Some stories should never be told. Others have to be—it’s the only way. Since moving back to my hometown of Hastings, Texas, I’ve been called a whore, tramp, and homewrecker. And maybe I’m all of those things and more. But those people don’t know me. They don’t see me. They only see my mistakes. My little brother is my entire world, and if I can give him what I never had—love and security—then … can give him what I never had—love and security—then returning to the town that hates me will be worth it.
I’m prepared for the whispers and stares, but the moment a knight in a black truck crosses my path, it’s clear that I’m not ready for kindness. As he, my brother’s sexy teacher, and the town’s golden boy work to break down my walls by standing between me and the hate, I find myself beginning to hope again.
Maybe redemption is within reach…if I share my story.
**Love Notes is a series of interconnected, reverse harem standalone novels. Though cheating is a theme throughout Scarlett XOXO, there is no cheating between the main characters.
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I’ve been lucky enough to have read a lot of what this author has written. I can say wholeheartedly that in my opinion this is her best work to date. Dealing with some pretty intense things, the heroine is on a journey for redemption (even if she arguably hasn’t done anything wrong but I digress). On the way she finds 3 men who see her for who she is and love her for it. This is a story of really good people and what can go wrong with their lives. 5 star read. I loved it.
What an amazing story of Scarlett. This is heartbreaking how people react to her in her hometown. Does she deserve it? Yeah maybe but I myself am not like that and give people the benefit because after a time people change. Now that’s besides the point. Scarlett moves back because of the love of a boy and he sure does not deserve what people throw at him.
But second chances do exist and when Scarlett lets people in and believe me she needs it that is amazing. Wyatt is a great supporter and I can’t help but love him for that. He went above and beyond for Scarlett. Love the caracters here and the way the relationships develop. It’s an amazing read that I highly recommend. 5 star plus for this book.
I absolutely loved Scarlett.
Her character grows so much in this book. I felt like I could relate to her so much. Not as in I did the same things but as in I felt the same way.
I love that this book is not a fast burn. It may be a standalone but she doesn’t suddenly jump into bed with all three guys. They work for their relationship and that may be my favorite part.
If you love RH, then this is a must read.
Scarlett is such a strong woman. Her selflessness is truly inspiring. Learning to love yourself and accepting all of yourself, were huge throughout this story. The men in this story are so swoon worthy and amazing! This story was written perfectly! It made me feel so much. I was frustrated and angry but I laughed and smiled so big my cheeks hurt multiple times. This is one to reread over and over anytime you need your heart to swell with love.
Absolutely freaking amazing, you must read this book NOW, I stayed up till 3am to finish this book in a day!! I loved everything about this book, the writing style, the FMC telling her own story, and oh men are Hot as hell…….most of all I admire Scarlett and her struggles with self worth and the fact that she fought for herself, for her sanity, and her worth and that the men just solidified everything she was learning about who she was becoming and loved her all the more!!!! All I can say is if your reading this drop deciding and buy this book NOW I promise you won’t regret it.
I absolutely loved this book. I read the first few pages and was hooked. I had to know more and learn her story. I had to know more of everything that had happened to her. I fell head over heels for Scarlett. She was so much wiser then her 21 years. She had it rough for a while but coming home after her scandal and raising her brother was where she was supposed to be.
We meet Wyatt right away and the chances he took on her to help her get back on her feet were awesome. I fell for him right away.
Oh Mr Cooper… so dreamy! I fell for him in the school halls as quickly as Scarlett did. I love how he left the ball in her court when she was ready.
Jill is the best friend any girl could ask for. She was what Scarlett needed in a bestie.
Carter – Oh my heart…I was waiting so long for him to come around. I needed this relationship to develop and I was not disappointed.
Micah is the best little brother ever!
I love this crew. I felt the connections and chemistry between Scarlett, Wyatt, Brady and Carter. I loved seeing her grown within herself and the changes she needed to make to be happy again and accept that she deserved the love of the people around her.
I received an ARC for a honest review.
Exceptional story by Autumn Reed. This story pulls on every emotion. The main character’s growth throughout the story is inspirational. While I loved her main interests in the book, I’m all about her in this story. Cheering for her, sympathizing, comforting her, and getting angry on her behalf. Loved it. Read it. You won’t regret it.
This book has so many feels and I literally couldn’t put it down.
Obsessed with this book and these characters. My new favorite RH romance!
I loved this book. Scarlett for me was such a relatable character for me. She was so life like. I loved Wyatt and Brady. Carter eventually grew on me. Amazing storyline.
Scarlet xoxo is a winner! Her journey is told in multi-layers. It tells a story of where she is at now. But then thru letters to someone we haven’t met yet, how she got there. At first the book seems dark but then things turn around for her as she starts a new beginning. The characters are amazing. The twists and surprises make you read past your bedtime. Don’t miss this awesome read!
I devoured Autumn Reed’s latest book, Scarlett. I immediately fell in love with the spunky 21 year old who has had to go through way too much in her young life and somehow still cares for her brother, puts food on the table, and never ever gives up. You get to learn what happened to put her into the role of pariah of Hastings through an inventive way (loved the play on Scarlett Letter btw!). It was a nice change of pace to see it done that way as each chapter unfolded. I will preface this with you will absolutely be devastated with a book hangover because it is just THAT GOOD. Scarlett was an amazing FMC, having a lot of lightbulb moments, but having the gumption to stand up for herself, Micah, and eventually her other loved ones/family members.
I wont give away too much of the plot because I would never want to ruin this story for someone else but lets just say I am hugely attracted to cute nerds and Autumn like read my mind as to my ideal guy. I loved Brady so so so so much. I also really loved the vulnerability behind the quiet, intimidating cowboy, Wyatt. Then there’s Carter. You knew what was going to happen, since this is a RH story and not a menage, but you didnt know when and how. I enjoyed that the relationship wasn’t instant. They really had to let their pasts go and enjoy being friends first. Unlike Wyatt and Brady where they kinda skipped the friend zone (or were there briefly) because of the attraction and ease at which they meshed. I liked how the relationship discussions and acceptance felt genuine. They dealt with backlash, they really took the time to think about it, and let it blossom on its own. I have read a lot of Autumn’s works and she does a phenomenal job making the relationships, tension, love so believable. Even in her PNR/Fantasy books. I thought the side characters were equally as amazing. Micah was perfect (and his reactions were spot on, not over the top or head in the clouds), Jill was hilarious, and Elsie was adorable and welcoming/warm. I loved the little touches of nerdiness (besides Brady and his amazing t-shirt collection haha). I loved the books and the crafts with secret Santa. I was a singer when I was younger so I really loved that aspect of the book too (and could totally imagine her voice with the way Autumn described her voice and inflections and with the great song choices). Seriously, it was like Autumn made a perfect story tailored to me haha. All I need to do is find a Brady in real life….oh how book boyfriends spoil us all haha.
100000% recommend this series. Jumped up to my favorite of hers, hands down. I will be getting this in paperback and will be dying for it on audio. I hope we get to see this group again maybe down the line at some point, but as a standalone it’s amazeballs. Amazing job by Autumn Reed; you will not be disappointed by this book
My heart!!!
This book is gripping, realistic, relatable and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster that you don’t want to get off!
I love the storyline and how it takes you a journey or self discovery. It shows you how you can find inner strength and overcome adversity when you begin to acknowledge what you want and not what you think you deserve because of what people have told you or made you believe.
The characters in this book are wonderful and will burrow deep in your heart and you won’t want to let them go. I loved this story! A MUST READ!!
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into Scarlett XOXO. I was both surprised and delighted by how much I enjoyed the story and how well written it was. I got into reading Autumn Reed’s work with her Collector’s series and have been continually blown away by her story lines and writing style. This book was poignant and heavy, with bright spots of joy and happiness mixed in through the development of Scarlett’s character and her life. I loved that we learned so much about Scarlett and her feelings/past through her letter writing. The letters really brought her character to life and made her that much more relatable. Scarlett’s motivation, dedication, and love for her younger brother are inspiring and honestly, rivaled the romance aspect of the story for me. The romance itself was sweet but sexy, plus I will never turn my nose up at reverse harem! Overall, I strongly recommend reading this book. You will not be disappointed.
It has been a long time since I’ve read a standalone and I don’t think I’ve ever read a RH standalone so I was unsure what to expect. Autumn Reed always writes fantastic stories and I’m not going to lie, I was a little hesitant reading Scarlett XOXO. There is a theme of cheating throughout the book which is a no-go for me when I read books. However, the way Autumn wrote the story made me feel better and very happy that I gave it a go.
I enjoyed the way Scarlett tells parts of her story through letters. They’re short and to the point, full of self-reflection and honesty, but we get a glimpse into her life as a star, living a completely different life than she was used to before moving back to her hometown. You learn so much about her while being an active participant in her current life. It’s a fantastic way to tell two stories at once.
Now the really, really good part and my absolute most favorite part of the story? Wyatt. Brady. Carter. Book boyfriend material? Absolutely! In a standalone, I am always concerned that there will be minimal character growth because there’s only so much you can write in one book and having three very dominant men seemed like it would be a daunting task in order to fully develop each individual. Autumn was extremely successful in giving the men their own identity, history, and more importantly, they get their own story with Scarlett. They absolutely adore and love her despite her past. It was truly remarkable how successful Autumn was in that regard and although I was completely satisfied and happy with the way it ended, I almost wish she would continue with their story.
I highly recommend reading Scarlett XOXO, you won’t be disappointed!
Review
You know those books that you’re looking forward to reading but once you read it, it’s somehow ten times better than you were expecting and you simultaneously want to blow through the book yet procrastinate finishing it because it’s so good, you don’t want the story to end? I used that ridiculous run-on sentence to say that this book was that book for me. It’s 100% my favorite read of the year so far.
Obviously, if you’ve read any of my reviews–particularly the Autumn Reed ones–then you know that I’m a huge fan of hers. I honestly didn’t think she would be able to top The Collectors series, but I feel like she’s truly outdone herself with this incredible story.
The Heroes
I usually have a favorite hero when I read a reverse harem, but I loved each one of these guys so much that I couldn’t choose. I was actively trying to compare the three while I was reading and I just couldn’t pick a favorite. Even while Carter was being a total jerk, I loved him, lol.
The three guys are polar opposites from each other. Wyatt is a rock; stoic, not easily amused, and pretty much the definition of broody. Brady is sensitive, a jokester, and incredibly attuned to people’s needs and emotions. Carter, at least on the surface, is the stereotypical rich snob with a huge attitude problem. The more you get to learn about him, the more you begin to understand him and where he’s coming from.
These guys are amazing. I adored reading about them and getting to know their differing personalities And not only is the interaction between the three and Scarlett intriguing and wonderful, but the way they interact with each other is also awesome. It’s clear they’re close friends and I loved seeing the friendship between them.
The Heroine
I absolutely adore Scarlett. She’s one of my favorite heroines I’ve ever had the honor of reading. She’s beautiful, flawed, talented, badass in her own right, and she’s really trying hard to correct her past mistakes, which I find so brave and admirable. Plus, she’s become a surrogate mother to her little brother, Micah, and it’s awesome to see how she really grows into that role.
Scarlett is strong but also stubborn. Wyatt certainly gets frustrated with her stubbornness throughout the book, lol, but I honestly can’t fault her a whole lot. Even during the times when I found myself wanting to say, “girl, set aside your pride and just take advantage of the fact that these incredible men want to help you,” I couldn’t let myself get too upset. Between the way she’d grown up, how she had to essentially raise her little brother because her mom was way too unreliable and downright abusive, to the mistakes she’s made in her relationships … it was easy to see why she was so unwilling to accept help, no matter how small it appeared. My heart ached for her. Sure, she made some mistakes, but she certainly wasn’t the only one to blame. She wasn’t even mostly to blame, but people refused to look at the full situation and placed all the blame on her. I wish I could say this wasn’t the case in real life, but unfortunately, it happens all the time.
Bullet Points
*Scarlett and her little brother’s relationship. Love!
*There’s a huge music theme in this book, and as a singer/musician, I couldn’t have enjoyed it more <3
*Scarlett’s eventual best friend, Jill. She’s amazing and a huge source of comedic relief. I love the flirting between her and Scarlett, whether it’s purely platonic on one side or not Jill is so genuine and fun but is also an incredible friend. I just love her <3
*All the Dolly Parton references!
*The Office references, specifically regarding the three-hole punch Jim costume. I may have squeed when I read that part, lol.
*Wyatt’s little dog. Such an adorable and sweet addition!
Conclusion
This book is absolutely fantastic. When I heard there was a cheating theme involved, I was a little wary because that’s a pretty hard limit for me, but I needn’t have worried. The cheating is a past tense issue, and while it’s a major part of the story, it doesn’t detract from the heart of this book. Autumn seriously knocked this story out of the park and as much as I enjoyed reading it, I’m sad that I finished it and I can’t read it as a brand new story again, lol.
I highly, highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a story with multiple love interests and a heroine who doesn’t have to choose. The best part is this is a standalone novel, so you can read the book and get the characters’ whole story in one book <3
If you read this incredible book, make sure you let me know what you think!
Happy reading!
Original review: http://bit.ly/scarlettxoxoreview
Scarlett is back in her hometown. Once the daughter of the local drunk, she now has notoriety of her own. She’s the other woman. And her affair wasn’t just with any man but the husband of the town’s golden girl. So there are stares, name-calling, shaming, and shunning. Scarlett embraces it all. She deserves it. She didn’t return home for forgiveness but for love. Not out of love for a man but that of a boy. She will do whatever it takes and endure whatever she must. She deserves the worst, he doesn’t. But returning home isn’t exactly as Scarlett expected. Second chances are rare but they do exist. A few good men and a best friend show her the unconditional support she needs to start over, to forgive herself, to live and love.
I am a fan of Autumn Reed. I have enjoyed each book she has released as a duo and as a solo writer. Her writing is varied, intelligent, entertaining, and well-done. Her characters always capture my attention, this one captured my heart. Scarlett XOXO is my favorite book of hers to date and since I have every one of her books on my Kindle and hard copies on my bookshelf, that is saying something. Anyone who has read my reviews should be surprised by my response to this book. Cheating is a hard line for me. Scarlett is the other woman. And yet, I not only sympathized with her, I loved her. She’s flawed. She’s made mistakes. She’s human. She lacks the ability to see her own goodness, her own self-worth. She doesn’t look for forgiveness or redemption because, in her eyes, she is undeserving. She is wrong.
This is a story of ordinary days. It’s a story of decisions, mistakes, and small gestures. A story of regret and redemption. A story of change and those who don’t want to allow you that freedom. It’s a story of life in all its glory and ugliness. Scarlett faces life’s everyday hardships. Life as a single “mother”. A life full of debt. A life full of self-doubt. She also faces the guilt and shame of public mistakes in a small town. Small towns have long memories and never hold back their judgment. Scarlett faces each day bravely. Her own needs, dreams, and feelings are all ignored as she focuses on creating the childhood she barely had for the most important person in her life. A chance encounter, an offer, an opening to a second chance. Again, all ordinary. But this time it leads to extraordinary. Sometimes all it takes is one person to take a chance on you, to see something in you to help you onto a new path in life. Wyatt was that person for Scarlett. A serious, brooding bar owner, Wyatt was the first of Scarlett’s friends. Jill, a waitress who recognized Scarlett as her new best friend, Brady, a warm, kind-hearted schoolteacher, and their friend Carter, the heir to the local oil company soon followed. Scarlett’s friends all cared enough to stand beside her and force her to see her own value. As she started to forgive herself, she realized that maybe not all of the town hated her either. It was a journey of self-forgiveness, finding self-worth, and self-love. Then it became a love story. Love in every form. Beautiful.
I embraced Scarlett’s story. I identified with so many of the characters’ insecurities, their personal hurts, their fears, regrets, and hopes. My heart was full of raw emotion throughout this read. It was so realistic, so well-written. I hope that this author has more stories like this one floating around in her head.