I was so close to finishing this in a single day because I was so invested in it. The only part I wasn’t the *biggest* fan of was the third act drama.. it felt a little too fake-ish to me, but everything else was chefs kiss good!

Thanks to SMP for allowing me an ARC of this story!

Oh my god LIAMMM!!! What did Clare Gilmore put in this book?!?!?!?!! It's downright addictive, and I absolutely adored the flashbacks and how they informed the present timeline. Not to mention the brilliant premise ("I need you to break my heart" -- genius!) and the cozy, romantic prose. Loved it!

What a time it is to be alive at the same time this book is out in the world (before publishing)😭😭

I think I can officially say I’m a fan, a big fan of second chance romances. Especially when they’re as well done as this one. Liam and Paige were so good together both in the past and present. And as devastating as it was, I totally get why they broke up. I hated that they stayed broken up, but it made sense.

The invisible string theory, people pleading, navigating through grief of different kinds, and loving people through all of their shortcomings were all handled so beautifully in this book.

I LOVED IT😭😭

A massive, massive thank you to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

3.5 stars. If this was any other author, the book would certainly have been a DNF for me. Clare Gilmore has a history of writing books with plots that typically wouldn’t be for me, but in execution always leave me pleasantly surprised. This was another one, but the premise was just a bit too much for me. Clare mostly pulled it off, however.

I struggle with books where literally everyone tells the MC that they’re some artistic genius — art is too subjective for that much universal approval. That being said, the chemistry between the lead characters was fire, and the second chance romance was delicious. If you’re down to suspend your disbelief a bit more than I am, this book will be a win for you.

Thank you to St Martin’s and NetGalley for the ARC!!

What a fun novel. I loved Paige and Liam’s story. This story has dual timelines, with the older timeline providing the details that are alluded to in the timeline of current day.
I enjoyed the character development throughout, especially watching how Liam pushed Paige to grow.
While there were some heavier moments, they felt true to the plot and characters. Overall it was well written, easy to read, and very enjoyable.

Never Over by Clare Gilmore hooked me from the very first chapter and never let go. The characters felt so real and layered that I found myself rooting for them as if they were my own friends. Gilmore strikes the perfect balance between heartache and humor, weaving in swoony romance with just enough tension to keep the pages flying. I loved the sharp, witty dialogue and the way small moments carried such emotional weight. This book gave me that warm, stay-up-too-late-reading feeling I crave in romance. It’s the kind of story that lingers long after the last page—I absolutely loved it.

I adored this book!!! full review to come but it was so raw and emotional. second chance will forever be in my top 3 tropes. i also loved the music industry portion, i dont think ive read a book with similar dynamics and it was very refreshing. i feel like binging clare's backlist after this, her writing felt so beautiful. everyone should defo try this book out!!!

4.5★

This was one of the most romantic books I’ve read all year. It was the perfect second chance romance, I felt the yearning and heartbreak on every page. Liam and Paige were true soulmates. I loved the way they met and although miscommunication isn’t my favorite, it made sense here.
I did really love seeing their friendship grow when they found their way back to each other the first time. It felt so intimate and special.
The second time was so raw and emotional. I would’ve really enjoyed Liam’s POV but at the same time, I felt his heartbreak and yearning enough through Paige’s eyes.

I enjoyed how this was fake dating but not and how mature these two were about giving each other a shot. Romance aside, I loved the premise of this book and Paige’s song writing journey. Yes, it was very intertwined with her romance with Liam, but I still wasn’t sure what she would end up choosing in the end, rockstar or song writing.

Also, the epilogue had me in tears!! 😭 It was so wholesome. It’s been weeks and I can’t stop thinking about it. 🥹

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

The premise of this wasn’t the most logical, but the execution of this nutty story? Perfection. The author took a situation that makes no sense why it would ever happen and made it believable and made me invested. I needed to know Paige and Liam’s story and the dual timeline was pretty seamless in telling it. The storytelling reminded me a lot of Forget Me Not by Julie Soto in how the past timeline explains the present timeline’s tension. I wasn’t sure going into this how I’d like it based on the plot itself but I was pleasantly surprised and ended up really enjoying this. It was witty and balanced and I ate it up.

Second chance romance is my favorite trope, and Never Over delivers it with heart, humor, and just the right amount of angst. Paige and Liam’s story pulled me in from the very beginning—two people with unfinished business trying to navigate love, heartbreak, and the messiness of chasing big dreams.

What really stood out to me was the way Paige and Liam communicated. Their conversations felt mature and intentional, which isn’t always the case in romance novels. Instead of endless miscommunication, they worked through their feelings in a way that made me root for them even harder. The push and pull of their history combined with their undeniable chemistry had me fully invested.

I also loved the music backdrop and how it tied into Paige’s journey of finding her authentic voice as a songwriter. The setting of life on tour, along with the flashbacks to their past relationship, gave the story a layered feel, balancing nostalgia with fresh tension. The dual timelines worked beautifully to deepen their connection and show why their love story was worth revisiting.

At times, the pacing dragged just a little, but overall, this book struck a perfect balance between emotional depth and lighthearted, swoony moments.

If you’re looking for a second chance romance that feels both heartfelt and refreshingly mature, Never Over is a fantastic pick.

I squealed when I received this ARC from NetGalley. I absolutely adore second change romances. The fake dating was great! I definitely got Taylor Swift vibes from the main character, Paige, especially when she reached out to her ex boyfriend, Liam, to ask him to date and rebreak her heart, so she could find writing inspiration. The chemistry, banter, and dynamics were incredible!

Never Over is a really sweet second-chance romance about Paige, a songwriter who’s trying to find the heartbreak and emotions she needs to write her best music. So, she asks her ex, Liam, to date her again—only to break her heart all over.
What follows is a mix of awkward moments, shared hotel rooms, and a lot of feelings that neither of them planned on. The story is full of real emotions, chemistry, and the struggle between chasing dreams and opening your heart.

thank you netgalley for an arc of Never Over by Clare Gilmore

Paige Lancaster wants to be a songwriter. But she’s told by a professional that her lyrics fall flat – except for one song that is full of emotion. The song she wrote after Liam broke her heart.
In a crazy attempt to get those feelings back, Paige seeks out Liam after four years of not speaking to him. She wants him to date her and then break her heart again so she’ll have songs to write.
The book is dual timeline so we follow them now as they get to know each other again, and also their love story four years prior. This was a really well constructed book! There were so many things going on, but never so much that you felt lost. I liked how the book explored Paige’s relationship with each of her four sisters, as well as the chemistry between Paige & Liam. The characters were well developed and I liked how the main characters faced what they didn’t four years ago.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Clare Gilmore and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this eARC of this book.

I can't do a male womanizer, lost my interest. As well as college people drinking, I am done. but all the stars for the cover

4.25 ⭐ This was my first Clare Gilmore book and it will NOT be my last! I loved this so much - the banter, the earnestness, and the passion that was woven into every word. Truly such a fun and romantic read. The only thing keeping it from being a 5 star for me is the premise of how Liam and Paige reconnect felt a little thin and the particulars of their estrangement felt a little hollow to me too. But regardless, I was all in on their romance and loved them together!!

Never Over was a fun and heartfelt romance that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. The dynamic between Paige and Liam was absolutely incredible. Full of chemistry, tension, and genuine emotion. Their relationship felt real and engaging, making it easy to root for them the whole way through. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a feel-good love story with depth and charm.

Honestly…. Make this a movie and I’ll be SAT with my popcorn and Diet Coke.

I don’t love romance but I do love Clare Gilmore’s writing and she nailed it again here.

Never Over is the perfect second-chance, slow-burn romance. It’s got great witty banter, lovers angst, and I’m an absolute sucker for forced proximity. Paige is an amazing FMC and Liam is definitely boyfriend material which is more than I can say about most MMC in modern romance.

It’s a 5/5 for me!!

I got the feeling clare gilmore was too lost pulling all strings around this book initially and I was proven right as she just kept digging herself into a bigger and bigger mess. this was an excellent premise that unfortunately lacked conviction from the author. I really wanted to love this, but I just wasn't a fan of how it was all executed

6 billion and 1 stars!!!!! Clare Gilmore has absolutely rocked my world ONCE AGAIN. A second chance romance written by Clare Gilmore? I'M THERE WITHOUT QUESTION. Never Over follows Paige Lancaster as she reunites with her past love, Liam Bishop, in hopes to inspire her songwriting with planned heartbreak. We follow these two while they rekindle their love & decide whether this second chance is one they'll pass up on.

Paige, my sweet girl. Such a beautifully written, relatable, genuine & layered character. Being the youngest of 5 girls was my first sign that I'd heavily relate to her (because same), but her further struggles with feeling unnoticed and feeling like she needs to be the smaller person in any room truly solidified it for me. I absolutely LOVED Paige from beginning to end. She's witty, kind, genuine, & all around lovely. I adored getting to see her character growth, getting to see her heal old wounds & find strength within herself to follow her dreams!!! She is just DARLING. I love her so much!!!!

Liam, my MAN. An absolute knockout of a male lead. A gentle, caring & relatable man with depth & charm. I love him so bad. His witty, charismatic, and genuine personality draws you in immediately. My heart hurt for him, but I adored getting to see him grow & change throughout the story!!! I wanted to give him such a big hug!!! I love him!!! Some of the things that came out of this man's mouth .... need to be tattooed on my soul. Genuinely i was left speechless.

The romance in this... I don't even know where to begin. Liam and Paige have the most undeniable, palpable, radiating-off-the-page chemistry. The tension, the YEARNING, the banter, the list goes ON. They are the epitome of right person, wrong time. Soulmates. I can't even think about them for too long or else I'll either maniacally laugh or cry. I am obsessed with them. They understand each other so WELL. They see each other, support each other, LOVE each other so deeply it hurts. Truly it's just so beautiful & wonderful & UGH. I LOVE THEM.

Clare's writing in this is truly wonderful. The descriptive writing genuinely draws you in. It didn't feel like I was being shown or told anything, it felt like I was THERE, experiencing this right alongside them. It was emotional, vulnerable, hilarious, and so romantic & hot I don't even know what to say. Clare is just incredible.

This one will be a longtime favorite, I just know it!!!

I just want to say first I love the cover it's so beautiful! I dont normally read book like this but im so glad that I read this one! I felt every emotion that you could feel! The characters was likeable. I had a hard time putting it down. I love the writing style.