An all new emotionally charged second chance romance.What happens when you fall for the boy next door?Bea Norwood had the market on normal.Drama free life? Check.A single-mother who doubled as her confidant and partner in crime? Check. A neighbor and best friend she trusted more than anyone? Check.But that was until the day her mother remarried. The day that changed everything.When her best … changed everything.When her best friend’s cousin, Liam Falcon, is sent to live with his aunt and uncle to clean up his act, Bea finds herself falling for the boy next door. With their hearts so infinitely entwined, Bea turns to Liam as her only escape from her new step-brother’s daily torment at home. Bea thought their love could conquer anything. But she was wrong. Love was for fools, and she was the biggest fool of them all. When Liam left Lakeport, he took her heart with him, shattering the organ to pieces.
Six years later, Liam takes a trip back to Lakeport to visit his family, and to see HER.
His first love.The girl who holds his heart.The same girl who shattered it six years ago without looking back.
Liam is hell-bent on seeing Bea again after six years, but what he finds tears his heart in half. Bea Norwood is a shell of the girl he fell in love with. Underneath the baggy clothes, and pale skin, he knows she’s still in there somewhere, he just needs to find her. Liam will stop at nothing to win his girl back, but sometimes, ignorance is bliss, and Liam isn’t prepared for Bea’s truth.
Some aspects of this story may be sensitive for readers.
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Just when I didn’t think my soul could take any more, S.M. Soto throws another punch to the gut that left my heart irrevocably broken. Ache has all the feels, I mean ALL of them.I was on such an emotional high with devastating lows. The perfect recipe for an outstanding story that you will tell all your friends and even complete strangers to read.
I went in completely blind to this story, not reading the blurb, reviews or any other book by Soto and never once was I disappointed. Bea & Liam are the kind of characters that will stay with you for a long, long time.
Soto did an amazing job at making me understand Bea, the why and how of her actions. Often times it is so easy to judge a person’s decisions from the outside. Soto gives us such a raw, gritty look that elicits strong emotions, leaving me devastated at times. I didn’t see Bea as a victim but as a survivor.
I listened to the audio version of Ache. Ava Erickson did a PHENOMENAL job of bringing Bea to life. I think having the words brought to life brings a whole new dimension to the story. Joe Arden is one of my favorites and always does an outstanding job. The narrators are engaging, keep you listening and always wanting more.
Wow! This story was purely gut wrenching. I found myself at time wanting to throw my phone to run and pick it right up, because I couldn’t NOT read the next page! SM did a fantabulous job with this book and … wow. Just wow! Absolutely loved it!
This book is everything. That’s all.
This book left me in a puddle of tears. What an emotional story! Gosh, I don’t even know how to begin to book review other then letting readers know that this is a powerhouse of a novel- one that you will not easily forget even though you may want to (the subject matter is extremely sad). This book made me ache. It left me feeling raw, vulnerable, and heartbroken. It also made me see that there is light after darkness. If you are in a situation such as this one there is hope. I hope people see the message that so vibrantly shines though this story. It’s certainly one I will never forget and I commend the author for telling this story with heart. This is a must read and one of my favorite books of all time.
This book will not be for everyone. I am just stating that now because for me, this book hit me HARD. The subject matter is very hard to read about and it’s frustrating as a reader to see just how long it took sweet Bea to finally share her story. I think, even though I felt agitated that she never spoke up, that this is how it really is for people in similar situations. It’s not easy to speak up. Fear is paralyzing. We as readers may have wanted Bea to tell someone she was being brutally abused because we want to best for her character. But in real life, it’s not easy to tell, and this is truly shown (in a realistic way) throughout the story. So be warned that this book will anger you. It will make you cry UGLY tears, and it will break you down. But there is hope and light and if you can hold on you will see this.
Possible Plot Spoilers Ahead… Read at your own risk!
Ache is an emotional, second chance romance. It’s aptly named after it’s title as the characters in the story live with a constant ache in their lives- not just from the loss of love, but from personal demons they are fighting in real life. This is also a story about a girl who is brutally abused by the hands of her stepbrother for many years. This girl is the shell of a woman she used to be. She has not only lost the love of her life after he moved away, but she lost her own soul because of the hatefulness of someone who is supposed to love her.
6 years later though, the boy she used to love strolls back into town. Only he’s no longer a boy and instead is a man. Will he reawaken Bea’s need to live? Or will her world come crashing down even harder than it was before he came back? Well, you’ll need to be a part of this emotional journey to find out.
End Possible Spoilers
You guys, this is one of the best books I have EVER read. It’s got emotion, heart, soul, hope, and so much more. This is the kind of book that wakes up your mind and heart. And it’s one that will leave a strong impression on your soul. I loved this book. I didn’t always love how it felt when I was reading, but I love the message and the power it brings. I HIGHLY recommend it.
Absolutely no spoilers here, the not knowing really pulls you in and makes you eager to find out, so I will leave you with just my thoughts.
This is a story that will stay with me for a very long time. It was heart wrenching, and at times made my blood boil in anger, many tears were shed, but there was also some lovely happy moments too. I was on an emotional rollercoaster, and it has been a while since I truly cried while reading a book, but Ache just has all the feels.
Heed the trigger warnings, it is written with the inital intent. With complete and utter rawness. It is written with such in depth detail that there is no hiding, or skimming over. This is harrowing and tugs at your heart and makes your stomach knot, I was angry, scared, and quite frankly scared for Bea, and that is how I felt, someone who has never been in that situation, just imagine how someone feels having to deal with that level of abuse daily.
I really loved the romance to this book. I adored the sweet and innocence of it. Liam is such a lovable character, although I wish there was a bit more development with him, he has so much potential, and I enjoyed reading the scenes with himself and Bea. The love between these 2 was out of this universe. Bea, makes you want to hold her and comfort her. She is broken. She had been so badly damaged that her psyche is out of whack.
Myrah and Melody were fantastic additonal characters, and I would be delighted to read more about them, these 2 ladies need their own story, plus for pure selfish reasons, I want a bit more of Bea and Liam!!
This book is not for everyone, but I really admire and thank the author for having the confidence to write Bea and Liam’s story. For allowing us to see that love always wins over evil. For tackling such taboo subjects, that no matter how much we don’t want to think or talk about it, it is happening everywhere, every day.
Before heading into my review, I want to warn readers: approach this with utmost caution. Written in blunt and honest words, the depictions of harrowing real life circumstances will grip your heart without remorse and brutally tear your emotions into unrecognisable shreds, rendering you speechless and emotionally drained, as the heavy and heart-wrenching scenes aren’t eased in carefully or alluded to in vague detail.
“Liam Falcon is the boy who captured my heart, and the man who saved my life.”
I experienced a variation of emotions reading Ache, but the one that made a real stand is anger. Pure, intense vexation unrivalled by anything else. Bea’s mother is an irredeemable and irresponsible character wrapped up inside an impenetrable bubble of picture perfect husband and stepson, too blind to notice what occurred inside what is supposed to be a family home.
For six years. Fucking six no one noticed or interfered. And when Bea’s mother’s dream world shattered, life is hard and she abandons her daughter for the nearest hotel because her incompetent degenerate ass can’t cope. And Bea’s mother’s attitude made me realise something: Bea’s fear to admit her truth goes beyond being threatened. When your mother, someone meant to love and care for you, is too self absorbed and self centered to realise something is changing their child in irrevocable ways, then who will listen, or believe your truths?
“Bea’s my sun, my moon, and all my stars – the entire universe combined.”
Separated into past and present, both sections are interspersed with flashbacks that follow Bea and Liam’s romantic relationship as it undergoes an innocent beginning and traverses a heartbreaking separation, until it finally reaches the present day. I find flashbacks difficult to manage and introduce in romance as they disrupt the momentum and create a jarring effect. Bea and Liam’s connection could have easily been outlined in flashbacks without needing to separate it into two parts. I lost a connection to this couple’s relationship and discovered innumerous character and romance gaps by this timeframe division that make it difficult to consider this narrative second chance romance.
“Our love was written in my scars, just as it was scattered across the stars.”
S.M. Soto writes beautifully and brilliantly, but despite her writing ability, I wouldn’t recommend this. Readers might consider this difficult to read. I found the abuse pushed aside the second chance romance, dominating the scenes and actions of almost every character. Considering the abuse’s commanding presence, it disappointed me to never witness the heroine become a survivor—she remains a forever victim.
This book is beyond my vocabulary of words for how beautiful and emotional it was.
I’ve never quite read a book like this, one that consumed my every thought and moment.
I sat and read this until my back ached from the position I was in.
I fell love with Liam, I waited for him to prove me right, to show me the man he is.
And he did.
I loved every single thing in this book. Even the stuff I hated.
Even when I cried.
Even as I screamed.
Even as I threatened S.M. Soto with a divorce.
This book was a masterpiece, weaved with purpose, and told with more emotion than ever.
Loved it.
Fucking loved it.
This book was heart wrenching, soul stealing, earth shattering perfection. I am absolutely in love with SM Soto’s words. She took me on a round trip from happy to furious to hopeful to furious to gutted and right back around to so happy I can’t stand it. Liam and Bea’s story was EVERYTHING! How can one person face so much torment and not completely break beyond all recovery? Bea is one of the strongest characters I’ve ever read even when she thought she wasn’t. Liam was so tender and loving with her it helped to heal my own heartbreak at what I was reading. The storyline was amazing, a quick pace that flowed so well over every page. The title for this book, Ache, could not fit any more perfectly. One of my favorites!
I adored this book in a devastatingly beautiful way. Heartbreaking. So very emotional. True friendships. There were no shortage of tears throughout the book and not all sad tears I must admit.
I loved both Bea and Liam. They were such beautiful characters and I was praying for a happy ending for them as they both deserved nothing less, especially Bea. My heart was in my throat the whole time.
An exceptional story written about a very serious topic but it was superbly written. This is the first book I have read from this author and it definitely won’t be my last.
*Please read the warnings about this book before starting it, it is not an easy read in terms of what it’s about.
I love second chance romance books and this one though is definitely one I’ll never forget. I’m emotionally drained. I’ve cried while reading books but this one I sobbed many times. My heart broke for Bea. I give props to the author she didn’t sugar coat a thing and people unfortunately go through this on a daily bases. The world needs to feel and hear the truth! Bea is one beautiful, strong woman that I see myself in her because like her, my man saved me. Liam is everyone’s dream man he made me swoon and cry for all the love he has! This book will show you anyone can move on and be happy. It’s up to you to want it! 5/5 stars
No! Just, no!
Was it just me, or did anyone else find themselves rolling their eyes through out this book? Just me? Well ok then.
This was not a story, this was a 402 page summary. The two main characters had zero connection nor chemistry. Perhaps if there was more detail as to how they became so close and such good friends then maybe I would have understood how they fell in love. But again, it was a summary.
She endures years of abuse and then one day says “I’m going to live my life” while still being abused. In a matter of minutes, she is no longer a recluse, she’s hanging out, wearing different clothing and acting as though the abuse isn’t happening.
I understand her being frightened as a teen and not saying anything, but at the age of 22 or even when she was 19 or 20, why wouldn’t you say something. He threatened her, threatened her with what? A knife, a freaking knife! And what about a her mother and her so called friends? Oh she’s changed, just stopped talking to everyone and that’s it, no one bothers to find out what’s going on.
Don’t even get me started on the scene with the step brothers girlfriend and the one with the boyfriend and the flash drive. Like I said, rolled my eyes.
I haven’t read a book as heart wrenching as this in a while. It’s about a super sensitive subject but it makes you connect with the characters at such a deep level that you feel along with them. The first love with Liam, the heart break too. The tortuous times with Connor. I wanted to jump through the pages and save her myself! It was so difficult to read at times but you were so invested that you had to keep reading. This is a story that is going to stick with me for a while. Bea and Liam are my new favorite happily ever after.
I realize this is supposed to be a review, but I feel like all I can say is, ‘no words, I have no words.’ Now as some of you may know, that is surprising to me, but hot d@mn kilogram was this book INSANELY good. Honestly, I’m crying again here and I haven’t really said anything.
For the longest time, it has been Bea and her mom. Two women to fight the world together, until mom meets a guy and gets married. Bea is all of a sudden alone, with the exception of a new step-father who is always busy with work and a new stepbrother that just gives her the creeps. The wonderful thing about all this is that she meets Liam. Myrah, Bea’s best friend, is Liam’s cousin. He is a few years older, but he is very close with Myrah and by default, he becomes very close to Bea.
Over several months, Liam and Bea become like two peas in a pod. They are doing everything together, as well as spending time with Myrah. Heartache happens when he has to suddenly leave. Bea is heartbroken, however there is a creepy stepbrother hanging in the background who can’t believe his good luck.
I’m not detailing any more of the book, because it is something you should really experience and feel as you’re reading. Ms. Soto, I just have to say, you broke me. I was crying, heartbroken, shocked and pissed off. You wrote one heck of a good book that left me hungover and drained for days and I couldn’t be more happy about it. Ache is gut-wrenching, tear inducing, heart smashing and finally ‘aww’ inspiring. I will leave you with this. Everybody know what ‘strength’ is, but do you know what ‘silent strength’ is? I’ll tell you, it’s spelled B-E-A. That woman may be a victim, but she has this inner strength that not many possess.
‘He can’t hold you down forever, Bea. You need to let him see that. Stop being afraid, and live.’
I am so glad a took a chance in this book, i saw the cover and loved it, i read the blurb and i was intrigued and i got a whole new story i was not prepared for. This is the first book I have read from this over and lets just say I’m already stalking her other books
Yeh this book has some hard topics and themes people don’t like and to be honest i don’t like them but it did not stop me reading this book as as horrible as some things happened it was almost like you needed to see how strong the heroine was and to know that you can talk to people and confide in people even if you don’t think you should or can.
I loved everything about this book, i loved how we got a little bit of the present at the start but we also got a lot of the past so we get a really good feel for the love of these two main characters. Bea is a character that i will never forget and especially when i look up into the sky and see the stars and to know there are people out there hurting just like she was.
Liam was special even though there were times i just wanted to get inside the book and punch him myself and yell at him to open his eyes but i loved him he was a bad boy with a freaking heart of gold and i loved everything about it him. You could just feel the chemistry from Liam and Bea from the start and I loved watching this grow.
I really loved how this story was written and really was respectful to the sensitive content and the violence, yes this book went to a subject that people find hard myself included but I am so glad I read this book this will stay with me for a long time.
If you love a second chance romance, with twits and turns and a book that has you scrambling to turn the pages too quick to get to the end then this is a book that you need to read. It is heartbreakingly beautiful with darkish content but I can’t recommend it enough.
This book deserves all the stars
This is such a tough story to read but oh wow is it amazing. I’ve read a few books based on the subject matter Ache is based on and so many authors don’t quite hit that emotional feel but I swear I felt everything Bea and Liam felt through every page. Every word. This book was perfection. I can barely come up with words to help describe this book. It’s near impossible. Just read it. That’s all I can say. It does hit some really deep issues but it’s so amazingly written. SM Soto has written yet another amazing book and this book is definitely gonna stick with me for a very long time.
Wow. Ok, so I’m pretty sure I have read every book SM Soto has published thus far, and although for a very long time Damaged Heart was my all time favourite from her, I have to say that not only is this my favourite book from her to date, but quite possibly the best book I’ve read this year! I have never felt more desire to get on here and share my review, because I this book called to me like none other. I was going to wait a few weeks before starting this book, but once I saw the cover, something inside me told me to start reading it right that second – I did and I haven’t been more glad that I did. Ache is so raw, intense and had be crying in the middle of the night – I did not stop reading until I finished the book, I don’t think I could physically even put the book down. Bea and Liam’s relationship is so undeniably raw and open, it leaves you in tears yet somehow still smiling – that’s when you know the author has done their job to perfection. The characters’ relationship moved me in more ways than I can even begin to think, and I hope people give this book a chance because I have absolutely zero negatives to say about this book. This book is so beautiful beyond words, a definite top read of 2019. I cannot wait to read more from her in the future! <3
Ache was an absolute gut- wrenchingly beautiful read. Honestly, this book is unlike any other I’ve read and it pulled me so far into its pages that I can say without a doubt I won’t ever forget Bea and Liam’s story.
Bea shattered my heart and I wanted to reach through my Kindle and carry her far away. Liam stole my heart from the beginning and his deep and unconditional love for Bea was beautiful to see. Together these two put my heart through the wringer and had me so invested in their story.
Bea and Liam’s story isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s raw, real, honest, eye-opening, gut-wrenching yet full of hope. I have to admit I shed so many tears throughout this book because the author did a phenomenal job of weaving an unforgettable story that tore my heart to shreds and slowly breathed life into me again. Ache is a definite must read book full of hope that even the most broken of us can find love and that love never fails.
I feel bad for what I’m about to say in this review because I have read S.M. Soto before – I know she can write. She has immense talent, she is an amazing story-teller, and I’ve loved her books before. I just think this one is a case of “It’s not you, it’s me” rating.
The story is supposed to be a 2nd chance romance but for me, I never connected to them as a couple or even felt the chemistry that they were supposed to have. This was billed as a romance story but I also never got the impression or sense that the story was centered around that. There was an abuse theme for this book and at times it was too much. I am the kinda read who has very little to no hard lines for books – but it was too much for me here. Sometimes it moved the story forward and in others, it was there just to be there. The book was told in two parts, well it was supposed to be but the 2nd part had 1st part stuff in it. Then there were the story gaps and the pacing was off. This took away from the reading experience for me.
Bea frustrated me in this story. I wanted her to rise up and fight back, I wanted her to save herself, I wanted her to overcome it all – we didn’t get that. She was the victim from beginning to end and always needed to be saved. Liam was one-dimensional and that made me sad. He never had any character development that I noticed. I really wanted to love him but I just couldn’t.
I will read her books again but this one just wasn’t for me. I do recommend that if it piques your interest to give it a go. You may love this book and I get that – I just did not. She’s a great author so check out her other work too.
Rate: 5 / 5 stars
I knew this book was going to be emotional but honestly I didn’t know the half of it. This book might have been one of the hardest books I ever had to read and you know I love my emotional reads but this one took the cake man… it was just so heartbreaking to read, it physically hurt sometimes.
This book has constant triggers so beware of that, it is not easy to read, at all. But it was so amazing, it was a story that NEEDED to be told and it was told beautifully.
I loved Bea from the very beginning, she was such a wonderful, smart and interesting girl. And I loved watching her fall in love with Liam, their little moments under the stars were so damn cute. I lived for the myths about the constellations.
Bea was such an energetic and happy person but she lost all her spark when Liam left town and because of Colton and what he did to her. As soon as Liam came back to town (6 years later) she started gaining her spark and life back with help from her new college friend Melody who understood what she was going through. Little by little, she started getting pieces of herself and her old life back and it was amazing to see how much can happen with a little bit of hope.
Bea and Liam were truly written in the stars. These two needed each other to be truly happy and they would do absolutely anything for each other, even if that meant the worst for themselves and there is so much strength and beauty in that. S. M. Soto’s writing although brutal to read, was beautiful and magnificent. I loved these two so much. Bea is the epitome of a survivor and that girl fought and fough for her happy ending. I’m so happy that the nightmare she lived in for 6 long and painful years is over and she got the love of her life back.
Prepare to feel this tittle ten fold and to read one of the most powerful books – a true embodiment of hope, strength, survival and true love and friendship. Ache is a story you won’t soon, if not ever, forget. These characters will leave their imprint in your mind and heart.
Ugly, raw, real but ultimately beautiful.
Love isn’t perfect. It isn’t always kind or beautiful. Love is loving your scars. Loving despite the dark secrets that linger around. Love is hope.
This is what I felt with this book. Hope. Hope that Bea and Liam would find eachother again. Hope that Bea’s dark demons would go away forever. Hope that love would hit a home run.
This story isn’t sunshine and rainbows. It’s not for the faint of heart. It will gut you, as a human being, as a woman, as a mother, as a friend, I was torn to pieces. I grieve with Bea when she lost herself. I wanted to reach out and hug her so hard. But as a true survivor, she got up and lived. And that was beautiful to witness.
Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, Bea was brought back to life. Liam’s love did that.
S.M. Soto outshined herself here. I not only became emotionally invensted through her writing, I seriously wanted more. After all the turmoil and agony, I wanted more. Only great writers do that.
These star crossed lovers will forever be etched in my heart and soul. Thank you S.M. Soto for bringing life to this story.
“He took my heart with him that day he left, and I don’t think I’ve ever gotten it back.”
What an exceptional piece of writing, there are warnings about triggers. However I found myself turning page after page into the wee hours of the morning. This was a really well structured storyline and the characters were portrayed realistically. You need to keep a box of tissues handy as the author has written this book to make you feel every emotion and pain from all characters POV. I was devastated on behalf of Bea, Liam, Myrah, Melody and Bea’s mum and stepfather.
Myrah and I are best friends and neighbours, we’ve been inseparable for years. When her cousin Liam comes to stay the physical attraction is palpable between us. We forge a beautiful relationship which was always going to be romantic but started as a friendship. My new stepfather moves in and my stepbrother is mean but he has the wool pulled over my parents eyes. I am enthralled with astrology and mythology they inspire and give me hope. Liam aspires to be a pro baseball player and eventually the time comes when he leaves me to chase his dreams. Him leaving destroys me, I fall into depression and I isolate myself from everyone.