From New York Times bestselling author CD Reiss comes a story of friendship, romance, and growing into a love that was always there.Rachel knew exactly what turning thirty would be like. She had a plan, after all. First college, then a climb up the professional ladder. Love, marriage, children. All of it was on the schedule.The cheap Hollywood apartment wasn’t on the list. Neither was the string … the list. Neither was the string of heartbreaks. Or the effect her mother’s cancer had on her career.
It’s hard to stay practical and on point when everything takes a left turn.
Enter Sebastian, the nerd across the street. The boy she defended when he couldn’t defend himself. The best friend she promised she’d marry if life didn’t go according to plan.
Not only is he successful, confident, and gorgeous, but he also still has their handwritten marriage contract.
No one goes through with childhood wedding pacts.
That’s crazy.
But their families might just be crazy enough to rent a hall and set a date. All Rachel and Sebastian have to do is fall in love.
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No matter the genre or trope, I won’t miss a CD Reiss book and you shouldn’t either. Sebastian and Rachel’s story tugs at the heart strings in the best of ways!
The perfect summer read from one of my favorite authors! Fall in love with Seb and Rachel!
4.5 Stars!
Rachel Rendell just turned 30, and feels she has nothing to show for it. It’s like everything in her life is one big joke, and nothing has gone according to plan. She thought her life would take a certain path with college, career, love, marriage, and then children. Instead all she feels she’s accomplished is heartbreak and disappointment. Then a blast from the past shows back up in her life, and things suddenly get interesting.
Rachel hasn’t seen Sebastian Barton in ten years since they went to different colleges, and time and distance got in the way of their friendship. They’d been neighbors in San Diego, and high school best friends. He’d been the nerdy artist kid, and she’d defended him against the class bullies.
Sebastian must have been a late bloomer, because the vulnerable, weak boy she remembered was now a strong, successful, wealthy, confident, gorgeous man. He was still kind, loyal, intelligent, and wearing grandpa cardigans, but now he also had bulging biceps, and looked like a model on a GQ cover. She was so attracted to him she could hardly be in the same room with him without swooning, and could quickly develop a king size crush on him if she wasn’t careful.
Sebastian never forgot Rachel or the way she made him feel. Growing up she was always his fierce warrior coming to his rescue. He’d been infatuated with her back then, when he was the school dork, and she was his only friend. She was still breathtakingly beautiful, and he would like the chance to date her.
Then their parents come across their childhood marriage contract, and things turn complicated when they decide to play matchmaker. Seb & Rachel once agreed to be each other’s back up plan. They made a pact at age 16 to marry each other if they reach 30 and are still single. They were never serious, but their families run with the idea, and start planning, even going so far as to set a date. Worrying that Rachel’s mom may be ill, they allow it, and play along. As they spend time together again Rachel can truly be herself with Seb, and he realizes she still feels like home to him after all these years. As they are still discovering who they are and how they fit together things turn very real as they begin falling for one another.
Only Ever You by CD Reiss is a heartwarming friends to lovers romance that will captivate you. First I must say I LOVE sexy nerds, and then throw in a dirty talking, delicious, dreamy man with a heart of gold. Sold, sold, and swooning hard! I adored this beautiful man, and this story about friendship and discovering the special, unique love that was there all along.
With Only Ever You, CD Reiss created a gem of a story about friendship, strength, inspiration, hope, family and love. It was filled with so much warmth and feel-good moments that I couldn’t help but fall in love with it. Sebastian was such an amazing hero that for him alone, I would be happy to re-read this story time and time again!
What did I love about this book?
Sebastian. Obviously.
I’m a huge fan of relationships built on years of friendship and kinship and loyalty and history. The ties that bind and all that. And this story was definitely chockfull of these things.
How beautiful and vulnerable Sebastian was. How can one resist a man who allows his heart to show in everything he does?
The many ways Sebastian loved Rachel. I wanted her to do more for him, but it was sweet nonetheless.
The author gave an interesting twist to this story. The hero was put in a position not many writers would put him in and I loved how it was done. Someone so sexy and aware and yet… Read the book to find out all the wonderful ways Sebastian doesn’t fit the norm.
It was low on angst, there wasn’t any unnecessary drama, and despite the heroine’s tendency to be oblivious, I loved the sweetness of these characters. They were light and easy without giving me a chance to be bored with how easy everything was.
Sebastian will give you a romance to sink your teeth into. He was a ‘dweeb’ who blossomed into a glorious swan and will easily have you rooting for him as hard as I did. I recommend this read to anyone who loves the idea of love, the idea of fate, and who wants to be swept away by the exciting feeling of falling.
ONLY EVER YOU by C.D. Reiss is a new contemporary romance not like any previous books I have read from this author. I think dark, erotic and intense usually when I see this author’s name, but this romance is different. Sebastian and Rachel’s story is lighter, full of family, hope and love. The angst and steamy is still there, but not as often and with a twist.
When Sebastian was in school, he was a stick thin, nerd who was bullied.
Then a beautiful girl named Rachel moved in across the lane. She became his best friend. She defended him and included him.
As they plan their futures, they decide on a back-up plan and write a marriage contract stating if both are single when they turn thirty years old, they will marry each other.
The future happens and it does not always go as planned. Rachel and Sebastian are both home for Christmas. Sebastian has become an extremely successful and gorgeous man. Rachel is still struggling in her career and has dated a string of losers. Nothing has gone as she planned, but she also would not have changed the time she put her career on hold to help her mother through her cancer.
Are they really going to go through with their marriage contract?
This is a very entertaining friends to lovers contemporary romance. Sebastian is a hero we all love to cheer for. The dweeb to heart-throb, smart to successful, but no matter the success, he is still very vulnerable. Rachel was strong as a young girl, but she let fear and the wrong men make her doubt herself to the point of losing her confidence in herself. As the two reunite, they learn how they are still alike, but also different. This is a cute couple with crazy family members and friends that love them and only want them to be happy. The sex scenes occur towards the end of the book and there is a very interesting twist involved, especially from this author.
This is one of those feel good, fun romances to enjoy curled up on your favorite chair.
This was pretty tame for C.D. Reiss. It was more of a light read but with some heavy subjects still. It was a balance that was pulled off well.
At first I thought this might be a little too tame, but then you get pieces here and there that would jump out and pull at you. I liked those little bits of surprise. It had a way of making me care more about Rachel and Sebastian.
These two seemed almost flipped. Sebastian had characteristic you usually see in a heroine and vice versa for Rachel. I would normally say that wouldn’t be for me, and yet it worked. It made their story unique in a common theme.
I’m a sucker for a good ending and this ended in a perfect way. We got to see an epilogue a few years later and it was beautiful.
I really enjoyed this one. This was super sweet and romantic and great! Especially for anyone who had a childhood best friend of the opposite sex! The characters were likable and the story entertaining.
Rachel had these grand plans to become a writer, marry, and start a family. Instead she put her life on hold to take care of her mother who had breast cancer. Fourteen years later, Rachel feels like a failure in comparison to Sebastian who started out as the nerdy neighborhood boy. Sebastian found success and muscles. Rachel feels like she lost her chance to become successful.
With time and distance between them neither gave much thought to each other until Christmas rolled around and both were in town.
Meanwhile, as she struggles with her failures she’s reminded of a pact her and Sebastian made about marrying each other if both were still single at the age of thirty. Then there’s the possibility that her mother might be sick again. In the back of her mind she believes her mother is waiting to see Rachel marry before it’s too late.
What is love?
Overall:
Rachel thought she would be settled by thirty.
Sebastian wants Rachel to love the real him.
Marriage pact out of obligation.
Fake engagement to fulfill family expectations.
Friends to lovers.
Being a writer but with strings attached.
All these elements make up for a great storyline, however when Ms. Reiss puts them all together something doesn’t fit. Rachel’s hesitations hold back my connection. Her self doubts had me questioning her abilities to progress. Sebastian seemed all to eager to please Rachel despite his own reservations.
My biggest hang up was the amount of time these characters spent living separate lives. I wouldn’t say either stopped living life, yet it seemed too coincidental how Sebastian ditched his girlfriend just before seeing Rachel. I wasn’t getting a good vibe from reading Rachel’s feelings.
The scenes to look forward to are those delicious sex scenes. That’s what I recognize about Ms. Reiss. Then there’s the grand gesture.
Narrators:
Andi Arndt is the narrator of hundreds of audiobooks in romance, bio/memoir, YA and literary fiction, and is a member of the Audible Narrator Hall of Fame. She is the Executive Producer of Lyric Audiobooks, which produces award winning audiobooks for best selling authors. Andi Arndt’s voice has been described as “welcoming,” “calm,” “clear,” and “sublime”—which is exactly what you want from one of the most popular and beloved romance narrators working today. Andi delivers another great performance.
Brian Pallino is a highly sought-after narrator of contemporary adult and romance books. He has voiced series for multiple award-winning authors, including CD Reiss and Meredith Wild. With a versatile range, Brian is a storyteller who strives to bring books to life and move his listeners. This was my first listening experience by Brian and I must say he did an excellent job.
Together Andi and Brian brought these characters to life.
I love CD Reiss’ erotic fiction and so far, I’ve also loved her contemporary romances. This was OK for me. CD is one of the best writers in the romance category, so there are other contemporaries I’d recommend before this one.
This book represents so many things. Sometimes talent doesn’t take you where you want to go. Sometimes the real world wins out. Sometimes doing the right thing gets you in hot water. Sometimes you can turn your life around and get it all…or most of it. I loved this fake-engagement old friends story. It was slow burn and I liked that Sebastian wasn’t your typical hero. I loved that it took having Sebastian back in her life for Rachel to find herself again. Their families were eccentric but loving, as were their friends. It was an enjoyable story.
Having just left the world of Drazen in Pretty Scars, I was ready for whatever C.D. Reiss was creating and while Only Ever You is not anything like the insanity of the Drazens it was equally as compelling and hard to put down: I only stopped reading to sleep and inhaled this novel in a matter of hours.
Only Ever You is a stand out, for me, because it seems rooted in characters and a plot that feels realistic. Rachel and Sebastion are, with a few exceptions, just like you and me. They’re weak in some areas, stronger in others, and just so failingly human and I’m here for it. I love everything about their romance–from their teenage contract, their meeting years later, and their falling in love with a raw honesty about who they are and where they are in their lives–it’s pitch perfect. Throw in their parents, a sister, and friends who provided humor and sage advice and I found myself smiling and nodding a lot.
I’ve yet to come across anything from C.D. Reiss that doesn’t hold my attention. I appreciate that she can create a completely messed up world like the Drazens and then write something more down to earth like Only Ever You. Fans of her work will find many of the trademarks that are distinctly hers–succinct exposition, good dialogue, steamy sex scenes, and a well paced plot–and I bet they’ll be as enamored as this new novel as I am.
This one was just pure joy, it made me laugh and made me sigh and at times it made me curse, just what every romance should do. Rachel and Sebastian are neighbors as children and Rachel is Seb’s protector since he was bullied. At 16 they made a contract that if they were both single by 30 they would marry each other. Now at Christmas, soon after Sebastian turns 30 and a few weeks before Rachel turns 30 their families find the contract and push them together and start to plan the wedding. Oh, what fun, such FUN.
This is not my favorite read by CD Reiss. It was a bit lighthearted and easy to read. I’m a sucker for childhood friends who fall in love. Unfortunately I didn’t really feel the love Sebastian and Rachel supposedly harbored for one another. I will say I felt more of the love from Sebastian than I did with Rachel. The fake engagement and wedding planning was a bit too much for me personally because it was all happening so fast and I thought the reason for the charade was doing too much.
The other thing I didn’t really care for was Rachel’s complete lack of faith in herself and how much time she spent ridiculing herself. She never thought she was good enough for anything. I mean a little insecurity is ok, but I think it was too much for this character. I would have liked to really see her build her confidence and see that she was worthy of Sebastian and have things work out for her because she was a mess throughout the entire book.
Only Ever You was sweet with some serious moments thrown in. I personally had a hard time connecting with these characters despite their sweet pact they made as kids. I also found it hard to believe Sebastian was still a virgin. This was still a book I read very fast, it is engaging and fun. It just didn’t live up to what I’ve come to love about this authors books.
***3 Stars***
The premise of the story intrigued me. The marriage pact. Two people who were once bff’s now strangers. I felt that this was a story I could totally get lost in. And things started off really well. I was invested in Sebastian and Rachel and things were good for a bit and then things went sideways for me. I still enjoyed their story, but I didn’t end up loving it as much as I’d hoped for in the end.
Rachel and Sebastian. I didn’t love them, but I didn’t dislike them either. I simply…liked them. Rachel I connected more with than Sebastian. The issues Rachel was battling were one’s I understood. I may have wanted to shake some sense into her many times, but her I got. Sebastian on the other hand. He’s a nice guy who has done well, but I needed him to be more…alpha…have more steel in him. Again, I got why he was the way he was, but all I kept thinking was that he needed to man up.
As for their journey to their HEA. It was sweet and awkward and had some great moments, but it was also frustrating as all get out. The lack of communication killed me on many fronts ~ not only with Rachel and Sebastian, but their families. One person actually asking a question and demanding an answer. One of them stepping up to the plate and being honest about their feelings…I mean it just got silly after awhile. What I will say, though, is that I did love the grand gesture and how everything worked out in the end.
I really wish I had loved this book more than I did, but it just wasn’t in the cards for me. This is one of those books where readers will love, hate or find themselves in the middle like me. Again the premise is a good one and the secondary cast of characters are all very well written, so I’d say give it a go…you may find that you love it.
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
Sebastian and Rachel were hopelessly made for each other. C.D. Reiss, my mind has left my body because of the you have told their story. I can’t believe that I have waited this long to read your work. I am in awe and love with your writing and characters.
Ahhh….Rachel and Sebastian were perfection . I loved all the little unique twists put on their marriage pact story. I need to be vague as not to spoil anything but even the “thing” some might see as unbelievable has it’s own spin and totally makes sense. OEU had me laughing, smiling and rooting for these two the entire time.
5 STARS
ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review – opinions expressed are my own & have not been influenced in any way.
CD Reiss has now been added to my TBR author list & I am shaking my head as to why I had not discovered this author sooner.
Thank you so much Netgalley ….
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH !!!!!!!
Rachel & Sebastian’s do get their HEA but it’s certainly not an easy road to it. Childhood friends who form a pact that if by the age of 30 neither are married they will marry each other ….. call it crazy but 30 comes for both & guess what ? They plan a fake proposal & fake wedding mostly on pretense to see Rachel’s Mom who is a cancer survivor see her daughter settled & in love with her childhood sweetheart …
This story had it all for me – humor , sizzling chemistry , great family themes – just an outright captivating story with engaging wonderful characters.
I will now be checking out CD Reiss’s backlist !! Awesome read – highly recommend this book & author
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Kris –
I fell for Sebastian immediately! The nerdy boy turned buff, successful businessman! I love Reiss and her style shines through in this standalone with Sebastian being a confident and dominant lover with a flair for hot, dirty talk! Sebastian is home for the holiday and runs into his old neighborhood friend and high school crush. Rachel is a wonderful character you can really get behind and root for. She’s just a bit stuck and not where she hoped to be by 30. Remembering the old pact she and Sebastian made when they were teens to marry each other if neither were taken by 30, Rachel finds herself, and Sebastian just might be exactly what she needs. The two had wonderful chemistry and the story had perfect pacing! It flew by quickly; perfect, sweet summer romance!
Ruthie –
This is a marriage pact romance, involving two childhood friends who grew up together, promised to marry at 30 if they were still single, and then didn’t see each other for over a decade. As their families apply some pressure to fulfil the contract, we watch as everything comes together and falls apart.
Seb was a bullied geek at school protected by neighbour Rachel. But he is all grown up now, and out of a very difficult relationship with a woman whose religion was more important than anything else. He’s successful and wealthy, but very single. So when Rachel comes to visit her family and they see each other again, he finally admits to himself at least, that she is the woman he wants, and if he needs to use the contract to get his way, he will.
Rachel is trying to make her way as a script writer, but a delay in starting her career due to caring for her mum through cancer treatment. She is behind where she planned on being, but family come first. When she thinks that her mum is sick again, she will do anything to keep her happy – but marry Seb? He is all grown up and very attractive, but enter a fake marriage when she might want a real relationship…
As they get deeper into their lies to their folks, it gets more and more complicated, but there are enough fun scenes which suggest that they are going to work this out. The fact that both of them have people in their corner to voice their concerns and hopes is effective, and Wade is a blast!
Mary Jo –
I know people who’ve done this: make a pact with your bestie of the opposite sex (or same sex) to marry each other if at the ripe old age of XX both of you are still single.
In this story, that’s what Sebastian and Rachel did. They grew up on the same block, had each other’s back, and were determined to go out and conquer the world. However, if they didn’t find the loves of their lives by the age of 30, they would marry each other.
Fast forward 15 years and both Rachel and Sebastian are actually back home celebrating the holidays at the same time, and Sebastian just turned 30. Once their moms got wind of their little pact from years ago, they go into extreme MOM mode and begin making wedding plans.
Seb and Rachel go along with it for very different reasons. Seb’s always been in love with Rachel and now’s his chance to get the girl. Rachel thinks her mom’s cancer has returned and will do anything to make her mother happy.
There’re a lot of pitfalls and some romance along the way, but the pair finally get on the same page about what they want.
The writing was good, but there was just something a little off about the characters to me.
Avid Reader –
M/F Romance
Rachel and Seb were best friends growing up. Rachel championed Seb when everyone else liked to bully him. When they were younger, they made a marriage pact that if they were both single at 30, they would get married.
Now, when they are both back home for the holidays, when they see each other, there is an attraction but so much history, both between them and their families, that a white lie will snowball.
Rachel is worried that her mom’s cancer is returning and her mom just doesn’t want to bother her with the news. Rachel knows that her mom thought she interrupted Rachel’s life before. So, Rachel just wants to make sure that her mom is happy. And despite not feeling great about where she is in life, getting to know Seb again at this stage in their lives is something she didn’t know she needed.
Seb is successful, attractive, and still a geek at heart. He has always had a thing for Rachel, even when they were younger. And when the opportunity presents itself, he’s going to jump at his chance to finally get the girl.
I think where this story went wrong for me was that both main characters were so stuck in their younger days. They didn’t act like 30-year-olds. Rather, they forgot they were adults and acted more like they were still 16. The back and forth, noncommunication, and doubt in themselves made this story drag along. I wanted them to be more adult and to find their existence together. Instead, this was more of a story of mishaps than romance.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Some may think this is a modern love story but for Rachel and Sebastian it’s not.
Rachel and Sebastion grew up best friends and typical best friends they stuck up for eachother. Except it was Rachel that always stuck up for Sebastion because he was small and nerdy.
Rachel and Sebastian left for college and they returned home 14 years later they saw eachother. There family loves them and is pushing them to be together but can they be together and be happy or will they do it just to make thier families happy?
I loved how Rachel was the hero in the beginning of the book but you fast forward 14 years and the roles reversed and Sebastion grows out of his nerd state and into a strong handsome man. Can these two find love or are they doomed to be friends forever?
I love CD Reiss’s writing it’s not only unique but she has the ability to grab you from the first line whether it be a sweet romance or a dark sexy book filled with lots of bdsm.
Simply Stunning!!!
A beautiful love story I thoroughly enjoyed devouring.
It was sweet and steamy and completely delicious.
Highly recommended!