My First ARC Review!!
Never Over by Gilmore | Pub Date: 10/28/25
After months in a reading slump, this is the book that pulled me back in — and it did it from the very first chapter. What makes Never Over stand out from so many second-chance romances is how real the emotions feel. The longing, the vulnerability, the way love lingers even after years apart… it all hit me right in the heart. Easy 5/5 ⭐ for me.
My plan was to read one chapter each night after putting my baby to sleep. That lasted about a week. By the halfway mark, I abandoned the plan, stayed up until sunrise, and finished the entire thing in one sitting. Totally worth the sleep deprivation.
The story follows Paige, the youngest of five sisters and very much the “black sheep” of her family. She’s close to landing a songwriting deal when the label tells her she needs more depth. To find it, she reconnects with her ex, Liam — and old feelings come rushing back.
This book gave me some of my favorite romance elements:
• Dual timeline
• Second chance romance
• Friends-to-lovers
• Opposites attract
I loved watching Paige and Liam’s relationship unfold in the past, and seeing how their older, wiser selves navigated the present with that same spark still alive. Liam’s devotion to Paige practically leapt off the page. The friendship subplot with Maisy was equally impactful, especially the bittersweet truth that not all friendships are meant to last forever.
If I had one tiny wish, it would be for a bit more focus on Paige’s songwriting process since it’s such a key part of her journey. But honestly, the emotional depth more than made up for it.
At its heart, Never Over is about finding your voice, embracing second chances, and the power of words to both break and heal. The epilogue left me teary-eyed and certain this book will stay with me for a long time.
Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early — I’m forever grateful. My first ARC, and it set the bar very high.

Did I cry multiple times over just how romantic this book is? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely! From their very first meeting, I could feel the chemistry between Paige and Liam. I loved getting to see that chemistry grow into something unconditional as their characters developed, both together and apart. I couldn’t put their story down!

Obsessed. Maybe the best and most enjoyable book I have read in 2025. Swoony hero, banter, a nostalgic feel. I devoured Gilmore's previous work and somehow this one blew my expectations away. The set up is a bit zany but just lock in and I promise you won't care.

Clare Gilmore is becoming a new favorite author of mine. Clare's newest book #NeverOver is a fantastic romance between Paige, a young, talented songwriter who has a few family/friend issues she's working through & Liam, an up-and-coming baseball player who quickly fell for Paige, but life through a big curveball at them & a four-year hiatus caused them to fall apart.
In true romance novel format, they come back together & work through their issues with a few more bumps along the way. However, this novel jumps back & forth between Paige & Liam in the past, & their current relationship now. The time jumps are not as seamless as they could be, but lots of details/history come throughout the novel.
Thank you, #NetGalley, for allowing me to read #NeverOver by Clare Gilmore. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book on #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, but if you're a romantic at heart, then you'll enjoy this sweet story.

A quirky romance told in then now style about a musician learning to believe in herself and the unlikely man she used to know.

Oh man. I wanted to not like this book for a few reasons mentioned below, but I still ended up liking it a lot.

The main tropes are second chance romance and fake dating, but the book blurb made it sound like the male protagonist was more indifferent about the whole fake dating part than he actually is. I don’t think that’s a spoiler because you find it out fairly quickly.

Anyway, some things I enjoyed:
The setting of the music industry. It was fascinating to see a glimpse behind the creative process; the licensing of music; both lyrics and melodies; someone trying to make it a career along with some people who already had it as a career, and a multi-faceted portrayal of what it’s like to go on tour.
I liked the slow reveal of what went wrong with Paige and Liam’s relationship, and the gradual learning of Paige’s family and who she is. It’s a beautiful portrayal of sisterhood, not just romance!
There’s a lot of personal growth over the course of both Paige and Liam’s lives. I liked that they were both able to grow and learn from their past during their fake dating phase, which made their present-day better. We all have ways we can grow and all have ways we can get stuck in the past.
The interweaving of song lyrics into the book gives such a deep sense of satisfaction to my literary-theme-loving self.
It’s a slow-burn romance in the present-day in terms of spice.

Speaking of spice, this is not a closed door romance. While there’s not much “action” for a good chunk of the book, and there are only a couple of scenes, they are there. They’re skippable, meaning I didn’t seem to miss much in terms of plot by skipping past the sex. But you will be flipping through a few pages, not just a paragraph or two.

Beyond the main relationship, there are some other notable relationships/trigger warnings: There’s a parent who abandons a family, another parent who dies, a sister in a long-term, same-sex relationship, another sister who leaves the family for a good long while, and plenty of sex/drinking/drugs on the tour.

Another mention in terms of content warnings: frequent f-bombs are dropped. Not my favorite in the least. There are plenty of other ways to convey extreme frustration, shock, horror, etc. in the English language, and I wish people would use them.

The reason I still ended up liking this book though, is just that, shoot dang! The author did a fantastic job of showing healing, personal growth, and, well, Liam and Paige are just so good for each other! They make each other better. It’s not simple physical and personality attraction that makes this swoon-worthy. It’s that they are each other’s best champions and fight for the other’s highest good. This book shows a couple who learn what deep-down commitment is. That’s a good romance.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

I love Clare GIlmore's books, and this is no exception. This was such an easy cozy read, and had my attention the entire time.

I am usually a little harder on second chance romances, but this one had me the entire time. It was such a "cozy" second chance where you really are rooting for them.

I think this book would interest anyone, especially if you need help getting past a heavier book or a nice pallete cleanse.

Woah this was way better than I expected. A second chance romance, one bed, roadtrip…. SIGN ME UP! Lowkey obsessed with Liam and thought that I would find Paige cringe BUT I DIDNT!!! There’s a point when the book kinda gets serious with family dynamics & honestly, made me love and relate to the characters even more. This book kinda got me out of my reading slump! Hooray!!!
Thank you NetGalley, Clare Gilmore, and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC! 🤍

⭐️: 4.25
📖: Kindle

3.5 stars rounded up

Thanks to #NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to expect in this book:

-Second chance romance
-Semi-fake dating
-Open door scenes
-Alternating timelines
-Songwriter main character
-Grief, loss, and heartbreak

Thoughts

This is my first Clare Gilmore and after seeing her in an event in Nashville, I was excited to dive into her books. I love that this book was set in Nashville, as I live right down the road. Never Over follows Paige Lancaster, the youngest daughter of five sisters, she is completing her degree in songwriting and trying to make it in Nashville. However, after meeting with a music producer, Paige is given feedback that her lyrics need work. To gain inspiration and find her muse, Paige connects with Liam, the boy who broke her heart four years ago and influenced the lyrics to her only good song. She needs Liam to woo her, make her fall back in love again, and then break her heart. Over the course of a three months, Paige goes with Liam on his work travels and the two begin to feel the connection that they once had. Will this connection be enough to inspire Paige's writing and what will happen if its over all over again?

Listen, I LOVE a second chance romance. It is my favorite romance trope of all time. However, the contrived nature of Liam and Paige's new "relationship" just didn't do it for me. I found it hard to believe that after four years of no contact, the two would agree to this arrangement. Also, I know some of this requires some suspension of belief, but it just felt a little too quick for me. It was like no time at passed and the two just fell back into each other's lives without knowing the missing bits. I enjoyed the songwriting components and how the two chased their dreams while also experiencing their own losses and heartbreaks along the way. The types of relationships experienced in this book was great, from friendships to family relationships.

I think readers who love a steamy rom-com with some open-door scenes, love a music-filled romance, and some deeper themes would also enjoy this one. Be looking for this when it hits shelves in October!

this was very cute! have loved all of clare gilmores books that i've had the pleasure of reading, and this is no different.

this book had an interesting premise/take on "fake dating" if you can call it that, and it made it feel different than typical formulaic plotlines in these kinds of books! not that i hate that formula (i love it!), but it was kind of nice to get a taste of something a little different. Liam and Paige were both very likable characters and i loved their softness.

i'm not always crazy about dual timelines, but it was ok in this one! still not my favorite element in a book, but that's a me thing. i think it was done well here.

i will say, didn't love the reminders of liam's past. i can normally get over it, but with penelope being there all the time and also extremely likable, it was a little bothersome to me. she's not a typical "other woman" and its clear that her and liam don't harbor feelings like that, but when she asked liam if he would be hooking up with penelope if she wasn't there and he said idk... didn't love that lol! it's a totally realistic answer, but i like to live in romancelandia where mmcs don't even think about other women.

either way, this book is another win for clare gilmore. i'll keep looking forward to her releases!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Pulled me right out of my book slump!

Clare makes swoon worthy love interests!! 🩷

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Clare Gilmore has done it again — and honestly, I’m starting to think she can do no wrong. I’ve devoured all three of her books, and she’s firmly on my auto-buy list for life. More readers should be shouting her name from the rooftops because her writing is heartfelt, smart, and addictive.

This book is a masterclass in the healthy second-chance romance. Liam and Paige aren’t just rekindling an old flame — they’re unpacking the hurt, the history, and the misunderstandings that pulled them apart in the first place, then choosing to rebuild something stronger. The dual timeline is perfection, letting you fall in love with them not once but twice.

Gilmore’s writing is vivid without ever feeling overdone — her words land like little electric pulses, exactly where you’re meant to feel them. The intimacy (both emotional and physical) is beautifully handled, and the characters communicate in a way that feels mature and real. I closed the last page believing they’d make it well beyond the epilogue.

If you love romance with heart, heat, and characters who actually fight for their happily-ever-after, Never Over is your next obsession

This book was one comforting love story that was like a big hug. Liam had an exploding heart of love for Paige. This was my second Clare Gilmore book and she has now solidified as an auto buy author for me.

Books with music tropes are always my favorite. Paige is a singer songwriter in the Nashville/Knoxville scene. The best song she had ever written was after she broke up with her ex Liam four years ago. She's so close to getting her songwriting publishing deal, but needed more depth in her songs. She wanted to experience a break up again, and what better yet then go back to the guy who broke her heart the first time.

This was a different pace of book with out a lot of drama. It has self discovery, dreams, siblings, and just lots of love. The dual time line you get to see their past and present. Like I said before Liam's love for her is just so strong and self assuring, it just made this story heartwarming. For the sports romance fans, I wasn't expecting a baseball story throughout but it worked just nicely mixed with the music scene. The no third act breakup was also refreshing. Overall I just felt really good reading this book and definitely recommend!

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Read this book. This book is a love letter to a healthy second chance. Liam and Paige not only find their way back to each other, but they also confront what broke them apart in the first place and then rebuild their relationship. These characters also give you every opportunity to fall 100% in love with their love, twice over, thanks to the dual timeline. This is done so right. Gilmore's prose and poetry throughout the book add a special spice, not overly flowery but just enough metaphor that you feel exactly the way the author intended. From start to finish, I loved it and could not put it down. If your thing is characters that communicate (in and out of the bedroom), fight for their relationship, and honestly pass the "would they still be together after the epilogue" test -- this is your five-star.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this read! It was different than the other Clare Gilmore book I’d read, but it was just as charming. This book had dual timeline, second chance romance, and explored themes relating to self discovery and grief. I liked how honest the characters felt from start to finish. Paige and her family were written well and the fluctuations in all of their relationships was interesting to read about. Learning about Paige and Liam’s original story as they created their new story was also a nice touch; lots of mirroring! Overall, a nice read :)

Clare Gilmore is one of those authors that get better and better with every book. Except every single book has been absolutely wonderful. Never Over is filled with yearning, tension and romance. Two characters that had me rooting for them the whole time. I can't describe how much I love Clare's writing. Never Over is a book I can't help but recommend to everyone.

If Clare Gilmore wasn't already an auto-buy author, Never Over would have secured that spot. She literally never disappoints.

I'm a hard sell on second chance romances, but this premise sounded too good to pass up: young songwriter needs revise her lyrics to attract a label, so she asks the boy her once-and-only love to make her fall in love with him and then break her heart. I'm here for it!

The dual timeline was excellently dovetailed to reveal the growth of a past relationship alongside the second attempt. It was satisfying to watch Paige struggle to find her voice and her confidence (especially as the youngest of 5) and the way that Liam supports her and deals with finding his place after a SLAP tear that ended his baseball career. The quirks and chemistry between them mixed with the past fight neither wants to talk about. I just don't have words for it all. Just, well done! Perfect beach read or heart-warming read for fall.

Never over is a second chance romance that follows Paige Lancaster who is one big break away from making it as a musician.

I thought this book was very cute and lighthearted. The musician aspect of the book was very unique and I hadn't read a romance like this yet. Although I found the beginning a bit slow, once it picked up I had a fun time reading it. While second chance romances aren't usually my favorite, I thought Claire did a great job with this trope. Overall it is a very feel good book!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. This story was so cute! I loved the songwriter aspect. As someone who went to school for music in my undergrad I was able to relate to Paige. Liam was such a great character. I really enjoyed switching between the past and present. It gave a nice aspect of their relationship throughout time.

Never Over is an emotional, second-chance romance that blends heartfelt moments with a well-paced, engaging storyline. The dual timelines flow effortlessly, pulling you into Paige and Liam’s journey from bittersweet college memories to an unexpected reunion. Clare Gilmore’s writing tugs at the heart while keeping the read light and addictive, perfect for fans of Emily Henry or other easy-to-devour romance novels.