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 book…talk about ALL. THE. FEELS!
I’m a sucker for a good second chance story, but a good second chance/friends to lovers, put a fork in me I’m done. My heart! Did I mention the feels?
If you don one thing, READ THIS BOOK!!
I’ve been looking forward to reading All I Ask since Corinne Michaels announced it, and hands down, this was one of my most anticipated books heading into this year. Everything about it spoke to me from the gorgeous cover to the blurb to the triple threat of a story rooted in three of my favorite tropes: friends-to-lovers, single parents and a second-chance romance. All I Ask gave every indication to me early on that it would be right up my alley and totally my jam—and it was. In every possible way, this memorable, poignant and deeply moving love story lived up to my hopes, exceeded my expectations and left me a fulfilled and sated romance reader.
Told in dual points of view, Michaels paints a vibrant picture of this couple’s bittersweet history by setting the story in Teagan and Derek’s present with flashbacks of their past. Corinne is not an author who shies away from angst in her stories, and she certainly didn’t here. Second-chance romances are naturally angsty, and All I Ask was certainly that. Teagan and Derek’s relationship began as a teenage friendship, and it quickly morphed into unrequited feelings of love.
Thirteen years after the abrupt ending of their friendship, they’re reunited in their hometown, and all of those feelings, along with all the hurt, pain and longing caused by the way their friendship ended, come rushing to the surface. Contradicting feelings war, and while the trust between them has been shattered, the foundation of love and friendship is still there beneath the rubble of their crumbled relationship. Derek was determined to earn Teagan’s trust back, but he also finally sees a real opportunity to have the relationship that he’s always wanted with her, and he’s not about to give up that chance. Teagan has been burned by life so many times, she’s afraid to reach out and take this chance, but Derek’s loving patience and steadfast resolve eventually win her over. A huge hurdle still remains, however, in their daughters and their acceptance of their rekindled relationship.
All I Ask was a beautifully written, touching and tender love story full of all the emotion and angst I’ve come to love in Michaels’ writing. Corinne’s keenly thoughtful storytelling offers a vivid portrayal of every facet of this relationship, and just as I’m sure she intended for me to do, I felt all of the feels and cried all the tears. While there was a lot of pain to sift through in this story, ultimately it was the underlying hope and the all-consuming love in it that captured my heart, and Derek and Teagan’s story will be one that I’ll not soon forget. A top favorite for 2020, All I Ask by Corinne Michaels gets five smooches from me.
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
This book is EVERYTHING, it completely consumed me. Corinne killed it, absolutely killed it! She takes you on this emotional roller coaster ride that makes you laugh and cry in the best way possible, it pulls you apart and then mends you. Derek and Teagan’s story sucked me right in with the bond that they share even though they were apart for so long the love they have for one another is still there and oh so strong. All I Ask is simply beautiful, breathtaking, and epic!
All I Ask was a heartbreakingly beautiful story about two bestfriends afraid to voice their feelings for each other and the consequences they faced. This story takes you on an emotional journey of loss, love and second chances. Corinne never fails to deliver a powerful story that tugs at the heart and stays with you, this book did just that. This is not your normal Corinne book it has such a different feel but in the best way. This book was real and raw, had me hanging on every word, gasping and begging for more because this book was EVERYTHING!
After I got past the gorgeous cover, I couldn’t put this fabulous book down and read it in one sitting. All I Ask is the story of Teagan Berkley and Derek Hartz. It will pull at your heartstrings and route for them the entire time. You will laugh, cry, and feel nothing but empathy as you read the magical words of this gifted author as she goes into the past when these two were best friends in high school and into the present 13 years later. At this point, both Derek and Teagan are single parents to girls the same age, and meet again after being estranged.
Having never professed their true feelings all those year ago, Corinne digs deep and meticulously delves into the lives and minds of her characters making you feel all of their pain and heartbreak. This book is raw and real right down to their self-image, and why they made the choices and sacrifices that they did. Even after 13 years of not speaking, they naturally gravitated towards one another, and bit by bit, forgive each other and themselves, and let each other in.
Their physical chemistry and desire for one another was evident on every page, but there were so many roadblocks stopping them, and this is where the angst comes in! The author will take you on their journey as they try to navigate a secret relationship, work, their children, parents, and townsfolk with long memories and small minds.
This book has so many sweet and tender moments, and moments that will make you cry big fat tears like the very first chapter when she had to watch the love of her life marry another woman! That wrecked me! It also has moments when you want to just smack the crap out of Teagan’s baby daddy, while feeling nothing but admiration for her grace, strength, and perseverance. Her strained relationship with her critical mom was really hard for me to read personally, because I could relate all too well. This book has “all the feels” and then some.
I love how Derek is a veterinarian and moves back home to take care of his dad and his Vet practice, and especially how he mentors Teagan’s daughter, Chastity, who shares his love of animals. Derek’s daughter, Everly, is going through a hard time missing her mom and having to leave the only home she ever knew, and is a force to be reckoned with. Watching their two girls navigate their feelings and acceptance of one another and their parents as a couple was also a big part of the storyline.
Derek was patient and honest with his feelings, and let Teagan know in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t leaving again; he was here for her and here to stay. The things he would say and do are so swoony! He always lifted her up, and I especially love how protective he was and how he supported her artistic talent.
With all these obstacles against them, will these two soul-mates get a second chance at love and finally be happy? Well if you’ve read Corinne before you know the answer to that because she never ever disappoints. The epilogue is beautiful and everything comes full-circle, just as I hoped it would.
All I Ask was a wonderfully written, emotional story about two best friends, their complicated journey from friendship to lovers and second chances. Derek and Teagan became best friends in high school and remained that way through college…until they weren’t. Thirteen years later, life altering events have brought them together again however the reunion is anything but happy.
Derek and Teagan’s story touched me deep down to my soul. There were misunderstandings, conflicted feelings, love, loss, regret and so much heartache between them. I loved the realistic and relatable aspect of All I Ask especially when it came to the familial relationships that Derek and Teagan had with their parents and their daughters. These two were absolutely amazing, there was so much depth to their story and I just knew they were definitely meant for each other. Corinne Michaels definitely outdid herself with this book.
All I Ask is raw, breathtaking, devastatingly beautiful and will reel you in and not let you go.
One choice, action or consequence can change the course of your life forever and holy crap did all of those happen in this book. Just when you think you’re emotions are under control, think again because this story will take your heart and mind on a hell of a ride. Derek and Teagan consumed me until the last page was read and if I’m being completely honest, I’m still thinking about them. This book was real and refreshing and I loved that it wasn’t polished or full of fluff. We see the good, the bad and the ugly and we stay for it all because intwined throughout is so much hope, healing, devotion and love.
Tracey, Life Reads With Friends
I found myself listening to yet another Corinne Michaels audiobook and feeling heartbroken yet again. This story goes from Teagan being in high school and meeting Derek for the first time and then to the present. Being a single mom and struggling with everything. Without the help of her parents letting her rent the apartment above the antique shop, she would not be able to provide a roof over her daughter’s head.
When Derek and Teagan met they became best friends, it didn’t matter that either of them was dating, they were still the best of friends. But when Derek got married and severed all ties with Teagan, it killed something inside her. Because she has loved him for a very long time.
Now Derek is back in their home town and Teagan feels like she can not breathe. Can she tell him now how she felt about him all those years ago? Will he tell her how he feels now? What about Teagan’s daughter’s father, why is he not in the picture?
This story was not one I was prepared for. I cried, laughed, and loved it as I do with all of this author’s books. The narrator’s Savannah Peachwood, Teddy Hamilton were great too.
Corrine Michaels writes an amazing about second chances everywhere with anyone.
Teagan and Derek were friends in high school. When either one realized that they were in Love with the other they were with another person.
When Teagan finds out she’s pregnant, she believes her best friend Derek is always going to be there for her. Until he has to make the choice for his family to break off their friendship and moves away.
Now he’s back in town to raise his daughter. But Teagan hasn’t forgotten how hurt she was when Derek broke his promise.
She doesn’t want to let her guard down but may have to when she starts evaluating how her own daughter is being treated by Derek’s daughter and how she treated her fellow students when she was younger.
Now she has to come to terms and extend a second chance.
Absolutely love the characters. Corinne Michaels just sucks you in with her words. I loved reading every second. Emotional in a good way. Want to read it again and again. So frickin fantastic. Such an amazing heartwarming second chance romance
Beautiful second chance story. This story brings out a lot of emotions. Enjoyable story, great characters.
This book took my breath away, it might be my favorite standalone from Miss Michaels.. simply perfection!
3.5
I really love Corinne Michaels, but this book just fell flat for me.
There were things that I really liked about this book, but then there were things that I hated.
I loved Teagan and her daughter’s relationship. Being a single parent is hard, and she was doing everything she could to raise her the right way.
I felt like a lot of Derek’s actions were selfish. I really did not care for his character at all. He stayed with his wife for 13 years in a loveless marriage knowing that he was in love with another woman for what reason? I felt like Teagan was his second choice. If certain events wouldn’t have happened, then he never would have given them a second chance.
Teagan gave in way too easy. Like come on, the dude left you for 13 years for no reason, and she just forgave him without hardly any groveling. He seriously needed some better explanations than what he gave.
Everly and Chastity made the story interesting with their fighting and having to get along.
Overall this was a good read, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a second chance in a small town
Beautifully romantic and special!! This book will give you all the feels in the world!! Corinne Michaels will always be my forever one-click buy!!
So as always I loved everything regarding this book, Teagan & Derek and of course Corinne Michaels. I loved and hated Teagan & Derek in the beginning of the book. They both hid their feelings for each other and ended up with wrong people, but than I get it because sometimes in life we are with the wrong person and also waiting for the right person to come in our life. Coming to Corinne Michaels, I loved everything in this book. Most definitely worth reading it and listening it. Definitely worth more than 5************
(3.75-4 )
This was the first book I’d read by Ms. Michaels. I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style and am looking forward to reading more of her work. Teagan and Derek were best friends. But when life forces one of them to make a choice, it changes both of them forever. I liked the premise, I loved the characters and even though I didn’t agree with Teagan’s choice at the end, I enjoyed the book overall.
This was such an easy book to dive into. I got sucked in and finished in one sitting. The bond between Derek and Teagan could really be felt. My heart broke for their lack of communication and lost time together. Although I really loved their second chance story, I felt part of the story line at the end was rushed and felt a little unnatural at that speed. I still really enjoyed the book and wouldn’t hesitate to read anything else that Corinne Michaels releases.
All I Ask is a well-written, angsty second-chance romance. Teagan and Derek were best friends in high school and were in love with each other, but never confessed their feelings because they were afraid of ruining their friendship. Then something happened and Derek cut off all contact with Teagan when she needed him the most. Now, thirteen years later, he returns to their small town and is trying to make amends and repair their relationship.
I loved the fact that both characters were single parents in their mid-thirties. It was interesting to read not just about their romance, but also about their parental struggles and dilemmas. I found some parts of the book repetitive, Derek and Teagan seemed to rehash the same conflict/argument over and over. Other than that, I really enjoyed All I Ask. I would recommend it to fans of small-town and second-chance romance.
Teagan & Derek were best friends then they were strangers.
Both single parents with teen age daughters.
Derek moves back to their hometown can they be friends again.
This book had so many feels it was AMAZING Loved this book so much and it says so much about society the good the bad and ugly.
“ Love is the most basic need.”
I can’t even begin to express how much I loved All I Ask. CM never ceases to amaze me. Her ability to create a heartfelt story with amazing and realistic characters, always blew my mind- All I Ask for sure did not disappoint
Teagan and Derek stole my heart from the prologue, yup THE PROLOGUE!!!
Teagan does not have an ounce of superficiality on her body, her life as a cheerleader and mean girl is behind her. She left everything behind the moment Chastity entered her life. Teagan is honest, so honest that she blurts out the most random and embarrassing things because she doesn’t want to play games or make assumptions.
Derek, I love him and he gave me all the feels.I found their personalities to fit together perfectly.
I wanted them to get their HEA from page 2 but with CM you never know where the story will take you.
You just need to buckle up, enjoy the ride and hope for the best.
Some of the scenes are so powerfully emotional that you want to curl into a ball and cry for days! I have nothing but praise for this gem that Corinne Michaels has created.
All the stars! All the feelings!