𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A super quick and sweet Fall read! Such a wholesome read

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Steamy small town romances
Second chance
Forced proximity
Found family
Great character growth
Pen pals
All the cozy vibes
Wildlife and nature enthusiasts
Likable side characters

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
The letters!
Diverse representation- neurodivergent MMC and bi FMC

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
The miscommunication annoyed me

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ ”you shine, and I’m mesmerized every time.”
★ ”i gave you my trust. I gave you my heart. I gave you my soul.”
★ “It’s easy for a place to feel like home when you’re with the right people.”

Right off the bat I didn't love the FMC. The letters/flashback aspect of the book was fun and engaging and helped move the story along. I love a good dual timeline between youth and later in adulthood. The MMC was more enjoyable to read for me. It was a good fall read!

I want to begin with a thank you to Elodie Colliard and NetGalley for this heartwarming ARC!

A quote I loved: "I don't need to run anymore. I've found you. I'm exactly where I want to be."

This fast-paced, fall vibed, second chance romance was such a cozy and sweet read. This was my first Elodie Collard book but I'm so excited to read the other two in the series! Charlee and Oliver make you fall in love with them and their story without even trying too hard (and I love that). Their connection from their letters comes pouring out in person and it's undeniable. Their story is one for the books, literally. I couldn't put this book down when I picked it up, especially when I put my headphones in and pressed play on the playlist (I'm a sucker for a book with a playlist). Their love, tension, their friendship, respect, everything. You can't help but love them and their connection.

I also love when an author can handle difficult topics with so much care and respect. Especially when they are able to develop characters who can do the same. That's exactly what Colliard was able to do throughout this book and I'm so thankful to have been able to read this book early and give this review. I enjoyed every moment of this book and the playlist attached and hope everyone who reads falls in love with their story as well!

If you love:
- Strangers to friends to lovers
- Penpals/Letters through time
- Fall vibes
- Second chance
- Neurodiversity rep
you will love this book!

This is the THIRD contemporary romance book in the "it's always been you" series by this indie author and I think it's my favourite because of the epistolary aspect. I love letters that uncover sensitive pieces which open up a new layer of a character...and the ones between Charlee and Oliver are just that.
Between the British Columbia backdrop, the cameos of the old couples and the second chance romance trope which I happen to love, you'll find yourself flipping the pages to find out the why and how Charlee and Old didn't happen the first time.

Also want to note that I LOVE the covers of all 3 of Elodie's books. They're stunning, especially when put together

“We all have our demons and reasons for not wanting to dredge up the past, but this might just be one of those times when it’s worth experiencing the pain and reliving the unhappy memories, if only for the chance to rewrite parts of them.”

🏕️🏕️🏕️🏕️🏕️

Read If You Enjoy:
🐻 One Tent and One Sleeping Bag
🐻 Pen Pals to Enemies to Friends to Lovers
🐻 Oodles of Forced Proximity

🏕️🏕️🏕️🏕️🏕️

Thoughts:

This book is easily my favourite romance read of 2024. This was the perfect read for the end of summer. A story set in a beautiful small town in British Columbia, Canada, filled with adventures in the wildness, a cast of heartwarming & unforgettable characters, and a love story that will give you all the warm & fuzzy feelings.

I loved the dual timelines in this story and how I got to experience the past part of Oli and Charlee's story through the letters they wrote to each other as part of a university pen pal program. I loved watching their love story unfold in the letters they wrote to each other in the past & watching them reconcile and fall in love again when fate unexpectedly pushes them to meet in the present. I enjoyed getting little bits and pieces of their past sprinkled throughout the story. It kept me so engaged and the pages turning with the need for answers about their past.

I loved how emotional I was when I was reading this book. All the sadness and heartbreak I felt for these characters. Charlee and Oli were perfect for each other. From their shared passions and outlooks on life to their completely undeniable chemistry, it was such a joy to read their story. The best part was the slow burn; the really slow burn. It added so much pining and tension to the story and I just couldn't get enough.

🏕️🏕️🏕️🏕️🏕️

Thank you so much to Eloide and Netgalley for the ARC copy of Unbearably Yours. All opinions expressed are my own.

Cozy and heartwarming story that had me rooting for their HEA from the very beginning.
Prior to this book I had not read the others in the series but this story stood on its own so I didn't feel like any of the past characters were needed too much as you could much through context.

Charlee and Oliver meet in college through a pen pal letter program set up by their professors and it quickly turns into something much deeper for the two as they start to share details on their personal lives. This for me was the driving part of the story as I felt it solidified their growing bond and feelings for each other. All that was left to wonder was why they stopped speaking and never got to meet in person. Though this is revealed later in the story, it was key to adding the tension throughout the book and a big reason as to my interest to keep reading on top of these characters growing on me.
Charlee is protective of her space and heart due to losing her mother at a young age and not willing to lose much else but especially not to a man after the fallout with Oliver.
Oliver having to live with the feeling that he let his grandparent's down in losing their beloved restaurant, is conflicted on what to do to get another chance at bringing the legacy left behind back to life. All while knowing how much he hurt Charlee and trying to makeup for their lost time as well. Having the author include a neurodivergent MMC who openly felt so deeply was so refreshing. I thought it gave an accurate insight on those of us who feel to deeply and overthinking any and everything around us.

The letters between them were my favorite part to read but overall I enjoyed this book so much seeing these characters go through growth, heartbreak, personal struggles and finding their way back to each other after circumstances that either of them could've seen coming when they finally got a chance to meet in person.

"I choose you every time, sweetheart. You over everything else. Forever and always."

It will definitely be in my top 10 of favorite books of the year, mainly because the characters fall in love through letters and I find it super romantic, the two main characters created a connection that goes beyond the pages, and it is very interesting how you can come to love someone without even having seen them in person.

Reading both the letters they sent each other 5 years ago, as well as Oli's and Charlee's POV, makes you connect more with the story and not stop reading it, although there comes a point where you want the book to not end because of how good it makes you feel and how much you want to know more about all the characters.

The forced proximity was perfect, it gave me all the tension I wanted and made me wait patiently for the right moment for Oli and Charlee's kiss.

I loved Oli as well as Charlee, they have different personalities but, in some way, the fit together, they make each other better. And of course, i will love to have an Oli in my life, he´s such a good man, i appreciated that he waited for Charlee to open up again to him, and how much he cared for her.

I haven´t read the other books of this series, but i will do it for sure because i really enjoyed the writing style of the author.

Unbearably Yours was a journey. I felt every emotion reading this book. There were moments where I giggled, where I wanted to hug my pillow to cry and moments where I wanted to just reach in the book to hug the characters or to shake them in frustration.

The dual POV between Charlee and Oliver was a must for this story. I loved hearing both versions of their journey & the letters!! Oh my gosh, the letters, (The last few letters, I was like damn girl, how scandalous of you 🥵)!! I could feel the energy between the two when reading them, the passion and love they had for each other even though they were complete strangers had my heart throbbing.

I’m trying really hard to not spoil this book as it was honestly just so good - I enjoyed every second of it 🤭

The nickname Oliver has for Charlee is just too darn cute. When he first called her Sweetheart, oh boy oh boy - someone please, I need CPR - 🥹🥹

The fact that the plot setting was based in mainly British Columbia, allowed me as a fellow Canadian to connect with the story so much more.

To sum this all up… Unbearably Yours, to me, is a cozy small-town romance with forced proximity that will make you want to hold the whole book close to your heart ( in this case it was my iPad 😂).

Review is posted on my Instagram, Goodreads and The StoryGraph profiles.

3.5 ⭐️ - Cute, cozy second chance romance that’s PERFECT for your autumn TBR! Available September 3rd! 🍂🐻☕️🏕️

Charlee and Oliver’s story is so sweet and I loved the flashback letters that were used to develop their backstory. A little warning for any closed door romance girlies— the spice does kind of go from 0-100 around halfway through the book. I almost felt like there were letters missing that showed the development of those feelings but I still absolutely adored the characters, plot, and location in this one!

Oliver is potentially one of my new favorite book boyfriends - he somehow manages to be both a sweet/sensitive nerd & the strong protective type… he’s just a 10/10. This book made me want to rent a cabin in the middle of the woods and spend a week hiking + sitting around a campfire under a warm, fuzzy blanket. Also, as with all her books - Elodie made me want to hop in the car and drive to Canada immediately. She does such a great job of depicting the beauty of the places her books are set in.

This is definitely my favorite book so far in the It’s Always Been You series! Each progressive book in the series has been better than the last & I can’t wait to read the next one. I’m already trying to figure out which character(s) we met in Pine Falls it will follow 👀

** This can also be read as a standalone if you haven’t read the first two & still want to hop into Great Bear Rainforest this fall!

Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing for this ARC

Happy Pub Day!

Unbearably Yours is book 3 in the It's Always Been You Series by Elodie Colliard.
I absolutely love this series! It one of my favorites and I hated to see this book end!
This is a steamy small-town romance that delves into the realms of second chances, forced proximity, the solace of a chosen family, and the unshakable bonds that can be forged in a lifetime.
Elodie Colliard writes her stories with such ease. Her characters show true emotion and fell so real.
The characters were very relatable and well written. With its richly developed characters and phenomenal storytelling, Elodie Colliard's novel shows the love and the amazing bonds of friendship. It's a story that stays with you long after the last page is turned, a true testament to the magic of love and second chances.

As my first book of the fall/autumn season, this book had big shoes to fill, and let me just say, they were filled!!

I absolutely loved Oli and Charlee, the letters were so well done and incorporated perfectly into the story.

I love a second chance romance done right, and this was definitely done right🩷 They had the perfect amount of tension and they communicated so well.

Can we give a round of applause 👏🏼 to the fabulous communications skills these characters had. Nothing worse than poor communication.

I loved that we got the happy ending all the characters deserved, there were definitely some sadder elements to this book, especially the death of parental figures and the author navigating and wrote them extremely well.

The spice was also the perfect amount, not out shadowing the plot and character development.

I loved the story , I loved the characters and it has definitely set the bar real high for my fall/autumn reads this year 🍂

This book was just about everything I hoped it would be from start to finish! I loved it but wanted it to be longer of course!
Some tropes you may encounter:
•pen pal
•second chance romance
• hidden/secret identities
I absolutely adore a pen pal style of book where the main characters are writing back and forth to one another - finding out more about each other and themselves in the process.
This was a wonderful read, a swoony romance that I couldn't put down! My love of short chapters and likable MCs made this an easy and happy read for me. I don't like to give away too much in my reviews because I want this to be a positive experience for all the other readers.
Thank you NetGalley and Elodie for an early copy of Unbearably Yours!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy!
 
The first page had me in a laughing fit! I knew from that point that I would adore this read, and I did!
 
Charlee and Oliver had such a lovely story; the author wrote their romance so perfectly! It was funny, it was heartwarming and so cozy!
 
This was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and I can honestly say that it did not disappoint in the slightest!

Another second chance romance book review, who is she?!

This story follows Charlee and Oliver, who first “meet” by becoming pen pals in college for their degree programs. An unfortunate event causes them to never meet in person, and they lose contact. Five years later they find themselves in a forced proximity type situation where they finally meet each other.

Unbearably Yours feels like a warm hug, or the coziest blanket you can find. It’s not just a story about second chances, but about hope, fear, and growth. It’s book three in a series of interconnected standalones, and I will absolutely be picking up the others.

As always- thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

*strangers to friends to lovers
*second chance
*letter exchange
*small town romance
*forced proximity - esp. with one tent & one sleeping bag
*neurodivergent mmc
*chosen family

During their last year of college, Charlee and Oliver become unexpected pen pals for a class, exchanging their writing and developing strong feelings for each other. I enjoyed reading their letters before each chapter—they deepened their connection.

A miscommunication keeps them apart, with Charlee in bustling Toronto and Oliver in quiet Pine Hills, BC.

Five years later, fate reunites them for a documentary project in British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest. Charlee, now a journalist who travels the world to escape her past, tries to bury her resentment toward Oliver. Meanwhile, Oliver, aiming to reclaim his family's lost restaurant, is reminded of the missed chance with Charlee.

As they work closely together in the lush greenery of BC, their connection reignites, making it impossible to ignore the bond and love they still share.

“…our souls have been intertwined since our pen-pal years.”

”Unbearably Yours” is my first book by Elodie Colliard, and despite being the third in a series, it stands alone beautifully as a cozy and heartfelt read.

*Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

“You make me want to be so gentle with you, Charlee.”

This was such a cute, cozy, and heartwarming read! Some of the tropes you can expect to find:

🐻Forced Proximity
🌲Only One Tent
🐻Second Chance
🌲Slow Burn
🐻Pen Pal to Love Letters
🌲Neurodivergent Rep
🐻Bisexual Rep

When I saw it was a second chance and a slow burn it made me nervous because the combo of those two tropes can make a plot drag at times, but that was not the case for this one!

It had the perfect amount of tension and pining that makes a slow burn worth it. And the pen pal letters that were weaved in did not take away from the present day at all. It added the perfect amount of context while helping move the slow burn along by giving you some spice along the way. Forget sexting, because these pen pal to love letters were GIVING🌶️🔥🥵

I loved both Charlee and Oliver right off the bat. Charlee is so spunky and feisty; a take no shit kind of gal. While some of that is just how she is, you got so see how it also acted like armor to protect the soft, hurt parts of herself. I loved seeing her slowly but surely let those softer parts of her show!

Oliver, my sweet, neurodivergent, cinnamon roll baby. As a neurodivergent person myself I always love seeing us represented in books, but I think this was the first time I saw the hypersensitivity that can come with neurodivergence represented so well. The heightened emotions, and struggling to identify these big feelings, and sensory overload are a difficult part of neurodivergence and I loved to see it written well and with care.

Oliver and Charlee have both lost so much, but that isn’t why they work. They naturally gravitated toward and appreciate each other for who the other person is, not for what they can do for them or out of need to be with someone. This is an interconnected standalone, but I am itching to read the other books in this series after reading this one!

CUTE !! I was hesitant to read her other books based on mixed reviews, but the premise of this one sounded too good to pass up. It was so real- unlike some other romances that may seem unrealistic this one offers what feels like a really authentic glimpse at a relationship. I’ll definitely be going back to read her other books

I fell in love with Elodie's writing last year when I read From Paris In Love, and this book captivated me just as much—I devoured it.

Charlee and Oliver are such amazing characters, and I just want to hug them. This book touched me in so many moments, and I think their story was beautifully written. They are definitely soulmates.

Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this ARC.

3.5
This was such a delightful and enjoyable book, perfect for fall vibes, which I absolutely loved. I really appreciated the alternating past and present chapters—they provided great insight into the relationship between the characters. I especially enjoyed the letters, though I did find them a bit cringy towards the end. Still, they didn't detract too much from the overall experience. The romance was sweet, but I was disappointed with how the story concluded. The resolution felt unsatisfying because it relied on miscommunication, which could have been easily avoided with one solid conversation early on. Despite this, it was still a cute read.

I am completely and utterly unable to accept any criticism in regard to this masterpiece. Oliver, you’re coming home with me. More thoughts to come if and when I ever get over this book.
...

UNBEARABLY YOURS by ELODIE COLLIARD
Rating: ∞⭐️

<u> <b> Read if you love: </b> </u>
💌 Pen pals
⛺️ Forced proximity (a LOT of it)
🐻 Small town
🌲 He takes care of her
🫶🏼 Found family
✌️ Second chance
🏕️ Only one tent and sleeping bag
📓 Journalists in the wild
🍰 Cinnamon roll MMC

<b> ‘Unbearably Yours’ is a beautifully poignant and heartfelt journey of two souls finding their way back to each other.</b> Elodie Colliard captures readers with her breathtaking vivid portrayal of British Columbia, while also weaving in powerful discussions on sexism in the workplace, neurodiversity, cancer, death, forgiveness, love, and the hard-won journey of personal growth. This book will wrap you up in its warmth and refuse to ever let go.
<i> <blockquote> "It’s as if you were etched into my soul, into my bones. I’ve know for years that you were mine and I yours. Soulmates. That’s what we are.”</blockquote> </i>
I’ve been a long-time reader of Elodie’s books. ‘The Last Encore’ is the first indie book I read and loved, making Elo the reason I unwaveringly support indie authors as much as I do on my page. As a result, TLE will always have a special place in my heart. That said, ‘Unbearably Yours’ is just…truly incredible. <b> I have never been more proud of an author than I am of Elodie now. </b> I love seeing all of the wonderful reviews that this book is receiving from first-time Elo readers and how it’s motivating them to read her first time books which are equally as incredible.
<i> <blockquote> "I choose you every time, sweetheart. You over everything else. Forever and always.” </blockquote> </I>
Never have I believed two characters are more made for each other than Oliver is for Charlee and vice versa. It is clear from the beginning of their in-person meeting that, despite their anger and confusion, these two still deeply love one another. Oliver is respectful, kind, and fiercely protective toward Charlee. While she protects her boundaries and emotions, Charlee shows Oliver the same respect, while also recognizing that her love for him is stronger than her anger. The understanding and forgiveness that these two eventually show one another is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
<i> <blockquote> "I’m yours, sweetheart. Mind, body, and soul.”</blockquote> </I>
<u> <b> Some mini-thoughts: </b> </u>
📸 I absolutely loved the friendship between Charlee and Emma
🔥 “I don’t usually mind nail marks, but a bit softer please”
🖕🏻This one is specifically for you Trevor. I sentence you to roll a boulder up a hill like Sisyphus. Sounds like a fitting punishment to me.
🦶Why couldn’t my sprained ankle heal as fast as Charlee’s???😭
🥰 *Kicks feet, *sobs, *kicks feet, *sobs, *laughs, *kicks feet, *sobs, *throws kindle at the wall
📷 The photos at the end…I CRIED. SOBBED like a BABY
❤️ OLIVER WHY AREN’T YOU REAL??? CAN I USE MY GENIE WISH TO BRING YOU TO LIFE???
✏️ *Puts down highlighter, *picks highlighter back up, *puts highlight down, *picks highlight back up
📪 EMILIE!!!! YOU SILLY OLD…uh meanie…

<u> <b> A list of SOME of my favorite quotes: </b> </u>
<I> “You’re . . . my Charlee. And boy, do you take up space in my mind.” </I>

<I>"My beautiful Charlie.”</I>

<I> "It’s him, my body seems to say. It’s always been him.”</I>

<I> "‘I’m right here, sweetheart,’ he says into my skin. ‘I’ll aways be right here next to you.’”</I>

<I>"‘That’s my girl.’”</I>

<I> "‘You’re my favorite book, and reading you is ridiculously easy.’”

<I>" Every time I look at you, you wish me away to my favorite place. It’s you. You’re where I love to be the most.”</I>

<I>"I love you so much, Oliver. I’ve never been so sure of anything else in my life.”</I>


<I>"You’re such a good girl, Charlie. Such a good girl.”</I>

<I>"‘My perfect girl,’ he whispers again and again into the crook of my neck, like a prayer to a higher power…”</I>

<I>"Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night and find him asleep next to me, softly breathing, and wonder what I did right in a past life to deserve a second chance at loving this man — and to have my love returned tenfold.”</I>

<I>"I haven’t been able to forget a single thing about you, Charlee."</I>

<I>"I am drawn to you in a deeper, more meaningful way than I’ve ever been drawn to anyone. You make me feel seen and valued and cherished. All this without ever having touched me or laid eyes on me.”</I>

<I>"I gave you my trust. I gave you my heart. I gave you my soul.”</I>

<I> “I was chasing after the person I was when I had you. I was chasing the happiness I knew with you."</I>
...

I’m sure there’s more I could say about this book, but I’ll cap it here. Read it, don’t read it. Just know if you chose the latter, you might find me in a corner crying. And you wouldn’t want to do that to me, would you?🥹 No? Good choice😌

Thank you Elodie for the advance copy and for trusting me to review your baby early. I will be *impatiently* waiting for whatever comes next;)