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.

Big thank you to Netgalley and St Martins for the ARC.

I’m a big second chance romance girl and this one is ELITE. No notes.

The dual timelines were handled so flawlessly. Sometimes they can make a story feel disjointed, but the flashbacks weaved into the now chapters in way that just worked.

I’m struggling to come up with words to describe how much I adored this. Such a tender, clever and heartfelt book. Both Paige and Liam felt real and their struggles and insecurities were genuine. They were the very definition of yearning and soulmates.

Please do yourself a favor and read this book along with her two others if you haven’t yet.

4.25 stars! This was really good!! I love how much depth both Paige and Liam had. I could feel so deeply how much they cared and genuinely wanted the world for each other. Their undying support for one another and their passions in life literally made me so emotional. The relatability in this book about feeling so much uncertainty about your future in your twenties. An figuring out what you truly want to do vs what people may expect of you. The way the MCs faced unprecedented setbacks that altered the course of their lives and delt through those feelings to refind their path made this feel so real!! I also really enjoyed the family dynamics and how they impacted the MCs! It made me think so much about the way things in your life unfold and how some things have to go the way you don’t want or expect to get you where you’re supposed to be. The discussion of music and art in this book was beautiful! The epilogue made me emotional!! I would absolutely recommend this if you enjoy second chance, music discussion and a story about navigating life and relationships in your twenties!

It's another stellar novel by Clare Gilmore! This is the third book of hers I've read and it might just be her best one yet.

Clare has a gift for storytelling and creating compelling characters. Liam and Paige are no exception. From the first chapter, I was hooked, When I first heard that Never Over would contain dual timelines, I thought it might be difficult to keep track of the story, but Clare proved me wrong! The flashbacks are masterfully placed at exactly the right moments in the book. As a result, watching the way Paige and Liam develop is like watching a seed grow and mature into a flower. Their relationship felt so real.

Another thing I appreciated was the attention to detail. I knew quite a bit about baseball, but next to nothing about bands and touring. By the end of the book, I felt like I'd been along on a long road trip with Paige and Liam.

I wish the book was longer, but all stories must eventually come to an end.

5/5 stars!

Thank you to st Martins and Netgalley for the ARC copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Perfect Fit” by Clare Gilmore was a standout 5 star romance for me last year, so I was highly anticipating the author’s follow-up. So did I just read another amazing novel? Sure did!

Paige Lancaster is a songwriter looking to make her big break. Liam Bishop is the boy that broke her heart 6 years ago, and was the inspiration for her creating the one song of her’s thats raw and full of emotion. Paige needs to write more songs like that, so she decides she’ll just have to find Liam and convince him to make her fall in love with him again…for creativity reasons, nothing more.

*** Second chance romance
*** Dual timelines
*** First love
*** Undeniable passion

This book was so beautiful. I normally don’t love dual timelines but this was executed perfectly. And that epilogue??? Grab a tissue box!

I will buy anything that Clare writes going forward!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Clare Gilmore, and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this! Clare Gilmore manages to cover difficult and complex topics while also having a heartfelt and chemistry filled romance with fun musical aspects.

Never Over follows Paige and Liam in a past and present time line covering their love story and growth as people. In the present, Paige needs something to inspire her songwriting like her ex-flame Liam did in the past, so why not go straight to the source? Liam- a former baseball star- is now a concert manager and will soon be traveling with a touring artist. When Paige impulsively asks if he can date her to break her heart again, she finds herself in a reluctant agreement with Liam and traveling with him on tour. The story then follows them in a dual time line between when they first fell in love and when they are together again years later with boundaries that are begging to be crossed.

I really liked these characters, not only Liam and Paige, but our side characters as well. I especially liked Paige’s relationship with her sisters. I am not usually a fan of dual time lines, but I think this one was done really well. I also think Paige and Liam had great chemistry in both the past and present, and knew how to communicate, too. I did feel like, because they were good communicators, that the conflict that kept them apart was easily solvable. However, I also understand that they needed time apart to grow into themselves as individuals.

All in all, I really liked this. If you are looking for a sweet, second-chance romance, this one is for you. I definitely recommend!

*I will post on my social closer to pub date

Clare Gilmore never disappoints me! This book was so near and dear to me and I absolutely ate up everything about it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Never Over" by Clare Gilmore is an absolute masterpiece! The engaging storyline, compelling characters, and emotional depth make it a page-turner from start to finish. Gilmore's writing style is captivating, drawing readers into every scene with vivid detail and heartfelt emotions. A must-read that lingers long after the last page!

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced copy through NetGalley-opinions are my own!

Wow. This book was absolutely everything. Clare Gilmore is officially an auto-buy author for me. I absolutely adore her writing style, and how real and raw her characters feel.
Never Over had big shoes to fill, in my opinion, since Clare's previous book Perfect Fit instantly became one of my all time favorites, but, somehow, this one is ever better.

Paige has always felt unseen—lost in the chaos of her big family (she's the youngest of 5 sisters), and living in her best friend's shadow-until Liam came along. He saw her talent, believed in her, and changed everything... including breaking her heart. Years later, Paige has a shot at her dream, but it means facing the boy who once meant everything.

Told in dual timelines, this story beautifully captures the highs and lows of first love, heartbreak, and the kind of growth that only time-and the right person-can bring.
Paige and Liam's journey is messy, tender, and real, and watching them fighting their own demons in order to find their way back to themselves and each other is deeply, deeply moving.

I can't recommend this book enough! I feel honored that I got to read it before it's out in the world.

Really enjoyed. The writing is so well done and the characters so thought out. Appreciated how the characters matured.

On the surface, this book seemed to be a light-hearted second-chance, fake-dating romance. But no, this book has so much depth and soul and is about two people who were clearly meant to be but were momentarily separated by life and stubbornness, and now, they find their way back to each other again.

Paige was often overlooked and invisible, defined by being the youngest of 5 sisters and having a popular best friend, until she met Liam, who saw her as someone with so much musical talent and potential and became a sort of catalyst for her life and her greatest heartbreak. Now, she is finally presented with a chance to fulfill her dreams and to have something of her own, but she has to reunite with the person who broke her heart.

This book follows Paige as she attempts to get her inspiration back in her music to sign with a label/producer, but it really focuses on Paige and Liam's relationship through the past and present timelines: before their breakup and 4 years after when they reunite, and how each of their lives were permanently altered by each other. They learn about what it's like to be partners in a relationship, where the other person is your rock but can also be someone who pushes you to be your best self and to reach your full potential. Liam also goes through some life changing events that he never sees coming and is burdened by his own expectations for himself. It was nice to see how they both grow throughout the book and through time and compare their previous relationship to the current one.

The epilogue is phenomenally written and is one of the most beautiful things I've read in a long while. I won't spoil it, but it was so touching and just everything you want in an ending for these characters that I had come to root for.

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

This book was extremely cute and I read it in just one day! This story is following Paige Lancaster, youngest daughter of five girls and usually the one left out or behind. As a budding songwriter, she gets the opportunity to be signed but is encouraged to revisit her songs and rewrite them with more feeling and depth: the problem is that her biggest source of inspiration is the heartbreak she felt four years ago when she and Liam Bishop called it quits after a passionate relationship with each other. In an attempt to gain inspiration, she gets Liam to agree to date and break her heart all over again.

There is a lot more to this story, but that’s a good basis to go by. This story is told in a dual timeline which adds more context to Paige and Liam’s history together while they navigate the present and their undeniable feelings toward each other. I think the present timeline lacked something for me—maybe the way it felt a little more rushed instead of a slow burn? But with the past being shown, it does make sense, just not my personal favorite storyline. Paige and Liam were easy to root for, and their romance was quite compelling. Liam especially is swoooonworthy.

Gilmore also has a sense of humor that really aligned with my own and I found myself giggling at the jokes which is something I didn’t often do while reading so props to her on being funny.

And I have to point out that the epilogue NAILED it. I felt so emotional. Music is such a powerful source and I loved how Gilmore portrayed how far music goes—and how far love travels.

This was such a cute read and I recommend it for any lovers of music and emotional love stories.

This was a very enjoyable read. I loved the alternating timelines because it gives the reader a look at Paige and Liam following in love twice, at two different times in their lives.

And the epilogue, I loved the epilogue. Romance endings don’t always stand out to me but I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Clare Gilmore's conviction in bringing emotional honesty to the surface is unparalleled and absolutely inspirational in this genre. The characters are unabashedly communicative about their needs and this is refreshing and astonishing to read in a romance, which usually relies on beloved (but perhaps overly relied upon) tropes. Gilmore's previous books, Love Interest and Perfect Fit, were also stunning examples of this, and Never Over is no exception, though it is exceptional. The tension carried throughout despite having all the knowledge in your hands, in between the characters, this is the way you deliciously edge a reader into completion. I absolutely can't wait for audiences to devour Gilmore's newest book.