Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to read a review.

Overall, this book was a miss for me. There were some truly beautiful passages of writing, but the main character was hard to connect with for me, I don’t think that she was under-developed, but I just didn’t gel with her. I did really like the relationships with her father and friends and wished that would have been explored more.

Mild spoiler alert: So much time in the novel was devoted to Lincoln that I felt like Aaron came out of nowhere and it was hard to root for him because their connection seemed to be just about instant attraction. I wish more time could have been devoted to their relationship, but the last chapter was satisfying.

A story of self discovery and identity, mixed into a second chance love triangle.

When Cora goes off to college, she is desperate to reinvent herself. Making new friends and falling in love is what you're supposed to do in college isn't it? But young love is a rollercoaster and when things aren't going well with Lincoln, Cora meets Aaron, leaving Cora confused on which love to choose. 20 years later, Cora has a second chance at love when not one, but both men come back into her life, leaving her with the same difficult choice to make.

The throwback nostalgic vibes of this book was fun! I usually really enjoy stories that have a then vs now aspect. I personally am not the biggest fan of love triangles or why choose, because I feel like one of the love interests never gets as much 'screen time." There was alot more story build up with Lincoln than Aaron, and though yes some loves come out of left field and are a whirlwind, I couldn't connect with the characters as much.

Thank you to Atria for the ARC of All the men I've Loved Again.

2.5 rounded up to 3.

There wasn't much I liked about this story besides Cora's roommates. I didn't like Cora at all, so it was really difficult to connect with her. I thought she was whiny and selfish. Her mistakes in college were understandable. But as an adult, the choices she was making were very poor ones. I wish I could say more, but this one was unforgettable at best.

As someone in my 30s, I recognize that this story may be more impactful for a younger audience. The themes around love, self-discovery, and emotional growth seem well suited for readers just starting to navigate those chapters of life.

I did have a tough time getting into the flow of the book. The writing style made it feel like scenes were jumping around, and I often felt like I’d missed something on the page. That sense of disconnection made it harder to stay immersed in the story.

That said, I’m considering giving it another read. I can see the potential in the characters and themes, and it’s possible that my current environment or headspace influenced how I received the book. I think younger readers will find a lot to connect with here, especially those looking for a heartfelt, reflective read.

This story follows Cora throughout the loves she has had in her life. Two men in particular, Lincoln and Aaron, are now back in her life, and she has to decide which direction to take. I have never read a book like this before - it almost has Taylor Jenkins Reid vibes with the following throughout her life. I think this story's most important element is how Cora grows in her relationships throughout her life. The men were very mid. I loved seeing Cora take what she has learned and prioritize it in her next relationship. Thank you for this e-arc!

This book is a coming of age story of Cora, as much as it is a romance. I enjoyed reading about her college experience in the late 90’s as she meets her best friends, and navigates romantic relationships between two love interests. Twenty years later, she finds herself in a position where both men are back in her life, and she has a decision to make about how she wants to move forward.

This book was thought provoking and relatable, although I actually saw myself more in her college character, and felt some of her adult decisions were immature. The writing was fantastic! I think a lot of people will pick this up thinking it’s a love triangle romance, but it’s more about self discovery. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I think if you like a coming of age story with a bit of romance, you’ll also enjoy it.

I love Christine Pride's other books but this one just wasn't for me. I had a hard time connecting with the main character. She was naive but also a bit self-centered. The letters interspersed were a little confusing and I wish we met Aaron before reading the letters.

Follow Cora's love life from her first love Lincoln in college to the one that got away in Aaron. Now she's at a crossroads with both of them again in her life.

This was an interesting one. It's really the story of Cora and the men that were the most important in her life that all taught her something, In my opinion, her father was the best man in her life. That relationship was so good and I loved reading about them. As for the romantic side, you do get a lot of growth from Cora because of her relationships. That to me is the most important part of this. The guys...were okay. Lincoln wasn't amazing. I liked Aaron but didn't get to see enough of him to be honest.
Overall, I did like the perspective in this. Cora talks about some really relevant issues that are deeply personal to her which was a great addition.

Al in all, a good coming of age romance that spans years.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

2.5 stars. Let me preface my review by saying I tend to add books to my to-read shelf (or request advanced copies of them) and then when I actually decide to read a book, I don’t read the synopsis over again (I did back when I added or requested the title). I find these summaries sometimes give away a plot point that might not occur for quite awhile, and then I just spend all the pages before anticipating it. I’d rather go in a little blindly and have more surprises awaiting me.

This method backfired on me this time - based on the title and playful cover, I was thinking this was a rom (yes) com (no). I think had I gone in with the right mindset, I would have enjoyed it more. Instead, I thought I was getting light reading but it was pretty heavy (though good). I believe I at least need to take a look at the tagged genres/themes of a book before I dive in!

As it turns out, the last book I finished was of a similar concept - Pioneer Summer. After a summer camp romance, two teens make a pact to reunite in 10 years, but the hunt to find each other again (per Internet times) takes an additional decade. Like Pioneer Summer, I enjoyed the present day story more than the original romances of Cora’s youth.

Finally, let me say that I wasn’t enamored with either man and didn’t want her to end up with either one!

This book was more of a coming of age story for Cora than a love story in my opinion. However, I enjoyed the love triangle trope. I expected more of the book to take place in the future but really half (if not more) of it takes place while she’s still in college. I gave it 4 stars because I felt I wanted a little something more in the ending.

3.5/5 stars - The past timeline of this book was amazing. All the Men I've Loved Again begins in the fall of 1999 as Cora begins her freshman year of college. It follows Cora as she meets her first love, Lincoln. I loved the nostalgia vibes of the past timeline! It read more like a coming of age/upper YA romance. I also appreciated the role Cora's friends have in the group and liked that she had a solid group of girlfriends. I also enjoyed this book focused on finding love again in your 40s. Most of the romance books I read are about characters in their 20s or early 30s, so this was refreshing to read. Cora's relationship with her father was also one of my favorite things about this book!

This book is marketed as a love triangle/second chance romance. While Cora does have to decide between two men, the majority of the book is focused on her relationship with Lincoln. There are letters from Aaron sprinkled in between chapters. But we don't officially meet Aaron towards the end of the past timeline, and his character seemed really underdeveloped.

The present timeline was kind of boring to read. When Aaron is introduced again in the present day, I found it hard to care about his connection with Cora. I also didn't really root for Lincoln and Cora because it was clear they weren't a good match 20 years later. I recommend picking this up if you enjoy:

-Black romances
-Y2K nostalgia
-Father/daughter relationships
-Second chance romances

All the Men I’ve Loved Again by Christina Pride has an intriguing concept that immediately caught my attention: revisiting past loves with a chance to reflect, reframe, or reignite. There are glimmers of something really special here—especially in the moments where the author explores vulnerability, growth, and the complexity of modern relationships. It is super relatable, and I found myself thoroughly invested in some of her stories of reflection.

The writing has its strengths, particularly in the emotionally honest passages, and the central character has a voice that feels relatable and grounded. Some of the romantic and personal reflections struck a chord and made me pause in a good way.

That said, the pacing felt uneven at times, and a few of the relationships didn’t feel as fully developed as I’d hoped. Certain scenes felt rushed, while others lingered a bit too long without deepening the story.

Overall, I’m glad I read it, but not sure it was a favorite of 2025!

This was an interesting spin on a romance novel, and while it was not my absolute favorite, I loved the strength of the main character and her refusal to accept less than she was worth. I feel like this was more a story of a woman's truth than anything, and I am here for that. The story and characters were well developed and showed a young girl's growth and transformation into a woman. Two lost loves and two second chances... what could go wrong? Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this arc!

I was looking forward to this novel, and it turned out to be a powerful, emotional ride. From the first few chapters, I felt drawn into the story and invested in the characters and the paths they were on. It didn’t take long before I felt connected to their struggles, even when their choices weren’t the same ones I might have made.

By the time I reached the end, I felt both sadness and joy. It was a mix of emotions that lingered with me. The story took some turns that surprised me, and at times, it was more intense than I expected. But it never felt forced—it always came back to the characters and how those moments shaped them.

Not every decision in the book aligned with what I would’ve done, but that made it feel more real. Everyone has their own journey, and I was genuinely glad she found her way in the end. It left me feeling thoughtful, and a little bit changed.

DNF at 55%, unfortunately.

Two major things held me back from enjoying this book enough to complete it:
1) I'd requested this book specifically because I was excited that the protagonist would be around 40. I'm constantly lamenting that there aren't enough older FMCs in romance right now, so I try to read as many books containing them as possible! Unfortunately, just a little more than halfway through, the whole book so far has been set during the characters' college days instead of boldly featuring an older FMC.

2) While I don't know who Cora ultimately ends up with, it doesn't matter - at this point in the book, we only know Lincoln, Aaron has only appeared in out-of-context letters. And sorry ladies, I can't stand Lincoln. Assuming she ends up with him, I can't imagine staying with someone who you have to hide an abortion from, lie to excessively, and then he cheats on you. Even if, by the time the book goes back to modern day, it would've been a long time ago, for me as a reader it would be recent, and I can't stand to read about the guy anymore, I'm still going to hold a grudge even if Cora doesn't.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review! I'm sorry that this one wasn't for me, but I do hope other reads find something to enjoy in it.

My main issue with this book was the main characters she was much to self absorbed. Charming title and concept but the character killed it for me

This book started out great— I felt like I was back in fall of 1999 starting my own freshman year at college with Cora. Cora’s character was well developed but I just didn’t like her much. I loved her friends though. This is a coming-of-age novel as Cora leaves home to attend college, makes life long friends and develops her first real relationships outside of her family.

What I liked:
-Nostalgic vibes
-Friendships that Cora develops

What didn’t work for me:
-Aaron’s letters interspersed between Lincoln chapters before he was even introduced to the reader
-dragged slowly in some areas where it felt like Cora was too self absorbed

I rate this 2.5 stars - it started out strong and enjoyable but I lost interest 2/3 of the way in.

Thank you Atria books for sharing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“All the Men I’ve Loved Again” follows Cora as she’s closing in on 40 and finds herself back in the love triangle she had in college. We go between 1999 and more present day as she decides ultimately what her best choice is.

While a charming concept, I was left ultimately disappointed in this book. Pride’s writing feels underdeveloped, with characters lacking in motivation or inspiration for a reader to latch on to. Rather than letting the audience in, it felt like the story was being forced more often than not.

The romance felt forced and rushed, as though the love triangle storyline was an after thought. And the love interests felt ultimately 2D.

A wholly disappointing though easy summer read.

Thank you NetGalley & Publishers for the DRC.

It took me a moment to really settle into this one, but once I did, I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. Told in two timelines, it follows Cora, a woman nearing forty who finds herself reunited with the two men who stole her heart in her early twenties!

A very different story, but this actually reminded me a bit of the Netflix show 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, with Cora as a young Black woman navigating college and finding an epic love. And like 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, the story doesn’t follow a continuous day-to-day timeline. Chapters often skipped ahead by months! I loved that sense of unexpectedness, the early 2000s nostalgia, and how the past and present came together. One love story unfolds in real time while getting letters from another, and the way the two ultimately converge was just so juicy!

It’s a messy, emotionally layered story with lots of highs and lows for Cora and those around her. There’s some potentially triggering moments, so do keep that in mind. It’s not a romance that made me absolutely swoon, I must admit, but I was 100% invested in these characters and the outcome!

2.5 stars I'm so sorry

Brief overview:

Back in college in 1999, Cora finally forms a trio of friends and feels like she's fitting in. Suddenly, she meets Lincoln and everything changes. Then she meets Aaron, and it changes yet again. Flash forward to 2021 and she finds herself stuck between the same two men yet again.

My thoughts:

It is a beautifully written story with some excellent quotes, such as "instead of keeping you safe, your fears can keep you small." Unfortunately, though, something about it just did not work. It took me a week to read this 320 page novel (should typically take me two days) because I simply could not get into it. I didn't find the characters to be relatable or lovable or even really that interesting. The love triangle didn't feel real to me, as we never actually got to know Aaron until like the last two chapters.

If you're into lovely writing that doesn't move particularly fast, I think this would be a good fit!

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the chance to read this early.