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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5 Stars
3 Chili Peppers
Tropes:
Second Chance
Small Town
Found Family
Trauma & Healing
Runaway Bride
Pro Surfer
Road Trip
Good Girl/Bad Boy
Forbidden First Love
Dual POV & Dual Timeline
"I wonder how I can be in a room full of so many people, and none of them can see the misery behind my eyes."
This is hands down one of the best books I have ever read. The emotions I felt reading this book checked every box. I honestly have never highlighted a book more than I did this one.
Darby/Honeysuckle and Leo/Heathen were truly meant to be. They were each other's missing puzzle pieces. They were perfection. The things that Leo said made me swoon. The way that he loved her even after all that time apart. I am getting teary-eyed just thinking about it. I loved how he calmed her down and loved her body no matter what. How he wanted her to love her body and herself as much as he did.
"I want to bring you with me because you scare my ghosts away Darby."
I loved how much Darby loved her sister and how close they were even though they were opposites, how she would do anything for her. Also, after 10 years how she still loved and needed Leo.
There were things that I never saw coming and honestly ripped my heart out. There were parts where I wanted to climb into the book and punch Darby's dad and Jackson. There were parts where I sat there with my mouth hung open over things that one of them said to her. I was so angry I had to stop reading for a little bit. But that is what I want when I am reading. I want to feel all the emotions, I want to feel what the characters are feeling.
"You don't need a piece of my soul, Honeysuckle. You already own the whole goddamn thing."
I can seriously go on and on about this book all day, that's how good it is. I did not want it to end, but I cannot wait until the next book. I think I know who it's about, and I cannot wait!
A huge, gigantic thank you to Sarah A. Bailey for this ARC
3 Chili Peppers
Tropes:
Second Chance
Small Town
Found Family
Trauma & Healing
Runaway Bride
Pro Surfer
Road Trip
Good Girl/Bad Boy
Forbidden First Love
Dual POV & Dual Timeline
"I wonder how I can be in a room full of so many people, and none of them can see the misery behind my eyes."
This is hands down one of the best books I have ever read. The emotions I felt reading this book checked every box. I honestly have never highlighted a book more than I did this one.
Darby/Honeysuckle and Leo/Heathen were truly meant to be. They were each other's missing puzzle pieces. They were perfection. The things that Leo said made me swoon. The way that he loved her even after all that time apart. I am getting teary-eyed just thinking about it. I loved how he calmed her down and loved her body no matter what. How he wanted her to love her body and herself as much as he did.
"I want to bring you with me because you scare my ghosts away Darby."
I loved how much Darby loved her sister and how close they were even though they were opposites, how she would do anything for her. Also, after 10 years how she still loved and needed Leo.
There were things that I never saw coming and honestly ripped my heart out. There were parts where I wanted to climb into the book and punch Darby's dad and Jackson. There were parts where I sat there with my mouth hung open over things that one of them said to her. I was so angry I had to stop reading for a little bit. But that is what I want when I am reading. I want to feel all the emotions, I want to feel what the characters are feeling.
"You don't need a piece of my soul, Honeysuckle. You already own the whole goddamn thing."
I can seriously go on and on about this book all day, that's how good it is. I did not want it to end, but I cannot wait until the next book. I think I know who it's about, and I cannot wait!
A huge, gigantic thank you to Sarah A. Bailey for this ARC
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂𝓼𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓵𝓮 by Sarah A. Bailey
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Past: 🌶️ (closed door)
Present: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (open door asf)
Heathen and Honeysuckle took my heart out, ripped it into pieces and put it back together in the best way possible. Dramatic much? Yes and rightfully so, since it had me sounding like a crying whale at 4 in the morning.
🍯 first love
🌊 second chance
🍯 dual timeline
🌊 good girl x bad boy
🍯 protective MMC
🌊 they chase away each others ghosts
🍯 “I’ve always been yours”
🌊 runaway bride
The writing style in this book is dual timeline (10 years then - 10 years now,) which was so refreshing since I haven’t read a lot of books like that. And the HEA?! Divine intervention at its finest.
Then: Leo (Heathen) is a bad boy with a heart of gold. So poetic and romantic and only towards Darby (honeysuckle,) he must be protected at all costs. Darby finds her real happiness while staying at her grandma’s house. Her grandma is the real MVP. I love her smvt reading grandma.
Darby is her most real self with Leo and her new friends, Elena, Everett, August and Zack and I got attached to all of them 🥹 I love her new bestie, Elena, I relate to her so much and I hope she gets a book! Tbh Darby needs a hug and parents that actually love her. Poor girl, same goes for her sister 😭 Leo does everything right and constantly reassures her like okay swooooon. Even tho Heathen has his own ghosts and his honeysuckle chases them away 🖤
Now: When these two finally meet again, you won’t know whether to giggle, cry , scream or like me, do all of the above. Leo (27 years old) and all the same just as romantic only to his honeysuckle (always) and boy, does this man got a MOUTH on him 😏 Darby, poor girl I want to hug her and also smack some sense into her, but I understand why she was so scared and after the ghosts from her past come out to play — that tore my heart in half and I’m back to wanting to give Darby a hug.
ALSO back to Leo and how he remembers EVERY SINGLE DETAIL about Darby, her favorite snacks, preferences, sheeeesh even how many freckles were on her face and it’s been TEN YEARS?! SIR, clearly I need to have my husband read this book since he can barely remember to take out the trash after asking him a million times. Leo out here making irl guys everywhere look like a clown 🤡 Also I LOVE LOVE LOVE how protective Leo is to Darby, she’s his one and only and it shows!
Heathen & Honeysuckle was so captivating. I slept, breathed and ate this book up and I ate good. I am so so attached to the characters, the story line, this world. I need EVERYONE’S HEA PLEASE! I’ll be binge reading the first two books from this author. I need more of this universe! I can’t wait for book two of Pacific Shores 🥹
Don’t forget to read the TW 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Past: 🌶️ (closed door)
Present: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (open door asf)
Heathen and Honeysuckle took my heart out, ripped it into pieces and put it back together in the best way possible. Dramatic much? Yes and rightfully so, since it had me sounding like a crying whale at 4 in the morning.
🍯 first love
🌊 second chance
🍯 dual timeline
🌊 good girl x bad boy
🍯 protective MMC
🌊 they chase away each others ghosts
🍯 “I’ve always been yours”
🌊 runaway bride
The writing style in this book is dual timeline (10 years then - 10 years now,) which was so refreshing since I haven’t read a lot of books like that. And the HEA?! Divine intervention at its finest.
Then: Leo (Heathen) is a bad boy with a heart of gold. So poetic and romantic and only towards Darby (honeysuckle,) he must be protected at all costs. Darby finds her real happiness while staying at her grandma’s house. Her grandma is the real MVP. I love her smvt reading grandma.
Darby is her most real self with Leo and her new friends, Elena, Everett, August and Zack and I got attached to all of them 🥹 I love her new bestie, Elena, I relate to her so much and I hope she gets a book! Tbh Darby needs a hug and parents that actually love her. Poor girl, same goes for her sister 😭 Leo does everything right and constantly reassures her like okay swooooon. Even tho Heathen has his own ghosts and his honeysuckle chases them away 🖤
Now: When these two finally meet again, you won’t know whether to giggle, cry , scream or like me, do all of the above. Leo (27 years old) and all the same just as romantic only to his honeysuckle (always) and boy, does this man got a MOUTH on him 😏 Darby, poor girl I want to hug her and also smack some sense into her, but I understand why she was so scared and after the ghosts from her past come out to play — that tore my heart in half and I’m back to wanting to give Darby a hug.
ALSO back to Leo and how he remembers EVERY SINGLE DETAIL about Darby, her favorite snacks, preferences, sheeeesh even how many freckles were on her face and it’s been TEN YEARS?! SIR, clearly I need to have my husband read this book since he can barely remember to take out the trash after asking him a million times. Leo out here making irl guys everywhere look like a clown 🤡 Also I LOVE LOVE LOVE how protective Leo is to Darby, she’s his one and only and it shows!
Heathen & Honeysuckle was so captivating. I slept, breathed and ate this book up and I ate good. I am so so attached to the characters, the story line, this world. I need EVERYONE’S HEA PLEASE! I’ll be binge reading the first two books from this author. I need more of this universe! I can’t wait for book two of Pacific Shores 🥹
Don’t forget to read the TW 🖤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
emotional
hopeful
sad
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:
No
FOUR SQUEEZES
This story has it all swoon, summer love, second chance, tension, and heartbreak my emotions went on such a rollercoaster reading this story. It’s a dual timeline going from the present to 10 years in the past and it flows perfectly between the chapters.
I absolutely fell in love with Leo from the beginning he is so patient with Darby from when they were teens to 10 years later when he has every reason to not be. Even after the ending of their summer love 10 years ago Leo comes to save her and they go on a road trip back to California.
I cannot wait for book 2 of this series if it who I think it will be I think my tear ducks will not be ready but I will read it immediately.
~~What to Expect~~
🌊Second Chance
🌊Dual Timeline/ Dual POV
🌊Found Family
🌊Small Beach Town
🌊Forced Proximity
🌊One Bed
🌊Professional Surfer
~~Quote~~
💐Don’t ever hide your smiles from me, honeysuckle. I need to see every single one, especially the ones I put there.
💐Like you know exactly what my soul feels like, and you’ve been incomplete without it all this time.
💐You don’t need a piece of my soul, honeysuckle. You already own the whole thing.
This story has it all swoon, summer love, second chance, tension, and heartbreak my emotions went on such a rollercoaster reading this story. It’s a dual timeline going from the present to 10 years in the past and it flows perfectly between the chapters.
I absolutely fell in love with Leo from the beginning he is so patient with Darby from when they were teens to 10 years later when he has every reason to not be. Even after the ending of their summer love 10 years ago Leo comes to save her and they go on a road trip back to California.
I cannot wait for book 2 of this series if it who I think it will be I think my tear ducks will not be ready but I will read it immediately.
~~What to Expect~~
🌊Second Chance
🌊Dual Timeline/ Dual POV
🌊Found Family
🌊Small Beach Town
🌊Forced Proximity
🌊One Bed
🌊Professional Surfer
~~Quote~~
💐Don’t ever hide your smiles from me, honeysuckle. I need to see every single one, especially the ones I put there.
💐Like you know exactly what my soul feels like, and you’ve been incomplete without it all this time.
💐You don’t need a piece of my soul, honeysuckle. You already own the whole thing.
Roses: This is one of the better second chance romances that I’ve read recently. This was a very sweet and spicy story about unforgettable love and true friendship between our two main characters. There are very emotional and tough moments that make you want the best for the characters and you have hope that everything will end up okay in the end. Because Darby and Leo are perfect for each other. Having this be dual timeline and dual pov really helps the reader understand the level of emotion that they each were experiencing during their short amount of time together. The side plot with Darbys family added the tension and frustration to the story without it being overwhelming to the main storyline. I really enjoyed Darbys relationship with her sister and how strong it was.
Thorns: I felt the love was a little one sided when reading the past timeline. Leo seemed to give more to Darby than she did for him. I think if the amount of time they first spent together was longer that could have helped with it not feeling that way. I wanted to believe that their love was sincere and genuine but it was so deep in a really fast amount of time that in my head it was really hard to believe. Because of them being 17 they created this love that was so strong to withstand 10 years apart without contact was a little too unrealistic imo. I do get how it could work in away with how Darby is treated by her family for her to still hold a torch for Leo. I wanted to know more about her family and why they were so controlling in the first place. Saying it’s the sister’s fault doesn’t make a lot of sense when the dad had a tight rein on everything and everyone. Also Darby’s fiancé should have even been left out of the book entirely. He didn’t add any drama except having the label of fiancé so I found him pointless tbh.
Thorns: I felt the love was a little one sided when reading the past timeline. Leo seemed to give more to Darby than she did for him. I think if the amount of time they first spent together was longer that could have helped with it not feeling that way. I wanted to believe that their love was sincere and genuine but it was so deep in a really fast amount of time that in my head it was really hard to believe. Because of them being 17 they created this love that was so strong to withstand 10 years apart without contact was a little too unrealistic imo. I do get how it could work in away with how Darby is treated by her family for her to still hold a torch for Leo. I wanted to know more about her family and why they were so controlling in the first place. Saying it’s the sister’s fault doesn’t make a lot of sense when the dad had a tight rein on everything and everyone. Also Darby’s fiancé should have even been left out of the book entirely. He didn’t add any drama except having the label of fiancé so I found him pointless tbh.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*This book was an ARC. This is my honest voluntary review*
This was a little outside my usual romance books, being that it wasn't dark or horror, but I still loved it. Leo and Darby's relationship is beautiful. The way before Leo cares for and encourages Darby to grow, and she shows him he's worthy of love is fantastic. The way now Leo shows up for Darby despite so long apart is so... perfect. I was so mad at Darby for having run back home and never explained to Leo why, but my heart kinda broke as the why was revealed. I can't wait to read everything else Sarah has written because this was an amazing introduction to her writing and to the Pacific Shores family.
This book touches on some hard topics like Miscarriage, Pregnancy loss, and Toxic parental relationships but Sarah does a fantastic job portraying them and her chapter warnings are so well laid out you can skip over each of those without harming the story.
This was a little outside my usual romance books, being that it wasn't dark or horror, but I still loved it. Leo and Darby's relationship is beautiful. The way before Leo cares for and encourages Darby to grow, and she shows him he's worthy of love is fantastic. The way now Leo shows up for Darby despite so long apart is so... perfect. I was so mad at Darby for having run back home and never explained to Leo why, but my heart kinda broke as the why was revealed. I can't wait to read everything else Sarah has written because this was an amazing introduction to her writing and to the Pacific Shores family.
This book touches on some hard topics like Miscarriage, Pregnancy loss, and Toxic parental relationships but Sarah does a fantastic job portraying them and her chapter warnings are so well laid out you can skip over each of those without harming the story.
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️
OMG THIS BOOK. i knew i was going to love it as soon as sarah announced the “what letters?” microtrope. this book made me ugly cry (and yes, i did text a pic to sarah lmao) from like 60% to 95% of the book.
the love leo has for darby is UNMATCHED. everything they went through omg. i cannot wait for the next book. 🥹
spice: 🌶️🌶️
OMG THIS BOOK. i knew i was going to love it as soon as sarah announced the “what letters?” microtrope. this book made me ugly cry (and yes, i did text a pic to sarah lmao) from like 60% to 95% of the book.
the love leo has for darby is UNMATCHED. everything they went through omg. i cannot wait for the next book. 🥹
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was my first Sarah A. Bailey book. This is a modern day love story about two people that met as teenagers, fell in love and saw a future together. Then family issues came up, running away, abandonment, marriages, causing them to miss the last 10 years together. They end up finding each other again and finding their way back home into each other's arms.
This is a beautiful story that invites you into their past as well as their present and future.
The setting takes place in the beauty of California beaches in a small town called Pacific Shore. The story is so relatable that it had me remembering my “first love” when I was a teenager.
It reminded me of The Notebook. Just a sweet love story about two people trying to find their way back to each other.
There are some triggers, daddy issues, mental abuse, miscarriage but they made the story what it was. Nothing seemed out of place or forced. Every detail flowed together so nicely.
I loved this book and I am so happy I got to read it!
This is a beautiful story that invites you into their past as well as their present and future.
The setting takes place in the beauty of California beaches in a small town called Pacific Shore. The story is so relatable that it had me remembering my “first love” when I was a teenager.
It reminded me of The Notebook. Just a sweet love story about two people trying to find their way back to each other.
There are some triggers, daddy issues, mental abuse, miscarriage but they made the story what it was. Nothing seemed out of place or forced. Every detail flowed together so nicely.
I loved this book and I am so happy I got to read it!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Heathen and Honeysuckle" is an absolute gem of a romance novel that grips you from the very first page and doesn't let go until the end. Leo and Darby are characters you can't help but fall in love with, each struggling with their own demons while navigating the complexities of love and identity.
The story effortlessly transitions between past and present, giving us a glimpse into the blossoming relationship between Leo and Darby while also delving into their individual struggles. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, from the sweetness of young love to the pain of heartbreak and everything in between.
But what truly makes "Heathen and Honeysuckle" special is its message of self-discovery and empowerment. It's a reminder that it's okay to break free from expectations and embrace who you truly are, even if it means risking everything for love.
In a genre sometimes filled with clichés, this book is a breath of fresh air. Its beautifully crafted prose and relatable characters make it a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of love and the importance of staying true to yourself. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down.