I have always enjoyed Ms. Thayne’s books and The Lost Book of First Loves was no exception. Her stories have heart and compassion and tell a great story. I look forward to reading many more by her.

A sweet story of lost loves that has a secret with unexpected surprises and unknown answers. Allison beloved father passed away suddenly, one of the last things they did together was take a DNA test to find out whether there are any long lost relatives. So when the results came in Allison is shocked that she has markers that reveal that she has a half sibling. With further research she now believes that Juniper Connolly a high power executive is that person. Working undercover as her intern to get to know Juniper better isn’t really her dream job and after a few weeks she is in the process of getting fired when Juniper clutches her chest and passes out. This time Allison knows what to do, not like when her father passed away and she takes charge starting CPR immediately.
Which per the doctors had saved her life. Now told to take it easy and adjust to her new lifestyle Juni is surprised when her intern invites her to her ranch in Wyoming. That she would be welcome to stay if she prefers more privacy at her dad’s writing cabin. Once she realizes that Carson Wells was Ali dad and also a favorite author of her mother and herself, she decides to go. Still confused why a practical total stranger would be so concerned and inviting.
The plot centers on how and when to tell Juni about her father. A few are in on the secret and the more they get to know each other the harder it is to tell the truth. The story has several versions of love, lost love, new love, friends to lovers. I enjoyed the different storylines and the resulting HEA. A typically sweet romance. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won’t be my last. I was intrigued after I read an article in my University Alma Mater’s monthly magazine about her. I loved the multiple POV’s which enabled me to understand several characters feelings while they tried to figure out the curveballs life had thrown at them. The setting was lovely, making me want to visit there even though I’ve never had the desire before. I got caught up in the story of two sisters who never knew of each other growing up, as well as watching their relationships grow and develop with their true loves. The story was intriguing and filled with hopeful, tender, and heartwarming moments, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing I received a complimentary ARC copy without obligation to post a positive review. These thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Lost Book of First Loves was a moving, feel-good story of friendship and found family with a bit of romance mixed in!

Still reeling from the death of her beloved father, Carson Wells, a famous literary author, Alison is informed from a DNA search that she has a sister, Juniper Connolly. Why didn’t her father tell her?

In order to get to know her sister and tell her their connection, Alison takes an internship at Juniper’s company, but before Alison shares her bombshell, Juniper collapses. Alison suggests she recuperate at her ranch, The Painted Sky in Bridger, Wyoming.

Juniper’s reeling from the shock of what happened and isn’t sure why Alison would make such an offer. However, the sound of recovering at the ranch of the late Carson Wells, a favorite author, is too good to pass up. She strikes up a reluctant friendship with another rancher, Beckett Hunter.

Alison needs to figure out how to tell Juniper and study for the bar exam, when she’s not sure she wants to be a lawyer. And then there’s Xander Scott, her best friend who’s back in town. Alison’s feelings for him are complex.

Both Alison and Juniper were at a crossroads in their life. I was invested in their journey, as they sorted out the mystery of the past and what they wanted for the future. I soaked in the gorgeous mountain setting, which was almost a character in itself!

I alternately read and listened to The Lost Book of First Loves and recommend either version. I’ve listened to and enjoyed Vanessa Johansson’s narration in the past and she did a wonderful job bringing all the characters to life!

For those readers hoping that this is a mystery or that there will be lots of in-depth flashbacks to "unravel the truth of what happened all those years ago" you're going to be in for a big disappointment because this is basically a (clean) romance with with a different flare. I was eager to read this book based on description because it sounded like such a great premise, but sadly, it didn't deliver. It just seemed there was no depth; an incident from the past would be mentioned but never fully explained - I was always left wanting more. And that was especially true for the lost manuscript - so much build up, so little pay off.

I realize that the author tried to craft the story so the reader found out information generically instead of a wall of backstory - which is a good idea - but as I said, it didn't follow through with more depth when the reader arrived at the explanation. This wasn't a short book, and at the end, I still felt like I really didn't know or particularly care about any of the characters. There was a happy ending tying up all the loose strings, but like everything else in this book, I felt like it was one more thing that didn't give the payoff I expected.

A fantastic story of family, love, healing and so much more. Ali, Xander, June and Beck are amazing to journey with.

Allison Wells loses her dad, Carson, to a heart attack. She decides to take a DNA test and finds out that she has a half-sister who is older than her. She wants to meet Juniper but is hesitant to tell her they are sisters...so she takes a job as Juniper’s intern. When that doesn’t work out and June is letting her go, the unexpected happens. June suffers cardiac arrest, and Ali is the one to save her. Ali offers her the use of her family’s cabin in Wyoming while she heals.

RaeAnne Thayne has done it again. She’s given us characters to care about, in a rich setting of peace and family.

Thank you to Canary Street Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A book on sisterhood, slowing down, discovery, lie, found family and the most gorgeous setting. It was an emotional read, which will tug at your heartstrings.

Alison has just discovered she has a half sister, who she applied to work. Her sister, June, suffered a heart attack and Alison brings her home to recuperate.

I alternated between reading and listening and Vanessa Johansson did a great job. She weaved between the characters seamlessly and her impressions were fantastic. Her voice was soothing and present- she did not bore me.

I enjoyed the plot and I loved how the main characters had their points of view, allowing for their backstories to be told.

Both the romance and mystery parts were done just right. I recommend this for a summer reading.

The Lost Book of First Loves is a sweet story. I love the newfound family but there was very little bonding between Ali and Juniper. I was left wanting a lot more. The setting was wonderful, I loved the descriptive scenery of Wyoming. It was just the story itself abruptly ended. I honestly thought it was unfinished. Maybe cliffhanger? Maybe there’s a second book eventually. I would definitely read it because I wanted more. There was a great storyline with very likable characters. I just wish there was more time for the characters in the end.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my complimentary arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much @uplitreads @raeannethayne @readmirabooks #giftedbyuplit

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: The Lost Book of First Loves
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: RaeAnne Thayne
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: June 3, 2025
4⭐️

💚 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 💚
Allison was raised by her literary author father, who recently passed, and left Allison with questions when she realizes she may have an unknown sister. She takes a DNA test and follows it back to Juniper, whom is a successful business woman. Allison applies to be her intern, and in an unexpected moment, she saves Junipers life on the job. Allison invites Juniper to recover back at her family ranch on Wyoming.

Back in her hometown, Allison has the chance to catch up with her best friend and Juniper has the chance to relax and read some journals of Allison’s father. Allison is trying to figure out when to tell Juniper about their familial connection, and both sisters start to discover themselves and new relationships in the wide open spaces.

I enjoyed the relationships the two sisters discovered with their new guy friends, and I liked Allison’s journey to be more confident in what she wants in life. Both learn to take a leap of faith when it comes to exploring new adventures. I liked the discoveries that Juniper found while organizing and reading their father’s journals. An unknown manuscript is always a fun discovery!

I would have enjoyed taking a deeper dive into some of the journals and history of the author father! Those seemed very intriguing and added an additional lawyer to the family connection between everyone.

Overall, this was a sweet, endearing story of two sisters who learn about themselves and discovery more about their family too. Both experience growth and new relationships in a beautiful setting!

💚 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
💚 DNA Tests/ Unknown Family
💚 Friends to More
💚 Self-Discovery
💚 Author Stories

I can always count on RaeAnne Thayne for an easy , entertaining, family based read. What would you do if you took a DNA test and found that you had a very close (half sister) relative that you knew nothing about? This is what Alison discovers when she takes the test, along with her grandmother, shortly after her father (an award winning writer) suddenly dies from a heart attack. Alison gets an internship with her sister, Juniper’s company in Seattle , as she plans how to tell her sister the news . Well, things happen and Alison and Juniper end up in the beautiful mountains of Wyoming , where Alison grew up, as they learn about themselves and each other. Does this book want me to visit Wyoming and see the beautiful sunrises and sunsets? You bet!! Thayne’s writing puts the reader right in the middle of the ranch, the mountains and the wildlflowers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for this ARC. This review contains my own opinions.

I received a free copy of The Lost Book of First Loves, by RaeAnne Thayne, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Allison Wells, decides to take dna test, and finds out she has a sister she never knew about, is there anymore secrets her father is hiding? This book has secrets, sisters, friendship, relationships, authors, and so much more. This was a good read, I liked Allison and Junes story.

A wonderful story to sit down to read and get lost in. It’s about family, known and unknown, love, loss, friendship, careers and discovering what really matters most. Alison lost her beloved famous author father, All she has left is her grandmother, or so she thinks. A DNA test proves otherwise. She decides to surreptitiously meet and get to know her before she shares the news to her surprise sister, Juniper. When she gets a job working for Juniper, things don’t go well and as she is being fired, Juniper experiences a literal life altering incident and Alison saves her life. Their story from being strangers, to friends to family is wonderful. They untangle family secrets, discover and find love, themselves and the true meaning of family. The story is wonderful. I want to go to Wyoming and spend some time at The Painted Ranch with all of them.

The Lost Book of First Loves is one of those warm, feel-good reads that just leaves you soft by the end. It’s about two women who don’t know they’re sisters—yet—and the slow, sometimes messy journey of figuring out how to be family after life has already handed them a few curveballs.

The story flips between Ali and Juniper, and I loved both perspectives. Ali’s trying to make sense of a huge family secret after losing her dad, and June’s suddenly rethinking her whole life after a serious health scare. The way their relationship slowly shifts from strangers to something real was really sweet to watch unfold. Plus, there’s a cabin in Wyoming, a missing manuscript, a little second chance romance, and some seriously cozy small-town summer vibes.

It’s not flashy or dramatic—it’s just a solid, heartfelt story about healing, connection, and figuring out where you belong. If you’re into character-driven women’s fiction with strong emotional threads, this one’s a great pick for a chill weekend read.

If you are looking for a happy, easy, sweet, quick read, this is it!, Love all the main characters. The story was predictable, but good predictable because it goes exactly how you want it to unfold! I’ll read anything RaeAnne Thayne writes! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance.

The Lost Book of First Loves is a story about family and second chances. Allison is the daughter of a famous author. He dies unexpectedly and prior to his death, they had taken DNA tests to trace their heritage. When the results come back, Allison discovers she has a half-sister, Juniper, in Seattle, and concocts a scheme to work as an intern in her office as a way to see what kind of person she is. When Juniper has a heart attack, Allison uses CPR to keep her alive until paramedics arrive. Juniper faces a long recovery, and Allison convinces her to come to Wyoming to rest and heal.

Juniper takes her up on the offer, not knowing Allison is her sister or that she will be recuperating on her biological father’s ranch. The father is Juniper’s favorite author, so she spends her time going through his papers, helping Allison sort them for donation to the university library. She also meets Allison’s neighbor, Beck Hunter, a former trial lawyer from San Francisco whose reputation precedes him. Juniper loathes him on sight, based on what she thinks she knows about him, but comes to learn he is so much more than her initial impressions. Allison also has romance potential with her best friend since grade school, a travel vlogger named Xander.

There is tension as Allison tries to find the right time and way to tell Juniper about their circumstances but they have become friends and Juniper has developed emotional ties to the ranch and the people she’s met. So while the news is a shock, she is able to absorb it, in time, in a positive way.

The Wyoming setting was the big star of this book for me. I know this is a book of fiction, but the relationships in the story actually felt fictional to me, kind-of thrown together in a way that could only happen in a book. Maybe feeling forced or not quite authentic? I can’t put my finger on it. I thought the book was fine and was a sweet story but it didn’t grab me as much as I would have liked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced reader cope in exchange for an honest review.

Two sweet stories of half-sister intertwine after DNA testing reveals the connection. Small town vibes as most of the book happens in rural-ish Wyoming though it starts in Seattle. Some cliche parts but nice overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC of this book! This is my honest review.

I immediately sank into this story and loved it from beginning to end! Set against the stunning backdrop of Wyoming—a place that holds a special spot in my heart—this book brought all the feels.

This heartwarming read is filled with lost love and second chances, found family and strong friendships, and the kind of small-town charm that makes you want to pack your bags and head to Wyoming. It explores grief, healing, and the beauty of new beginnings, all while secrets bubble to the surface and shape the characters’ journeys. Told through multiple points of view, the story unfolds in a layered, emotional way that kept me turning the pages.

The characters were all incredibly likable, and the emotional depth of their stories made the whole book feel so personal and real. It’s a comforting, feel-good read that reminds you it’s never too late to rewrite your story. 💛

Cheesy and predictable in all the right ways, The Lost Book of First Loves is a perfect, light read for those looking for easy to like characters in a beautiful setting. While the characters and plot aren’t terribly memorable and there are loose ends, it’s still a quick and cute read.

🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: I am a huge fan of RaeAnne Thayne’s Cape Sanctuary series, so I jumped at the chance to read a standalone by her. The Lost Book of First Loves is a beautiful story about hidden love, family secrets, and two women who don’t know they are related… until they do.

🤩 𝚃͏𝚑͏𝚎͏ 𝙱͏𝚎͏𝚜͏𝚝͏ 𝙱͏𝚒͏𝚝͏𝚜͏: This book is jam packed with lovely characters, and I couldn’t help but love every single one of them. Thayne’s writing never ceases to impress, and it’s very emotional and engaging. There are multiple viewpoints which I enjoyed, and I loved that I got to know each character so well. She also did an excellent job bringing the summer in Wyoming setting to life.

🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: I thought Vanessa Johansson did a great job overall, however, I do think this is a scenario where there should have been a full cast. I found myself getting confused during Ali’s and Juniper’s viewpoints since she didn’t really change her voice to differentiate them. Plus, I really wanted someone for the male viewpoint, and I think that would have made it hit even better. That being said, Johansson is a fantastic narrator, and I would still recommend the audio.

💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: The Lost Book of First Loves definitely got me a little misty eyed, and there is a bit of romance on top of a minor mystery. This was a great blend of genres, and it made for an entertaining but moving read. While it does tackle some sensitive subjects, it is mostly a lighter read that will leave you with the warm and fuzzies.

T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 💌🪵✍🏼🔐

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🙅🏼‍♀️ (None)