Second chance romance can be a very hard trope to make believable, but Clare Gilmore made it work! I was so taken by the writing style and development of the main characters relationship, especially at the beginning. The banter flowed well, and if anything, was almost too perfect sometimes. But it was so refreshing to have main characters who didn't mince words in the chapters. Both Paige and Liam had a lot to work thorugh emotionally, but you could count on them to be very communicative about exactly what they were thinking and feeling as soon as it could be put into words.

This is a great read for anyone looking for a happy, fully tied up ending!

Where to even begin!! This book blew me away, immediately I was obsessed the characters the writing the tension I love them. A second chance romance of my dreams.

Liam and Paige’s relationship then and now was so emotional to read, their growth together and apart I loved it so much. And that EPILOGUE I was sobbing

Will be recommending to everyone!

Never Over by Clare Gilmore is an absolutely perfect second-chance romance. It hits all the right notes: emotion, tension, and just the right amount of slow burn and spice. Liam is a complete dreamboat, the kind of guy who makes you believe in love all over again. The chemistry between the characters is so natural, and their history adds so much depth to every moment. Those flashbacks are so good! If you love a story that feels real, heartfelt, and swoon-worthy, this one is a must-read.

This book was incredible!!! I wasn’t sold on the setup, because I thought it was kind of weird and very awkward for Paige to ask Liam to make her fall in love with him again but I adored the story otherwise 😭 I loved Paige and Liam as a couple and how they made each other grow. There were a lot of side characters to keep track of, and not enough resolution (in my opinion) for it to be satisfactory all around, but I adored reading this. Clare Gilmore writes beautifully, especially the dialogues! I love how she portrays love, so honest and complicated. Paige and Liam are truly soulmates!!!

This was a really sweet second chance romance, with a sprinkle of fake dating.
I love when a book has different timelines, so we get to read about how they met, how they became friends and what happened that pushed them apart. And Never Over did that perfectly! It was really sweet to see how supportive they were/are of each other, always wanting to see the other succeed and do what they love.
I will say, the Maisy (Paige's best friend) plot line did feel a little unnecessary, it felt like it was only there for the drama.
Lastly, the epilogue was perfect!
Even if you're not the biggest second-chance romance fan, give this one a try; I think you might enjoy it !!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC!

I am obsessed, the love story was everything! I loved every minutes of it. This publisher is amazing, and does it everytime

Every minute I spent reading this novel, I felt completely pulled into the emotions of the main characters. Paige and Liam had a brief but passionate college relationship, but parted ways without closure. Now, four years later, Paige enlists Liam’s help to break her heart in order to get in touch with the raw emotions she needs to land a songwriting contract. She joins him on the concert tour he’s working on for the summer, and it becomes quickly clear that neither one has moved on.

This romance is filled with such emotional depth. I loved the way that Paige and Liam push each other and support each other and the growth each one has to make in order to love each other better this time.

You get second-chance romance, forced proximity, slow burn reignition of love, and two characters who feel so achingly real that I didn’t want to put this novel down.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early digital copy of this book!

My first Clare Gilmore book but definitely not my last! This was a super sweet romance where, Paige, falls into a creative rut and decided to reunite with her old college flame, Liam, to be “reinspired.” I loved the premise of college sweethearts trying again and this book radiates genuine affection and showcased the complexity of family dynamics and how it all can affect you.

The thing that bugged me, and this is totally on me, is a I don’t like song lyrics in books- I need to hear it to appreciate it otherwise I’m not interested. Also wish they would have cut out the whole Maisy side character- she wasn’t need for this story.

Overall this whole novel was so sweet, heart warming, and felt like a warm hug.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I posted my review on goodreads, an instagram post, and shared then saved the post via my Instagram stories under my profile of highlights labeled 2025 ARCs on 8/3/2025. Also posted a review on StoryGraph on 8/6/25.

3.5 ☆ (rounding up to four)

THAT DANG EPILOGUE😭😭😭

Thank you St. Martins Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was my first ever Clare Gilmore book and what a lovely surprise. I really did deeply enjoy this book. There was heart, depth, authenticity, rawness…it had it all.

As someone who is especially drawn to musicians who write their own lyrics, I loved the storyline of this novel. It felt unique and untouched to the romance genre that brought a bit of much needed freshness.

Paige is a songwriter that really only allows herself to enjoy it as a side project. Although having graduated with a degree from Belmont, she’s still a full time waitress. And after some deep consideration, she starts dipping her toes into potentially finding contract with a label. Her demo of songs is a bit lackluster in terms of quality according to the record label, so they give her a few months to see if she can either rework her songs or come up with something new, which leads her back to one thing…her first love and original muse, Liam, whom she hasn’t seen in years.

Liam is a full time stage manager. Once a prodigy for professional baseball, an injury sets himself on a path where that dream is no longer attainable. Having to rework his entire future, it landed him in the closest environment to a sold a baseball came…concert venues. Having come to terms with his new life, the last thing that ever crossed his mind is Paige making a re entrance into his life proposing a plan that will force them to face the unprocessed emotions of the past and the flutters of new ones on the rise.

A dual timeline, and a second chance romance layered this book with a vast collection of portals to these characters soul. Intertwined with past and present allowed us readers to see the beautiful unraveling of growth, communication, and confidence. You could tell Clare Gilmore drew these characters out with so much care. I have such a soft spot for Liam and Paige because I see so many of my traits in them.

I will say there were a couple elements within the book that just aren’t my personal preferences which is reflective in my rating (wont divulge because it could potentially be some spoilers), but I want to make this abundantly clear, this was far beyond a bad book. The moment Never Over releases into the world, just you wait for it to be taken over by storm.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This was fake dating, forced close proximity, one bed at the inn kinda romance. The FMC gets her ex-boyfriend to agree to “date” her again so that she might be able to write some lyrics of substance. It was entertaining and easy to read. 3.5⭐️

3.5 rounded up. Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book! The book started out so so strong!! I loved the characters and the banter between them. Liam was just so lovable and I loved the music story line. I liked the way the story was told with flashbacks as well so we could get glimpses into their past romance as this was a second chance romance. The end half lost me A LOT. The story became a little too bogged down by the plot line with their families and the ending fighting drama so much so the other plot lines I really was invested in got completely lost! I loved the plot line with her writing her songs and the ending barely concluded with that. I wanted a lot more from her relationship with Liam in the present time line. The epilogue didn't do much to wrap things up well either. Overall I just wanted more.

Never Over is everything I love in a second-chance romance: unresolved tension, emotional growth, slow-burn longing, and characters you can’t help but root for. Clare Gilmore brings so much heart to Paige and Liam’s story—it’s angsty in all the right ways but never overly dramatic, and the emotional payoff is so worth it.

Paige is a songwriter chasing her dream, but stuck creatively because of a heartbreak she never really got over. Enter Liam—her ex, her muse, and the one person she should probably avoid at all costs. Their forced proximity (shared hotel rooms, yes please!) and “fake dating to inspire real heartbreak” setup is fresh, funny, and full of delicious romantic tension.

The chemistry between them leaps off the page, but what I loved most was how grounded their reconnection felt. It’s not just about rekindled sparks—it’s about vulnerability, forgiveness, and two people figuring out if their past is really over, or just waiting for a second verse.

If you're a fan of Emily Henry, Carley Fortune, or anything with soul-deep love and a creative twist, you need this book on your TBR. Clare Gilmore is fast becoming a must-read voice in contemporary romance.

Clare Gilmore DOES NOT MISS. Her writing is gorgeous and her characters are always so flushed out and distinct. This book is full of heart and Liam stole mine!!!

I LOVED this book. The love between these characters is so tangible and Clare Gilmore (as always) makes you feel it so deeply as a reader. Second chance romances are one of my favorite tropes, but it has to be done well. This book does it so well. The characters communicate, grow, and feel so beautifully. It was also so interesting to see the behind the scenes of the music touring industry - such a creative setting and concept!

You can just see how good of a write Clare Gilmore is as you read this book. Highly recommend Never Over and all other books by this author!

I just KNOW this book is going to be a hit ones it comes out . Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes, and even though fake dating is my least favorite one, I was able to look past it because nothing about Liam and Paige was fake . I love the back and forth between now and then, how easy it is to fall in love with every character in this book . Also I really, really enjoyed having glimpses of Paige’s songs . The one about her father calling her Strawberry shattered my heart .

For me this book is about two people figuring out their lives while falling in love with each other . Is about to people pushing each other to be the best version of themselves . And I love it for it . I appreciate being able to see how Paige’s sisters coped with her mom’s abandonment and his dad’s struggles and how it affected Paige in everything she did .

The epilogue was one of my favorite parts of the book . Being able to watch Paige’s dreams come true because of her music, Liam’s opportunity of working again in what he loved the most and her thanking him for what he did for her . He believed in her, he saw how amazing and capable she was and she was humble enough to thank him for giving the push she needed .

4.50 stars .

This is the Clare Gilmore book where her writing really clicked for me and I felt like her character development had really taken a step forward. I absolutely loved Never Over. It’s a second-chance romance featuring Paige and Liam, best friends and then a couple in everything but name until they fell apart four years ago. Paige is an aspiring songwriter who is extremely close to signing a publishing deal but is told that her lyrics need work. The last time they really clicked for her was when she was with Liam so she contacts him and asks him to break her heart all over again. He proposes a different deal, where she comes on tour with him for the summer (he works in concerts as a manager) and they give it a shot where they might actually end up together. In the process, they fall in love all over again. Realistically, they really never stopped but they have to face the problems that forced them apart initially and need to grow from that. This was excellent and I really loved Paige and Liam’s story!

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

Never Over by Clare Gilmore (ARC) — Releases October 28, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first NetGalley book, so I’m taking this very seriously.

I was intrigued by this book due to the cover and the synopsis. Also, this book for me is perfect because it has baseball, music, second chance/fake dating. What more could I ask for?

Starting this book, I was taken aback by Paige’s life story and how it is very similar to mine. She wasn’t too sure on what she wanted to do in college. Once she went, she was a little older than everyone else. Then once she graduated she was convinced she would never get the job she dreamed about. Hello, Clare Gilliam? Are you watching me?? Because Paige and I are identical.

Now, to the story. I love the premise of a singer songwriter who is told she needs to make her lyrics more personable and the only way to do that is to have her heart broken. I also enjoyed jumping to Paige and Liam’s past for the reader to figure out what made them separate and come back together.

This book and concept was so fun. I was giggling and smiling the whole time. I felt contented to Paige and the way she felt about the trajectory her life was taking. It’s so easy for us to not bet on ourselves, but she has so many people in her life that know she is able to big and begged things.

I can’t wait to see what people think of this sorry because for me, it’s a wonderful 4/5 stars. I had so much fun getting the chance to read this before it’s publication in October. Also, I can tell the author is a big music fan with her nods to Taylor Swift and possibly One Direction.

Give me all the romance!! I really enjoyed this book and the dynamic between the main characters. This is my first book by the author and it won’t be my last!

Never Over by Clare Gilmore is my first experience reading this author’s work and I was pleasantly surprised. This was a nice paced, second chance romance with very well-developed characters. I enjoyed how Paige and Liam navigated through their relationship without the “third party” angst that seems to be in all contemporary romances these days. Their story was well written with a maturity that is sometimes lacking. It is written in dual timelines but very well done. I thought it was an emotional and thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book through NetGalley.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a second chance story I actually liked. The characters seemed to have grown and learned, and were fun to read about.