A simple second-chance-romance rife with the messy feelings that come with reconciling (or maybe, in our case here, colliding?) with the big love of your life? Sign me up. Paige and Liam are so precious, and Clare Gilmore created sparks between them from the very moment they met. These were characters that communicated and worked through their history as they rediscovered themselves, and so the emotional stakes paid off.

If I had to have a gripe here, a big one for me is that the story is told in an alternating timeline between the flashback and present, but I'm not sure in this case whether it was the most effective. While I appreciate it was to build up the backstory between the characters, I kept getting thrown off the momentum of the present day scenes or the flashbacks as we jump back and forth, and it did take me a while to fully sit with the characters and the story because of this.

i dnfed 80% of the way through — unfortunately, this does not compare to how amazing "perfect fit" was

I am a self-proclaimed Clare Gilmore stan, and somehow, each book just keeps getting better. No, seriously, I’m genuinely scared of what she’s going to release next because how can it top this?
Never Over is an emotionally raw second-chance romance about two people trying to figure themselves out and realizing they might still need each other to do it. I loved watching Paige grow into herself and fully step into her songwriting career. And Liam? He’s the sweetest book boyfriend: supportive, steady, and so easy to love.
Clare is the queen of healthy communication, and that absolutely shines here. And the epilogue? It DESTROYED me in the best possible way.

Hi so um. Oh my god. This book. One of my top romance reads of all TIME!!!! I think this book was written for me 🤚🏼 (the Robin Hobb mention????). I knew from the first few pages that this would be a five star book. Clare’s writing SOARED in this book and had me feeling everything. It was the perfect length - although I could’ve read hundreds more pages of this (need another book soon pls Clare).

She wrote the setting PERFECTLY and it makes me love my home even more!!! But these CHARACTERS???? The chemistry jumped off the page and punched me in the face. Liam is in my dreams now and his banter is sooooo good. & Paige might just be me!!!! I related so deeply to her. & their communication and vulnerability was so strong to me, and they really have just the purest, strong love. I felt like I was highlighting every single page. The sisterhood dynamics & dedication!!!?!!? Friendship???? So many layers to this story and it is absolutely stunning. The epilogue absolutely annihilated me — I think it might be the best I’ve read.

Liam and Paige are the blueprint!!!!!! Also go vols!! I need this book in my hands nowwww. Thank you to SMP for the advanced copy, go buy her on October 28!!!!!!!

Claire Gilmore is great at writing a solid, real love story. Like previous books by this author, I found myself getting a bit bored at times but overall still very enjoyable. Strong characters, would still recommend!

Loved this extremely sweet, extremely healthy love story about two people whose love helps them be fully themselves and about the power of curiosity, connection, and generosity of spirit.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the advanced reader copy!

Thanks to NetGallery for the opportunity to read this book ahead of its release.

Overall, this book was a cute second chance lovers trope with a fun twist of a character in the music business but in a non-traditional way. Being from Knoxville and having a majority of the plot take place in Knoxville, it irked me as a reader. I say this because Gilmore would name drop A LOT of places in Knoxville but not describe those places at all. Since I have gone to each of those locations, I know what they look like and can leverage my five senses to imagine those places, but thinking as a reader who has no knowledge of Knoxville, it left me feeling disconnected to the book. There was a lot of telling instead of showing overall in the setting and plot, which I think, if edits are still available, Gilmore could easily expand upon. She has the character development and story arcs dialed in, but being able to show instead of tell will truly wrap the book together nicely.

Never ever getting over “Never Over.” Clare Gilmore. She’ll break your heart and stitch it back together from one beat to the next (and she’ll write in a way that’s way less cliche than this paragraph right here).

I’m probably repeating myself from past reviews but she has a way with words that is almost unparalleled in the current romance landscape. Every book she writes at least one line or paragraph that stops me in my tracks because of its beautiful, quiet brilliance. This time it was “two clicks of a metronome pass” where most authors would have just said “a moment” or “a second.”

This book was unputdownable. It’s Clare’s deepest work yet. I usually get so nervous with dual timeline stories because it feels like an extra dose of drama and heartbreak I can’t handle, and Clare certainly brings that here, but in the gentlest, most necessary way for Liam and Paige’s growth both as young individuals forging their life paths, and as a couple.

And oh, the epilogue. I won’t spoil anything, but this epilogue is such a tribute to the power of words and song.

Thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I’ve loved every single one of Clare Gilmore’s books, but this one is in contention for my favorite yet. She just gets it—the messy feelings, the quiet moments, the tension that builds so naturally it practically hums off the page. I was hooked from the very first chapter.

And here’s the thing: I never gravitate toward music or musician-themed romances. They usually feel a little too outside my world. But somehow, in Never Over, I barely noticed. That whole backdrop just felt like texture—rich, real, but never overdone. The writing and the emotional depth of the story are what carried me. Gilmore has this way of making you feel like you are the characters, living every moment with them.

Paige and Liam wrecked me in the best way. The whole “date me so you can break my heart again” premise is wild, but it weirdly works. Their connection is so strong, so layered. The chemistry? Electric. But it’s the quiet, vulnerable moments that got me the most. Liam was so obviously gone for Paige, even when he was trying not to be, and I loved watching them slowly peel back those protective layers they built up over the years apart. Every scene between them had me either swooning or feeling a little shattered—or sometimes both.

The emotional growth? Beautiful. The pacing? Perfect. The writing? I highlighted so many quotes my page was just one colorful block. And don’t even get me started on the epilogue—goosebumps and actual tears. It was such a powerful reminder of how art (and love) ripple outward in ways we can’t always predict. I finished the last page and just sat there, full of feelings, not ready to leave their world behind.

If you love second-chance romances, beautiful writing, or stories that leave your heart a little fuller than it was before—you have to read this. Gilmore really outdid herself.

There is no one who writes a green flag MMC the way Clare Gilmore does. GAWD, Liam Bishop. I don't even care about baseball, but Liam can make me care about anything, Put me in, Coach.

Never Over is told from alternating timelines: four years ago when Paige and Liam met, and later when Paige seeks out Liam to help her with her songwriting. There's a lot in this plot that is very emotional: Paige is very shy and uncertain about her music, and always puts herself last behind her sisters and best friend; and Liam has spent a lot of time seeing his identity as only a baseball player. The way Paige and Liam fall in love is so tender, you feel like you're falling in love too. They support each other so much, and it's such a pleasure to see two characters ENJOY each other. That's what makes their breakup so difficult, and it's beautiful the way Clare Gilmore writes their hard work to make each other love and trust each other again.

All of this set against the backdrop of a summer concert tour, and really beautiful song lyrics. This book was so good to my heart.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley for this! 4.5 /5 stars

I don't know how Clare Gilmore has yet to really hit mainstream. Her men are NEXT level good (Liam, Alex, Will: perfection. PURE perfection). Her banter is SO enjoyable. Her interiority for her characters is always SO well developed. All her women have real, deep, career driven obstacles and motivation: they feel SO well rounded. So hard thought: she should have SUCH a bigger following

For this book: I just really enjoyed this. I love second chance romance, the baseball/song writing duality just really worked for me, and the dual timeline/flashback scenes were really well done. There was a bit of suspended belief needed for the original moment that drives Liam and Paige back together, but in a way, I can see soulmates needing any excuse to spend time together.

This is also such a strong story about sisterhood, friendship, and family. From Paige's awful relationship with her childhood best friend, the connections (and sometimes lack thereof) that she has with each of her sisters, to Liam's really impactful grief journey with his family. This book really explored different facets of "love" and how we express, and embrace, love. It was really insightful and just beautiful.

The epilogue was really cute. Wraps the whole thing up in a really heartwarming way.

Clare is an auto-buy author for me and seriously never misses. This book features some of the healthiest, sexiest communication I’ve read and two people who are truly each others’ biggest supporters even if that causes pain. It’s a perfect second chance romance, and dear lord almighty if we could all have a Liam we’d be unstoppable!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for letting me read this ARC by one of my favorite romance authors 🫶🏻

and going three for three! another amazing release from Clare Gilmore. I have read all of her releases and this officially takes the cake for me. amazing story about getting a second chance at love, self discovery and family dynamics. I can wait for more from clare gilmore.

Paige Lancaster never thought she would be so close to achieving her dream of becoming a songwriter. Her heartbreak from four years ago is the only thing standing in her way. Liam Bishop broke her heart back then and she hasn't spoken to him since. When it is suggested to her that she needs to work on her lyrics, she makes a crazy spontaneous decision to find Liam who is working a music festival nearby. When she comes up with a crazy idea to date him so she can feel something again, he hesitantly agrees and takes her on the road with him while he's working on a tour. Will the exes be able to resist the pull they are still feeling for one another after all this time?

I have loved Claire Gilmore's previous two books so I was excited to be able to read this one early! While it won't take the spot as my top favorite of hers, this was a beautifully written second-chance romance with a lot of heart. I loved watching Paige and Liam re-discover one another and it felt like their love was always there, just simmering. The storyline was unique and I really appreciate the focus on family as well. Definitely add this one to your TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC!

Paige wants a career in song writing but when she interviews with someone in the music industry, he suggests she make the songs feel real. Her best song writing came when Liam and Paige broke up. She finds Liam and suggests they get back together and then he can break up with her and break her heart once again. Liam encounters by suggesting she join him for 2 months while he sets up for music concerts, allowing her to be with other songwriters and for them to really get to know each other. I loved this book. Both Paige and Liam have issues with their families. I enjoyed watching them gain perspectives on themselves as a couple and individually. The comradery of the performers was a bonus. Great love story with important life lessons.

Never Over is a second chance romance with explosive chemistry, playful banter, and enchanting romance. Liam is a first-string pitcher for his university in Knoxville, TN. Paige is a talented musician that works as a waitress in Knoxville. The dual timeline is from their meet-cute 4 summers ago, following a whirlwind romance and today. The momentum is excellent and jumps right into a propulsive rom-com. I think that helps the dual timeline trope not be something to trip over as a reader. Liam is a strong and emotionally intelligent character. His kindness and openness to Paige is refreshing. Paige starts as a codependent character, waiting for everyone else’s life to determine the direction of her own and blossoms to an independent and reliable character. I love the songwriting aspect of the writing. It was new and creative! Clare Gilmore is a wonderful writer. I am so happy that this was my first experience with her writing. I have already added her works to my TBR.

Cons- I think the ending could’ve been tightened up a bit more to keep with the pacing from the beginning and middle. The cover art does not make me want to pick up this book. It seems cheesy and silly compared to the storyline.

Skip chapters 17, 27, and 29 for closed-door romance.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC!

Being such a big fan of Gilmore writing in her debut I was very excited to get her next novel. A beautiful second chance romance written in both the past and present. Following a couple and their journey of love and heartbreak to their chance to make it all right. Combining country music and baseball beautifully this book was written in such a way you couldn’t help but immediately fall deeply in love with both characters along the way.

I love the uniqueness to the plot in this, a little spin on a second chance. Getting to fall in love with their love story not once but twice, and really root for these two. I love that not only do we see their love but also their personal bounties and how they become better of themselves along with each other. The little moments together shined through in this story. Liam was down bad for our girl from the very beginning and I love watching them slowly fall back in love all over again.

This book was so good. I love the then and now chapter back and forth because we really get to see their full relationship. Also Liam is the sweetest MMC ever, he pushes Paige when she needs it and knows when he takes it too far and apologizes. I was unsure how I was going to feel about this book for the first 40% because the concept of going back to your college boyfriend asking him to make you fall in love to break up was odd to me, but I will say it was all just a way for her to find a way back to him. Also that epilogue was perfect. It truly is the butterfly effect of what music can do for everyone in the world.

I love Clare Gilmore’s books but this one was my favorite. The original breakup in this second chance felt so real, and I hurt for both of these characters so much. The epilogue is the best one I’ve ever read and had me weeping. We are so lucky to be in a time where we get Gilmore’s words.

Let me start by saying that this book was everything. It took me a minute to get into because at first I didn’t like the scenes from the past. However, I realized that is because it is hard to look at someone’s pain from their perspective. It is necessary to the story and just like in life it is necessary to understand. I loved this story but the epilogue had me fighting back tears because music does truly have a profound impact on people and can change someone’s life or save it and this book was just… wow!