Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this ARC. I loved this sweet romance book. I read it in one sitting. I would definitely recommend this book.

This was a fairly quick read on second chance romance. The characters were really sweet (I adored Foster!) and I really loved the entire backstory and just how wholesome it seemed. I mean, marrying after 30 days? Checking in on the anniversary even post-divorce? That's just cute! Really loved the motocross aspect as well just because I don't often find books about that, and really enjoyed the hospital environment as well. The slow-burn was well - it was very, very slow and I almost gave up on the book more than once but I am happy that I stuck it out! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Eve and Foster met, had a whirlwind romance culminating in a wedding after one month of dating... And then broke up. Now, 5 years to the date they got married, Eve, an ER nurse, finds Foster in her trauma room, after an almost-fatal BMX accident. The encounter stirs feelings in both of them and forces them to reopen the past, as Eve volunteers to nurse Foster back to health in her tiny apartment.

I abandoned the book at chapter 18, roughly 45% in if my kindle is to be trusted. I found the premise intriguing and the tropes (second-chance romance, forced proximity) up my alley, but the book fell flat for me unfortunately. The narration is very heavy on explaining everything to the reader, very "tell, don't show"; every feeling and situation is over explained, even when it would make sense for the characters not to understand their feelings themselves. The dialogues are quite unrealistic and too verbose, and then the narration around the dialogues is often redundant. The characters are not developed, and especially the side characters seem walking stereotypes (Phil being the worst offender).

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Eve has stopped beliving in love, since she was hurt five years ago, but when she is still listened as her ex's next of kin she can't not support him in his recovery.
But soon sparks will fly and maybe a second chance is all they need.

I loved these two characters and several cringe-worthy moments that made me laugh-out-loud that couldn't wait for them to get together. Brown shows that their past is something that the two characters need to reflect upon and address.

This was a cute novel with characters i enjoyed reading.

Didn't love this book much. The FMC is such a people pleaser and has no boundaries whatsoever. It's crazy how Eve is so accommodating and adjusts so much for anyone. I read a ton of romance books so I'm used to the lack of logic in a lot of novels and sometimes enjoy being able to just enjoy the fantasy of the rom-coms but this took it too far. The characters aren't necessarily bad and the quotes and banter is quite good, but Eve repeatedly being so selfless was too much to handle.

3⭐
0🌶️
Tropes: Still the one, it’s always been you, second chance, will they or won’t they, the one that got away, FMX
Dual POV 1st person

5 years ago, after a whirlwind 30 day romance, Eve and Foster got married, only to divorce a short time later because Foster prioritized FMX/riding over their relationship. Fast forward to present day, and Foster shows up in Eve’s trauma room after a serious crash riding his bike. Even though their marriage failed and they haven’t seen each other since Eve walked out on him, she stays by his side the entire time he’s in the ICU, and then begrudgingly lets him stay at her apartment until he’s well enough to fly back to Florida.

I had a hard time connecting to this story- it just seemed a little too unrealistic to me. And it felt like there were big parts of the story missing, as if they didn’t make it out of the author’s brain. It is a very sweet and angsty story, but I wasn’t a fan of Eve’s indecisiveness. For most of the story it felt like she was stringing him along and sending mixed signals.

This is a perfect fit for readers who crave a swoon-worthy, second-chance romance with a "will they, won't they" tension, and are looking for a heartwarming, humorous, and steamy love story that explores the complexities of rekindling a past love.

Still The One is a swoon-worthy, second-chance romance that delivers all the feels with a side of delicious tension. Aimee Brown pulls you into Eve and Guy’s tangled history and doesn’t let go until you’re fully invested in their messy, tender, and oh-so-relatable love story.

Five years after their whirlwind romance crashed and burned, Eve thinks she’s moved on—until a late-night phone call reveals that she’s still listed as Guy’s emergency contact. What follows is a heartfelt exploration of unfinished business, rekindled feelings, and what happens when two people are forced to confront the love they thought they’d left behind.

The chemistry between Eve and Guy is palpable, jumping off the page in every awkward exchange, lingering glance, and bit of banter. Brown doesn’t rush their reconciliation, letting their shared history and unresolved hurt simmer in the background while they navigate the chaos of close quarters. You’ll root for them to find their way back to each other, even as they stumble through the emotional minefield of their past.

What makes Still The One stand out is its balance of humor and heartache. Brown captures the complexity of relationships with sharp dialogue, heartfelt introspection, and moments of laugh-out-loud awkwardness (a one-bedroom apartment with your ex? Sign me up for the drama). And while some plot points might feel a bit predictable for romance fans, it’s the execution that makes it shine.

4 stars for a feel-good, second-chance love story that proves some sparks never fade. If you’re a fan of witty dialogue, heartfelt emotions, and the kind of romance that makes you believe in happily-ever-afters, Still The One deserves a spot on your TBR.

Still the One by Aimee Brown

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Eve Cassidy thought Guy Foster was the only man she would ever love. Theirs was a whirlwind romance and marriage - until it all ended in tears...

Five years after their break-up, Eve still hasn’t found a reason to believe in true love. But when Foster has an accident and she discovers she’s still listed as his next of kin, Eve knows she can’t let him wake up in hospital with no one by his side. After all, those devilishly blue eyes have always been hard to say no to…

Foster isn’t sure if his poor battered brain is playing tricks on him when he sees the only woman he’s ever loved sitting next to his bedside. Maybe Eve never got over him like he never got over her? And when Eve agrees to him moving into her one-bedroom apartment to recover, it’s clear these exes have unfinished business.

Will weeks in close quarters be the making or breaking of this smouldering second chance love story? Up close and personal, old habits can be hard to break.

My Opinion

Eve is at work in the hospital when her ex-husband is brought in following an accident – when she finds out she is also his emergency contact she decides to help with his recovery. This was a lovely, second chance romance. This was my first book by Aimee Brown so I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was such a sweet read.

Rating 4/5

I am not going to lie I get confused with tropes in books. I have no idea sometimes what trope I am reading, but if I had to choose this would be one of my favourites. This and enemies to lovers. But this one, where there is a connection already there, history is there. I loved this story. A story of Jellybean and Foss finding each other after a 5-year hiatus. The only contact on an annual Facebook memory. I was here for all of this!!

When Foss has an accident which brings him into Eve's ER room, it is terrifying for her and all the worries she had, I had. They couldn't be reunited for it to be over already, could they?

It was a slow burn, but they needed to get to know each other again. They need to work through their feelings, good and bad, and it was such a realistic portrayal of two people working on things.

I listened to the audiobook for this one, not going to lie, I was not a fan of the male narrator, and I had to speed his voice up for it to sound natural to me. But when Jennifer Woodward spoke, I could listen to her all day. It was great. She got Eve and her turmoil.

It was such a lovely book, flitting from the past to the present (make sure if you are listening to the audiobook to pay attention otherwise you might get confused!). I loved watching this couple grow. *sigh*

I am here for anything that Aimee writes, I have a new favourite!

Still The One is a heartfelt and engaging second-chance romance that beautifully explores love, heartbreak, and the complexities of starting over. Through the story of Eve Cassidy and Guy Foster, Brown crafts a tale that is equal parts emotional and charming, with a generous dose of humor and hope.

Eve and Foster’s whirlwind romance ended in heartbreak five years ago, leaving both with emotional scars. When an accident thrusts Foster back into Eve’s life, the story takes a captivating turn. Eve’s decision to care for Foster despite their past sets the stage for tender and often humorous moments as the two navigate their rekindling feelings in the tight confines of Eve’s one-bedroom apartment. Brown expertly weaves tension and warmth, drawing readers into the couple’s journey of rediscovery.

What makes Still the One shine is its relatability. Eve and Foster are layered, authentic characters whose vulnerabilities and chemistry leap off the page. The story balances lighthearted banter with poignant reflections on forgiveness and self-growth, keeping readers invested in whether these two can find their way back to each other.

Fans of second-chance romances will relish this love story. With its endearing characters, witty dialogue, and a plot that pulls at the heartstrings, Still the One is a must-read for anyone who believes in the enduring power of love.

Dear Aimee Brown,

Eve Cassidy is an ER nurse in Portland. A Facebook memory pops up to remind her that five years earlier, she married Guy Foster (who goes by Fost or Foster). They married after a whirlwind romance of only 30 days and split after three months. Every year she gets one comment and every year she likes that comment and that’s the only contact the couple have had since she left him a note and left their Florida home.

Foster is a Freestyle Motocross (FMX) rider on the professional circuit. He makes a lot of money doing what he loves. It also means he travels a lot. When he and Eve got married, he had preexisting commitments he had to keep and Eve spent too much time alone. She ended up leaving. After she left, he never contacted her so it’s fair to say both have some baggage left over from their relationship.

Then a man comes into the ER with serious injuries and it’s her ex-husband. Fost, in Portland for a competition, was distracted thinking about Eve on their anniversary and didn’t land a particularly tricky stunt. He is in an extremely serious condition when he’s brought in. He has surgery and then is in the ICU for a period of time. Despite everything, Eve finds herself caring deeply about Foster’s state of health. And, it turns out, she is still listed as his next of kin.

After Foster is well enough to leave the hospital he is still not able to fly and needs a lot of physical therapy so he ends up going home to stay with Eve as his personal nurse for a couple more weeks.

It’s clear both Eve and Foster were pretty immature five years earlier when they met and married so quickly. Neither had a proper conversation about what they wanted and how they could make things work; they just gave up.

Foster has been in love with Eve since the day they met and it’s clear there is still a connection and strong bond between them now. As they spend time together while he recovers, each starts to wonder if maybe there is a way for them.

But then Foster drops a bombshell which threatens everything.

I didn’t really have a problem with the set up; it wasn’t unbelievable to me that a couple would be immature and foolish and not talk to each other about what wasn’t working in their relationship. It wasn’t unbelievable to me that Foster’s chosen profession – both something very dangerous and also something that keeps him away from home often – would be an issue between them. So, in terms of what went wrong back then, well, I was prepared to go with it.It’s a second chance romance: something had to go wrong in the first place or there wouldn’t need to be a second chance. But I would have liked to have seen exactly how they planned to fix it. There was an epilogue five years after the events of the story which shows that they did make it work but I didn’t really see them doing the work. I wanted to see them having some of those difficult conversations and compromising rather than just the end result.

I liked the characters well enough for the most part but I wasn’t really moved by the story.

Grade: C

regards,
Kaetrin

I’m a fan of Aimee Brown - I’ve read about half of her books now and they’re all wonderful! She’s a great storyteller and I highly recommend everyone pick up each and every one of them for a good time, with a perfect blend of excellent drama, great chemistry and characters with personality that meshes so well with everyone else involved.

Still the One is a second chance romance that has so many unique elements that I loved. The “oops, I forgot to sign the divorce papers, you aren’t just still my emergency contact,” was a new one (even though both have come up individually before, emergency contact ex-spouse, and “forgot” to sign the divorce papers). Nurse Eve finds her “ex” husband in her ER trauma bay after a terrible motorcross crash, and winds up nursing him back to health since he can’t fly back home across the country. Foster, in the meantime, still in love and hiding the fact he shredded the divorce papers, is loving the situation, no matter how much pain he’s feeling.

A truly great story about rekindling a failed whirlwind, too young, too quick marriage, and an absolute must-read. Everything I’ve picked up by Brown has been excellent and this is another shining example of her fantastic writing. If you don’t grab this one (all her titles, really), you are truly missing out on something special!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an early copy. This is my honest review.

On what would have been her 5 year wedding anniversary, Eve Cassidy is reminiscing about her whirlwind romance that crashed and burned. Still trying to move on and no longer believing in love, Eve works 80+ hour weeks as a trauma nurse. When her ex-husband and pro FMX rider, Guy Foster, is her next patient after suffering a life threatening-accident on the track, Eve is forced to take some time off to care for him when she discovers she’s still his emergency contact and he has no one to help him recover. Moving him into her one bedroom apartment may not be the best idea, but it may give her the closure she needs to truly move on. But can she move on if he is still the one?

Read this book if you love a sweet second chance romance with two characters who strongly believe in fate. This is a clean book (sorry smut lovers) that focuses on Eve caring for Foster while slowly (very slowly) addressing what went wrong in the past. I found this book to be a quick read, but was wanting more depth. There were no surprises as you know from the beginning why these two couldn’t make their marriage work. While they seem deemed to repeat their past mistakes, fate and dreams play a big role in moving the plot forward. I think those looking for a clean and sweet read will enjoy, but I don’t recommend for those who enjoy spice and strong character development.

Add this book to your TBR and let’s discuss! Also, a special thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Love Notes PR for my eARC.

🚩Also, there was a Hispanic character that I found to be written offensively as the author wrote the character’s dialogue to show an accent that was compared to Sofia Vegara’s. I found this writing style to be unnecessary and slightly problematic.

Marry in haste, repent in leisure appropriately describes the whirlwind marriage and breakdown of Foster and Evie’s marriage.
But maybe they’ll get a second chance. I wanted to shake Matt’s with how quickly he assumed Evie would take care of Foster and was oblivious to all that it would entail.
Evie and Foster both admit to some long held secrets to each other.
Neighbor Phil stole the show! He was my favorite character because he brought comedic lightheartedness and he was a good soul.

I loved this book! I really enjoyed that it wasn’t just the positive happy parts of a relationship. It was such a good second chance romance story because it showed the forgiveness, effort and compromise it takes to make a real relationship work.

Quick Summary: A "serendipitous moment" romance

My Review: Still the One by Aimee Brown is a 2024 romance from Boldwood Books.

About the Book:"Eve Cassidy thought Guy Foster was the only man she would ever love. Theirs was a whirlwind romance and marriage - until it all ended in tears..."

A love gone right until it goes wrong story, this book was everything. It was about young love, life choices, and growing up in matters of the heart. It was regret and forgiveness. It was friendship and transparency. It was the messiness of love and the beauty of reconciliation. It was sweetness, in the best ways.

My Favorite Quotes:

"It’s funny how memories never truly fade, isn’t it? They linger in the corners of our minds, waiting for a moment of weakness to resurface."

"some connections are just too strong to sever..."

"Marriage is a shimmering vision, like a mirage in a desert. It’s a path that is seen clearly only by two people and appears to glow with the light of love, leading to an unknown yet exciting lifelong destination with your best friend."

"It’s a dance between two souls, a language spoken without words, a feeling that consumes every fiber of your being."

"...part of me has always longed for you."

"Love is enough."

My Favorite Scenes (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):

- The 25th Anniversary Wedding Surprise

- Go for the Throat!

- Kiss Me Once, Kiss Me Twice

- Walking Away

- Facing Your Future

My Special Takeaway: Love can overcome anything, if hearts are willing.

My Final Say: I walked away from this beautiful story of love with a happy smile. It was a "timing is everything" kind of romance.

Other: Readers who enjoy simple stories where time, growth, and maturity lead to a forever love will adore this novel.

Rating: 4.25/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 🍬
Keeper: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Boldwood Books), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. The words I have shared are my own.

A super-sweet second chance where nurse Eve encounters her ex-FMX rider husband, Foster, when he appears in her hospital after a traumatic injury. The flashbacks to the marriage were some of my favorite parts of the story, and Phil is literally my favorite person in the world.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

*Still the One* by Aimee Brown is a cute, easy read, but a little predictable. The story is about Eve and Foster reconnecting after years apart, and while there’s definitely some great chemistry between them, the plot feels pretty familiar and doesn't dive as deep as it could. The writing is engaging enough to keep you turning pages, but some parts feel rushed or underdeveloped. Overall, it’s a sweet second-chance romance that fans of the genre will probably enjoy, even if it doesn't do anything super original.

3.5 stars for some good scenes and good writing but overall I didn’t feel like it was a fully fleshed out book. It’s a great premise, but I don’t think it’s as good as it could have been due to the lack of substance when it came to moving the plot along fully. The characters were interesting, but it felt like they were one dimensional through most of the story. Had there been more backstory or more recourse after the big reveal I think it would have worked better. Don’t get me wrong, I would still read it and recommend it but had a bit more proof of the relationship been between the pages. You know, other than longing and not being able to speak to the person you are in love with.