Romantic Times WINNER for Best New Adult Book of the Year“I wanted to tell him all my secrets, but he became one of them instead.”Chloe Rivers never thought she would keep secrets from her best friend, Gavin Rhodes. Then again, she never imagined she would fall in love with him either. When she finally reveals her feelings, rejection shatters her, rendering her vulnerable and sending her straight … vulnerable and sending her straight into the destructive arms of the wrong guy.
The Rhodes twins never saw the betrayal coming. Chloe has always been their forbidden fantasy–sweet, beautiful, and tempting. But soon the lines between family, friendship, and love become as tangled as the roots of the treehouse they once shared.
Now it’s too late . . .
Four years after a devastating tragedy, Chloe and Gavin find themselves crashing back into each other’s lives. Haunted by the past, they’re forced to come to terms with all that has transpired to find the peace they deserve. Except they can’t seem to get near each other without combatting an intense emotional connection that brings them right back to where it all started . . . their childhood treehouse.
Chloe still holds her secrets close, but this time she isn’t the only one with something to hide. Can their deep-rooted connection survive the destruction of innocence?
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Love, loss, hate… This book has it all. Perfect. So glad I found this author and her books. However, my husband hates that she keeps me up all night.
Friends to lovers? Not what I usually reach for. Slow burn romances? Never given them much of a chance because I like for steam to be rising from the pages of my paperback. But overall, doesn’t seem much like my thing. This is my first by the author, KK Allen. Admittedly, I have 3 other books by her on my shelf because they all sounded so good. But I really didn’t know what I would be getting when I went into this book. I was not expecting the slow burn of it all. That took me by surprise.. but by 20 pages in, I was so hooked. I also didn’t expect this to be such an emotional tale but my heart was hurting for these characters. I thought the pacing of the book was phenomenal. Perfect actually. I’ve been struggling to read so far in 2019 and I was 50 then over 100 pages into this book before I finally put it down to sleep. Then I watched 2 playoff football games and still managed to devour the rest of the book the next day. These characters were so well done. I don’t want to say anything about the plot because I think it’s best to go into this book blind. I actually wish I had been more blind than I was. Which has me torn about wanting to read the synopsis’s again for her other books or just dive right in. But one thing I do know is this is an author that I will be reading a lot more of in this future. If you’re looking for a romance that is deeper than most then definitely give this book a chance. I am so glad that I finally gave in and picked this up!
Up in the Treehouse is angst and heartache, forgiveness and second chances. I loved every addicting moment of Chloe and Gavin’s story. Best friends who want more, but fear losing their friendship too much to give into desire. This is my first KK Allen book and I absolutely loved it and am ready for more.
I’m going to be kind and give this book 3 stars because I did love about 85% of the book. Which is majority of the book but in order for me to give 4 stars I have to be happy by the end of the book and in order to give 5 stars I have to have loved every page.
I was not happy by the time I finished due to the author throwing one last plot twist or curve ball at around 86%. Leaving me wondering WHY? Why da fuck!!!
We had been in a rollercoaster with these characters already. We’ve been up, down, and I was in love with their love. I was soo rooting for them. From the beginning of the book I was intrigued and kept turning pages. This is my 3rd book by this author and I loved and enjoyed the other 2.
This one sounded so good – Twin brothers. Best friends to Lovers. Possible love triangle. SIGN ME UP!!!
******Warning. Spoilers Up Ahead******
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If you don’t want this story spoiled. Stop reading. Pass GO and collect $200. LOL
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I wonder if there’s anyone else that agrees with me on this point. The reason that killed this book for me. The unnecessary added plot twist/drama simply for the sake of “MORE” drama.
Why did we have to have this whole dramatic telenovela scene…
Gavin: Chloe, I have a daughter.
•••••WHOA. Wait what?•••••
The baby momma is your high school bully.
•••••Wait what?•••••
Chloe tries to leave. She can’t believe he kept this secret, a daughter from her (Me the READER: I know girl. I feel you. Haha.. Up until only 10% left of the book. SMH!)
Gavin:… But wait. Don’t leave. She’s not my biological daughter.
•••••Wait what?•••••
….. I’m getting dizzy by this point
Why did Gavin have to have a daughter? That isn’t his daughter. But technically is his daughter because he adopted her….
Um, Hello!!! That’s his niece. Family. Irregardless. No adoption needed to be family. He can always be there for his brother’s child. Be the BEST uncle that ever lived.
Why couldn’t Gavin tell Chloe how involved he is in his niece’s life and will always be without the needed shock of I HAVE A DAUGHTER….
We drag, explore, discuss this daughter issue for about 5% because having a child (biological or not) and deciding to take up the role of step-mom is really not that big of a deal. *face palm*
Chloe Rivers never thought she would keep secrets from her best friend, Gavin Rhodes. She never imagined she would fall in love with him either. When she finally reveals her feelings, rejection shatters her, rendering her vulnerable and sending her straight into the destructive arms of the wrong guy. The Rhodes twins never saw the betrayal coming. Chloe has always been their forbidden fantasy – sweet, beautiful, and tempting. Soon the lines between family, friendship, and love become as tangled as he roots of the treehouse they once shared. Four years after a devastating tragedy, Chloe and Gavin find themselves crashing back into each other’s lives. Haunted by the past, they have to come to terms with all that transpired to find the peace they deserve. They cannot seem to get near each other without combatting an intense emotional connection that brings them right back to the start, their childhood treehouse. Chloe still holds her secrets close, but this time she is not the only one with something to hide. We will see if their deep-rooted connection can survive the destruction of innocence. – I enjoyed the story of Chloe, Gavin, and Devon. Their friendship and love was intense. I also liked the “fight bulling” aspect of this book. Bulling is a problem not addressed enough. I recommend this book, but I got frustrated with Chloe and Gavin for keeping an important factor from each other too long.
Up in the Treehouse by K.K. Allen has been on my TBR, but I’ve finally gotten to it!
Book 1 in the Belle Curve series is extra angsty and packed with enough push and pull to keep you guessing! I had no idea where this story would end up, and the journey made for a great read!
I binged this book in nearly one sitting! If you’re looking for a new adult romance, with childhood friends, friends-to-lovers, second chance, and plenty of emotion, read Up in the Treehouse by K.K. Allen!
So good…..
I’m a huge fan of K. K. Allen books because she can keep me tied in every story she creates.
I can say she put her soul and heart in every page. I love when an author have such a great talent with words and stories.
“Up in a treehouse” is an extraordinary new adult romance. I fell in love for the main characters instantly. I drowned in every chapter she gave to this book. I was so obsessed to know how they would find each other without hurting themselves.
Gavin is a pure human being, talented with his art and definitely sexy like hell. Unlike Devon that was made of devil. I never thought a human could have two faces. What a devil soul he had.
Chloe is so sensitive, innocent and so strong. I know what is suffering from bullying at school. Kids are mean. But she never give up on her dreams and Gavin was always there to make sure she continue dreaming.
This was one of my favorite couples by K.K. Allen. I can’t wait to read “Under the Bleachers”
If you are a fan of new adult romance you will love the first book of “BelleCurve” series.
5 “Each Branch Carries A Story” Stars
Up in the Treehouse has been on my TBR list for years and seriously, what is wrong with me? I can’t believe it took me this long to finally dive into this splendid story (I listened to the audiobook). K.K. Allen’s novels always merge the right balance of emotion and sexiness, and this one delivers on these facets. This friends to lovers / second chance romance got to me deeply! I was captured by the heartbreak and romance shining through the pages of this work!
Chloe and Gavin navigating around their feelings for each others for years and all the drama that happens in their lives had me utterly compelled. Their relationship is so beautiful, but also tragic with all these undisclosed feelings. The fear to lose their friendship over a failed romance, but also loyalty kept them from verbalizing these potent sentiments. Their chemistry is so real and palpable that I was just waiting for them to finally let their hearts speak their truth!
I enjoyed the back and forth between past and present that slowly unveils elements of their past friendship and how strong their bond blossomed through the years. It also helps understand each of their decisions and feel the ache over some of them. It shows them growing and learning through their mistakes and achievements.
Up in the Treehouse left me overcome by all the feels. The narration was well done and made the immersion into Gavin and Chloe’s journey even more captivating. I truly enjoy this experience and I’m now curious about Monica and Zachary’s story, so I’ll start Under the Bleachers really soon!
This is my first book by K.K. Allen, and I was hooked so fast! Her writing and words are amazing and they made me feel every emotion the characters were going through. I literally had anxiety the entire time I read this book, though it was worth it.
Up in the Treehouse is a friends-to-lovers, second chance/missed opportunity romance about love, loss, secrets, sadness, betrayal and forgiveness, and I could not put it down. Gavin and Chloe have a rare connection that brings them back to each other after 4 years apart. They were breaking my heart with their constant push and pull which was caused by the memories and events from their past, and the secrets they held onto. Before the big secret was revealed, I thought I knew where it was going, and in a way I did, but then it totally took a direction I wasn’t expecting. Edge of my seat book for sure!
As a fellow Washingtonian, I thought it was awesome that this book (and series) took place here. It was easy to picture certain things talked about throughout since I’ve been there. Which was awesome; I’ve never read a book that took place here before.
This is straight up contemporary romance, which is what I have been reading the most of for a few years. Highly recommended!
I first read K. K. Allen when I discovered her Gravity series. I immediately fell in love, and have been a huge fan ever since. She is always on my radar for new books, and when I heard that she had a new series, BelleCurve, I couldn’t wait to experience it! The books are standalone, but have recurring characters. and I suggest reading them in order.
The first book, which I will be talking about today, is Up in the Treehouse. If you have ever dreamed of having a treehouse escape, you will definitely want one after reading this amazing story!
This books flips back and forth from the characters from ages 12-18 to their current age of 22. The book is also written from the POV of the main characters, but is done very well, and doesn’t cause confusion or take away from the story. It is not done gratuitously, but in a way naturally moves the story forward. Currently, the book is available for free to subscribers in both Kindle Unlimited and Audible Escape! I LOVE being able to switch back and forth from print to audio when I am working around the house, driving, or just relaxing! I do most of my reading on my Kindle or phone, but have come to appreciate audiobooks a lot more in the past couple of years.
We start with Chloe, a lonely only child, and her new neighbors the summer she is 12. Twin brothers Devon and Gavin move in and begin building a treehouse with their dad, in the woods between their house and Chloe’s. The boys are no strangers to loneliness and sadness, as their mother died a few years ago, and they have moved to a new town, knowing no one but their dad and stepmom.
When school starts up, after a summer of Chloe watching the boys work on and use their treehouse, a bully immediately creates a conflict that sets off a string of events that will follow the students through the rest of their lives. We quickly see Gavin rush in to help save Chloe, and Devon side with the bully. This dynamic plays out frequently, however, it doesn’t stop Chloe and the boys from becoming inseparable, spending the next 6 years together, mostly up in the treehouse.
As expected, feelings develop between these three characters, and tough choices have to be made. The three all choose to not pursue any romantic feelings until towards the end of their senior year, when Devon and Chloe begin dating. Devon has years of trauma that he has pushed down, however, and this is not an easy relationship. The three have had a plan to go on to college together, but events the night of their high school graduation party change that path forever.
I am going to stop with the story right there – I want YOU to read it without spoilers from me. I do want to talk about the story though, which will bring you all sots of feelings. Throughout this book, we live through the characters as they go through joy, longing, grief, abandonment, depression, physical abuse, sexual assault, and on to rebuilding lives with love, creativity, professional success, friendship, past betrayal, and forgiveness.
This as a fantastic read, and checked off all my boxes for a contemporary romance read. Very quotable, diverse characters who you want to root for, and a story that just is so good. This is a slow to medium burn HEA. Go get it today!!
I am a huge fan of KK Allen, I love the way she writes. So it was no surprise that this book sucked me in right away. I felt like I was dropped right into Gavin and Chloe’s world and would lose myself within the pages so easily. I loved how the story weaved both past and present, to see the innocence of youth and the reality of adulthood was quite emotional. Although this book was much more angsty than I anticipated I enjoyed the push and pull between them and loved that things weren’t so easy to forgive and forget. I am going to miss Gavin and Chloe, I feel like I became friends with them while reading their story and now they’ve moved on without me lol
This book has been on my TBR forever and I’ve owned the book almost as long. So I figured it was time to finally dive in and read the book this New Adult book.
This is a story of a childhood friendship that was a bit more complicated than we were originally led to believe. The story of Chloe and Gavin goes back to when they were 12 years old. But the story also includes Devon, Gavin’s twin brother. These 3 become thick as thieves growing up as neighbors and sharing a treehouse between their properties. That treehouse holds many memories for them all. Good and bad. Chloe has a tough time at school when a friend becomes a bully, but those brothers are her safe place and they quickly form a close knit friendship. What happens when their dynamics change?
The story includes their past as well as the present, which is after college graduation when Chloe returns to her childhood home with a local job and the boy is still “next door”. Then we start a friends to lovers, second chance romance between Gavin and Chloe.
This story is told in dual POV with more Chloe than Gavin, but I’m glad we got to hear from both sides. To hear what was going through both of their heads during the same time is an eye opener (and I like the way KK Allen had us experience both sides during particular situations). Their journey to an HEA is a little long and kind of a slow burn, but the attraction between Gavin and Chloe is evident. They have to work together on an event through Chloe’s place of employment and they still live next door to one another. It just was hard for both characters to get over their pasts and things that drastically changed their futures. Those things became a little bothersome sometimes, but for the most part, I enjoyed the characters. Maybe Gavin more so than Chloe, but these two obviously had a story to tell and a journey to experience. The main characters as well as the side characters were an integral part to the story and I was here for it.
A story of the past and present and the friendships they surround themselves with, this is an emotional ride, with some twists that you may or may not see coming. I think I figured out some things and that’s the only reason I was a little frustrated with the characters and how they handled situations, but overall, I enjoyed the story, the plot, the characters. I can’t wait to see what comes next for some side characters.
“The best kind of love is one that stems from friendship. One that grows as it’s nurtured with patience and kindness, blossoming at just the right time. All it has to do is withstand the forces of nature that threaten to drown it, pluck it, blow it, and burn it until it withers back into its soil. As if it never existed at all.”
I am a huge fan of KK Allen, I love the way she writes. So it was no surprise that this book sucked me in right away. I felt like I was dropped right into Gavin and Chloe’s world and would lose myself within the pages so easily. I loved how the story weaved both past and present, to see the innocence of youth and the reality of adulthood was quite emotional. Although this book was much more angsty than I anticipated I enjoyed the push and pull between them and loved that things weren’t so easy to forgive and forget. I am going to miss Gavin and Chloe, I feel like I became friends with them while reading their story and now they’ve moved on without me lol
5 AMAZING stars!!
I stayed up past 2 in the morning because I just had to finish this book. Chloe and Gavin’s story is a page turner and I couldn’t put it down.
This book has it all, from tragedy to love. It’s written beautifully with the perfect amount of angst.
I’ve added it to my list of top favorite books of all time. Seriously, it’s one of the best I’ve ever read.
I don’t know why I waited so long to read this book, so don’t be like me and put it off. Go. Read it now!
I absolutely adored this book and I could not put it down. It has everything – friendship, love, heartbreak, a certain amount of angst, a couple of twists you didn’t see coming and characters you can’t help but fall in love with. I love Devon and Gavin for loving and caring for Chloe the way they did. A beautiful and emotional story. You are going to love it!
Not sure why I waited so long to read this book but omg it was absolutely brilliant! I was swept up in the storyline, the characters and the worlds that Allen has created.The absolute angst and raw emotions that are throughout this book is absolutely stunning. Things are not what you expect, happen. The concept and the flow of the story takes turns that leave you speechless. I enjoyed every word of this book as they wrapped me up in the world that Allen has created.
Chloe and Gavin grew up as neighbors and friends. Chloe fell in love with Gavin and when he rejects her she ends up in the wrong guy’s arms. Gavin was crushed as he really was in love with Chloe but feels betrayed by the way things turned out. Now years later the two run into each other and secrets are laid bare. Will the two be able to come to terms with all the lies and have a relationship? A good read that will pull you into the story and not let go.
I’ve been in a reading slump due to some personal issues going on in my life. I’ve been struggling with finding something to hold my attention. Let me tell you, Up in the Treehouse by K.K. Allen broke my slump. I’ve been attached to this book for the last 48 hours. I’ve been immersed with this world and I’ve been in love.
I am absolutely in love with Gavin and Chloe’s story. The amount of connection and raw feeling written is awe inspiring. I love the whole concept of the story and the delivery was spot on. The slow burn and angst between these two characters is uncharted. The amount of angst is palpable. The slow burn is real. The sexual tension between these two characters could burn the pages. The slow burn and back and forth of these characters is amazing. This whole book is worth the wait – the writing is fantastic and is hard to put down. I just needed to know what happened between these two. Their ordeal is hard to overcome but it’s so amazing to read their journey. The little nuggets of wisdom that K.K. Allen sprinkles throughout are swoon-worthy and memorable. Her words are amazing!
I’m in love with this book and this writing style. I’m completely enthralled with this writing style. I’ll be looking for K.K. Allen’s backlist.
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This is one of my favorite second-chance stories. I love that you see Gavin and Chloe through the years as they grow from children into adults. Even through the shared trauma and years apart, their connection never wavered. I love that the story is told with flashbacks and memories scattered throughout. KK does a great job of making you feel exactly what the characters are feeling.
She’s the girl that they protect, they are the boys who own her heart.
One shared sacred place is where they forge a true friendship.
Years pass by and feelings grow, can the trio keep the balance or will one step in the wrong direction destroy everything…
Oooohhh, what a read! I’m still in the process of stitching my heart back together as I write this!
From the moment they all met I was hooked, I knew this was something special and I wasn’t wrong!
Competitive and fierce, artistic and devoted the twins are everything you could want. They are opposites in so many ways, yet you can see the love they share both brotherly and of her.
The past shaped their lives and that saddened me greatly. I admit I had to pause a few times whilst reading this as the writing is so real, so raw and it did feel like my heart was breaking.
I wouldn’t of wanted it any other way as it was needed the grey dark skies before the sun can shine through.
Beautifully poignant is the best way I can describe this.
K.K Allen is simply a genius, and I can never get enough of her words!