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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I was so blessed to be able to receive an ARC for the rerelease of The Two of Us and I loved it!! I read this book in one sitting, it was absolutely amazing!
I loved the character development throughout the story and I think you will fall in love with all of the characters and the friendships they’ve formed, you’ll actually feel like they’re your best friends because I did feel that!
I cried so hard at the end but it was truly a beautiful ending. So if you want to read a book that will make you cry and warm your heart at the same time, read this one!!
read if you like: small town romance, best friends brother, dual timeline, childhood friends to lovers, it’s always been you, second chance romance
I loved the character development throughout the story and I think you will fall in love with all of the characters and the friendships they’ve formed, you’ll actually feel like they’re your best friends because I did feel that!
I cried so hard at the end but it was truly a beautiful ending. So if you want to read a book that will make you cry and warm your heart at the same time, read this one!!
read if you like: small town romance, best friends brother, dual timeline, childhood friends to lovers, it’s always been you, second chance romance
What an absolutely stunning debut. I am a sucker for a friends to lover/second chance story, but what I really appreciated was that the book didn't only have romance but it centered on the complexities of friendship between people so well. It also touched on complex family issues that will have you feeling some sort of way for all the characters in this story. I was really drawn to the character of Cat made so much so it made me want to call my best friend. Mara, Cat & Ambrose's friendship was the highlight of the story for me, and the 'it's always been you' vibes between Mara & Ambrose was icing on the cake.
what to expect
- friends to lovers
- second chance romance
- emotional storytelling
- complex family issues
- strong friendships
- past & present alternating chapters
FINAL THOUGHTS: I was truly blown away by this being a debut. Taylor Torres wrote a beautiful story about friendships, love, and navigating loss & grief. It not only had everything you love about friends to lovers/second chance romance, but it was also a very powerful story of friendship. I laughed and yes I cried. It's a beautiful small town love story that packs an emotional gut punch.
what to expect
- friends to lovers
- second chance romance
- emotional storytelling
- complex family issues
- strong friendships
- past & present alternating chapters
FINAL THOUGHTS: I was truly blown away by this being a debut. Taylor Torres wrote a beautiful story about friendships, love, and navigating loss & grief. It not only had everything you love about friends to lovers/second chance romance, but it was also a very powerful story of friendship. I laughed and yes I cried. It's a beautiful small town love story that packs an emotional gut punch.
“I’ve loved you since that kiss outside of Old Maple and I’ve loved you since we both lost the person we loved the most. I loved you then and I love you now. And if you’ll have me… I’ll love you until my last breath. You’re the love of my life, Mara, but you’re my best friend too. I like you as much as I love you. I could have a million lifetimes with you and it still wouldn’t be enough.”
Story was engrossing and there’s no doubt about that. But the WMC was so annoying. She had been getting on my nerves throughout the entire read. She’s been carrying the guilt and thinks that she’s the one to be blamed for the MMC sis de@th when the sis had an accident and instead of taking her to the hospital the said sis slept and died. But oh well she blames herself because she was in arms with the MMC. And MMC mom initially yelled at her. So instead of processing she ran. She’s jealous of him being with other after all the years, she wants him, but no for permanence. All this back and forth wasn’t angsty just aggravating ’cause I started feeling sorry for the MMC 😭
However the ending was cute. Overall it’s an alright read to pastime
Story was engrossing and there’s no doubt about that. But the WMC was so annoying. She had been getting on my nerves throughout the entire read. She’s been carrying the guilt and thinks that she’s the one to be blamed for the MMC sis de@th when the sis had an accident and instead of taking her to the hospital the said sis slept and died. But oh well she blames herself because she was in arms with the MMC. And MMC mom initially yelled at her. So instead of processing she ran. She’s jealous of him being with other after all the years, she wants him, but no for permanence. All this back and forth wasn’t angsty just aggravating ’cause I started feeling sorry for the MMC 😭
However the ending was cute. Overall it’s an alright read to pastime
this heartwarming small town romance made me fall head over heels in love with the childhood friends, to strangers, to lovers trope!!! reading the development between ambrose and mara's relationship had me on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time
it was such a cute and quick-paced romance and there was never a dull moment!!! i wish the book went on for another 100-200 pages because i NEEDED to see more of the zoo, matty, and mara and cat's friendship!!! i just love their little found family so much and i wish i could've gotten more
also let's talk about ambrose!!! a man that loves animals??? YES PLEASE!!! authors take notes and start incorporating this more into your work!!! it's so loveable
also mara!!!! ugh she was such a relatable character!!!
it was such a cute and quick-paced romance and there was never a dull moment!!! i wish the book went on for another 100-200 pages because i NEEDED to see more of the zoo, matty, and mara and cat's friendship!!! i just love their little found family so much and i wish i could've gotten more
also let's talk about ambrose!!! a man that loves animals??? YES PLEASE!!! authors take notes and start incorporating this more into your work!!! it's so loveable
also mara!!!! ugh she was such a relatable character!!!
Very cute! A short romance novel with a little bit of mystery thrown in. I kept coming back because I wanted to know what the incident was that broke up Cat, Mara and
Mara, Cat and Ambrose have been best friends since they were little kids. So why has Mara not been back to Speck Lake since high school? And why is she afraid to return? This is a novel about relationships, in all of their forms. Friendships, parent and child relationships, romantic relationships. It's about how we let others in, and what happens when we hold others at a distance. It's messy in the way that life is, which makes it feel real.
Mara gets a call that she needs to return home to Maine because her father is going into hospice care. She left after high school and didn't look back after an ~incident~ occurs. She runs into Ambrose right away and we learn that they have a complicated history. We get glimpse's into Mara's past, where we see her friendship with Cat grow, while Ambrose fades away. In present day, we see Mara struggle to face her past so she can move on in the future. At the same time, Mara is dealing with her father slowly dying (one side note: this was weirdly a small part of the book), and an estranged mother that lives in Paris.
We finally learn that Cat passed away right before high school and Mara feels guilty because she was out with her that night, but left her alone and slept with Ambrose. (Cat's brother!) This is why Mara can't let herself be with Ambrose. She has to address her guilt and come to terms with her loss before she can give herself to Ambrose. We love a character who goes to therapy :)
Mara, Cat and Ambrose have been best friends since they were little kids. So why has Mara not been back to Speck Lake since high school? And why is she afraid to return? This is a novel about relationships, in all of their forms. Friendships, parent and child relationships, romantic relationships. It's about how we let others in, and what happens when we hold others at a distance. It's messy in the way that life is, which makes it feel real.
Mara gets a call that she needs to return home to Maine because her father is going into hospice care. She left after high school and didn't look back after an ~incident~ occurs. She runs into Ambrose right away and we learn that they have a complicated history. We get glimpse's into Mara's past, where we see her friendship with Cat grow, while Ambrose fades away. In present day, we see Mara struggle to face her past so she can move on in the future. At the same time, Mara is dealing with her father slowly dying (one side note: this was weirdly a small part of the book), and an estranged mother that lives in Paris.
We finally learn that Cat passed away right before high school and Mara feels guilty because she was out with her that night, but left her alone and slept with Ambrose. (Cat's brother!) This is why Mara can't let herself be with Ambrose. She has to address her guilt and come to terms with her loss before she can give herself to Ambrose. We love a character who goes to therapy :)