I loved this book. I love characters that feel real. Like I’d be friends with them if they existed outside of the pages of a book. Time and time again, Allie Samberts delivers characters like this. Because of this book, I can’t really say I don’t like the second chance trope anymore (and I’ve definitely been a hater in the past). I guess I think it just needs to be executed the way Allie does it! In this story, two bookish characters, Ryan (an editor) and Scarlett (an author) fell in love as they worked on her book together. But because life is life, and some pains are unavoidable, they end up going their separate ways. This book isn’t just about how they found their way back to each other. It’s arguably even more about the way Scarlett found her way back to her own heart. This book promotes going to therapy, setting boundaries, mental wellness, and being in tune with your own emotions. Scarlett went through hell, and never once did Ryan judge her or make her feel bad for walking away from not just him, but her entire life and career. I love the depth given to these two characters. They feel real and tangible because they are flawed humans with deeply emotional wounds. Allie Samberts draws you in by alluding to heartbreaking moments, as well as little victories along the way, that you can’t help but to keep reading to know what causes the hurt that made their triumphs after the fact so significant. Knowing that Ryan and Scarlett have a past, knowing that something really big happened to cause such a break, but not fully knowing what it was, snared me and kept me locked in as I read page after page. The way Scarlett and Ryan were able to weave themselves back into each other’s lives so seamlessly, without it seeming forced to the reader, is such a beautiful thing to read. Because of their past, and the way it’s written to show they know each other because they’ve spent so much time together, their present just makes sense. Like the continuation of a knitted project that was abandoned with the hooks still in it, and then picked back up years later and easily worked on because you don’t just forget how to knit. Muscle memory. And reading this book was just that easy, too. It was a beautiful, emotional journey. One I’m so glad I got to take. I really think I’m a better person for having read this book. I loved it because it’s not just a romance. It’s introspective and very full of love, which really, truly isn’t a strong enough word to describe just how much I loved reading it.

Thank you to the author for the early copy of the book. It is out May 14, 2025. It can be preordered through her website. All thoughts below are my own.

There’s something about this book that kept me coming back. I started it at the worst possible time (I was at work) and got sucked in so quickly, which means putting it down was painstaking because I didn’t want to. I made 111 highlights in this 320 page book.

When I read romance books, yes it is an escape, but I also want stories that are believable. Like the characters could be someone I know and love. I want the characters to be flawed. I want them to be human. In Not A Strong Enough Word, Allie so carefully handles depression, anxiety, and the emotions that come with these two intense feelings. These are heavy things so many of us deal with, and I know that this book will be read by someone who needs to be told that what they’re feeling is okay and there are people who love you and people who will support you as you navigate those feelings.

If you need a romance that deals with the heavy shit in a truly impactful and beautiful way with a great love story, wonderful side characters, and two incredible MMCs, this is for you. Scarlett and Ryan never ever stopped loving each other and big decisions forced them apart five years ago. But they found their way back to each other and held on through the twists and turns to come back to each other.

Please read this book.



Note: Not a Strong Enough Word also includes a brief on page miscarriage and the grief that comes with it. I have not personally had this experience, but I believe it is handled well and with it the care it deserves. Please proceed with your heart in mind. No book is worth causing your heart hurt. 💜