Book one of this interconnected series starts with a mind blowing love that changes the course of their lives forever… reach.
And then I met a hot musician and my world spun in a different direction.
As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t stay away.
Nor did he let me.
His love was sweet and irresistible.
He showed me the city I loved, the music I craved, the words I needed, and the power of believing in myself.
He drew me into his world and down we fell.
Until it all became too much.
Until I knew I had to make the hardest decision of my life.
I had to walk away.
*Warning- Ends on a cliffhanger
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Raina Adams is a freshman attending NYU and is living in dorms with her roommate, Mabel. When Raina is out one night with Mabel she is drinking and kisses a stranger at a bar. The chemistry she has with is apparent but is Raina ready for a relationship when she is just new to New York and needs to focus on her schooling?
Levi Reed is a sophomore at NYU and a musician who needs a big break in order to help protect his little brother Trey who lives with their father. When he meets Raina he knows he needs to concentrate on school and his band but at the same time there is something about her that he can’t stay away from.
As Levi begins to feel the pressure from everyone around him will he be able to cope with everything or will he find himself walking a fine line where he could lose everything?
This was a good book about finding love and also the balance of needing someone or something so much that it takes over everything and still not being able to cope.
I thought Raina was a great character and I loved that she enjoyed writing music but never felt comfortable sharing in front of others. She loved what music brought her and before New York she was a little sheltered but being with Mabel and then Levi definitely opened her world up. She was open to discovering things on her own and I liked that she formed her own opinions when needed a gave people a chance.
Levi was both a great person and then at the same time he was someone that really didn’t have a grip on things. He was in such denial of his issues and it really surprised me because of everything he went through with his dad. Levi cared so much about Raina yet he continued to drink a lot and with the pressure he was under he did so more and more often.
I really loved Levi and Raina together but it broke my heart that she was always there for him but he couldn’t give up drinking no matter what Raina or Drew said to him. Levi did some of the sweetest things for Raina and I really had hoped that he realized that she was enough to conquer his demons. I hated the things that Levi was capable of when he was drinking.
I was absolutely shocked at the way the book ended and the things that Levi said to Raina!
Looking forward to finding out more in the next book!
By Rebecca
Oh wow what a fantastic story from this arthur. Everytime I read one of her stories I’m pulled into the story until the end this one was no different.
Raina writes music lyrics that and has come to NYC to get the full effect of city life and write through her experiences. Levi is a musician who is struggling this year because of something that happened last year he knows he can’t have any screw ups this year or he’s out. This is the kind of story that warms your heart while you watch boy and girl fall in love, but like every love story there’s struggles as well as demon’s to battle can they face it together or will it divide them?
This is definitely a must read. I can’t wait for book 2.
Ahhhh Insta Love! Lyssa Cole writes a wonderful introductory book to her You & Me series.
This series features freshman Rania who is just starting out at NYU and Levi, a some what surly sophomore at NYU.
Lovin’ You is our kick off and introduction. It reads quickly..just be warned. The brakes hit quickly and you’re on a cliff!
Rania and Levi are both music lovers. Rania is introduced to us as she pulls into the city singing her heart out to her favorite song. She may not have the pipes – but she’s got the words.
Levi is a bit more of a mystery. Moving back to the city with a long time friend and roomie, Drew, we see a peek into a cold and difficult home where Levi is leaving a neglectful father and his younger brother. Adding to Levi’s past are multiple comments regarding “last year”, fighting, an arrest and a band. Finally, a loss of a parent. This guy is carrying all the heavy stuff.
Chance encounter number one has our leads bumping into each other on the street and catching their eyes. Ever have the moment where you feel a pull or connection to an utter stranger? Or can’t get that person out of your mind? That’s Raina and Levi.
Chance encounter number two occurs when Raina and her roomie crash auditions for a new band. Drunk Raina and nervous Levi just click.
Each has their own, good reasons, to want to ease into any sort of relationship slowly…however these two are fire and once they start it just burns.
As I mentioned, this is book one in a series. We have a great character lead up, character development is wonderfully layered both as individuals and within coupledom. There is insightful world building and finally sidekick characters who begin to elbow into the story and speak up.
There is also a spreading of wings as Levi’s new band picks up notice, he teaches Raina how to play piano and they begin to write together. Things are good. There are sparks of life, hope and joy.
Sadly, all that glitters and all of that. Levi IS still hiding a dark and troubled soul. We see the beginnings of and then his fall into alcoholism. We learn bits of his past. His new band mates aren’t all sunshine and happiness. Drew is trying to hold Levi up, but acting as spokesman for the band, running interference, and being a student as well – Drew begins to look a little worn and frayed.
Raina is worried as well. She keeps it inside for a bit, but little things build up, worry from Drew worries her and eventually the light is on the problem.
It’s a lot of real world pressure and real world problems for two struggling teens in a high stress situation.
We leave our lyricist and our rocker at a crucial and painful point.
What I do know is that Raina is one kick butt strong female character. She loves hard, but listens to her gut. She makes hard choices to protect herself and Levi. These are choices that grown adults struggle with. Lyssa writes of a 19 year old taking that weight on so beautifully and heart wrenchingly. You will shed tears. You’ve been warned.
Levi is starting to pull his life back into itself. Raina is clearly his rock, but his drinking, quick temper and family life are an ugly storm inside of him that’s just starting to brew as we close this book.
And then…the pages stop
I. Am. Hooked.
Typically I’m not a series or a duet reader. I like my stories to open and close within their covers. This one though….Raina and Cole are stuck in my head. I want to hug Raina and tell her she’s so strong and so brave. I want to shake Levi and tell him he needs to figure it out. Find a person. Use his words. I want to point out to Drew little things… ugh! Clearly my head is in this world. It sucks you in.
Lyssa, please don’t break my heart in Ghosting You (book 2 and out later this summer)
I’m trusting you with this Ms. Cole!
I need the next book now cause that cliffhanger is going to drive me mad. Levi and Raina connect over there love of music and things develop so quickly for them. Raina soothes the chaotic parts of Levi and he relishes that and all she wants to do is soothe his pain and it made her so likable, she was a genuinely sweet girl who got so much more then she bargained for but Levi’s demons are strong. This story is so full of angst that I enjoyed it from page one
OMG, what a cliffhanger! LOVIN’ YOU is an emotional rollercoaster as we ride every high and hit the withdrawal symptoms that the character endures. This book was heart-wrenching in its emotional angst, highs and lows of the two main characters’ struggles as they help each other try to get what they each need. This was a flawless sensation that captivated me from the start, and I enjoyed the way the characters’ roles changed as the story progressed. The title of the story was so apropos for how Raina had to prove her love—if you love someone, you must be prepared to set them free. I fell head over heels for Levi and Raina, and I have no doubt you will too. Addiction is a powerful disease in our society that people battle daily. I enjoyed reading how Lyssa Cole brought the darkness of addiction to the forefront and didn’t shy away from showing how bad things end up when a person becomes addicted and the painful choices you have to face. Levi Reed is handsome, talented, and attending NYU for music. Raina Adams is shy, loves to writes lyrics for music, and she is attending the college and city of her dream—NYU. When Levi meets Raina, he is enamored by the feisty, sassy, and beautiful woman. At first, Levi and Raina’s relationship was really good—they were so right for each other and so in love. Levi considered Raina his rock and they were meant to be together, and Raina considered Levi the love of her life. Then, Levi’s alcohol managed to tear them apart and he shattered Raina’s heart. But throughout all the recent ups and down regarding fights with his band mate, alcohol and anger issues, Raina still believed in him. Will Raina ever be able to forgive Levi and the sins of his past? Will Raina be able to walk away from Levi? What happens next? Well, read this amazing story and find out! You won’t regret it! This was a well written story that hooked me from the start. I HIGHLY recommend this book, and I can’t wait to read the next book.
This is a fast-paced, rollercoaster of a romance! Raina and Levi have ALL the chemistry and ALL the real-world issues to crawl through on their path to one another. This one is the first in a series of 4, so be aware of that.
A fast-paced, emotional read! You won’t regret picking this one up.
The love of music is on display in this book that will grab you from the very first page to its ending that leaves you longing for more. Along the way readers will find themselves on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, a journey full of heartbreak and harsh reality as an immensely appealing main couple struggles to find themselves and their HEA.
Set in the college world, where everything seems possible, Raina and Levi make an instant connection. Their mutual love of music and lyrics binds them together in a beautiful story that ultimately brings Levi’s broken psyche to the forefront. As the story progresses things take unexpected twists and turns, captivating readers while putting them through the emotional wringer alongside the main couple. The romance between these two grows steadily from their unforgettable first meeting, turns sweet and sensual, but with the weight of his past and future on him Levi has them taking a damaging turn. Readers will ache over what comes next but I applaud Raina (and the author) for the hard decision made, a decision that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.
Raina’s a wonderful heroine, easy to relate to, and I loved seeing her joy in getting to experience all that New York has to offer. She quickly immersed herself in the exciting big city culture and it added to my delight of her interactions with her friend Mable, which were reminiscent of my own college years. She’s a strong-willed young woman who’s a strong support to Levi from the moment they meet in a crackling connection that had me rooting for them every step of the way. She can only support him so much though before she’ll end up broken herself. To truly prove her love she’ll have to make a heartbreaking decision that brought a tear to my eye but made their romance even more believable. Levi’s a very likable hero who longs to make music for a living. He’s had a difficult past and is determined to do better this year in school than last year. Meeting Raina seems like a good start to the new school year and together things seem perfect. It’s not long though before his past and his band’s burgeoning success starts to bring him down. All the pain from his past comes to rest on his shoulders and it’s not long before the alcohol starts to ruin the connection he has to Raina, before she has to make a very tough decision that will change everything for them. I was drawn to Levi from the very start, drawn to his perfectly imperfect personality, and all I wanted to do was hug him. I was often left with a tear in my eye, but I appreciated this story for its realism in handling such a serious topic which is still in my thoughts.
This book is an unforgettable beginning to this couple’s story, an angsty and romantic tale that pulled at my heartstrings and kept me frantically turning the pages to see where things would go for them next. It was an emotional rollercoaster ride from the first page to the last and I was captivated by each low and every high and rooted for this couple even though I sensed things wouldn’t end as I’d hoped. Those who dislike cliffhangers will be frustrated by the ending of this story, but the narrative and characters are well-worth any frustrations you may have by the end as this is an epic love story. Though my heart’s a bit bruised right now, I’m definitely counting down the days until the next installment in this series hits bookshelves with an ending that I KNOW will have made all the angst worthwhile!
Loving You was a great start to the You & Me series. Raina and Levi started out so sweet and cute. A passionate and emotional read. I was pulled into their lives, I could feel the love as it develops between them. The emotions are strong. Joy and heartbreak. Levi couldn’t cope and things got out of hand. Ugh! That ending hurt my heart. I know it’ll get worse before it gets better. Bring on book two now!!!
What a start to the series! So many feels are packed in this book. I love Reina and Levi so hard! Levi is sweet and sexy and is trying to get his life back on track after a rough year. Reina is in her first week at NYU when she meets Levi. They fall hard and fast. Their connection is so intense that they almost lose themselves in each other. Levi is battling some pretty bad demons that forces Reina to make a difficult decision. The cliffhanger ending that will break your heart. I have a feeling this series will be a crazy emotional ride. Bring on book 2!!
Reina is excited to be going to NYCU, it has always been her dream, her roommate has lived in NYC her whole life and they become great friends, although completely different. One day she meets Levi and the sparks are instant between the two.
Levi is broken although he can’t see it, but his demons are constantly there and at first being with Reina helps, but sadly his addition to alcohol are stronger.
The love between the two is strong, but after one night when secrets are spilt Reina knows she has only once choice to make, and although it kills her, she knows she has to do it to help the love of her love Levi.
This ends on a cliffhanger, so I can’t wait for the next book. It was a great read and I couldn’t put it down.
My heart is broken reading this story. Have you ever loved someone that is unable to love themselves. It is excruciatingly painful to watch someone spiral out of control due to the demons in their life. Truthfully with what is going on in my own life this story was a therapeutic reminder that you can only help someone who’s willing to help themselves. Sob.
Levi and Raina meet at college. Levi is struggling with a huge loss. Raina is staring her new college experience. Both are students at NYU with a focus on music. Levi is getting into a band and Raina is an aspiring songwriter. They both have this visceral, insta-love kind of experience when they meet. Wink!
The story starts out in a beautiful place with these two characters exploring the city and falling in love with each other. Ugh when things start to go off the rails, they do so quickly. Yikes it’s so intense. My heart couldn’t take it as both of these characters try to find their way. One with an unhealthy addiction and the other only wants to support. Hard decisions have to be made. Wow it is fraught with turbulent emotion.
Don’t plan for a resolution with this book. You will experience a journey that leaves you needing more. Eek! I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
Happy Emotional Reading Everyone!
Wow! This new to me author has made me a fan for sure. Lovin You is beautifully written and the author did an amazing job making me fall in love with Levi and Raina story from every high to every low. Their story is a beautiful love story that is full of every emotion. I loved these two from the very beginning and all their imperfections. I am so invested in their story and can not wait to get my hands on the next book. The cliffhanger has left me so freaking heartbroken for these two and I just have to know what happens. I am rooting for these two to get their happily ever after. So glad that I took a chance on this new to me author.
Happy Reading Everyone!!!
This was an amazing start to the series!!! I have to say i usually love a HEA but I also do enjoy a good cliffhanger ever now and then and this one is. Levi to me seems like a lost puppy and using a drink to mask his pain certainly doesn’t help him. Raina was a sweet girl coming to the big city and boy did she get more then she bargained for… the connection was instant and intense. The sex scenes are super steamy. The real life issues not being dealt with make the story interesting. I love the love they have and the willingness to overlook things for a bit. But overall I’d love enough?!?!?! I can’t wait to read the next book!!!
Raina is the typical college freshman who is beyond excited to start school in New York City. The aspiring songwriter is exactly where she wants to be. When she meets Levi, there’s an instant spark. Levi wants to be the lead singer of a band; he also plays guitar and piano. Their spark quickly turns into much more.
Raina and Levi’s tale of first love gives you all the feels as you watch the two of them start to achieve their dreams. Together, they bring out the best in each other. Until Levi’s inner demons begin to get the best of him. And then, Raina must make a hard decision. I can’t wait to see how this story concludes!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Raina was so excited to be moving to New York, starting college and moving forward in the next chapter of her life. Ready for adventure and to get the kick start needed for her music. Her love for writing is strong, her dreams are big. She knows that focus is key for her this year but when she meets Levi the draw is strong. Will she be able to balance everything?
This is his year, Levi has to get his shit together and make things happen this time. Still suffering the emotional heartbreak that was caused by his mothers death. Turning to alcohol to calm his thoughts. Meeting Raina has given him a new kind of inspiration but will it be enough? Will he hold it together or will the call of addiction in a world where it is everywhere be too much?
Watching these characters fall in love so fast and hard was sweet. But soon enough the life of party’s and rock stars begins to pull Levi a little too far down the rabbit whole. Will he claw his way out? Will Raina’s tough love work or is this the end all too soon?
*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***
Oh. My. Marx. My. Heart.
This is such a quick read, but it knocked me out emotionally.
It’s the story between Levi and Reina, music students who meet and have a hot and quick connection. Levi has just started in a band and this as well as other struggles at home really play on his mind.
Levi has demons. Reina wants to help.
But will love be enough?
I did NOT know what to expect from this and I got everything I didn’t know I needed. I need book 2 right now.
I received an ARC for review and I volunteered to leave an unbiased review.
This was so good! I don’t normally read new adult but this sound amazing. And indeed it was. So much emotion and angst but so much to love. I got sucked in and didn’t want to leave. The characters are wonderful and full of life. Their chemistry is perfect together. I really love this book! I can’t wait for the next book!
Lovin’ You by Lyssa Cole was heartbreaking and emotional. Two people who may be destined to be together but is love enough? Raina and Levi meet and fall fast. Their chemistry is passionate and instant. Reina is ready to start college and have new experiences. Levi has struggles and secrets, but is determined. But some demons are harder than others. They connect quickly with their love for music. But as things evolve, can Raina be what Levi needs? My heart is still recovering and that ending! I am excited and scared to see what is next in the series.
Read and reviewed for Reviews From the Heart.
Happy reading!
Wow!! So I knew going into this book that it ends in a cliffhanger but still ….holy smokes! I desperately need book 2, like now. Raina is a freshman at NYU studying music. She is sweet, a little shy, and beautiful. She meets Levi, who is a sophomore there and trying to get into a band with is best friend. Levi is gorgeous, sweet but kind of a mess. Their story is a sweet, slow burn filled with drama and a cliffy ending that leaves you begging for more.
This book goes all in and places it all on the line. Raina and Levi’s story is epic and filled with intense emotions. There was no trying to deny the sparks, chemistry and connection that fly between these two. As meant to be as this couple seems, there are major issues and obstacles that they must try to deal with and overcome. It is gut wrenching, painful, gripping and raw. Your heart will hurt for these two and you will be fully invested in the story as it unfolds. There is a cliffhanger at the end of this book. Really looking forward to book 2. This is my elective, frank review.