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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Oh my stars! The raw emotions in this story gut you and hit you so freaking hard. I honestly devoured this book in hours. How do you recover from something so tragic that pulls you apart for so many years? How do you function again in a society that once broke you? Ramsey and Thea are destined for each other. You get that feeling right from their first meeting and to the day he walks out of that prison. He fights, she fights back. Their back and forth keep you totally engrossed into the story. It was more than just a romance. It is a story of keeping the faith in the one that touches your soul. Fighting for that love that you know that is there. Supporting the one that was there for you through so much.
Overall, this is one heart wrenching story that will give you all the feels. Ramsey, even with his protests, was absolutely perfect for Thea regardless of what is thrown at them. Thea is such a fighter. I love how she gives Ramsey a run for his money. This is one brilliant story that will stick with you. I highly recommend it!
This was my last read of 2019 and what an amazing book to bow out of 2019 too! Aly Martinez had me completely hooked from beginning to end, to the point that I didn’t want to put it down for that countdown to 2020 as I only had a few pages left!
The emotions that she poured into this one was so raw and really brought tears to my eyes in places and goosebumps to my arms. I went into this blind just excited as it was a new book from Aly Martinez and I was completely wowed.
Twelve years, eight months, three weeks, four days and thirty-seven minutes.
That was how long it had been since my heart too a single beat without a searing pain piercing through my chest.
When a prologue starts like that there was no way I could not be emotionally involved in this. It made me emotional from the very beginning. This book begins with Ramsey’s Release from prison, when Thea hopes their life’s can start again together.
Thea and Ramsey had been soulmates since Ramsey and his sister Nora moved in a few doors down when they were 11. The day they met seared a connection so intense nothing could really break it down. They had so much going on in their lives they were broken together giving each other strength to be whole.
I loved how this book goes from past to present. You get to feel everything, understand why they are at the point they are now. How it goes from childhood to teenage years, to what happened that resulted in Ramsey ended up behind bars for so long, why he is so angry and hell bent on pushing Thea away.
The whole book is so beautiful, the perfect blend of pain, love, friendship, loyalty, heartbreak, forgiveness and second chances.
This was another beautifully written story of friendship, family, love, heartache and healing. I love how the story unfolds – we get to see Thea & Ramsey’s friendship develop in childhood & grow into more. There’s a LOT going on, a lot of pain & healing that needs to be done, but it’s written so well… I didn’t want to put this story down & I finished it in a day!! : )
“He was my family. My best friend. The yin to my yang. The heart to my beat.”
Release is my first reading from this new to me author and my gawd! This book emotionally slayed me. SLAYED!!!
The story is told through dual POV with flashbacks from the past that give further depth to the drama that ensued. The story moved seamlessly, the main characters are relatable with their perfectly flawed personalities even the secondary ones.
What I love with this story is that it will take you through Thea and Ramsey’s journey: from their childhood friendship, young love until their untimely separation. I admire that their love is so real and unconditional that it was able to withstand the test of time, through all those years they were apart. Surely, that kind of love is one of a kind and not something you’d find anywhere. I was just sooo in love with this book. Through my reading, I shed quite a few tears because feels, man!
This is a must read for all who enjoys second chance, small town, friends to lovers romance. Loved it!
Ramsey and Thea meet at 10 years old on the day that Thea’s mother dies and Ramsey accidentally breaks Thea’s leg jumping out of a tree. From that point on, Ramsey is determined to make Thea his best friend and constant companion. What Thea doesn’t know is that for Ramsey, Thea is an escape from a home life that he desperately needs. As they grow together, going from friends to more, their lives become intertwined in a way that nothing can come between them, until one night something does.
Aly Martinez’s Release is a story of friendship, love, companionship and surviving the odds. Her Ramsey is the man that we all want our sons to be; stalwart, kind, strong. He is the type of man who runs into a burning building to save a stranger and will do anything and everything for those he loves and calls his own. Thea starts off as a young girl adrift. Her mother passes at a pivotal time in the girl’s life and her father disconnects from the world including his daughter. She has to fend for herself but this gives her an inner strength that is quiet yet determined.
Release will take you down the depths of raw emotions as Ramsey and Thea struggle to find balance in their lives that have been torn and shredded by others. I found myself alternately wanting to shout at Ramsey for his sacrifice and cry for Thea for her perseverance. Since it is an Aly Martinez book, there is a twist that you don’t see coming but when it happens it makes perfect sense and makes the characters take a great shape than they had before.
A great, feeling filled read that will get your attention from page one and will not allow you to close the books until you know everything there is to know.
I am recently new to the words of Aly Martinez and this story has just completely bumped her up to one of my top favorite authors.
This is only the 3rd book of hers I have read and each one of them has hooked me from the very first page. This book was no exception and I devoured it in one day.
Her words always bring out all these feelings in me that have me blushing and in tears all at once.
Thea and Ramsey are two broken souls who together make each other whole. They met at a very young age, they were brought together by horrible circumstances that no children should ever have to deal with. Things happen, and their story takes a sad turn. Ms. Martinez takes us on this emotional roller coaster where you as a reader will feel happiness, anger, and so much love. As always Ms. Martinez has us thinking things are going one way and she always throws in an unexpected twist which always manages to catch me off guard and I LOVE IT!!
This is absolutely a must read!! LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!!!
Reviewed on behalf of The Book Boyfriend Addict. A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
“I’m yours. I’ve always been yours. Even when you didn’t want me to be.”
Thea Hull and Ramsey Stewart were just kids when their paths first crossed. Thea was determined to hate him but Ramsey charm and persistence wore her down and they became best friends. As they grew this morphed into young love and as teenagers, they had their whole future planned out until the night Thea was attacked and Ramsey was convicted of killing her attacker and sent to prison. His only letter while he was gone told her to forget about him and move on, saying he didn’t love her anymore. But Thea never gave up on him and now, twelve years later, Ramsey is set to be released and Thea’s set on making sure they get the future they always dreamed of – even if Ramsey is determined to keep pushing her away.
For anyone who enjoys childhood friends to lovers or second chance romances, I think this book will be right up your alley. Aly Martinez knows how to deliver an emotional punch with her stories and this book certainly did that. I really enjoyed the premise, the set up was great and I thought it was executed nicely. We got to see a lot of the early days between Thea and Ramsey. I enjoyed this backstory even if sometimes the things they did/said didn’t exactly feel like something a 10-year old would do, in my mind it felt like they were older than that. But it really sets the stage for what’s to come for them. I definitely got their connection and was rooting for them. Thea was VERY persistent when Ramsey was released, almost to the point of being a little overbearing (especially considering he was literally just released from prison). But her heart was always in the right place. I felt bad for Ramsey, he seemed like a good guy who made some mistakes that cost him quite a lot. There was quite the twist that comes late in the story and I have to say that I was not expecting it! Overall, this was a great way to kick off my 2020 year of reading!
There’s no better feeling than the one you get when a book manages to hook you in with just a few words. For me, it was the blurb. It screamed angst and heartache and I was dying to know the entire story and not that I’ve read it, I’m happy to say that I love it.
This book is one of the best emotional rollercoasters I’ve gotten into. It made me wonder if my heart could take the agony I was going to be put through, but everything was worthy because there’s no detail written in those pages that I don’t love. This is a love story at its best. From being friends, to falling in love for the first time and having your heart ripped out for the first time as well. I was consumed by the love between the characters, I couldn’t get enough of how pure it was. I loved how the story portrays friendship, bravery, kindness and love.
Incredible, touching and addictive.
A Phenomenal Read!
I am at a loss for words. There is so much I want to say about Release, but I feel it wouldn’t even come close to expressing how AMAZING this story truly was. This book was EVERYTHING! The complexity of the storyline and it’s characters blew me away. Aly Martinez hit it out of the park with Ramsey and Thea. I have LOVED all of her books, but I believe this one is her BEST work yet. There was so much emotion in this story. Not the kind that makes you ugly cry, but the kind that sucks all the oxygen from your chest. My heart ached for both Ramsey and Thea. My stomach was in knots in anticipation of how it was all going to work out. Just when I thought all was going to be okay, a punch to the gut was delivered. Loss, heartbreak, young love, devastation… it completely consumed me, and I loved every single minute of it!
Release is definitely a MUST READ of 2019. I highly recommend!
Review by Lys
This book, this is why I’ll read ANYTHING Aly writes. Her books are freaking EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING people and if you read anything this year READ THIS BOOK!!! This read was angsty, suspenseful, consuming and an enthralling page turner that I tried to savor but the “need to know what happened side” won and I inhaled word after word of this INCREDIBLE story! This book will take you on one emotional journey with shocking twists and turns that will leave you breathless, speechles and absolutely STUNNED! This is a story that will definitely stay with me long after reading it and will absolutely without a doubt be on my Top Reads of 2020!
On probably in the minority and definitely on the fence on this review.
It’s a 3.5-4 stars for me.
Aly Martinez’s books are always great.
You know from the blurb it’s going to am emotionally driven book.
Having said that..I struggled connecting with Ramsay and Thea.
Ramsay just irked me. Thea pissed me off. No woman should stand for verbal abuse.
I respect the author. Appreciate the privilege of receiving an ARC.
I know many will love this one.
Sadly, it wasn’t my favorite.
What an emotional rollercoaster. This story is about coming of age and the trials and tribulations of growing up with one or no parents. It’s about friendship, love, and trust. The heartbreak is unnerving. If you read on, this review does contain spoilers.
Thea and Ramsey met on the worst day of both their lives, they both lost their mothers, one to death and the other just left never to return. Their father’s each have checked out of their lives, one with grief the other with alcohol.
They became best of friends at age ten and became lovers at age 16 until Ramsey was accused and pleaded to vehicular homicide against the boy who assaulted Thea. They spent twelve years apart, living only on memories and promises made during their shared childhood. Everything changes once Ramsey is release.
Thea was a broken girl when she first met Ramsey. She was angry at the world and determined not to let anyone in. But Ramsey wore her down with his persistence and his sweet nature. And it was pretty glorious for awhile there. First love and all that. But then the unthinkable happened, and Thea lost him. But she’s still fighting for him, and she will always be there for him, even though he’s still determined to push her away. Will Ramsey let Thea be the persistent one now? Or is he too damaged from what has happened?
My God, Release is heartbreaking! And angsty af! But it’s such a beautiful story of first love, tragedy, and soulmates. I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read by Aly, but Release is a notch above everything else. Thea and Ramsey worked so hard to overcome so many obstacles, each worrying about the other instead of themselves. Truly gut wrenching, but an infinitely satisfying, beautiful read.
Another great read to kick off 2020!
The writing was spot on smart and emotional.
Thea and Ramsey’s story was a captivating unique coming of age story brimming with passion and intrigue.
Their banter was hysterical and chemistry undeniable. This story was an emotional feast fest!
A must read!
From the time they met Ramsey took on the role as Thea’s protector, the person she could turn to when the world around her became too much… the one person she thought could always keep her safe. They were instant friends, and through the years that bond lead to a romantic relationship, one that was all- consuming. They meant everything to one another, they made future plans, and hoped to one day marry.
Then things took a very tragic turn, Thea was attacked and assaulted at the tender of of sixteen and left a broken shell of the once vibrant young lady she once was. Ramsey felt as though he let her down by not protecting her, so he decided to take things into his own hands and hunt down her attacker. Ultimately leading to the death of the man who broke his Thea, and Ramsey finding himself being sent to prison for murder.
Thea promised to stay vigilant and wait for him, but that was the last thing he wanted her to do. Now he is about to be set free and a union is to be expected… but will it be a joyful one?
Release is a heart-wrenching tale of young love, healing, heartbreak, and second chances. This one will break your heart, these two characters face so much pain in their young lives, the story they have to tell will completely consume you. They were once the one constant in one another’s lives, but being separated by prison bars for the last twelve years has put a wedge between them, and caused them to grow apart. Watching these two find their way back to one another was tough of the feels, it was evident that they belonged together, but it wasn’t a instant happy reunion, they had lots of things to sort out. I enjoyed this one, the words were dramatic, emotional, and highly engaging… once I got started I just couldn’t pry my eyes away. Highly recommend!
Love and hate a very similar and passionate emotion, both require a huge amount of fortitude and dedication. This is the reason why those that start off hating each other the. Cultivate that hate into friendship, have the most passionate of romances, case in point Ramsay and Thea. Two that met in sorrow, with sparks and end with happiness and fireworks.
The journey these to undergo is truly heart breaking, but oh so thrilling to read. I wanted to both yell at them and hug them both at the same time.
Aly Martinez draws out the deepest emotions from her readers, her characters capture you and take you on their journey making you a part of their story. In this story Thea and Ramsay fight hard for the life they thought they should have, a life interrupted a life completely different or their childhood plans. This book was simply everything.
Prologues always get me, and this one is no exception! After reading it, I knew I was going to get my heart broken right along with the characters, but it also did a really great job of stirring up the intrigue and leaving me needing to know what happened to lead up to this point.
As we go back in time, we get to know Thea and Ramsey as kids and the history of their friendship, albeit one sided in the beginning. Storybook childhoods they certainly did not have! Both broken, their inevitable bond put each other back together. Their love “was born out of death, broken hearts, and desperation.” Unfortunately, it also ended that way.
Hang onto your heart! Twelve plus years later, Ramsey is not the same person after being in prison, but Thea refuses to give up…even though it appears that Ramsey has. I wanted to give Ramsey a shake and make him smarten up! Time never seemed to be on their side…mistakes were been made, guilt was endured, lies surfaced, and hearts were broken. Could something good come from all that pain? Emotions so raw and so intense, I held my breath, I hoped for the best and loved how it ended!
have one huge problem.with this story……IT’S OVER I WANT MORE!!! I COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY LOVE THIS BOOK
I love how this one starts angst from the get go…….then I was laughing painting the picture of Thea banging on her window eating her chocolate pie Lol.
However, in the same chapter your heart breaks for her and her dad.
Ramsey oh good.lord that boy!!!! He is the perfect book friend at the age of 12!!!!!
I loved how all characters were important to the story, Nora, Joe were not just side characters in passing.
This story is addicting, it’s inspiring, it’s heart wrenching, heart warming, it’s the perfect book. Seriously Aly really has blown me away with this love story. Not only a love of a guy and a girl, its love a father and a daughter, brother and a sister and the love of best friends.
This story evolves and changes so many times, there is never a dull moment. Aly keeps us on our toes and flipping those pages. I can’t tell how many times.es I gasped and covered mouth amd said no way!!!! My husband thought I was crazy!!
Holy hell is all I can say about certain parts of this story
What a great story to end the year with!!!One of thest of 2019 that I have read. I truly mean this ….. this is my favourite Aly book EVER!!!
This is a second chance, angsty, and heartbreakingly beautiful book that is all about timing and healing what’s broken.
I loved Ramsey and Thea’s story but I still disliked the fact he ended up in jail for being her protector. Circumstances suck. This book stuck with me for days after reading it! This was a hard one to read but so worth it!
Release is a masterpiece!!
It’s very hard to put this book into words. It’s really like nothing I have read before. Thea and Ramsey were childhood friends. They were there for each other when no one else was. Then tragedy happens and they are apart for 12 years. Thea thinks they are magically going to start where they left off, but that is not the case. There are twists in this story that you won’t see coming. Thea and Ramsey have always loved each other but can they get over the past. I sobbed while reading parts of this book since the emotions are so strong. Pick up this book and read it, you won’t be disappointed with this one.