This was brilliant! It started a bit slower, but it ended up delivering. Darby and Leo were adorable, I suffered with them, I cheered for them and almost blushed when thong got hot.

This is a brilliant combination of literary fiction, romance and erotica, there is something for everyone. Author did a masterful job infusing these characters with a lot of personality and depth, every single one of them, main and support ones were wonderful to read and I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.

Ah, brilliant!

This one actually was so good, I have a lot of questions still on what happened with the dad afterward, or dahlia and Lou. I wish those were answered but I loved the little inkling of foreshadowing throughout the book.

I love their love and how nothing will come between them. This book is the type of love all women want to feel.

I loved so much about this story! So many things I love all in one book: a second chance romance, surfing main character, the Pacific Shore beach location, falling in love at the beach, the bad boy vibes, it was always you!

The way the story is told in the dual timelines and from dual point of view. It fills in the pieces of the story slowly as to what happened in past to bring the characters where they are now. You get to know a little bit more about each of the characters as time goes on and fall in love with them as they slowly find their place.

Darby and Leo will always have a special place in my heart!

I recieved this book as an ARC. I loved every second of it! I am usually not a huge fan of second chance romances that start when the characters are teenagers, but this book blew me away! I loved the depth of all the characters. The timeline jumping was a beautiful echo and really pushed the plot forward. Overall, I loved it and can't wait to read the next one!

3.75⭐️ *spoilers*

I really enjoyed getting to read Leo and Darby’s story! It was certainly frustrating to know that Darby fell back into her old patterns of being manipulated by her parents after her summer with Leo since he seemed to help her find a healthier mindset.

But, seeing how her parents treated her and Dahlia, it’s understandable to see how she made the choices she did. It’s devastating to think about the time she lost because of them but I’m glad both Darby and Dahlia find better lives for themselves in the end! I’m excited to continue the series and see how everyone else gets their happily ever after.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Sarah A. Bailey for the opportunity to read this ARC!

*this review is posted on goodreads*

I knew the moment I started read this book that it was gonna break my heart in the best way possible. There were so many moments filled with raw emotions that I’m shocked I didn’t shed tears. If you need a good cry read this book!

Absolutely adored this second chance romance! The past to present wasn’t my favorite but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment. I will for sure be continuing this series!

Just amazing , truly a diamond . Two soulmates who were separated for 10 years but they found their way to be together .
Darcy at 17 was sent to spent her summer at her grandmother in California away from her sister by her very strict father . The first person she met was a Leo a young boy who always challenge her and tried to make her have fun without worrying about what the other will think . She also met and became friends with his best friends . Their relationship only last two months and half but it was powerful , everlasting and real until she vanishes one night without one word . Now 10 years later she is getting married a guy she doesn't want but her father is telling her to . The day of her wedding and couple hours before the venue Leo is there to help her because he received her letter that she never was to sent him and asking him to come to find her . Together they travel back to the place that had felt like home for both of them . Will the secret that kept them apart be able to make him stop loving her ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publisher as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

I read this in a single afternoon ! I HAD to know why they broke up! There were a few things I didn’t like like 1) the shower scene reminded me too much of another run away bride book I read and didn’t like and 2) sometimes the way Leo ( especially 17 year old Leo ) talked was unrealistic . However I ended up LOVING it and the car hood scene is to probably one of my fav spice scenes I’ve ever read. This was very emotional at times and OMG their dad sucks sooooo bad . I immediately started book 2 and I am obsessed . Thank you soooo much for this arc !

Being a very picky person when choosing a book out of this category, I can totally say I absolutely enjoyed this story.
Sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter, sometimes yearning...
The storyline is very well written and you can keep up with the back and forth in time between the past and the present very easily.
Perfect match between reader and book if you're looking for a second chance love story that will not let you disappointed.

Thank you Netgalley

This was an amazing book! I couldn't put it down.

The romance was beautiful and was a fun easy read :)

Thankyou to netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Oh my God I could not put this book down. Heathen & Honeysuckle is a story of love, loss and finding your way home. Honestly this book broke and healed so many things in me and everyone should read it. Its dual pov and past and present timelines. Please everyone pick this book up, i will definitely be continuing with the series and reading all of Sarah's books

This is one of the best second chance romance stories I’ve read in a while.
The dual timeline was executed perfectly, revealing key information at just the right moments for maximum emotional impact. The story was beautiful, emotional, and deliciously spicy.

My main issue was with the main character, Darby. I struggled with how long she allowed herself to be controlled and victimized—especially since she had the means and ability to move on. While I understand this was necessary for the timeline and emotional arc of the story, it sometimes felt like she let others take advantage of her for far too long.

On the other hand, I absolutely loved Leo. He was patient, understanding, and never held a grudge. His unwavering support when Darby needed him most made him such a standout character.

I’m especially excited to read more about the other characters—particularly Dahlia. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and can’t wait to dive into more of their work.

This book was so good!

Second chance romance with a dual timeline & a HEA!
Fell in love with the characters & their love for each other.
There were parts of the story which were so emotional & so impactful. This book had the ability to make me feel so strongly for the characters!

Would definitely recommend.
4 stars!

Second Chance / Right Person Wrong Time.

This story follows Darby, who’s sent to spend the summer with her grandmother due to family troubles. There, she meets Leo—and the chemistry is immediate. Darby, who’s led a sheltered life, begins to truly experience what it means to be a teenager, thanks to Leo’s gentle encouragement and support.

The novel alternates between past and present, giving a beautiful, bittersweet look at the evolution of their relationship—from that unforgettable summer to the present day. Leo is the definition of a green flag: respectful, supportive, and patient. He never pressures Darby, but empowers her to make her own choices—like attending her first party and getting drunk—while always staying by her side.

What I loved most was Leo’s unwavering belief in Darby and his role in helping her chase her dreams. Their love story felt so real. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

THIS BOOK. I'm giving it all my love.

My new all time favorite second chance warm cozy sweet romance 🙌 Darby is a sheltered good girl who needs to break out of her comfort zone. Leo is a surfer heathen who needs someone to scare his ghosts away. They both need each other, this book made me laugh out loud and cry. Even the very last chapter. HEA THANK GOD and Sarah is a straight up poet, if she can somehow write me poems every day that would be great 🫶

This honestly feels like my ideal comfort book with the best emotions and fantastic spice.

(Check content warnings)

really cute, well written emotional romance that I think deserves a lot more attention than it has gotten. 5 stars. tysm for the arc. would recommend.

This book put me through the wringer! Such an emotional, beautiful second chance story. Darby and Leo never moved on from each other, and were drawn together right after reuniting. Even though they had to work through and move on from their past, their love never wavered and they still cared so deeply for each other. From the growth, the pining, the forgiveness, and even the spice, it was the most powerful and beautifully heartfelt book.

I found this romance to be just okay. I think their insta-love/insta-lust just threw me off a lot. As we all know, I am really not a fan of that (whether it's intentional or accidentally written that way).

This is a second chance romance, so that insta-love/insta-lust does make a bit of sense, but it still didn't give me the tension and developmental arc that should've been in a storyline like that. It was also a little too formulaic (I understand that after reading a certain number of books, you can predict a lot and you know all the formulas and kinds of stories, but there are still unique ways to pull that off).

Also, the family members of these characters SUCKED. My goodness, I know that people like that exist, we've all met them, but geez!

And as I usually do, I found the past versions of these characters (when it cut back to them originally being together) were so annoying! I hate stupid know-it-all teenagers. If you're gonna be a know-it-all, at least be smart and actually know it all.

Anywhoooooo...

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Leo and Darby forever have my whole heart ❤️ the emotional depth and context in this is incredible!
I dont know how to put into words how much I loved this story. Sports romance isn't always my favorite but I will 100% be looking for more by Sarah A. Bailey ij the future.