⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️

I’m just gonna come in hot and say this is probably the best book I have read this year and I have read a lot of books. Variation will have you emotional in the very best way and will pull at your heart for the entire plot. I will say right now that I truly think Rebecca is a mastermind and I am always astounded at the beautiful way she weaves a story together!

Hudson and Allie get a second shot at love after being apart for ten years. Allie, now a principal ballerina in New York, heads back to Cape Cod to recover from an injury. Meanwhile, Hudson—who’s in the Coast Guard—finds himself crossing paths with her again when his niece, Juniper, needs ballet lessons…and maybe a little extra guidance too. You’ll have to read to find out what happens next! 💓

Allie was such a beautifully written character. I truly felt for her with all the pressure in her life to be perfect. She was flighty and scared to open up to anyone, especially Hudson. I loved how he slowly knocked down her walls and helped her accept freedom in her life. She was so sweet to Juniper and I loved how she accepted her and helped her. 🩰

Hudson was in love with Allie after all this time apart. He was willing to accept anything Allie would give him. He lives with some secrets but I loved how he always showed up for Allie! He was such a protector and willing to do anything for his family. 🌊

I don’t really have the perfect words to end this review other than to say this book is one that will stay with you. You need to read it immediately. Another stunner by Rebecca Yarros.

In true Rebecca Yarros fashion…Variation is a roller coaster of emotions and WTF moments!

“You don’t owe Lina anything,” she said quietly. “Not when it comes to Juniper, or your mother, your sisters, or your career.”
Except I did.
“I’m the one who got out,” I whispered.
“You living for her isn’t going to bring her back.”

Give me a second chance, small-town, twisted romance to read…and you better believe I won’t put that down. Variation was…WOW! TWISTED doesn’t begin to describe it. HAHA.

When Allie and Hudson’s eyes first met, while he saved her from the cold waters, there was a pull that wouldn’t go away. Not after years of being apart. Not after the family drama. Not after a near death experience. However, the pull wouldn’t necessarily be strong enough to keep them together.

I LOVED this book, but there were a couple of storyline twists that had me rereading sections to try to understand what was going on… HOWEVER…this was a minor star deduction in my rating…giving this Ballerina/Coast Guard romance a 4.6 star rating from me! (Rounding up to 5 because it was closer to 5 star than 4 IMO!)

Ever finish a book and feel so lost because it was just that amazing? That's exactly how I felt last night after finishing "Variation" by Rebecca Yarros!

I was hooked and felt connected to these characters from the first chapter - I read the first half so fast and then intentionally slowed down because I didn't want it to end! I highlighted SO much and wish I could share all my favorite quotes on here!

This book had so much depth to it! It was an amazing love story but was honestly so much more than that! Grief, healing, found family, and second chance romance (with amazing chemistry and tension) it had it all! I loved every minute of reading this book!

Hudson and Allie's love story was the perfect example of a love that can overcome anything and anyone that tries to get in the way (even when that thing is a toxic family member). Their chemistry was amazing!!

I loved Juniper's (Hudson's niece) sass and determination - even at a young age she played a huge role in bringing her family together (read to find out more)!

Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR!!

Thank you @amazonpublishing and
@rebeccayarros for this ARC!!! I loved it so much!!

Rebecca’s signature world building is found through elite ballerinas with catty fake relationships in NY and high stakes coast guard rescue swimmers off the east coast in this book. There are camping scenes that made me laugh and a found family aspect that made my heart so full. With flashbacks to the past we can see bits and pieces of how this duo was together. There is a mystery at the center of Allie and Husdon's love story. With only one of them knowing the whole story.

Hudson would do almost anything to make his niece smile. Even fake date his only love if it would give her some insight into the family she believes to be hers. His niece has ascertained that she is related to Allie and with a closed adoption can’t learn anything more till she turns 18. That means Allie and Hudson try to carefully tread a line so she can meet her family without her adoptive mom finding out. Everyone is trying to do what is best for her while not really doing the right thing. Best of intentions and all.

From the outside looking in Allie looks like she has everything she’s ever wanted including a loving supportive family that is the royal family of US ballet. However that couldn’t be farthest from the truth. We experience life through Allie’s eyes, never being good enough, family rejections and betrayal. It was an incredible experience to see her heal and explore being vulnerable for the only man that she’s ever loved.

The paragraph headers were snippets of social media accounts gossiping about the characters. It felt like an odd addition, but it reinforced how icky strangers can be. Feels very appropriate to those who feel some sort of ownership over what their favorite people do or say. It certainly raised my hackles and made me feel even more protective of Allie as the book went on.

Hudson is incredible. He’s the best uncle and a selfless man who goes out of his way to take care of his family. He does it all while risking his life every time he goes to work as a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer. I couldn’t get enough of him.

Read this book if you like fake dating, second chance relationships, found family, mystery and people who work to prove themselves.

With gratitude to Montlake and Rebecca’s team for the advanced reader copy. These are my honest thoughts on Variation.

CW: death of a sibling, cancer death (off page) & dementia

C'est toujours un plaisir de retrouver la plume de Rebecca Yarros surtout en romance contemporaine où elle nous concocte des histoires addictives touchantes et bien souvent imprévisibles. Coup de coeur pour cette nouvelle romance !
En effet, quand on mêle le monde épineux des danseurs classiques et celui bien plus humide et héroïque des sauveteurs en mer, forcément je craque !
Madame Rebecca Yarros nous réserve ici une superbe histoire qui prend aux tripes et touche directement le coeur du lecteur.
On fait la connaissance d'Hudson jeune sauveteur en mer , intrépide et loyal envers sa famille . J'ai adoré ce personnage droit, fort et sûr de ses sentiments . Son attachement à Allie depuis l'adolescence a été gaché par un drame mais on n'en apprend que au fur et à mesure de la lecture.
Allie cette jeune danseuse étoile est fourbu de pression de par son rôle , une mauvaise blessure et la relation toxique qu'elle entretient avec sa mère... J'ai aimé de nombreuses facettes de personnages mais parfois j'avoue qu'elle m'a fait lever les yeux au ciel , surtout pour un entêtement que je n'ai parfois pas compris...
Leur relation à tous les 2 met de suite des papillons dans le ventre d'autant que tout se lie pour les séparer ... Il faut dire que l'autrice aime nous faire souffrir :P
Le dénouement est juste comme je les aime mais le chemins a été périlleux...

En bref : Une belle romance qui offre une seconde chance au duo Hudson - Allie . Un mélange réussi entre l'âpre délicatesse du monde du ballet et les dangers du sauvetage en mer. Mon petit coeur de lectrice avisée a frémi tout au long de ma découverte, j'en termine le sourire aux lèvres ;)

Rebecca Yarros's contemporary romances always have a way of captivating you and Variation was no exception to this rule. It is a beautiful second chance story that is filled with secrets, heartache, and healing. The tension and banter was "chef's kiss". This has been on our radar as an anticipated top release and I am pleased that it has lived up to that. Definite add to the TBR if you want a steamy second chance romance where he falls first and told in dual POV.

Variation by Rebecca Yarros takes us back to where she started, contemporary romance and I loved every minute of it. This was a second chance romance that was emotional and touching and captivating from start to finish. Allie’s life has revolved around her becoming a ballerina and all she sacrificed to get there. Now she is injured and recovering. Hudson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, loves his family and will always be there for them. Their journey was not an easy one as they maneuvered through so many obstacles from their past and present.

From the start you could feel the connection Allie and Hudon felt towards each other. Hudson was carrying so much and I just loved him so much. Allie grew so much during the story and I loved that for her. They had so much to overcome. They shared history that included love, heartbreak, hope and so much more. Their journey was not always easy and kept me at the edge of my seat at times, but it was beautiful and gripping.

Happy reading!

Variation is a complex, engaging story that pulled me in right from the start.
I loved these characters and their journey that is years in the making.
Hudson Ellis and Allie Rousseau come from completely different worlds but their worlds become smaller during the summers of their youth when Allie spends time in Hudson’s hometown. Now, Allie is back after being away for years, but picking up where they left off is harder than it should be. They have both reached their goals, Hudson being a Rescue Swimmer and Allie a successful ballerina, but life is complicated and neither of them expected the life changing secrets that rock their world and bind their families. Once all the secrets are revealed and the obstacles thrown at them have been put to rest they not only find strength but emotional healing. I love a second chance romance and what these to have been through makes their happily ever after all the sweeter.

5 Coming to Terms with Their Past Stars!!

I’m a long-time fan of Ms. Yarros’ writing and this book is a wonderful reminder of how much I love her contemporary stories. This book is a journey of Allie and Hudson’s love story. I was immediately captivated when we first meet them as Hudson is rescuing Allie and her sister in a raging storm. I love that we get flashbacks through the years of what brought these two together in this elite seaside town and a longer family history that comes to crashing point as secrets are revealed.

Along the way, Allie and Hudson remember what it felt like to be best friends, which leads to a fake relationship for a multitude of reasons that leads to a love that was always meant to be. Their road though is filled with twists and turns and a cavalcade of emotions. Coming to terms with their past, and what’s meant to be in their future.

This is a definite must read if you love stories that make you think about what could’ve been and what’s supposed to be.

This book felt a bit different to me than Rebecca's other contemporary romances because it was such a deep dive into the world of ballet. But otherwise, all the hallmarks of her stories were there: two beautifully flawed main characters, their siblings and family drama, secrets, difficult choices, and a fantastic love story.
Hudson and Ellie were classic opposites attract when they met as teens and became best friends in the small town where he lived and she visited for the summers. He was in love with her. Tragedy struck, and they didn't speak for 10 years. You eventually find out the reasons. As the present months go on, Allie does rehab, and Hudson is able to spend more time reconnecting with her thanks to his niece. There are lots of other things going on, too, with his niece, and with Allie's sisters and mother.
Even knowing nearly nothing about ballet, this book drew me in and kept hold of me. I had to know what happened that night and how these two would end up.

First of all the cover is gorgeous. This is a 4 star cosy romance read and overall I enjoyed reading it. Readers should expect to be taken on a roller coaster of relatable real life situations and emotions. This is a must read for romance readers filled with plot twists, engaging characters, angst, love and more.
For me personally, I felt this story could have been told in less pages and had a greater impact and some parts felt a little random.

I adore second chance romances and I am totally in love with Allie and Hudson's story. The ballerina and the Coast Guard rescue swimmer who had a mountain of challenges to face between them somehow managed to fight for what they ultimately wanted...each other. This story had me from the very beginning and kept a grasp on my page after page. I couldn't get enough of the strong, intelligent, and passionate Allie and the kindhearted, brave, and sexy Hudson. I enjoyed the refreshing honesty with which they dealt with each other and the smoldering chemistry that made their love inevitable. Oh, and I can't really leave a review without mentioning the lovely and sassy Juniper...I adored every scene she was in! I really enjoy Ms. Yarros' contemporary story writing (as well as her fantasy ones) and am so glad that we're getting books in such vastly different world to enjoy. No matter the genre, this author has a way to pull at your heart and make you feel all the feels and, really, what else can you ask for in a book?!? Go get this one, you won't regret it!

This story.
My heart.
Hudson and Allie.

The first chapters pulled me into this world and the characters. The ballet dance elements were such a fun world to be in with the Rousseau sisters who were among the top ballerinas in the world. Hudson first met Allie when they were teenagers- he helped save her and her sister Eva. Since that day the two were connected. They became fast friends. 10 years go by and the two are brought back together.

“she was the entire ocean, as beautiful as she was impossible to fathom. But damn if I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life figuring her out“

I liked the characters. I loved how the world was built. Absolutely adored the chemistry. The story flowed forward. I could not put this boon down. It was absolutely worth of wait. Hudson's love towards others (his family and also Allie) was admirable. The way he handled things made my heart cry. I tryly recommend this book to everyone who likes good guy heros!

*May Contain Minor Spoilers*
I received an ARC of Variation by Rebecca Yarros from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. However, I would have likely purchased upon release because i love Rebecca Yarros's work. Unlike many who have found her through her famous fantasy novels, I enjoyed her emotional romances first. The cover is gorgeous. I love the colors and much prefer covers like this over ones with people on them. I'm always nervous to read her books because she has an amazing way of telling stories but they always make you feel something. Sometimes that something is heartbreak. Fortunately, while there are aspects of this book that tug at the heartstrings it is overall a HEA.
Variation is a contemporary romance with the main characters being a famous ballerina and a coast guard rescue swimmer. It ticks off quite a few of my favorite tropes being a Dual POV, second chance romance and includes a high stakes fake relationship, one bed scenario, and the perfect amount of spice. Absolutely loved this story.

I absolutely love Rebecca Yarros's writing style in all her books and Variation was no exception. This was a very cute second chance and fake dating romance between the main characters Allie and Hudson. Although not as emotional or tugging on the heart strings as her other stories, I still loved the overall story. The plot line is well written and both characters sort through the trauma of their past relationship in a mature manner as they rekindle their newfound love, which I really appreciated. I really loved the use of the Dual POV throughout this book as it allowed me to better understand what happened as teenagers in the eyes of both Allie and Hudson. Throughout the story, there are some plot twists that totally left me surprised, but that is one of the things I love about Rebecca Yarros's books.

Heartbreakingly beautiful. Trust me, just read it.

Rebecca Yarros writes about the human experience in way that is authentic and poetic at the same time. This story is a beautiful depiction of life- full of imperfect people, love, loss heartbreak, trauma, redemption, hope, friendship, family, pressure, dreams, and decisions.

I was super excited to read this one, as RY has yet to disappoint me. This one lived up to all my expectations. When a book makes me feel the emotions the characters are experiencing, that’s when I know it’s five stars for me. Allie and Hudson’s story was so easy to fall in love with. I could feel their heartbreak. I was rooting for them every step of the way. Occasionally throughout the story, I would get frustrated with them. I wanted them to make more logical decisions. I wanted them to communicate. Then I realized that is exactly the story RY was trying to write for us. Just like us, they are flawed people trying to live and love. At times, their communication fails. Their messages are lost in translation. They’re imperfect people trying to navigate love, which gets messy. I related to so many of the emotions they felt. And talk about character development! I think something that makes RY’s writing so powerful is because she creates dynamic characters that are doing their best to grow as people. They are relatable and easy to root for.

This one checks all the boxes for me. There’s nothing I love more than a beautiful story that is full of raw emotion. It’s definitely the kind of story that sticks with you. Five stars.

Thank you to Rebecca Yarros and her lovely team for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Variation. All opinions are my own.

(I have posted this review to Goodreads, Target, Books-a-Million, and Barnes & Noble. At this time, it is still being reviewed by BAM and B&N sites and should be posted soon).

4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book, it felt very different than her other work. While the story flowed really well and I loved the depth of the characters, it wasn't as emotional for me as her other books which knocked a half a point off the score. Overall though, you can't go wrong here, the story was so great! I appreciated we had a Coast Guard hero and I really enjoyed getting to read about Hudson's career, I think it gave great perspective to the type of man he is and the integrity he has. Allie, the ballerina, who can't possibly live up to her mother's expectations but tries to anyway, needed someone like Hudson to give her own life some perspective. Seeing how they came together and grew together as young adults was beautiful and I was so excited for their future. The tragedy that ensued however, I didn't see coming and was absolutely devastating. It clearly throws both Allie and Hudson into a tail spin they struggle to recover from. And the secrets and lies that are revealed in the process were a complete surprise as well, but in the end, they were a blessing that needed to be uncovered.
Great read, you won't regret picking this one up!!

4.5-Stars

Second chances are my thing and ooh boy, did Yarros put me through the wringer, or what? However, it wasn’t a fast read for me since there are a lot of details and names to absorb in a world I had little knowledge of. I also found the build-up of tension a tad lento, but probably better seeing as nothing is straightforward. When the story’s pacing picked up around halfway, that was it; I devoured the author’s every word like there was no tomorrow.

So, is there a tomorrow for Yarros’ hero and heroine? Even before getting there, I thought I’d learnt the whys and wherefores of Allie Rousseau and Hudson Ellis’ broken hearts only to be thrown off kilter by the plot twists. I adored the flashbacks that put their teenage friendship into perspective, and in the present day, Allie’s reasons for holding a feeling of deep antipathy towards him. But there’s more to the story keeping Allie on her toes–no pun intended. Manipulation from a third party on and off social media comes to light, but in Yarros’ fashion, she reveals the biggest bombshell at just the right time.

Variation was a real eye-opener. Yarros cracked the pressure a diva ballet dancer has to stay at the top and the dangerous situations a sea rescue swimmer faces. Family plays a huge part, too. Although one has signs of dysfunction, I liked how one sibling’s competence and understanding shone so strongly. And the unique dynamics of the other, especially the youngster whose determination regardless of rocking the boat, inspired, frustrated and how could anyone say no to such inbred talent?

If angst, twists and turns, well-measured steaminess in second-chance fake-dating romance breaming with emotions is your cuppa, this standalone is not to be missed. Bravo, Yarros!

I gratefully received the ARC from Montlake, and all the opinions expressed are my own.

Variation, a new Contemporary Romance by Rebecca Yarros. This is the story of Allie and Hudson. Their story was sexy, beautiful, full of emotions, full of love and so very well written. So another beautiful and amazing story by Rebecca Yarros.