This was a very well written book full of love and emotion. I am not usually a fan of dual timeline but I found myself enjoying this one. Leo and Darby had a wonderful chemistry that had you constantly engaged.

Thank you so much Sarah A Bailey and Victory for the ARC.

4 Stars.

I loved this book when I read it for the first time and I loved it when I read it for the second time. I'm definitely going to read it again for the third time when it's officially summer!

This book reminded me of the indie coming of age movies I would watch in middle school in the absolute best way. The adult content was also written so beautifully, this has to be one of the few 5 star reads for me that actually contains sexual material and keeps the love story unique and genuine. I need the physical copies of these ASAP!

THANK YOU NETGALLEY 🙌🏻

Swoon-worthy. Beautiful in every sense of the word. Maybe not fully realistic but just the idea that a man could exist like Leo Graham is enough for me 💖

When 17-year-old Darby is sent away by her overbearing, controlling, abusive parents to stay with her grandma, she doesn't expect to meet the love of her life.
Ten years later, she finds herself hours from marrying someone she doesn't love. When her sister whispers a nickname to her that she hasn't heard in years, she is given the opportunity of a lifetime to reclaim her life and nurture the one who got away.

Book rating 4.5 stars
Spice 2

I am a sucker for “it’s always been you” and second chance.

This book was everything I didn’t think I needed. Also, what took me sooooo long to dive into this book!?

I got the arc through NetGalley, I read along and listened to it on audio.

Long live Darby and Leo. Those two went through the motions and stuck with it. Their hearts always connected to each other even with the ten year gap.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for giving me the opportunity to read Heathen & Honeysuckle in advance.

Definitely gonna read book two soon! Bumped it up on my TBR!

In my opinion, second chance is the hardest trope to write successfully, but this book did it! The is a perfect book beach/poolside read! Certain aspects of this book reminded me a lot of the Notebook (her family keeping them apart, letter writing).
I loved the flashback chapters and they really made me fall in love with the characters. Jump forward to present day and you can see how they have both changed but they still kept their core characteristics. Graham is so down bad and isn't afraid to show it with his actions, words, and grand gestures. I loved seeing Darby's growth. Really shows that it doesn't have to always be linear and that's ok. Her parents really manipulated her and she was able to come into her own.
I really love a runaway bride moments. The forced proximity of the road trip was the perfect choice for these two to reconnect and rekindle their romance.
We got to meet some of the characters from the next books and I will definitely be reading those this summer!

Book Rating: 4.75/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

There are times in life when the world feels too loud, too cruel—and all you want is to disappear into your shell. Heathen and Honeysuckle is the kind of book you reach for during those moments. Because it doesn’t just offer escape—it makes you feel seen. It made me feel seen in a way no book ever has.
Set in the quiet charm of Pacific Shore, California, this story follows Darby—a Christian girl raised within strict boundaries—who steps into a town where happiness is raw, wild, and unapologetically free. What begins as a reluctant vacation becomes the summer of her dreams. The kind of dream you see with your eyes closed, when the real world becomes too much to bear.
There’s angst, yearning, divine timing, miscommunication, and above all—love. A love that burns and breaks, comforts and devastates.
One quote from Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous kept echoing through my mind:
“You once told me that the human eye is God’s loneliest creation... The eye, alone in its socket, doesn’t even know there’s another one just like it, an inch away, just as hungry, as empty.”
This book is that quote brought to life.
When Honey (Darby) meets Leo, it’s not just a meeting—it’s a collision. A heathen surfer with pain etched into his soul, and a girl who’s only ever known control and fear. Together, their broken pieces start making sense. Their friendship, born from chaos and honesty, is the kind of connection that doesn’t ask for permission—it simply exists.
Leo isn’t your typical book boyfriend. He’s raw, rebellious, and achingly real. “A heathen is someone who doesn’t practice organized religion,” he says—and it’s not rebellion, it’s survival. He chooses to be good not out of fear, but out of intent. That shakes Darby’s world to its core.
If you’ve ever been a child shaped by toxic love, you’ll see yourself in Darby. You’ll recognize the ache to burn, to be punished, to believe you deserve less—until someone comes along who shows you how to want more.
What starts as a summer fling turns into a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love... until it all shatters. Darby’s getting married to a man she’ll never love. Leo’s been running from his pain for a decade. And just when all hope seems lost, one letterfinds its way home.
This story broke me. I threw my Kindle. I cried. I screamed. And then I dove right back in because I had to know.
The plot twist? My heart was in my mouth.
My only regret? Misjudging Diane—Darby’s grandmother. I owe her an apology.
This book is for the women who were taught to be small. For those told to be quiet, obedient, and ashamed simply for existing. It’s also about finding the kind of man who makes you feel like the center of the universe—and hands you the map to your freedom.
It’s about reclaiming your identity, your voice, and falling—headfirst—into the wild edge of love.

Thank you for the ARC
I am adding the links of review. Amazon.in isn’t allowing the review because the paperback version of book is listed for per-order. Once it publishes, I shall add the Amazon Review link. Meanwhile I have reviewed the Ebook and it shall publish by tomorrow or day after tomorrow. I’ll add that as well.

What a great story of first love, loss and second chances. I really enjoyed it! Leo was just a dream. There is runaway bride, first kiss, secret tattoo…..all the good stuff!
It will tug on your heart. When you find out all the secrets, you will be crushed. But Leo swoops in and makes everything better.
I highly recommend this book!

3.5 stars. this was so cute I really loved so much about this. the duel timeline makes it impossible to put the book down. they were really sweet, a little cringey at times but will definitely be reading the rest of the series i’m so excited for elena and augustus’ book!! four squeezes, i’ll keep you safe!!

“You’d wait a whole year just for me to come back?” “I think I might wait my whole life for you to come back, Darby. Something tells me there would be no point in trying to move on from this, because I’d end up searching for you in every place I go, in every person I meet, aimlessly wandering until I find you again.”

second change/ runaway bride/ road trip/ dual timeline/ it's always been you

Oh no, I am not okay after reading this book—in the absolute best way. I’m such a sucker for a “one who got away” trope, and Heathen & Honeysuckle hit every emotional note I crave in that kind of story. It’s heartfelt, nostalgic, romantic, and just angsty enough to keep you flipping pages late into the night.

From the moment I read the blurb, I had a feeling this book was going to get me—and I was right. But once I actually met Leo and Darby on the page, it was game over. Their summer together in Pacific Shores is one of those golden, unforgettable love stories: sweet, sizzling, and full of moments that made me smile and ache in equal measure. You can feel how deep their connection runs, even as teenagers. And then Darby leaves, just like that—and neither of them ever fully moves on.

Darby really stood out for me. She’s a woman torn between what’s expected of her and what she truly wants. Watching her wrestle with that—especially as her wedding to a man she doesn’t love approaches—was heartbreaking and so real. She’s been living for everyone but herself, trying so hard to be “good,” and it was impossible not to root for her to finally choose herself. Leo, meanwhile, is the kind of book boyfriend you don’t forget. He never stopped loving Darby, and when he returns with that letter she never meant to send, everything comes rushing back.

Yes, some plot points are a little convenient, but honestly? I didn’t care. The emotional payoff was more than worth it. The characters are so well-drawn, the pacing is spot-on, and the way Sarah A. Bailey weaves love, regret, hope, and healing into every page is just beautiful.

If you love second-chance romances, “one who got away” angst, and stories that make your heart ache in the best possible way—Heathen & Honeysuckle is for you. It’s easily going on my top reads list. I loved it, melted for it, and I’m still not over it.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Page & Vine for the ARC—I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

I loved Leo and Darby’s story so much! I never wanted to put it down but alas work made me put it down most the time. I can’t wait for this to finally be released and the sequel!

This was a super solid read for me. I enjoyed the dual timeline and the plot as a whole - lots going on but all done well. There was familial drama, romance (obvi), personal struggles, and friendship and then a lack thereof. The book follows the MC's from a summer when they were 17 to ten years later when she runs away from the altar. The rest of the book follows them in the current timeline while alternating with the summer from 10 years ago. Was this insta love? Yes. They fall in love immediately and then the rest of their relationship in total is probably like 3-4 months at most. But I'm cool with that.

Parts of this was a little slow, but it was necessary I guess for the foundation of the relationship between the two main characters. Hated the dad in this book, which you're supposed to so it's fine and I'm happy he got his just desserts at the end.

I look forward to reading the other books coming in this series. Specifically for Dahlia's book (assuming she get's a book).

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love a second chance romance and this was really good! Dual pov and past and present included. Really was a perfect summer read

Second-chance romance, dual POV, dual timeline set 10 years apart. Sarah Bailey has some solid writing and a cohesive plot, but it took me some time to get invested in the story. Some of the nicknames and dialogue were cringey but I don't regret not DNF-ing this one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this digital ARC.

🌊✨BOOK REVIEW✨🌊
Heathen & Honeysuckle by Sarah A. Bailey
📖 Pacific Shores #1 | Releases June 10, 2025
📚 Romance | Second Chance | New Adult
#HeathenHoneysuckle #NetGalley #LiteraryHavocReviews

💔“Heathen & Honeysuckle wrecked me in the best way.”💔
What started as a small-town summer romance turned into an emotionally explosive, angst-drenched, second-chance love story that ripped my heart out, kissed it better, then shattered it again before putting it back together.
And I loved every second.

🌞 Then:
Darby was the good girl. Leo was the barefoot bad boy with a surfboard and a smirk.
A golden summer. A first love so intense it couldn’t possibly survive reality.
Until she vanished without a word. And he never stopped wondering why.

🕰️ Now:
Ten years later. She's engaged to the wrong man.
He shows up with a letter she never meant to send...
And a second chance she’s not sure she deserves.

💬 “You were the storm and the calm, all in one. And I’ve spent a decade waiting for the sky to break again.”

🔥 If you love:
🌊 Small town coastal vibes
💌 Lost letters + surprise reunions
🚘 Road trip + forced proximity
💔 Second chances done RIGHT
🥀 Girls learning how to live again
👑 Golden boy surfers turned loyal kings
💥 Long-buried secrets and big emotional payoffs
…this book is your new obsession.

🎯 This one hit me in all the tender places. The teen summer romance was so vivid, so alive—and the adult reconnection felt earned, raw, and healing. Their chemistry? SCORCHING. The angst? Chef’s kiss. The ending? Hope incarnate.

📌 Add this to your summer TBR, bestie. Leo and Darby’s story is a heartache you’ll want to live through again and again. 🫠

⭐️ 5/5 | I need the rest of this series IMMEDIATELY.

#SecondChanceRomance #SmallTownRomance #EmotionalReads #RomanceBooks #BookReview #RomanceBookstagram #SpicyReads #SarahABailey #BookstagramRecs #LiteraryHavoc #RomanceWithDepth #LoveAfterLoss #ComingJune2025

This book definitely surprised me in the best way. I have never read any work by Sarah A Bailey but after this book I will be reading absolutely everything she writes.

This is a dual pov and dual timeline. This follows Leo and Darby from when they are spending a summer together as teenagers but it is also in the present 10 years later as adults. Darby was sent to live with her grandmother for a summer after this happen with her family. She comes from a weathly prominent family in Kansas so she is out of her comfort zone in a small beach town in California. Immediately on her first day she meets the boy next door, Leo. He is considered a heathen and troublemaker from her grandmother. After some persistence from Leo, they become fast friends and immediately develop a crush on each other. They have an epic summer romance but Darby goes home and never speaks to him again. Flash forward 10 years later and we are at her wedding and Leo is in the audience. She must now choose if she wants that one true love or the life her father wants for her.

angsty, angsty, angsty! If you want a book that makes you yearn, you've found it. Darby is a flawed but likeable character, and Leo would do anything for her. I love their relationship and how it progressed; nothing seemed rushed, and the writing was *chefs kiss* 4.5 stars!

This has been my favorite book of the year. The dual timelines, emotional depth, and beachside setting make it a standout read. Darby and Leo first met the summer they were 17, when Darby was in town visiting her grandma. Their story begins with a snarky comment from Leo about the music Darby is listening to - and from that moment, that summer the two became inseparable.

Darby comes from a strict home, so with no parents around for the summer, Leo helps her loosen up and experience the freedom of being a typical teenager. He shows her how to enjoy life, and together they create the kind of memories that stay with you forever. But their summer is cut short, and life separates them in different directions for the next ten years.

Leo finds out Darby is getting married and helps her escape out of town. As they take a road trip back to the beach, they reconnect and slowly uncover the reasons that kept them apart for a decade.

Sarah's writing will break your heart and bring you back to life. Be prepared-this book is so good, and I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series.

4.5 stars!! I LOVE this authors writing! I am so so excited to continue this series.

I loved the dual timelines, but definitely preferred their lives in the present tense, so I know the rest of this series will be incredible!!

Leo is too good for this world! There were so many heartfelt moments and some swoony, fun scenes. And the quotes!! Just listen to how incredible this writing is:

“You remind me of honeysuckle. Nectar sweet as honey, like the sound or your voice. But the berries are deceiving-poisonous if consumed… Beautiful and deadly.”

“You did hear me say your name. The name I’ve been moaning every time I fuck my fist for the last ten years.”

“Despite the fading daylight, she remains shrouded in brightness, the most golden thing in existence.”

“You’re still the sunlight shining through the cracks of my shattered soul.”

AND SO MANY MORE

Rating: 4/5 stars

This was such a heartfelt, second-chance romance that swept me up from the very beginning. The chemistry between Leo and Darby was undeniable—equal parts sweet and sizzling. Their summer together in Pacific Shores was nostalgic and tender, full of moments that made me smile and ache in equal measure.

Darby is a well-drawn character: torn between duty and desire, struggling to reconcile the expectations placed on her with the life she truly wants.

While a few plot points felt a bit convenient, the emotional payoff more than made up for it. This story is perfect for fans of “the one that got away” romances and anyone who loves a good “follow your heart” narrative. A satisfying, romantic escape with just the right amount of angst