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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
My first Paige Toon book and what a beautiful story this was.
Ellie embarked on a solo trip across Europe, exploring sights she was told to visit by her best friend Stella, who sadly passed away.
Ellie unexpectedly met a man named Ash, who was also solo travelling. Their families seemed ambitious and controlling, and both yearned to escape that life and be themselves. After a few days, Ellie didn’t expect herself to fall for Ash, but upon their departure, they agreed to meet in Madrid.
Madrid worked out for Ellie, but not for Ash. Ellie couldn’t stop overthinking, but eventually realised it was just a fling and returned home. Years later, she decided to gain the confidence to change her career, much to her parents’ disappointment. Undeterred, she set off to make her own ambitions come true. This was until she got a new job on a grand private-estate and she realises Ash is there and he is the Viscounts heir.
Despite the difficulties they faced, the ending was lovely, and I’m really happy they both found their happy ever after.
Ellie embarked on a solo trip across Europe, exploring sights she was told to visit by her best friend Stella, who sadly passed away.
Ellie unexpectedly met a man named Ash, who was also solo travelling. Their families seemed ambitious and controlling, and both yearned to escape that life and be themselves. After a few days, Ellie didn’t expect herself to fall for Ash, but upon their departure, they agreed to meet in Madrid.
Madrid worked out for Ellie, but not for Ash. Ellie couldn’t stop overthinking, but eventually realised it was just a fling and returned home. Years later, she decided to gain the confidence to change her career, much to her parents’ disappointment. Undeterred, she set off to make her own ambitions come true. This was until she got a new job on a grand private-estate and she realises Ash is there and he is the Viscounts heir.
Despite the difficulties they faced, the ending was lovely, and I’m really happy they both found their happy ever after.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Do you believe people can fall in love after 3 days? Ellie and Ash cross paths on a travel encounter which sets them both on a different life trajectory. Reconnecting unexpectedly after 6 years, they both have to decide if their 3 days were real and worth risking everything for.
Paige Toon has a way of taking a story to a place you didn’t know existed. As Ellie and Ash face their own demons, the reader is forced to face their own too. This is a story of wanderlust, self-discovery, heartbreak, and enduring love.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this gifted ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Paige Toon really said “hope you weren’t planning on emotional stability today” and honestly? Rude. But also, thank you.
This book had my heart doing cardio. I’m talking the full works: pounding, aching, squeezing. Thankfully it was split into four parts, which I assume was Paige’s gentle way of saying, “Take a breath. Or cry. Or rage about this out loud.” I did all three.
Ash and Ellie? Oh my GOD. The slow-burn, the sabotage, the big "if I push you away first, you can't hurt me" energy? Far too relatable, thank you so much, Paige. I was fully in my feelings - yelling at them to get it together while also rooting for them through every missed moment and heart-wrenching detour.
Speaking of families - if rage-reading burned calories, I’d have abs by now. Not all the parents were a disaster, but enabling counts as damage too, babes. You don’t get to play Switzerland when emotional grenades are flying.
The side characters brought a lot to love, but what broke me? The texts to Stella. Sending messages into a void, knowing they’ll never get a reply, but needing to say it anyway? That level of grief hit like a truck wrapped in a warm jumper. I loved those moments for their raw honesty - because sometimes the only place you can put your feelings is into the silence.
And honestly? I adored how Welsh coded this book was. From Ash’s accent to the lush coastal locations, the nostalgic day trips, the little details - it was perfection. I didn’t have to imagine it. I just slipped right back into places I know and love.
So yeah. I loved this. I’m raw, I’m wrecked, and I'm off to raid Paige Toon’s back catalogue like the emotionally unstable book goblin I now am.
This book had my heart doing cardio. I’m talking the full works: pounding, aching, squeezing. Thankfully it was split into four parts, which I assume was Paige’s gentle way of saying, “Take a breath. Or cry. Or rage about this out loud.” I did all three.
Ash and Ellie? Oh my GOD. The slow-burn, the sabotage, the big "if I push you away first, you can't hurt me" energy? Far too relatable, thank you so much, Paige. I was fully in my feelings - yelling at them to get it together while also rooting for them through every missed moment and heart-wrenching detour.
Speaking of families - if rage-reading burned calories, I’d have abs by now. Not all the parents were a disaster, but enabling counts as damage too, babes. You don’t get to play Switzerland when emotional grenades are flying.
The side characters brought a lot to love, but what broke me? The texts to Stella. Sending messages into a void, knowing they’ll never get a reply, but needing to say it anyway? That level of grief hit like a truck wrapped in a warm jumper. I loved those moments for their raw honesty - because sometimes the only place you can put your feelings is into the silence.
And honestly? I adored how Welsh coded this book was. From Ash’s accent to the lush coastal locations, the nostalgic day trips, the little details - it was perfection. I didn’t have to imagine it. I just slipped right back into places I know and love.
So yeah. I loved this. I’m raw, I’m wrecked, and I'm off to raid Paige Toon’s back catalogue like the emotionally unstable book goblin I now am.
3.5 stars!
i enjoyed it and love a right person, wrong time trope!
written in true paige toon fashion, it's full of falling fast, one big true love and emotion. it's addicting especially as you hope they get together.
written in hops of time, i enjoyed it and the pacing of the book that went along with it.
it does contain heavier content so i'd suggest looking into that before reading. toon seems to like writing about characters with such heavy pasts that find happy endings with twists along the way and you either like it or you don't but i don't mind it every once in a while.
i enjoyed it and love a right person, wrong time trope!
written in true paige toon fashion, it's full of falling fast, one big true love and emotion. it's addicting especially as you hope they get together.
written in hops of time, i enjoyed it and the pacing of the book that went along with it.
it does contain heavier content so i'd suggest looking into that before reading. toon seems to like writing about characters with such heavy pasts that find happy endings with twists along the way and you either like it or you don't but i don't mind it every once in a while.
This is a sweet romance that spans several years from a chance encounter whilst travelling to becoming "the one that got away".
I enjoyed the settings in Lisbon and in Wales and how the rhythms of nature and space are woven into the storyline.
There were a few too many miscommunications and obstacles for me to fully enjoy the story as it just felt quite frustrating at times.
I enjoyed the settings in Lisbon and in Wales and how the rhythms of nature and space are woven into the storyline.
There were a few too many miscommunications and obstacles for me to fully enjoy the story as it just felt quite frustrating at times.
Wow, I really liked the instant connection that Ash and Ellie had in part one of the book. It felt so whimsical and timeless to me, like nothing can break the bond they had with each other. Then Ash and Ellie lost touch after not being able to meet in Madrid, they both moved on. Fate had other plans and six years later, they fell back into each other's lives but under different circumstances.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. My emotions were a rollercoaster with this one, so many gut-wrenching moments. Part one was very nicely set up for parts two and three (all within the book, no cliffhanger). Ash absolutely adored Ellie, so when the moments were sweet, they were super sweet. My only gripe is when Ash sometimes gaslights Ellie and her feelings. We only see things from Ellie's point of view, so who knows what was going on in Ash's mind.
**Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for the ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. My emotions were a rollercoaster with this one, so many gut-wrenching moments. Part one was very nicely set up for parts two and three (all within the book, no cliffhanger). Ash absolutely adored Ellie, so when the moments were sweet, they were super sweet. My only gripe is when Ash sometimes gaslights Ellie and her feelings. We only see things from Ellie's point of view, so who knows what was going on in Ash's mind.
**Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for the ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes