Book Review: Still The One by Aimee Brown

Aimee Brown’s Still The One is a captivating blend of second-chance romance, heartfelt emotion, and slow-burning tension, providing readers with a delightful, swoon-worthy narrative that will appeal to fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, and contemporary romance lovers everywhere. At its core, the novel is a tender exploration of love lost and found, reminding us that time and space may not be enough to sever deep emotional ties between two people destined to be together.

Plot and Premise

The story revolves around Eve Cassidy and Guy Foster, whose whirlwind romance, marriage, and eventual break-up five years prior left deep emotional scars on both sides. Eve, still struggling with her belief in love, is unexpectedly drawn back into Guy’s life when she discovers that she remains listed as his next of kin after an accident. This unexpected call thrusts her back into his orbit, reigniting long-buried feelings that neither of them have fully moved on from. The plot takes off from here, focusing on their proximity as Guy recuperates in Eve's one-bedroom apartment—a perfect setup for the “forced proximity” trope that romance readers adore.

From the moment Eve re-enters Guy’s life, Brown creates a delicate emotional landscape, lacing it with humor, tension, and undeniable chemistry. The choice to have Eve care for Guy as he heals physically mirrors the emotional healing both characters undergo throughout the story. It’s not only a journey of reconnection but also one of personal growth, forgiveness, and rediscovery. This premise is wonderfully executed, avoiding clichés by balancing lighthearted moments with deeper reflections on love, heartbreak, and second chances.

Character Development

What makes Still The One so engaging is the depth of its characters, especially Eve and Guy. Brown crafts two deeply flawed, yet incredibly likable protagonists who are relatable in their imperfections. Eve is independent, guarded, and yet still vulnerable beneath her tough exterior, while Guy, despite his physical injury, remains charming and sincere, with layers of hurt and longing hidden beneath his devilishly blue eyes.

Eve’s hesitation to let Guy back into her life is realistically portrayed—she’s not a woman who forgives easily, and Brown does a wonderful job of slowly unpacking the layers of resentment and heartache that linger between them. Guy’s own journey, meanwhile, is poignant; he’s a man who never truly moved on from Eve and is grappling with his mistakes. His earnest desire to win her back, combined with moments of vulnerability, makes for a compelling “he falls first” arc that will leave readers rooting for his redemption.

The secondary characters, though not central, are well-written and add richness to the story. They provide light comedic relief and supportive counterpoints to the main couple’s turbulent relationship, helping the story maintain balance between emotional intensity and witty dialogue.

Romantic Tension and Chemistry

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its romantic tension. Brown expertly builds a simmering connection between Eve and Guy that grows more palpable with each interaction. Their shared history gives their relationship an undeniable depth, while their close quarters create a space where old habits resurface, and unresolved feelings rise to the surface. The slow-burn romance feels organic and deeply satisfying, as every stolen glance and lingering touch carries the weight of their unresolved past.

The tension is further heightened by the fact that, for both Eve and Guy, the stakes are high. Both characters are cautious yet longing to rekindle what they once had. This dynamic adds a level of emotional complexity that makes the resolution all the more rewarding. By the time their feelings finally spill over into something more, readers are fully invested in their journey.

Themes of Healing and Forgiveness

Beneath the surface of this romantic tale, Brown weaves in deeper themes of healing and forgiveness. Both Eve and Guy are wounded by their past, not just from their relationship but from personal struggles as well. Still The One is, in many ways, a story about confronting unresolved feelings, learning to forgive, and realizing that love is not always perfect but can still be worth fighting for.

Eve’s journey toward vulnerability is particularly moving. Her reluctance to trust again and her fear of being hurt add a layer of realism to the romance that many readers will find refreshing. This is not a love story where everything falls into place easily. Instead, it’s about two people who have to confront their flaws and make peace with their pasts to build a future together.

Writing Style

Aimee Brown’s writing positively sparkles with wit, humor, and heart. She strikes the perfect balance between light, flirty banter and raw emotional depth, making the story accessible yet impactful. Brown’s characters speak with authentic voices, and her knack for infusing humor into everyday situations provides many laugh-out-loud moments, even when the emotional stakes are high. The pacing is spot-on, allowing readers to savor the slow-burning romance while still keeping them engaged with the progression of the story.

Conclusion

Still The One is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant romance that delivers all the feels. Aimee Brown has crafted a story that is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, with characters that are easy to root for and a romance that feels both fresh and timeless. For anyone who loves a good second-chance romance, with all the delicious tension and emotional depth that comes with it, this book is a must-read.

Whether you’re a fan of Emily Henry’s insightful and witty love stories or Abby Jimenez’s emotionally charged romances, Still The One will not disappoint. Aimee Brown has created a love story that lingers long after the last page is turned, reminding us all that sometimes, love is worth a second chance.

This was a cute second chance romance , where we follow Foster and Eve as they navigate seeing each other for the first time 5 (ish) years after their break up. We know going into the book Foster is in an accident and Eve ends up looking after him, I really enjoyed reading about her supporting and helping him heal. This allowed them to slowly talk about the past and rediscover the things they liked about each other.

I enjoyed that the book included flashbacks to their past, allowing us to see how their relationship previously developed and got to see their pivotal moments before they separated. It added depth to the story and gave some insight to their past.

Overall this was a fun and enjoyable read!

I LOVED THIS STORY! I've read a few of Aimee Brown's books and this one is something extra special. I'm a sucker for a guy with tattoos and he reminded me of a guy in my building, so totally relatable! What I loved about this book:

The writing style: The wit and humor just had me giggling.
The story: I was surprised by the emotions I felt for these two.
The characters: I mentioned the tattoos. :) But also Eve and (Guy) Foster felt so real to me. Like I knew them personally, and that's hard to do. It must be because I don't feel that with most the books I read.

5/5 stars from me on this one! Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC! Can't wait for the next book. Gonna have to go back and read some of her other books I missed.

This was a cute story. With one bad accident Foster literally crashes back into Eve’s life. Jumping back and forth from real time to five years before you get their whirlwind relationship recap and where they are currently in their lives. Foster and Eve never had closure from their short marriage. Seeing each other again brings up all sorts of emotions. The struggle is real to not fall back into old habits. Can a thrill junkie and a career nurse find what it takes to make it work? A lot of laughter, tears and love seem to be the answer. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

Aimee, you wrote such a beautiful, honest, and true love story! It was so relatable, and just from page one was wonderful. It was fantastic. I loved it!

Great book. Great characters. Realistic plot. The author did a great job of telling a story with the right amount of pages.