This is shaping up to be one of my favorite series. I loved this book so much and am definitely going to read more Roni ASAP.

"What if You & Me": 4⭐

(Unpaid Review: thank you to @netgalley, @sourcebookscasablanca and @roniloren for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review.)

What's the most adorable thing to be found in books? Chemistry. Absolutely amazing when written right. Roni hit it incredibly! R-E-P-R-E-S-E-N-T-A-T-I-O-N!! REPRESENTATION! This book had it so perfect! I felt seen and heard in ways I haven't been ever before! 😍 The characters went through so much stuff, it got me teary sometimes. The writing - impeccable. Such a tender way to describe the happenings in the story.

I can't recommend this enough! Both book 1 and 2 of this duology!

Reviewed by Cristiana Marques

BOOK REVIEW: What If You & Me by Roni Loren

Great characters starting with a young novelist of horror books who had me rethinking my insight into classic horror films… Spicy Romance | 🌶🌶🌶🌶 T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating… ✨😎✨

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books, Lifestyle & Home Ideas for Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

So sweet and empowering!

I really loved Roni Loren's first book in this series, so I was thrilled to get my hands on this one. The disability and mental health rep is fantastic/realistic/respectful, and the chemistry and banter between Hill and Andi are so perfectly done. I love her true crime podcast and how she focuses on how we can learn from other tragedies. I especially love that the heavy aspects handled (listed in TWs below) are handled with a focus on consent, healing, and patient growth.

The only thing that I didn't love is the horror movie side story, but that's just my cowardly side not being familiar with all the scary movies referenced. It did work well with the plot, so it was just heaped on there for no purpose.

I can't wait for the next one in this series!

TW: depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, violence

Thanks Sourcebooks Casa for the advanced read!

Another fantastic story from Roni Loren!!

I absolutely loved the horror writer/podcaster angle of this story. I've read books with horror author heroes but never a heroine. Add in the aspect of Andi's history and how/why she created her podcast and I was sold. Not to mention that having an grumpy, injured (both physically and mentally) former firefighter as her neighbor and it was pretty impossible not to fall in love with this story.

How Roni Loren manages to continually write these though-provoking, heart-breaking stories while also keeping them light-hearted, fun and sexy is beyond me. She has such a talent for making me feel so much without completely breaking me at the same time. I love how she is tackling stories about mental health with, what I perceive to be, great respect and care.

*I received an ARC for voluntary review

This was the perfect follow-up to one of my favorite romance books, Yes & I Love You. The romance is deep, and it gets intense at times but is still light and fun. I love that the MC’s help each other out of ruts and that they help each other grow and heal without becoming completely dependent on one another and still being able to be independent. This book is steamy, but it’s also dark. Definitely be prepared to enter this book with that in mind. Another 5 star read!

This is book two in the Say Everything series, and if you haven’t read the first one, Yes & I Love You, you really, really should! I really loved the first one, but if it’s possible I think I loved this one even more! There are some really heavy topics covered in the book (sexual and emotional abuse, serial killers, anxiety, PTSD, physical disability and more) but it’s also full of hilarious banter, and steamy tension. I thought the characters were real and wonderful and this was a book I just wanted to hug at the end.

Andi is a dealing with a past trauma, and part of her process is to write horror novels and run a podcast looking at what women can learn from horror movies and true crime. She hears her neighbor banging around at all hours (paper-thin walls) and dubs him the werewolf. Turns out he’s a grumpy ex-firefighter who has trouble sleeping after losing part of his leg during an accident on the job. After an awkward first meeting, the two strike up a friendship, which turns into friends with benefits. They help each other grow throughout the book, and each of them is trying really hard not to let their past stop them from living their lives. The two of them were really sweet, and it warmed my heart to hear their inner thoughts about each other.

This is definitely a book you should bump up your TBR, and don’t forget to pick up a copy of the first book in the series if you haven’t read it already!

Whew. This was a steamy one!

Andi, a horror novelist, and her neighbor Hill, a retired firefighter, both have demons in their past. She narrowly escaped a very dangerous relationship and he lost his fiancé, career, and became an amputee. After the unlikely pair forms a friendship there is no turning back. Together they begin to find themselves again. They put aside their fears and learn to love again.

They were both such unique characters and the way they overcame their fears was inspiring. Despite this being a fictional story- I know fears and insecurities (of whatever kind) very much exist. It is extremely brave to look your fear in the face and push past it. Mix all of this in with some steamy romance and you have an amazing story.

Definitely 5/5

So with the second book in the Say Everything series, Roni Loren has established herself as an auto buy author for me! I loved Yes & I Love You and I loved What If You & Me- maybe a little more actually! Andi is my new wannabe best friend and Hill is my new book boyfriend. Those two together = perfection. Oh how I adored this book! I binged it in one day staying up late to finish. I laughed, I swooned, I cried. The elements that give it a whooping 5 stars for this lovely book. I hope 🤞🏻 there are more to this series!

I was very excited to read this book and the first half of it was exactly what I was hoping for. The writing was great, there was lots of drama, slow burn and misunderstandings. But after Hill and Andi started their relationship the story became a bit stale. There was no more tension and no real conflict to the storyline until shortly before the end.
I was disappointed with the overall progression, because the storyline was super promising and I liked Andi and Hill. Both of them overcame so much and their communication was so great. It was fun to see a couple talk about their issues so openly and continually respect each other's boundaries.
Besides the suspense storyline somewhat disappearing until about the last chapter, I also wasn't crazy about Hill's ex. Good on him for forgiving her, but I don't think he should have gotten back on friendly terms with her. She was openly disrespectful and belittling towards Andi (while working her case as a police officer) and her justification of the cheating... Yikes.
A somewhat small peeve as well was Andi's over the top love for horror. Her passion for the genre was great and it even made me want to try it, but there was a scene with her friends that rubbed me the wrong way. Andi wants to watch a horror movie and then twists all the romantic movies into a horror perspective. Granted the chosen movies are not great examples, but she purposefully slams a somewhat harmless love of these outdated movies to get her way and twist her friends' view of the whole genre. I wish that scene had been cut, it kind of left a sour taste in my mouth.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars

After absolutely LOVING the first book in Roni Loren’s Say Everything series, I had high hopes for What If You & Me. It almost delivered all the feels. Almost…

Andi Lockley is a successful author of thrillers and also hosts a true crime podcast where she discusses real-life crimes and what you can learn, so as not to become a victim yourself. Despite a harrowing, traumatic event ten years ago when she was 16, and being low-key paranoid and super safety-conscious, she’s like a ray of sunshine to everyone around her.

That includes the grumpy man who shares her duplex.

Hill Dawson has good reason to be grumpy. A year ago he experienced a harrowing, traumatic event that resulted in the loss of his leg and the end of his career as a fireman. Then his fiancée left him. With no plan or direction for the rest of his life, it’s completely understandable that he’s a little on the cranky side.

The thing about Andi though is that she can’t stand to see anyone down in the dumps. So she makes it her mission to bring some of her cheer into Hill’s life. And as they spend time watching thriller movies and making home cooked meals, they both end up getting what they need to live a more fulfilling life.

There was a lot to like in this story. Andi is one of the best kinds of heroines - actively trying to conquer her trauma and still willing to be open and honest with what she wants, needs, and how she’s feeling. I’ve loved the strong friendships between the females in this series. And I’m always a big fan of books that show characters utilizing therapy to support mental health.

But I had a harder time with the hero in this book. The thing I loved SO MUCH about the first book in this series is how open and honest BOTH the characters were, especially about their flaws and insecurities. That is not the kind of behavior you normally see in romance books because authors usually seem to create all the angst and drama they can. So when I find characters who aren’t the status quo I fall for them HARD. While it was understandable for Hill to feel the way he did and my heart broke for him, I couldn’t help but be disappointed with the direction his behavior took the story.

I think my feelings about this book fall under the “comparison is the thief of joy” category. Had What If You & Me been written by another author I might have been more generous with my praise. But when I compare it to Yes & I Love You, it falls a little short. Regardless, I hope there are more books in this series. The first two books have been so enjoyable and I’d love to read more about the people who share the workshace at WorkAround!

* thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I recently read Yes and I Love you and then immediately read What If You and Me. Both books are by @roniloren. I enjoyed both of these books that shed a little light on what it’s like to date with a disability and mental health hang ups.

What If You and Me was a similar romance story with former firefighter Hill and horror novelist Andi. I loved Hill’s story which includes how he lost his leg and learning to love himself after his whole life changed in an instant. I had a hard time with Andi- she has an unbelievable first romance and she has been unable to trust anyone since that incident.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ out of 5
This book should come with a warning: only read if you want to be blown away and have all men in real life ruined for you. Because yeah this hero totally ruined me for men IRL.

Our heroine is a horror writer and hosts her own podcast and after a horrific experience with her ex she doesn’t want anything to do with men. Enter her grumpy neighbour who lost his leg and his confidence with women. Well the two of them start running into each other and one thing leads to another, and maybe each of them can help he other in their road to healing.

Wow oh wow could I relate to this heroine- she felt so real from her insecurities and anxieties to her secret strengths. The hero on the other hand was this grumpy guy with emotional and physical pain but absolutely incredible with the heroine- respecting her and her boundaries. This was a beautiful love story with a definite amount of 🔥🔥🔥 and now I need to go and read every single thing this author has ever written.

I'm not sure I'd have been as into this if the main character's life didn't revolve around horror movies but that was a really fun addition to the novel. There was great chemistry and spice and I was happy to see characters with disabilities represented. I was quite disappointed to see the phrase "sell ice to an Eskimo" used and at the end of the novel I'm still thinking about it. Would've been nice to at least have a reason for this outdated and culturally inappropriate phrase rather than what I'm assuming is the author's ignorance.

Andi Lockley, horror enthusiast and true crime podcaster, isn't exactly who she appears to me. After a traumatic experience with a dangerous man in her past, she's very very cautious, especially when it comes to men. When firefighter Hill Dawson moves in next door, he's ready to be her hero. However, after losing his leg in a fire and retiring from firefighting, he's not exactly ready for love either.

After falling in love with the first book in this series, I was ecstatic to learn about Andi's story. Y'all, it did not let me down AT ALL. If anything, I may have loved it even more. I'm not even going to try to compare the two though.

In Yes & I Love You, there was lots of talk about 90s romcoms. Sadly that isn't the case this time but instead, we're given loads of classic horror films. I absolutely love the way Roni Loren weaves old movies into these books. It was also fascinating to see them discuss the similarities between horror and romcoms.

As for our lead characters, I love them both so much. Andi is guarded and rightfully so, but, as in the first book, she has a larger-than-life personality. Her antics always had me cracking up and wanting her as my own friend. Hill does not disappoint either. He's been through a lot but he's still so caring and always there to lean. Plus I'll take a man that'll cook like that for me.

Together, Andi and Hill are perfection. Roni does steam exceptionally well. It's always full of consent and communication while still feeling fresh and well earned. These characters don't just communicate well in the bedroom though. They're so open and honest with each other and I couldn't get enough. There's talk of mental health, therapy, trauma. They don't hold back on anything.

Alright, I obviously loved this book and I could go on forever or you can just read it yourself. The previous characters show up briefly, but it can definitely be read as a standalone, and, yay for you, it's already on shelves!

Thank you so so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for my eARC of this book.

I love true crime so this book was right up my ally. I loved the topics covered and the mental health awareness. I felt like the characters were well developed and the story moved right along. Well done!

❤️Andi and Hill were both such raw, authentic characters with real problems. It takes them a while to open up to each other because of unique trust issues, but their chemistry just jumped off of the page from the very beginning.
❤️The steam. It’s hot and sexy - but so very respectful and never over the top. Hill is such a dream guy.
❤️The one had a fun (and sometimes scary) focus on true crime and horror movies - which I loved!
❤️Mental health and disability focus - I know I’m saying that twice, but it’s just so well done. She tackles these issues head on and doesn’t skate over the details.

I just REALLY NEED YOU ALL TO READ THESE BOOKS. They are tied for my favorite romances of the year - and that’s saying A LOT because I’ve read so many!

What If You & Me delivered on both the spice and the sweet (hehe). It had the right amount of drama and humor to make it impossible to put down. I felt that Andi and Hill’s relationship was very mature and healthy, which is honestly rare to find in romance books. They had open and honest conversations with each other and established boundaries that they were able to discuss as they moved further into a relationship and developed as individuals. I am so happy that the author was able to incorporate this into this fun and loveable couple.

I absolutely adore Roni Loren’s books and I highly recommend all of them. I will be anxiously waiting for Eliza’s book.

Roni Loren's What if You & Me is a great story of love and overcoming obstacles! When neighbors realize they just might be able to help each other overcome their past hurdles, love just might start to brew...

Great story!

“This one. This one. This one.” What If You & Me by Roni Loren

4 stars. Such a fun arc to read! Now I want to check out the book prior to this. I had it on my tbr but well, you know how it goes sometimes.

But this was fun and sweet and I loved Andi and Hill. Honestly didn’t know what to expect with this book, forgot to read the blurb, I just knew that it was a romance. But that was ok. It made it all more fun, learning about Andi and Hill.

And reading this makes me want to pick up the first book now.

Short review, but I’m late in posting this. If you guys can see my smile when I think about this story… happy sigh.

May I say that 2 good and fun arcs in a row is not a usual thing for me?

Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for this arc. I enjoyed reading this!