Astor Hill

This was such a lovely novel, of second changes, found family, and love after loss.

At the beginning, I found myself getting frustrated at Olivia for being with Will as he was a walking red flag, but as you explore why he behaves the way he does, and how Olivia and Will came together it makes sense.

There’s a third act breakup scene which is torture, I really felt for Olivia in that moment because she’s all alone, and she really feels Lily’s absence. I love Sloane and Gen’s intervention, and the sense of found family that grew because of it.

The ending was beautiful, I’m sold on Astor Hill and can’t wait for more (especially Gen’s book!)

3.75 ★

This was a very entertaining read. There's a lot of drama and toxicity, as you would expect from characters who attend a prestigious college. The characters were well-written and had a lot of depth. The plot was fun. I really liked the complexity of each of the characters. They all had flaws, some more than others.

I admired Olivia. She's a very complex character and her actions were very irritating, but learning her backstory helped me understand why she endured what she did and the reasons behind her behavior. I just wish she had stood up for herself more. I did like her character development, though, especially her relationships with the other female characters. It felt very healing, especially because I could relate to her in that aspect. I do wish Will had been held more accountable for what he put Olivia through. His excuse was not enough for me to feel badly enough for him at the end.

Ben was sweet, and he also had a complicated background because of his relationship with his own family. I'm very close to my siblings, so I can't imagine being pitted against them and having them hate you. I appreciated the mental health rep and the discussion of therapy and healing. Ben and Olivia were cute, but I just wish they had given us more on why he was so attracted to Olivia, instead of it just being physical attraction.

Thank you to NetGalley and PS Published for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say this book and soon to be series will be the talk of romance readers this upcoming winter and spring. It's giving gossip girl vibes. Some people will love these characters and others will have issues with their morality but it will no doubt create buzz and chatter.

Olivias lifelong best friend, Lily, suddenly passes away after their first college party at Astor Hill. This leaves Olivia isolated and reeling as she finds comfort in Will, a boy she meet at that very same party. Their relationship over the years is tumultuous, often causing Olivia to doubt herself, that is until she meets the mysterious Ben who has returned to Astor Hill after a hiatus. Turns out Ben is Wills older brother and he has secrets. Hello drama!

Although the writing is a bit choppy, these characters are perfection. Olivia is witty and smart. She is simultaneously confident and insecure, something I found relatable and endearing. Her friendship with Lily was confusing. I wish there were more flashbacks between the girls as I think it would have provided a more in depth understanding of their dynamic. The relationship between Ben & Will is heated, intense and combustible. The shining star of this story though is Ben. His patience, understanding and continuous growth is exactly what I want to see in a book boyfriend. He's super sweet with Olivia and I love how he helps to elevate her perception of self.

Overall, I really liked Astor hill. There's conflict, there's sports, there's fashion. It's fast paced and fun but also explores difficult topics like grief and anxiety. It's well balanced and I can't wait for Gen & Grants story in the second book of this series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

I have no words for the emotions that I felt during this book. I went through all 5 stages of grief alongside our FMC. Such a fantastic read, I am dying for the next book in the series.

This book follows Olivia and Ben, from first sit our guy Ben is enamired with our girl Olivia but he never approaches her. However his younger step brother Will does. 2 years go by and we find out that Olivia best friend, Lily, passes away unexpectantly they day after Will and Olivia meet. Whilst dealing with the trauma of losing her best friend, she is also dealing with her relationship with Will and how hot and cold the two of them are together. At the same time Ben returns to Astor after having 2 years away to deal with his mental health, a fact he did not relay to anyone for fear of judgement. His return certainly stirs up a lot of negative emotions for our boy Will and these 2 have been pitted against each other entire lives.

When Olivia and Ben finally come in contact for the first time, Ben has it in his head that they are going to have this perfect meet cute where they will fall in love and live HEA, he could not have been more wrong. He never realised that girl he fell for upon first time, is actually his step brothers girlfriend of 2 YEARS!! Shit just got complicated real fast.

Our guy Ben is now hiding this feeling for Olivia, while Olivia is still dealing with the loss of her BF and the negative impact her relationship is having on her esteem. When Olivia and Ben meet, she is not best pleased but she cant help eyeing every inch of her man Ben and finding herself more attracted to him than bees are to honey!

When luck strikes Olivia, she forced to be in Bens orbit and closer she gets the more she feels like she can be herself without the pressure of only being know as Will's gf. The more time these 2 spend with each other, the clear it becomes that they just can't stay away. Let me make this clear, THERE IS NO CHEATING IN THIS BOOK!, it was just circumstance and the timing that made it a bit awkward but the timing be damned but these 2 were fated to be together from the start.

Ben was very quickly added to the category of best fictional men ever written, but all the best men are written by women, that obvious. The reason I loved these 2 characters so much was the maturity in Bens actioned towards his mental health and pushing away from the stigma of Men believing therapy is a bunch of bull! and how Olivia navigated losing her BF in the end and how her banter and humour hit in right in dark depraved soul.

All in all, these I loved this book, it was written beautifully and I now waiting with bated breath for Grant and Gens story. A basketball player x Ballerina, stop it!

The release date will be here quicker than you think, so don't miss out before its too late.

Kisses x

This novel delves into the complexities of love, loss, and the struggle to reclaim a sense of self. Olivia’s journey is both compelling and heart-wrenching as she grapples with the aftermath of tragedy while trying to maintain her perfect façade. The tension between her past and the unexpected arrival of Ben, with his captivating smile and troubled history, adds an electric dynamic that keeps you on edge. You feel Olivia’s internal conflict as she navigates the pain of her losses and the intoxicating pull of new possibilities. This story beautifully captures the chaos of young adulthood, making you reflect on what it truly means to choose between safety and passion.

4 stars ✩

➺ This was a very entertaining read. And I will be happy to read the next book in the series soon!

Astor Hill follows Olivia, a student at the prestigious college of the same name, where she’s navigating life alongside her best friend, Lily. But when an unexpected tragedy strikes, Olivia’s world is completely shattered as she faces the devastating loss of Lily.

On top of her grief, Olivia is stuck in a turbulent relationship with Will, her boyfriend of two years, who’s giving her serious mixed signals. Things get even more complicated when Ben, Will’s stepbrother, returns to campus after two years away, having taken time off to deal with his mental health. Ben’s reappearance stirs up all kinds of old family drama, especially since he’s been secretly harboring feelings for Olivia ever since he first laid eyes on her.

What follows is a tangle of emotions as Ben struggles to suppress his growing attraction to Olivia, while she begins to realize that being around Ben feels different—better—than her complicated relationship with Will. The more Olivia is around Ben, the more she feels like she can be herself without the pressure of being “Will’s girlfriend,” and the sparks between them become impossible to ignore. The slow burn between the two of them was a treat to watch unfold, and by the end, I was completely rooting for them.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Characters:
Ben: I really liked how Ben was written—his openness about mental health, the maturity with which he handled it, and how he challenged the stigma around therapy for men was such a breath of fresh air. He comes across as a guy who’s been through a lot but managed to face his problems head-on, which makes him feel like a really mature and well-rounded character. He was super sweet with Olivia and I adored the way, he made Olivia feel better whenever she needed reassurance.

Olivia: Olivia is both witty and intelligent, with a blend of confidence and vulnerability that I found really relatable and endearing. She’s strong in her own way but also has her sad moments which made her a really likeable persona. Her friendship with Lily, though, was a bit of a puzzle—it seemed deep, but there were layers of complexity that made me question how much they truly understood each other.

Will: Oh man, here we go. With all due respect, Will just wasn’t ready for this relationship, especially after everything that happened with Lily. He would’ve been better off focusing on getting his own life together rather than dragging Olivia into his mess. I get what he’s been through and how hard it must have been for him, but committing to a relationship that felt more like an attempt to fill the void left by Lily’s loss just wasn’t the right move. In the end, it not only made him feel hurt, but it also caused Olivia way too much.


Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It has its slow moments, but the character development and the way it deals with complex emotions like grief, love, and mental health really stood out.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.


thank you netgalley and ps published for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this book! I loved the slow burn and the dynamics between the characters. The relationship between the brothers was so tense but you just couldn’t look away.

Will pissed me off throughout the book. He just had the audacity and he was such a dirty dog. Then Ben came in and we got everything. Forbidden love and lots of drama. I also loved how Olivia came into her own and made her own decisions. I wasn’t here the for the third act break up but it made sense.

I’m so excited for book 2 even though this book hasn’t come out yet! The cover is also pretty and it matches how good the story is. I can’t wait to grab the physical copy 🍂🍁

Thank you @Netgalley for this ARC

Something that I look for in a romance, is characters that a fully fleshed out and feel real. The characters in Astor Hill felt real to me, they were messy and complex and deeply human. They were relatable and I was captivated from the very start!

Olivia is smart, beautiful and fierce. She's also drowning in grief at the loss of her closest friend. She's dating Will, the basketball captain and most popular guy at school. He's pretty bad for her and I'll admit I found myself frustrated at the way Liv let him treat her. As the story unfolds you'll understand why he is the way he is, and why they needed each other so much at such a dark part of both of their lives.

Enter.. Ben. Sure to be everyones new book boyfriend. Will's older step brother, his greatest rivial on court and the previous basketball captain before his mysterious disappearance. Ben takes a women's literature class, he goes to therapy, he talks through his feelings and he's incredibly self aware - I mean come ON! His POV chapters made me absolutely swoon. He had these epic declaration of love moments that I genuinely loved - as I said swoon! You'll want to underline/highlight it all. Oh.. and he's madly in love with his brothers girl..

This book is like if One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl had a baby.. in the best way. There's rich people drama, toxic relationships, sibling rivalry and secrets. It's the kind of romance you can binge over one weekend because you simply look away. The side characters were just as intriguing and I'm excited to go back to Astor Hill and find our their stories (I have some theories).

All in all, a very fun read. I really enjoyed the college setting, the basketball theme, the old money society vibes and just the absolute drama. There were parts of the writing I felt were a little clunky and some small spelling errors, but overall the story flowed well and was incredibly enjoyable.

3.5/5 stars. Thank you so much NetGalley and Sydney Madison for giving me the chance to read this one! x

If you like the Magnolia Park series, you'll like this book! I'm looking forward to reading more from this author! This book is full of love, drama, and friendship, and it truly feels like you're right there with the characters.

Once I got into this, I couldn't stop until I was done. It was really well-paced and a proper cozy fall romance to curl up with.

Astor Hill is an Elite College full of the rich and well to-do, but that factor isn't overdone like in some books. It's a background feature rather than the main event which made the world easier to buy into.

Olivia, Ben and Will are all well-drawn characters and the story woven around them is easy to get lost in. There are twists which are a little easy to see coming but, overall, the web of lies which underpins the whole story got me so invested I just had to finish the book as quickly as I could.

It's a gorgeous romance which I will definitely read again and recommend to friends. Good for those who like Hannah Grace, Elsie Silver. There is a hint of spice, but again, it's handled well and not too much.

This book immediately had me hooked!

The secrets, the relationships, THE DRAMA! It was so good. I truly enjoyed it.

I especially loved focus on mental health, and the importance of taking care of it. It’s not an easy topic but it was done very well.

Ultimately, I loved it! Cannot wait for more books in this series.

Astor Hill is a heart-wrenching romance novel anchored in the desire to overcome the past through new connections and pushing the boundaries that we create for ourselves.

It starts with a rush of collegiate parties and the society that comes with old money as we meet Olivia and her best friend, Lily. They are eager to start the next four years and woo the entire student body of Astor Hill. When Lily suddenly passes away, we flash forward two years and are reintroduced to Olivia, who has achieved most of what she sought after. Her vision board has come to life; the hot jock boyfriend, Will, writing for the paper… she is truly the embodiment of Rory Gilmore in season five of Gilmore Girls.
Enter Ben, Will’s older brother, returning from a two-year gap year, and desperately enamored by the girl he saw at a frat party before he left… who just so happens to be dating his brother.

The romance between these pages is everything; there is yearning, pining, and aching. Ben feels, to me, like an Andrew Garfield love interest; he is the book boyfriend of the month. A golden boy just so down bad for the girl he likes it's toe curling.
Olivia is so elusive and nonchalant, she is so clearly fighting her emotions about a variety of things, and Ben is determined to escape the reputation he’d crafted before he left.

There is so much in this book to unpack: the way it handles grief and the guilt Ben feels for pining after Olivia… it is so beautifully written, and there is such gorgeous prose in these pages. I genuinely fell in love with these characters and found myself reading slower as the book went on so I could stay in their world a bit longer.
I will say- it did drag in the middle for a bit, but I still wasn’t bored. It is a slow burn, and for good reason. But, by the end, I was smitten with their relationship; I was squealing into my pillow kicking my feet at their dialogue, and the vulnerability that they share is so heartwarming.
I definitely recommend picking this up, and I am eagerly awaiting the second installment!

First of all, thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC!🤎
This book gives gossip girl but set mainly at a University near Boston. Page turning drama, but with a good portrayal of the ways grief can affect someone. Some of the characters take some time to grow on you. In between the grief, the grandparents, family issues, there’s something for almost anyone to relate to. My only criticism is that there are a few times that I feel like there are too many luxury brands mentioned in a short period of time. Thankfully it only happens a few times, and other than that the brands names are thrown in here and there. If you like gossip girl, you’ll enjoy this too. Can’t wait for the next book! The ending pretty much had me in tears, so that also helps it’s rating lol

Astor Hill by Sydeny Madison ✨️ arc review ✨️

So many emotions ran through me while reading this book. SO MANY!!!

Let's start with the FMC Olivia (Liv); I really love how this character was written because they made her super relatable. She is strong, smart, beautiful, and headstrong (in a good way). All while struggling with the very realbattle of shoving feelings that are so strong into a mental box in the corner of her mind just so she could continue moving forward. I truly admire her strength, and I also admire the amount of growth that she has over the course of this story.

Next onto the MMC (Ben); I love when authors write about mens mental health, especially since the topic *in my opinion* does not get talked about enough in this day and age. The basketball captain with everything, the looks, the skills, the wealthy family. How could he be anything but happy? What these authors do is show that even guys/boys/men can have a hard time under pressure, that sometimes it can be A LOT to handle.

The story these two characters have together is just magical to witness, from the witty banter and quick slightly sarcastic comebacks (mostly coming from Liv lol) to the hard moments and tear jerking scenes, this book will have you feeling so many feels you'll be sad when the book ends but happy you took the journey.

Side note there is spice, however, not too much (though there is plenty of tension 🫣), meaning you really get to know the characters outside of physical attraction, which i absolutely LOVE about books!!. I cannot wait for a second book!!!!!

˚୨୧⋆｡ 4 ☆

𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
- slow burn.
- brother’s girlfriend.
- boyfriends brother.
- mental health representation.
- he falls first.
- basketball romance.
- gilmore girls vibes.

So this cover for starters is absolutely gorgeous, it gives me strong fall vibes all over and I’m here for it.

This book generally wasn’t what I was expecting and that is a good and a bad thing. I generally weren’t expecting the toxicity between will and Olivia but as we’ve gotten into the book I generally love it more for the fact I will see more ben and Olivia scenes and the mental health representation was amazing. Sydney Maddison portrayed anxiety in her male character really well and it’s such a hard and tough thing to do as it can have a fall flat or it can be top-notch. She made the representation perfect and top-notch for me as I actually loved reading and I felt a strong connection with Ben. however with Olivia I didn’t feel such strong connection with her. I felt her character was a bit more complex and I feel like that her complexity wasn’t written about entirely such as with will and Lilly therefore it was hard to connect with her, but altogether she gives me Laurie Gilmore vibes.


Release Date- 7th February 2025.
thank you to NetGalley & ps published for gifting and allowing me to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest rating and review.

i am so happy I requested this book. This was such a thrilling romance book. It had twists and turns and betrayal and romance and I absolutely ate it up. Cannot wait for book 2. thank you PS Published and Netgalley!

this book gave me gossip girl/magnolia parks vibes which I love! if you want a drama filled read for fall, this is perfect for that. I really enjoyed the mental health representation and how grief was portrayed in this. I loved the drama and love triangle so much honestly. I’m a big love triangle girlie. there is also basketball in this for my sports girls.

While reading Astor Hill, I felt every emotion. I definitely want to continue reading this series!!! I’m so invested in these characters lives now!!!

Astor Hill is simply captivating. This novel delves deep into the complexities of love, loss, and personal growth. The story follows Olivia as she navigates the aftermath of her best friend's sudden passing and the tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend, Will. When the mysterious (and HOT) Ben, Will's estranged brother, returns to campus, an undeniable connection sparks between him and the grieving Olivia. As Olivia is drawn into Ben's orbit, she must confront her insecurities and the challenge of forging a new path amidst her trauma.
The novel is well-developed, and I love how there are flawed characters; it makes me feel like these people actually exist. Olivia's journey of self-discovery is something we all struggle with in college and is a considerable struggle that comes after grief, which I thought was done exceptionally well! The complex dynamics between Olivia, Will, and Ben build fantastic tension. Overall, Astor Hill is definitely going to gain some hype! I cannot wait for the rest of this series! Thank you, Sydney Madison and NetGalley, for this arc!

I loved Olivia’s story.
The aspect of grief and moving on from heartache is something a lot of us go through and relate to. Olivia’s character development was well paced, and I really enjoyed her evolving situationships 😉 & how they helped her grasp onto her internal battles and heal.
I wasn’t expecting the dark secrets hidden within the web of characters, and the brothers rivalry was done perfectly. You want to dislike one brother and cheer for another, but the battles they’re facing make you understand why they did what they did. Dealing with trauma looks differently for everyone and I loved experiencing Olivia, Will, and Ben’s story. Excited for the next book!

Highly recommend if you want a book with deep emotional emphasis on grief, anxiety rep, brother rivalry, forbidden love, college setting and insta loooove.

Instagram Post Review of Astor Hill by Sydney Madison

If you, like me, grew up watching Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill, Astor Hill will feel like a homecoming—yet with a new, electrifying twist. It’s a story that lingers in your mind, tugging at you to find out what happens next. There’s a mystery that everyone seems to know about… everyone except me and Liv. The suspense, the big secret—it’s everything I wanted and more!

This book had me laughing, crying, and grinning like a fool. The "reformed playboy" trope isn’t usually my thing, but here it works. Ben’s focus on mental health and the raw way the characters deal with grief and loss felt so real. Every scene had me turning pages faster and faster, wanting to soak up more of these characters’ lives.

I read it in a day, and my only regret? It ended. Thank you to NetGalley and Sydney Madison for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review! (Fair warning: if themes like panic attacks, loss, and hints of cheating aren’t for you, just keep that in mind!)

⭐️ 5/5 big stars
🌶️ Just the right spice
🫶 OTH and Gossip Girl fans, this one’s a must!

I found myself wanting to pick this back up and continue reading anytime I wasn't. I enjoyed the character development and the mental health rep with Ben's navigation through dealing with anxiety. I found myself frustrated with Olivia's character the first half of the book and how she's portrayed as this tough, takes no shit, can handle herself woman, but yet allows Will to treat her the way he does for so long; however, it is a very real life depiction of a toxic, codependent relationship. The end of the book was great and I want more. I didn't find it as predictable as I thought I would. I would recommend this book to any romance lover and possibly even reread myself. I'll be watching for more from this author duo!

tropes:
⤍ he falls first
⤍ boyfriend's brother
⤍ forced proximity
⤍ mental health rep
⤍ gossip girl vibes
⤍ sports romance
⤍ dual pov
⤍ slow burn
⤍ grief

spice: 2/5

thank you to NetGalley & Sydney Madison for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my original & honest thoughts.

anticipated release date: 2/7/25

astor hill was such a journey of growing up, betrayal and honesty shocking events that I would have never predicted.

plot ―୨୧⋆ ˚ it was so so well paced and I really loved the whole concept, I lived for the drama and toxic mess that was astor hill. I felt some moments were a little bit unexplained and didn't fully leave me feeling satisfied with the information I got but it was something that was easy to look past. the idea that this book was meant to be a gossip girl meets one true hill was so intriguing and it really delivered in those aspects with so much drama, lies and betrayal I could not put it down.
the plot also lended itself to an emotional undertone that bubbled over toward the end that had me sobbing over Olivia's realisations and revelations.

liv + ben ―୨୧⋆ ˚ I absolutely loved seeing their relationship grow slowly, the fact that this was dual pov just made it so much better because we got to see the amount of pining they did for each other despite the tricky situation their relationship would land them in. i adored the maturity they had when dealing with their relationship and their willingness to communicate was so refreshing.
there is a 3rd act breakup but I felt it was justified and made complete sense considering everything that happens over the course of a few chapters

overall, I loved this book and enjoyed reading about the drama and lies that these characters were tangled up in. I absolutely cannot wait to gen and grant in the next book ⭐️🥲

another quick mention of my fave chapter of this whole book when we go back in time into Ben's pov when he first sees Liv and we realise she's the shining star this whole time and she's not realised ❤️‍🩹