thedudereads's review
5.0
Wow
This was an interesting read of a first book. The multiples of exes and being friends still was like hmm. But I did find it interesting. Glad I read it.
This was an interesting read of a first book. The multiples of exes and being friends still was like hmm. But I did find it interesting. Glad I read it.
cokiereads's review
5.0
How does this not have more reviews?! This book was off the wall funny and romantic. Second chance. And i loved the fact that she didnt give in. Make him WORK FOR IT!
andireadsromance's review
4.0
My first book by Jenny Bunting and I enjoyed it. Not too much angst and I laughed quite a bit. I want to continue the series. 4.25 stars.
chulaisreadingromance's review
5.0
Review Update July 18 2022
When Jenny said she was going to revise and re write this story I felt a little sad. This is the book that made me fall in love with Jenny’s writing. The start of one of my absolute favorite series and a book so dear to my heart. And this is what I have to say about this new version:
- Zoey is still a relatable character for me and Jonathan is book boyfriend goals!
- Jenny dug deeper into their characters and their backstory this time around and it made the book more emotional than it used to be. If you’ve read this book before, your heart will crave for their HEA even more!
- I forgot how crazy funny this book is! I laughed my ass off re-reading this book just like the first time and it was exactly what my heart needed this past weekend.
- Dan is still the man.
- I’m so tempted to throw away my entire TBR and binge the series all over again!
Jenny brought a fresher, more intense look to the story that made the heart of the characters and their journey stand out even more. It captured me from the very first page and made me swoon, laugh and blush! The same essence of the original story with an extra shot!
My paperback is on the way and can’t wait to put it right next to my Jenny Bunting collection!
—————
Original review
I was told I read with all my heart and it's true... I do. This book proved it.
I. LOVED. IT!
Everything about it!
First of all, I have to say... I laughed my ass off! My family had to shush me at 2AM today because I was cracking up like crazy. Putting aside the awkward situation my girl Zoey was in (three exes in the same wedding including the groom and the best man? I mean, come on!) , the entire cast of this book was hilarious in their individual way and the explosive chemistry they all had together was the perfect mix. This book was utterly and genuinely funny!
I loved the pair Zoey and Jonathan made, but my heart went straight to Zoey from the very beginning. I loved how unapologetically herself she was and how she allowed others to see her for who she really was, no matter what. I was able to relate to her in so many ways, her desire to change the course of her life, her constant fight to heal from her past and move forward to re-write her story and change her future. I understood her hesitations and doubts and sided with her the entire ride. The constant reminder of her 17 year old self as she restored her faith in herself and her trust in Jonathan gave the perfect dose of heartache to her story!
I am so glad we have Jonathan's point of view in the story, I hated what he did to Zoey but I also understood ─when you're a kid, you're still learning about life and love... And consequences!─ He wore his heart on his sleeve, his entire journey to fall back in love with her was the most adorable thing I've ever read. He loved all her quirks and wittiness and it was obvious to me how much he'd missed her. He was a dreamboat and made me swoon with so much sweetness. I felt bad for him as Zoey gave him a hard time to get there although I agreed with her the entire time! His tender heart, his desire for redemption and forgiveness felt honest and pure to me, he was willing to fight for her and make the right decisions this time.
They were two wonderful and funny people and were even funnier together. The chemistry was so clear from the moment they saw each other again, their love, their need for one another and their effort to make the relationship work made the steamy parts so heartfelt and emotional (and soooo hot!), it was a delight to read them finding their way back to each other.
I love the meddling of the rest of the cast. I felt like I wanted to be friends with everyone, including Zoey's mom. They were so funny together and they all had the best intentions and desires for them.
"Everything that happened led her here."
My goodness! Did I feel that quote in my very soul! I loved that both Zoey and Jonathan saw the hope within the initial pain they went through, finding the purpose of it and learned how to trust in their journey.
Can't wait to read the rest of this series!
When Jenny said she was going to revise and re write this story I felt a little sad. This is the book that made me fall in love with Jenny’s writing. The start of one of my absolute favorite series and a book so dear to my heart. And this is what I have to say about this new version:
- Zoey is still a relatable character for me and Jonathan is book boyfriend goals!
- Jenny dug deeper into their characters and their backstory this time around and it made the book more emotional than it used to be. If you’ve read this book before, your heart will crave for their HEA even more!
- I forgot how crazy funny this book is! I laughed my ass off re-reading this book just like the first time and it was exactly what my heart needed this past weekend.
- Dan is still the man.
- I’m so tempted to throw away my entire TBR and binge the series all over again!
Jenny brought a fresher, more intense look to the story that made the heart of the characters and their journey stand out even more. It captured me from the very first page and made me swoon, laugh and blush! The same essence of the original story with an extra shot!
My paperback is on the way and can’t wait to put it right next to my Jenny Bunting collection!
—————
Original review
I was told I read with all my heart and it's true... I do. This book proved it.
I. LOVED. IT!
Everything about it!
First of all, I have to say... I laughed my ass off! My family had to shush me at 2AM today because I was cracking up like crazy. Putting aside the awkward situation my girl Zoey was in (three exes in the same wedding including the groom and the best man? I mean, come on!) , the entire cast of this book was hilarious in their individual way and the explosive chemistry they all had together was the perfect mix. This book was utterly and genuinely funny!
I loved the pair Zoey and Jonathan made, but my heart went straight to Zoey from the very beginning. I loved how unapologetically herself she was and how she allowed others to see her for who she really was, no matter what. I was able to relate to her in so many ways, her desire to change the course of her life, her constant fight to heal from her past and move forward to re-write her story and change her future. I understood her hesitations and doubts and sided with her the entire ride. The constant reminder of her 17 year old self as she restored her faith in herself and her trust in Jonathan gave the perfect dose of heartache to her story!
I am so glad we have Jonathan's point of view in the story, I hated what he did to Zoey but I also understood ─when you're a kid, you're still learning about life and love... And consequences!─ He wore his heart on his sleeve, his entire journey to fall back in love with her was the most adorable thing I've ever read. He loved all her quirks and wittiness and it was obvious to me how much he'd missed her. He was a dreamboat and made me swoon with so much sweetness. I felt bad for him as Zoey gave him a hard time to get there although I agreed with her the entire time! His tender heart, his desire for redemption and forgiveness felt honest and pure to me, he was willing to fight for her and make the right decisions this time.
They were two wonderful and funny people and were even funnier together. The chemistry was so clear from the moment they saw each other again, their love, their need for one another and their effort to make the relationship work made the steamy parts so heartfelt and emotional (and soooo hot!), it was a delight to read them finding their way back to each other.
I love the meddling of the rest of the cast. I felt like I wanted to be friends with everyone, including Zoey's mom. They were so funny together and they all had the best intentions and desires for them.
"Everything that happened led her here."
My goodness! Did I feel that quote in my very soul! I loved that both Zoey and Jonathan saw the hope within the initial pain they went through, finding the purpose of it and learned how to trust in their journey.
Can't wait to read the rest of this series!
woodlandbunny's review against another edition
5.0
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I could not put this book down all day!! I WAS HOOKED and when my kindle eventually died i just couldn’t stop thinking about this book and waiting to read more of it.
I absolutely adored every single one of the characters in this and honestly experienced so many emotions throughout the whole of this novel that I am in such awe of Jenny’s writing! The whole relationship between Jonathan and Zoey had me swooning and the whole story flowed perfectly, nothing felt rushed or forced and i truly felt as though i was part of these characters lives and romance!
Such a fun, gripping read and was exactly the kind of book i needed to get lost in during these tough times! I will be rereading this one for many times to come!
I could not put this book down all day!! I WAS HOOKED and when my kindle eventually died i just couldn’t stop thinking about this book and waiting to read more of it.
I absolutely adored every single one of the characters in this and honestly experienced so many emotions throughout the whole of this novel that I am in such awe of Jenny’s writing! The whole relationship between Jonathan and Zoey had me swooning and the whole story flowed perfectly, nothing felt rushed or forced and i truly felt as though i was part of these characters lives and romance!
Such a fun, gripping read and was exactly the kind of book i needed to get lost in during these tough times! I will be rereading this one for many times to come!
betzandbooks25's review
4.0
Second Chance 💕💕
I love second chance romance. It’s one of my favorite romance tropes because sometimes you just don’t get the right ending with a first (or second) love.
Zoey & Jonathan are exes that are in the same wedding & while Zoey has spent the last 11 years avoiding him, he has spent the last 11 years dealing with the mistake he made that ended their relationship. This story dealt with real life concerns and relationship issues & I really enjoyed the love story they found for themselves.
I love second chance romance. It’s one of my favorite romance tropes because sometimes you just don’t get the right ending with a first (or second) love.
Zoey & Jonathan are exes that are in the same wedding & while Zoey has spent the last 11 years avoiding him, he has spent the last 11 years dealing with the mistake he made that ended their relationship. This story dealt with real life concerns and relationship issues & I really enjoyed the love story they found for themselves.
thewoodlandbunny's review against another edition
5.0
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I could not put this book down all day!! I WAS HOOKED and when my kindle eventually died i just couldn’t stop thinking about this book and waiting to read more of it.
I absolutely adored every single one of the characters in this and honestly experienced so many emotions throughout the whole of this novel that I am in such awe of Jenny’s writing! The whole relationship between Jonathan and Zoey had me swooning and the whole story flowed perfectly, nothing felt rushed or forced and i truly felt as though i was part of these characters lives and romance!
Such a fun, gripping read and was exactly the kind of book i needed to get lost in during these tough times! I will be rereading this one for many times to come!
I could not put this book down all day!! I WAS HOOKED and when my kindle eventually died i just couldn’t stop thinking about this book and waiting to read more of it.
I absolutely adored every single one of the characters in this and honestly experienced so many emotions throughout the whole of this novel that I am in such awe of Jenny’s writing! The whole relationship between Jonathan and Zoey had me swooning and the whole story flowed perfectly, nothing felt rushed or forced and i truly felt as though i was part of these characters lives and romance!
Such a fun, gripping read and was exactly the kind of book i needed to get lost in during these tough times! I will be rereading this one for many times to come!
devinboehmer's review against another edition
3.0
I was provided an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
It was fun to switch it up reading a romance novel, which is outside of my go-to genres. I enjoyed the wedding party setting and emphasis on strong female friendships in the storyline. The main character’s relationship with her exes and other prominent male characters was also very refreshing to read! I liked that while the plot centered around a love story, the main character’s independence, career goals and sense of self still shined through as a major focus point.
I did feel as if the plot wrapped up rather quickly toward the end with a perfect bow - but was glad to see the story come to a happy ending.
Definitely a fun summer read and solid debut from a new romance author!
It was fun to switch it up reading a romance novel, which is outside of my go-to genres. I enjoyed the wedding party setting and emphasis on strong female friendships in the storyline. The main character’s relationship with her exes and other prominent male characters was also very refreshing to read! I liked that while the plot centered around a love story, the main character’s independence, career goals and sense of self still shined through as a major focus point.
I did feel as if the plot wrapped up rather quickly toward the end with a perfect bow - but was glad to see the story come to a happy ending.
Definitely a fun summer read and solid debut from a new romance author!
somethingfrommyshelf's review
5.0
While I love a good romance, second-chance romances are not my jam.
Here by Jenny Bunting has me second-guessing everything I thought I knew about my reading tastes.
This story is all about former high school sweethearts Zoey and Jonathon reconnecting 11 years after their break-up when they're both in the wedding party for their best friends, Caroline and Brady. Zoey has always done her best to avoid Jonathon over the past 11 years post-split, but now she has no choice but to interact with the guy who broke her heart years before. Jonathon, who's been through his own journey, is ready to reconcile with Zoey and be friends again -and maybe even hope for something more?
From the first chapter, I was laughing out loud (that barista scene did me in, y'all). I knew Jenny would be funny from following her on Instagram, but still I wasn't prepared for exactly how hilarious her writing would be. The banter, the jokes, the spiraling inner monologues - it all had me dying. And the romance between our two main characters was so good! The reason I shy away from second-chance romances is because typically I don't see enough personal growth or change from either side to make me believe that they'll survive a second shot at love. However, Zoey and Jonathon both grew up in the time they were apart and it really felt like their second-chance was believable. We get the perspectives of both Zoey and Jonathon in this and that really increased my enjoyment of reading experience because I felt like I always knew where both character's heads and hearts were at on the issues they were working through.
Also, as someone who just turned 27, I fully related to Zoey's fear of failure and how she was still sorting life out. It was comforting to read about a character who didn't have every box checked and not be shamed for it, but rather have a support system around her to lift her up and encourage her to take a risk.
One thing to note: this book is STEAMY. Be aware of that before you go in lol. It definitely had me BLUSHING.
The biggest thing I loved from this first book in the Here in Lillyvale series is the friend group. They're real and hilarious and feel like the crew you want to kick back with every weekend for a good time. It did a great job of introducing you to each person and getting you to love them just enough to have you ready for their book in the series.
(If you want to know my favorite, it's Dan. Dan is a sweetheart, but also a riot. I need Dan's HEA.)
Here by Jenny Bunting gets a 5 star rating for me. I couldn't have had more fun reading this book if I tried. I will definitely be continuing on with this series.
*eARC provided by author for an honest review
Here by Jenny Bunting has me second-guessing everything I thought I knew about my reading tastes.
This story is all about former high school sweethearts Zoey and Jonathon reconnecting 11 years after their break-up when they're both in the wedding party for their best friends, Caroline and Brady. Zoey has always done her best to avoid Jonathon over the past 11 years post-split, but now she has no choice but to interact with the guy who broke her heart years before. Jonathon, who's been through his own journey, is ready to reconcile with Zoey and be friends again -and maybe even hope for something more?
From the first chapter, I was laughing out loud (that barista scene did me in, y'all). I knew Jenny would be funny from following her on Instagram, but still I wasn't prepared for exactly how hilarious her writing would be. The banter, the jokes, the spiraling inner monologues - it all had me dying. And the romance between our two main characters was so good! The reason I shy away from second-chance romances is because typically I don't see enough personal growth or change from either side to make me believe that they'll survive a second shot at love. However, Zoey and Jonathon both grew up in the time they were apart and it really felt like their second-chance was believable. We get the perspectives of both Zoey and Jonathon in this and that really increased my enjoyment of reading experience because I felt like I always knew where both character's heads and hearts were at on the issues they were working through.
Also, as someone who just turned 27, I fully related to Zoey's fear of failure and how she was still sorting life out. It was comforting to read about a character who didn't have every box checked and not be shamed for it, but rather have a support system around her to lift her up and encourage her to take a risk.
One thing to note: this book is STEAMY. Be aware of that before you go in lol. It definitely had me BLUSHING.
The biggest thing I loved from this first book in the Here in Lillyvale series is the friend group. They're real and hilarious and feel like the crew you want to kick back with every weekend for a good time. It did a great job of introducing you to each person and getting you to love them just enough to have you ready for their book in the series.
(If you want to know my favorite, it's Dan. Dan is a sweetheart, but also a riot. I need Dan's HEA.)
Here by Jenny Bunting gets a 5 star rating for me. I couldn't have had more fun reading this book if I tried. I will definitely be continuing on with this series.
*eARC provided by author for an honest review