INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER The bestselling author of The Simple Wild and Keep Her Safe and “master of steamy romance” (Kirkus Reviews) delivers a sizzling novel about an ambitious and high-powered executive who reconnects with her first love: the boy who broke her heart. Life is a mixed bag for Piper Calloway. On the one hand, she’s a twenty-nine-year-old VP at her dad’s multibillion-dollar real … she’s a twenty-nine-year-old VP at her dad’s multibillion-dollar real estate development firm, and living the high single life with her two best friends in a swanky downtown penthouse. On the other hand, she’s considered a pair of sexy legs in a male-dominated world and constantly has to prove her worth. Plus she’s stuck seeing her narcissistic ex-fiancé–a fellow VP–on the other side of her glass office wall every day.
Things get exponentially more complicated for Piper when she runs into Kyle Miller–the handsome new security guard at Calloway Group, and coincidentally the first love of her life.
The guy she hasn’t seen or heard from since they were summer camp counselors together. The guy from the wrong side of the tracks. The guy who apparently doesn’t even remember her name.
Piper may be a high-powered businesswoman now, but she soon realizes that her schoolgirl crush is still alive and strong, and crippling her concentration. What’s more, despite Kyle’s distant attitude, she’s convinced their reunion isn’t at all coincidental, and that his feelings for her still run deep. And she’s determined to make him admit to them, no matter the consequences.
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“I snap, because I’m feeling like a fool right now. A sixteen-year-old pining fool. A fool still in love. But, I have to accept that all I’m in love with is a memory.”
Say You Still Love Me is a sweet, second chance romance. It’s a story of firsts and one unforgettable summer.
Say You Still Love Me follows the story of Piper and Kyle. When we first meet up with Piper, we see that she’s made quite a name for herself. She’s prepping to take over her father’s company and shares an amazing apartment with her two best friends. The downside, she’s working in a man’s world and has to try extra hard to prove that she’s got what it takes to get the job done. Piper’s life is filled with challenges, and little does she know that her world is about to get turned upside down one more time. A blast from her past just so happens to be the newest security guard of her office building. The boy who had all of her firsts and disappeared without another word. Now, she has to see him every single day. She’s got a lot of unanswered questions, but can’t get Kyle off of her mind. She’s determined to make him own up to his actions, but only time will tell if she can handle what Kyle has got to tell her….
Say You Still Love Me was a quick and enjoyable read for me. I loved getting swept up in Kyle and Piper’s story. I really enjoyed getting to see their past and seeing how Piper met her current roommates. Who would have known that one summer would not only break her heart, but provide her with long lasting friendships?
I really enjoyed the grown up version of Piper. While she still wanted to prove herself to her father and make him proud, she was much more mature and direct. She didn’t hold back on what she was thinking and wasn’t going to let anyone take advantage of her. And then we have Kyle. I absolutely adored him. He was the boy from the wrong side of town, who had a heart of gold. Even as an adult, his past still haunted him, but that didn’t stop him from trying to be what Piper deserved. Sure, he made some bad decisions, but when I finally got all the answers, I had a better understanding of why Kyle acted the way he did. He wasn’t perfect, and I think that made me love him even more.
As I previously stated, I really enjoyed getting to know Piper and Kyle. Not just as adults, but also as young adults. I loved seeing them fall for one another and then be reunited once again. The second time around, their story had more of a slow burn to it. Yes, they knew each other. Yes, the chemistry was still there. But, both of them were afraid to jump in with both feet and it really felt good watching them try to figure their feelings out.
Overall, I found this book to be a really enjoyable read. It entertained me and had me devouring all the words. I loved the bad bad/wrong side of the tracks vibe. Piper and Kyle couldn’t have been more opposite, but somehow they just worked. The road to happily ever after for these two had quite a few bumps in the road, but I loved every single second of it. In the end, this story left me with a smile on my face and totally satisfied with the story of Piper & Kyle….
Oh my gosh! This book… I don’t even know where to start with my thoughts on this one. Tucker tops herself over and over again!
This book is such a unique story. Kismet is definitely a theme in this one. A high school summer fling that ended badly rekindles itself years later. Along with reuniting, the characters in this book are in for a few twists to what really happened all those years ago.
I devoured this book. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book. It consumed me. There isn’t anything I didn’t enjoy about this story.
The bad boy at camp and the rich good girl fall for each other. What can possibly go wrong? And then they meet again in the read world as adults. But life gets in the way. Truths and lies threaten to keep them apart.
I loved the characters. I loved the plot. Everything just clicked in this book. I can’t see how anyone wouldn’t enjoy this one!
I never can get enough of K.A. Tucker and her well-thought out and captivating stories. Say You Still Love Me is proof of just that with the way she weaves together a coming of age story with one of second chances. I fell hard and fast for both Piper Calloway and Kyle Miller and the love they shared not once but twice and the rough road they traveled to find that slice of heaven once more.
Told in both past and present, we get the current Piper and her strong-willed persona as the next in line to take over the vast Calloway empire. A woman who could have any man and almost had one who would have made her life miserable, all the while never forgetting the boy who stole her heart at 17. The way Tucker seamlessly combines both the simple world where Piper met Kyle 13 years prior and the one where they find themselves eye to eye today is brilliant. I will admit that I had a knot in my stomach for a good part of this story wondering right along with Piper just why they lost contact so long ago and what exactly happened to Kyle and his good friend Eric. Just when things were heating up during their summer at Camp Wawa, we’d go back to the present with Piper trying her hardest to decipher just how and why Kyle was back in her life. All while she was dealing with a less than stellar Calloway employee and keeping her father satisfied that he made the right decision promoting her to 2nd in command. And yet through all the back and forth, I simply couldn’t get enough!
But the 17 year old in Piper, the one who never forgot her first love, shines through time and again and with the help of both Christa and Ashley, she manages to satisfy that young girl again and finds the strength to keep Kyle in her life permanently. But not without a ton of resistance and a world of hurt that never left Piper’s side all these years later. And despite all that hurt, I could still feel the magic between her and Kyle. The life-long kind of affection that neither ever forgot. There is amazing chemistry between them and Tucker made sure it shone through no matter what.
I loved that Piper was very much like her father, as her mother pointed out, and that her parents’s issues and love affair were similar to what Piper was going through. It was a very sweet kind of touch that the Author threaded through this book. In addition, the surprise that was the grown-up Eric added a very bittersweet element that was heartfelt and truly lovely. His sense of humor remained intact from that wild camp counselor young man that everyone adored all those years ago and his reintroduction into the group that included Christa, Piper, Kyle and his ‘Freckles’ (Ashley) brought me to tears just as it did for all of them.
Say You Still Love Me is the kind of second chance romance I absolutely LOVE and K.A. Tucker knocked it out of the park once again. These characters are all kinds of wonderful and my only complaint is that I wish I could read about them forever. They are endearing, flawed and full of life. Both the past and present showed that Piper and Kyle belong together no matter their stations in life and that they are worth the fight to find a way to make their love permanent. Young love is true love for these two and I couldn’t be happier I got to experience their crazy journey even with all the pain they suffered while apart.
For a story that will truly warm your heart and soul, grab Say You Still Love Me. It is a huge 5+ star read for me, absolutely loving every single word.
I’m a huge fan of second chance romances, and Kyle and Piper worked on getting theirs. I loved a lot of things about this story, but I found the beginning to be a bit slow, and the ending to be a bit ‘easy’.
The characters were relatable, and I wanted them to work things out, especially as the flashes from the past became more present and I understood the reason why they hadn’t been together for such a long time.
The mood of the novel was nostalgic in some ways, because meeting at a camp as counselors brought these characters together, and some of them stayed friends for a long time afterwards. Of course, counselors aren’t always responsible, and so, something happened. Something that made the group disperse, in more ways than one.
Well written, with a beautiful, but sometimes hard story, Tucker brought summers of the past to my memories, while also showing that we don’t always know the full story.
Say You Still Love Me is a love story about two people from different sides of the tracks. The two fall in love at summer camp at age 17 and are then separated for 13 years. The author builds out the background on the separation by alternating chapters between past and present. Although I am not a fan of this particular writing construct, I found that the author was able to use if effectively to build suspense without the usual frustration of switching between time periods. The authors best writing comes through in the chapters detailing the main characters’ adventures at summer camp. Tucker’s writing here hit enough nerves of familiarity that I’m sure she will have most readers fondly revisiting their late teens.
Although character development is somewhat weak, the two main characters are likable enough in both time periods that I was rooting for them to get back together throughout. This hope holds the book together despite what felt to me like an endless parade of implausible circumstances used to create both the cause as well as the resolution of the couple’s separation. Despite this, I admit the book writing was good enough that I stuck with it to the end. It is an easy read with enough “feel good” moments to keep romance fans engaged.
2.5 stars
I love second chance romance when it deserved or earned. I love first love being that one kind of forever love. I love seeing the underdog get that elusive chance to have that something more. There are lots of things that I could have loved about this story, there were some things that took all that away.
I found the use of past and present snippets of the relationship between Kyle and Piper to be helpful and at the same time gave me the reasons behind why the story’s impact was what it was. Piper of the past was carefree, stand-up, living life. Piper now was in no way deserving of the man that was so in love with her years ago. She was spoiled, pampered, over indulgent, a bit self-absorbed, and more. The Piper of today just did not seem to be the one from camp years earlier. She was different and it was not in a good way.
Klye had me both in the past and the present. He was wrong for a past choice, but he became more of the man that he could have always been with the life he had lead.
There were strong characters. Growth in the characters. Some good. Some not so good. The writing was well-done. The way the past and present melded together painted a very vivid picture. If nothing else the story will engage you and take you on an experience.
Say You Still Love Me is a sweet, funny and hopelessly romantic story that will hook you from start to finish. There are moments in this story that made me laugh and many more that made me swoon.
Piper loved that boy she met all those years at summer camp. For her, Kyle was it. He was the rebel but the boy with a heart of gold. Unfortunately, life happened and it didn’t work. Never in a million years did she think he would show back up in her life, at her own company. Now he acts like she never exited and she’s hurt. However, little does she know that those unbridled feelings she is suppressing, Kyle is right there with her. Now they have to figure out if they want to be together and if they can make it work.
First of all, there are some seriously funny moments that just made me chuckle. This could and will be read out of context but even when I looked back and my highlighted quotes, this one made me laugh yet again.
“I always wanted an assistant that I carry around in my pocket”
Second of all, this book gave me exactly what I needed. I laughed. I hurt. I felt. All three major emotions that I need and the main factors in while I devoured this story in one sitting. If you want something sweet, sassy and a tiny bit angsty (don’t be scared, it’s not like that) then you need to read this ASAP. I’ve been traveling for work for the past several months will little to no time to read but picking up Say You Still Love Me was the best decision I could have made with the minimal spare time I had in that moment. It was worth it.
Summer camp has the ability to create a lifetime of memories for most individuals. For Kyle and Piper – those memories from their teenage years hold a lifetime of ups and downs. Years ago, the two teens found themselves meeting for the first time. Both were from very different ways of life, but it didn’t stop the duo from falling into love with one another. They were determined to have a life beyond their time at camp, but things turn a turn that neither would have predicted. Kyle disappeared after that last summer together, and was never heard from again. Well – until he showed up as an employee at the same company Piper worked for.
Say You Still Love Me by KA Tucker is one of those books that you find very hard to ‘rate’. The majority of the book is spent bouncing back and forth between the present and the past. Sometime that type of writing works, and other times it distracts from the overall appeal of the plot. The flashbacks in this case take us on a journey to rediscover just how strong the bond was between Kyle and Piper during those days at camp. It lays the groundwork for discovering that this was more than just a summer crush.
What left me in a twist was trying to decide if the book felt like more of a Young Adult novel or a Romance. Both elements were present in this book, and both were essential to setting up the grounds for the two to meet again. In fact – the YA elements actually overshadowed the plot that I would think should be devoted to gaining ground for the characters of ‘today’. See what I mean?
Did I mention the secondary characters? Ooopsss – can’t forget those!! I loved the added depth the secondary characters added to this story. Those friends from camp really made you feel like you were back with the crew in that summer of love and uncertainty!! Overall – the book left me pleased with the outcome at the end; something that had me teetering on uncertainty throughout much of the book. Say You Still Love Me is definitely a sweet second chance at finding love through the turmoil that can haunt your life.
Say You Still Love Me is the perfect summer read. Nostalgic for summer camps gone by and first love gone wrong, Say You Still Love Me is a romantic home away from home.
Closure on the most painful relationship you’ve ever had…yes.
Answers to all the questions that sprouted in your heart as a result of no closure…yes.
Second chance romances with the “bad boy” who broke your heart…yes please.
Say You Still Love Me is Full of intense emotions. Sadness, longing, lust, and wonder are just the tip of the iceberg. Friendship, comradery, and love will consume the empty hollow places giving you the perfect amount of happily ever after.
Btw, I still think streaking with Eric would be fun!
“You’ll make friends for life here. People you can call up twenty years from now, for anything, and they’ll be there for you. I promise you, you won’t forget these days, ever.”
I loved this tender, second-chance romance!
With ‘Say You Still Love Me’ KA Tucker brought back all of the memories I had of going to camp when I was young. Although I had a slightly different experience, I still crushed hard on a few boys.
Sixteen-year-old Piper Calloway grew up in a wealthy home and has had everything given to her that she could ever want. Except for this summer. Rather than going to Europe with her friends, her mother insists Piper work as a camp counselor at the same camp she worked at when she was young. She wants Piper to experience camp without luxuries, and experience the ‘normal’ side of life and ‘normal’ people. She’s trying to teach her a life lesson; to be appreciative for all that her family has while staying grounded. What her mother and father didn’t count on was that Piper would fall in love with a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Kyle Miller is the popular ‘bad boy’. He’s the one all the girls want but are afraid to go after. Except for Piper. When she sees Kyle, suddenly, the idea of a ‘normal’ camp doesn’t seem too bad. They hit it off immediately. Kyle and Piper enjoy all the experiences camp has to offer during the day while falling in love with each other at night. Their camp experience doesn’t end on a good note, however. The two leave in wake of a tragedy and with promises to not only stay in touch but to see each other as often as they can.
That was then.
Now, Piper is 29-years-old and in line to take over her father’s business. She’s highly successful and wealthy in her own right. She’s a woman with power and one who the men who have worked for her father for years, aren’t too keen on. They don’t want a young, inexperienced, entitled female to become their boss, it reeks of nepotism, right? Surely a young female can’t handle running a company! To say navigating the “good ole old boys club” is difficult, is an understatement. When Piper is positive things can’t get any more maddening, she discovers the boy she once loved is now a man working security at her building.
She hasn’t seen or heard from Kyle since the two left camp. Even though she’s not sure she wants the answers, questions begin swirling in her head, “Why is he here?”, “Where has he been?”, “Why didn’t Kyle answer or return any of her calls?”.
I loved the intensity of their relationship, both past, and present. Tucker captured the feelings of teenage love, perfectly!
I was provided a review copy by the Atria; this did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.
* A review copy was provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *
Say You Still Love Me is exactly why I LOVE K.A. Tucker books. This story swept me up in the all encompassing love story between Kyle and Piper.
This is a story about first love and an all encompassing love. I loved how K.A. wrote this story. It is told in alternating time frames. We get a story in the past from when Piper and Kyle first met and then we also get them as adults in the here and now.
I think this story is perfect for all romance readers who love a second chance romance but also love to read about first love. Now even though I am talking about a first love, this book is an adult story and probably shouldn’t be read by someone under the age of 17. There are adults themes and situations.
Say You Still Love Me is K.A. Tucker’s latest standalone novel. It is told solely from Piper’s POV. I loved the flow and pace of this story. I thought the pace that Piper and Kyle’s relationship worked perfectly for them, both in the past and the present. I loved their story. I haven’t been this swept up into a story in a while.
As I said this story is about Kyle and Piper. They meet at summer camp, as counselors. Kyle has been a counselor for a couple of years and this is Piper’s first year. Her mom felt she should go to Camp Wawa for the experience. Kyle and Piper were from different sides of the tracks and have completely different upbringings. But the attraction was instant…almost like love at first sight. When something tragic happens at the end of the summer, Kyle and Piper are sent home and separated. Fast forward 13 years and color Piper surprised to see Kyle at her place of work. Can these two past lovers find their HEA?? What happens when Piper’s job and family try to interfere…can they make it work?? Read this sweet and sexy story to find out.
I loved all the secondary characters in this story. I almost wish we could see a story about a couple of them and see them get their HEA also.
I will say that I wish we would’ve gotten more out of the epilogue. I felt we were missing something. It felt kind of abrupt. I just wish when I was finished reading I would’ve gotten that feeling that their story was complete. I know this sounds weird and maybe it’s just me, but you’ll understand when you read it.
I would 100% recommend this book to all romance readers. If you are a fan of adult second chance romances, mature young adult first love stories, or just a story that will sweep you off your feet, this is the one to read. You won’t want to miss this book!! It’s a definite MUST READ!!!
I initially struggle in general with past/present alternating chapters each with a continuous storyline. They have to be done right in which I have to be invested in both time periods in order to enjoy the story. I think this book is a huge slow burn, and I kind of struggled with getting to the end, which I started to skim some. I also wasn’t connecting with Piper and Kyle as a couple from both time periods. Some parts of this book were sad, but overall I think the reader needs to be in the right mood to read this book.
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.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for honest feedback.
Second-chance romance meets camp-counselor young love in this newest book from K.A. Tucker. Switching between present day and the past, Say You Still Love Me tells the story of Piper Calloway, the daughter of one the of the country’s biggest real estate developers, and Kyle Miller, a young man born into a family of criminals. I enjoyed reading Say You Still Love Me, there is a lot going on between the flashbacks and a couple of little side stories, but as a romance the book never grabbed me.
While I loved Piper’s perspective as a younger woman in the business world and how she dealt with adversity there, she never seemed to mature emotionally between the flashback chapters and the present. Kyle also seemed to standstill and I wasn’t able to get a feel for him as an adult. The lack of character development stole the intensity of the second chance romance and left me feeling ambivalent about it.
There are a couple of side stories that saved the book for me, including Piper’s ex-fiancé David. He’s my favorite character in the book as we see him grow up just a bit between the beginning of the book and the end. He’s shows some nice strength of character that I really appreciated and I’d love to know more about him! There’s also a mystery surrounding Kyle’s best friend, some shady corporate dealings that Piper tackles, and a twist or two that readers have come to expect from Tucker.