Member Reviews

“You're the place I love to be the most too," then kisses the unspoken promise onto my lips.”

This is the first book I read from Elodie Colliard and I absolutely love it. Unbearably Yours is the third book in the series and it’s about Charlee and Oliver. They become pan pals and write to each other for almost a year. They get to know each other through their letters and tell everything about their lives. Charlee and Oli decide to finally meet in person after talking for so long but something happens and they don’t. Five years go by and Charlee is hired to go on a job in Vancouver where she meets the person she thought would ever hear from, Oliver. They both decide to work together and not talk about the past but a lot of things happen in the forest which brings them together. Will Charlee and Oliver ever talk about their past and why they never met each other?!!! If you want to find out then you better read this book!!!

I absolutely loved this story, it was touching and heartfelt. Charlee is such a strong person and hardworking; whereas, Oli is so sweet and kind. Such an amazing story and I feel like everyone should read it.


Thank you Net Galley and Elodie Colliard for providing me with an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Unbearably Yours is a perfect cozy, autumn read for when you just want to cuddle up in bed with a hot chocolate!

I was really excited about the concept of this book as I’ve not really read anything like it before, but I feel like the pacing was a bit too quick. I liked reading Charlee and Oliver’s letters, however it just felt like their feelings for each other developed so quickly I couldn’t really feel a connection between them. In the present timeline, I liked seeing Charlee and Oliver reunite and get to know each other again, but it felt kind of back and forth in the sense that they both wanted to discuss the rift between them, but weren’t willing to despite the obvious tension. Despite the slight miscommunication, I thought there was some really cute moments between Charlee and Oliver and even though I haven’t read the previous books in this series, I fell in love with the other characters and will definitely be going back to read their stories.

The ND representation in this book is so important and It really made me get to know Oliver more and be able to understand his struggles with Giftedness. Also the topic of grief is quite prevalent in this book as both characters are dealing with recent losses. It was so sweet watching Charlee & Oliver finally open up to each other about this and learn how to deal with their grief together.

Overall, Unbearably Yours was a perfect quick read, with lots of sweet moments that made me feel warm and cozy, while still having some serious undertones.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I saw one quote on the author’s instagram and immediately requested this. Impulsive? Maybe. But it was absolutely worth it.

That first scene just reeled me in (fishing pun absolutely intended) and I was unable to put it down after that. I think I choked at the “maybe you can get up and jump a bit” part. Trust me, you want to find out the context. Charlee’s response emulated my thoughts perfectly.

Their letters to each other were one of my favourite things. They were always entertaining and I love that we could see the growth and change in their relationship through those letters. The way their articles always alluded to their feelings for each other was great. The topics they covered in each article showed how much they were always thinking of the other and the progression of their relationship which was beyond sweet.

I loved the way Oliver’s neurodivergence was portrayed. It hit close to home and I liked that I could see myself in him. The way Charlee knew him well enough (when she wasn’t stuck in her own head) to understand his thought process without him ever needing to say anything was so wholesome.

Miscommunication, or I guess just a lack of communication, was a main point in this book. It drives me crazy when I know that so much could be solved if the characters would just talk to one another. Charlee’s stubbornness and feelings on the matter definitely dragged it out. I wanted to be annoyed with her for that, but honestly if I was in her position I think I would’ve acted similarly, so I can’t really blame her.

All in all, I cannot recommend this book enough. Check it out if you’re a fan of friends to lovers, forced proximity, second chance, slow burn, or small town.

Was this review helpful?

Charlee & Oliver? They are EVERYTHING.

These two broke my heart and then put it back together again. I fall in love with them over and over again every time I've read this book. Don't ask me how many times I read it, I simply could not get enough of their love story.

Every book Elodie has given us is honestly such a beautiful and well crafted story with characters who feel so real, like they're sitting with us as we read their story. And Unbearably Yours is no exception, I felt those characters with me as they went through every up and down. This was such an amazing book, I loved every single second of it!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

Was this review helpful?

Unbearably Yours was an easy to read, cozy, romcom. It lacked a little bit of depth and backstory of this couple, despite the duel timelines. But I really enjoyed the nature setting and overall atmosphere of this story.

Was this review helpful?

i was a little worried i wouldn’t be able to follow this story only because i have not read the previous books in the series, but i was pleasantly proved wrong! i loved this book so much and these characters are so wonderful, such a beautiful story - i will definitely reading more of elodie’s work in the future :)

Was this review helpful?

OH. MY. GOD. THIS BOOK. I could NOT put this down. I am so unbearably in love with oliver and charlee.
i am such a big fan of second chance and forced proximity and this gavE ME EVERYTHING.

the end was perfect. the characters were perfect. the romance was perfect. i just can’t get over this book.

so grateful to have read this arc!

Was this review helpful?

It took me a bit to get into this book, but once I did I LOVED it. So sweet and tender. Can't wait to recommend to friends and library patrons!

Was this review helpful?

4.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!!

This was such a fun read and I just loved Charlie and Oliver. This is a second chance romance were Charlie and Oliver meet first by letters they write to each other which I swooned over. They have a chance encounter that goes wrong and then do not meet again until 5 years later. They both meet up before heading on a work related trip to the Great Bear Rainforest. We are meet with forced proximity and miscommunication from the past. Their love story is charming and cozy and I highly enjoyed this read.

Was this review helpful?

“Unbearably Yours” by Elodie Colliard, is the kind of story you sit back and ponder after you are done. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely look for her other books.

The plot is very different, moving back and forth in time through a series of letters written by two college journalism majors as part of a class requirement. After a fallout, they meet up unexpectedly five years later on an assignment.

While I really liked the female main character, I deeply enjoyed the author’s extremely well fleshed out male character. He doesn’t conform to the traditional romantic hero and I found that refreshing and more realistic.

This is a book well worth reading. It is full of substance, great dialogue, and explores deeper issues of feeling different in a world that isn’t always kind or doesn’t understand the struggles of anxiety and giftedness.

Was this review helpful?

A very cute outdoorsy romance that is emotional and in depth. The story is told in past and present time and dual pov, which I loved. The past time is written through letters that the MC’s wrote each other and that really added a lot of depth to it all. I enjoyed myself immensely and finished it within a day.

I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a new romance read, which is set in the beautiful Canadian outdoors and that has just the right amount of spice added to the romance as well ;)

<i>thanks so much to the publisher and netgallet for providing me with an arc of this book, in exchange for me leaving an honest review</i>.

I can’t wait to read more by this author and will revisit this world by reading the other two books that were written prior to this one. This one can be read as a standalone :)

Was this review helpful?

Unbearably yours is the perfect fall romance read. I’ve always loved Eloise Colliards work but this one hit the cherry on top. It was so incredibly cozy, hot and absolutely romantic. I’m so obsessed with this story and I can’t wait for it to come out so I can rant about it nonstop. Also can we take a moment to appreciate the cover? I can always count on this artist for me to want to pick up a book

Was this review helpful?

This was an easy five stars 🥹

I couldn’t get enough of Charlee and Oliver 🫶 I’m a sucker for second chance romances. I absolutely adored reading the letters Charlee and Oliver wrote each other, and seeing how their relationship blossomed. The letters are interspersed between the present-day chapters, and they brought everything full circle.

These characters are so beautifully written, with so much depth and past experiences that shaped them. There is great neurodivergent x hypersensitivity rep with Oliver & he’s the perfect cinnamon roll MMC 🥹 Charlee is an adventurous queen who perfectly complements Oliver 🫶 it was funny watching them fight their feelings for each other because they never stood a chance 🧡

🏕️ strangers to friends to lovers
🏕️ second chance
🏕️ pen pals ✍️
🏕️ forced proximity
🏕️ only one tent + sleeping bag
🏕️ small town

Someone please take me to Pine Falls, BC 🏕️🐻🌲 it sounds like a DREAM

UNBEARABLY YOURS is a deeply romantic & heartwarming love story.

Was this review helpful?

What a cute romance! Set in BC in the wilderness - what more could you ask for? The autumnal cozy vibe of this book felt like being wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket with a hot cup of tea on a rainy fall day. Loved it so much! Thank you Elodie for sending us the arc for this book!! <3

Was this review helpful?

I am a sucker for a Canadian-set romance. While this one didn't have as many Canadianisms (Old Dutch boxed chips, for example), it had more of the stunning nature and wildlife found in British Columbia.

Overall, this was a lighthearted and fluffy read with the angst and drama centered around the time-jumps and letter-writing component. Why did they stop talking? Why didn't they meet up as planned? This is the primary relationship conflict and focuses heavily on the delay of information. If you are looking for an easy-reading romance with neurodivergence representation (primarily hypersensitivity and giftedness), then give this book a go.

The remainder of this review will focus on some of the aspects I didn't enjoy as much, and may be considered spoilers. CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

My primary issue with this story is that there is a certain level of suspension of disbelief that is needed. The fact that this journalism program had a component that utilized written pen pals seemed a bit off to me. Why wasn't this done digitally? It starts in 2017, so it isn't from pre-email or online forums. I have had multiple courses that utilized online forums for peer feedback so I was having trouble getting on board with the premise from the start. I wish this had been tightened up a bit because I kept getting distracted by my disbelief. Had this been done digitally, my next concerns would not have been an issue at all. Though, letter writing does have its own level of romance so that certainly works in its favor.

Another aspect that I struggled with was that we could tell by the content of the letters that we were reading all of them. Topics were carried from one to the next, and we could tell that there were no letters between the ones we were reading. This meant that this entire relationship was based on 25 letters over the span of one year, each being maybe a page or two long in written form. Considering that they started as complete strangers, I had trouble believing that this all-encompassing, never-get-over-it relationship could develop.

Finally, another aspect I had trouble believing was that Oliver couldn't find Charlee after their letters ended. Oliver stated that he tried to find her online, but that she was completely off the grid. But yet, she had been a journalist writing and publishing stories all over the world, in the same industry as Oliver (journalism) and with the same focus (environmentalism). How could a simple Google search not bring up her pieces and therefore what company she worked for and contact information? She may not have had public social media platforms, but she certainly would have had a name online.

Thank you to Victory Editing, NetGalley, and Elodie Colliard for a digital advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

"Unbearably Yours" by Elodie Colliard is a captivating entry in the *It's Always Been You* series, blending romance and personal growth with a charming setting. The story follows Charlee and Oliver, who are reunited after a five-year separation to work on a documentary in the Great Bear Rainforest. The narrative beautifully intertwines their past, revealed through heartfelt letters, with their present-day interactions, making their journey both poignant and engaging.

The depiction of their slow-burn romance is one of the book’s strengths. Colliard excels in showing the emotional depth of Charlee and Oliver's relationship, enriched by their history and the gradual rebuilding of trust. The Great Bear Rainforest setting adds a cozy, vivid backdrop that complements the romance.

However, while the book offers a warm and satisfying read, some plot elements and tropes, like the "pen pals" and "second chance" themes, might feel familiar and predictable. Despite this, the characters are well-developed, and the romance is both sweet and sincere.

Overall, "Unbearably Yours" earns a solid 4-star rating. It’s a heartwarming story with strong character dynamics and a satisfying narrative that will appeal to fans of romance and second-chance stories.

Was this review helpful?

: ̗̀➛ 4 stars

“It’s easy for a place to feel like home when you’re with the right people.”

I feel like I read this book at the exact right time. It delivered a beautiful, comforting story that filled my heart with warmth. Charlee and Oliver will linger in my thoughts for a long time.

The romance in this book was delicately woven throughout the narrative, seamlessly blending with the letters that served as a powerful reflection of Charlee and Oliver's relationship. I especially loved how their previous connection was explored, laying a rich groundwork for their rekindled romance. The pacing of the present-day chapters felt intentional, allowing the characters to slowly navigate their new relationship after a tumultuous five-year separation. Their love story is a poignant exploration of second chances, forgiveness, and the enduring power of true love, culminating in a well-deserved happily ever after.

What really stood out to me was how both characters yearn for the friendship they once shared. Oliver tries to respect Charlee’s boundaries, while Charlee fiercely guards her heart, and their efforts to reconnect are so tender and heartfelt. They are both hurting for different reasons, angry for different reasons, and trying desperately not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

I appreciated the gentle tone of this story—how it showed both characters fitting into their own worlds before coming together. The entire book had an autumnal, cozy feel, like wrapping up in a warm blanket with a mug of hot chocolate.

The only downside for me was that it included one of my least favorite tropes, and the plot was a bit predictable. But even with that, I still had an amazing time reading it and would gladly give it 4 stars.

Was this review helpful?

When I say that was the best arc I've read so far I'm not even exaggerating! This was everything I wanted from the romance book and even more! Honestly, if you're looking for something cozy and sweet, for somethings beautiful and a bit heartbreaking, for somethings so real and vulnerable — this book is your choice. It was such a wholesome read, I finished it in one sitting just because I couldn't put this book down as the story kept unraveling before my eyes and I was so hooked with everything that was going on there.

Fair warning, this is the third book in the series of interconnected standalones, and it's the first book out of the series that I read. And you know what? I really want to read the first two books now as I fell in love with the characters from those books! It's not necessary to read first two books before reading this one as I was able to understand everything without previous background, which is really an amazing thing when it comes to interconnected standalones! I'm absolutely planning to read first two books soon still, because the way Elodie Colliard wrote this story left me wanting to read more of her works.

First things first, I absolutely loved both main characters — Charlee and Oliver, they were so wholesome and felt incredibly real. Like old friends whom i haven't seen for a very long time. From the very first scene Charlee was introduced she had me laughing so hard because of the funny comedic way her introduction happened! And Oli? Can I just say that he's the sweetest male main character? I loved how their story took unpredictable twists and turns, how it kept me wanting to know more, how their chemistry was basically radiating through this book and I was so obsessed with them! Also, the feeling of coziness and warmth this book brought? It's a perfect read for this period between summer and fall with the setting from this book.

The plot itself kept me intrigued as I really wanted to know what went down five years ago and if the characters would be able to move on from whatever happened between them. I loved how the main conflict was handled and resolved, it felt organic for the plot and characters and I even enjoyed that kind of miscommunication between them. again, It was organic and the miscommunication was unavoidable here, but it all paid out, in no way that miscommunication annoyed me.

From the very first moment I fell in love with Charlee, her quirks and wits. She was an amazing female main character, it's definitely impossible not to love her. She is smart, funny, so captivating, but at the same time she felt so girl-next-door-ish that I really felt like I knew her from somewhere! She had complexity and sometimes my heart was honestly breaking for her because of her backstory and how life treated her. And oh, that feisty side of Charlee, her intelligence and her ability to stand her ground really impressed me!

Now Oli Oli Oli! He's a golden retriever, soft boy, vulnerable sweet soul. I wasn't aware of neurodivergence and this book [and Oliver's character specifically] educated me on the matter. It's really amazing when we learn new things through the books, so this one was a totally pleasant surprise for me. Oliver is really an amazing male main character who made me giggle and kick my legs with his charming personality and beautiful words. His soul is literally something else, and he himself is a definition of down bad. His story was so carefully crafted as it broke my heart and then mended it back together again.

The romance between Charlee and Oli was so cute! It definitely was swoon-worthy, so emotional and heartwarming [even with a little bit heartbreak]. Their letters were something else entirely, Getting to know them through those letters and seeing how similar they are in the way they see the world, how their life goals intertwine, how strong and alluring their bond is — the complexity of this story with dual timeline really played its part here. I feel like their love is so pure, but at the same time so intense. The chemistry and tension in the first half of this book really pulled a number on me as I was desperately craving for more. some scenes in which they were opening up to each other made me feel like an intruder as their connection was so vulnerable and soft in those little moments, which once again proves that chemistry in this book was so electrifying and tangible.

It feels like this book found me when I needed it most, It's like it answered to my calling and presented me with this beautiful cozy story that warmed my heart. Charlee and Oliver will stay with me for a while and I feel like I'll definitely be rereading this book this fall just to feel those emotions again!

Was this review helpful?

Charlee and Oliver exchange letters during university without knowing who they are. And they fall in love and want to meet. But Oliver never shaw. Five years later, they have to work together for a documentary.
I liked where the story take place and learn a lot about it! The letters were sweet and their connection beautiful. I spend a nice time reading this story!

Was this review helpful?

Elodie Colliard is a new to me author, and I enjoyed this a lot!

The cover captured me right away, it's honestly adorable and I love the fall vibes and the color and the art and everything about it. IF we're judging books by their covers, this would be one of the best!

I loved so much about the book. The setting was amazing, loved Pine Falls and I want to visit it. Oliver and Charlee are adorable. This is the definition of a cozy read, it was so heartwarming! Oliver honestly is my favorite type of MMC, and not enough books give enough love to the men who are gentle and nerdy. I really loved him.

Definitely recommend this book! And will have to take a look at Elodie Colliards backlist after this :)

Was this review helpful?