First off, I would like to thank PENGUIN GROUP Putnam|G.P. Putnam's Sons and author @paigetoonauthor for allowing to read this novel, What If I Never Get Over You, via #netgalley. All opinions following are my own.

The story follows Ellie, who, while interrailing alone through Europe, shares an unforgettable three-day connection with Ash. They plan to reunite in Madrid in a week, but fate intervenes, and they lose touch and are never able to meet up. Heartbroken, Ellie decides to rebuild her life.

Six years later, Ellie, now working as a gardener on a grand estate in Wales, unexpectedly crosses paths with Ash again. When he finally gets her to speak to him, Ellie finds out the real reason he never met her in Madrid, which causes her heart to break all over again for Ash, herself, and the future she so desperately wants but knows they can never truly share despite what their renewed connection might cause her to feel.

Easily, this book was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read. In fact, this has been my favorite read so far this year. It was beautifully written, and the characters were so well-developed. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time, and Paige Toon definitely has a new fan. Be sure to check this one out. It was just published on April 15!


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4.5/5 stars

What If I Never Get Over You is a contemporary romance. It is my first book by this author.

My book club chose this book so I was excited to try a new to me author. Ellie and Ash meet in Lisbon (Portugal). They are both interrailing in Europe. I truthfully had never heard the term "interrailing". But it's where you can get a pass to take trains around Europe.

I went into this book blind. So I was a bit surprised at what happened after they left Lisbon. This book was definitely more heartbreaking than I was expecting. But it was also moving to see a couple feel such an intense attraction to each other.

The book is divided into four parts. It features the female POV only. When the book begins Ellie is 21 years old. She is lonely and not very confident. Her parents are very controlling and they want her to work with them at their family business. Ellie loves gardening. Ash loves space. I really enjoyed how both of their passions were part of the book.

The book does take place over a number of years, which I wasn't expecting. A lot of it takes place in Wales. The book is definitely a love story. However there is definitely a lot more to the book especially to do with family.

A Court of Thorns and Roses plays an important part in this book. And I actually love that aspect.

Overall this is about love and loss. It's a beautiful story that will make you feel.

Such an emotional rollercoaster! This love story tugged at my heart and made me feel all the feels. The romance was beautiful and the second chance….third chance…. ugh the angst, the love, the loss, it’s all there and beautifully written.

What If I Never Get Over You by Paige Toon
Pub Date April 15, 2025
Rating: 4 Stars

Thank you to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

In Paige Toon's latest release, when Ellie embarks on an adventure interrailing across Europe, the last thing she expects is to meet Ash. The two find themselves together with a deep connection unlike anything in her wildest dreams. When they separate, and agree to meet up within a couple of days, Ellie is excited to see where their future will take them together, but when she arrives to the designated meeting place late due to circumstances beyond her control, Ash is nowhere to be found, and she has no way of contacting him.

Fast forward six years, and Ellie has landed her dream job working as a gardener at an impressive estate in Wales. While she bonds with the other estate employees, she is shocked to meet the son of the owners - and immediately recognizes him as the man who vanished from her life six years prior.

What If I Never Get Over You takes us through the ups and downs of Ellie and Ash's relationship, over a period of many years.

Overall, this is a solid 4-star read. The writing is emotional and thoughtful, and the characters felt real and relatable. While there were a few minor flaws that held it back from being a five-star favorite, I still really enjoyed it and found myself eager to keep reading. This is my third Paige Toon novel, and once again, she delivers a romance with real heart and depth.

Paige Toon's What If I Never Get Over You is a tender and utterly captivating tale that will sweep you off your feet. From the sun-drenched streets of Lisbon to the enchanting landscapes of Wales, Toon crafts a world where second chances bloom in the most unexpected of places.

Ellie and Ash's story begins with a spark, a whirlwind of connection that feels both fleeting and fated. Their brief time together leaves an indelible mark, a "what if" that lingers in the heart for years to come. Toon's writing beautifully captures the ache of longing and the enduring power of first love.

When fate reunites Ellie and Ash, the story unfolds with a delicate grace. Toon explores the complexities of their pasts and the obstacles that threaten to keep them apart, weaving a narrative that is both heartwarming and poignant. The characters are drawn with such tenderness and depth that you can't help but root for them to find their way back to each other.

What If I Never Get Over You is a celebration of love's resilience and the magic of second chances. It's a charming, sweet, and utterly engaging read that will leave you with a smile in your heart and a renewed belief in the power of connection.

Check out this teaser :

Three days to fall in love. Six years to try to forget.

Ellie didn’t expect to fall in love while interrailing through Europe. But she also didn’t expect to meet a man like Ash. Three blistering days in Lisbon is all it takes to form an unforgettable connection—a bond deep enough for them to scrap their itineraries and plan to meet again in Spain. But Ellie arrives late, and Ash is nowhere to be found.

Six years later, Ellie has landed her dream job working as a gardener for a viscount and viscountess on their sprawling five-hundred-year-old estate in Wales. She finds peace amongst the towering topiary hedges and colorful gardens, but her idyll is shattered when Ash crashes back into her life. And when it becomes clear why he didn’t show in Madrid, her heart breaks anew—for what the truth means for their fate.

But they have never been able to resist each other, and when the sparks of their attraction fly, Ellie’s life will catch flame. She will have to make a choice.

Carley Fortune and Lucy Score fans, this one is for you. An emotional but swoony story about second chances, social class, heartbreak, and finding the way to be the real you.
Thank you Putnam for the review copy and gifted ARC! This is an emotionally resonant story that will be a big summer win for many readers who love the heartbreak=y, emotional stories that explore what happens when love is lost but then the chance for a second shot emerges... but is it worth the risk of another heartbreak, of being forced to think about social class and family challenges, and is it worth perhaps a shot at happiness with someone else? Paige Toon's story explores all of these feelings and brings to light the intensity of young love with the very real feelings of heartbreak that endures as well as thoughtful points about what it means to be yourself, not who your parents want or expect you to be.

What if I Never Get Over You is Paige Toon's latest book and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Ellie and Ash meet while traveling, sparks fly, and real life interferes. Watching them work their way to find one another again and seeing them grow into themselves and the lives they really want is a journey that I enjoyed taking.
Toon keeps the pace moving along, and this was a great book to read sitting on the beach!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this romance in exchange for an honest review. What If I Never Get Over You is available now.

This is very YA/NA and a lot of miscommunication. I still devoured the book but if you don’t like you get books and that trope, I can see you not enjoying this one. I did appreciate that enough time was spent on the three days they fell madly in love.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What If I Never Get Over You is a second-chance romance full of emotion, longing, and what-ifs. Ellie and Ash connect fast and hard during a three-day whirlwind in Lisbon, with plans to reunite in Madrid. But when Ash doesn’t show, Ellie’s left heartbroken and wondering. Fast forward six years, she’s living her best quiet life as a gardener in Wales—until Ash shows up with the truth that changes everything.

This story is all about timing, missed chances, and how much people can change. Ellie and Ash have undeniable chemistry, but life hasn’t exactly made it easy for them. The emotional tension between them is strong, and the way their past affects their present feels honest and earned.

It’s angsty, emotional, and full of heart. If you’re into stories about reconnecting, tough choices, and imperfect people trying to figure it all out, this one’s worth picking up.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam, @putnambooks and NetGalley, @netgalley for the gifted ebook arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars
Ellie and Ash meet in Spain and have a whirlwind three days. They plan to meet up again a week later, but it doesn't happen. Six years pass, and we find out they've both been hung up on each other. Except the info that wasn't shared during the first few days makes a difference.
I struggled with Ellie's insistence that they couldn't be together long term. It was obviously what she wanted, but she didn't want to come up with solutions to achieve it. And Ash's relationship/friendship with Beca was questionable. I also found the ending (the part 2 more years on) difficult to wrap my head around.
An interesting read.

What If I Never Get Over You by Paige Toon is a heart-wrenching romance that follows Ellie, a woman who unexpectedly falls in love with Ash during a brief interrailing trip through Europe. After three unforgettable days together in Lisbon, Ash disappears when Ellie arrives late in Madrid, leaving her heartbroken. Six years later, Ellie has moved on and landed her dream job as a gardener in Wales, only for Ash to reappear and explain why he never showed up. The emotional rollercoaster that follows is one of love, loss, and tough choices, as Ellie is forced to confront the truth about her past and decide whether she can have a second chance at love.

This is exactly why we read romance books.

Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC.

I absolutely LOVE Paige Toon’s books and her writing, but to be honest, I didn’t love the insta-love vibes in this one very much. This one, I just wanted more from.

Ellie meets Ash while traveling through Europe. They have an immediate attraction that they nurture over the next three days, culminating in a promise to meet a week later in another city. Taking a big chance on Ash, Ellie is there for the meet-up but Ash is not there. Over the next six years, she moves forward, never forgetting Ash. When she lands her dream job, she has no idea how everything will prove to be interconnected. Will she be able to trust Ash again? What about their disparity in backgrounds and future? Is love enough? All of these questions need to be asked and answered.

I really enjoyed this romance, from the start of their relationship, full of hope and a serious growing attraction, to Ellie's successes in work and her own life, to the still-strong feelings of love between Ellie and Ash after years of separation. I adore a good "bad-timing" story and this one hits all the high and low points just right.

While it took a few pages to get engaged with this story, it wasn't long before I was hooked on this story and the characters, especially Ash and Ellie. There is also a nice group of coworkers that are part of Ellie's life. Ellie is the sole narrator for this story, so everything is from her point of view.

This was a very satisfying romance, with great characters and interesting story arcs, especially for Ellie. I absolutely loved this from start to finish.

I didn’t love nor hate this one. I loved seven summers so I had high expectations and I just couldn’t connect with this like that that one. It was still a good story but I didn’t love it.

This is a very well written, heartfelt romance. Ash and Ellie’s story is a roller coaster ride! It’s an emotional story of love, lost love and a second chance. A very engaging read

An “invisible string” love story?! I was SOLD.

Ellie is backpacking through Europe and meets Ash- they hit it off IMMEDIATELY. They make plans to meet up in Spain, and alas, Ash doesnt arrive. Six years later, Ellie lands her dream job as a gardener for an estate when Ash reappears, then second chance romance, you get the jist.

I really, really wanted to love this one but I just felt like both Ash and Ellie were trying to hard to make the relationship NOT work. Too much back and forth about how it would never work out between them, etc. I don’t believe this is a YA story, but it certainly read that way and seemed like your quintessential “high school” romance, but these characters are in their mid-20s. I just could not get into these characters’ heads or really relate to them at all, and I don’t think I’d really recommend this one to anyone in a more “mature” demographic.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

✨ 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ✨

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗻

Thank you so much to @paigetoonauthor @putnambooks @penguinusa & @netgalley for the eARC copy of this book! 🫶🏼

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
💟 second chance
🧡 insta-love
💟 travel/interrailing
🧡 grief & loss
💟 family dynamics
🧡 open door romance
💟 FMC’s POV

𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦: Paige Toon is the queen of emotional love stories! She really knows how to rip your heart out but then puts it back together in the end. When Ash & Ellie first meet while interrailing, they have an instant connection where they both feel as if they can be their true selves around each other. Ash pushes Ellie to pursue her dreams of becoming a gardener & that is what stems their second meet up years later after they initially met for the first time while traveling. Secrets are unraveled between them & family dynamics challenge their relationship but this one does end in a happily ever after!

This is a classic insta-love two people meet and are separated time and again through circumstances of their own making and you’re just wondering if they’ll ever really make it. I want to say I didn’t like this book because it was full of insta-love, stupid decisions, not even miscommunication but lack of it entirely but honestly in the end I loved it. I couldn’t see how they’d make it work and while they both made me so angry, I was rooting for them, idk why. Would read again lol.

I am a big fan of Paige Toon’s SEVEN SUMMERS and was excited to get my hands on an advance copy of her newest book. I wish I could say I loved it.

The premise is intriguing — the main characters meet while each is traveling solo throughout Europe. They spend three days together and agree to meet in a week’s time in Madrid, but fate intervenes and the reunion does not happen. Years later they are reunited under very different circumstances. Does the spark remain? Can they find their way back to each other?

Toon delivers another novel packed with emotional highs and lows. Her writing is lovely. The problems for me are threefold. First, I’m not a big fan of insta-love. It rarely comes off as genuine and it seemed far fetched here especially when you consider the amount of pining Ellie does for Ash. Second, the miscommunication trope is my absolute least favorite. This book is rife with it. Third, the book has a very YA feel. Now, I love YA literature when I’m expecting it, but this book is not marketed as such.

Toon is a gifted writer and I know others will adore this book. She writes angst and longing in ways that make your heart ache. This was a bit of a miss for me, mostly because my expectations for her writing are so high.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Anything written by Paige, you know you're going to fall in love with. They way she has the ability to make you feel raw and make you feel the emotions of the characters. Even though at times I wanted to yell at Ellie for the way she was acting. I loved her and Ash together. Also finding out that Ash was really Ashton, a son of a Viscount and someone she didn't think she could be with. What she doesn't know that the three days she spend with him in Lisbon, wrecked him when they couldn't keep their promise of meeting and continue interrailing through Europe. Now, it's six years since then and these two are back in each other's lives. Can they pick up where they start? Or has the years changed these two too much for any chance as rekindling their romance?