5/5

Never Over is second chance romance goodness, written with aching emotion and lending voice to the weight of grief and how far we will go in pursuit of our dreams. Messy twenty-somethings still figuring out life is Clare Gilmore’s bread and butter, and her third novel is arguably the best of the best and the messiest of the twenty somethings. Dual timelines give rise to a second chance love story between determined songwriter Paige Lancaster, and Liam Bishop, her ex—once lauded baseball pitcher now concert manager on the tour circuit. Never Over is a love story centered around life on tour, bookstore meet cutes, baseball training, and a heartwarming love letter to Bristol, Tennessee. Clare Gilmore has completely shifted what constitutes an excellent execution of the second chance romance trope with Never Over and I am in complete awe of her talent. This feels like a book written for the overlooked younger children finding their voice and their place in adulthood after being lost in the background for so long. At the same time, the danger in letting yourself be defined by one thing and what happens when that dream abruptly ends. Like the most addictive sort of love song: Never Over is a romance to pour over, read, and repeat. Healing and cathartic all in one note.

*Thank you to You Had Me at HEA and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This was the cozy romance I needed after back-to-back dark reads. It's joy, it's set in Knoxville where I live, and it just oozes summer. I didn't even have to imagine Paige and Liam's college romance because it took place at my favorite bookstores, bars, and restaurants. But even then, the way that Clare Gilmore described the setting for their love story was immaculate. The dual timeline only adds to the story in the present, as Paige and Liam fall for each other again and again. I also really liked how she described the song writing process and the lyrics (often those are hit or miss).

Best enjoyed with Clare's Never Over playlist on in the background.

I inhaled this book in 24 hours. I love second chance, and the breakup in the past timeline was so real and emotional. It was lovely watching these two find each other again, and this book probably contains my all time favorite epilogue.

I loved, loved this read. I read it in less than 24 hours and the only reason I did not finish it sooner is because I fell asleep. The merging of the past/present to shape the story and the growth of the characters was one of my favorite parts. I loved the growth of the two characters throughout the whole story. This is a lovely second chance romance, so if you like that trope, I highly recommend! This was my first read by Clare Gilmore, but I will be coming back for more her books. This book was emotional for me and that’s one of the reasons I loved it. I felt so connected to the story and characters. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I loved the main characters—they were perfectly messy in the best way. The tension, the growth, the spice? All of it hit. The second chance romance was super fun and felt really fresh. Clare Gilmore packed this book with all the feels—so much longing, unspoken stuff, and even some deep thoughts about art, creativity, and working together. The setting was spot-on, and honestly, the whole thing was just really, really good.

I don’t usually gravitate toward books with a music industry theme, but Never Over really surprised me—in the best way. I was hooked by the characters and their chemistry, and I found myself completely invested in their journey. Both leads were so well written, and I loved seeing how their story unfolded. The ending especially hit all the right notes—emotional, satisfying, and exactly what I hoped for. A great read that definitely exceeded my expectations!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own!

“Loving you is the honor of a lifetime”
“I will love you in endless places” 😭

My third Clare Gilmore book and the third 5 star. God. Listen I know there are a lot of contemporary romance authors out there but Glimore takes the cake. She writes love in such a relatable and romantic way. She is so original and it is so refreshing with all of the contemporary romance novels these days. Not my favorite of all three of her books but still 5 stars!

I adored this book. Liam may be my favorite romance hero of all time. This was a great dual-trope romance (second chance and fake dating) that was executed perfectly.

Not sure how Clare Gilmore isn’t at the forefront the contemporary romance genre but let me tell you something: it’s where she deserves to be. Didn’t think I’d love something the way I love PERFECT FIT but here comes NEVER OVER to take its place.

Oh my goodness. I’m not sure there are words to truly convey the depths of which I love this book.

Gilmore did something special here with a premise that, in theory, shouldn’t really work. I mean, go to him to have him re-break your heart after 4 years???? But immediately I knew it was going to work. Mostly because Liam is so dang down bad immediately at the reunion hug that there was no way he was going to let her slip away again. And then it just kept getting better and better.

There is a softness to these two that I’m not sure I’ve encountered elsewhere. They’re each other’s home and that fact is so blatant from the beginning. Every choice they made in life, knowingly or not, had the other in mind. The ways in which they support each other makes my heart ache. They love each other SO MUCH I can’t stand it.

The things Liam says to her?? The way Paige just wants him to have the things he loves?? I believe, more than anything in the entire world, that these two are meant for each other.

I can’t even get started on the most perfect epilogue I’ve ever read in my life.

Everyone, please, get Clare Gilmore on Emily Henry’s level. Pick up this book. Pick up her two others. You won’t regret it.

Thank you NetGallet and SMP for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I have loved everything Clare Gilmore has written and this one did not disappoint! I loved the perfectly flawed main characters, their growth, the tension and the spice! The storyline was a fun and unique second chance romance.