Sometimes you come across an author that just speaks to you. For me, that is Roni Loren. I fell in love with Roni's writing when I read Yes & I Love You, so What If You & Me is one of my most anticipated releases this summer. This book does not disappoint. I felt so seen with this story.

Andi, a true crime podcaster and horror novelist, is content living in her 1920s shotgun apartment until she keeps getting interrupted by her extremely noisy nocturnal neighbor. Constantly playing the "what-ifs" in her mind, Andi is trying to move past her anxiety and post-traumatic stress from high school. She's on a dating hiatus as she figures her life out. When Hill Dawson, her retired firefighter neighbor that's also dealing with his own baggage, pounds on her door in the middle of the night, the two spark a friendship...until it's not. Hill doesn’t date after the breakup with his fiancé, because he doesn’t want to be seen as a charity case. He's also haunted by the sights and sounds of the house fire and building collapse that took the lower part of his leg. Both are not willing to enter into a relationship, but a friends with benefits situation just might allow both to heal, build trust and eventually break down each others' walls.

Roni Loren’s books make me feel seen. She has a brilliant way of taking heavy, taboo topics and normalizing them, showing people that everyone deserves a happy ending, no matter their circumstances or previous trauma. While I loved Yes & I Love You, because of my son's Tourette's diagnosis, I loved What If You & Me, because I saw so much of myself in Andi. In the first book, Andi seems carefree, sarcastic and an extreme extrovert. But, in this book, we see the anxiety that she carries around, but masks around most, something I really relate to. Where Andi uses horror and true crime as an outlet to process her anxiety in a safe way, I find books to be my escape.

I adored Andi's character in Yes & I Love You and immediately wanted to be friends with her. After reading this book, I could not love her more. Andi is open, honest, and extremely brave, especially with the trauma of her past.
She makes zero excuses and owns her anxiety, instead of trying to hide it. I love how passionate she is about horror films, and when she speaks about them, her entire face and body radiates with enthusiasm.

Hill is the absolute perfect man for her. Their immediate chemistry brought snarky, sarcastic banter that was utterly adorable. I loved their awkward interactions. The best part of their relationship was how they both pushed each other when they needed it and would call the other out on their crap without fear of damaging the relationship. On top of it, Hill was incredibly respectful of Andi's boundaries. I would take Hill as my grumpy werewolf any day of the week.

What If You & Me lived up to all the hype and I loved it. All the stars, all the feels. Roni Loren is a new favorite author of mine and I can't wait to read the third book in this series. I loved being able to see Hollyn and Jasper again. Their organic friendship group is something I want to be a part of.

⚠️ CW: PTSD, anxiety, depression, assault, physical disability, partner infidelity

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

What If You & Me publishes July 6.

A horror novelist with a traumatic past and a retired fireman with deep scars. When these two neighbors find themselves running into each other, they soon find that they just might be what the other needs. Andi Lockley is a horror novelist and a horror movie enthusiast, but the real horror is the scars from her traumatic past that has her feeling extremely anxious and paranoid. Hill Dawson is a former firefighter who has retired due to a severe injury that has left him scarred both physically emotionally when he finds that his ex-fiancee has cheated on him with his best friend during his recovery. Both Andi and Hill have sworn off relationships and have been trying to deal with their demons but somehow they find themselves in a friendship filled with cooking lessons and horror movie marathons... and something more.

This was a sweet and emotional read about two people who are dealing with very traumatic events and healing. Learning to trust one another and to find the joy in the unexpected. I loved Andi so much, she was such a fun protagonist to read from and as a fellow horror movie enthusiast and reader, she is definitely someone I would love to watch horror movies with! Hill was a great romance interest as he was someone who understand Andi and all her needs, someone who was attentive and careful, who took their time and made sure that Andi felt okay with every step of their relationship. Overall, I had a great time reading this and getting to know Andi and Hill (and Andi’s amazing taste in horror movies!)

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I read Loren's first book in the series and was a big fan so I was excited to read this next installment. I'm pleased to say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed this one even more than the first! Andi is dealing with some residual anxiety stemming from a traumatic event in her teen years. The anxiety is causing her to avoid dating and relationships. Hill is dealing with his own trauma after a series accident while on the job as a firefighter. Together, they attempt to conquer their fears together. Will friendship and love be enough to help them move on from their pasts? Andi is committed to moving forward, but Hill is stuck in a cycle reliving what could have been. Their dynamic together is endearing and so sweet. Hill is kind and loving and Andi is fun and spunky. It's a nice reminder that things aren't always as they appear and that people are constantly fighting battles we may not be able to see - but this doesn't make them any less difficult. What If You & Me is a story of love, loss, and overcoming the past in order to live a life that's fulfilling. Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Andi and Hill are neighbors and end up getting to know each other after someone tries to break into her apartment and since he's a former firefighter, he starts helping her.

This book has one of my favorite romance tropes: grumpy/sunshine and the way their relationship evolves is amazing. The contrast between them is so fun! I also was really fond of the characters individually and the author explores their own dramas really well. The book deals with disability and mental health admirably.

I highly recommend it if you want a romance a bit heavier - even if it has its fun moments - and well written.

Thank You NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Author for this advance ebook!

I enjoyed this book like alot! My favorite thing about What If You & Me has to be the characters... The chemistry there is fire!
I haven't read book one which I probably should have! I'm weird and hate reading out of order!
But overall. This was a cute, quick read! I'm was hooked once I opens this book and I couldn't stop!

Really enjoyed it! Now I'm on Amazon getting book one!

This book is adorable in every way possible.

But honestly, the best part of this is the visibility and representation. Both of the MCs have gone through horrible things and currently find themselves in an emotional rut. I love that they help each other to grow and cope with those traumas, but also don't become dependant on each other. Their strength is their own, just bolstered by each others' support. And so many heavy topics are discussed throughout, but RL has done it in a such a tender and honest way.

This lovely story about trust and finding safety in others will be sure to make your heart skip a beat.

What If You & Me is the second book in the Say Everything standalone series by Roni Loren. We get introduced to Andi and her fun-loving personality in the first book and I was excited to see what this book had in store for her. What many people don't see behind Andi's confident and fun façade is that she is still reeling with some emotional struggles from a traumatic experience with an ex-boyfriend. When she meets her new hot neighbor, Hill Dawson, getting back into the dating game is the last thing on her mind. They each are experiencing PTSD from their past traumas and they are not in the right headspace to be in a relationship. It's clear that they have an intense chemistry and attraction for one another that will make it hard for them to stay in the friend zone.

This was a fun one! Andi and Hill explored Horror movies and cooking together while getting to know each other and they were great vehicles for building intimacy between the two of them.

Andi is a fun character - is quirky, pushy (in a helpful way) and she is strangely morbid. The fact that she sees everything with a horror story lens was hilarious but a little scary at the same time. I love her energy and can-do attitude that she pushes onto other people. The baggage that she had from her previous relationship was very intriguing and heartbreaking. I won't reveal what happened, but it definitely was a fascinating perspective that I haven't seen in novels before.

Andi and Hill were perfect matches for each other, similar in many ways in their struggles but also complimentary to each other. Hill knew exactly how to support Andi and what she needed. I loved that he was very in tune with his emotions and was able to talk about them with Andi. It was sweet that Andi could support Hill and his struggles with losing part of his leg in her own way too. And of course, I can't write a romance review without talking about the steam - their sexual chemistry was very steamy and I enjoyed the heat in this one!

This book had a fantastic blend of humor, heart, and steam. I highly recommend it!

Please tell me Ramsey and Eliza are going to get a book next!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: depression, PTSD, manipulative/toxic relationship

Mein Leseerlebnis

“What if you & me” dreht sich um zwei Charaktere, die in der Vergangenheit je traumatisches erlebt haben und die aus verschiedenen Gründen einer neuen Beziehung skeptisch gegenüber stehen. Die beiden treffen sich, nachdem Andi in das Haus neben Hill zieht. Zwischen den beiden mag es von Anfang an eine gewisse körperliche Anziehung geben, aber es ist definitiv keine Liebe oder Freundschaft auf den ersten Blick.

Durch die räumliche Nähe lernen sie sich langsam besser kennen und stellen fest, dass sie je Farbe ins Leben des anderen bringen. Aus Freundschaft wird eventuell mehr, aber natürlich gibt es vor dem Happy End noch ein paar Hindernisse, die aus dem Weg geräumt werden müssen.

Beim Lesen des Buches hatte ich eine gute Zeit. Andi und Hill haben mir als Hauptcharaktere gut gefallen und ich habe es genossen, mehr über ihr Leben und vor allem ihre jeweilige Vorgeschichte zu erfahren. Viele Szenen mit beiden haben mich gut unterhalten und mir ein Lächeln auf die Lippen gezaubert.

Ich fand den Umgang der Autorin mit den traumatischen Erlebnissen der beiden Hauptcharaktere gut und feinfühlig. Es gibt im Buch keine Wunderheilungen, aber sowohl Andi als auch Hill schließen Frieden, mit dem was passiert ist. Sie lernen das Leben im Hier und Jetzt zu genießen und beide schauen zuversichtlich in die Zukunft. Diese Entwicklungen fand ich berührend.

Im Buch gibt es ein gewisses Spannungselement, was am Ende als Katalysator für eine Entwicklung in der Beziehung benutzt wird. Darauf hätte ich verzichten können, denn die Geschichte hat meiner Meinung nach auch ohne dieses Element genug zu bieten gehabt.

An meine Lieblingsromane aus dem Genre reicht “What if you & me” nicht ganz heran. Das Buch hat mich trotzdem gut unterhalten und ich freue mich schon auf den dritten Roman in der Reihe. 🖤🖤🖤🖤

Another winner from Roni Loren! Andi and Hill both have deep-seated issues and when they meet they seem to believe the worst of each other due to their insecurities. Eventually, they learn more about each other and neighbors become lovers. I really enjoyed this sweet slow burning romance.

There is something about the grump / sunshine trope that appeals to me on a bone deep level. I love it when a hero falls in love against his will. I love it when an indomitable heroine can slip beneath his defenses and bring him to his knees. Something about that dynamic is the epitomy of romance to me.

What Roni Loren has done with What If You & Me sort of turns that on its head a bit. Yes, we have a grumpy hero. Yes, we have a sunshine heroine. But it's not quite that simple. There's a fair amount of lightness in Hill and there's a bit of darkness in Andi. These two characters are carrying around a whole boatload of trauma and scars, and watching them peel back each others layers and patiently, tenderly, adorably fall in love was such a wonderful treat.

I was sucked in immediately. In fact, this book broke a slump I was in. There's something about the writing that is relatable and entertaining. It's smart and witty in a way that kept me reading, greedily wanting more of the warm, multi-layered characters and the fascinating story they've been given. I was smitten with Andi and Hill and I felt like their story was just perfect for them. There was a thread of suspense running throughout, but overall it was heartfelt, sexy, and infused with hope. I am so hooked on this series - my first by this author - and can't wait to see what comes next! ~ 4.5 Stars

Roni Loren has does it again. What If You & Me was a thoroughly enjoyable read with complex characters you couldn't help but root for. Andi was a strong woman who was conquering her demons by helping others. Hill was a broken man, clinging to what he had lost and couldn't find a way forward. Their dynamic together was great. Roni always knows when to turn up the steam. She also knows how to write a climax to the plot. It was expected, but I was still on the edge of my seat. I do hope she continues in this world, but I believe the series is only supposed to be a duology. 4 stars.

Roni Loren, never misses. I’m not even sure she knows how to miss. Once again she writes such accesssible, lovable (and loathe-able) characters. This was such an enjoyable read.

#WhatIfYou&Me #NetGalley
A great book about two people that are doing everything they can to be present. They each have their own baggage and are just trying to move forward each day. The main characters have a wonderful chemistry and the plot moves along at a nice pace. I really enjoyed this novel and will defiantly be recommending to customers.

Loved this book!
Andi lives next door to Hill. She only meets him when he responds to her screaming at a horror movie and thinks she is in trouble.
Andi has a crime pod cast, as way to help her deal with what happened to her in the past. She is wary of men, but soon starts to trust Hill.
Hill has his own issues, having been medically retired after losing part of his leg in his job as a firefighter. he is struggling to move on with his life. Will Andi be the one to help him?

Loved both of these characters, you really want them to end up together.

Looking forward to the next book in this series.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Slight spoilers ahead

Wow, this book has got me out of a reading slump real quick. It's been awhile since I've downed a book in a day. I enjoyed that this revolves around a lot of consent which is something I unfortunately haven't read much with it. I'm not sure why there was a need to mention Hill's friend that his ex cheated on him with. There were just multiple occurrences that his name was mentioned but, he doesn't actually show up in whole story. Also, I would have loved to see Andi completely stopping the spicy scene and to know how would Hill react to it. Otherwise, it enjoyed this read very much.

tdlr: helped me rediscover how much I loved reading and I wish there were more tension scenes between Hill and Andi that weren't at the end of the story, but I love it regardless.

I am such a big fan of Roni Loren's!

The first book I read from hers was Yes & I Love You, the first in this series, loved it to bits and couldn't wait for the second book to come out. So when it did, you can imagine me jumping and screaming that I get to read it!

And Roni Loren did not disappoint, she pulled all the stops with Andi's story. I love how Loren talks about something so important in each of her books. You get the amazing romance and the chemistry between the characters, but you also get their vulnerabilities, and their vulnerabilities are not often portrayed as they are in this book, and I love that about it. This book deals with trauma, different kinds of it and what it can do to someone, psychologically and physically. It navigates through the ups and downs and the process of healing, trusting and learning how to trust again and hwo that can prove to be the most difficult thing for a trauma victim. For someone else it can look different and feel different.

The two main characters in this book, Andi and Hill both have a particular past that has hurt them, but whilst getting to know each other and to trusting each other, they create something beautiful and something unique to them.

This story is amazing and heartfelt and I loved every second of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the earc in return for an honest review.

This was an interesting take on a romance novel, I loved that it mixed issues that aren't targeted all that often - both on Andi and Hill's parts. I thought it was written really well on the part of people with disabilities and from the point of view of those hurt in the call of duty. I was particularly moved by the care taken in relation to body issues on both parties' accounts. I thought the attention to detail from Andi's point of view as a woman with an opinion on the internet was particularly clever, and unfortunately accurate. As is the point of the story..
I really enjoyed the horror/podcast element to the story (though you'd never get me involved in that plan!) and how the relationship between Andi and Hill developed, even if the attraction was there all along. Although there was an element of fast pace to their romantic entanglement, the series of events leading up to them getting together still felt very natural.
I had been unsure of this one as the first in this series was a book I struggled to finish. This was a strong ,quick read with some hard hitting issues dealt with really well in quite a 'simple' way which brought it home all the more..
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Roni Loren hit another fantastic note with the second book in this series - in the first she tackles a character with Tourette's and in this book her character is battling the severe PTSD that comes with being a type of "final girl" - the innocent alibi of a serial killer. Her neighbor, a disability-retired firefighter, is able to be a safe space and protector while still encouraging the agency and self-advocacy of her journey. I am thrilled about the deft handling of sensitive subjects in this story in the slow burn romance style!

As a fellow true crime enthusiast, I loved Andi in What If You & Me! I also loved Hill and thought Roni Loren handled disability and mental health rep pretty well. Andi's past was maybe a little too intense - I kept thinking this was going to go into romantic suspense territory, but it never quite got there. Overall, a really enjoyable read and yay for characters who go to therapy!

You know how usually sequels aren't as good as the original book? That's completely wrong here. Roni Loren manages to create a compelling sequel with a few nostalgic callbacks to the original, while still standing completely on its own. Amazing!

This book is wholly focused on trauma and that only makes it a better love story. Plus there's nothing sexier than enthusiastic consent in a romance novel. Add in the themes of trusting your instincts and facing your insecurities and you have a perfect book focusing on a horror-loving heroine. The way she characterized Andi's anxiety rang true to my own experiences with the disorder.

And if you know me, you know that I love it when food is a character in books. Give me those steak tacos and dragon noodles please! Or the sexy firefighter cooking them, I'm not picky.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*