Sebastian“Race me for it.”Four simple words. Five desolate years.Sebastian Kelly believes he isn’t worthy of redemption, of a chance to right his wrongs. But an unexpected trip home, the place he dreads most, calls in question everything he’s come to believe. And who knows, he may find exactly what he’s been waiting for.AutumnOne broken promise. Two pink lines.Autumn Norris knew in an instant her … promise. Two pink lines.
Autumn Norris knew in an instant her life would never be the same. Years have flown by in a flurry of sparkles and dress up, and Autumn has refused to let the anchor of regret pull her under.
Until she lays eyes on Sebastian, and the wave of “why,” “where,” and “how could you” flood her every thought.
Old hurt and new betrayal twist first love into a reluctant partnership, and theirs may be a bond even pigtails and butterfly kisses can’t mend. But the past five years have felt like a lifetime, and Seb is willing to wait as long as it takes.
Because the truth is, he’s always been waiting for Autumn.
Waiting for Autumn is stand-alone, second chance, small town romance.
more
A wonderful, beautifully written story of first loves and second chances. Sebastian and Autumn have a once in a lifetime love that began as kids, and I loved how J.A. DeRouen peppered their story with events from the past to highlight how they still affected them in the present. When they’re thrown back together years later, the slow burn that sizzles off the page until they find their way back to each other had me on the edge of my seat. I loved every second of this book, and am hoping the awesome side characters will tell their own stories soon! All the stars!
I love J.A. Derouen and her beautiful words! I was so excited to read a new book by this wonderful author and it definitely did not disappoint. This story was about Sebastian and Autumn and once I reached the end of it, I was just filled with all the good feels and couldn’t keep a smile off my face. This book is about childhood love and second chances and finding a way to your true happiness. I loved how Derouen sprinkled in bits of their past. It really made you root for these two. AND YOU SHOULD! Seb and Autumn were both great characters. I loved seeing their journey, even though it was heartbreaking at times, and to see them fight for what they wanted and needed.
And gah! The side characters in the book were amazing! I have a major thing for great side characters. They add so much to the story. And Aria and Brady and Lexi just stole my heart!
So, in case you couldn’t tell, I definitely recommend this book! It left my heart light and happy and all things good. Can’t wait for more!! (Please, please, please! I need more Brady and Lexi in my life!)
I have been waiting for more words, more stories, more love, from J.A, for what seems like forever. So to finally get something in my hands, was like being a 5 year old and waking up on Christmas morning. Heaven in my hands. Hell I probably would of been good with her grocery list. That’s how much I wanted more from her. So to get an actual book. THIS BOOK…WAS LITERALLY HEAVEN IN NY HANDS.
As always, J.A delivered. With ever little tease she gave, every little quote, I knew I would love this story. We find ourselves in a new city, with new characters, but the same awesome writing.
Autumn has been in love with her big brother’s best friend, Sebastian, for as long as she can remember. Just like she knew the sun would rise every morning, she knew Seb was her present, and most importantly her future. There was no future without him by her side and in her heart. Until life happened and he was no longer by her side. Her family is broken, right along with her heart, and the person she loves most, is to blame.
Sebastian leaves behind his second family, to protect his own. Being so young and knowing you are the reason the people you love the most are now hurt and broken in ways that can’t be fixed, does a number on you. But leaving behind the person who holds your heart, leaves you numb. Trying to move on the best he can, without anyone to love or love him, is all he can do.
Just like life happened to tear them apart, life happened to bring them back together. But there is so much more to life than he could ever know. More determined than ever to win his girl back, Seb will stop at nothing.
“It’s a tangled mess of hope and heartbreak. Who will win out in the end is anyone’s guess. But I’ve always been a dreamer, and when it comes to Autumn and me, I’ve always dreamed big.”
I haven’t read a book that had me wanting to both drag my feet and rush to read, in a long time. Nor have I read a book that had me highlighting as much as this one did. This book is filled with so many beautiful words. It’s such a beautiful story. It had me sad, swooning (because Seb is A-FRICKIN-MAZING!!), and laughing my hiney off.
Now to sit back and try to patiently wait for more. I need more Lexi, she was the best! EVER! I think she is my new book bestie. 😉
While I truly love this author and her style I wasn’t real happy with this read. At the same time I also understand that it isn’t realistic to believe I would love every character I read. While Autumn may not be my favorite character I also see that she’s one that was basically tossed to the side by everyone except Brady and her daughter. Her parents had no time or energy for her and then the stuff happens and Sebastian is gone. It’s no wonder she’s skittish and such. With that in mind there are enough things that I enjoyed about the story even though some of it was a little over the top, especially since they don’t immediately jump in the sack everything is peachy. This author dies a good job infusing the yearning and loss along with the lingering emotions from the accident. Overall it’s an enjoyable read.
Ms. Derouen has done it again. She sucked me in, crushed me early on and of course repaired my shattered heart. Sebastian is my favorite of her men, and Autumn is girl crush worthy. Their love spanned years, from childhood to adolescence, and then tragedy struck, and circumstances forced them apart. Now 5 years later they get another chance at their happily ever after, if only it were a fairytale…. This was a beautiful book, one that I know will stay with me for a long time to come.
After reading the blurb for Waiting for Autumn I just HAD to get my hands on this story. It is like all of my favorite romance tropes bundled into one amazing story. Friends to Lovers? Check. Best Friend’s Sibling? Check. Small Town? Check. Friends to Lovers? Check. Second Chance? Check. Secret Baby? Check. New Adult? Check. Add J.A. DeRouen’s exquisitely beautiful writing to all of that and you have the makings of this 5-Star read that I really hope turns into a series.
Between the fun humorous moments that had me laughing and the heartwarming and emotional moments that had me tearing up, I received many weird glances from some ladies in the waiting room at the local hospital where I read the majority of this book. I don’t think I can pick out one moment in this book that is my favorite because there are so many wonderful ones. But if I had to pick, I think my top 3 moments would all be made up of moments between Seb and Aria. There is something about J.A.’s that makes everything she writes so impactful and realistic. I could feel Autumn’s emotional struggles as if they were my own and Seb’s turmoil and love over meeting Aria and trying to win her acceptance bled out of the pages and into me.
I voluntarily received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Autumn and Sebestain had been friends forever. They grew up together. When they were teens, it grew into more. Right before Sebastian and Autumn’s brother Brady were supposed to go away to college, tragedy strikes. Sebastian leaves town and Autumn behind. Flash forward 5 years later and the two see each other again. Can they go back to their forever or are the years and the past too much to overcome?
I loved this beautiful story of friendship, love, and redemption! It is an emotional second chance romance that captured my heart from the very beginning! It is a story of how one careless decision, that ends in tragedy, changes their lives forever. But change in the face of hardship could bring about something better, even if it looks different. Sebastian and Autumn have been friends since they were young, turning into young lovers. When tragedy strikes, all their plans for their future together are destroyed. Sebastian is forced to leave town, and never return. Now five years later, things have changed and Sebastian is ready to make amends. When he has a chance to win Autumn back, he will do whatever it takes to prove he will never run again. Even when he is faced with a secret that could change everything again. Sebastian is the perfect book boyfriend! He was always so in love with Autumn, waiting patiently for her to come around, and doing the most swoon worthy things! I really loved Sebastian and Autumn and how Ms. DeRouen revealed the depth of their love through their letters at the beginning of each chapter. I also loved Autumn’s brother Brady and Lexi and hope to read more about them! Ms. DeRouen’s writing is so beautiful, and moving and her characters are genuine and easy to relate to. I loved everything about this slow burn love story of hope, and forgiveness.
“Love doesn’t always look like you think it should. Doesn’t make it any less real.”
*hiccups*
Some books take a few pages to get into, *shrugs* some even a chapter or two… *hiccups*
This story *points at e-reader*, this flipping story, held me captive, *shakes head* no scratch that, held my heart captive from the opening line. The emotion leapt off the pages and hit me right in the solar plexus *sighs*
Teenagers all have an air of invincibility about them, don’t they? *nods* It’s a shock to the system when we realise that isn’t so…
All it takes is one rash decision for Seb and Autumn’s lives to change irrevocably. Fast forward five years and life hasn’t been easy for either of them. Guilt and regret are heavy emotions indeed, and the weight of both is starting to take its toll. How can you embrace the future with the important parts of you stuck in the past?
Whether you believe in Fate or not, she seems to be working her magic with these two *snorts* by bringing them back into the same orbit.
In the same orbit they may be, but with deep-seated hurt on both sides, and an explosive secret still to be revealed, plain sailing this is NOT! *smirks*
Yet, the overwhelming feeling emanating from both Seb and Autumn is love.
Crap!
I’m gonna start bubbling again just thinking about it.
Jjjuu… just give me a minute…
*mutters to self*
Repeat after me – you are fine, Laura!
*fans eyes*
I’m okay, I’m okay. Honest *crosses fingers*
“You and me? We just are.”
Oh flip, I’m going again…
While I still have my composure intact, I just want to say one more thing. This story highlighted a truth I have come to know as fact, especially in the last year. Family is made up of more than blood relations, family are those that we can rely on in times of need. Those people that have our backs no matter what. When you find that tribe? Love them hard. Coz that kind of love? It’s priceless.
Waiting for Autumn was an effortless read and my first ever pick by this author. I fervently hope this is not the last we hear of these characters because I can definitely see another story brewing *coughs* Lexi! *coughs* Brady!
I can hand on heart say that WFA has secured a place on my #2018mustreads
Wow. I think this may be my #1 second chance romance book. It. Was. Everything! Unanswered questions. Mysterious disappearance. Secrets. Angst. This book had it all! I love how we slowly learned about Sebastian and Autumn’s past…it was woven into the present day chapters so seamlessly! I’m going to keep this short and sweet and simply say one click this book now!!
Waiting for Autumn by J.A. DeRouen is a full length, standalone romnance novel.
Sebastian Kelly is a young man who made a mistake in the past. A mistake that cost him deeply. His family, his home, his career.
After years away, he’s back and things have changed. Including a old love with a big, big surprise. Autumn Noris was one of his best friends and his great teenage love. After the incident, she lost contact with Seb. When he shows up , old wounds are opened and betrayal and hurt rears his head.
Both had to build lives for themselves. But now karma has decided to give a second chance.
Waiting for Autumn is simply a beautiful story, beatifully thought out, beatifully written and beatifully told. I connected very easily with the characters and I can’t express how much I love them and their heart wrenching story. I recommend the book and give 5 stars.
I loved this book so much. I couldn’t put it down and it resulted in a book hangover this morning. It’s a beautiful love story and one I highly recommend. The characters are great and sucked me right into the story. It’s a book that pulled all the emotions out of me. The scenes with Aria are just too adorable for words. Watching Seb find his way into fatherhood was also a favorite of this book. I loved Seb so much. He’s definitely on the top book boyfriend material. I loved the humor in this one so much. This book had the perfect combination of all I look for in a romance book. This is the first book I’ve read by J.A. DeRouen and I can guarantee it will not me the last.
When I first met Seb and Autumn as part of the Begin Again anthology I hoped and wished that it wouldn’t be the last time I read about them. The book fairies heard my prayers and I was so excited when JA DeRouen decided to make their story into a full length novel. This second chance, childhood friends to lovers tale will have you laughing, crying, and swooning from page 1.
This was such an emotional read. It was at times painful and heart wrenching seeing these two ripped apart and unable to truly move forward. There was so much baggage and unresolved feelings between Seb and Autumn, that even though life continued for both of them, it was built on such fragile foundations. I really appreciated the honesty of their struggles to reconnect and get past their feelings of betrayal and hurt. It also helped that from the moment Seb and Autumn cross paths again, Seb is all in and ready to fight for his happily ever after. But can you truly begin again or will the weight of past mistakes crush any chance at a new start?
There were a lot of great secondary characters in the story, but the two that stood out most to me were Aria and Brady. Aria was just too cute and watching her relationship with Seb unfold was so sweet and adorable. I also loved her crush on Isaac and of course her back and forth with Uncle Brady. I’m *really* hoping that we see more of Brady and a certain feisty barista 😉 Him and Lexi were fantastic and I loved their frenemies banter. I would have loved to see a little more from Autumn and Seb’s past, like some of the fallout/years after to help understand what drove them so irrevocably apart for 5 years. I understand that they were teens when everything dramatically changed, but I still found it hard to swallow that neither would ever seek the other out or attempt to make any contact at all. Everyone manages and handles pain and grief differently though, so it’s hard to know what those circumstances would drive someone to do/believe.
This was a wonderful second chance romance that will have you feeling all the feels and leave your heart hopeful. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that we’ll be back in Haven, LA soon.
4.5 stars
My Lord, this book was the most uplifting thing I’ve ever read. Shame on me, but J.A. DeRouen is an absolutely new-to-me author and now, after reading this story, I feel like a missing piece of me find it’s place to home. Waiting for Autumn has changed the way I look at books. It’s that kind of experience you enjoy through the chapters and never want it to end. And when you hit the last page, all you want to do is to start it all over again.
J.A. DeRouen’s writing is simply flawless. Her story, her characters were so damn real, it’s not even funny! This author has her way with words and she totally makes sure you feel like you’re the part of this amazing family she created in her story. I rarely feel really free while reading all of these books, but with this one, I finally felt like I live. It really is hard to impress me on the first try, but now, I’m smitten with this story.
I won’t spoil the fun here, I think my little rant should be enough. Or no. But believe me, this book is something you don’t want to miss out. Get those tissues ready!
3.5 “new beginnings” stars
Sebastian, Autumn, and Brady. Three peas in a pod. Carefree teens doing what teenagers do until tragedy rips them apart causing the siblings to go one way and Sebastian to go it alone in an entirely different direction. Fast forward 5 years and Sebastian is back in his hometown face to face with unpleasant memories and a heaping side of guilt. When he confronts his past the first stirrings of “things may not be what they seem” are awakened.
This is a second chance romance, but it’s also sort of a “second chance at the life you thought you would have had” story as well. The story focuses on Sebastian and Autumn, sweethearts since they were kids, and how they have to wade through the hurt, regret, misunderstandings, and mistakes of their situation to try to start a new beginning and leave the past in the past. I enjoyed both characters but I LOVED Seb. I don’t see how you can not love Seb, honestly. The story is definitely a slow burn and unfortunately it was a bit slower than I would have preferred period, but still enjoyable. There is a secondary character that enters into the story who steals the show but I’ll let you read it to learn more about that.
“The possibility of something more…I’ve lived on less, so much less than that over the last few years. I think I’ll take my chances.”
My biggest complaint about the story was one that bugged me the whole way through and that was that Seb’s reunion with Brady was just sort of skimmed over. I know guys are capable of sweeping things under the rug much more so than females, BUT, I kind of felt like we needed to hear the conversation and we didn’t. I feel like Brady should have had a bigger role in the story than he did and am wondering/hoping if maybe Brady will get his own book? Fingers crossed. One that hopefully involves Seb’s employee Lexi, because I have to admit, she was my favorite character…I love the snarky ones. We will see I guess 🙂 Lastly, loved the shout out to West to bridge Jamie’s last series with this one. Warmed my heart.
This was a beautiful story about childhood best friends who are soul mates and are very much in love. A tragedy occurs and their lives are changed dramatically.
When they are reunited many years later you can feel the intense love that is still apparent but there are issues they both have to overcome to be able to move forward.
I loved every part of this book. It is heart stopping but beautifully written. I have so much love for this book!! I hope we see more from these characters!! More than 5 stars!
Oh my wow! This book is….everything. One moment changes three lives in unexpected ways. This book is the perfect second chance, as things aren’t always as they seem. Heartbreakingly beautiful!
4.5*
It feels like I’ve been waiting For.Ever. for the rest of Autumn and Seb’s story, but in reality it’s only been since January! But that’s what happens when you’re completely invested in characters, like I was with these 2. I loved them sooo much! I remember finishing their short story when it was part of the Begin Again anthology, thinking that couldn’t be all, she couldn’t leave us hanging like that- this was just the beginning of their story and I needed more! Thankfully Ms. DeRouen heeded our call and gave us the rest of the story. (Said in my best Paul Harvey voice…did I just show my age?!?)
Waiting For Autumn was everything I could have wanted for Sebastian and Autumn, and so much more than I could have imagined. Giving us glimpses of the past while moving the story forward, Ms. DeRouen brought their story full circle. From childhood friends who were inseparable, to young adults falling in love, only to be torn apart by a terrible tragedy, to current day, with reconciliation hopefully on the horizon, I was so completely invested in everything Autumn and Sebastian went through, and were going through.
It was such an unfortunate set of circumstances that led to Sebastian and Autumn’s separation- 5 years of missing out on each others lives made me equal parts mad and sad for all that had happened and all they had missed!
I love all kinds of romance but what I think I enjoy the most is getting lost in a sweet and simple love story that has characters you can believe in and never want to leave. A decision and a few words made as teenagers changes the course of two people in love. My heart ached as I read the beginnings of Sebastian and Autumn’s story. Floating between their sweet past as childhood sweethearts and present day peels back layers. I love the discovery and my slightly erratic heartbeat needs me to turn the pages faster.
Sebastian Kelly is like any young man in love. And also like any teenager that doesn’t always think before taking a risk. He has grown into good man who wants to right his mistakes. He is a man who has never given up hope or on his love for Autumn. He’s a good uncle trying to do what’s best for his nephew. His determination and steadfast commitment, depth and understanding make him almost perfect but it also makes him real. You couldn’t help but root for him.
Autumn Norris loves with fierce loyalty and has to dig through a jumble of emotions to get where she wants to be. Her love for Sebastian was never in doubt. But the hurt and betrayal she felt is real and will take time to forgive. She’s cautious with every reason to be.
The slow build of the relationship allows the growth of both Sebastian and Autumn. It’s a natural progression and one that I feel a part of as the reader. There’s no question they belong together but there are definitely things they need to overcome and to get into all of that would give spoilers and ruin the beauty of the story.
There are amazing secondary characters that add depth and meaning to the story and who aren’t just hanging around on the edges. Waiting for Autumn is a sweet, mature, easy read with just enough angst to make you a little anxious and enough love to make you feel good and your heart full.
Such a good read…
The author went straight to the heart with this one but I promise she builds you back up in the best way possible. This book is a complete standalone, written in Autumn and Sebastian’s POV. It includes glimpses from the past as well. You can’t help but fall in love with these two, plus Brady and Aria just make your heart smile. I appreciated the humor that was throughout the book so it didn’t feel as emotionally heavy. It is a great story showing that not everything is as it seems and how wonderful second chances can be. A top read for me for this year.