Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Christine Pride for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I struggled to get into this book and feel connected to the characters. At several points I wasn’t a fan of any of them except Wes (FMCs dad).

I did appreciate the close female friendships shown throughout the story and how friendship goes through ups and downs. It was impressive to see how these 3 stayed together through it all.

Cora is a shy, sheltered freshman who finds herself very infatuated with her first boyfriend. A few years in there is trouble and while her boyfriend, Lincoln, is trying to win her back she meets Aaron and has an unexpected connection with him. He soon goes to Paris but they stay in contact sending letters.

Fast forward 20 years and Cora finds herself back in contact with both Lincoln and Aaron.

The structure and pacing felt a little clunky to me. It would between college days, present, and letters from Aaron. Several of the letters were before we even met Aaron.

Overall, I didn’t love the characters. Cora I understood the most but didn’t love how she was sort of playing games. I did appreciate her decision at the end and how she wasn’t going to have a default.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.

I was so excited to receive this advanced copy because I simply adored "We Are Not Like Them". Of course this concept was vastly different, but I was still excited to give it a go. The execution on this just did not work for me. I never felt fully connected and just was ready for the story to end.

Unfortunately, I struggled with this book and DNF'd it pretty early on. This was not for me but I am sure others will resonate with Cora.

While intriguing, the story did not grab me, despite trying a few times. The part that I did read (first 20%) moved too slow, had little to no energy and most of it was Cora's internal thoughts or descriptions.

I was drawn in by the premise and appreciated the emotional depth, especially the relationships Cora had with her father and friends. However, the love triangle felt unbalanced, with one relationship getting far more attention than the other. The pacing lagged in parts, and while the writing was thoughtful, the story didn’t fully deliver on its romantic setup. A heartfelt read overall, but not a standout for me.

I liked the premise of this book but not the execution. The timelines didn't work for me and we focused on things and times that I wasn't expecting but not in a good way.

3.5 stars downgraded to 3 stars.

I was immediately sold on the premise of this novel: a woman finds herself caught between the same two love interests who once vied for her heart twenty years ago. This story- Pride's solo debut- follows Cora from college freshman to career woman torn between two very different men from her past.

While the book was well-written and I enjoyed the story, the slow pacing and balance threw me off. The story is primarily told through Cora's college years and the majority of the book is spent focusing on one of her love interests, Lincoln. Very little time is dedicated to her other love interest Aaron (think years vs days). It's hard to imagine that these two relationships have the same weight to Cora years later. The present story, where Cora reunites with both Lincoln and Aaron, is only the last 25% of the story, and again the second love interest comes in at the very end so it lacks the push-and-pull and tension of a love triangle. It's more accurate to say that what Cora is actually picking between is an old love that is comfortable and safe and an opportunity never explored.

For me, I much preferred the relationships Cora had with her strong and supportive female college-to-adulthood friends. Cora's sweet relationship with her father Wes is the standout of this novel and I wanted her to recognize the amazing qualities in her father and pick a partner that reflected the loving man who single-handedly raised her.

This was just an okay read for me with the unique and compelling premise never fully actualized. This is more of a character driven novel than it is a second chance romance, but I think it will appeal to readers who like coming of age novels or books about first loves.

I normally don't like "multiple timeline" books, however, this one was entertaining. Cora was a bit much to take at times, however, I can understand how she found her self in the same situation again. New to me author, I enjoyed the book.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the arc!

All The Men I've Loved Again is a story of growth, the beautiful & confusing hauntings of a first and second loves, regrets, and the fear of following your heart. It follows Cora as she dives into her past in hopes to figure out which man to choose. It details her first love, her second love, and all of the struggles she faced in between that helped her grow and learn.

This is a story I think a lot of readers will be able to relate to in some way! It's enjoyable, genuine, and vulnerable. It was an interesting take on a love triangle and I really appreciated the way that Christine Pride handled it!

Cora's an inviting character, and although she frustrated me at certain points, I understood her & was rooting for her to find her way, to make the right choice! I really enjoyed the dual timeline aspect & the fact that it didn't alternate between past & present. It made it a lot easier to follow Cora's journey, the love stories we are presented with, and her overall growth as a person.

While this wasn't 100% the book for me, I would totally recommend giving it a chance if you're in the mood for women's fiction with a heavy dose of romance!

I couldn’t get into this book despite repeated attempts. I’m the wrong reader for it. I worked at a university during the first time period of this tale, so I thought it would be fun to see it from a different perspective. But the writing and the topic just didn’t jell for me. I found the protagonist and the writing style too immature for my interests, rather than humorous or romantic. I was unable to finish the book.

I knocked one star off because this is not a romance book, and I think marketing it as such (and that cover) does this book a huge disservice. I can see that same perspective in some of the other reviews - what genre you put a book in defines the expectation going in, and I think some missed out on a truly staggering, emotional beatdown of a book because they were looking for romance and got women's fic/lit fic instead. This book is gorgeous, painful, layered, and has a voice that I think a lot of readers can relate to and learn from.

Cora starts college wanting to become another version of herself, to transform into someone bigger and brighter. She gets lucky because she makes two amazing friends, Kim and Neisha, who are truly with her for life, and help her become the person she thinks she wants to be. Having been raised by an utterly amazing single dad, there's a gap in her social education that she gets from her friends. Truly, the way their relationship grows and changes over 20 years is the highlight of this book. Friendship means never having to say thank you, or I'm sorry - and all these women take that to heart.

Cora meets her first love in college, Lincoln, who comes from nothing and wants everything. They are a great first relationship until they're not, and in the same window of time that Cora gets her heartbroken by Lincoln, other things in her life go painfully wrong before she is truly mature enough to handle them. Lincoln is both amazing and also absolutely sucks, and the things they go through, or that Cora goes through alongside him, are big. They are truly complicated, and even life-altering. Cora is so much more mature and put together than she thinks she is, and I appreciate that she learns to put herself first (with the help of her friends.)

Reeling from what happened with Lincoln and other life things, she takes a job digitizing a photo archive for Aaron, who ends up being younger and Blacker than she was expecting, and the two share an instant connection. While it's clear this relationship is important and is the third leg of the triangle, I wish we SAW more of the two of them on-page prior to their big encounter and the present interactions. They clearly bonded over a few months of working together and we only hear about it when they talk about memories or in letters. Aaron gives Cora a sense of rightness, peace, and a lack of pressure that she's never experienced before. And then it's gone.

In the present, Cora has reconnected with Lincoln but is still holding back, and by pure fate Aaron also re-enters her life. She's pulled in too many different directions and has to reflect on the past (which is why we see most of it) and use it to help guide her future. Present Cora also has a therapist, which I think helps with all of it, a lot.

There is an HEA to the romance subplot, but I want to reiterate, don't read this for the romance. Read it for the big amazing story of the things that defined Cora, and for her finally embracing all of these things and realizing she's a mfing adult, and can follow her own peace and joy. I was so damn proud of her by the end of the book. Lots of crying at multiple points.

I ended up DNFing this one. I found the story to be very slow and couldn’t connect to the story or characters

Rating: 3 stars

All the Men I’ve Loved Again is a thoughtful, character-driven novel that blends romance with self-discovery, identity, and the enduring pull of the past. The story follows Cora Belle, who, after two decades of heartbreak and growth, finds herself reconnecting with two great loves from her college years—Lincoln, her ambitious first love, and Aaron, the one who got away in Paris.

While the novel is marketed as a love triangle, it often feels more like a coming-of-age story, shifting between Cora’s college years at Hamlin and her present-day dilemmas. The first half shines with a nostalgic early-2000s setting and the relatable thrill of first love and close friendship. Cora’s bond with her best friends and her father, Wes, are particular highlights—offering warmth, humor, and emotional grounding.

However, the pacing stumbles in the second half. The shift from Lincoln to Aaron feels abrupt, and the love triangle loses balance, making it harder to stay emotionally invested. Cora’s indecision and privilege can be frustrating at times, and while she’s complex and believable, she’s not always easy to root for.

Still, Christine Pride’s writing is fluid and engaging, and her solo debut thoughtfully touches on themes of race, abortion, and the choices that shape us. While not perfect, it’s a reflective exploration of what it means to grow up, look back, and try again.

A solid read for fans of second-chance stories and emotionally layered women’s fiction—just be prepared for a few bumps along the way.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

📜Quick Summary: Cora is looking forward to a new start at Hamlin College. She’s going to be brave, independent, and find herself. Cora does find two new best gal pals, and along the way, Lincoln. Lincoln is a handsome dark skinned man, and someone who stole her heart right away. But then Aaron enters the picture and their love letters demonstrate the type of love she wants too…but can she love two men at the same time? Fast forward, and she’s nearing 40, and somehow finds herself in the same predicament… loving the same two men, all over again. How will she choose? Who will she choose?

❣️Initial Feels: The nostalgia of college life, the references to BoyzIIMen and many other songs got me in the feels.

📖Read if you want: coming of age story, self discovery, love triangle, 90’s-2000’s college experience

🙋🏼‍♀️Moving Character: Wes, Cora’s father, has to be the MVP of this novel. I loved his quirky ways, his sarcasm, and dad jokes. His advice was a highlight of this novel.

💡Final Sentiments: Most people can relate to the nostalgia of this era whether it’s from your own experience or maybe a cousin or sibling, and I loved that. I liked the first part of the book but then it kind of fell flat for me. It felt more focused on Lincoln, so maybe some pacing editing would have helped the book be more spaced out and evenly discussed. All in all, it was an interesting take on a novel, even though I thought initially there would be more than two men involved. I did like her writing style so I would definitely pick up a novel by Pride again!

🌟Overall Rating: 3.5 stars (If you love a love triangle and a strong character growth novel, I really think you’ll enjoy this one and rate it higher)

🔉Special thanks to Christine Pride, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this arc of All the Men I’ve Loved Again.

📘Grab yourself a copy on July 8, 2025!

First thank you to atria books and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars

Synopsis: Cora and her dad have been a team her whole life. She goes to college and meets Lincoln. They fall in love throughout college. A tragedy hits and she meets Aaron a smooth artist who sweeps her off her feet. Timing doesn’t work out and Cora spends 20 years living life. A chance encounter brings both men back into her life.

What I liked: the first half of this book was great. I loved how she showed Cora and Lincoln fall in love. You really understand their relationship. Cora and her dad were great. I would have liked to have more of the Aaron relationship. It felt a bit unbalanced. Overall it was enjoyable

Cora is nearing forty and wondering where her life will lead. We immediately flash back to 1999 when Cora is starting college. She, a black girl, attended a private white school because her father, Wes, was a teacher there. Wes is a wonderful character, a single father who always puts Cora first.
Cora is a closed off, insecure girl, and that doesn't really change throughout the book.
The book is touted as a love triangle, but it is not really. In the past and in the present, she has to make a decision.
I just read a book about a couple meeting again after 13 years and that that was a long time. Now this book has a 20 year gap, and it is difficult for me to imagine.
What I did like about this book is seeing 3 black girls, meeting in college and staying supportive, wonderful best friends for life.
Their upbringings were completely different, and their futures also veered into different realms, but their friendships stayed true.
There are many themes in this book that such as secrets, the aftermath of abortion, suicide, poor parenting, and more. The author does a good job of reflecting life and relationships.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the EARC. This is my honest opinion.

All the Men I've Loved Again is a true and heartfelt coming of age story. I resonated deeply with the main character, Cora, in her overthinking and playing out scenarios in her own head. We have a tendency, as humans, to avoid putting ourselves out there for fear of the what ifs and I loved how we got to see in this book how things played out in Cora's past and how they're also making a mark on her present. I liked how this book did a past and present timeline in chunks instead of going back and forth as I've seen in many other books. There were so many pivotal life moments that we got to witness in this book, and overall I think that it is a worthwhile read.

Thank you so much to netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this and Happy Release Day!

The nostalgia hit me hard with this one.

This started off really strong, but quickly fell flat in the second half of the book for me. I love the idea of the book, but the execution felt a little off for me after the first half. I did enjoy this, but it didn’t knock my socks off.

All the Men I've Loved Again is a wonderful, insightful coming-of-age story set in a young woman's college years, and then current day (twenty years later). The novel begins in present-day California, where Cora, the main character is visiting one of her best friends from college, and agonizing over reconnecting with the two great loves of her past.

Most of the novel is centered around Cora's college years. The reader watches Cora bloom into a woman from a shy, uncertain girl who arrives at Hamlin College unsure of her path and place in the world. She meets Lincoln the first day she arrives on campus, and they see each other again by chance a few months later at a party. Lincoln is handsome, confident and driven. They start dating and we see how Cora grows and changes during their relationship, along with her close relationships with her roommates. As college draws to a close, Cora learns of Lincoln's betrayal, and she experiences a personal tragedy, which completely change her plans and direction in life. After college, she meets Aaron by chance and later spends a romantic weekend with him in Paris. They write letters back and forth and have an instant, deep connection. Things end with Aaron, and Cora's heart is broken again.

The author takes us to present day, where Cora has reconnected with both men, and spends time with both. Lincoln wants to marry her, and she is speaking to Aaron daily, but what does she want for her future?

This book drew me in from the first chapter. The author describes Cora's thoughts and feelings authentically, so the reader really understands her and is completely drawn into her experiences. The author skillfully brings the reader to their own conclusions about the events and people in Cora's life, specifically the men she loves, from the characters' words and actions. The letters are particularly effective in showing the reader Aaron's inner thoughts and feelings about Cora.

I love a good coming-of-age story, and Cora's journey from sheltered girl to independent adult is beautifully written. The reader feels so much for Cora, the scared girl, loving daughter, supportive girlfriend, and devoted friend. The author shows us Cora's inner world, and as a reader, we empathize with her struggles. I could not put this book down - I read it in two days and loved it I highly recommend All the Men I've Loved Again.

Thanks to Atria Books, NetGalley and Christine Pride for this advance reader's copy in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

Cora is starting her freshman year of college and is excited to no longer be the only Black girl, like she was at her high school. She quickly finds her BFFLs and not long after enters into a whirlwind romance with Lincoln.

And then she meets Aaron.

Cora is torn between the two men in 2002 and then again in 2021… what?!!

The book has duel timelines, 1999-2002 while Cora is in college and as she’s about to turn 40 in 2021.

While I wasn’t a young adult during Y2K, my older sister was, which translates to “I was copying literally everything she did.”So when this book boasted Y2K vibes I was in.

This isn’t a straight romance, although there is some in it, but more of a self-love/discovery type of book. Although if you enjoy love triangles or second chance tropes, this is defffff the book for you.

While I found Cora’s indecisiveness annoying at times, I did admire how she took her time in finding who and what was meant for her.

The real star character of this book for me was Cora’s dad, Wes. He always had the perfect thing to say and sometimes when not to say something and let his daughter figure things out for herself.

Thanks to #netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this e-arc. It’s out today, 7/8!!!

I enjoyed reading All the Men I've Loved Again by Christine Pride. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!