of loving someone within the constraints of an institution that demands personal sacrifice. Reagan’s career with the Army adds layers to the romance, creating stakes that go beyond simple emotional barriers. For years, Reagan is torn between her love for Sydney and her loyalty to her military service. This tension keeps the reader emotionally invested, rooting for the two women to find their way back to one another despite the recurring obstacles.

Sydney, on the other hand, is a character whose life follows a more civilian path, allowing her greater freedom, but also leaving her with lingering questions about what could have been with Reagan. Their brief reunions over the years—moments filled with longing, passion, and heartbreak—are fraught with the unspoken knowledge that their circumstances always seem to be working against them.

The repeal of DADT is a pivotal moment for Reagan, allowing her to finally act on the feelings she’s held back for so long. But just as they are finally in a position to be together, new challenges arise, including the threat of being stationed in different parts of the world once again. Rivers poignantly shows that even after policy changes, love can still be complicated by duty, distance, and timing.

The chemistry between Reagan and Sydney is electric, and their connection, while physically distant for much of the story, feels intense and real. The novel is also filled with heartfelt moments that show the depth of their relationship, from small shared memories to deep emotional exchanges. Rivers expertly builds this tension over the years, making each reunion feel both bittersweet and urgent.

Final Thoughts:
The Heart Wants is a beautiful, slow-burn love story that captures the difficulties of balancing personal desires with professional duty, particularly within the context of the military. Krystina Rivers skillfully navigates themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and resilience in love, creating a poignant narrative that spans over a decade and a half. Fans of epic, character-driven romances with strong emotional depth will find this novel both moving and memorable. The central question—whether love can prevail over time, distance, and circumstance—lingers powerfully until the very last page.

Wow, this book will definitely be one of my 2024 reading highlights! It was an awesome read with lovely characters, a good storyline and plot and a great writing style.

I instantly liked both Sydney and Reagan and enjoyed reading about them. Their chemistry has been there from the very beginning and lasted throughout the whole book. I also really liked the timeline jumps, it was super interesting to see how the characters changed and grew overtime and we were able to meet them during different points in their lives. The character development was amazing and it kept you rooting for them. There was a lot of back and forth between them, but I really liked it even though it made me want to rip my hair out from time to time.

I’m not gonna lie, I honestly expected a different ending, but I’m glad that I was wrong! The ending was great even though I wasn’t ready for the book to end.

I would have liked to know what happened to Sydney’s best friend and her other roommate. Another thing I would have loved to read is the wedding.

A big thank you to NetGalley, the author and Bold Stroke Books for the advanced digital reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Reagan is in the army for the long haul. It’s all she’s ever wanted. Sydney is a corporate lawyer with big plans and huge ambition. She will achieve great things in life. The two meet in Italy when young and bond strongly but life separates them and Reagan is unable to be herself if she wants to succeed in the army. Sydney has a poor opinion of army people because of family issues.

Both women meet and separate over many years and no time ever seems quite right for them to have a future. But life gets in the way and things happen and they both start to question what is important. Fear makes them reluctant to admit their feelings and the separations continue… until….

The ending is a bit rushed and I’m not sure their relationship would have survived all the separations but this is fiction and very enjoyable storytelling. The ancillary characters are well developed and add greatly to the narrative. My advice would be to curl up with a coffee ~ or several ~ and follow the journey.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

This was a good book, the characters and romance were really great and I read this story very quickly. This is a second chance romance that's set in the era of Don't Ask Don't Tell military life. There's quite a bit of back and forth between the main characters, and at times it became a bit frustrating, but I powered through it. This story had everything I like in a romance, drama , angst, and happily ever after. I would recommend this book and author to my friends and family, and I look forward to what's coming next from this author.

The synopsis didn’t immediately pull me in, but this is an auto buy author for me so of course I had to read it. I didn’t love it but it was okay, I did love Reagan and Sydney and their story.
This takes place over around 15 years and has all the stumbling blocks, long distance, real life problems that stand in the way of love. Makes it feel real and extra satisfying to see them happy, you couldn’t help but root for them the whole way along.

I found the POV switching constantly mid chapter irritating and not very clear, the pacing is a little odd and did ruin the flow of the book for me, but I understand what the author was aiming for. It’s not too bad but definitely a little bumpy.
The writing and dialogue isn’t great, but the story and characters are super sweet and worth the read.

I enjoyed it and it was a pleasant read, but it felt like it dragged on a little and the writing is a little plain, rambling and a lot of run on sentences.
The ending was great but felt rushed especially compared to the rest of the book.

4.5 Stars | I'm glad I read it and will be looking at more of Krystina Rivers books

The Heart Wants by Krystina Rivers is a touching and emotional romance that dives deep into the complexities of love and healing from past traumas. The characters are easy to connect with, and their struggles make the story feel real. The political backdrop adds another layer to the plot, but at its core, it's about finding love even when life is tough. Some readers noted it was a bit predictable, but the heartfelt writing and strong chemistry between the characters really shine through, making it a solid, enjoyable read for romance fans.

This was a really interesting read. I haven’t read any other sapphic military books, and it was a unique perspective. I also thought the jumping of timelines (the book shows the 4 different times the two MCs have ran into each other) was fun, and is a different twist on fated soulmates.

There’s a lot of angst and longing wrapped up in this story. The characters are well flushed out, lovable, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in their story and emphasize with their concerns. That being said, I felt that the dialogue felt clumsy at times, and some of the mannerisms and writing was a little awkward.

Overall, I enjoyed this story!

I read Krystina Rivers's other book "Something between us" and knew that I would read anything else she wrote. As soon as I saw The Heart Wants on NetGalley I requested it soooo fast!

This book is set in the same universe as Something between us but they can be read as stand alone books.

I felt so giddy and also emotional while reading this book, Sydney and Reagan were such a cute couple and I loved how they kept meeting all over the world over the years-- invisible string theory??

I can't believe Don't Ask Don't Tell was only repealed THIRTEEN years ago! I just think of how many people were impacted by this terrible policy and I'm sure the way Reagan felt about having to hide herself 100% of the time, is the way thousands of people felt during that time period.

I hope society never reverts to that unjust and terrible time.

I feel a lot of the issues could have been resolved had the protagonists communicated a bit better (it was frustrating at times). I liked this though.

I liked this novel. It wasn’t my favorite, but it was thoroughly enjoyable, well-written, well-structured, detailed, full of feelings, and most importantly a satisfying read. I can see a broad appeal with this novel, and I think that a lot of people will likely enjoy it more than I did. The author is clearly talented and knows how to pen a good story.

I think a big issue for me is that this novel focuses a lot on the military; I’m not saying that I specifically dislike the military, but I will say that I don’t really connect with it. Its similar to when I read a novel with a good-guy-billionaire-CEO and I am supposed to sympathize with their struggles; not impossible but the author is fighting an uphill battle. The reason I’m writing this is to identify my own bias, so if you don’t share it then you can adjust what I am saying appropriately (although I tried to be objective, and still gave it 4 stars!).

This is a rare (but it happens) case where I have some very general and vague praise for the novel, and a lot of very specific complaints, yet overall ill say it was good.

I liked:
-Long timeline. I like it when a romance has a long timeline and there is sufficient time for them to develop feelings for each other. It makes the emotions more believable and impactful. They didn’t interact for a lot of the timeline, but it still worked.
-The author did a great job displaying WHY they have feelings for each other. An example was how Sydney appreciated how much Regan paid attention to her and what she said and remembered things about her and her life (in contrast to the girlfriend). Also, how much effort Reagan put into the time they spent together and trying to make it as special as it could be. This is much more satisfying than “some unexplainable connection”.
-So much detail! The characters had detailed backstories and lots of history and were very fleshed out and fully actualized characters.

Nitpicks (spoilers below!):
-This is ultimately the story of two women who both have ambitions, which are incompatible, and neither will compromise. This worked well at the start, as both goals seemed reasonable, and it was a mutual decision. Very quickly however this was reframed (explicitly) as Sydney being unwilling to compromise to Reagan’s life, while there was no expectation for Reagan to compromise. This bothered me a lot because it was just taken as gospel that the military career could NOT be touched in any way, whereas Sydney should make all of the concessions, or even give up her career all together. Multiple times the very concept of Reagan compromising in ANY way was immediately brushed off by all characters as not even worth considering. By the end it was clearly being portrayed that Sydney was entirely at fault for their relationship failure, acting silly, and borderline selfish. Reagan “couldn’t possibly” compromise on her career ambitions (or even slow them down), despite already being high-ranking. She was already financially secure at the start of the novel too! It was incredibly one-sided, and….continued below….
-Their motivations were, in my opinion, not remotely equal. Sydney came from a situation of poverty and instability and had trauma surrounding those experiences. She wanted to find stability, be self sufficient, and also take care of the rest of her family (including a sick parent!). Reagan on the other hand wanted to be the most accomplished member of her all-around successful family, and that was her entire motivation. It was essentially an ego trip. I am not saying that her ambitions were not valid, but I am saying that they were not equivalent to Sydney. Reagan wanted to make General essentially for the bragging rights; not because that position would allow her to accomplish some goal, or help people, or because it was needed to get a specific position she wanted. The fact that their motivations were so unequal (in my opinion) and the novel valued them backwards really bothered me. Every time they parted ways it was just understood that Reagan couldn’t do anything different and Sydney had all of the pressure to make concessions. Reagan could have easily gotten a position where she wasn’t travelling the world and they could have been together, she would have still been able to serve in the military, she just wouldn’t have gotten that medal she wanted.
-That’s quite the rant! Oops. This aspect of the novel honestly made me want to rate it 2-stars, but I think that’s unfair. I simply had a hard time going along with the storyline/conflict given that the entire time I didn’t truly value anything Reagan was trying to accomplish, which made it hard to empathise with her position. It was frustrating.
-Sidney: her anti-military biases were honestly weak. They eventually fell apart following one very obvious and simple conversation. She never ONCE thought about the possibility of working remotely, even after doing it for years during Covid? Unrealistic. The desire to be “financially stable” made perfect sense, however her definition seemed to actually mean “be in the top position of a major company and be very rich”, and not being willing to compromise on that was……eh.
-It was clear as day why Sydney liked Reagan, but it was less clear in the other direction. I can point to a lot of specifics for the former, but not much beyond attraction for the latter.
-In some ways, I didn’t really see their connection. They had great chemistry, but every time they parted ways they drifted apart relatively quickly. Add in how they never even tried to make it work after they parted ways and it seems like they worked out DESPITE their own efforts.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

I truly wanted to love this book, but It ended up just being okay.
I got the time-lapse of how this story unfolds, but if felt at times like if this was narrated by someone else who knew them instead of themselves. We get just glimpses of their story throughout the years when I'd prefer just a few, but in more depth. And i think that's why i didn't enjoy this as much..
Another thing is... When couples dont get together because outside circumstances is one thing and in this book is an issue but when couple don't get together because miscommunication and themselves being too stubborn... that's when I get annoyed, and this is exactly what happened here.
I did end up liking the story, and i like the subjects it dealt with, but it could have been better.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review

i didn’t really feel a connection to the characters, and i also feel like it was missing some back story. the why. why is their on and off again relationship kind of unclear and why wasn’t it talked about.
i also didn’t really care for the sexual scene with one the the MC being asleep still.
it’s a no from me.

I love that this book addresses the 'dont ask, dont tell' time in the 90s! I love a sapphic story that crosses the timeline a few times, so seeing how Sydney and Reagan's relationship grows and changes because of their dreams/ideals/surroundings/jobs impact what the heart wants (yep, pun intended!) is perfect for me as a reader.