Give me a good art gallery and a couple of characters with deep love for one another and you've got me hooked. I devoured this one. My only quibble is that sometimes it felt a bit rushed and forced. 3 1/2 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

YES, yes yes!! This book! 5* read, I loved it, everything I hoped it would be and more. I was fully invested from the synopsis and was thrilled to get an arc. This is a story I will want to reread many times just for that feel good, romance magic feeling.

Rachel has always wished for a certain life for herself ever since her unsettled childhood and she meets her perfect man who she is engaged to, Jonny, and is excited to be a step mum to his daughter Teddy....but then there's Gabe. Gabe who keeps appearing every decade and their paths crossed and she feels so drawn and captivated by him and the chemistry is undeniable but she always takes the safer choice with Jonny, as she believes that is what she needs after her childhood. But as the years go by, with more chance encounters, Rachel starts to wonder whether 'perfect Jonny' is the right man for her and whether she should follow her heart instead and go with Gabe.

I was flipping these pages so furiously, if it had been a physical copy it would probably have caught fire!

Spanning four decades and covering all four seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Us explores the life of Rachel, who, in 1986, is engaged to Jonny and on the brink of realizing her dream of opening an art gallery. When she meets the carefree American artist Gabe, she feels a strong connection but tries to resist.

As her life with Jonny progresses, Gabe continues to reappear, tempting her with a spontaneous and adventurous alternative. Over the years, Rachel's encounters with Gabe force her to confront choices that could reshape her life, making her question whether the path she once thought she wanted is the one she's truly meant to follow.

The story unfolds against the backdrop of changing seasons and offers a poignant exploration of love, choices, and the unexpected turns life can take.






Regenerate

A beautiful story about love & fate. While I normally love multiple POV's I think in this instance what made this such a great read was that we see everything through the eyes of Rachel and what we know about Gabe is through Rachel. Watching Rachel and Gabe meet again & again and the constant 'will they, won't they' really pulls at your heartstrings and I found my heart broken over and over.
A true love story focusing on what the universe has in store for us and can we really control it, but this is not a fluffy love story it has too much depth for that, this will hit you in the gut as quick as it makes your heart melt.

I really did absolutely love this! I read it on holiday and the romantic thread of strings pulling on Rachel and Gabe kept me hooked and rooting for both of them. A really intriguing concept too, it felt different from other similar themed books I’ve read recently. Would definitely recommend!

An enjoyable read, well written and entertaining. Hadn't read this author before but would consider reading again.

I'm a big believer in fate, life has a path for you and if you do and you are a romantic at heart,this book is for you! The author has got the depth of the characters just right they are not whimsical.
Rachel meets Gabe, an American artist and there is an instant connection. But life happens and things change, only to rekindle it each decade for four decades! It has to be love right?
Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Fiona Collins for an advanced copy in return for an honest review

I really struggled to get into this book. The pacing was slow and I just found myself uninterested in the plot. I also had very high expectations going into it based on the summary.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an e-ARC of this novel.

I loved reading this one. I just love this kind of books.
4 stars read for me. I love this author snd her writing style.
Thanks to netgally for this arc.

I really loved this book. I quickly became invested in Rachel as a character, and once that happened I could not put this book down. Such a beautiful story and I felt like it would make an excellent movie or TV miniseries.
I would not hesitate to recommend this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!

This follows Rachel throughout significant periods of her life and as she comes into contact with a potentially significant other man. We follow Rachel through happy times and not so good times but will she find her happy ending?
I thought this was quite a slow burn and definitely had a slow start, initially I was quite connected to the story of Rachel and Jonny but as Collins progresses the plot and we learn more about Rachel and Gabe, my opinion started to change. The first half of this book really is slow and I think it could have been shortened or had something added to make it a bit more exciting, however the second half was better and I was more invested in the story.
The characters are good which is the saving grace of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy.

This was an engaging book with comedy, romance, a small amount of mystery surrounding Rachel’s parents and later her husband. Her loyalty to Johnny went above and beyond what most people would have expected.

The end was excellent. Those who had behaved in suspicious ways from the beginning got what was coming to them.

Rachel is engaged to Jonny, a writer of Russian Spy Thrillers when she meets Gabe who is an American artist over in England visiting his Auntie, this is the Spring of 1986. This is the first in a series of meeting spanning 40 years, one each season. There is an instant attraction between them but Rachel feels that Jonny provides the security she didn't have as a child growing up. Will Jonny always provide that secure environment?

A beautifully written tale of happenstance, love and growth over a large part of a couple's life. Except that they aren't a couple. They should be, but doubts and circumstance and some really unlucky timing mean that Rachel and Gabe are destined to be each others 'if only' for many, many years.
This novel reminds us how much we are a product of nurture and our experiences in childhood. And how hard it is to have perspective on your own life, when those around you see it all too clearly. There is no real villain, just people who have their faults, some mightier than others.
Beautifully drawn characters abound, even the smaller supporting cast of village inhabitants, who see each other at every gathering on the social calendar and whose behaviour rarely changes. One of the most satisfying moments in the book comes from Rachel finally telling a neighbour what he needed to hear from all the women he had ever tried to charm, (I use the word charm very loosely here).
Thank you for a delightful and gentle story which prods us to all take chances and see what is out there. And not to ignore that heart-stopping, jaw-dropping, palm sweating connection with another person when it comes along.

A ver interest read. I liked the way the story was based through the four seasons over many decades. A real will she won’t she go off with agave or stay with Jonny.

A love story spanning nearly four decades. This book captured my attention by the color and the title alone. I was so curious about how the story was going to be told. I loved how it was told in the different seasons and years. Rachel, Gabe, Jonny, and Teddy all had me sad, mad, and happy for various reasons throughout the novel. Ultimately the ending made me very happy and want to know what else may happen

Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to read this book pre-publication.
This is a love story but the story doesn't run smoothly. When Rachel first meets the visiting American, there is an instant attraction. but Rachel is committed to her fiance and her dream of a stable life with no drama.
There follows four meetings over the next forty years, each time, the feelings grow stronger, but Rachel is committed to her family.
Until once day, her step-daughter teaches her the meaning of love and marriage.

Really enjoyed this story. Beautifully written, and a pleasure to read.
Should you read this book?
YES!
A 'must read' book indeed and highly recommended. I've found another good author to start following.

Brit Rachel and American artist Gabe‘s roots stem from the same small Essex village, but they lead unconnected lives. Starting in the mid eighties, we accompany Rachel and Gabe through four decades in each of which fate brings them just one chance encounter they both are unable to forget… A clever plot and interesting characters make this book a mesmerising read!

The perfect love story that features over seasons. I was cheering for Rachel and Johnny. I loved Rachel's bubbly personality.