Paige Toon has done it again! I think all of my favorite “lost love” and novels of reigniting a relationship after time apart might be written by Toon.🤔

This whole book is coded “Down Bad” by Taylor Swift. Try to tell me I’m wrong!!! I was here for it!
“Show me that this world is bigger than us
Then sent me back where I came from
For a moment I knew cosmic love
Now I'm down bad crying at the gym”

The whole beginning of the book where Ellie and Ash meet while traveling abroad was so fun and exciting! Their instant connection made perfect sense while they were both grieving and solo traveling. They fall fast and hard and plan to meet up a week later, but….

The things that stood out and I loved the most:
•Single POV
•Astrology and universe discussions
•Romanticizing gardening and connecting with the Earth
•A little flair of royalty and royal gardens
•Off-grid adventures, picnicking, sleeping under stars
•Healing from trauma and loss
•Following your own passions

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: What If I Never Get Over You by Paige ToonRating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

I really enjoy Paige Toon’s storytelling and emotional depth, but this one didn’t quite work for me. What If I Never Get Over You felt a bit too YA for my taste, and I struggled to connect or relate to the characters.

That said, the writing was solid and heartfelt—true to Toon’s style—and I can absolutely see how this story would resonate with readers in a different headspace. Not the book’s fault at all; definitely a me problem!

A well-written read that just wasn’t the right fit for me personally.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ellie is traveling around Europe by herself when she runs into Ash who is doing the same. They have a lot in common and in the next three days make a plan to meet in Madrid in a week. Of course they don't hook up hence the rest of the book. There were a few twists and things I didn't expect which made the reading enjoyable. At times I wished they had talked more but then the book would be really short. This was a story I needed right now. I liked both Ellie and Ash and how they both grew through the course of the book. At times it did drag on but I was invested in the characters to keep reading and considering it was 400+ pages I read it in two days.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with a digital copy.

this feels a bit misleading to me? i was fully expecting a heart wrenching story of love as i’ve come to expect from paige toon, yet this read young(er) to me?? 40% and the characters were honestly irritating me that i had to dnf and im so disappointed 😭 i WILL be eagerly anticipating her next release though

“What If I Never Get Over You” by Paige Toon was an excellent read. I couldn’t put it down! The emotional depth that Toon was able to convey was outstanding and her characters were compelling and well developed. There were few parts of the story that I wasn’t fan of the direction the story went in, but still a solid 4-star read. Fans of stories about love and fate need to add this to their TBR.
Thank you to NetGallery and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks so much to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the complimentary advance copy of Paige Toon’s newest! I’ve become an enormous fan of hers the last year or two.

Ellie has been interrailing through Europe, something she had been looking forward to for years. But traveling by herself was starting to get her down, so she made the decision to cut her trip short. So of course, just before she was ready to leave Lisbon, she meets Ash.

Ash is from Wales, has a fantastic accent and a carefree spirit that appeals to Ellie, who’s always done the right things. (It doesn’t hurt that he’s sexy as hell, too.) They so enjoy each other’s company and feel such an intense connection that they spend Ellie’s last few days in Europe together. And while she is expected to fly home with her parents, Ellie and Ash decide to meet in Spain one week later.

When Ellie’s arrival in Madrid is delayed a bit, she worries Ash might think she changed her mind. When she finally arrives at their designated meeting place, he’s nowhere to be found. She can’t figure out why he didn’t show—maybe the intense feelings she had weren’t reciprocated? Crushed, she decides to move on with her life.

Six years later, Ellie gets a job as a gardener at a 500-year-old estate in Wales. Working with gardens had always been her dream, and doing so on such a vast property is amazing. When Ash re-enters her life, she is completely thrown, and she realizes how little she actually knew about him. But their feelings for one another are just as intense.

This book really captured my heart. I loved the beginning section, where Ellie and Ash meet, and while the story slows a bit in the middle, I really rooted for them to find happiness. Toon definitely knows how to create an emotional story!

The book will publish 4/15.

I'm incredibly confused about the branding of this one. This is tagged as adult contemporary romance, but unfortunately to me felt very YA, in a "I am way too old to get much positive out of this" sort of way, not in a nostalgic way unfortunately. I think it literally is YA, so maybe that is a fault of my own? But I can't find anywhere that lists it as YA and not adult, so maybe not.

Needless to say, I didn't love this one. The writing was my main problem with it. Not that it is bad; there are tons of people that love Paige Toon's writing, and I may very well myself in a different book although I've never read anything else by this author so who's to say. This one just felt a bit clunky to me, and the speed in which we moved through things made me completely detached from the story. Nothing was really elaborated on... it was just "we did this, and then we did this, and then I said this, and then this happened", moving on and on to the next thing. The flow didn't feel natural to me.

I also do NOT understand why this FMC let the MMC get away with so much. I found him incredibly sketchy from start to finish, and the entire time I was like girl, what are you thinking?!?! I wasn't rooting for them at all.

TLDR: I can see how this might be a fun time for a younger audience looking for a mindless, fast-paced romance, but unfortunately this wasn't my jam. 2.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you so much to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My first book by this author and let me say I will definitely be buying the book as a trophy and reading more!

Ellie & Ash's instant connection had me kicking my feet in the air while reading. Also the acotar reference yeah loved that. The way this book pulls on your heartstrings! It's such a cute and heartwarming story.

Thank you, Penguin Putnam and Netgalley for the EArc in return for an honest review.

Ellie and Ash met each other while interrailing. They spent 3 amazing unforgettable days together. 6 years later, Ellie is still trying to forget. Then, out of nowhere, Ash come back into her life.

This book!! Absolutely beautiful! I loved everything about it. I loved both characters and how similar they are, making it seamless to connect the way they did in 3 short days. I love the nods to a certain book series. The regrets, heartache, and pining was so raw. Wow, this book!!

What If I Never Get Over You by Paige Toon tells the story of Ash and Ellie, whose whirlwind romance begins when they meet while traveling. They spend three days together and fall deeply in love, planning to reunite in Madrid a week later. However, life takes unexpected turns, and years later, Ellie finds herself working at a private estate, tending to the gardens. Her life is upended when she crosses paths with Ash once again.

I received an advanced reader's copy of What If I Never Get Over You from Penguin Group Putnam via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Here are my thoughts:

At first, I wasn’t sure about the book. It seemed predictable, and I could already guess where things were headed for Ellie and Ash. However, once I reached Part II, the story truly picked up, and I couldn’t put the book down. I was eager to see how the characters would navigate Ash’s new role and whether they would find a way to reconcile their relationship. The latter half of the book was an emotional rollercoaster, and I’m so glad I stuck with it.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for the eARC!
I quite enjoyed this! The beginning was very cute, very insta love, and a fantastic little adventure with Ellie and Ash.
The second part of the book is where I started to feel a bit irritated with both characters. They both lied in a way, and it seemed only Ash was willing to get past it. I feel as if Ellie led him on a ton, and I hated that. I wanted to just jump through the book and ask her what she was doing.
The love story itself was great. They both went through an emotional past, and went through a bit together, and their bond was strong, despite the lies in the beginning.
I was rooting for them so hard in Madrid and was so disappointed when they didn’t meet, but was so glad to see them together in the end.
The only thing that I didn’t like, was I couldn’t really relate to any of the characters, but it didn’t take away from liking the actual story. I loved the setting and the plot as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and will be reading more of this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this advanced copy! I truly really enjoyed this book and finished it in 2 days- I could not put it down! I thought the characterization of both Ellie and Ash was well written and fleshed out. I loved the settings of this book, as someone who loves to travel especially the UK! Part of this book was frustrating to read, but I think it makes it feel more read. BONUS: There is a playlist for this book and After Rain by Dermot Kennedy is included which is an automatic five stars.

No spoilers. Read via kindle (ARC).

This has a beautiful story. All the emotions are in this book. I did feel like it was too long and some repetition, but overall was an enjoyable read. I wasn’t quite sure how it would actually end, so it helped push forward with the length of this to see what truly would happen at the end. The ending was perfect and beautiful as well.

Would I recommend? Maybe, if you’re looking for a many chances romance that has lots of depth.

When Paige Toon releases a book, it’s automatically added to my TBR. And when it’s released on my birthday, double win!! What If I Never Get Over You did not disappoint. Paige Toon takes you on a drama filled journey of love, adventure, and heartbreak. This page turner kept me late into the night. Such a beautiful story!

Ellie didn’t expect to meet a man like Ash while traveling through Europe. She certainly didn’t expect to fall in love. After three unforgettable days, they decided to meetup again in Spain. With Ellie running late, and Ash nowhere to be found, her heart is broken. Fast forward six years, Ellie gets her dream job but her perfectly bursted world comes crashing down when Ash appears. Not only does Ellie learn the truth behind Ash not showing up in Spain, but she will have to make a choice as to what she wants her future to look like.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the arc!!

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and Paige Toon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m conflicted on this one. I enjoyed the story and got pulled in but in the later parts I was on the fence on if I wanted a HEA for them.

For holding my attention, I give it a 4. For the characters and storyline, I give it a 3. I’ll say 3.5ish

I really enjoyed parts of Ellie and then wanted to shake her in other parts. Ash was such a dream in some parts and then a total dud in other parts. I understand and appreciate they are flawed humans, but they left a little to be desired in the personal growth area for me.

I was happy that Ellie was back in therapy but feel like things wrapped up too quickly and neatly considering all that happened.

The misleading, miscommunication, secrets, insta-love, different intentions…it just all felt very immature.

There’s some tough subjects throughout the story - grief, toxic family, cheating, death due to leukemia, overdosing, description of previous sexual abuse.

3.75 🌟

What If I Never Get Over You had me hooked right from the beginning. Ellie and Ash’s first meeting in Lisbon, their interrailing adventure, and the way their story unfolded in part one completely captivated me. There was such a magnetic pull between them, and I was eager to see where their journey would take them.

Paige Toon’s writing, as always, was stunning. Her ability to create beautiful imagery and evoke deep emotions is something I always appreciate in her books. The way she captured the raw, fleeting moments of Ellie and Ash’s connection was breathtaking.

However, as the story progressed, I found myself feeling a bit disconnected. The middle and end of the book felt rushed, and I wished there had been more depth in certain areas that needed extra attention. Despite that, I adored the ending—it was heartwarming, swoon-worthy, and left me smiling.

One of the strongest aspects of this book was its portrayal of grief. It was delivered with such authenticity that it made me emotional at times. The way Paige Toon explored loss and healing felt incredibly real and deeply moving.

Overall, I really liked this book. It had a beautiful beginning, a heartfelt journey, and a lovely conclusion. I just wish the pacing had been a little more balanced. Still, it’s a story that will stay with me.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review! Release date: April 15th!

4 ⭐️

Thank you to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read “what if I never get over you” in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie & Ash - they meet on a chance encounter as they are both backpacking through Europe. Their almost instantaneous draw to each other was palpable. Unfortunately, Ellie is scheduled to travel to meet her parents and return home, but Ellie and Ash know this is a once in a lifetime connection. They make plans to continue interrailing together after Ellie returns from the visit with her parents. Ellie leaves Ash with her treasured book from her best friend, Stella, who passed away - in that book she leaves her contact details as Ash is completely technology free on this trip. They plan to meet in a city at a certain time, only Ash doesn’t show up. Ellie is completely distraught. She stays for days to find Ash, but ultimately returns home to work in her parents furniture company.

Years later, Ellie has decided she wants to pave her own way & gardening is her passion. She quits her parents company much to their dismay & sets off to be a gardener at a massive estate in Wales, only to find out Ash is the son of the viscount & viscountess. She’s plagued with questions.

Ash is determined to explain to her what happened as they did not even exchange last names on their chance encounter.

They quickly fall back in step with their love story only to be derailed by ash’s father who blackmails Ash to go back with his ex-girlfriend who is much more aligned with their viscount status.

I won’t share the ending, but I will say it’s a rather happy one.

Just finished reading this incredible book, and I'm absolutely in love! This is my first read from this author, and I am honestly so impressed. The story of Three days to fall in love. Six years to try to forget. really hit me hard in the best way.

The chemistry between Ellie and Ash is undeniable. Their connection while interrailing through Europe is immediate and intense, but life and circumstances pull them apart. Fast forward six years, fate gives them another chance at love and it feels like they never left each other’s side. The chemistry between them is absolutely electric, and it’s impossible not to root for their reunion

The characters are well-developed—raw, real, and just so relatable. What really stood out to me was the way the author described the European landscapes and the beauty of Wales. This story has everything—heartbreak, hope, second chances. If you’re looking for a love story that will tug at your heartstrings, this one’s a must-read!

I’ve read two other books by this author and really, really enjoyed them. I had high hopes for this one.

It didn’t quite do it for me. A little too insta-lovey for. Characters seemed to act really young. This miscommunication or just lack of communication, which resulted in making dumb choices. I couldn’t root for either Ellie or Ash. I just didn’t care enough.

One thing that was missing from this novel was the emotion. Toon’s other two books left me feeling wrecked. This one? Not there.

While this was missing a lot for me, it was still a decent summertime, beach read. Just nothing special. I’d recommend it to those looking for something to read on vacation featuring a second-chance romance with characters that will drive you crazy.

3.5 rounded to 4.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Let me start by saying I loved the plot of this book. I think the actual storyline was good. I have several issues.
1. The repetitiveness., "Did you want to say something? Next page "Did you have something you want to say?"
2. While I understand ACOTAR had a role to play in this book, the mention of it, of it's sequel, of the whole set repeatedly made the initial sentimentality of the book lose it's value for me.
3. It felt like fan fiction. Something just felt off with the writing style. I can't explain it. Parts 3 and 4 seemed to be written by someone else (in a better way).
4. To be advertised as an adult romance it felt very juvenile.

The book had so much potential. Again, while the plot was great The writing was lackluster.

2.5 out of 5

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.