I knew going into this book that it would be emotional and I was proud of myself for making about 35% into the story and hadn’t shed a single tear…..that was short lived. I am not ashamed to admit that I ugly cried many, many times throughout this story. Rebecca Yarros wrote a beautiful, heart wrenching story that will leave you breathless.
Cam and Willow have a past, a long history together going back to the time they were young children. Willow is the sweet, neighbor girl. The judge’s daughter. Cam is the middle brother out of three. From a young age the town deemed him to be the black sheep and the bad boy. When Cam returns after being away for six years no one in town wants to support him or help him, besides Willow.
Cam and Willow become each other’s rocks, they support each other, the fight against the entire town together. Their chemistry is undeniable from the start; however, this is a slow burn romance that is 100% worth the wait.
Great and Precious Things captivated me from the very start and I fell in love with these characters, their history and their future. A MUST READ and a top read of 2020!

Great and Precious Things is the newest release by Rebecca Yarros. Her last novel, The Last Letter , was one of my top reads of 2018, so I was looking forward to enjoying this one just as much. This is a contemporary romance filled with immense amounts of guilt, small town drama and first love.

"All great and precious things are lonely."

I know the usual set up of my reviews would make this the synopsis of the book in my own words but I'm going to do things a little different this time and just talk about what worked and what didn't work for me.

I have come to discover that I do not enjoy the "In love with my dead brother's ex-girlfriend' trope. If it even is an actual trope but the book I read right before this one had the same EXACT storyline. If I had read this first (which I wish I had because I enjoyed this one much more) I might not have been so exasperated with the plot line. Girl and Boy loved each other as kids, neither felt worthy, Girl turns to and falls for Boys brother, said brother dies and now Boy feels guilty of all his feelings. As I'm writing this review I realize the only thing I actually didn't like about it was the trope haha so there's that.

"We were a mile past electric. Past combustible. Past chemistry or anything that could be explained by science. We simply fit, like two halves of completely different shapes that somehow clicked and became whole and new."

The highlight of this book for me was the characters themselves. I loved the good ones and genuinely hated the "villains" of the story. Our literal hero Camden was strong, loyal and oh so tortured by guilt. He constantly took the blame for things that weren't his fault and even though his father treated him like garbage he came home to help him in his time of need. I love love loved Willow, seriously no complaints on her character. My favorite part of the book was when she could have gone cliché and pushed Cam away "for his own good" but instead she maturely talked out the issues with him and it was very refreshing to read. She fought hard for her and Cam and kept strong enough for the two of them whenever Cam struggled.

"I love you unconditionally , Camden. At your worst ? I love you. At your best? Yep, still love you. And until you can accept that, I'll be right her proving it to you. Choosing you."

I also really enjoyed the theme of choice. It emphasized over and over again the power of the choices we make, our right to make those choices, and living with those decisions. It really was a wonderfully written romance with a wide range of emotions and even a twist at the end that I had not seen coming. Another success for Rebecca Yarros and I look forward to what she comes up with next.

Rebecca Yarros has been a one click for us since we read Full Measures in 2013 (go read that NOW). She never disappoints. There’s always a depth to her writing that speaks to us.
Camden, Camden, Camden.... you selfless tortured soul. He’s misunderstood and taking the blame for everything that’s not his fault to protect those he loves. And Willow-the good girl/daughter who found her own voice. We loved reading Cam and Willow’s slow burn of a love story ❤️

4.5 stars!!! This book had me from the first chapter. I fell in love with the characters and their story. While it is not quite a second chance romance it definitely feels like one. The writing is so good, it pulls you in so quickly and compels you to keep reading. Cam and Willow seemed to fit so well together. I loved the fact that they have known each other their whole lives, it lent a sense of authenticity to their story. The traumas that Cam suffers from broke my heart. Seeing the family dynamics between Cam, Xander and their father is very interesting. it is amazing how well Rebecca can elicit emotion from her readers. This review is probably not the most succinct thing nor is it very clear. But honestly I really enjoyed the book. The only thing I didn't like is that I find there were a few things in here that I found to be a little predictable however that didn't detract from the writing or the character development. I found the character growth to be pretty good. They seemed to learn from things and grow individually as well as together. I can't wait to read more books from this author.

I am never prepared for the emotions that a Rebecca Yarros story brings. I always think I am and then I get into the book and I see how wrong I am. This story was no different. It was absolutely beautiful and stirring and I completely fell for these characters and their story. I was drawn in from the beginning and I felt like I was there with the characters as I was reading. I could not put this book down. I love Rebecca's work every time and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.

Cam is coming home to a place that holds lots of good memories, but also some painful ones too. The loss of his brother is easily felt the moment he sets foot in town, and a reminder that some hold him responsible is very evident. He can't even begin to understand what he is about to walk into, being the bad boy returning home, folks aren't all that receptive to his presence, but he has no choice, he is needed. His family needs him... and maybe even Willow too.

She is the one woman he can't have, the one whose heart once belonged to his brother. But he isn't here now, not to pickup all the broken pieces left behind, Willow needs him, but he isn't so sure he can be the man she needs. Taking something that isn't his would be unforgivable, so all he feels he can offer her is friendship, but they easily fall into something else, something he has wanted for a long time now. But having all of her just isn't an option, or is it?

Between the pages of this heart-wrenching tale readers will meet a man with many demons and the woman who saves him from them. Willow and Cam have always been close, and at one point he thought he might have a shot at her heart too, but then his brother swooped in and stole it. Cam is returning home to a place that isn't all that welcoming, armed with insurmountable guilt, and forced to face all the stuff he walked away from when he joined the military and never looked back. This isn't a insta-love kind of story, it is very much a slow burn romance. One riddled with old hurts to heal, forgiveness to be sought, and apprehension to conquer.... it's quite the heartrending journey. I loved every single second of this story, even though it nearly destroyed me. Each word was doused with so much pain and emotion, and I felt every ounce of it, but I also felt the love these two had for one another too, and that made it all worth it in the end. I highly recommend you take a chance on this one, it's words will grab your heart and attention and not let go!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

“I wore my grief like armor, a wall I refused to let crumble or weaken. She wore hers like art, a bold invitation to experience the loss with her, daring you to look away, daring you to forget that he’d lived. He’d loved her.”

Great And Precious Things is an extraordinarily beautiful contemporary romance by Rebecca Yarros, and a novel you do not want to miss.

Six years ago when Camden Daniels came back form war without his younger brother, no one in the small town of Alba, Colorado, would forgive him- especially his father.

He left, swearing he would never return.

But a desperate message from his father brings it all back. The betrayal. The pain. And the need to go home again. But home is where the one person he still loves is waiting.

Willow.

The one woman he can never have, because there are secrets buried in Alba that are best left in the dark.

If only he could tell his heart to stay locked away when she whispers she’s always loved him, and always will

“Of course not. He’s good, Mr. Daniels. He’s the best man I know, and you…” My breath shook as I exhaled. “You ruined him. And I don’t know if I can fix the parts you broke. He won’t let anyone in. And I have to get through to him, because he’s just so…” The words clogged my throat, threatening to choke me. “He’s so very lonely.”
“All great and precious things are lonely.”

Great and Precious Things is a phenomenal, heart wrenchingly perfect novel about love, loss and family.

I have been a huge fan of Rebecca Yarros since I picked up her first novel Full Measures in 2014 and with every new book I’m sure she couldn’t possibly outdo the last, and every time she does.

Great and Precious Things is such a beautiful novel and I loved the relationship between Camden and Willow and how naturally it seemed to progress, along with the intense and passionate chemistry between them.
“My heart hurt with how utterly devastating he was. Sure, “gorgeous” was a good word, especially when he opened his eyes, but his appeal was more than that. He was magnetic, which certainly repelled some, but never me. No, he drew me in like gravity, an undeniable, irrefutable force that anchored my world. A decade apart had taught me that I’d never break free of him, not really. It didn’t matter where I lived—gravity existed and held my feet to the earth. It didn’t matter who I dated—I’d always be drawn to Cam.”

Camden’s relationship with his father and his reason for returning to Alba was heart-wrenching and I loved how that unfolded throughout the novel with such natural pacing and emotional provoking way that made my heart break for Camden and his father.

“Desperation and love make ordinary people do heroic things,” Dad said from behind us, moving to stand next to Willow at the edge of the unstable ledge. “You were never ordinary, and you had both.”

Great And Precious Things was such a flawlessly impeccable novel that as soon as I finished it I wanted to immediately start it again so I could continue to bask in the world & characters Rebecca Yarros has created.

This story was so heartbreaking in some aspects but completely heartwarming in others. 

Camden Daniels is the black sheep in his family. Home from the United States Army he is back to help his family but unfortunately not everyone is happy to see him. Not his father who believes he's guilty of destroying their family in the most terrible way, not some of the town's people who thinks he's a bad seed and nothing more but the worst of the three Daniels brothers. 


But then there's Willow, his childhood friend, his everything. She belongs to Sullivan. Does she still? 


Great and Precious Things is a very emotional and slow burn ride filled with drama, angst, family secrets and lies. 

Definitely a page turner!

Rebecca Yarros takes you on a man’s journey home with her new release Great and Precious Things.


Camden Daniels was the forgotten Daniels boy. Always the troublemaker, rule breaker and problem child of the three, Camden left over ten years ago for the military and is now returning to his small mountain home to be a caretaker for his alzheimer ridden father. Camden did whatever he could to escape the town and the feelings he had for this childhood neighbor, Willow. However, just minutes after returning, Camden is faced with all the great and precious things he holds dear as he tries to win over the father who forgot him and the town that wished he’d stayed forgotten.


Yarros always brings one emotional story to the table with every novel she has written. Although this is another one of her emotionally charged driven novels, it comes in a completely different form of love. Camden’s journey of self love is one that I didn’t expect, but was very happy that I read. Countless times did I find myself highlighting the deep meaningful passages, quotes and thoughts of Yarros. This book was more than a romance. While it gave me all those romantic feelings between Camden and Willow, it also gave me a lot of ponder about life. I truly loved every minute of his journey.

Camden Daniels is home...to the small town of Alba that he was basically run out of years ago. He was always the bad boy and returned from serving his country, while his well-liked younger brother did not. He is loaded down with guilt and regret and is used to being the black sheep. He swore he would never come back until he got a call he could not ignore. Unfortunately, his return is met with relief from some and resistance of others...and the tension and antagonism just seem to spread as events unfold.

Willow Bradley is the girl he has loved since childhood...but she ended up becoming his brother's girlfriend and suffered the great loss as well. She is caring, smart, outspoken, and has always known her own feelings for Cam...even if she kept them to herself.

Cam will have an uphill battle to do some of the things he feels he needs to do. But he finds an unlikely ally in Willow. And the more time they spend together, the more unresolved feelings begin to surface. But they will both have to be honest and vulnerable to be able to try to move on. Cam has a long way to go as far as self-forgiveness and gaining self-worth. And it is even harder when it seems like the whole town has an opinion on every decision made.

My heart broke for Cam. He took so much of the blame for things he could not control. And despite how he was treated, he was trying to do the right thing most of the time. But he was constantly being judged and baited by others, and I was frustrated and upset for him! And his protective side often either got him into trouble or made him try to push her away. I loved that Willow had an inner strength and was not afraid to stand up for what she believed in.

The story and town is layered in history and some secrets. There are a lot of dynamics and conflicts, and even some surprises. The issues his father is dealing with are challenging and frustrating, and I feel the author did a good job explaining how hard they are for both the individual and the family in a sensitive way.

In addition to the slow-burn and emotional romance, this book touches on various larger issues and has good messages about life and how to be a good person. There are threads weaved into the story tying events and people together past and present. Ultimately this is a heartfelt and inspiring story about choices, balance, second-chances, redemption, and unconditional love.

WOW! What a story! Rebecca Yarros knows how to tell a story, holding your heart hostage until the end. I was captivated with this book. I fell for Camden and Willow instantly. They seemed perfect together. Their flow so natural and easy. But I was like the town, the betrayal made the two of them wrong, it stung. That’s where Yarros’ magic shines! She knows how to unravel all the carefully woven layers of her story slowly revealing this incredible tale making you realize nothing is as it seems. We finally learn that the betrayal exists, but not where or with whom we thought. Giving us a happy, but bittersweet ending. WOWZA! What a story!!

GREAT AND PRECIOUS THINGS is a beautiful romance about self-confidence, owning your past, and moving forward with love. Cam (Camden) is coming back to Alba at the request of his older brother and father. Their father has early-onset Alzheimer's disease, and he is facing a lot of bad days. Cam has not been back to town since he returned with his youngest brother's body from the war. His father blamed him, and he has been basically exiled since.

Having now left the military and returning home for his family, Cam is a more patient and mature person. However, he was hoping not to run into Willow, the girl he has loved since he knew what love was, and who will be forever known as Sully's girl (she was dating his younger brother when he died).

Willow has lived in the shadow of that romance and never felt that she lived up to being forever known as Sully's girl. Especially when she knows the truth about the way she felt/feels. Having Cam back feels like a blessing and a curse, and Willow is not sure how to navigate herself through those waters. They are drawn together like magnets.

The book is a bit slow-building, but there is a lot that each of them has to overcome to get to a place where they can have the romance they deserve. There are also some bigger truths that need to come to light about Cam's childhood. This is a pretty emotional story and not at all a light read. There is also a lot of discussion about DNRs and their emotional and mental impacts that can weigh pretty heavily. I'd say that's par for the course for Yarros, and this is not even the heaviest of the books she has written (and I mean that in a good way- these are not light-hearted romances but something deeper).

Overall, I wish it was a little faster, but I loved the building of characters and romance that took time to craft. The ending third or so was phenomenal. Highly recommend for people who love a deeper romance with lots of character building. This is a lovely read.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

4 stars

“He’d protected me for the simple reason that I’d been theirs all my life. The girl who tagged along with the Daniels boys. The naive teenager who stayed behind when three brothers went to war. The woman who shattered when only two came home.”

This is a book about redemption. About a bad boy not being so bad and a perfect man hiding dark secrets.


It's a book about living in a very small town and not being able to outrun your bad reputation and the mistakes from your youth.

A story of hidden jealousy and what it pushes us to do, what it will cost us one day.

This is also about long lasting love but bad timing and missed opportunities.

How a split second decision can simply be a matter of life or death, love or loneliness.

You'll also read about choosing your death, the right to die with dignity, on your own terms.
And you'll also hurt when two brothers will be divided by their beliefs, each trying to do what he deems best.

You have guilt and remorse.
Love and hurt.
Hope and death.
Redemption.

And so many other feelings!


I loved Willow and Cam. Together and apart.



Cam …. Appearances are deceiving and he began as a man with a short fuse, prone to fight with his fists when he was young. Now after a decade of army training, he’s learned to rein his temper in.

But why would he fight often? Why would he be the bad boy to everyone but Willow, his neighbor? That’s what we have the pleasure to discover in the story because there is a reason why he rejected everyone! And my heart broke for him when I learned what happened.



Cam is huge, handsome, protective of Willow and dead set on caring for his sick father even if said father is rejecting him at every turn. His dedication and his stubbornness were admirable!



I loved Willow. She went for her dream despite what her father, the judge, wanted for her. She followed her own path all while trying to stay close to her parents, her sister and her niece. That’s not always easy to live in a small town!

She was smart, loving and ..funny in her own way!
“Maybe now was a good time to stand up and twirl around in my super-short red skirt like a matador with an angry bull.”



Cam and Willow’s love story was a slow burn, very heartwarming to watch. I love friends to lovers romance and forbidden romance, even if the “forbidden” aspect was quite mild all things considered.
“You two are a damned Shakespearean tragedy. It’s slightly entertaining yet incredibly painful to watch.”



The town of Alba and its inhabitants with their beliefs, prejudices and small drama feel like its own character and add to the reading’s enjoyment.



Rebecca Yarros wrote a very romantic story with some heartbreak, surprises, slow burn, strong and loyal heroes.



On a side of inside note, I loved how Rose tested her theory 😊

Great and Precious Things was brilliantly written and a wonderful and emotional read.

Cam and Willow were perfect complements of each other. Their connection was palpable from the first page they shared together, and it only got better and stronger as the story went on. Their history, their struggles, the connections between their families and their siblings, it was wonderfully told from the first to the last page. Each character, each tiny detail was so perfectly weaved that this story, though longer than some, felt like it went by so quickly. And that was only because I was devouring each word ferociously and without an ability, or want, to put it down until it was finished. I had to know what happened next. And interruptions were an irritant I just wasn't having as I read.

There were amazing plot twists, intense scenes, and Rebecca put so much thought and detail into each and every aspect of this story that no question, no plot point, no relationship went without being tied up and explained to perfection.

Loving books by Rebecca is nothing new to me. Between her Flight and Glory series, her Renegades, her Hotshot Firefighters from the Legacy series, to her gripping standalone The Last Letter there hasn't been a page by her I've read that I haven't loved yet.

BUT! Even with saying that, Cam and Willow, Great and Precious Things, are special. They are the couple that will stick with me. I can't say that they have raised the bar for her writing, because each of Rebecca's books offer something unique and different, and can't be compared to each other as they are all perfectly done and wonderfully told in their own ways. But Great and Precious Things has certainly set the bar for my 2020 reads. It is what I will be measuring everything else against this year.

Sometimes you read a book and you think the author can't do better. I've read the majority of Rebecca Yarro's books and I am always impressed that she seems to keep getting better!
The stories always tear you apart. They are so real and heartbreaking.
She writes about real things. Illness, war, losing loved ones too soon. I mean who hasn't been through that?

Camden is returning home after a phone call from his ill father. No one is happy he's home. Not even his dad that called him. Sometimes you read about close knit towns and how they are a great community and don't judge, but this town is completely different. They see him as the screw up, the boy who went to war and didn't bring his younger brother back. He was a bit of a wild child, but was he really? There was always one person who was always on his side, never thinking poorly of him. Willow. His brother's girl. A girl he's held a torch for for years, but always silently sat by. This guy couldn't be a better man. He's loyal to a fault, even if it makes him look bad.

Willow and Camden must work together now that he's back, but there are lines he just can't cross. Willow has always bent to her father's will, but that will soon change if Camden has a chance in town. Willow is done living in the past and wants to live in the present with Camden if she can help everyone see he's not who they think, she'll do just about anything.

I absolutely loved this story! It's romance, but it's so much more. It's a great story with a shady past Camden has to get through to live in the now.

"Because when he passed it was Mom's name on his lips, when I knew mine would have been yours."

5++ Stars!!!

WooHoo! One of the BEST BOOKS I've read this year! Rebecca Yarros did it again with this breathtakingly beautiful story. She has once again brought to life a story that will pull at every one of your heart strings and make you feel ALL the emotions. Cam and Willow and the folks of Alba, Colorado will consume you and pull you into their world. A world so full of heartbreak, loss, love, and hope. I loved Cam and Willow. Their story had me holding on to every word. There were so many times I just wanted to reach out and hold Cam. I felt so bad for him. The burdens he carried were heavy, but nothing was too heavy for Cam. He was strong enough, man enough, to stand up and face those challenges head on. Willow was just as amazing. She wasn't about to let anything come between what she had wanted... first and always. I really enjoyed the storyline and the tenacity of the characters. Rebecca Yarros is in her lane with military romance and continues to deliver phenomenal stories with extraordinary heroes and heroines. I loved this book, and I think you will too!

♥ Review by Lys

READ THIS BOOK! You won't regret it! Yes, it's a romance but also so much more!
What a great read! Even though I had read the description, I wasn't ready for how emotionally gripping this book would be. I'm not even sure what I should say in this review for fear of giving anything away.

Camden Daniels has come back to the small town of Alba, Colorado after swearing to never return. But a message from his father brings him home again.
There is one person he's always looked out for, Willow Bradley. But he's convinced himself that it's best to stay away from her. Because if she knew the secret he holds she may never look at him the same.

As you learn about this couple's past, you come to realize that they have been in love with each other since forever and have no idea the other felt the same. And everyone is convinced that he is still a troublemaker not good enough for the town's good girl.

Great and Precious Things is a heart-wrenching story about family, betrayal, and ultimately how far we're willing to go on behalf of those who need us most.

Okay, now I need to go order a copy of this book and the Last Letter.

This ARC was provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.
#GreatAndPreciousThings #NetGalley

Cam returns home to the small Colorado town of Alba following a message received from his father.

The last thing he wants is to return home but the love he has for his family and his well developed sense of duty, brings this ex-serviceman home.

Willow, his dead brother's girlfriend, is an Alba native too and is establishing herself as a local business woman.

There are secrets that have never been revealed and information that has never been shared.

Cam is troubled with a bad reputation, a quick temper and guilt over the death of his younger brother. Willow is his biggest supporter despite how they are then perceived by the town's residents.

They defy the townspeople finding love and breathing some life into this fictional historical town.

You will definitely shed a tear or two in the reading of this amazing tale and at times you won't see the text for the tears but I promise you will not regret picking up this latest novel from Rebecca Yarros.

I really enjoyed this book. Didn’t em have the emotional onslaught of Last Letter, but that’s probably a good thing! I loved the vibe of this book and highly recommend it.

Author Rebecca Yarros knows how to pen a story that will keep you up all night…Great and Precious Things is more evidence of that. This slow burning, second chance romance of Camden (Cam) Daniels and Willow Bradley will rip your heart out and then slowly attempt to repair it.

“There is more beauty in truth, even if it is dreadful beauty.”

Cam has returned to the town of Alba, because his father has asked him to come back…even though neither he, nor the townsfolk, truly wants him there. People don’t think highly of Cam, and heartbreakingly enough, neither does he.

He’d always been content to let others think the worst of him, and I guess nothing had changed.

The characters and the depth of this storyline will reach deep into your soul. And once again, (as with many books by Rebecca Yarros) you will need tissues within reach! She wrote such incredible twists and turns in this book. The medical issues, the military history, the romance, the family drama…GAH! She just blends it all together so freaking beautifully! There are definitely unexpected turns in this story, so be prepared to not come out of this one unscathed! The combination of the town, the people, the storyline, the supportive characters (family and close friends), the family dynamics, the angst, the backstory…WOW! Such a brilliant story that will give you ALL the feels! **5 great and precious stars from me!**