6 STARS. Maybe more honestly.

Clare Gilmore!! Have I been living under a rock, not having read any of your books?! Most likely. My mistake because WOW, Clare is a wizard (witch?) with words. The writing was impeccable. What kind of modern-day fated mates even was this?! Read chapter 3 and was invested with my LIFE.

I’m typically not a fan of a dual timeline, but I ATE THIS UP. The snippets of Paige and Liam from the past were addicting. I loved Paige from the get go. Kind and so full of self-doubt. She’s forever content being the tagalong and overshadowed, but boy, did Liam make her her shine. Sweet Liam, that is the first person to truly SEE Paige. He’s a walking green flag 💚 What is it about an MMC that knows the FMC like he can read her mind. Makes my knees weak He’s giving major EmHen MMC vibes — kind, patient, and intuitive 🥰

Never Over was a relatively easy read. I will say though, I wish that Liam got more time because I feel like I liked his character more than the FMC. She was a little more whiny than I like, but I mean she has gone through a lot.

“All I do these days is consider you” and all I do is think of Liam and Paige.

For anyone who lost a first love, a best friend, was ever confused about their direction in life… this book is for you. I love a second chance romance but Liam and Paige are my benchmark. Their story felt so believable. It felt relatable in how they acted for the ages they were both in current time and flashbacks. Despite their difficult past, their love came back together in such a tender, natural and beautiful way and never felt forced.

That epilogue… I have no words. Clare Gilmore, that single chapter was absolute perfection to wrap up their story. I may not have the words, but you do (and so does Paige).

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 2/5

This is a second-chance romance between Paige, a budding songwriter, and Liam, a concert manager. After four years of no contact, she decides to reach out to him to date her and then rebreak her heart to help her find her songwriting groove again after a music industry professional says she is holding back. The story follows a dual timeline: one in the past, where we learn how Paige and Liam met, what happened with their relationship, and in the present, as Paige joins Liam on a concert tour to find lyric inspiration and maybe reignite the spark that was between them.

This was incredibly well written, with many great quotes and memorable sentences throughout this book. Clare Gilmore clearly has a way with words - it was just so beautiful and read so smoothly. The epilogue was *chef's kiss*.

As someone quiet and more reserved like Paige, I could relate to the character and her reluctance to make her voice and presence known to the world. I loved seeing her growth from four years ago to the present day, where she created a friend group of like-minded individuals who shared the same passions as her and found the strength and confidence to stand on her own two feet.

I also loved Paige and Liam's dynamic relationship. The way they bantered in the past and present was like an old married couple. The way she taught him guitar, and he taught her baseball. I liked how they grew together and pushed each other to become the best versions of themselves.

I went in expecting a nice, fluffy, easy read, and I got that, but SO much more. I would highly recommend this book.

This is absolutely my favorite book by Clare Gilmore yet! I was so quickly and easily immersed into Paige and Liam's world. Hope, heartbreak, and love were all encompassing in this story.

The way Liam is obsessed with Paige is so beautiful and squeal inducing. I loved that he was an athlete with many layers to him as well. I mean, a book lover, music aficionado, baseball pitcher, and Paige's biggest supporter?! Count me in!

Paige and her songs were so vulnerable and real. She felt very easy to relate to even if most of my life experience matches up with hers in the slightest. Her fear of not being enough was highly relatable for me though.

Second chance, friends to lovers, college romance, and he falls first were all done so well in this book.

The way these two loved each other was full of passion and raw vulnerability. I feel cracked wide open just from reading it.

I'm going take several business days to emotionally recover now, thank you.

Tysm to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this lovely ARC!

I discovered Clare Gilmore last year with Perfect Fit (which I adored!) and I’m so privileged to be able to read an ARC of her new novel, Never Over. The vibes are second chance, road trip, friends to lovers, **date me so I can write songs again**, one bed with a mirror over it (need I say more????). I adored our MCs, especially softboi Liam.

Rating: 4.5 rounded up

Clare Gilmore has done it again. This was one I had a hard time putting down. Paige and Liam stole my heart from the beginning. From that rainy night in the bookstore, their chemistry was just *right*. Fast forward to Paige and Liam traveling the country as they follow a music tour and get a second chance at a one of a kind romance. This was also an immersive/backstage experience in seeing the ins and out of the music industry and very different than anything else I’ve read. This is the perfect summer read! I only took one star off because I was a little annoyed with the reason behind Paige and Liam’s initial breakup and then Paige’s reluctance to reconnect fully.

“All I do these days is consider you”

Whew Clare knows how to write em. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was cute! A bit spicier than I remember her others but it was easily skipable if you don’t heat

Paige is on the way to her dreams to becoming a songwriter but when she hears her songs don’t hold enough feelings to get a deal, she’s determined to return to the muse that helped her create her most memorable songs, the songs that she isn’t ready to show anyone, but the ones that hold the most vulnerable, raw feelings. She has to return to her first love. Her first heart break.

With honest intentions and conversations Paige is thrust back into the world of Liam as he agrees to date her and “re break” her heart. Forced to travel with Liam for his work, share hotel rooms and revisit the past, this second chance romance is one you want to get your hands on.

Also, I need Paige’s lyrics to be songs that I can listen to asap Clare!!!

- Second Chance
- Dual Timelines
- First Love
- Baseball player
- Songwriter / Roadie
- Concert Tour Manager
- He Falls First

I loved this romance a lot more than I was expecting to! I find this author’s writing style to be very refreshing and I look forward to seeing what comes of her next work.

If you love music and second-chance love stories, this is the book for you! I adored the songwriting aspect of the music storyline and how the MFC makes a decision to try and improve her songwriting skills - it was creative and fun! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book completely stole my heart. It was one of the best second chance romances I’ve ever read—it’s definitely going on my favorites list. Clare Gilmore’s writing is so emotionally rich and immersive; I felt completely swept up in the story from beginning to end. The characters felt incredibly real—especially Paige, who I found deeply relatable. I was so attached to both her and the love story. I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you love romance with depth, heart, and unforgettable characters, don’t miss this one when it comes out!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!!!!

The second chance was second-chancing—it almost made me text my ex of 8 years…

Never Over is everything I love about second chance romances: dual timeline, heavy personal drama, two people who’ve loved each other across years of silence, and a book boyfriend who checks every one of my boxes (the way this man talks...).

Paige is this close to making a living doing what she loves—writing songs—but her lyrics? Let’s say they need work. So what does she do? Finds the ex-kinda-boyfriend who broke her heart four years ago and asks him to help her break it again. Just so she could write a few good songs, obviously.
What follows is three months of being on tour, sharing hotel beds, chasing that old chemistry.

This was my first Clare Gilmore book and definitely not my last. The writing reeled me in from page one.

The central conflict? A bit whatever. But the connection between the MCs? Made it all more than worth it. I loved every second.

At this point, all I wanna do is read second chance, and maybe even write my own. I’m too far gone…

A huge Thank You to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the DRC!

This was so much fun! I had a great time with this take on the trope and literally cannot wait to read more from the author!

Throughly enjoyed it. Love second chance romances when it’s done properly and it’s well written and we get that with Never Over.

Clare Gilmore never dissapoints in my book. I've loved every single work by her and this is by far my favorite yet. Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes ever and Paige and Liam past and undeniable chemistry had me giggling from eye to eye. The yearning was undeniable and the character development was my favorite part of this story.

PD: the epilogue is one of the best ones I've ever read!!!! I was sobbing like a lunatic.

Gosh Clare Gilmore does not miss! I adored this, hooked from the first page. This is a killer second chance romance that hit me in all the right ways and tugged me on those heart strings. Liam is an ultimate book boyfriend and I love how much he loves Paige. 1000000/10. I will read anything Clare writes.

This heart-tugging, music-filled love story delivers a refreshing twist on the second-chance trope, balancing emotional vulnerability with undeniable chemistry. Paige Lancaster is a relatable and determined heroine, chasing her dream of becoming a professional songwriter—but it’s not until she faces her unresolved past with Liam Bishop that her lyrics, and her heart, truly begin to unlock.

The setup is deliciously dramatic yet grounded in real emotion: asking your ex to date and then break your heart again? Bold. And yet, somehow, it works. Their shared history and the mutual respect underlining every banter-filled scene make the premise believable, and the emotional payoff all the more satisfying.

As Paige and Liam crisscross the country on Liam’s summer work trips, the close quarters and forced proximity build a tension that’s as much about unspoken feelings as it is about physical attraction. Their pact—to not fall for each other again—adds a layer of bittersweet suspense as readers wait to see who breaks first.

What elevates this novel is how it treats love and art as intertwined forces—sometimes in harmony, sometimes at odds. The question at the core of the book—can you create honest art without breaking yourself open?—is explored with nuance and warmth.

If you're a fan of emotionally rich romance, layered characters, and storylines that ache in all the best ways, this book is a must-read.

This book sealed it for me...See Clare Gilmore's name. Read the book. Love the book. The way that I'm so IN her stories. They are heartfelt, so sweet, have so much angst. I'm always rooting for her leads. Paige and Liam were no exception here.

Never Over follows Paige and Liam. We start with them in present day. Paige is a struggling songwriter working on getting her big break when it's pointed it to her that her lyrics aren't reaching what she's capable of....that she use to be capable of. Her songwriting has been surface level since her last relationship, which was with Liam. Her friends brainstorm with her on how to get back to her roots and the plan is to go find Liam and fall in love again and have him break her heart. She finds him, after years of not speaking, and he's down for the falling in love (he's still in love!!!), but not down for the heartbreak. But to fall back in love past mistakes have to be reopened, new trusts have to be made, growth has to happen. Falling in love is the easiest part. Liam is working on a tour for a musician all summer, so Paige is set to join him for the summer to see if her can be her muse and if they could have a real future.

The story tore me apart and put me back together multiple times. This was a second chance romance with a touch of relationship of convince?? That combination made the story feel unique and really special. Gave an extra layer to consider with everyones emotions. I loved the flashbacks/dual timelines, it really added to the depths of their feelings for each other...it did lead to extra devastation...but in a good way. We were road tripping and staying in hotels with multiple one bed moments. Couldn't get enough. The story also deals with sister dynamics, and growing out of friendships, and finding your passions...being brave enough to grab those passions.

You will be crying, kicking your feet giggling, butterflies will be constant, lots of laughing...and the swooning!!! Their chemistry and yearning is unmatched. Paige and Liam are everything to me. I'm obsessed with their story. I hated(loved) going back in time and living through their heartbreak, but I understood it. I honestly couldn't even pick sides on who was at fault...who lost whose trust. It was all equally heartbreaking. I broke for both of them so fully.

Oof. That's it. That's the review. Ok, not really. When I finished this one last night, I genuinely felt sorrow that it was over. Clare Gilmore has truly outdone herself with this one. Never Over by Clare Gilmore is one of those rare second-chance romances that doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings—it completely unravels them. Paige and Liam’s love story is both beautiful and devastating in the best way. Watching them navigate the messy wreckage of their past while still holding onto hope was like watching two people slowly remember how to breathe again—but together. Liam’s steady, unwavering love for Paige is the kind of love that makes you believe in soulmates, and Paige’s courage to try again, to forgive, and to fight for the love she never stopped wanting? Absolutely gutting—in the most beautiful way.

But this book isn’t just about romance—it’s also about the silent battles we fight within ourselves and the things we’re too scared to say out loud. The complicated family dynamics woven through the story added so much depth, showing how the things we carry from childhood can shape our relationships, our choices, and our sense of self. Both Paige and Liam are on deeply personal journeys of self-discovery, figuring out what brings them joy, what fulfillment looks like beyond each other, and how to speak their truths without apology. Never Over is raw, real, and quietly empowering—it’s about love, yes, but also about healing, choosing yourself, and daring to believe that happiness isn’t just a possibility, but something you deserve.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

This was a very solid four star read for me. It honestly would have been 5 stars, but there were times the dual timeline pulled me out of the current story too much and I struggled to get back into it. Liam and Paige’s second chance romance was better than most, and I was really rooting for them to work. The characters were so lovable and truly just wanted what was best for each other, though sometimes misguided in their attempts.

Paige seeks out Liam after receiving feedback that her music isn’t personal enough since he inspired her previous best work. They agree to try to inspire her music while starting over together. Liam is obsessed with her from the start and I love that for her. Their time apart made sense - they both acknowledge they may have even needed it for their own growth - and they actually do seem to realistically work through everything with no lasting grudges over the past.

The epilogue was EVERYTHING and it finished the book off on such a lovely high note.