Loved this clean, Christian themed Rom-com style book!

My favorite theme addressed is the idea of happiness and what makes us feel happy and fulfilled. We all have some kind of list or ideas of, “If I accomplish _____, I will feel happy” or “If I do _______, I will be a success”.
In this book we read about several people who by all accounts should (because they have accomplished their goals) be happy, but are not. They actually feel inadequate, self conscious, and alone.
There are forces beyond our own goals, comforts not of this world that help us during these challenging times. God truly gives us a bigger perspective on what is important in life and how to follow His guidance.

As a book lover, it was also beautiful to have an MFC who is an author. While she is a writer, she also yearns to write her own stories instead of other people’s life experiences.

I would have loved to have the friendship between Jane and Liv grow in this book, but perhaps that is to come in the next book.



Spice: None
Language: None

*Second chance romance
*Forced proximity
*Christian
*Quick read

Tastefully written! I really enjoyed this book. The romance was sweet and watching Jane discover her path God had for her was so relatable!! She had such encouraging relationship (new and old) and no one pushed what they wanted on her. They let her figure it out and stood along side her while doing so. Just so well done and so realistic!

Chapter One Again by Keelia Clarkson is a sweet, clean, uplifting and heartwarming book. I’ve never read Ms. Clarkson’s work before and I was pleasantly surprised to find it an easy read, as well as a thought-provoking read. Jane’s character was quite relatable, as was Noah’s, especially if you’ve been in their positions with elderly parents. The belief in God and faith is nicely presented throughout the story line and gives the reader nice inspiration and insight. This was well written inspirational and positive read that I would most definitely recommend. I’m grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Really sweet story that makes you hopeful for the future and what God has in store. The main character was relatable and her trials were too. An easy to read novel with good depth.

I received an ARC of Chapter One Again by Keeliq Clarkson on Netgalley, and what stood out to me most was how reflective this story feels.

This isn’t a loud or overly dramatic romance. It’s thoughtful. It lingers. It takes its time exploring purpose, faith, and the quiet in–between seasons of life. The kind of story that focuses more on internal shifts than external chaos.

Jane’s journey feels very grounded especially for anyone trying to balance ambition, uncertainty, and personal growth. There’s something deeply relatable about watching her navigate expectations while still trying to hear her own voice clearly.

The romance unfolds gently. It’s tender without being over-the-top, and it leans into emotional connection rather than grand displays. If you enjoy love stories that build through conversation, patience, and shared faith, this dynamic will likely resonate with you.

Faith is present throughout the novel in a way that feels woven into the characters’ everyday lives. It doesn’t overpower the story; instead, it shapes decisions, perspectives, and growth in subtle but meaningful ways.

Overall, this is a soft, introspective Christian romance that centers identity, calling, and steady love. If you gravitate toward character-driven stories with emotional depth and a faith foundation, this might be one for you.

There are some books you read for literary fireworks and some you read for the simple pleasure of settling into a comfortable story world. Chapter One Again, Keelia Clarkson’s debut novel, clearly belongs to the second category.

The story introduces us to Jane, a successful ghostwriter living in New York City who returns to her hometown of Avila Falls just as her career seems poised for a turning point. Back in the mountain town she once left behind, she reconnects with familiar faces, encounters her high school crush again, and begins to wonder whether the life she has built in the city is the life she truly wants.

Avila Falls itself is very much part of the charm. Clarkson leans into the warm appeal of a small-town setting: a beloved independent bookstore, colorful local characters, and the sense that the place you once fled might still hold a future you didn’t expect. Readers who enjoy stories where home becomes a character in its own right will find much to like here.

Jane’s work as a ghostwriter adds an interesting dimension to the story. She helps shape the voices of other public figures while quietly wrestling with her own creative longings—a tension many writers will immediately recognize. Along the way, she forms a friendship with Liv, a pop star navigating questions of identity and public image, which introduces another thread about authenticity and the courage to live truthfully.

The novel also carries gentle faith-adjacent themes about purpose, calling, and paying attention to the quiet nudges that shape our lives. Clarkson approaches these ideas in a straightforward, accessible way that will likely resonate with readers who appreciate stories in which faith and vocation intersect with everyday decisions.

In tone and structure, Chapter One Again reads very much like the kind of cozy, uplifting story that Hallmark audiences gravitate toward: a return home, a rediscovered sense of belonging, and the possibility of love arriving where it was least expected. The emphasis is less on dramatic twists and more on the comfort of familiar narrative rhythms.

As the first installment in the Avila Falls series, the book clearly lays the groundwork for future stories in this community. Several relationships and storylines are introduced that readers will likely enjoy seeing explored further in the next volume.

Fans of clean romance, small-town fiction, and gentle stories about second chances will find Chapter One Again an easy, comforting read—and Avila Falls seems poised to welcome readers back again soon when the next installment arrives.