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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Yes
Terrific read!
Loved the book. The setting was so gorgeous and I loved the development of the story. The emails were so perfect throughout and the real ness of the characters and their concerns and goals and feelings were totally appreciated by this girl who worries that sometimes romances don’t tell enough real stories. So good!
Loved the book. The setting was so gorgeous and I loved the development of the story. The emails were so perfect throughout and the real ness of the characters and their concerns and goals and feelings were totally appreciated by this girl who worries that sometimes romances don’t tell enough real stories. So good!
This is my first book from Jessica Peterson, and I can safely say it won't be my last. I did a bit of tandem reading between both the ebook and the audio. This was my first audio with Virginia Rose as a female narrator, and I wouldn't be mad listening to her again. Jason Clarke was, of course, fantastic. Both of them honestly did a great job bringing the characters to life.
Overall, I did really enjoy my time with this book. Some parts felt a little repetitive, specifically around Beau and his back and forth on how to handle his feelings for Annabel. I completely understand where he was coming from, but something about it just didn't work all that well for me. That aside, I still really enjoyed the story. I really enjoyed the relationship between Beau and Annabel. I loved the emails we got to see throughout the book, spanning their entire relationship, from the day they met all the way to present times. It was such a great way to give us insight to their history without doing flashbacks.
This book definitely dealt with some heavier topics, Annabel suffering from post-partem depression (something that isn't talked about nearly enough in the real world) and Beau suffering from a progressive degenerative disease (something else not talked about nearly enough in the real world). I truly loved the representation on both topics in this book and I really loved how they were both talked about openly with the characters once everyone was made aware.
Honestly, this was a great start to a series I'm genuinely looking forward to continuing, and and great introduction to an author I look forward to reading more from.
✔️ Friends to Lovers
✔️ Single Mom
✔️ Former Football Player
✔️ Small Town
✔️ First Person Dual POV
Overall, I did really enjoy my time with this book. Some parts felt a little repetitive, specifically around Beau and his back and forth on how to handle his feelings for Annabel. I completely understand where he was coming from, but something about it just didn't work all that well for me. That aside, I still really enjoyed the story. I really enjoyed the relationship between Beau and Annabel. I loved the emails we got to see throughout the book, spanning their entire relationship, from the day they met all the way to present times. It was such a great way to give us insight to their history without doing flashbacks.
This book definitely dealt with some heavier topics, Annabel suffering from post-partem depression (something that isn't talked about nearly enough in the real world) and Beau suffering from a progressive degenerative disease (something else not talked about nearly enough in the real world). I truly loved the representation on both topics in this book and I really loved how they were both talked about openly with the characters once everyone was made aware.
Honestly, this was a great start to a series I'm genuinely looking forward to continuing, and and great introduction to an author I look forward to reading more from.
✔️ Friends to Lovers
✔️ Single Mom
✔️ Former Football Player
✔️ Small Town
✔️ First Person Dual POV
Jessica Peterson is fast becoming one of my favorite listens! She has a style that is easy to listen to yet yields such true to life stories. This first book in her North Carolina Highlands story feature best friends Beau and Bel. These two have been tight since college, and through the years have shared everything from failures to successes. Now life has taken a turn for Bel and she needs to get away. She and her new daughter are off to see Beau at his resort and things are just not going as planned. Suffering from postpartum depression, she is trying to get her life back on track and who better to do it with than Beau. And our love story begins. Friends to lovers, But secrets are held, and Beau's is a beauty. When he reveals it, will Bel's feelings change? And why does he keep pushing her away? Peterson weaves a beautiful love story around these two very broken people. She lets us experience the pain and uncertainty of depression and Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain injury Beau has from playing football. Each is dealt with compassion, yet is not sugar coated which I love. It's real, it's gritty and their love is beautiful.
Narrated by the talented team of Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose, we are exposed to superb story telling. These two become Beau and Bel, and I was completed captivated with their performance. Clarke's accent fits Beau to a "t" and Rose uses that spunky, vulnerability to create Bel. A better casting could not have been made for this story.
Narrated by the talented team of Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose, we are exposed to superb story telling. These two become Beau and Bel, and I was completed captivated with their performance. Clarke's accent fits Beau to a "t" and Rose uses that spunky, vulnerability to create Bel. A better casting could not have been made for this story.
I enjoyed this book so much! The way both main characters struggle with individual battles but in similar ways, gave me all the feels. The spicy bits were absolutely on par with how things realistically are in the bedroom post baby. How Annabel struggles with motherhood 100% made me feel seen.
Jessica Peterson brings us back to the Carolina’s, but this time into their highland mountain area. Continuing with what we loved about the south, but adding more country to it.
We are introduced to the Beauregard family by meeting the eldest son, Beau. He meets Annabel in college and has an instant bond with her. Though they both had feelings for each other, they both kept them hidden.
We move through their lives via emails that they sent to each other and learn about how they became the adults that they are now.
Annabel is a divorced single mother who is battling postpartum depression. A taboo subject that no one talks about. As she struggles through her depression her best friend Beau tells her to come and “re-charge” at his family's resort in the highlands of the Carolinas.
We find out that Beau is also battling something and doesn’t think he could ever have a life with Annabel now that they are both single. They share their love for each other, but Beau only wants temporary because he thinks that’s all he can have.
Jessica Peterson, I think, wrote about the pain, trauma, and embarrassment that most people feel when battling PPD and what Beau is battling very well. We feel the frustration they have as well as cheer their accomplishments when they have them.
I think this is a great start to a new great series that she has planned.
We are introduced to the Beauregard family by meeting the eldest son, Beau. He meets Annabel in college and has an instant bond with her. Though they both had feelings for each other, they both kept them hidden.
We move through their lives via emails that they sent to each other and learn about how they became the adults that they are now.
Annabel is a divorced single mother who is battling postpartum depression. A taboo subject that no one talks about. As she struggles through her depression her best friend Beau tells her to come and “re-charge” at his family's resort in the highlands of the Carolinas.
We find out that Beau is also battling something and doesn’t think he could ever have a life with Annabel now that they are both single. They share their love for each other, but Beau only wants temporary because he thinks that’s all he can have.
Jessica Peterson, I think, wrote about the pain, trauma, and embarrassment that most people feel when battling PPD and what Beau is battling very well. We feel the frustration they have as well as cheer their accomplishments when they have them.
I think this is a great start to a new great series that she has planned.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
"Between his enormous build and filthy mouth, it's sometimes easy to forget Beau has a soft touch. Especially with kids." -Annabel
"And I know somewhere in the space between and bones and soul, that it'll never be this way with anyone but Annabel." -Beau
"Knowledge and happiness are about becoming. Blooming, dying, trying again. Learning and unlearning. Failing. Failing again and again and again until you get it right." -Annabel
I liked this story a lot! I found Jessica through her Harbour Village series and loved them both so much that I had to check out her backlist! I decided to start with this book because the summary sounded amazing, and I also adore a friends to lovers trope. And this book did not disappoint with that trope! I absolutely loved Annabel and Beau's friendship; they met in college and connected immediately. 17 years later and they're still best friends, and when they're both having a rough time, they decide to get together so they can help each other heal. I enjoyed seeing all of their inside jokes and watching them be able to joke around with each other. I love a book with good banter and between Annabel and Beau's banter and the banter between all the Beauregard siblings, I was definitely giggling a lot during this book. While I'm not a mother, I thought that Jessica handled all of the issues with PPD that Annabel was experiencing very well. She also handled everything that Beau was going through well, too. It was nice to see Annabel and Beau connecting over their mental health struggles and helping each other through them. While I didn't agree with Beau's decision to push his family and Annabel away because of what he was experiencing, I could understand that he felt he was doing what was best for everyone. But, I also appreciated his family calling him out about it and telling him that by trying not to hurt people, he was hurting them even more by pushing them away. I also appreciated that, even though Annabel missed Beau when he pushed her away, she was still hesitant and worked through her feelings before forgiving his actions. It also helped that Beau had some top tier groveling abilities! I really enjoyed this story, and I'm excited to read about the rest of the Beauregard siblings' shenanigans!
"And I know somewhere in the space between and bones and soul, that it'll never be this way with anyone but Annabel." -Beau
"Knowledge and happiness are about becoming. Blooming, dying, trying again. Learning and unlearning. Failing. Failing again and again and again until you get it right." -Annabel
I liked this story a lot! I found Jessica through her Harbour Village series and loved them both so much that I had to check out her backlist! I decided to start with this book because the summary sounded amazing, and I also adore a friends to lovers trope. And this book did not disappoint with that trope! I absolutely loved Annabel and Beau's friendship; they met in college and connected immediately. 17 years later and they're still best friends, and when they're both having a rough time, they decide to get together so they can help each other heal. I enjoyed seeing all of their inside jokes and watching them be able to joke around with each other. I love a book with good banter and between Annabel and Beau's banter and the banter between all the Beauregard siblings, I was definitely giggling a lot during this book. While I'm not a mother, I thought that Jessica handled all of the issues with PPD that Annabel was experiencing very well. She also handled everything that Beau was going through well, too. It was nice to see Annabel and Beau connecting over their mental health struggles and helping each other through them. While I didn't agree with Beau's decision to push his family and Annabel away because of what he was experiencing, I could understand that he felt he was doing what was best for everyone. But, I also appreciated his family calling him out about it and telling him that by trying not to hurt people, he was hurting them even more by pushing them away. I also appreciated that, even though Annabel missed Beau when he pushed her away, she was still hesitant and worked through her feelings before forgiving his actions. It also helped that Beau had some top tier groveling abilities! I really enjoyed this story, and I'm excited to read about the rest of the Beauregard siblings' shenanigans!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
WOW. Just wow!!! This book is AMAZING! Honest in a way that makes your heart hurt at the same time a lot of people will cheer that someone GETS it. Jessica Peterson is a master at the heat, but Bel and Beau take it to another level. PPD and CTE are both huge topics, and yet she effortlessly took on both with fantastic results!
I can't stress enough - READ THIS BOOK!!!!
I can't stress enough - READ THIS BOOK!!!!
Liked the characters thought on being a new mom. Thought the MMC was a little dramatic but I get it I guess. I will likely try the next in the series.