Fans of Christina Lauren, Colleen Hoover, and Jill Santopolo will love this breathtaking story about first love, second chances, and starting over from New York Times bestselling author Corinne Michaels. Teagan Berkeley is trying her best. A single mom raising a precocious teen, she may have given up on her dreams, but she’s accepted her life in her small beachside hometown. Now the one … she’s accepted her life in her small beachside hometown. Now the one person who abandoned her when she needed him the most has returned, bringing back memories of what might have been.
Derek Hartz arrives in town with a teenage daughter-and he’s full of guilt over his failed marriage and the way he ended his friendship with Teagan. He’s determined to set things right with her, but first he needs to gain her trust, something he’s not convinced he deserves.
As Teagan and Derek open up to each other-and confess their deepest secrets-it’s impossible for them to deny what’s always been between them. But just when their happily ever after is within reach, their complicated history surfaces again and threatens to keep them apart. Forever.
This was my first Corrine Michaels book and it won’t be my last. I loved the emotional roller coaster of Teagan and Derek coming together, learning their histories, their heartbreaks, and watching them rekindle their friendship. It was a beautiful story!
I loved this book so much. Teagan and Derek have the perfect friends to lovers story.
All I Ask took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I found myself not being able to put this book down. I was completely hooked on this story from the very first page.
Teagan and Derek were complete opposites who become the best of friends, that is until one day everything changed for the both of them. Now, thirteen years later they are back in the same town and not the same people they were when they last spoke, both of them single parents to teenage daughters. There were things left unsaid between them, pain and heartache. Will these two former best friends be able to mend their friendship and will the truth come out?
I loved Teagan. She is a strong woman and a great role model to her daughter. She hasn’t had it easy in her life. Her best friend left her, her baby daddy wanted nothing to do with her or their beautiful daughter, she works hard for minimum wage and protects her daughter from the horrible gossip of their small town. She does everything she can to make sure her daughter feels loved and feels like she has someone on her side no matter what. Derek’s life is completely different. He had a wife, a family, a great job. Everything he could have hoped in life minus his best friend. However, he moves back to his hometown to help his father and to have the support of his family.
There is so much chemistry between Teagan and Derek, even after all those years apart with zero contact. They still know so much about each other without a word being said. The only thing these two have in common anymore is their daughters, who just so happen to hate each other. However, they don’t let this deter them from moving forward with how they both feel. Everything about their relationship and their friendship felt real, nothing about this story felt fake or over romanticized for the sake of a good story.
All I Ask is a MUST READ and one of my TOP BOOKS of 2020. This is a story about a beautiful second chance with your first love.
Teagan and Derek are so good together. SO GOOD!
This story has an excellent flow. I loved getting both their POV’s. I loved getting the flashbacks from when they first met and how easily their friendship turned into love without either one of them realizing what was happening. So natural.
I love the single daddy trope but in ALL I ASK we get a single mom as well and it’s interesting to say the least. Not only are Teagan and Derek trying to figure out their love life, their adult life but they also have their daughters to consider when making any life changing decisions.
I had such a fun and beautiful time reading this.
This one had a different feel from all the other Corinne Michaels books I’ve read (and I’ve read all her books) and it’s GREAT!
***ARC Provided by the Author***
Corinne Michaels has this ability to reach in, grab a reader’s heart, and just squeeze until the book you are reading is the best possible angst and heartbreak.
Teagan and Derek were friends, and they were both in love with one another…although they never spoke about it and life got in the way, as life often does. Until 13 years later, they find themselves in their hometown with Derek trying to pick up the pieces of his life and Teagan trying to make hers continue to work knowing that the one man she has always loved has returned.
Angst.
All. The. Angst.
And, it’s done so very well. You understand how they each feel, and your heart breaks for them and for what they have been through. And, with each little revelation about how life pulled them apart, you find your heart breaking right along with theirs…until they finally figure out that together is where they want to be…and that they are going to figure out how to make it work as they aren’t giving up the chance again.
There’s a lot pushing them apart, life, things in their past, their present…and, it’s such an emotional ride watching them figure out how to get past all of those things and be together.
I loved and recommend this title.
*4,5 stars*
I always enjoy reading the stories that this author writes; not only ‘cuz she’s one of my favorite authors but also ‘cuz her writing always gets to me. This book’s first chapter had me bawling as there were things that I have felt in my own life and that really makes the story even more realistic. I really enjoyed Teagan and Derek’s book and their emotions really got to your core. You can’t help but feel for them. A definite must read!
The last time Teagan and Derek spoke altered both their lifes forever and they haven’t really recovered from it. Now years later, Derek is back in town and it’s difficult for Teagan to hope that she doesn’t run into him but living in a small town makes it inevitable. Even though both have led different lives, the spark that was between them is still there after all this time. But the past seems to be still standing in between them even though they have changed over time. Will they finally have a chance to be together?…
I loved this beautiful story of second chances, forgiveness, and love! This friends to lovers romance is about Derek and Teagan, and how two people who are opposites, can connect so inherently, and make each other better. They met in high school and soon became best friends. But being opposites, no matter how close they became, it was hard to move past their stations, leading to their eventual heartbreaking estrangement. Now thirteen years later, they are back in the same small town. Teagan has given up all her dreams to do what she can to raise her daughter in a loving and supportive home. She never wants her daughter to feel the insecurity and guilt she struggled with. Derek was always confident, loving and kind. Now he is back, struggling with the guilt from his failed marriage and the insecurity of how to raise a teen girl as a single father. One thing he is sure about, and that is that he needs to earn Teagan’s trust and forgiveness so he can have his best friend back in his life. This is told in past and present sequence, revealing the depth of their connection, the stumbles they took, and who they are today, which I loved. Derek is so swoony, as he works hard to get to know Teagan and her daughter and proves that they have his unconditional loyalty, support and love. Teagan is so strong despite the judgement she receives all around her, I really loved her character. Ms. Michael’s writing is so beautiful, and moving, and the banter and levity between her characters makes them feel genuine and easy to relate to. I loved everything about this story of hope, second chances, forgiveness and unconditional love.
Teagan and Derek’s story is an emotional journey of two teens who end up making decisions that separate them for thirteen years. Derek ends up back in their hometown and the feelings are still there. All I Ask is a story of friendship, sacrifice, loss and love. Corinne Michael is one of my favorite authors and this one did not disappoint.
My Thoughts:
All I Ask by Corinne Michaels, is the kind of book that you want to get cozy and snuggle with. It was such a romantic read, and packed an emotional punch that hit me straight in the heart. I adored this story, and didn’t want to put it down. Written beautifully and seamlessly, this is a story I highly recommend; if you’re a fan of the friends to lovers trope, and soul stirring prose.
We get the story of Teagan “Tea” Berkeley and Derek Hartz told from their dual perspectives in both the present, and flashbacks of the past. These two were best friends in high school and college, although they weren’t huge fans of one another at first. Tea was the stereotypical popular cheerleader who hung out with the mean girls on campus. Derek kept to himself, had a huge passion for animals, and was a sensitive, selfless, and altruistic individual.
Tea and Derek were each other’s “person.” They shared everything together, connected on the deepest of levels and fell madly in love with one another. However, fear, insecurity, and unfortunate decision making lead to the demise of their friendship.
Now several years later, both are single parents to teenage daughters and living a lonely life without love. Derek, who is a veterinarian, has returned to town to help his father who is suffering from dementia, with his vet business. Tea and Derek share a lot of painful emotions in regards to one another, but never stopped loving each other. They are determined to avoid one another in town, but their daughters mutual altercations at school, will bring them back in to each others lives…
I can’t sing this story enough praise! I swooned, I sighed, and my heart hurt for all that Tea and Derek had been through; as well as losing their soulmate, when they lost each other. All I Ask, also delivered hope, giddiness, and the excitement of that powerful and all consuming love that songs are and stories are created about! The passion and intimacy these two shared was a spark that turned in to an all consuming, blazing inferno; and as a reader, I was grateful and excited to be right smack dab in the middle of it all.
This book played out like a movie in my head, and I pictured Derek as Patrick Dempsey and Tea as a young Kim Bassinger. If you need an escape that will immediately reel you in, hook you, and never let go, please pick up, All I Ask.
4.5 Stars!
4.5+ STARS
This is a beautiful story of friendship, loss, reconnection, and second-chances. Teagan and Derek were unlikely friends to begin with. She was the cool girl in school, cheerleader with the football captain boyfriend and pack of mean girls around her. He was quiet and a bit nerdy. But when paired together for tutoring, they somehow clicked. They became the best of friends, confidantes, and each other’s biggest support. But they also hid their true feelings for each other and their lives took converging paths. And when she really needed him, he was forced to make a difficult choice and let go.
Teagan is now a single mom to her sweet and smart teen, Chastity. Teagan found herself stuck in their hometown, working for her parents, and just surviving. She still feels anger, loss, and disappointment, and has trust and abandonment issues from losing her friendship with Derek. But she has never really had to face it…but that is about to change.
Derek is back with a teenage daughter of his own named Everly. He has suffered over the years in various ways after leaving and is guiltridden and full of regret. He has his hands full dealing with a surly, mean girl teen and helping his family, and is a bit overwhelmed.
Now Derek and Teagan are back in the same town and forced to reveal their secrets, issues, guilt, and deal with the ramifications of the past. And they are dealing with their girls who are opposites and are making each other’s lives difficult.
Derek knows what he wants. She makes him feel alive for the first time in years. But Teagan is scared, untrusting, and dealing with self-worth issues. She needs a real and solid reason to believe that she can finally have something go right in her life.
They might have found what they have been missing for years, but is it their time to finally find their happy ending or will their lives get in the way again?
This is an intense and heartfelt story about choices, hope, risks, timing, and second chances. I really loved Derek and Teagan together. My heart broke for them so many times over their impossible choices and failure to communicate. I wanted to shake sense into their girls at times. Being a single parent is not for sissies and meshing the needs of the adult and child is sometimes challenging. This alone makes the storyline more realistic and current. The judgmental small town and some family dynamics added more depth. All of the characters had opportunities for growth and change. I loved this story and devoured it in one night.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
This second chance romance has all the feels! Pretty emotional right from the start, these two former best friends have spent years apart. Teagan is a single mom who has been on the struggle bus for years, in lots of ways. And Derek hasn’t been living a sunny, easy life either. Now that they’re around each other again, and dealing with all these old feelings, you would think at least their kids would get along but nope. Nothing easy here.
But I was so invested in them. And I felt all the moments I read about. I loved the end, I loved the cover. This was a good read.
Teagan and Derek were unlikely high school best friends who secretly were in love with each other but never told each other so. The two part ways and lose touch for thirteen years. Derek is bought back to town and they are forced to reconnect. The story has a unique feel to it. Teagan is single mother raising her daughter and feels she has failed at life because nothing has gone to plan. She loves her daughter and is proud of the job she has done parenting. Derek is trying to figure out parenting and help his father with his practice. He knows that he wants Teagan and that it always should have been her. I loved how Teagan found her strength to forge her own path as well as was aware of her worth. The story had great supporting characters. This was a great mix of small town romance, friends to lovers, and second chance romance! Read the story, you may cry, and laugh but you will for-sure love the characters and the story!
I don’t normally gravitate towards single parent romances, but after being recommended this book by several friends, I knew that I needed to check it out. I really enjoyed this childhood friends to lovers, second chance-ish, single parent romance. Derek and Teagan’s story sucked me right in and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what happened between these two.
There is a lot of heartache and pain along Derek and Teagan’s journey, but I could understand how confusing and hard it would be to lay your heart on the line at that age given the circumstances. Sure there were times I wanted to scream “Just tell each other the truth!”, but I also understand how important timing is, especially in love. I appreciated that once these two reconnected, there wasn’t any wavering or OW/OM drama. They take time to get to know each other again as adults and special considerations are taken for each of their daughters. I loved Teagan and Chastity’s relationship. She always put her daughter first, even at her heart’s expense. I would have loved a few more chapters from Derek’s POV, but I enjoyed the flashbacks and seeing the start of their friendship. The ending was sweet enough to give me a cavity and I would love to see the steadfast and romantic Nina get her own book one day, because everyone deserves a happily ever after.
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
I’ll tell you something real. I absolutely loved this book!!! The characters were wonderful, the storyline was fantastic and the pace of the story was just right. This was an amazing friends to lovers romance read. It’s a story that will give you all of the FEELS and if you love angst don’t worry, it does not disappoint. Have you ever heard the saying opposites attract? When it comes to Teagan and Derek there’s no fighting what destiny has planned for them. Life has taken them on different journeys, but one thing that’s real is that their paths will eventually meet up again. This second chance story was everything and one I think all romance readers will love. I definitely did! I already looking forward to my next read from this author and will be recommending this one to all my family and friends. I cant wait to read what story this author comes up with next.