This was such a cute story. I loved the characters and their second chance loves! The storyline was really fun too.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Finders Keepers has the nostalgia of a 90’s summer film. It covers a compelling mystery, childhood romance reunited, and set in a small town with interesting lore. I think the story would’ve benefited from a dual timeline structure to reveal a past and present to help with the treasure hunt and emotional growth of the characters. However, I really appreciated how the author handled the reality of being unemployed. The feelings associated absolutely are valid and on point. I stepped away from the book about 40% in. I tried to stick around, and kept waiting for that 'moment' for me to feel hooked, but I think I wasn't really gelling. But I know so many readers are going to devour this book, during the summer months.

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group and Berkley Romance for the digital ARC.

Having lost her boyfriend, housing, and job in one fell swoop, Nina Hunnicutt, who copes with anxiety and depression, returns home to her childhood bedroom in her parent’s duplex, and is shocked to see Quentin Bell pacing on the property. Former neighbors and best friends through their teenage years (until his parent’s divorce sent Quentin from Maryland to Michigan), Nina is not thrilled to see Quentin again, since their last encounter was a missed opportunity for a kiss, and being upset with her for striking out on her own and leaving him out of the project they’d been working on: a quest to find a local beverage mogul’s inheritance.

Nina and Quentin quickly fall into old patterns, included a verbal competition over whose life is more off the rails. They revive inside jokes and their habit for opening their adjacent bedroom windows to chat, with Quentin pretending to be the voice of the moon. In return for $7,000, Nina agrees to give up eight weeks of her time to solve the old mystery and put up with Quentin’s proximity. The hunt takes them to familiar hunting grounds, reading through old articles and interviews for clues.

I loved the interprersing of primary documents throughout the narrative to bring in Julius J. Fountain’s character–as he’s deceased, we only can get to know him through interviews and people who knew him. So often, we dismiss the elderly; in both Finders Keepers and Happy Medium, Adler characterizes older people as cranky, unfiltered, funny folks who surpass stereotype and show they had real lives, connecting with a younger generation through building relationships. Adler balances mystery and romance, magical and grounded, humor and angs, and the writing is excellent: descriptive, emotive, suspensful, and humorous, evidenced by phrases like maic pixie dream girl industrialist used to describe the quirky beverage magnate. The journey metaphor is obvious but not obnoxiously so, and the pacing perfect.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #FindersKeepers via #NetGalley courtesy of #Berkley. This review will post to HLBB 6/24/2025

Modern rom-com about two people who were next door neighbors, and have been in love since they were kids. But they parted badly as teenagers due to miscommunication and circumstance, and each assume the other ghosted them on purpose. They reconnect in their 30s when they both return home after careers and love lives have gone down in flames. Cute premise that, eventually, inevitably, brings them back together involving a treasure hunt they started almost twenty years ago.

Heartwarming, hilarious, with a dash of heat Finders Keepers had me doing the one more chapter dance until suddenly it was 3am and I had turned the final page. Who needs sleep when there are clues to comb through and the book is delivering the feels. Not me, that's what coffee is for. ☕

There's nothing that brings old friends (with crush worthy chemistry) together quite like dusting off the treasure hunt they had to abandon in their teens. Nina seemed to be on the track to having it all. She was a college professor, poised to move into a beautiful place with her boyfriend. In the blink of an eye, she finds herself jobless, dumped, and dreading spending the summer in her childhood bedroom. On the opposite side of the duplex Quentin has made his way back home as well. Life has dealt him harsh blows in the relationship and employment departments too. He decided to regroup and ready his family's side of the duplex for sale.

Nina and Quentin decide to put their heads together and seek the elusive treasure that an unconventional businessman left hidden to be found posthumously. There was a lot to love about this novel, Nina's mom was comedy gold. Someone give this woman a sitcom! I liked the down to earth personalities of Nina and Quentin both characters were intelligent and witty, but they also felt natural. Combing through research looking for clues is my happy place so I loved this!

The excerpts that are included from the historic interviews with the magnate that hid the treasure were fantastic! The humor and eccentricities made these short sections smile worthy.

The romance was a second chance trope it had plenty of worthwhile moments. The chemistry is electric, and their friendship is genuine. It's easy to see the many levels of attraction. The spice is added like a subtle ingredient, but it brings the 🔥.

Although this one ran a bit long, I'm still going to recommend sticking around for the applause worthy author's notes. 👏🏻

An all-around fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an Advanced Readers Copy for review. These are my unbiased opinions.

A Sarah Adler romcom mixed with National Treasure vibes. Say less 😉

In all seriousness I’m so excited that Sarah is coming out with a new book. I discovered her books at the tail end of 2024. And thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing I was able to read an arc copy of her upcoming June 2025 release, Finders Keepers. This is my review in exchange for my honest thoughts and feelings.

Finders Keepers is a second chance romance filled with magic, adventure and discovery. We have our MFC Nina forced to return to her childhood home after losing her job and breaking up with her ex. Once home she discovers Quentin Bell her former childhood best friend and crush is also back home licking his own wounds. The two decide to tackle the treasure hunt they never finished to try to win the prize money to help patch up their broken lives. Along the way they repair their broken friendship and possibly rekindle a sparked flame.

Overall, Finders Keepers was a sweet and entertaining second chance romance that hooked me from beginning to end. I think my only complaint was I wish both Nina and Quentin communicated more. They saw repeatedly how much holding stuff back could have worse consequences. So at times they made me want to scream, did you learn nothing 🙃.

However, even with that minor quip I still really enjoyed this book. I definitely feel it’s one of Sarah’s bests and not one to miss. I highly recommend everyone check this book on its release in June of 2025. You’ll have a ton of fun reading their adventure and they will leave you with a smile on your face.

I LIKED this book a lot - it was a sweet reconnection love story between 2 heartbroken buddies from childhood.

But the cover was totally misleading. This book had nothing to do with finding a treasure or any Indiana Jones vibes like I thought when I saw the cover and read the description so for that, I knocked it down a star.

Sarah Adler writes sweet stories. This is a second chance romance between childhood besties who lose touch for 17 years. After finding both of their lives coming apart at the seams, Nina and Quentin are back in their hometown, living side by side like they did until they were 15 years old. A lot of miscommunication between these two would have been solved much earlier if they’d just sat down and talked for real, but they were both dealing with feelings of self-doubt and shame. They had to work through those feelings which created a sweet, slow burn of a story. I thought Nina was a little immature at times, but I’m not sure how I’d feel either if my life blew apart. It helped to create the tension and allowed for her personal growth so I’ll accept it.

I’ll say 3.5 stars, rounded up to a 4 because I really enjoyed the banter and the glimpses at their childhood friendship.

This was the sweetest read ever!! I loved the concept of this story and the care with which it was crafted. I'd never read Sarah Adler, but I can see why she is so well-received. 4.25/5.0

This book was such a fun read!

Nina Hunnicutt’s life is a total mess, and just to make things more complicated, her childhood neighbor (and former crush) Quentin Bell is back in town. When he suggests they pick up their old treasure hunt from twenty years ago, how could she say no?

I’m a sucker for a good friends-to-lovers story, and this one nailed it. The time they spent apart made their reunion feel even more meaningful.

The treasure hunt added such a fun, adventurous vibe, and I was hooked the whole way through.

Nina and Quentin’s chemistry was off the charts—I couldn’t stop rooting for them to figure things out. With all the mystery, romance, and sweet moments, this book hit all the right notes for me!

Thank you Berkley for this free ARC!

4.5 stars! This was super adorable! I thought the premise sounded like so much fun and I’ve really been enjoying the friends to lovers trope lately. I loved Nina and Quentin, they were both funny and very cute together. Nina could be frustratingly obtuse and stubborn at times, and I didn’t *love* the third-act conflict but I was happy that it was resolved fairly fast. And the ending was so sweet! Will definitely check out more of Adler’s books.

📖 Book Review 📖 It’s been nearly two decades since Bon Jovi first sang, “Take it in, take it with you when you go. Who says you can't go home?” For both Nina and Quentin, the idea of returning to their small town of Catoctin, MD after so much time away with big career goals is a difficult pill to swallow. But alas, like so many… life has not gone according to their plans and home offers a safety net, especially when the buried treasure they spent their youth looking for is still unclaimed. While they parted ways twenty years ago without further contact and with a lot left to be said, this treasure could be the key to a better future for both of them. Sarah Adler creates a charming small town rom com with a heaping sense of adventure as this pair embarks on their rekindled journey for their prize. In their quest for the bounty, the spark from their teenage years ignites for a slow burn that carries throughout this beautifully written novel. Finders Keepers is pure rom com gold that will have you rooting for second chances and hopeful for these two to realize their childhood dream of finding buried treasure…and so much more!

I freaking love Sarah’s writing. Happy Medium was my favorite but now I think this one has taken that spot. I loved everything about this, it’s hilarious, romantic and just an overall fun read.

HIGHLY recommend.

Sarah Adler writes magic. Truly. Every single romance is so atmospheric and wholly enjoyable from start to finish. Nina and Quentin stole my heart from the jump and this swoony romance between childhood best friends is everything to me. The journey to finding the "treasure" and the flashbacks to the interview are some of my favourite moments. And the window scene. Sarah wrote that just for me. Truly special and utterly romantic, Finders Keepers is one you do not want to miss.

This book is a beautiful exploration of second chances, friendship, and love. The emotional depth of the characters, combined with the charming backdrop of the treasure hunt, creates an engaging, feel-good read that has me thoroughly invested in Nina and Quentin’s journey. Plus, Adler skilfully combines romance and nostalgia, showing that sometimes the greatest treasures are the ones we find in ourselves and the relationships we’ve left behind.

Omgosh I freaking LOVED Quentin Bell!! The second I finished FINDERS KEEPERS I honestly thought about immediately starting back at page one just to read his dialogue and little quips again. I will save that activity for a rainy day!

Sarah Adler’s books are such a treat. I really liked MRS. NASH’S ASHES, I was obsessed with HAPPY MEDIUM, and her newest release fell somewhere in between for me.

I personally wasn’t all that invested in the treasure hunt part of the plot but I adored these two bumbling nerds and the way they rebuilt their friendship and eventually fell in love.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader. Not sure what I’m supposed to do with myself now that I devoured one of my most anticipated 2025 releases, though!

second-chance romance. While Nina’s endless inner thoughts, hesitations, and self-doubts sometimes irritated me, I found it much easier to connect with Quentin’s character.

Sarah Adler has very quickly became one of my favorite and most inticipated authors from the second I finished Mrs. Nash's Ashes. She is able to combine sweet heartwarming stories with feet kicking, giggling romance.

Let me just say, I never thought I would find someones catalog of sneezes so endearing.

I can never resist the charm of Sarah Adler’s sweet romcoms. This one is a perfect second-chance romance featuring childhood sweethearts, with a sprinkle of magic, an adventurous treasure hunt, and a delightful small-town setting.

That said, I have to admit that Julius James Fountain, with his unconventional sarcasm, perfectly planned pranks, and creative outlook on life, often stole the show.

The story follows Nina Hunnicutt, who returns to her childhood town of Catochin, Maryland, with her tail between her legs. After losing her teaching job, breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, and giving up their shared apartment in Boston, she feels like a complete failure. Her homecoming becomes even more complicated when she discovers that her childhood sweetheart—the infamous Quentin Bell, who broke her heart and ghosted her for years—is living next door to her family.

Quentin, now back after quitting his glamorous job in Paris and dumping his cheating girlfriend, is renovating his family home to sell it. Strangely, he acts as though he never ghosted Nina, effortlessly integrating himself into her family’s life—sharing her mom’s pancakes and helping her dad with repairs as if he’s part of the household. To make matters even more baffling, he suggests they finish the treasure hunt they started at fifteen, offering to split the money—70% to Nina—if she helps him search the area for the next eight weeks.

Nina, rejected by job applications and dreading the thought of spending the summer wallowing in her childhood bedroom, reluctantly agrees. But joining Quentin on this adventure comes with risks. Her old feelings for him are reignited, and the more time they spend together, the stronger her attraction grows. While she’s determined to focus on her tasks, secure a job, and leave town to start anew, she begins to question if running away is truly the only path to happiness.

Overall: This is a sweet, entertaining, and heartfelt second-chance romance. While Nina’s endless inner thoughts, hesitations, and self-doubts sometimes irritated me, I found it much easier to connect with Quentin’s character. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed how their long-time friendship and love story wrapped up in the end. I highly recommend this to all romance lovers who want a book that will leave a lasting smile on their faces.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this heartwarming romance in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I love a good Sarah Adler romance novel and I think that Finders Keepers is another hit from her. It’s heartwarming, funny and super entertaining. I love that it’s a slow burn romance with characters you are rooting for. There is chemistry between these characters and quite the emotional depth that we sometimes don’t get from romances. I read this in one sitting and will impatiently wait for Sarah Adler’s next novel!