A sweet, thoughtful romance between two people who form an intense connection at their first meeting, only to part the next morning when she undergoes a stem cell transplant. A year later, they reconnect and discover that the girl he’s briefly dating is her donor. Ashley focuses much of the remaining story on the moral dilemma the two face regarding how and when to admit their strong feelings for each other, and what those feelings might mean for her donor. Once they stop resisting, the relationship unfolds in joyful, loving scenes full of open affection and mutual support. We also get some insight into the life of a cancer survivor, and what it means to be post-treatment but live with the constant anxiety about a recurrence. While the subject matter touches on serious topics, Ashley surrounds her leads with supportive friends & family members, and happy, fulfilling workplaces, so there’s lots of light and cheer in the pages. The tree motif is lovely, and who can resist a buoyantly affectionate rescue dog?

I just wanted to start out by saying I am so glad tomorrow came because if one more thing happened to Elliott I would have been sobbing. Jamie is the sweetest man ever, I loved how supportive he was of Elliott. Especially when he recommended a cancer survivor support group. I really enjoyed all the happy moments we got to see between the 2 characters. I also loved how the miscommunication didn't exist for too long. Overall, If Tomorrow Never Comes is a great book highlighting real life issues.

If Tomorrow Never Comes is a beautifully written, emotionally charged story about love, fate, and second chances. Elliot and Jamie’s connection is immediate and undeniable, but fate complicates things when Elliot discovers that Carly, the woman who saved her life with a stem cell transplant, is now Jamie’s girlfriend.

Allison masterfully captures the emotional complexity of the situation, balancing deep personal struggles with a love story that tugs at your heartstrings. With relatable characters and a realistic portrayal of life's tough choices, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a story full of depth, heart, and growth.

I liked this book but it felt like it fell flat and made me want more. I do like allison's writing so I will be checking out her future books.

A sweet love story between two strangers that had the makings of something a lot deeper but didn't quite get there. While Elliot and Jamie were lovely, all of the characters was just too nice and there was essentially no conflict.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW WOW WOW. As with all other Allison Ashley books, I was blown away by the genuine manner that she creates her characters and their stories(especially the healthcare and cancer diagnosis/illness aspects). This was such a sweet story about meeting the right person at the wrong time and taking risks to be with them if you are lucky enough to get a second chance. I could not put this book down and I only wish that I had some self control and could have savored this story. I will definitely be pre ordering a paper copy and I already cannot wait to read it again.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC!

Thank you so much Netgalley for a chance to read this book!
I loved the concept of this read and knew I'd love how it turned out!

It's amazing when you can feel so much alongside the main characters that you feel you are a part of their story. Whenever they're sad, happy, mad, etc., you feel it with them.

Jamie is so sweet and understanding and Elliott is so brave and you keep rooting for them to finally make the leap; when they do, it's tear jerking.

I liked how the author used a lot of medical experience in this work, it made it more realistic.

Well done!

If Tomorrow Never Comes is a stand-alone contemporary romance novel by author Allison Ashley. LIke her previous novels, Allison writes this story with deep emotions and medical-related themes.

Twenty-something main character Elliot (female) is fighting recurrent leukemia and has a stem cell transplant scheduled. The night before the transplant, she meets handsome Jamie (male) and has a fun date night with him to keep her mind off her impending medical procedure. She doesn't tell Jamie her medical issues, and they part with an intense kiss but do not exchange numbers or contact information. Both Elliot and Jamie felt the instant connection during their date, and spend the next year wishing they could reconnect. Through a cold twist of fate, Elliot and Jamie meet again, but a few complications keep them from being able to date immediately. Over time, as they fight for a happy ever after, they begin to learn the meaning of living each day to the fullest.

Although many people dislike the "instalove" trope, I think Allison did this trope justice and I could really feel the special connection between these two characters right away. They had a soul-mate type of connection, and their relationship grew throughout the book.

I loved the characters' personalities and the plot, and I really appreciated the honest and accurate cancer representation Allison brings to her books. I enjoyed the dog Hank too-- he added so much charm to the book!

I removed a star because some of the content bothered me personally. I thought the strong language (f--) was used too often to the point it was distracting. I also thought the use of innuendoes and romantic scenes was overdone. While the book was technically fade-to-black (3+ scenes), the make-outs before were pretty steamy and had implied descriptions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the complementary copy of this book. My review is my own opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Ah, Allisons books are always a treat! If Tomorrow Never Comes is now my favorite. Allison does an amazing job plotting her stories around romance, sure. But also real life. The character development throughout the story was perfection. An easy 5 star read for me!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC! Pub date: Jan 28 2025

After one whirlwind night of debating cheesecake, making French Vanilla souffles, and a soul-inspiring kiss, Elliot disappears from Jamie without a trace, even though the connection between them is instantaneous.

If Tomorrow Never Comes, is an emotionally driven novel by Allison Ashley. The first for me of this author, but definitely not the last. Ashley writes about complex medical diagnosis’ with precision and grace, never sacrificing the staples of an irresistible, finish in one sitting rom-com!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

On the eve of her stem cell treatment for leukemia, Elliot meets Jamie and falls for him unexpectedly. Their chemistry is off the charts and they spend an unforgettable evening together, but she knows she may not survive her treatment and won’t be available for a while. Jamie searches for his mystery girl but eventually gives in and starts dating Carly. A year later, Carly and Elliot connect because Carly is Elliot’s stem cell donor. Elliot is shocked to see the man she can’t forget about us dating her donor.

I really enjoyed several of Allison Ashley’s other books, and this one was also very good. It’s emotional, heartfelt, and sweet. The characters are kind and likable and easy to root for. I know not everyone is a fan of the insta-love trope, but I actually like it and want to believe in the idea of soul mates and feeling that instant connection with another person. It really works here with this storyline and concept.

Thank you to Allison Ashley and Montlake for the arc and chance ti be an early reader and reviewer,

IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES is one of the books that wraps around your heart and makes you feel a whole lot of feelings. What I love and admire the most about this author's work is how she writes characters with such emotional depth and plots with such believable complexity.

The night before her stem cell transplant, Elliot meets Jamie who's just been stood up by a date and their instant connection is something they've never experienced before. Not knowing what her future brings, Elliot leaves Jamie without her trace, just her middle name May. A year passes and feeling good about her life and health and starting new, Elliot discovers that Carly, the young woman who donated for the transplant, is currently the girlfriend of Jamie, the man who Elliot still thinks about daily. Now knowing the truth and being back in each other lives, their connection is still as intense as before, if not more. With Jamie refusing (but also fearful he will) become like his father who has a past of cheating and Elliot refusing to hurt the woman who saved her life, what is it going to take for them to finally decide to explore this connection they have further? After all, Carly and being in this tricky situation is what brought Jamie back into Elliot's life. And is this connection they have unique or could they find it with someone else? Elliot has lived her live constantly weighing the consequences of her decisions, which has also prevented her from choosing her own happiness. When will she start to choose her own and how long is Jamie willing to wait?

I love this heartfelt love story so much... especially with all sweet and beautiful moments and the moments that require the characters to grow and take leaps. An absolute joy and privilege to have read Elliot and Jamie's story, and I already can't wait to read whatever the author decides to write next!!

Much gratitude to Montlake and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

After a meet cute involving a cheesecake debate, making French Vanilla souffles, and a soul-inspiring kiss, Elliott and Jamie part ways. Neither can forget the magic of their connection, but they have no way of finding each other – no phone numbers, no email addresses, no social media identifiers. For Elliott the ensuing year involves recovery from a life-giving stem cell procedure and a new beginning of fulfilling her dream as an entrepreneur. Jamie, finally resolving he will never see her again, renews a relationship with a college lover. Then, fate intervenes, and Elliott and Jamie meet again with a strange twist: Jamie’s current girlfriend is Elliott’s bone marrow donor. What ensues is a convoluted and complex romance that tries to protect everyone with mixed results.

This is a good – not great – novel. It has all the makings of a deeply emotional journey, yet it felt strangely disconnected for me. Perhaps there was too much handwringing over concern and compassion for others’ feelings when the protagonists were really protecting themselves from conflict and facing their own dishonesty.

What I liked most were the supporting characters – Jamie’s sister, Blythe and her clear-eyed advice; Elliott’s best friend’s enthusiasm and loyalty; and Hank, Jamie’s fury friend, whose antics added a bit of levity to the heavier elements of the storyline.

Overall, this novel kept me engaged but left me dissatisfied at the end.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

A life changing, second chance romance, this was a very sweet read. It touched on a heavy topic- leukemia- but you'll definitely root for Elliott. It was a reminder that destiny always has a plan.

this is a heartfelt fade-to-black romance centered around elliot, a cancer survivor, and jamie, the stranger she shared one magical night with on the eve of a stem cell transplant.

a year later while on remission, elliot runs into jamie only to discover he is now in a relationship with the very woman whose donation saved elliot’s life.

despite the dilemma of falling for her donor’s boyfriend, this was not as angsty as i was expecting and the emotional stakes didn’t feel all that high. these two had an instant connection and were both conscious of the profound feelings they had for each other pretty early on which left for much of that build-up to be desired. it was just a tad monotonous in my opinion.

still a very sweet read. i was touched by elliot’s resilience and resonated with many of her fears. i truly believe this is where the story shines the most—in elliot’s journey through cancer, recovery, and making the best of second chances.

I am a sucker for a good slow burn second chance romance. The story was so well written I forgot I was reading and not watching two friends fall madly in love. The chemistry between Elliott and Jamie was instantaneous and had me rooting for them right away. This book is funny, heartfelt, and engaging. Several times I found myself laughing, worried, and overly happy right alongside these characters.

This is a “fade to black” romance but I honestly didn’t mind or notice.

Beautifully one and cannot wait to reread this book again once it’s published in January 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Ashley, and Montlake for providing me with an E-ARC

I was so happy to see the “Read Now” next to this title on NetGalley as I love Allison Ashley’s storytelling. Just as in past books, If Tomorrow Never Comes deals with some hard health issues, but it’s not so heavy that the book isn’t enjoyable. The message of not putting off until tomorrow what you could have today resonates deeply in both Elliott and Jamie, and I’m so glad that their characters decided to choose happiness.

Great quick read. Felt the emotion of the characters and understand how each had struggles to deL with. Loved Elliot and felt hope for her recovery and for love. Boyfriend, friends, small business, dogs and baking in one read ! Loved it.

The blurb is well written. What you see is what you get but with the extra feels.
Elliot and Jamie's meet cute was sweet with great funny banter. Their second meeting was not that much of a shocker well, because, the blurb...
I feel if it was left out I might have gasped.
I loved the pace of the story and the side characters.. It could have been more angsty and emotional but I am so grateful the author spared the reader.
This book is a "fade-to-black" romance and I really didn't mind that one bit!
Will definitely recommend it as a second chance, low angst love triangle.

Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts on this lovely book.

The emotional depth of their connection, combined with the genuine joy and pain of their journey, made this a truly unforgettable read. Watching them navigate their feelings while grappling with the realities of their lives and choices was both heart-wrenching and heartening. This isn’t just a romance; it’s a profound exploration of life’s fragility and the powerful impact of love. I really loved and enjoyed it.