Ronnie Childs has questions.What if she’d said “yes” to Matthew Carling that day?Why does he now hate her with a chilling iciness that numbs her bones and makes her heart ache?How can they work together when they can’t even be friends?Is it possible to still be the same as you once were when everything has changed so much?So many questions and so little time to discover the answers.Once Ronnie … little time to discover the answers.
Once Ronnie and Matthew were best friends, but time has moved on and those memories are now locked in the shadow of the past.
Things would be so different if they were young, but sometimes the answers to life’s challenges aren’t always as straightforward as they seem.
Fifteen years have passed by in a blink.
Will fifteen days be enough to make things right?more
Ronnie is a single mom, and once upon a time, she was in love with her best friend from college. That was 15 years ago, and she hasn’t seen Matthew since. Life has a funny way of throwing people together, and now Matthew is back in her life needing her help to save his business. What Ronnie doesn’t understand is why Matthew seems to hate her. As the two spend more time together and the past gets discussed they both realize the mistakes they made. The question is, can they make up for those past mistakes now, or will the damage of the last 15 years be too much?
This is the first book that I’ve read by Anna Bloom, and I was really impressed with it. This book was about second chances, and about finding lost loves. I also really loved that this book was real. I felt like the fact that Ronnie has social anxiety, made this book more relatable. If We Were Young, is based in the real world, and it shows that relationships are real and hard, and you have to work for what you want. I was sucked into this book from the start, and while it doesn’t end in a cliffhanger per say, it does end in such a way that you want to read book two to see what happens with Matthew and Ronnie.
3.5 stars
Ronnie (Veronica) has wondered for years what would have happened had she said yes to Matthew all those years ago. And now she might get the chance to get the answer when she has to work with him. But there are obstacles upon obstacles for these two, and both might end up dissatisfied in more ways than one.
I found this an engaging story for the most part. The writing style isn’t my favorite, though, as it’s a bit disjointed and abrupt in dialogue style. But the basic premise I liked and I like how down to earth both Ronnie and Matthew are. So not my favorite story by any means, but it’s mostly interesting and likable.
I absolutely loved If We Were Young. This second chance at romance story was packed full of emotion and in true Anna Bloom style she had me glued to my kindle and not wanting to step away…… not even for one minute.
Ronnie is truly an amazing person for many reasons. I could relate to her struggles and how she is affected by them because I personally, to some extent, am very much like her. What she has been through and continues having to deal with had my heart breaking at times. I only ever wanted her to be content in all aspects of her life and hoped she could find a way to grab on to her chance of happiness with Matthew and never let go.
Matthew is something else. My feelings regarding him changed constantly in the beginning of the book until I got to know him and learned his history. By the end, Matthew had my heart completely and I don’t think I’ll ever get it back from him. I know that once you meet him, discover the person he truly is and comprehend what he has gone through over the years, that you’ll be just as much in love with the guy as I am and we will all be left wanting our very own Matthew Carling.
Matthew and Ronnie are perfect for each other and as you read their story you’ll gather all the information and understand why. It’s been a few hours since I finished the book and I am still filling up with tears thinking back over everything I’ve read. I don’t want to say too much because I want you to go in blind and be able to enjoy this story like I have done. I came away thinking about everything that had gone wrong that really shouldn’t have. It is a book that I found to be very thought provoking and there are lessons for us all to learn.
I experienced every emotion in this wonderful book and I loved that the author’s writing affected me in this way. I laughed and smiled; There were times when I was heartbroken and crying; Moments of feeling the angst in the story and those butterflies in my stomach moments. There were times I was actually swooning….. this story has it all.
This truly is a superb story that everyone must read. 5 fabulous stars is what I award If We Were Young and I am so pleased that this is not the last we will see of Ronnie and Matthew.
A story of missed opportunites and second chances at love. We’ve all had those moments of collide what if the regrets we have, the questions we ask ourselves when we look back at our lives if only we had spoken up maybe things would be different.
Ronnie is a widow who lives with her daughter and her mother all three have a complex relationship that made me smile and at times feel quite sad. Ange is the best friend who is the one she turns to for advice and just someone to listen to her. Matthew was the friend who could have been more but neither of them spoke up and circumstances pulled them apart. Ronnie is so full of insecurities and anxiety it’s painful to be in her head at times. The characterisation of Ronnie was written perfectly, I wanted so much to be her voice when she couldn’t get the words out. When Matthew comes back into her life the past and present collide but this time will things be different. The books ends on a HFN and I’m hoping in book two we get inside Matthew’s head a little more.
WOW!! Anna has seriously outdone herself with this one. This is her best work to date. She has brought so much emotion to this one, it feels raw and real, and its something most of us can relate to. Its honest, brutally at points but so damn honest with the social anxiety and never getting over that one person.
Once I started it I was completely hooked from beginning to end, I was unable to put this down. I was completely captivated enough to the point I ignored Finding Nemo which my poorly daughter was watching, and I flove that film!!
This book isn’t just angst and emotion, there are some brilliant humour in it too that again I can honestly imagine happening as it was real.
I keep using that word Real but really that’s what I can use to describe this book. I could relate to every feeling and emotion in this one. I could relate and imagine the situations and places. It wasn’t just a fictional place with over dramatized characters.
The characters are addictive and I love them, the interactions and dynamics are entertaining and riveting to watch play out, this includes all the secondary characters. The chemistry between Ronnie and Matthew is palpable and so electric, even when they are trying to ignore each other.
Well done Anna for this amazing book. I can’t wait to read what comes next with these two.
I always look forward to reading books by this author and she’s become one of my one-click authors. I think it had a good overall story and was very well written. I just had some trouble getting into it but it picked up afterwards. Really a story about finding yourself after losing a part of yourself that you never thought was gone… Can’t wait for the next book!
Ronnie & Matthew were friends a long time ago and even though both had feelings for one another, they never told each other about it. They went their seperate ways but Ronnie never truly got over the heartbreak and always thought she and him would end up together but they never did. Now years later, a company that is slowly going under needs her help and she finds herself face to face again with the man who broke her heart. Slowly they are rekindling their friendship but the words that were left unsaid, slowly are finding its way out. Will they find a way to heal from the past and maybe finally have a chance together?..
If We Were Young by Anna Bloom starts the story of Matthew Carling and Ronnie Childs.
Matthew and Ronnie were once best friends but inside they both fell in love with each other. But then something happened to break them apart before either voiced their love. Now several years later they meet again and need each other for business. Ronnie suffer from social anxiety which comes into play in the story which was nice to show how things aren’t always perfect with our heroine.
I can’t wait to read more of their story in the next installment.
This is Ronnie and Matthew’s story and what an emotional roller coaster their journey is! This is a beautifully written tale which is raw, gritty, heart-breaking, humorous, and with sizzling chemistry and angst, which all lead to a heartfelt, relatable and powerful 2nd chance romance. I was totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner, and I highly recommend for all.
Its a good book..though at times i got confused… but overall a good book about second chances we have in life…
This book has thrown me for a serious loop. I’m actually at a loss as to how to write this review. My daughter started her freshman year and I’ve been looking back at when I was that age; the things I loved, things I regretted, etc. So this book came at a crazy time. What would I have done differently if I could have. Would I change anything. How can I make sure that my daughter lives her best life?
Matthew and Ronnie broke me. They met and friend zoned each other on the outside but fell in love with each other on the inside. However neither of them could find the right words. Fifteen years later and separate lives created they still couldn’t forget each other or their love. As our special guest says (and OMG I just realized who it was!!!) “If it’s a connection, then its a connection. That doesn’t go away..”
This book is perfect in its own special way. It’s love, fear, hardship, and everything in between. It’s learning to live for yourself and not letting other people control your words. It’s living without regrets, even if you have plenty. Its finding answers to unanswered questions.
I love Matthew and Ronnie. I love Hannah and all the Carling’s. Not a fan of Ange ( I seriously wanted to smack her). And I’m looking forward to where this story goes. I still don’t know if I’ll ever truly be able to write an accurate review (makes sense since this book was about getting the right words out) but I will say I loved it. Imperfect characters and all. *I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.*