BLURB
From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a friends-to-lovers story spanning more than a decade…
At first, I thought I’d hate spending the summer with Archie Remington—the conceited son of my parents’ friends.
What I knew about Archie: he was gorgeous, pre-law, and had always treated me like I didn’t exist when we were younger.
When our families bought a house together on an island in Maine, he and I were forced to share a bathroom.
The boy I remembered was now a full-grown man—but with the same attitude.
After a rough start, Archie and I unexpectedly started getting along one day and eventually became friends. We shared secrets and bonded during our morning jogs. I discovered that Archie had a wild spirit and that he struggled to conform to his father’s expectations.
Things were cool until I had to go and ruin it, getting drunk one night, and blurting out my fantasy—involving him.
I took it back, but it was too late. Archie had heard me loud and clear. After that, we never quite knew how to toe the line.
When that summer came to an abrupt and shocking end, I headed back to college, unsure if anything would ever be the same again.
Across the miles over the years, he and I stayed in touch as friends, but fate and timing always kept us from becoming more.
You know the saying: If two people are meant to be, they’ll find their way back to each other?
Let’s just say Archie came back into my life in a way I would’ve never expected.
And this time, my heart would really be put to the test.
The thing about Archie? He was my best friend now, but at one time…we’d almost been more.
ARC REVIEW
The events on one single summer changed a lot of things for Noelle and Archie. Throughout a decade they somewhat kept in contact and have always had their friendship. However, there were always things that were left unsaid and lines that weren’t completely crossed.
I loved the friendship that Noelle and Archie formed. They misjudged each other and when they took the time to know the real person it solidified everything for them. Even during that one summer there was chemistry between them and there was plenty of attraction and that never really seemed to fade away, yet it was never the right time for them.
There is love and heartbreak intertwined throughout Noelle and Archie’s story. The slow burn of this though…you know these two are meant to be but neither of them can clearly see it and at times I just wanted to lock them in a room until the figured it out!
If you’re looking for a an angsty, slow burn, friends to lovers romance that spans decades check this one out.
