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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This is my first time reading CD Reiss and I’m mad at myself for not reading her sooner!
Is there a more lovable character than Sebastian?!? From the very beginning, I adored him and only fell deeper as the story went along. This man will melt your heart. He’s real and genuine, sweet and loving, funny and charming, and unbelievably sexy. He’s more than just the smart, successful, sometimes goofy guy you see. And he’s come a long way from the awkward boy he used to be.
Rachel is someone the real world needs more of. I loved her from the start. She’s fearless, never one to hold back what she thinks, and is fiercely loyal and protective to those she cares about. Her moral compass is on point. But she has her struggles too, just like everybody else, and sometimes her logic will make you want to shake her a bit.
There were so many feels packed into this story! I love Sebastian and Rachel, and couldn’t help but root for them from the very first page. This may have been my first foray into CD Reiss, but it certainly won’t be the last.
Snag your copy of this book ASAP! It’s definitely worth it!
It isn’t news that I’m a diehard fan of Reiss. Goddess of romantic suspense and my go-to author, never in my dreams could I have imagined her writing a friends-to-lovers romance quite like this one! In fact, I’d as go as far as saying that it could be easily be classified under the rom-com genre as the classic one-liners had me laughing till my belly hurt. And don’t get me wrong, but highlighting all the quotes I liked became a tad tiresome! Whichever trope it may be, Reiss turned it inside out and back to front, making it work to a tee.
‘It was all a joke. A big, funny fantasy for our families’ benefit.’
I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting two such delightfully weird and wonderful families in a long while. And oh, my word…the banter is something else! Everyone’s trying to get a word in edgeways, giving crazy advice and them interrupting each other felt so natural and was so well-written that it was like being in the middle of their conversations. The part they play is an important one in the respect that both want two of their respective grown-up children to hmm… tie the knot! All said and done, Sebastian Barton and Rachel Rendell have reached their thirties and wedding bells are in the back of their parents’ minds. However, what one wants and what one gets is an entirely different thing.
“You like him.”
“I like him too much to marry him, if you want to know the truth.”
Young Sebastian who just happened to be Rachel’s new neighbour was on the receiving end from his school peers. Not only did she stand up for him, but she also became his best friend. And of course, the title gives away how one of them felt for the other. As future plans would have it, some things don’t quite work out how we want them to. Rachel went her way and he went his. A childhood pact was forgotten, or was it? It seemed that they needed a reminder and once found and much to Rachel’s dismay, the contract bought back her unaccomplished dreams.
“Anyway, we didn’t sign in blood.·
“We spit in our hands and shook on it.”
“I don’t know how I forgot that.”
“An exchange of DNA makes it official.”
If Sebastian were a scrawny but talented lad, now he’s a strappingly handsome guy and successful to boot. Rachel’s flowered in an unassuming beauty too and trying to keep their eyes off each other while carrying out their charade made me rub my hands with glee. What occurs before the supposedly big day gave me all the feels. This read has a little bit of everything and the unexpected certainly propelled the story towards some rather lusty scenes. However, emotions run high and not just because they’d got themselves into a pickle.
“Sebastian was the biggest nerd in school.”
“You know what happens to nerds. They get gorgeous and rich.”
Tiffany. I fell hard for Sebastian’s younger sister. Listening to brilliant sarcasm wasn’t lost on me, and ribbing her brother mercilessly along with her mobile phone shenanigans had me in fits. Can’t say I was taken with her taste in music but that’s another story.
“They were following that Instagram post of you and Sebastian. Do you know Tiffany has half a million people following her? All strangers.”
“She’s very active online,”
Have to say that although I liked Rachel hell of a lot, Sebastian won me over with his oh-so gentlemanly ways and the cardigan…bloody hilarious! Not your typical hero either, his actions spoke louder than words. Loved Roy, his quirky mum’s Guy-with-a-Pickup-Truck, and Joy and Rob Rendall are fabulous characters. It’s a book to get lost in this summer and I can’t recommend this beautiful couple’s love story enough. Bravo, Reiss!
“Yeah, I mean it. You find a guy who looks that hot in a grandpa sweater, you found a guy for life.”
When it comes to books they seem to fall into three categories…Amazing and unforgettable reads, pleasant reads that I quickly move on from, and those that had flaws and just didn’t work. Luckily this book falls under the second category courtesy of its charming and drool-worthy hero, Sebastian. A former teen nerd who’s grown up to be a wealthy and handsome man, Sebastian won me over from the very beginning as his attraction to the brash and protective girl next door showed a slow burning connection that ultimately caught fire. With each turn of the page I was won over by the sweet and sensual connection between Sebastian and Rachel and was rooting for them every step of the way to finally claim their HEA.
Sebastian Barton was a skinny and dorky teen who was bullied and treated like crap by schoolmates with only his neighbor Rachel his unwavering support and protector. In matters regarding him she was vocal and strong-willed in her defense and it warmed my heart that she was always in his corner. Those years had him looking up to her though and led him to finally fighting back. It also had him to seeing her in a romantic light, but with his insecurities he never brought his feelings to light. He did however agree to a marriage pact that would have the two of them marrying if they were still single by the time they both turned thirty. Years have passed, painful relationships with others have ended, and they’ve finally come into contact with each other again. They’ve changed though, both emotionally and physically, and for Sebastian he’s definitely changed for the good. He’s grown into his looks, become very tempting, with an air of confidence surrounding him. He’s still a bit cautious when it comes to handling Rachel’s heart, but he’s done with waiting for her any longer and has no shame in using their pact to win her over in a story that made me smile. Sebastian’s a delightful hero, a loving son and caring friend. He’s become successful over the years and has every right to be proud of his accomplishments, but he’s never arrogant about any of it. When it comes to women he’s been less successful as every woman has been compared to Rachel and been found lacking. His most recent relationship tried to take away his growing self-esteem and it’s clear he’s been left bruised by his ex which made ache for him. It’s usually the heroine who’s inexperienced, but in a wonderful twist it’s Sebastian who’s full of uncertainties and insecurities with his admission of that fact endearing him to me all the more. Throughout this story, through each word and deed, Sebastian pulled at my heartstrings and I fell for him completely in this romance full of heartfelt moments.
Rachel Rendell became Seb’s friend and protector the day they met and she defended him at every turn, even when it put her future in jeopardy. She and Seb were the best of friends growing up with a bond they thought would never end and which had them making a marriage pact for when they turned thirty. The ensuing years saw them drifting apart though, their lives going in very different directions. By now she expected to be a rich and award-winning writer, married, with children but fate hasn’t been kind and she’s now feeling like a failure. The years apart from Sebastian have tamed her fire, made her full of doubts and leery of being outspoken. With Sebastian missing that side of her it’s their being together again that inspires her as the two of them slowly turn a teenage marriage pact into an adult HEA. I ADORED the teenage Rachel, loved her strength and loyalty, and like Sebastian I too missed that side of her as an adult. She’s been beaten down by life, beaten down by her mom’s fight with cancer, and I could relate to those feelings of expecting more from yourself and not getting it. While I could empathize with her, I was also left frustrated at times and I wish she wouldn’t have wasted so much time with Sebastian within reach. He made his intentions obvious from the moment they reunited and she made a joke of it. He often reached out in subtle and overt ways only to have her bring up her feelings of inferiority, almost as a way to push him away. Her hesitations and negativity though added unnecessary roadblocks to a story that started with a delightful premise.
While on a whole I enjoyed this tale there were parts of the story that dragged a bit too, parts that slowed this story’s pleasant flow a time or two. Along the way fun and flirty banter was balanced with sexual tension that kept me turning the pages in a connection that I truly believed in despite Sebastian and Rachel’s years apart. The foundation laid as teens captivated me completely and put me fully on board for their journey to HEA. Along with the appealing main couple I was also charmed by both sets of parents and their comically manipulative ways. By the turn of the final page I found this a charming tale full of heart and soul that will warm reader’s hearts.
“I love you. You make me feel safe. There were years, I know . . . when we were apart. I didn’t feel right and didn’t know why. I know now.”
A great second-chance romance that takes you on a roller-coaster of emotions. Filled with wonderful characters, wit, humor, heart, and amazing anticipatory chemistry as a Rachel and Sebastian’s friendship blossoms into romance. Only Ever You is a charming, feel-good, fun, and emotional romance that you won’t want to put down; and one that’s sure to end up on your favorites list to re-read.
Only CD Reiss can pull off a story about a storyteller and make it convoluted and fantastic. There are layers upon layers on this book!
Sebastian was living a sad and lonely life when Rachel and her parents moved across the street from his house. Her acceptance, her friendship and her defense of him against his bullies made all the difference in his life. He was a wimpy kid and he was bullied every day. Rachel was like a fierce warrior, with a clear sense of what was right and wrong and had no fear of acting out. She also had clear plans and a timeline of what, where and when she wanted to be in her life. But, just in case, she and Sebastian made out a contract that when they were thirty years old, if they were still unmarried, they would marry. This contract was hilarious, detailing their dating life and sex life.
Eventually they went on to live their lives and lost contact until ten years later that they meet at the parents on Christmas. Both were now thirty years old, both out of disastrous relations, and as a joke they brought out their old marriage contract. This started a ball rolling, their parents colluding to get them married, they thought it was a joke at first and then they got stuck in the process.
Sebastian had grown up from the dweeb he used to be into a successful, tall, dark and gorgeous millionaire, owner of his own company. Rachel, who had so many ambitions, was working at a crappy job as screenwriter, nowhere near to what she wanted to be. And here is when the plot gets fantastic. We have Rachel who is debating about a writing assignment that doesn’t sit right with her morals. Sebastian loves her but doesn’t see the warrior of their childhood; he sees a scared woman, afraid of rocking the boat. They are planning a marriage that they plan to cancel later on. Rachel is worried about her mother’s health. Poor Rachel is in a maelstrom of feelings she can’t get a hang of.
I hurt for Rachel because she felt inadequate and a failure. Sebastian loves Rachel but doesn’t feel loved by her. I loved the scenes of Rachel and her co-workers discussing story tropes similar to the trope of the book. I get the feeling that Rachel is a fantastic writer but she hasn’t found her place. She doesn’t realize how good she is because life has let her down and she hasn’t found a way to step up. Reading about these characters and how they evolved was great. I also loved the warm feelings of family love and acceptance. Rachel’s and Sebastian’s family were an integral part of the plot and added a lot of good feelings, especially Seb’s mom’s tarot reading cards.
This is the story of Sebastian & Rachel. They were friends as children. Going their separate ways for school, Sebastian didn’t return home for fourteen years, or so. Now, they see each after that time. Rachel, through the years, has lost a lot of self worth. She loves to help people without reserve, but anything for herself is a lot of confusion. Sebastian knows what he wants. It is an intriguing story, to say the least.
Rachel and Sebastian made a deal when they were teenagers. If Rachel’s meticulously designed plans for her future did not work out, they would get married when they turned thirty. But of course this would never happen. After all, Rachel was popular, intelligent, determined, strong and protected Sebastian from the bullies. A future doomed to failure was not in their plans. Truth be told, if anyone failed in this story, it would probably be Sebastian, the scrawny and somewhat awkward nerd.
Years later, about to complete the dreaded age of thirty, Rachel returns home for the holidays. And the card she receives from Sebastian, an innocent joke reminiscent of the pact of the past, will make her admit the harsh truth that her life is far from what she dreamed for herself.
Rachel is stagnant. Her relationships do not work, thanks to her bad choices when it comes to the opposite sex, her career has not taken off, her work does not arouse passion and her bank account is down. The fact that she had taken time to care for her sick mother, though necessary, undermined her professional chances. Nothing went as planned. And coming face to face with the old friend who she has not seen in a long time will certainly not help her self-esteem.
The fact is that Sebastian in no way looks like the dull boy of the past. The nerd has grown. And he became a handsome, successful, wealthy man with a promising career. And Rachel does not know how to deal with this new version of Sebastian.
And in this mood of nostalgia, where the past will be revisited, two nosy and not inconspicuous mothers will play the cupid in a somewhat exaggerated way, planning a wedding for two people who have not seen each other for more than fourteen years. But a random discovery will make Rachel to panic, and Sebastian will help her, embarking on this marriage madness, creating a false relationship to please Rachel’s mother.
And with that lie in play, the two will establish a plan to deal with the situation. But if the past has taught them something, it is that plans generally never go as expected. Gathered after so many years and forced to feign a relationship, the vision of past and present will be the greatest obstacle of these two, after all, neither are the same people. And like every good romantic cliche, the repetition of a lie eventually becomes true. But what if the agreement made in adolescence, innocent and funny, hid in the bottom the secret desire of one of them? What would that imply nowadays?
The book plays with the deconstruction of the novel itself, metalinguistics is very present in writing, a novel talking about the novel itself, and accentuating in a funny way the cliches present in this type of genre.
The characters are real, dense and make the reader able to connect with them, after all, doubts, fears, joys and frustrations are present in everyone’s lives. The question of the plans and how to face when nothing happens as expected is treated in a way that awakens a self-reflection.
Once again the male character stands out. Sebastian is the voice, soul, reason and heart of the book. It is impossible not to cheer with him and for him. Despite an adult man, deep down, the nerd boy still lurks inside him and the fear of rejection is still there.
Only Ever You by C.D. Reiss was a lighter read from this author that was a mix of friends-to-lovers, a marriage pact and second chances. Rachel and Sebastian were friends when they were younger and made a pact to marry each other if they were not married by the age of 30. Rachel had plans, but life sometimes gets in the way and right now, life has not been too good for her. For Sebastian, life had definitely been good. The once nerd is now a very handsome and successful man. When they meet again, suddenly the marriage pact cannot be ignored, but no one would truly go through with it, correct?
There was a lot of push and pull between Rachel and Sebastian. I did not always feel the chemistry between them and some of the reasoning for what they do had me shaking my head. Even so, Only Ever You by C.D. Reiss was a quick, light read with little angst.
3.5-stars. Read and reviewed for Reviews From the Heart .
Happy reading.
I feel like there are two completely different CD Reiss’s out there. Her books can vary so much that it’s hard to see her as the author of all the books she creates! Take Marriage Games… it’s deep and intense… incredibly sexual and strife with tension. Then we have Only Ever You and its sweet and filled with heart. I love that I can feel like I get everything from one fantastic author.
Rachel and Sebastian have this adorably sweet friendship through their younger years that I was in love with. Rachel’s the “it” girl while Sebastian gets picked on and bullied with a vengeance. Years pass and it’s like their lives are so different. Sebastian is crazy successful and his life has changed so much that most wouldn’t recognize him. Now Rachel, Rachel is learning what the other half life. She can’t seem to get her life back on track. So of course they meet back right at a turning point in their lives.
I was completely smitten with this story. It’s such hopeful and heartfelt. The deep friendship is really something I could relate to and understand the connection between them. My one and only complaint was with Sebastian. He just didn’t seem to understand or really accept that people change over time. It was just a bit odd. Overall though this is a book I would definitely reread… it’s this charming story about a friendship spanning decades.
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
What’s not to love about Rachel and Sebastian’s story. It’s a romance that will make your heart sing and your toes tap. After all, if life isn’t going exactly as you planned it you always have that marriage pact you made with your best friend and nerd when you were in high school to fall back on. What’s starts off as a joke suddenly takes on a life of its own when Rachel and Sebastian’s families become involved. It’s funny when it needs to be and as always beautifully written. The side characters were more than entertaining. Sebs mum will make you laugh and Rachels mum will pull at your heartstrings. You can’t help but love them all. It’s light and fluffy and so romantic. It’s guaranteed to leave you smiling as only a proper romance can. Will love win the day? Of course it will…..big big sigh
I love authors who showcase their writing prowess by shifting gears and stepping outside of the kind of romances they’re known for into something completely different. CD Reiss is known for her dark romances, and in her latest release, Only Ever You, readers get a lighter side of Reiss’ storytelling, and as she tells Rachel Rendell and Sebastian Barton’s story, she meshes several romance tropes together to illustrate how a childhood pact made between friends becomes something tangible as adults and maybe even essential if meddling family members, a fake marriage, and rediscovered feelings with a little bit of faith have anything to say about it.
What I find most intriguing about Rachel and Sebastian’s story is the way that Reiss crafts her characters – both when they knew each other in high school and then when they reconnect 10 years later. The characters’ defining characteristics seem to shift drastically when they cross paths after a decade – the once independent and strong-willed Rachel is no longer due to a series of heartbreaks and her inability to achieve her self-made goals, and the new Sebastian is someone who doesn’t need another person to stand up for him because he’s become a successful, sexy, alpha male all on his own.
The path to a happily ever after for these two characters was a bit nerve wracking, if I’m being honest, because it felt like, at times, Rachel was too narrow-minded when it came to their ‘fake’ relationship, and I’m sure a huge part of that was because of her fear and her cynicism, but Sebastian seriously wore his heart on his sleeve, and I wanted Rachel to see him…see all of him because he was all in back when they were just friends and now even more since they reconnected, and I needed to feel like Rachel understood everything she could and would have with Sebastian.
I enjoyed Only Ever You, and while I had some concerns with Rachel and her hesitancies toward going all in with Sebastian, I adored Sebastian’s transformation to hot nerd and how he helped Rachel to remember the girl she used to be so that she could get past all her heartache and reclaim her independence and feel love from a man who has only ever seen her.
4 Poison Apples
Heartfelt passionate story with a unique twist!
This boy next door second chance romance was a real feel good story of love, friendship and loyalty.
However, the author provides a unique perspective giving it some edge that for me was a real wow factor.
Their story is one of a kind as their story unfolded seamlessly. While their story had the feel good factor there was something else interconnected in the story that gave the characters more depth.
The chemistry and dialogue between Rachel and Sebastian was simply delicious.
Great read!
CD Reiss is a very versatile writer. I sometimes forget that she can do romantic fluffy as well as she does heart stopping angst.
Only Ever You is the romantic fluffy version of CD. Sebastian Barton is the grandpa cardigan wearing dweeb. But he isn’t the same bullied little dweeb he was in school. Now he’s hot, rich grandpa cardigan wearing but dweeb no more.
His childhood protector and bully slayer was Rachel Rendell. Grown up a Rachel has had it tough. Life didn’t quite go they way she planned it but the planets are aligned and her future is going to change.
This book is a hodgepodge of tropes. Childhood sweethearts, yes. Second chance romance, a little. Pretend fiancée/fiancé, yes. It was an enjoyable read with a few surprises along the way and some plot lines you might, if you’ve read the CD Reiss back catalogue, recognise.
4 Stars
Only Ever You is the all new contemporary romance novel by CD Reiss. It is a stand-alone book and it is completely different than all of the other authors previous work. Only Ever you was soooo good! I have been a Reiss fan for quite awhile and man, this story was so unexpected. It was charming, sweet, but also dealt with some serious topics.
When you’re sixteen and make a promise to marry pact with your best friend, you really don’t expect it to happen. Now, fourteen years later, Sebastian and Rachel are facing the very real possibility that it might.
Rachel is a writer who thought her life would be so much different at thirty. She thought her career would be booming and would’ve been married. But as we all know, sometimes life doesn’t always turn out the way we thought it would. When she comes face to face with her childhood friend Sebastian, sparks fly. But Rachel has been burned one too many times…
Sebastian has been in love with Rachel for years. Never having the confidence to act on it, he finally may have his chance…
I enjoyed reading this book so much! Seb and Rachel stole my heart! Reiss has undeniable talent and it was evident in Only Ever You. Everything flowed well and the plot had a few surprises thrown in. I highly recommend reading this book!
I was looking forward to this book. It sounded really good. And who doesn’t loved a good bestfriends to lovers read.
I loved the concept of the storyline. But for me I just couldn’t connect with the characters as a couple. I loved their relationship when they were younger. But as adults something just seemed like it was missing for me. I didn’t hate it. But it wasn’t may favorite by CD Reiss.
I received a advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is not the “normal” book I am used to reading from CD Reiss, but I enjoyed it all the same. This is a slow burn, friends to lovers romance between Rachel and Sebastian who I cared about. I was frustrated with both of them at times, but I was rooting for them from the beginning. It was a quick, fun, sweet, low-on-angst read. I am giving it 3 stars, because to me 3 is average and that is how I feel about the book. I am not sure I would recommend it (I have so many CD Reiss books that I would recommend), and I am not sure I am going to remember anything about it tomorrow.
I received a copy of this ebook from Social Butterfly PR through Netgalley for my honest review.
I just love a good friends to lovers romance that is full of heart and that is just what this is. I love the concept of this story too, keeping to that friends/lovers trope so well. Rachel and Sebastian are such good characters and their chemistry is undeniable. I love me a sexy nerd! I loved watching their friendship morph into so much more. There is a really good cast of supporting characters in this book which only adds to the story. I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you to the publisher/Netgalley for this ARC.
I enjoyed this book so much.
One big thing I liked was the fact that Rachel is a writer’s assistant on a romance show – sounds like each episode is a different story – but she doesn’t buy the whole instalove romance cliches. All her arguments with her job are ones I have with the genre too. Sebastian was amazing. And their families! There was just so much going on in this book but in a good way that I can’t even pick my favorite part.
Seriously, read this book. There isn’t anything I didn’t like about it.
Only Ever You was a sweet friends to lovers romance with so many swoon-worthy moments. CD Reiss gave us lovable characters in Rachel and Sebastian. This is a classic romance story that every romance enthusiast will enjoy.
Rachel and Sebastian were adorable from the start. Rachel was a tough, confident, and brave young woman when we meet her. She stands up for what is right. She meets Sebastian, who also happens to be her next-door neighbor, and he is being bullied at school. He is the new kid and doesn’t have many friends, but Rachel befriends him.
As their friendship grows stronger they are comfortable with each other and can talk about anything. They decide to create a marriage contract. If they weren’t married by thirty and weren’t in a committed relationship, then they would get married.
Well, thirty came quickly. They are both still single, but they haven’t seen each other for a while. One of their family members finds the contract and springs it on to them during Christmas. They made this deal when they were kids so they can’t possibly go through with it…right?
WRONG. They have different motivations as to why they say yes and agree to the marriage. It’s fun to see them be a fake couple while developing real feelings for each other. To be honest, the feelings have always been there but no one acted on them.
The big question is “is their engagement real”? You will get your answer at the end. Let me just say that the ending was satisfying and charming.
I give Only Ever You 4 stars. This is my first CD Reiss book that I have read and her writing style is very much of what I love to read about. This story was romantic while not being cheesy. Such a cute, relatable friends to lovers romance!
Only Ever You CD Reiss
Only Ever You is a standalone romance. Rachel and Sebastian were childhood best friends. They made a pact that if they weren’t married by 30 then they would marry each other.
Rachel had it all mapped out live in NY, go to NYU, spend time learning the ropes of film and TV, then grad school, get married by 28 and have a kid at 30. What happened? Life has a way of getting in your way. 14 years later. Both Sebastian and Rachel are 30 and single. Guess what happens next?
This is a second chance and friends to lovers story. Sebastian has his work cut out for him because she just thinks she is a little late with her goals and isn’t interested in a relationship. Friends and family are though.
Only Ever You had a good story line. I think I am sap. I loved the ending of Only Ever You!
“And we lived happily ever after.”
And I am adding in my,
The End.