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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3.5 stars. Only Ever You was a “like it”, but not a “love it” for me. I have read many of Ms. Reiss’s books and have come to expect them to be angsty, sexy and sometimes dark. I found this book to be very different. Only Ever You is Rachel and Sebastian’s story. The two were platonic best friends growing up. Sebastian was a nerd who was often bullied, while Rachel was his protector who stood up for him. The two made a pact/contract then that if they were not married by 30 that they would marry each other. Now, they are both 30 and haven’t seen each other since high school, even though their parents still live on the street they grew up on. They run into each other again when both are home for a holiday and they laugh over their old contract. But when their parents find out about it, they are overjoyed and think they are really engaged. When Rachel’s mother appears to have had a cancer relapse, Rachel is heartbroken and will do anything to make her mother happy. So she convinces Sebastian to help hide the truth from her mother, planning a fake wedding with him. As they get to know each other again, they begin to fall for each other and the lines between real and fake get blurred.
I enjoyed this book in general, but it read more like women’s fiction to me, than a true romance. It reminded me of Christina Lauren’s recent women’s fiction books. I am not a huge women’s fiction fan and I prefer a higher heat level, but this is not a bad book. The story is a little meandering and slow. There isn’t much chemistry for the first half of the book, in fact the book is pretty slow burn and low heat in general. Still, it is sweet and sentimental. I liked Sebastian and Rachel. Sebastian is no longer a wimpy nerd. He is a hot tech genius who owns his own company. Rachel had big plans to be a tv writer, but finds herself fighting for her low level job. When they meet again as adults, they feel an attraction, but both are reluctant to act on it for awhile for various reasons. I found them both to be wishy washy at times, especially Rachel. Still, I liked the way Rachel and Sebastian’s story ended up. The ending made their journey worth it.
Overall, I enjoyed Only Ever You, even if it was totally different than what I expected. Rachel and Sebastian were really sweet together once they were both all in. The ending was cute too. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a slow burn, friends to lovers story.
This book wasn’t for me. I almost didn’t finish it, but I’m a trooper and dedicated until the end. What if it turned around and I missed it, wasn’t going to happen. So I stuck it out, and…I didn’t miss anything. Sebastian and Rachel lacked connection together, and therefore I didn’t connect with them. Especially Rachel, she was not my cup of tea. Sebastian had so much potential to be the geek turned tech-millionaire with a heart of gold, but I felt like he was constantly chasing Rachel who wasn’t reciprocating his feelings.
The story line had great premise, childhood friends with a pact to marry each other if they weren’t already in committed relationships by the time they are 30. There was A LOT of added side stories that made the main plot line murky. I felt there were too many additional problems to solve that didn’t allow for a full focus on Sebastian and Rachel finding their way back to each other. In the end, I was relieved and happy for the destined HEA, but it was a long road to get there.
3.5 stars. I liked the concept of the story. Childhood romance /fake engagement. Cute read. I have to say I’m glad I listened to the audio.
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Sweet, Funny, Light, Heartfelt, Endearing…….those are words came to mind when I finished Only Ever You. It put me in a happy place because it was such a feel good read. A second chance romance starting with best friends from high school who lived across a street from one another who signed a quirky contract to get married if neither were married by the age of 30. Fast forward to age 30 and you can guess, no one is married.
Sebastian, the former dweeb, who use to have Rachel sticking up for him has turned into a sexy, well built, confident man who is now very successful. Rachel, the former sassy, confident beautiful girl has turned into still beautiful but an insecure and doubtful woman who has become a screenwriter. And when these two reconnect with one another, their friendship blossoms once again. But because they are friends and made a contact, should they get married? Well their parents think so and so the wedding plans begin. But Rachel and Sebastian decide that they will play along because Rachel’s mom needs some happiness Rachel thinks. So pretending it is until pretending turns into something else.
I will say that this story was sweet. It has low angst level, humor, and tender moments. Grown up Rachel was bothersome at times but haven’t we all had those times. Sebastian was an inspiring hero. Nerds do grow up and surprise us. Both sets of families were perfectly endearing to the story and were really the driving force in getting Sebastian and Rachel to discover their feelings for one another.
Not every book you reads needs to be deep and angsty. A feel good book is one that makes you smile and feel it. And while I’m an epilogue junkie, this epilogue perfectly surpassed all my expectations. It elevated my feelings for this book to 5 stars.
A great summer read to Put you in your happy place!!
CD Reiss tends to make you forget that she can go lighter. With all of the tortured darkness of her latest books (I’m looking at you, Pretty Scars), her ability to make you feel warm and swoony.
As one character observes, this book has just about all the tropes: friends-to-lovers, second chance, fake fiancé, parent with illness, dweeb-to-hottie. It’s pretty impressive that Reiss juggles all of these in a cohesive way, something she succeeds at because despite all of the angles going on, she maintains her focus on Sebastian and Rachel.
You will love Sebastian. Determined to earn his true love, he does not give up. Yes, there are times when you want to push him to pursue a little harder, to be a little less sweet. But, gosh, is lovable. So much so that there are more times when you want to grab Rachel by the shoulders and shout at her to stop being so defeatist.
The dynamic between Sebastian and Rachel will pull you into their story, and the supporting cast is both hilarious and heartbreaking. These are people you want to know in real life.
Let me know what you think of this one. It utterly captivated me.
Only Ever You by C.D. Reiss a five-star read that will make you see stars. This was such a great read, I haven’t read anything by her before, but have just added a bunch of novels to my tbr pile as I enjoyed this one so much. This was a full story, it just kept getting better and better. I loved how Rachel and Sebastian grow with the story, it gave me such heart watching Sebastian go from Dweeb to Dude…..(said with a bit of drool down my chin). The romance was real and believable, it had a great down to earth ness about it. I must say being a Capricorn my heart did break a teeny tiny bit.
ONLY EVER YOU by CD Reiss is the story of Sebastian and Rachel.
Rachel’s family moved across from Sebastian who was a nerd but Rachel always tried to protect him. So they became friends even making a pack that when they get older they would marry if they original plans didn’t go as planned. Now in the present day Sebastian is doing good but Rachel is having personal issues and he comes forward with the marriage pack.
Loved their story!!
What a great read! This is different from anything I’ve read by this author and honestly it’s my new favorite book of hers. Sebastian stole my heart from the beginning, we all have known a Sebastian growing up and for him to finally get his HEA, I love that!
Rachel is a tough cookie who kinda loses some of her spunk along the way until an old friend helps her find herself again. This is a great sweet story that captured my heart and is holding on tight. I loved it!
What a great read! This is different from anything I’ve read by this author and honestly it’s my new favorite book of hers. Sebastian stole my heart from the beginning, we all have known a Sebastian growing up and for him to finally get his HEA, I love that!
Rachel is a tough cookie who kinda loses some of her spunk along the way until an old friend helps her find herself again. This is a great sweet story that captured my heart and is holding on tight. I loved it!
Review by Michelle
I really this enjoyed this light romance from C.D. Reiss for whom I know typically does darker stories of love. This one was fun. It encompasses several tropes of the genre and does so in a uniquely engaging way through the toggling back and forth between the cynicism of the heroine and the effervescence of the hero. Only Ever You is part friends-to-lovers, part time hop, part fake marriage, part teenage marriage pact, part meddling families. There are several themes throughout the book that touch on the heavy making it more real and poignant but the lightness of this story makes it enjoyable, fast paced, and charming.
Sebastian Barton and Rachel Rendell were quick friends when the Rendells moved in across the street as teenagers. Rachel protected the sensitive, unassuming Sebastian and was his only friend. He held a torch for her throughout their friendship unbeknownst to Rachel. The two lost touch after college and plans that were made, as they often do, went awry and their lives were completely different then how they envisioned them going. Fast forward to years later and their thrust back into each others path remembering the aforementioned marriage pact and how it could benefit their lives now.
C.D. Reiss utilizes her signature style of writing in Only Ever You. Her flow of story telling grabs your attention from the onset and keeps you in tune to her characters throughout. She encompasses feeling vulnerable, emotional, light-hearted, cynical, and overwhelmed so well with her writing. This is a great, easy, romantic read with a great story of friendship and growth with a killer epilogue too.
A sweet, lovely romance that only comes around once in a lifetime, no matter how many others you try to find it with. A slow burn that will leave you desperate for more. He has loved her since they were kids and she was his protector, and finally the time has come for the pact they made when they were teenagers to be met. She thinks it’s all a ruse, a deception to make some one happy, but the sweet nerdy boy she use to know has turned into a man, tall and muscular and definitely successful, but there is something more there. Will she embrace him and what he is offering or will she let her happily ever after pass her by? When you live your life by a plan somethings are going to pass you by, if you let them.
As a long time fan of author C.D. Reiss, I jumped at the chance to read her latest novel, Only Ever You. The premise of the book grabbed me! How cute is a childhood marriage pact!?! I started reading thinking that Only Ever You was a romantic comedy, but found it was more serious than it was funny.
Rachel was a driven teenager with big plans, and she was confident she would not need a back-up plan for her professional or personal aspirations. However, one left turn lead to another–as it usually does, and while the message is clear to the reader, it takes a lot of existential angst on Rachel’s part for her to see that she can’t force the path that she is meant to take. The more she does, the less true-to-herself she becomes.
Re-enter Sebastian, the nerdy neighbor who Rachel befriended and championed throughout their childhood. Sebastian is now gorgeous and successful. This character is charming, sincere and down-to-earth. In adulthood, their roles have essentially reversed.
It was easy to be charmed by Sebastian, and it was hard for me to like Rachel. Rachel came off more self-indulgent and whiney than empathetic. I wanted to like her more than I found that I could. That said, I did enjoy the chemistry and banter between the two main characters. Additionally, their parent’s create some humorous situations that I loved.
Only Ever You has a great premise and plot points, I just didn’t care for the focus on the details of Rachel’s profession and personal career. I had hoped for a fun, breezy read with a swoony romance. Only Ever You is more women’s literature than romantic comedy, but it definitely provides a swoon-worth romance between two friends who find that they are truly in love.
Rachel and Sebastian are proof that good things come to those who wait. Love was never on the agenda for these BFFs. He was the nerd she told all her secrets to. She was his protector. The dream girl that seemed to be far beyond his reach. Then life got in the way and dreams fell by the wayside, until fate step in. A long ago promise and a rekindled friendship has two broken hearts rethinking their previous point of view. Only Ever You is real life. Not always pretty, far from a fantasy, but precious all the same. Reiss creates a new kind of fairytale. It’s called reality.
This book is quite different from other books written by this author in that it is tame with very little angst and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I enjoyed it but it took me some time to get into the plot — at times it appeared to be a bit disjointed, but then once I got into it, it was enjoyable even though it wasn’t one of my favorites. This is a nice, easy read with very little drama or steam from an author who usually provides tons of both! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.
I have read numerous CD Reiss novels beginning with the Drazen family to her more recent Edge series but none have impacted me like “Only Ever You” has. I loved this story so much and am borderline obsessed with Sebastian. He was so charming, honest and steadfastly in love with Rachel. It has always been her for him and it was so touching watching their love story play out. I loved this story so much and never wanted it to end!
Reiss remarkably pens a lovestory between two childhood bestfriends and neighbors who make a wedding pact at sixteen years old to wed if they are single at thirty. But when the once strong, sassy and protective Rachel sees the sexy, successful and handsome Sebastian, she wonders if she is good enough for the catch that Sebastian has become.
I felt this was not only a love story between Sebastian and Rachel but a powerful story of a woman, now lost and trying to find her place in the world, reconciling who she is now against the formiddable young girl she once was. Rachel was strong and sassy but her self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy coupled with her burgeoning feelings for Sebastian created a quagmire of epic proportions. I loved how human and relatable she was and how Sebastian made it a mission to uncover the strong and self-assured woman he knew she was deep inside.
All in all, I was captivated with every word the author wrote as we watched Rachel come into her own with the help of the man that remained a constant in her life. He was her true sanctuary and with him by her side, she would always find her way home. Gahh! I loved every single think about this breathtakingly emotional story! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
This was my first from CD Reiss. I quite enjoyed it.
Only Ever You, was an easy read low angst, sweet story about friendship and love. I loved the characters, CD Reiss didn’t add unnecessary drama that wasn’t beneficial to the storyline. Sebastian and Rachel were childhood friends, she always had his back when he was picked on or stood up for him.
They made a pact that if they weren’t married by 30 they would marry each other. Fast forward 30 years would Rachel have the same feelings as Sebastian.
This was a perfect beach or by the pool read or anyday at that matter.
Can’t wait to try out some more of her work.
This wasn’t bad but I just couldn’t really get into Rachel and Sebastian. They were childhood best friends that made a contract that if they were single and unattached by 30 they’ll marry each other. They weren’t serious about it but their family were when they found out about the contract. It was an ok friends to lovers I wasn’t really feeling Rachel; something was just missing. Sebastian wasn’t too bad but he’s always had a crush on Rachel so it wasn’t hard for him to love her.
A pact was made and sealed with their spit. They would marry at the age of thirty to each other if they were both single.
Now that age is upon them. He is single, she is single. They never had time to love each other as youngsters, could it be their time to shine now?
Could the contract they made as teenagers be a prophecy they needed to fulfill for happiness, or something to chuckle over and move on… ?
Oh how my heart soared and I completely swooned as I read this. What a truly romantic read!
Okay so the stars didnt align perfectly, things weren’t all rosy and golden. Drama aplenty surrounds the idea of them.
Time is never as important as opening your heart to love and this book emphasises that.
I lost myself completely in the story of them and what could be.
Rachel the she warrior of yesteryear, with plans a plenty, and a heart of righteousness.
The moment I met her she fell into my heart. Her actions that of beauty and guts.
Sebastian the boy who grew into his body like a foal into a true stallion.
Gone are the weak limbs, the inability to defend himself properly, and now before you stands a god walking amongst men!
The characters are perfect! both for each other and the story. They are so easy to connect with.
CD Reiss is a must read author to me no matter what sub genre shes writing under within romance.
Her books will steal your heart and leave you in the biggest book funk ever, as shes one of the greats!
What is this phenomenon known as Reiss?…she changes genres and tropes like a chameleon and THIS book….just made me go-Awwwwwww….. teary-eyed smiles and all!! I guess the joke is on me
Unexpectedly heartfelt and soul stirring,this book is epitome of serendipitous love
In a nutshell-
“it’s about a guy who comes back home after getting successful and dealing with the girl he left who never went anywhere—”
Rachel Rendell and Sebastian Barton had a childhood pact, they’d get married if they both were single and didn’t have a partner on the horizon by 30.
She’s been his warrior Super girl and he’s NEVER forgotten that
I swear this book should be optioned for a movie…I think Bollywood has its inspirational mentor vibe pretty strong
I’ve read hundreds of books about alpha males who take charge of the Romance and sex and girl’s a hesitant, nervous, lip biting virgin….
CD UPENDS ALL THAT!
It was so refreshing to see the guy having insecurities and be the first to admit it…
I could kiss Seb JUST FOR THAT. Nothing more adorable than a guy who’s vulnerable to heartbreak.
And the lines…Omg the words CD pens, she wrote on my heart
“The fact that I love you now doesn’t change the fact that I’m not worth it. I’m nowhere. You’re loyal and smart. Successful and confident. You’re complete in a way I’m not. I miss you already. When you’re around, I have someone to look at and say, “This is who I want to be like.” And to see you look at me with affection and love? It makes me feel complete too.”
Swooooooooooooooonthump
I’ve laughed at their mom’s, I’ve cried at their almost love, I’ve been in awe of the truth and honesty in their passions
I’m floored and in trance…loved, loved, loved the sweet love story
4 stars for Heroes in Grandpa Cradigans with wooden toggles
Only Ever You was so damned sweet I couldn’t put it down. It had everything I could have asked for in a love story.
Best friends
Fake fiancé
Self-discovery
Adorable and supportive families
Sebastian was swoon-worthy in so many ways. The “dweeb” from across the street who was bullied all through out school turned rich, successful and sexy.
Rachel was the girl that could have been the most popular girl in school. But she wasn’t about that life. She was kind and driven and stood up for those that couldn’t stand up for themselves. She became Sebastian’s superhero and best friend.
This book is one you want to plan ahead for. Don’t be like me at start late in the evening then have to force yourself to bed. Had I known how badly I didn’t want to put it down, I would have started sooner so I could read it in one sitting. I was addicted to and moved by the characters and their story. It was beautiful and funny and sweet and just…everything.
CD Reiss has always been a go to author for me. She can write the sexiest, hottest romances out there and what Only Ever You showed me is that she can deliver the same in a sweetly disguised package. This was sexy and hot on a different level – an innocent way but no less effective. I am absolutely in love with everything about this story.