This was such a sweet and surprisingly funny second chance romance. Set in dual timelines, we follow college-age Paige and Liam through their initial meeting and love story, and then again four years after their breakup, as they meet back up in order to help inspire Paige's songwriting- by asking Liam to break her heart.
What follows is a second chance romance that initially had me hooked- I felt sure it was heading to 5 star territory- I absolutely love Liam, which made looking past the somewhat strange not-really-fake-dating scenario a lot easier than I expected it to be. I related at times to Paige, who just wanted to be wanted as much as she wanted other people. Wanting to be needed by her family, by her friend, and ultimately by Liam, and always coming up short, led her to believe she wasn't worthy of much, and it was quite rewarding watching her realize she was worth more than she'd ever given herself credit for.
Unfortunately, the third act let this one down a little bit. When Paige and Liam finally talk about what happened four years ago, and have a long and, frankly, painful fight, I was torn between being so happy that a couple was actually TALKING instead of just breaking up, and then sadly being a little bored by the whole thing. The pacing just felt a little off for the last 40% or so of the book and it held me back from being completely in love.
The epilogue is satisfying and ultimately Liam will be making it onto my list of book boyfriends,. If the plot is speaking to you on this one, I would definitely recommend it!

The story was super sweet. I absolutely love Claire’s style of writing and this book is a new favorite. If you are looking for a lighthearted fun read that still has some deeper moments. This one is perfect to add to your TBR. I am so grateful to have been given an arc by SMP & Clare. If you read this, let me know so that we can go about it together.

10* stars! This author did it again. This book broke my heart and then slowly put it back together. What a beautiful, raw, and very real love story. I loved these two characters.

The BANTER in this book!?! The YEARNING!?! The CHARACTER GROWTH?!? All of it blew me away. This honestly might be Clare’s best novel yet. I’m normally not the biggest fan of second chance romances but the story flowed so seamlessly that the time jumps barely bothered me and made perfect sense. I loved so many moments in this book and look forward to seeing what Clare has in store next!

PS - that epilogue?!? Spectacular. It wrapped up everything beautifully and left me on cloud 9🥰

Thank you for the advanced copy of Never Over. I think fans of Clare Gilmore's past novels will love her newest story. I didn't really get that she needed to find her ex boyfriend to write better lyrics for her career...but I am glad that Paige and Liam found their way back to each other. I love the dual timeline and learning about their past while also reading about how they are navigating the present with each other. I would have reacted the same exact way as Paige did if my boyfriend applied to a college program for me without my knowledge. That was not okay. I wish there was more banter and maybe more chemistry overall. (I loved how they met in her sister's bookstore.) But overall it was a cute story.

I absolutely adored this book! Paige and Liam’s chemistry was evident from their first meeting and I loved their banter. I also just really loved how easily they were willing and able to fall right back into each other. Outside of the romance, I also enjoyed the familial pressure dynamic and all of the discussion of who we are outside of our dreams and how others see us. Overall a really enjoyable read that I had a hard time putting down!

Nashville, music, Clare Gilmore...Say less, but also, give me more. If you love fake dating, second chance romance, you'll love this one.

Paige Lancaster is pursuing her dream of becoming a songwriter, and is getting closer to reaching that goal. There's just one catch - she needs to write with a bit more depth and feeling. Like whoever the song the record label exec loved, is about. So, she does something a little out of character and runs back to the muse who gave her the inspiration for her best work. She asks him to "date" her for the sake of breaking her heart to get good writing material. Except, it's not that simple and the lines get blurred.

For two months, she joins Liam on tour, since he works behind-the-scenes in music production. And the two start to reminisce and wonder what happened so many years ago.

As a Nashville and music lover, this book was right up my alley. I love Clare Gilmore's style and story. This one had me in my feels, missing summer trips to Music City and CMA Fest. Overall, I really enjoyed the journey, the relationship between Paige and Liam, those "behind-the-curtain" stories and glances, As the book tag line says, "Paige and Liam will both have to decide which is more important: art for the sake of it, or love over everything."

Just a few favorite lines that had me swooning:

"Loving you is the honor of a lifetime. I will love you in endless places. You wrote that I always would."
"You're first-string on every team where I'm the captain."
"You're not in the ocean, Liam. You are the ocean. People go to the beach because they want to see the ocean. Because they're just happy being near it and marvel at its magnificence."

*MY HEART*

Spoiler alert: I hated Maisy's character, who was the absolute worst but realize what a catalyst she was to the storyline and overall character arc of Paige. But, Liam's character is a tender little sweetheart who I loved.

There were some things that felt a bit hurried with the fake dating or the challenges they were up against. But, it made the story more daydreamy and fun.

Loved this book, Clare Gilmore doesn’t miss! Loved the songwriting / concert backdrop and the first love/second chance storyline!

5 stars! It was so refreshing to jump into a book and get sucked in right away. I absolutely loved this second-chance romance. I also LOVED all the forced proximity. If you love these tropes and also a lovely meet-cute, you will not be disappointed. You may also have a new book boyfriend. I've already purchased this title for our library and told several friends about it. Thanks for the chance to fall in love with it early.

Clare Gilmore is fantastic at writing thoughtful romances with swoony heroes and quiet heroines working through what they want in life. There’s always just quiet observations when they have their revelations. 'Never Over', like her previous two books, is another heartfelt, swoony and thoughtful multi-layered story about forging your own path and using your voice.

Liam just got Paige and was so in tune with her. He respected her introversion, but challenged her to step out of the shadows which she sorely needed. Like Claire Gilmore’s previous heroes, he’s a caretaker and down bad for Paige. I also loved Paige's sisters and their complicated dynamics.

However, I think the set up is bonkers and out of step with the rest of the book. Asking Liam to break her heart again after four years’ silence just so she can write songs? There were also no real hurdles for them not to be together in both the past and present given they acted like a genuine couple from the start. I also wish that the story didn’t go back and forth in timeline – just a couple of flashbacks would’ve been enough. I also really would’ve liked if the author did not use real life company as Liam’s employer because it took me out of the story. Live Nation is a horrible organisation that has bought up so many venues and controls the ticketing. I don’t understand why she couldn’t have made up a fictional name.

The ending? Really sweet and an ode to the impact of music on people except I wish this was integrated a bit better within the storyline.

Another heartfelt and thoughtful gem from Clare Gilmore.

Thanks to St Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you st.martins press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.
Wow, I loved this! It was such a sweet story of heartbreak and learning to love again. I loved Paige and how she slowly came out of her comfort zone to be even more. Liam was so so sweet, he made my toes curl and giggle whenever he said how much he loved Paige. Liam really grew and learned through out the story too. I loved the twist of Paige needing Liam to break her heart to write better songs and then traveling together on the road. She learned so much about herself and her music as she did it. If you love second chance romance, golden retriever MMC, found family, heartbreak and growth then this one is for you.

I dragged through the opening of this book because so much of premise didn't sit well with me. The concept of her 'why' sounded juvenile and that's hard to muster when the motivations of our heroine's actions ring false.

However, as a fan of Clare Gilmore's Love Interest, I know she can string a story well and write amazing book boyfriends. With the rough start for me, this concept didn't continue into smooth sailing and was ultimately a so-so read.

This is absolutely going to be one of my top books of the year. I’ve read everything Gilmore has written and she just keeps getting better and better. This was so emotionally resonant and masterfully written—the communication between characters was so realistic, the funny parts were hilarious, the sad parts heart wrenching. Flashbacks done extremely well, which is hard to do!!! I think this is a perfect book.

This was cute! I loved the epilogue - it was so cute. The time jump worked well in this story. It did move a little slow at times though.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

“I am going to prove to you that I can’t outgrow the person who keeps me aimed toward the sunlight.”

★★★★★

I have to admit, the premise of this book sounded a little cheesy at first - recruiting your college ex to re-break your heart for creative inspiration? A little cringey, but hey, who am I to judge?

Clare Gilmore, however, exceeded my expectations and delivered an absolute gem of a story, told through a compelling "then and now" timeline. This was my first book of Clare’s and I proceeded to read the rest of her backlog immediately after finishing this one.

I adored Paige and Liam’s second-chance romance. Shifting between their college years and the present day added real depth to both their characters and their relationship. I expected a more dramatic college breakup, but instead, I found one of the most mature and respectful uncouplings I’ve ever read, which made their reunion all the more satisfying.

Cheesy premise or not, I’m so glad they found their way back to each other.

Paige and Liam – I loved them so much. SO SO MUCH. The character growth! The relationship development! The dual timeline of then and now! I'm obsessed, genuinely. I thought this story did such a great job of showing the way these two characters deeply knew one another, and knew when to hold space for the other vs. when to push and challenge them to go outside of their comfort zone. I also really liked the way that they actually TALKED to each other. So often in romances - and really, books in general - the characters simply don't have conversations, leading to all kinds of nonsense situations that could've been solved if they just SPOKE to one another and used their grown up words. I was thrilled that these two characters could articulate how they felt, when they needed to take space, and could come back together later to talk it out.

what a fun read! as soon as i started i ate this up! this is a first for me by gilmore, and it won't be the last. the banter, the music, the romance was fantastic. highly recommend. thank you netgalley for the arc!

Never Over by @claregilmorewrites

I’m writing this as I’m laying here in bed in the dark crying over the epilogue of this beautiful story. A story that is a love letter to love, to sisterhood, to family, to songwriting and the power of lyrics to fundamentally change someone’s life, and so much more. This was beautiful and perfect and sweet and sexy and tasteful and smart. So much maturity and communication. This is a forever too romance for me. Paige and Liam forever and ever. 💛

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the arc!
Pub date: 10/28/25

wow.

this is one of those stories where you finish it, love it immediately, and then—the next day you realize just how much it truly meant to you. it settles in your chest and stays there. a quiet gem that only shines brighter the longer you think on it.

i honestly can’t remember the last time a romance made me feel this much—especially one without any big, tragic event to hinge it on. the emotion comes from the characters, their histories, their hearts—and that makes it all the more powerful.

it’s a second chance romance (arguably one of the best tropes), but i’ve never seen it done quite like this. instead of watching two people fall in love again, it felt like watching two people who never stopped loving each other. their connection was so constant, so honest and true, it just picked right back up—like love paused, not ended. and while it didn’t have the typical butterfly “will-they-won’t-they” tension, it gave us something even better: emotional intensity, and toooons of yearning.

the flashbacks to their past were absolutely gut-wrenching. watching them fall in love only to see them fall apart was so painful, even when you understood why it had to happen. their feelings of not being enough, of trying and failing to hold onto something beautiful—it was all so deeply human. so many people will see themselves in those moments.

everything about this book just hit. it was emotional, but never manipulative in that flashy way some books tend to be. it was sweet and funny and heartbreakingly real. paige and liam were such vivid, lovable characters—i was completely invested in their journey from start to finish.

and the conflict at the end was one of the best i’ve seen in a romance. no overblown fight, no pointless misunderstanding—just two people working through something real, with grace and growth. it felt honest. it felt earned. it was perfect. i really don’t think i’ve ever seen two characters handle a disagreement with such maturity.

paige and liam, i believed in your love every step of the way. you two are the actual cutest.

and clare gilmore i adore you and whatever magic is going on inside your head. 🍓💌🎶⚾️💘

5 stars

3.5 stars
This was a very easy read. I ate this up and flew through it in no time. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. I loved the romance. Overall I would recommend.