Published by Berkley on April 7, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
Two rival authors are forced to confront a decade of love and heartbreak on the campus where it all started in this captivating debut romance by Kara McDowell.
It’s been thirteen years since Mars Darling first met West Emerson on a bench outside their writing class. What started out as a friendly rivalry turned into a best friendship and then, for a brief time, a romance. Now over a decade later, as Mars stands at their college campus as a once-esteemed YA fantasy author, ready to take on a book festival, she comes face to face with West—the muse behind her infamous trilogy’s heartthrob hero, the man who betrayed her in the worst way.
Mars is determined not to let her comeback tour be ruined by the fact that West is also at the festival as an author. But the longer they are on the campus that holds so many shared memories, the more time they have to untangle their past, and Mars starts to question if maybe it’s not only her writing career that deserves a second chance.
Told in two unfolding timelines—Mars and West’s frenzied college days where they grapple with their undeniable connection, and their tension-filled present of heartache and familiar yearning—this charming romance shows that while you can’t rewrite the past, it’s never too late to chase your happily ever after and get back the one that got away.
They were 19 when they met, and they went from rivals to friends to more. Yet it seemed it was not their time. They parted ways but always seemed to find their way back to each other. Through years of separation, the flame still burned bright. When both Mars and West were invited to a book festival at their alma mater, it seemed like fate was giving them another chance as some people are meant to be part of your life.
I have read and enjoyed several young adult books by McDowell. I was excited to see what she had in store for me with her adult debut, and I am here to tell you that I was not disappointed. Nobody adores a second chance romance the way I do, and this was one I was wholeheartedly behind. I wouldn't say I am into the woo-woo, but there was a reason life, circumstances, and geography could not keep West and Mars apart. When something is meant to be, it is meant to be.
But timing was never on their side. As the story unfolded in dual timelines, I got to learn about the past that shaped these two. I watched them fall in love, make mistakes, and try to repair the damages done. I got to watch them hurt and heal. Parts were wonderful, others were heartbreaking, but it was all important with respect to the future they could have together.
I have to admit that I struggled with Mars until later in the book. She was ambitious and driven but also very complicated. I know she suddenly had to deal with a level of success she could have only dreamed of and all the pressure that comes with that, but there were times I simply could not understand the choices she made. I still hoped she would figure it out because she and West belonged to each other. There were so many points in their history where you could see how they were the missing pieces in each others puzzles.
I was definitely team West from the beginning. He had a lot going on in his personal life with respect to his family, and he had to shelve a lot of his plans to help them. He also grappled with a lot insecurities, and in his youth, he may not have always handled it all with grace, but gosh darn it! West in the present timeline was perfection. He always said he couldn't find the words, but believe me, he found them over and over again. He strummed my heartstrings like a virtuoso, and I swear to you! There was this one part near the end where his words moved me tears (happy ones).
Perhaps the universe knew they weren't ready for their BIG love with THE ONE back in college, but a strong case was emerging for them in the present timeline. Mars and West had grown a lot over the years, and I was hoping upon hope that they were both all in this time.
Overall, this was a story of second chances - a second chance for West and Mars to prove themselves, a second chance to steer their futures, and a second chance at love. I had a wonderful time visiting the past with these two and tagging along on their way to their HEA.
Published by Berkley on April 7, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
A woman tests the limits of her so-called amicable divorce when she flies to Paris for the destination wedding of her former sister-in-law, only to butt heads with the deliciously gruff best man, in a poignant and romantic novel from Kate Clayborn.
Physician Layla Bailey has spent over a year telling herself she's moved on from a painful but amicable divorce from her college sweetheart. Staying friends with her ex seemed like the mature thing to do, but when Layla is invited to her former sister-in-law’s destination wedding in Paris—where Layla once spent her own romantic honeymoon—she knows her commitment to maturity might be her worst enemy…especially since her ex isn’t attending alone.
The only thing that could make the week more difficult is getting through it without the distraction of the wedding.... But when what Layla thought was a harmless conversation about the choices of her younger self leads to the bride getting cold feet, Layla finds herself facing down the groom’s mysterious, taciturn best man, Griffin, who will do anything to make sure this wedding happens.
Since she broke it, Griff demands she help him fix it. Going along with his plan to alleviate the engaged couple's doubts seems like Layla’s best chance at maintaining a good relationship with a family she once called her own. But as she learns more about the past heartbreak that’s driving Griff to help his friend, she gets closer and closer to confronting the true depth of her own pain…while finding herself more and more willing to risk it all again for Griff.
It had been a year and a half since her "amicable" divorce, and now, Layla had to endure a destination wedding in the City of Lights with her ex and the people she once considered her family. Feeling awkward, Layla found comfort and a champion in gruff best man Griffin, a complex and complicated man who helped her reclaim Paris for herself.
I could not imagine being as evolved as Layla. Being able to attend my ex-sister-in-law's wedding where my ex-husband would be with his new girlfriend. No thank you. I was initially outraged on Layla's behalf. How could they ask this of her????? But then, she met the grumpy best man. I wouldn't say it was love at first sight because Griff had problems expressing himself properly, but he was as outraged as me, and that earned him a special place in my heart.
Griff was a complicated hero. He had chronic pain due to burns suffered in a fire, but he also carried a lot of survivor's guilt. My heart broke for him, and I felt like this mental part of his recovery was far from over. I was happy that he let Layla in, bit by bit, because I hated that he suffered alone. I wanted him to heal in all ways and to let his true self shine through.
This was a romance of the slow-burn persuasion. These baby steps were appropriate given the personal situations for both Layla and Griff. These two may have been forced together by circumstances, but there was a definite connection between them which they could not fight. It was lovely seeing them explore this connection as they explored Paris together.
As expected, I had a grand tour of the city and nearby attractions. I have actually been to Paris, but regardless, Clayborn did a wonderful job immersing me in the setting. The food, the sights, the sounds, the smells, she captured it all, and it was a wonderful backdrop for this love story.
This was a romance but also a story of healing and growth. Layla and Griffin both had wounds and parts of their lives to work on. This Paris match set them on a path of healing and self-discovery and prompted them to make the necessary changes. I found myself eager to see them take action, and I cheered for them every step of the way.
Another sweet and tender romance from Clayborn!
*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
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