Published: July 14, 2026 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Twelve years ago, Hazel Pierce packed up and left Star Falls. Now she’s back because her dad’s health has gotten worse, and suddenly she’s face-to-face with everything she ran away from: Tucker Colburn. Now, she runs Pierce Custom Woodwork and ends up working on a job for Tucker’s family, so avoiding him is not really an option.
Tucker’s a firefighter now, and while he’s secretly so happy Hazel’s home, he’s doing his best to keep his feelings locked down tight. He’s pretty sure he wouldn’t survive getting his heart broken by her twice. The whole town can see how perfect they still are together, except these two. They’re convinced this can only end badly.
Jill Shalvis’s writing is just so easy and fun to read. The story moves at a nice steady pace, with just enough little moments to keep things interesting. The banter is great, there’s so much heart in the “found family” vibe, and honestly, this book made me laugh and swoon so many times. It really did steal a little piece of my heart.
The audiobook is great too. Lila Winters and Sebastian York work so well together; their flow and chemistry feel totally natural. That said, even though Sebastian York is great overall, I felt his take on Tucker was a bit too stiff and cold in the romantic scenes. I wished he’d soften up a little when things got tender.
And there's this miscommunication problem. They were only 18 when Hazel left. They were best friends, crazy about each other, and then ten whole years of total silence? Not even a text? It just felt so unrealistic! Even with this little frustration, this is a warm, funny, and exactly the kind of cozy, heartfelt romance you want. If you love second-chance stories where the whole town is rooting for the couple, you’re going to love this one.
Thank you to Hambright PR and Jill Shalvis for the opportunity to review the ARC and ALC.
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