What If I Never get Over You portrays an insta-love connection gone wrong due to grief, loss and societal pressures and how that love, and the main characters, grow over the course of years in an effort to reconnect. Both main characters felt well developed and dimensional and the miscommunications in the story felt purposeful and genuine. This book has absolutely turned me on to other Paige Toon novels which feel like the perfect thing to binge on a seaside or cabin vacation as they are steamy not spicy

In true Paige Toon-fashion, I've had yet another one of her novels deliver a book equivalent to an uppercut straight to the gut. 🥲 This is my third(?) novel of hers and I really enjoyed this one. I've always been particular about the second chance trope. Many elements of this trope can make or break a novel for me. My only real critique: I did feel like the mentioning of her best friend Stella for so much of the first half of the book, only for it be almost disregarded in the end was an interesting choice.. The main characters' joint trauma (loss of a best friend and relationship w/ their parents) seemed like a big driving force of their connection, despite the many years apart. I wish I had a bit more. As one of Toon's avid American readers, I've found her books fun to read and escape to. It's always difficult to want to put them down once I get started, and "What If I Never Get Over you" was no exception.

I happen to think most, if not all of her novels have the potential to be great film adaptations. I also think a duet narration for the audiobook would really elevate the experience. A good Welsh/Posh accent for Ash would. be 🔥

Thank you G.P Putnam's for the opportunity to read this one early!! ❤️

I am usually a fan of Toon’s but this one just didn’t work for me. Instead of becoming emotionally invested I grew annoyed with the wishy- washy, immature female protagonist and how many things that seemed thrown in to tug at my heart strings (awful parents, tragic losses of best friends, childhood trauma etc) felt more like paint by numbers attempts at character development. Nothing felt true to me and I quickly stopped caring.. Will still look forward to what Toon writes next but this is a book I would skip.

Ellie and Ash’s story is truly a roller coaster. There were so many romantic, sweet, loving moments. And then BAM plot twist after plot twist. Soooo many moments where my jaw was unhinged… Paige Toon knows how to keep you needing more! I think both characters had much needed growth, which was relieving to see. At some parts, I was like what are you doing????? But that’s given to fuel the story. Towards the end it seemed a tad rushed, but overall this was such a great book!

The book is split into 3 parts. They have a meet cute while interrailing in Europe ✨ the timeline jumps six years then another two. Some other tropes include hidden identity, forbidden love, and third act breakup

I absolutely LOVE Paige and her writing style. This story was so sweet, but also broke my heart! I loved the FMC and MMC's Love story.

I was so excited to read this story as I have read all of Paige’s books but it didn't pull me in like her other stories. I found some trouble connecting with each of the characters and their crappy families

Such a sweet story. Young love full of dreams, then adult love full of adulting. What I really liked about this book is that each of these characters needed to grow on their own before they could come back together. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

3.75 stars
The fact that Ellie and Ash had only 3 days together and loved each other and then never saw each other again for 6 years and then rekindled their loved? It kind of broke me. This story is filled with loss of best friends, broken relationships with parents, and a love that wants to be expressed freely but can't. Ellie and Ash do have a lot of miscommunication which did get a little annoying. Some of the book did seem to just drag on for a while and I did get bored. Other than that, this was a gripping book, that tugged on my heartstrings and played with it the whole way through.

This book was lovely - emotional, filled with all the feels, and very relatable. A great, easy read that makes you feel like you're reading a real life story. Perfect for a cozy read, characters that you're able to connect with, and even twisty and turny so you never get bored.

What If I Never Get Over You by Paige Toon is a poignant and beautifully written novel about love, loss, and the journey to healing. Toon masterfully captures the complexities of grief and moving on while weaving in moments of lightness and hope. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and I found myself rooting for the main characters every step of the way. The author’s ability to balance heartache with moments of joy made this book so engaging. It’s a perfect read for anyone who’s ever wondered if it’s possible to truly let go of a past love and find happiness again. I loved it and couldn't stop turning the pages! Highly recommend.

I eat up literally anything that Paige Toon writes and What If I Never Get Over You was no exception. Basically our main character Ellie meets Ash, both in their early 20s right out of college, on the last few days of her backpacking (or as they call it interrailing) trip through Europe. She's actually stopping her travels early and finally lets loose a bit when she meets him. Both have tragic backstories that help them relate to one another. They spend a magical three days together in Lisbon and agree to meet back up a week later in Spain, but due to some unfortunate travel hiccups, Ellie arrives to their meeting spot late and Ash isn't there.

Six years later, Ellie starts a new job at an estate and guess who she runs into? The man she hasn't been able to get out of her head since she was 21. This part of the book gave off some Bridgerton vibes to me, though this is by no means a historical fiction.

What I love about Paige Toon's writing is she doesn't just write a happy, straight forward love story. There are real life struggles and relatable hurdles her characters have to jump to to find their happily ever after. I was so riveted by this book I finished it in two days, the final chapters of which I read while streaming the final Eras Tour show because I literally couldn't put it down even for Taylor Swift.

What If I Never Get Over You is one of those stories that you can just feel the emotions throughout. I felt the passion between the two main characters and the losses that they felt. My favorite kind of story. So fantastic!

This was a strange book. It wasn’t bad, just strangely written. Everything felt rushed, and times where I really wanted to see the emotional connection between the main characters, it felt like it was glossed over and rushed through. It felt like a lot of ‘this happened, and then that happened, and then this happened’ and just seemed to be checking off boxes of what she wanted to write. I did really enjoy the characters though. Ash was wonderful and such a book boyfriend, and Ellie was very easy to understand and relate to. At the end of the day this was a fun, fast read, and I recommend it.

Whenever I start a Paige Toon, I just know that it is going to pack an emotional punch. Ash and Ellie's story did not disappoint.

These two really go through it - they met and instantly fall in love over the course of a few days. They agree to meet a week later and then it doesn't happen. Fast forward and years later they come face to face again. But they are completely different people than they were all those years ago.

Will the chemistry still be there between them? Are have they both completely gotten over the other one?

I absolutely adored these two - their love is profound and shines brightly throughout this book. My heart broke the first time their connection was missed, but when they found each other again, my heart felt full again. But of course, that doesn't mean that they were all hunky-dory from the start once again.

These characters go through all the high highs and low lows and I loved the journey they took together.

I cannot wait to read the next Paige Toon book!

What a roller coaster of emotions! I really enjoyed this book and finished it way too quickly. Loved the descriptions and time spent in and around the cabins. Author made it so easy to picture. Wish I knew more about plants. Made me look up the different varieties, so also very educational.

Ellie falls in love with Ash during a three-day trip to Europe, but he disappears when they plan to meet again. Six years later, Ellie is working as a gardener when Ash reappears, leading to a difficult choice about their future together.

This book was a rollercoaster of emotions, confusion, and impulsive decisions. I found myself connecting with the story on a personal level, as I too met my husband while traveling across the United States. After just a few dates, I knew he was the one for me. Sometimes, when you know, you just know...

When I want to take a break from my usual reading genre, I enjoy delving into fiction to stimulate my thoughts. I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon this book. It was a captivating read, filled with emotional depth and suspense. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, and as I read, I couldn't help but hope that Ash and Ellie's paths would cross once more.

The story was told with passion, and when their paths did intersect again, the plot thickened. I found myself rooting for the main characters, yearning for their happily ever after. However, life is unpredictable, and people change over time.

This well-crafted and heartwarming book is a delightful read. While it may be tempting to urge the characters to move on together, that wouldn't make for a compelling story. If you enjoy light romance, unexpected twists, and the promise of a happy ending, then this book is perfect for you. I hope I haven't given too much away - just read it and experience the magic for yourself.

Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

While I loved Ash and Ellie and the plot of this book, it took me forever to get through. I’m not a huge fan of the miscommunication/lack of communication trope, which may have played into this. There is some of their backstory and reasons why they did things the way they did, but there could have been way more to know the main characters better. The time jumps were a little confusing, especially when the characters changed so much during them without many details as they were happening.

I thoroughly enjoyed this heartfelt and beautifully written romance! The concept of love that spans years and continents was captivating, and I found myself eagerly turning pages to see how Ellie and Ash's story would unfold. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I couldn’t help but root for them to find their way back to each other despite all the obstacles.

Ellie and Ash are both incredibly likable and relatable characters. Ms. Toon does a wonderful job of crafting a story where difficult circumstances feel necessary for the characters’ growth and the ultimate resolution of their love story. The side characters added depth and charm to the narrative, enhancing the emotional journey without overshadowing the main plot.

The exploration of balancing personal dreams with the expectations of others was deeply resonant, and the “right person, wrong time” trope was executed with just the right amount of angst and hope. The growth of both Ellie and Ash, individually and as a couple, was compelling and gave the story a satisfying depth.

That said, Ellie’s repeated doubts about how they “didn’t fit together” felt a bit overemphasized, which slightly interrupted the pacing for me. However, the warmth and joy of the ending more than made up for it.

If you’re a fan of slow-burning, emotional romances with themes of second chances and personal growth, this book is a must-read. It’s the perfect combination of heartfelt, bittersweet moments and ultimate happiness. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ellie and Ash meet while both are on holiday in Europe and they instantly hit it off. While they only spent three days with each other, it was enough for them to know they were in love. However, while this was the beginning of Ash's trip, Ellie was supposed to head home the next day. They create a plan to meet back up in Madrid in exactly a week. Except Ash didn't have a phone during his trip and the two of them forgot to exchange their last names. So when Ellie shows up at their designated spot and Ash isn't there, she is absolutely heartbroken.
Six years later, Ellie defies her parents, leaves the family business, and becomes a gardener, he dream job. She scores a job with a wealthy family to help with their private gardens. It just so happens that this family is Ash's family and Ash is the heir to the viscount position. Throughout the book, there are several obstacles that manage to get in between the couple to keep them apart. Will true love overcome all?

This was a super cute read with forbidden love trope, second chance romance, and a sprinkle of royalty/wealthy status. Loved the story and I truly emphasized with the characters in this book. Being from the US, I did have to Google some British slang/terms we don't use here in the States. Overall, adorable feel-good book that was a quick read for me.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Every time I read one of this authors books I’m astonished at how they can start out as a light story and dissolve into depths which leave me gutted. An extraordinary story of love and its resilience. Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for read and review