New York Times Bestselling Author Claire Contreras is back with a new contemporary second chance romance . . . Love and the right timing were two things I didn’t believe in. Love is about walking to the edge of the cliff and taking the leap together.Timing was never on our side.My first mistake was hooking up with my best friend.My second came years later, when we met again, and I fell for her. … met again, and I fell for her.
My third was letting her go, because I had to. Because a love like this wasn’t built to withstand the winds coming in our direction.
Love and timing.
I didn’t believe in either.
Then there was you . . .
*Book two in the duet will released March 15th.
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Claire Contreras is back with a bang!
Then There Was You is the first book in the Second Chances duet. Rowan and Tessa are are high school sweethearts whose relationship fell apart. You spend the first part of the book absorbing Tessa’s bitterness while Rowan tries to edge his way back into her life.
This book left me with a lot of unresolved emotions. My frustration at the last 25% is off the charts. And as for the ending…just be sure your device insurance is fully paid in advance.
Well played, Claire. Well played.
Claire Contreras is definitely the Queen of Angst; every story that I’ve read by her always leaves me strung out and emotional distraught, and her newest release, Then There Was You, in my opinion, is probably the most angst riddled story yet, and while I don’t usually enjoy feeling like an emotional hot mess, Contreras definitely makes things hurt so good with Rowan and Tessa’s story.
Then There Was You is told from both Rowan and Tessa’s perspective, and it switches back and forth between the past and the present numerous times, and while the backstory insight is essential to understand why Rowan and Tessa are who they are as adults, it took a bit to get used to the varying time sequences as well as ascertain what role all of the secondary characters play in Rowan and Tessa’s relationship/break-up.
It’s difficult to truly know the kind of person/man Rowan Hawthorne is. His family dynamics never allowed him to understand what true love looks or feels like and because of that, his feelings for Tessa never really stood a chance, especially when they start college and no longer have the childhood connection/friendship that pushed them towards something more. For most of the story, I couldn’t get a handle on what Rowan truly wanted from Tessa and why he sent such mixed signals to her while still having someone else in his life who Tessa loathed.
Going into Rowan and Tessa’s story, I was ready for the angst…I was ready for my heart to hurt and for my head to pound, but even with my emotional preparation, Claire Contreras managed to frustrate me as well as lure me in on so many levels due to unanswered questions, hot/cold personalities and a group of secondary characters who I would love to punch in the face or knee in the balls. I was completely out of sorts the entire time that I read Then There Was You because I NEEDED to understand everything about these two characters who seem so perfect for each other but are both so terrified of love and what that could do to them, and with Rowan’s family stipulations when it comes to his parents’ company, I don’t know how Rowan can keep Tessa and run the family business because there are mitigating factors that can only lead to heartbreak and pain.
I’m so glad that book two releases in a few short weeks because I need a resolution to Rowan and Tessa’s story regardless if I like the outcome or not…this not knowing how it ends is driving me crazy and while I know I’m in for more angst in My Way Back to You, at least I know there will be a conclusion by the time I reach the last page of the book!
4.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
I really enjoyed this book. I liked seeing how these two characters interacted with each other and what a way to end book 1. I can’t way to read the second part. I definitely recommend this beautiful story, this author and this series.
This is part 1 of a duet, so I knew going in, that there would be a cliffhanger. About half way through the book, I was predicting what the ending would be and I was right and now I can’t wait to see how this story ends! I need book 2 ASAP!
Tessa and Rowan were best friends growing up until one day they crossed that line into something more. Rowan didn’t date, but he came close with Tessa. When he asks Tessa to follow him to college and she declines to follow her dreams, their relationship is severed. Now several years later, Tessa is back home to sell her family’s home only to come face to face with Rowan and all of the feelings she’s buried for years.
For Rowan, his family business will always come first even if it means he will lose Tessa in order to do what needs to be done. This is an angsty read. I found myself really not liking Rowan because of his views on relationships, but in the end, I find a soft spot for him as he did what he thought he had to do in order for Tessa to pursue her dreams.
This was a great start to the story and I can’t wait to see how it ends!
I need Book 2 NOW! I loved this story and I need to know how it ends. A journey of 2 people that just can’t seem to get their timing right. Family drama, fear and anger keep pushing them apart. I got to the end and kept trying to swipe because I couldn’t just left hanging there….but oh yes she did leave me hanging. You will find yourself so invested in Tessa and Rowan that even though Book 2 is out soon the wait is going to feel like an eternity.