This story was written as a dual first person narrative where the characters are described directly. The main conflict is internal as the hardest struggle the characters attempt to get over is themselves. The popular themes shown throughout include coming of age, everlasting love, facing reality, family, fulfillment, manipulation, overcoming, reunion, and wisdom of experience.

Rachel Rendell is a screenwriter no longer in love with her job, she is protective of her family but has gone through many struggles in the last couple of years. Sebastian Barton is an animation technology genius who now owns his own company, but struggles with connecting with his family. Growing up Rachel and Sebastian were the best of friends, so much that they agreed to a marriage contract that stated by the age of thirty if neither was involved they would marry each other. Of course back then that was Rachel's backup plan but now here she is thirty, with no boyfriend and no real path in her life, while Sebastian has achieved the opposite. Though Rachel has struggled with her career, love and the possibility of losing her mother, she has remained strong for her family. Now she is struggling to put the pieces back together in her life, but after the marriage contract is brought back up, she sees her mother's spirits brighten and seems stronger to her. Rachel decides that she should please her mom and go through with it to keep her in good spirits. Though getting Sebastian to agree to charade may be a whole new set of problems.

The ideas were unique and interesting as the voices were individualized but complemented one another. The flow was organized and logical as the sentence structure and word choice help to enhance the overall story. Yes, I would recommend this story. It would be a good read for those interested in friends turning lovers, reunion of friends, those finding love in least expected place and stories involving cancer survivors. For those not interested in charades, secrets, cheaters, unjust firings, or self doubters may need to look else where for their next read.

I haven't read many of CD Reiss's books and I'm glad I decided to pick up Only Ever You. Sebastian and Rachel's story was a sweet read that drew me in from the start. It's definitely a great one to pick up.

C.D. Reid's books are always compelling and Only Ever You was no different. Would definitely recommend this—and all her books in the future.

I could not wait to start this book; I love best friends to lover’s stories! Rachel and Sebastian have chemistry that was off the charts. They look out for each other. They grew up as neighbors and best friends. Sebastian is loveable and a nerd who gets bullied. Rachel I smart and protective of her best friend. As they get older Sebastian became confidant and a successful rich guy. Rachel lost who she was after her mom’s illness. Now they will navigate going through with a fake marriage. Will it turn out that isn’t actually fake?

I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Only Ever You is a friends-to-lovers romance. Rachel and Sebastian’s story is a definite departure from Reiss’ usual edgy, steamy, unputdownable storylines. Their journey to love is soft and swoony, if at times a tad bit slow and depressing. I mean that in the best of ways as the slow and depressing is all part of the road they take to find their way to each other. I loved Rachel and Sebastian and felt the secondary characters were the glue that held the story together. They brought depth and meaning as well as a healthy dose of humor.

If you love soft and sweet contemporary romance, I highly recommend Only Ever You.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m honestly feeling like I’m struggling to work out what my feelings are about Only Ever You. On one hand I want to praise it because it felt, somewhat “real” on the other hand, I’m like what the hell just happened and why is it so confusing.

Only Ever You starts out with nerdy Sebastian and his warrior best friend making a marriage contract, if they are both still single by the time they’re 30, they’ll tie the knot. Sebastian, half in love with Rachel is just happy to have her think about marrying him in any context, while Rachel isn’t worried. She has her life plan sorted and by 30 she will be successful, happy, married and knocked up.

Fast forward to present day, Rachel is 30 and broken by the world. She could not be further away from her life goals and warrior spirit she once had has been drained out of her leaving her scared, unhappy and full of loathing for herself. But to Sebastian, it’s still only ever been her.

When Rachel, scared her mother may be hiding a cancer relapse asks Sebastian to go along with the marriage contract to make her mum happy, he can’t say anything but yes and convinces Rachel to for real date him while they plan the fake wedding.

The more Rachel’s feeling for Sebastian start to become real, the more she clings to the fake marriage like a shield and we end up with a really confusing love story.

Rachel has got to be one of the most self-sabotaging characters I’ve ever read. She really honestly thinks that she’s awful, worthless, no good and is destined to fail and she’s so scared that she’s going to be heartbroken by everyone she meets. It was really hard to read at times and while I understand how you could start to feel like that, it was a little depressing to read.

By the last 10% I became super invested on how everything was going to resolve, even after Rachel tried her best to ruin it all we did get a satisfactory ending. Unfortunately while we saw how the romance came to a happily ever after we didn’t get any resolution for any other parts of their lives and jobs which was honestly really frustrated me.

I wrapped these feelings all up into 3 stars. I did enjoy it overall but there were parts where I was a bit frustrated and speed reading so I could find out how it all worked out.

CD Reiss goes more contemporary romance in this endearing friends to lovers romance. Sebastian and Rachel date back to childhood. Neighbors while growing up, Seb was the victim of bullying at the hands of mean kids at school... a skinny awkward artistic kid, Rachel attached to him immediately. If he needed his books carried, she carried them, or if he needed defending, he defended. One day in high school, they drew up a contract basically stating if they were both single at age 30, even though Rachel had all these grand plans, they were going to get married to each other. Both signed....

Standing by his side for year after year, they lost touch when the college age approached. Fast forward 12 years, they run into each other at Christmas. What about that contract? Well, you know what they say about plans. Nothing went as planned for Rachel and her mother’s cancer may be back. What it would do for her to see Rachel marry the sweet successful boy next door. Could they do it? Virtual strangers?

Cute yet sexy, dirty talking Sebastian was seriously the perfect guy. Be still my heart. The flame in his heart for Rachel never fully extinguished and seeing her again just further fanned the flames.

It seems these two needed each other as the rock in different times of life. It was give and take with this couple and their love story just blossomed from there.

Whether she’s writing about gritty mafia capos or erotica or contemporary romance, CD Reiss immerses her readers into their love stories with her beautiful prose. Looking forward to all that’s to come from this talented writer.

I loved this sweet, sexy, romantic book! Rachel and Sebastian were childhood friends. They were next door neighbors and best friends. She stuck up for Sebastian when he was bullied. But when they went away to college, they lost touch. For over 14 years they had their own lives. Until one Christmas, they both came home and saw each other. And their friendship reunited among other feelings. Their story was so entertaining. I loved watching them discover their feelings for each other. Sebastian, the nerd, became Sebastian, the wealthy hunk. And his sweetness toward his mother and sister and Rachel made me swoon. A perfect summer romance!

I love CD Reiss books. She has such a way with words. I have read almost all of her books, she is one of my favorite authors!

Breathtakingly amazing!!!!!! It’s hard not to fall head over heels for Sebastian and this story.
Sebastian and Rachel childhood friends . You watch the friendship get pushed to the back burner to dreams, but can Rachel overcome her plan on how her life should be . Some moments you want to shake Rachel and say wake up look at what’s right in front of you ....



Thank you cd reiss and netgalley for this amazing ARC....

Did not finish.

I had trouble connecting with this book at the characters. What I read was slowing moving and just didn’t keep me hanging in to see what would happen next.

I so love this book! CD Reiss is a known author of romance erotica but in Only Ever You she delivers one heck of a romantic comedy. A sexier version of one with all the sweet, funny, heartwarming and poignant moments that makes a great rom com. Rachel and Sebastian are fantastic characters that will get readers invested in how this romance develops. The dialogue and story line and marvelous secondary characters and of course Rachel and Sebastian’s journey make this one memorable page turner that is now on my list of all time favorites.

CD Reiss's unique and complex stories combined with her edgy writing style always make for all-consuming reads for me. I enjoy the diversity of her plots which vary from sports to suspense to Hollywood romances, and she always keeps me guessing at whether they will be more light-hearted or on the dark and angsty side. 'Only Ever You' is a slow-burning and sweet friends-to-lovers romance, but overall the story just didn’t come together as I had hoped.

I really liked Sebastian and loved how his character had matured during his and Rachel’s years apart and definitely could sympathize with her frustration with all of the blows in her relationships, career path, and fear resulting from her mother’s illness. Their childhood friendship which resulted in the close-knit relationship between Rachel and Sebastian’s families was very special, and I adored Sebastian’s kooky mother, sister, and Rachel’s parents!

While I thought Sebastian’s devotion and willingness to help Rachel was very sweet, I just didn’t really feel their passion and chemistry together with their marriage of convenience. It was if they went through all of the motions in planning the wedding, but the focus of the story was more about Rachel finding her way. It took most of the story for her to realize that she and Sebastian could have more than a platonic relationship, and the little snippets throughout didn’t allow me to really feel their romantic connection.

The plot was rather witty and interesting with Rachel being known for not being a ‘romantic’ person yet being forced into that genre as a writer for the show ‘Romancelandia’. The title and premise were fantastic, but the story didn’t really come to fruition for me. I had a very hard time getting into it and staying engaged throughout, and the writing felt scattered and often left me backtracking and trying to follow who was speaking in the story at times.

I really think that Reiss is a brilliant writer, and I love how she challenges her heroes and heroines in her sometimes very twisted tales but also always includes so much passion, steam, and sweetness. While 'Only Ever You' didn't win me over as a whole, I do look forward to what she will write next!

2.5 Stars

Only Ever You is a steamy romantic novel with a terrific plot. It’s raw, emotional, and real.

I loved both Rachel and Sebastian. Their personalities are terrific and I kept wishing I knew them in real life. I enjoyed learning about Rachel’s job as a screenwriter. It’s interesting and sad to see how much compromising there is.

While I loved most of Only Ever You, I won’t be sharing it or purchasing my own copy. The foul language and explicit intimacies were too much for me. I know many of you love that, but it’s not my cup of tea.

All in all, Only Ever You is a terrific book and if you love a steamy emotional romance it’s the book for you!

Only Ever You is a standalone romance. Rachel and Sebastian were childhood best friends. They made a pact that if they weren’t married by 30 then they would marry each other.

Rachel had it all mapped out live in NY, go to NYU, spend time learning the ropes of film and TV, then grad school, get married by 28 and have a kid at 30. What happened? Life has a way of getting in your way. 14 years later. Both Sebastian and Rachel are 30 and single. Guess what happens next?

This is a second chance and friends to lovers story. Sebastian has his work cut out for him because she just thinks she is a little late with her goals and isn’t interested in a relationship. Friends and family are though.

Only Ever You had a good story line. I think I am sap. I loved the ending of Only Ever You!

“And we lived happily ever after.”

And I am adding in my,

The End.

This is such a great story about childhood friends who made a pact to get married if they weren't married by 30. Rachel and Sebastian were best friends since they were little and since Sebastian was a "nerd", Rachel always defended him from the bullies. Rachel was the girl with all the plans on how her life will be like and what her goals and milestones are for each phase. Sebastian was shy and not sure what he wanted to do other than he loved art.

When these 2 finally see each other after so many years apart, each is not what the other had expected but Sebastian still remembered their marriage pact. He kind of wants to go through with their pact but not sure how Rachel feels. When you add in both meddling mothers to a potential romance, it just gets crazy. Rachel's life didn't go as she had planned but she's still trying but life has been a little hard on her. Sebastian has definitely changed from that "nerd" to a hot guy which shocks Rachel a little bit. When Rachel thinks that her mother is sick again, she asks Sebastian to go along with the pact. Romance, craziness, and everything else happens when these two realizes that they do have romantic feelings for each other but is not really sure if the other person really feels the same. A lot of miscommunication, craziness, and the need to change the way each perceives each other finally leads to a very romantic ending!

This was such a sweet, romantic, and funny read. I love these 2 characters for their belief in each other even if they aren't as confident about their own self.

Rachel had her life all planned. She was going to have it all by the time she turned 30. But fate had other plans. Now she is single and stuck at a job way below her potentials.

Then Sebastian, her childhood best friend enters back into her life and he suddenly looks like he stepped out of a GQ magazine. He still has the silly wedding pact they made as kids.

It's obviously crazy for them to act on it. Apparently, their family didn't get the memo.

This book was such a refreshing change. I always love a friends to lovers romance and this one just hit the right mark. Yes I did find it a bit uneasy to get into it at first but soon the story progressed and I fell in love.

Sebastian was just the best. I fell in love with him whole heartedly. I adore that he is so other worldly when it comes to falling in love but at the same time there is this innocence that attracts you towards him. Even though I love this man insanely, I think his character sketching was a bit cliche. I still want him to love me.

Rachel's character was entirely relatable. I understood all her insecurities and fears and I love that she did bit by bit to overcome them herself. Everyone has ups and downs in their life, it;s just how you deal with them is what matters.

I really loved the dynamic between Sebastian and Rachel. Their friendship was the cutest and the way their love progressed was beautiful.

Second Chance romance with a twisted "fake engagement", sign me up! This was a quick read and kept you engaged with the characters. Sebastian is the nerdy boy next door whose been in love with Rachel forever. And Rachel is the writer at her soul who rallies for the underdog. With quirky families and hidden issues they manage to find their way to each other.

4 Recognizing It's Real Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
C.D.Reiss is not a one-trick pony. Anyone who reads her work should be very aware of this. She has written extremely raw, intense, erotic work. Every single one of those stories has been layered with intricate insights into the characters and plots. Even during the darkest stories, Reiss will throw in sly humor appropriate to the situation. So it could become easy to think heavy erotic when you think of C.D. Reiss... and you would be right...

But you would also miss another part of the Reiss catalog.

Reiss has always played with another side of romance, a tract not as openly intense, a more stealthy way of getting to the core of what makes characters be who they are, what they need and how they can find "their person".

Only Ever You is one of those intricate and revealing books. It is the type of read which will start out and little by little grab you and never let go. You will be taken in by the humor, the realness of it all...for how many of us out there thought we knew what our lives were going to be...had it all figured out, only to be smacked with the reality of current times blowing everything up.

Yes, this story has everything you could want in a romance and then it feels like there is a little bit more...like the author may have put a bit of herself on this page...Where some of the backstories match the known facts adding to the enjoyment.

This was a stunning experience in the way I was able to feel all of the emotions, all of the want from Sebastian and all of the fear and uncertainty from Rachel. C.D. Reiss gave us a story for these times and it worked for me.

A gifted copy was provided by Montlake via NetGalley for an honest review.

I couldn't really get into this. I guess I'm not used to CD's "soft" side. The premise of the book didn't really flow all that good and I couldn't connect with any of the characters.