From USA Today Bestselling Author Aly Martinez comes an emotional new standalone.Growing up, Ramsey Stewart branded my soul in ways time could never heal.At twelve, he asked me to be his girlfriend. At thirteen, he gave me my first kiss. By sixteen, we’d fallen in love, planned a future together, and had our eyes set on the horizon. Love never fails, right? But for Ramsey, it did. Love failed … fails, right?
But for Ramsey, it did.
Love failed him.
I failed him.
The entire world failed him.
At seventeen, Ramsey was convicted of killing the boy who assaulted me.
Move on, he wrote in his first and only letter from prison.
Start a new life, he urged.
I don’t love you anymore, he lied.
There was no such thing as giving up on Ramsey. Love may have been our curse, but he was mine—then, now, and forever.
So here I am, twelve long years later, waiting for a man I don’t even know to emerge from between the chain link gates.
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When I first read the description for this book I knew I needed an ARC copy. What a premise! The love of her life goes to prison and she doesn’t hear from him for TWELVE YEARS, until she’s waiting out in front for the gates to open! I was all in on page one, and I didn’t see the twist coming.
REVIEW: 4 STARS
“Sometimes you have to let go of the life you planned in order to live the one you’re given.”
So, yeah. Aly Martinez had me all up in my feelings again with this one. WAY up. But the two most prevalent ones had me laughing at one point and smiling from ear to ear the next – hilarious anecdotes and deep discussions of the past providing a serious emotional barricade. But that certainly doesn’t negate the fact that a twist thrown in there didn’t just make me gasp like, “no biggie!”
The rivalry between Ramsey and Thea was easily my favorite part. It added an underlying level of comfort to their friendship. But her anger towards him cracked me up! Typical 10 year olds. Totally. I feel like their innocence and growth from young kids to teenagers was such an organic and natural progression and she really nailed their mannerisms and actions. Ramsey was aggravatingly cute…..his smile in all the wrong times and places were matched by Thea’s grumpy self. I loved his smile. I felt like it was addicting too. Again, aggravatingly so. His sarcasm made me smile.
Throughout the entire book, understanding was in the eye of the beholder. Perception was in the all knowing mind of a child. Turnabout was fair play. Given all the happenings in the book that we were privy to, and some that we weren’t, it allowed for the emotions to consistently affect me mentally and emotionally. I wanted to MOM these kids, but I wanted to read as they came through on their own volition and made the world theirs. I loved their journey.
The love between Ramsey and Thea was the epitome of being someone’s weakness; their kryptonite. A battle of wills was definitely one for the making with this story. The underlying pain and sense of duty alone was intense and kept me flipping the pages. I needed to know what was going on…..and whyyyy?? I was mentally cataloging all the ways I thought it could go and I was pretty sure I was paying attention to all the clues….and she got me. She really got me. Crazy thing is, I’ve seen this before but I had NO clue it was coming. I love when a book outcome takes me by surprise.
My reading experience with this one was a lot like watching a man plays video games and his whole body is moving left and right with the controller in his hand, swearing that’s helping him do better in the game. I was like, “No there’s not enough room in his book to hash the rest of this out – oh my gosh – what am I gonna do – holy cow – someone help her -someone help him – someone help ME!!”
I want to point out that Aly Martinez has an excellent way of wrapping up a book and giving me a look at her characters’ lives after their story is complete, and this epilogue was no different. I loved how she finished up their story. The crux of the story, however, was an emotionally charged rush of information as I kept turning the pages with anticipation mounting. This is one of those books that while I read it, my breath had a slight hitch in it, but by the time I was done I could breathe a sigh of relief and I could close the book with a smile. this was a feel-good book with plenty of angst for my angst loving heart. This wasn’t as heavy as some of her previous other books, but the emotions were on point and the detail was exceptional.
Dammit Aly!!! That twist upset me! But I’ll be ok…..soon.
“The sparrows don’t come because you need them, Ramsey. They come because they need you.”
~BEE
SO, SO GOOD!
Aly Martinez delivers another second-chance love story overloaded of emotional heartbreak!
Thea and Ramsey love story is what true love is about. A love so big that never ends!
“Sometimes you have to let go of the life you planned in order to live the one you’re given”.
They meet when they were just kids, both shaken from tragedies in their families. After growing a friendship over the years that soon turned into a love that would survive years of pain, both see their future taken away after a terrible night.
They were so brave, taking everything life gave them and dealing with it head first, until the time came when they would reunite at last and what could be a beautiful start over, brought more pain into their lives.
This tragic story is the perfect read to start the new year, with a hot chocolate and a nice blanket.
Holy heartstrings Aly Martinez has stuck again!
From the first page of Release I was hooked on Thea. Her sadness. Her time clock. Her anger. Her fragile heart. And how Ramsey wore her down with his smiles and nagging. Even when he was dealing with his own pain.
I loved their friendship. Sweet. Pure. Unconditional. How it evolved as they got older. Became deeper. More. A different kind of love. Young love. Full of fumbling hands and hopes and dreams. And how one horrible moment in time shattered all of it.
My heart. Goodness me my heart just kept breaking as this went on. I could feel the pain. The longing. How Ramsey was torn. How Thea couldn’t let go. How much they both thought they were doing the right thing. I was waiting for that huge bubble of tension to burst and when it did, everything changed again.
Release is Aly Martinez at her finest. Heartbreaking. Passionate. Full of unexpected twists and laced with bits of humor. Thea and Ramsey’s soul crushing second-chance romance kept me glued to my kindle. I was hanging on every word because I needed them to be ok. And, I admit it, I was nervous it wasn’t going to happen. BUT! That ending…whew- my lungs finally expanded. It was everything these two deserved and so much more.
Aly is definitely the queen of writing emotional, angst filled stories, and Release is definitely that to a tee. Ramsey and Thea were childhood best friends who eventually turned into more. But their happily ever after gets torn away from them and the future they thought they had together is no more. Is there a way to ever get that back? How, when Ramsey doesn’t even want to see Thea when he gets out of prison.
I loved the way Aly laid this story out. The way she interjected chapters from the past here and there throughout the story was perfect. I was totally on board with this couple, I loved them from the time they were little kids, dealing with the suckiness that life has dealt them.
My heart truly went out to Ramsey. He was just the epitome of selflessness. This guy didn’t deserve all the bad that had happened to him in his life, but he persevered nonetheless and continued to want what was best for those he loved. Too bad he didn’t really know what that was.
Thea was such a strong woman, suffering through so much from such a young age. She definitely had to grow up way before she should have had to. And she never gave up on Ramsey, even when the world seemed against them. She truly lived her life even though she was in a state of suspension, waiting for Ramsey.
There are feels galore in this story! It wasn’t as earth shaking as Aly usually writes, but it was quite the rollercoaster of emotion. I admit I was not 100% sold on Ramsey’s line of thinking, that whole “thing” left me a bit frustrated, but ultimately this story happened exactly as it was supposed to and I closed the book with a very happy heart.
Be prepared to experience every type of emotion, as is classic Aly!
Aly Martinez has done it again with the amazement of this book!
I loved everything about this book. The storyline, the characters, the plot, I mean I can go on and on but I’m just going to say that this book was flawless, it was well written and the characters were downright unbelievably lovable.
I honestly am not a big fan of slow burn but this book, my god, this book completely hooked me from beginning to end and even though it took it’s time to finally get to the juicy parts (hint, hint), I didn’t even realize it because I was so consumed by what was going on with Ramsey and Thea.
My heart broke for Ramsey and Thea and I was hurting for what they both went through. I mean, it was a tough 12 years to endure and the twists and turns just had me with my mouth agape.
It was an unbelievable story. Aly Martinez has totally won my heart with Release.
Release by Aly Martinez is my favorite book from this author but I say that with each of her books. I love this author and everything she writes is amazing. Ramsey and Thea’s story will take you on a wild roller coaster ride of emotion. The heartbreak they go through but the love they have is something we all wish for. I loved this book and highly recommend it.
There isn’t a story that Aly Martinez can write that I won’t read. She knows how to yank my interest and keep it there. Release is no different. Thea Hull and Ramsey Stewart seeped into my thoughts and never let go.
Time plays an important role in the story. Time was something they couldn’t stop or take back. That clock kept right on going. It marks events both big and small and they have many. Starting from childhood into adulthood those events made me laugh and cry.
I loved the way they teased and I loved the way they loved as children, teenagers and adults. Ramsey’s heart was huge. He was stubborn too. I even understood his motives for that stubbornness, but I wanted him to stop because he was breaking Thea’s heart and mine. Thea was fierce. Life had dealt them both a bunch of rotten apples, but her tenacity and steadfastness never wavered. I admired them both.
Life was not easy for them and their suffering was my suffering. Those emotions were tough. I didn’t always like them and I’ll readily admit angst is not my favorite. But feeling all those emotions is what gets us to the other side and Aly Martinez is a pro. With a bone-deep, soul-searing love that can’t be denied and a story that runs the gamut of emotions, Release is another exceptional romance in Aly Martinez’s arsenal.
Aly Martinez absolutely wrecked me with her heartbreakingly beautiful coming-of-age, second-chance love story, RELEASE. Rooted in this couple’s history, Thea and Ramsey’s story was moving, poignant and, at times, painful. But as devastating as Ramsey and Thea’s history was, there was a lot of beauty intermingled within that pain.
Martinez starts this story at the very beginning, where the adolescent versions of Thea and Ramsey meet for the first time amid personal tragedies in their young lives. She takes readers into their teen years as their friendship morphs into first love. Everything changes for them on a night where a sweet, tender moment turned into a nightmare with far-reaching and long-lasting consequences. Two already broken, damaged teens who have nothing but each other are ripped apart, and there begins Thea and Ramsey’s heart-wrenching journey back to each other.
Full of twists, turns, trauma and tumultuous emotion, RELEASE was an incredible story of love and forgiveness. Martinez’s brilliant and captivating portrayal of young love reignited amid a painful past captured my attention from the first page and held it the whole way through. Gripping and genuine, I couldn’t turn the pages of this unputdownable love story fast enough. My heart ached for this couple and all they went through, but it’s these kinds of bittersweet stories that make second-chance reunions so rewarding. Five smooches from me for RELEASE by Aly Martinez!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
I have cried. I have laughed. I have swooned.
This book was amazing! It was real and authentic, making me truly FEEL what the characters were struggling with. I love the dual perspectives. I felt like I was right there with them, like a creepy stalker. There were times I wanted to scream at both of them to STOPPPP being so stubborn! And that’s the true sign of an amazing Author.
Steamy second chance romance- Ramsey Stewart spent years in jail and he is out Thea has been waiting for him. Incredible story
I loved it! Ramsey and Thea are soulmates tragically torn apart as teenagers in this wonderful friends to lovers/second chance romance. It’s an emotional, rollercoaster ride with all the feels, and some surprising twists and turns. Another great read by Aly Martinez!
I feel like this book was a little rushed at times but overall it was an ok read.
That book had me on an emotional roller coaster. There were so many emotional loops and upside down right side up big drops and oh my goodness when the secret came out I spent so much time talking to my kindle. That’s when the roller coaster turned into Disney’s Tower of Terror because I was shocked and so darn mad at everybody. I enjoyed the story. Until next time y’all happy reading.
Reading……….. this……….book ……… felt……… like……. trudging……….. through……. mud…….
Good characters, good plot, good story, but it took a long time for the characters to make any progress. I was frustrated reading it.
Still, someone might really like it – the concept is great.
I’ve ready many of Aly Martinez books. I read the blurb. But when I got to the crucial point in RELEASE, my heart sank and I inwardly said, “here we go”. I knew my heart would be ripped out. But there was no way I could put it down. I had to see it thru. Amazing characters with several gut wrenching turns. Fabulous story telling! Now I’ll jump right in to reading, RECLAIM!
Loved these characters and the story will break your heart and make you want more.
Being a massive Aly Martinez fan I grabbed this on KU as soon as it was released with plans to jump straight into it. But then I remember Aly does this cute thing where she rips my heart open, kicks it around for a little bit then puts it back laughing so I thought I would hold off until I was emotionally capable of handling it. But you know 2020. So here I am forever later finally reading it because Reclaim releases next week and has spoilers for this and I HAVE to read Reclaim because I signed up for an advanced copy before I realised what it was.
Luckily for me I’m a spoilt princess and hubby sent me away for a few nights so I pulled up my big girl panties, opened the bottle of sparkling and grabbed the tissues. I do have to confess that I read a few reviews while I was gaining the lady balls to read this and I got nervous. But after having read it I’m thinking the reviews I read were from people with a lot different reading tastes to mine because Aly rocked it.
Before reading this book I wondered about Thea. Why would you sit around waiting for a man that told you to move on. And after getting to know her and Ramsey I get it. Ramsey was golden to the very depth of his soul. And he loved Thea so much that no matter the time or space between them she knew it and felt it and I loved that about their dynamic.
The history between these two was heartbreaking and beautiful. They never got the chance to grow up together and have all those firsts that they deserved but instead got this horrible injustice to deal with and they both dealt with it in different ways but both trying to do the best for each other. Thea’s strength through out the whole story was shining through so strong that I actually got mad at Ramsey right along with her for his actions. Then I would see things through his point of view and understand, still want to smack him in the head, but understand.
This whole story had me holding my breath wondering how these two tortured souls could come out of the flames together. But they did and they did it stronger than ever. And now I am so glad I get to dive straight into Reclaim and relive some of it from Nora’s perspective and get my heart shattered by all she will go through to get to her HEA.
I couldn’t help it i had to read another Aly Martinez book as soon as i finished one of her duets
I had heard great things about release so i a m glad i waited and chose this time to go into the book and i was not disappointed at all, this book was fantastic, it gave me all the feels it was emotional and angsty and had twists i didn’t see coming.
Ramsey was in jail and we start the book from where he his realised and that was one hell of a way to start a story and i as much as i was hating on Ramsey at the start i did really love his character and as we learn the relationship between Ramsey and Thea you can see why these two are so special.
I loved Thea as well and what she goes through to how she comes out at the end was amazing and you can’t forget Nora she was special as well.
I loved everything about this book and i may have expected the twist but i was shocked at what it was and i loved how this really took the book to another level.
Loved loved loved this story and if you haven’t read it it’s a must and if you are yet to pick up an Aly Martinez book PICK ONE UP so far from what i have read they are fantastic
Sometimes it’s hard to put into words the way a book moves you. Other times the feelings just flow. Release made me a mess of feelings. Silent tears running down my face at 2 AM while I fought the urge to let the crying be heard (my sleeping husband would not have appreciated my emotional release at that time in the AM).
This book left me confused which emotions to feel first, which to allow to fester, and which should be allowed to duke it out for the first place title. The overwhelming answer in the end was joy but getting there [blows out a long hard exhale] it is hard to list them all. Fear. Anger. Love, so much love. Happiness. Rage.
The story of Ramsey and Thea is intense. The meet cute is unlike any other and 100% perfect for this dynamic duo. With bruised hearts bigger than their bodies, these two children (and layer as adults) capture the spirit of evrything wonderful while their lives are less than ideal.
Everyone needs a Sparrow and/or a Ramsey in their world.