I really enjoyed the premise of this one. Time travel but in a modern world. However some things fell short for me such as the pacing. I felt like you barely got a look into Matias and claire’s original life story. At times it seemed slow and others rushed. Overall it wasn’t a bad read and I did enjoy it.

This story dragged for me. The first two chapters captivated me. But then the rest of the novel felt like a chore to read. Chapter after chapter dragged on for me and seemed unbelievable.

I had high hopes for this book because I loved Skye’s The Hundred Loves of Juliet last year. I also really loved the premise of this book. Matias was such a good character and I wish there was more of him! Gimme gimme!

This book fell short for me for two reasons: Claire, the FMC, and the ending. Claire was so annoying and neurotic. She was a workaholic that didn’t appreciate ANYTHING. While I understand some people live their lives this way, I just didn’t like reading about it. She wasn’t a very fun character. The ending just didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Of course, in the epilogue, we can deduce what happens, but I wanted more Matias. I wish we would’ve seen Claire and Matias and what they were up to. The epilogue would’ve been a good option to show just how much Claire had changed, as well.

Overall a decent story! Some of the things that bothered me won’t bother others and I think it’ll be enjoyable!

I think one of my favorite tropes is when one of the love interest in a book forgets that they’ve been in love/ married/ dating the main character and it’s up to the main character to make the person fall in love with them again, I like this trope the most because you get to see two well develop characters prove that they belong together and fight their way back to each other. Unfortunately, the development of the characters and the ability to prove that beyond all odds they belonged together was lacking in this book.

The FMC was lacking in both the will to prove that she and the MMC belong together and the urgency to save him before he was lost forever. The story didn’t give much build up in the beginning to make me root/ believe that the two opposite (her a lawyer and him an artist) belong together, so when the accident happens and he becomes a ghost I thought okay the interactions between them going forward will be what proves they belong together but honestly it didn’t convince me. Both characters weren’t developed enough for me to care if they end up together or not, the only reason I finished was because it was an easy read.

Solid 2 stars



Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

There were multiple different POVs that I felt were unnecessary, when I really think it would have strengthened the love story between Claire and Matías to have only single or dual-POV. Matías’s family was compelling but I felt we didn’t see much of his family life, their home life, and their interactions with Claire as much as I’d liked.

Matias and Claire give us an opposites-attract, second-chance romance (with a hefty dash of magical realism). It is a romance where Claire is the buttoned-up professional who has to have everything in order and doesn't want to take unnecessary risks. Matias is a chaotic artist who embraces life and new things. They "meet cute" at an art gallery, and quickly find themselves in a relationship. Their relationship ends up being tested by tragedy when Matias has a life-threatening accident on a trip back home to Spain, Claire has to do what initially seems like an impossibility - make Matias fall in love with her all over again. Except this time, his life (and their love) is on the line.

I loved the growth of Claire's character, and how she finally learns to crack open more of herself in the journey to save Matias. I also loved the moments we got from Matias' POV as their initial love story unfolded in New York. Where things fell apart for me a bit was having extra POVs from Matias' family members. The timeline jumps from the past with Matias' POV and the present with Claire's POV also pulled me out of the storyline. This story was both too much (extra information of viewpoints that did not add to the main love story arc) and not enough (I wanted more time with Claire and Matias before and after the incident). It didn't feel as if we had enough time to invest in the love between these characters and the evolution of their relationship.

I liked the story and the idea of lost souls and second chances. This is a good book to read on the beach in the summer, with a romance that reminds you that even though you may not be perfect, you can still be someone's "mi media naranja."

Rating: ★★★½ (3.5 stars)

Evelyn Skye uses her magical realism to take us on a journey through Madrid, where Matias and Claire find their way back to each other in her upcoming book, "One Year Ago in Madrid." Matias, a realist artist, moves to New York and soon meets Claire, an attorney who works long hours and late nights. Matias and Claire are complete opposites—Matias thrives in chaos, expressing his feelings through art and losing himself for hours in his work, while Claire thrives on order and control, keeping her emotions in check as she pursues a partnership at her firm in a male-dominated industry.

When Matias travels to Spain to visit his family (without Claire) and suffers an accident that leaves him in a coma, Claire drops everything to be by his side. She soon discovers that she can see Matias’s soul outside of his body and must convince it to return to bring him back to life.

This book is an adventure of self-discovery, growth, and understanding compromise in a relationship. Claire, a type A, guarded woman, learns to let down her walls and finds a balance where she and Matias can be happy together without the need to be in control all the time.

"One Year Ago in Madrid" was a fun, quick read and my introduction to Evelyn Skye. I was transported to Madrid along with her characters and found myself rooting for Matias and Claire throughout their journey.

Recommended if you like second-chance romance, multiple POVs, and opposites-attract.

I highlighted the shit out of this book.

Check this banger from the very first page “All around them, Manhattan heaved like an impatient dragon, its sidewalks shimmering like scales sweaty with humidity. Streetlamps blazed, and the horns of taxis wailed. Everything in the city was alive, feverish, irrepressible.”
Evelyn Skye you have a talent that makes the pages come to life and made me, the reader, fall in love with Claire and Matías.

I know this story will stay with me for a while because I connected to Claire on so many levels. I have to say BEFORE kids, I was very particular about order and the way things belong in the house. Now five kids in, I have to pick and choose my battles, but that’s for another post. Don’t fight me on the placement for the dishes in the dishwasher though! Anyways when Claire mentions the tea towel situation with Matías, or her particular placement for the keys and shoes I deeply felt that. I love that our partners can show us a new side of ourselves and challenge us to grow beyond what we find comfort in. I still get frustrated when my spouse forgets to make the bed? YES, but I am so grateful to share a bed with him and miss him so much when he’s out of town and not there besides me. Throughout the story we follow Claire’s growth as she learns more about herself while fighting for Matías.

I loved it from the start to the end. My only thing I would change would be an additional chapter for the ending, but I don’t know man, it was still a perfect read. Also this story will make you want to cook a meal or go to Applebee’s .

“Meals were not just nourishment-they were love letters to the sun and the earth that grew the vegetables, to the farmers who nurtured the fruit and the artisans who pressed the olive oil, and most of all, to the people to whom you served the food. If you put love and care into your cooking, it would show with every bite.”

I cannot wait to buy this book to share with my friends and other readers! Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

One Year Ago in Spain

You never know what you have sometimes until you almost lose it. Claire Walker a corporate lawyer in New York meets Matías de Leon an artist from Madrid, Spain at his art show at her friends husbands art gallery. Two complete opposites, but they click right away. Their love story moves fast and they fall for each other in less than a year. Tragedy strikes when Matís goes back to Spain to visit his family and Claire stays back in New York for work on a big work merger. While Matís is in Spain, he goes a on boys weekend this his childhood friends and they get in an accident leaving him in a coma. Claire hops on a plane as soon as she hears, to Spain to be by his side. On her first night there, lonely and not fluent in Spanish, she wishes that Matís was with her like she always does when she is in need or sad and he appears, well more like his soul. She is the only one that can see him. Can she get his soul back to his comatose self in the hospital to help him wake up?

I really liked this book, it makes you think about how the little things don’t really matter in the big scheme of life, but the people in your life is what matters most.

Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for- Ballentine for this eARC for my honest review.

There's something special about Skye's writing that makes all her books magical for me. The descriptions are so visual and so whimsical in all the ways that make me feel like the book comes alive when I read it.

This beautiful story between Mattias and Claire is no exception. I loved every description of his paintings. I loved seeing Spain through Skye's eyes. I loved how all of my senses come alive when I read her stories. And how they stay with me. The peacock in the park, the delicious food, the angry sibling. I can visualize and imagine every one of them.

I love the premise of this story. How do you get your love who doesn't remember you to fall back in love with you so he can wake up from his coma? How do you make it so he can find his way back to you? These characters will all stay with you long, long after you finish the last page.

with gratitude to netgalley and Del Rey for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Claire and Matias fell quickly in love in New York City the perfect opposites attract story. When Matias goes home to Spain for a visit he wants to take Claire with him and propose but she's still not sure it will work between them. She's convinced he's going to change his mind and become bored with reliable and predictable Claire. While in Spain Matias gets into a bed accident and ends up in a coma, Claire flies there to be with him. While at her hotel one night she meets Matias's lost soul trying to get back to his body only he doesn't know about the accident and doesn't remember the last year with Claire or who she even is. Claire has to find a way for him to fall back in love with her and reunite him with his body while also realizing that she doesn't need to be anything else for him then she already is. I liked this book it's my second by this author and I really enjoy the magical realism elements. Rating this 3/3.5 stars and absolutely recommend. I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was super excited to read this book since I saw people saying that it was perfect for fans of "The Dead Romantics" by Ashley Poston. I did saw the similarities but aside from that, I didn't really loved this one. It was for me to connect with the characters and the fact that there were others post of views aside from the main couple bored me. There were few things that I would've change to make this one more appealing.

One Year Ago in Spain is a heartfelt and imaginative romance that explores the power of love and memory. Claire Walker, a high-powered corporate lawyer from Manhattan, has always kept her life perfectly ordered. That is, until she meets Matías de León, a free-spirited Spanish artist. Their whirlwind romance challenges Claire's structured world, but a year later, she begins to question their future together due to their stark differences.
The story takes a dramatic turn when Matías is critically injured while visiting family in Madrid, leaving him in a coma. Claire rushes to his side, only to find she can see and communicate with his soul, which has no recollection of their past year together. Skye skillfully weaves a narrative where Claire must make Matías fall in love with her all over again to bring him back to life.
The author's evocative writing brings the vibrant streets of Madrid to life, providing a rich backdrop for this emotional journey. The novel's unique premise of wooing a lover's soul adds a mystical layer to the romance, making it a compelling read. Claire's determination and the depth of her love are beautifully portrayed, offering readers a moving and hopeful story.
However, the pacing sometimes slows, particularly during the middle sections where Claire's attempts to reconnect with Matías's soul can feel repetitive. Despite this, the emotional depth and the novel's satisfying conclusion more than compensate for these moments.
One Year Ago in Spain is a testament to the enduring power of love and the belief that true connections can overcome even the most extraordinary challenges. The author delivers a touching and original romance that earns a solid four stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was okay and short. It was a cute light read but it was just everywhere. There were a lot of POV and everything just felt rushed. I wanted more. I would recommend this book if you need a quick read but nothing else.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read this e-arc. This is my honest opinion.

4.5/5
Absolutely sweet and had me teary eyed to giggling. If you like sweet romances with a slight supernatural flare this is for you. It has multiple characters, Claire the FMC is beautifully written and the MMC Matias is fun to read. The inner struggle from Claire is easy to relate too. I just wish there was a tad bit more to their relationship build up before hand along with her personal history to make the connection more. I 100% recommend this book. I could not put it down and finished in a few hours! So Good!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing!
Claire and Matías are opposites, who fall in love despite all the odds. The central question becomes, will they be able to stay together in the face of extreme adversity, differences and all.
I just kept thinking that his family would have been a total dealbreaker for me. Claire was a lot more understanding than I would have been!

3.5

**Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review**

One Year Ago In Spain is a story of a woman trying to save her boyfriend’s life by having his soul fall in love with her all over again. The premise of the book reminded me a little bit of the book If I Stay so this might be for you if you enjoy that type of storyline.

The story was definitely unique and I appreciated the different timelines of the relationship that were brought out through the book that gave us a better insight into the dynamic of the couple. I also enjoyed the use of the Spanish culture and language through the book.

However, It was difficult to feel invested with this couple at the beginning as it was very insta love so only brief flashbacks allowed us to see how and why they fell in love in the first place. By the time I started feeling invested in the story, it felt like it just ended abruptly. I would’ve loved just a little bit more of the life that Matias & Claire had after this story ends. Most of the romance feels like it’s happening off page as we really don’t get to see a lot of the actual dynamic of the couple.

I did enjoy seeing Matia’s POV but the other POVs that did not pertain to the main characters felt a little unnecessary but not necessarily bad as it was interesting to see other POVs it just felt randomly placed throughout the book.

I enjoyed reading it and the premise was definitely unique. The book kept me engaged while reading it but the ending fell short.

Omg I am IN LOVE with this book! Hooked from the beginning. I immediately loved Matías. I also loved that his perspectives started from the past and worked up to the accident.

I would have liked a little more happy time with them at the end after he woke, for more closure, but otherwise it was perfect!

>I haven’t read any books by this author before but I was really intrigued by the premise of this book. Matias being in a coma and Claire being able to communicate with his soul reminded me a bit of the premise of The Dead Romantics and it made me really want to read this book. Well I was really excited by the premise of this book something about it felt a little flat to me. I was really captivated by the initial romance between the main characters but as the story continued I just didn’t feel that spark that I felt in the beginning of the book. That’s not to say that there weren’t parts of this book that I didn’t enjoy. The writing was engaging, the relationship was enjoyable in the beginning, and overall it was a light quick read. I’m looking forward to hopefully trying more books by the author in the future.

Having read other books by this author I went into her newest one hopeful it would live up to her previous work. And it definitely did. Maybe even surpassed it.

Claire is a very organized, strait laced, successful lawyer that is trying her hardest to become partner in her law firm. During an event at a friends art gallery she meets Matias, an artist from Spain who whisks Claire off her foot and becomes her boyfriend. Almost a year after they meet Claire is feeling bothered and decides to not go to Spain with him as planned and to stay beyond to work on an important merger. After a few days Claire receives a call that Matias was gravely hurt and they didn’t know if he would survive. When she gets to Spain, among his big, overwhelming family, Claire sits by his bedside and also starts seeing his soul around Madrid. Claire then has to get Matias soul to fall
In love with her again before it’s too late.

I loved the story line, even if parts were a bit out there. I loved the growth of Claire as well as the relationship that she had with Matias. I also loved reading his point of view to see just how much he loved Claire and what made him fall in love with her.

Overall this was such a feel good love story that I ended up really enjoying. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.