From New York Times Bestselling author Corinne Michaels comes a heartbreakingly beautiful standalone story about letting love in.
I’m losing myself trying to save everyone else…
As a doctor, I walk a dangerously delicate balance of being compassionate but not overly invested. The same is true in my personal life–love is a luxury I can’t afford.
It isn’t until Dr. Westin Grant breaks … until Dr. Westin Grant breaks down all my walls and offers me a future, I find myself wondering if I’m brave enough to risk my heart.
When who I was and who I’ve tried to become collide during my clinical trial, the fate of one patient changes everything.
In a single moment, everything I’ve worked for is jeopardized. My integrity, my career, and even my relationship with Westin.
He loved me once, I just hope he can love me always …
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5 Star Review You Loved Me Once by Corinne Michaels
You Loved Me Once in true Corinne Michaels’ fashion will rip you apart and then put you back together and I freely admit that at times I was sobbing as Ms. Michaels put me and her characters through the ringer.
Serenity is a doctor who, like the majority of doctors is spread too thin. She is focused on a clinical trial that she absolutely needs to succeed, she has a friends with benefits relationship with fellow doctor Dr. Westin Grant and is knocked for six when one of her patients husbands turns out to be her ex-fiancee.
Since her break up she has been focused on work and not letting anyone in, that is until Westin smashes the walls she has surrounded herself with. I fell hard and fast for Westin, he is everything you want in a book boyfriend. The journey for Serenity and Westin was so challenging, these two doctors face so much heartache, obstacles and there were times I feared that they would not get together.
This is a book with numerous twists and turns, some I didn’t see coming, with highs and lows that at times left me reeling. This book is emotional, gripping, a story of love, romance and never giving up. It is a story of making mistakes, of forgiveness and looking deep inside, coming to terms with what you find and accepting that you are human.
No words I write can do justice to this book, you need to experience it for yourself. This is one of my top reads of 2021.
Corinne really digs deep into the emotional well in bringing us Serenity’s story. I read somewhere that she had debated whether she was even going to ever publish this book, and I can wholly understand why. It is an intense story, FULL of emotional stuff that happens every day to people, but most of the time we never even think about it, because it does not affect our lives. But if your life has been affected by the kinds of things that occur in this book, this read will be all the more poignant for you.
Serenity has been through so much in her life, and I wondered a lot while reading how she was still going through each day. But it finally smacked me in the face that pretty much all she is doing is going through each day. She’s buried her feelings and emotions so deep; I was not sure if they would ever surface again. She has been in a “friends with benefits” type of relationship with Westin Grant for the past two years. He wants more. Will he be the one who finally breaks through those impenetrable walls that Serenity has erected?
This story is definitely a journey. It is heartbreaking at times, and there were many times I thought I was going to have to just put the book down because it felt like it was going to be too much. But Corinne has a magical way of getting her readers (at least me) through those really rough spots. And pretty soon I was finishing the story, all up in my feels and not being able to stop thinking about what I just read.
I commend Corinne for being daring enough to bring us a story that is not all fluff and swoon. It is real and intense and heartrending at times. But it is also beautiful and shows how resilient the human spirit can be.
Just turned the last page of You Loved Me Once by an author I’ve read many times because I enjoy her books immensely. Knowing what I now know about this story…that it was born in 2014 but sat on the unpublished shelf all these years waiting to be published, I’m so glad that Corinne finally decided to take the leap of faith.
This may be my favorite Corinne Michaels book so far because it twisted me up in so many ways that are inexplicable. The medical side, the physician side, the patient side and the underlying love story were weaved so well that I cannot say enough about this book. Grab your tissues because you’d have to be cold hearted not to need them at least once.
je ne sais toujours pas exactement quoi penser de ma lecture après quelques jours. Il y a des choses que j’ai aimé, comme notre héroïne qui essaye toujours d’agir du mieux qu’elle peut et d’autres moins, comme la surenchère de drames… Hormis une chose, j’avais vu venir la quasi totalité de l’intrigue et si j’ai été touchée par notre héroïne, j’avoue avoir eu du mal avec les autres personnages, à commencer par les hommes qui l’entourent et ne m’ont pas forcément faire vibrer. Il y a donc beaucoup de choses que j’ai aimé, d’autres moins et si je suis ressortie en larmes de cette aventure, elle sera aussi très vite oubliée…
“You love me once” is a medical drama with a side of romance, high angst level and practically no steam. There is however an HEA. This story hit me hard, let me tell you. We are talking Grey’s Anatomy level drama in this contemporary standalone medical novel.
As with other Corinne Michaels’ books, it took me a few chapters to get into the story but afterwards, I got hooked and couldn’t put it down. I found myself pondering late into the night over the topics depicted here.
Serenity Adams is a 38 year old gynecological oncologist. The book is told solely from her POV and we get a glimpse in the life of a dedicated professional who deals with bad news and death every day. Driven by the loss of her mother to cancer, Serenity sacrificed everything to save lives. She has only 2 friends, a carrier-centered life and she is in a “no strings attached” relationship with a fellow doctor but keeps herself at arms length in order not to get hurt. When things seem to settle and go well for her, the past comes crushing into her life. She is put in a very difficult situation and needs to make a choice that could potentially impact her carrier and the lives of her patients.
Serenity’s inner struggle was so accurately described in this story, I felt it as my own. There was so much insecurity and frustration and also so much love and care behind her professional exterior. I got invested in Serenity’s story, in her relationships and in her pain. I wish she didn’t have to make the choice she was faced with because it was the kind where no answer is the right one ultimately. I wish life wasn’t so unfair. But I was glad to witness her emotional evolution. And I was happy with the author’s choice in terms of plot. There were so many ways in which this story could have derailed but it was not the case.
This is such a beautiful story. I highly recommend it!
Triggers for cancer and loss of a loved one.
Oh man… When I started this book I didn’t like Serenity that much. I loved Westin instantly
But then with her job you could understand why she held people at a distance and why she was the way she was.
My heart was just like oh man this is not happening. Serenity is a gynecologist oncologist. She is on the verge of starting her drug trial with the potential to help women with ovarian/womb cancer. She was happy with her relationship with her ‘friends with benefits’ Dr Westin a neurosurgeon well until everyone was telling her to give him a chance to become something more than that. And then on the day when everything was suppose to go her way a blast from the past comes into her life and turns everything upside now.
Like I said this book will have you on the edge. You are invested from the start and everything that Ren is going through I felt like I was right there with her. The choices she was faced with was not an easy one but doing the right thing and still coming up with the wrong answer is not that easy. Loved the story and loved the characters. This author always knows how to break your heart but put it back together again
With most Corinne Michaels Books, they pull so much emotion from you. Well with You Loved Me Once, it went beyond that. I literally had to wait a couple of days to post this review because it was just that Damn good!!!
You Loved Me Once, revolves around Dr. Serenity Adams. Serenity (Ren) is a Gynecological Oncologist. Ren’s life was upended and shaped by the death of her mother from Cancer. Ren has sacrificed everything in life to succeed at being the best in the hopes of changing and giving women hope and a chance to beat cancer. With Ren is Dr Westin (Wes) Grant, a fellow surgeon at the hospital. Ren and Wes are just the cutest couple who act like there are no feelings involved in their relationship.
Throughout this book, you see just how a single moment can make all the differences in the choices you make. Good or bad, that is all it takes whatever the consequences.
Again, just where you thought you knew this story was going, Corinne Michaels adds her levels of angst but knows exactly what she is doing to give the reader the most excellent experience and fall in love with her books all over again.
Through choice you see how you can grow as a person. Great job Corinne on another bestseller.
Wow~ You Loved Me Once took me on quite the adventure!
Dr. Serenity Adams is one of the top gynecological oncologists in Chicago. She has been in a “non-relationship” relationship with Dr. Westin Grant for the last two years, but has been hesitant to commit because of a past that she hasn’t gotten over. While beginning a new drug trial, her past meets with her present, and she has choices to make. Difficult ones.
There were so many highs and lows throughout- in all the best ways! I loved the roller coaster that You Loved Me Once took me on!
3.5 STARS
This is a book of three parts for me. Didn’t like the first part, got sucked in more in the middle then loved the last 25%.
I felt the start was a little abrupt, kinda felt like I’d started a few chapters in not the first page. Abit like when your starting the second part of a duet and the story just continues from the last page of the first book, didn’t start smoothly for me. I also didn’t really like Serenity, not sure why but she just rubbed me up the wrong way.
As the story unfolded I started to warm to her. As expected lots of plot twists. The first one I didn’t see coming but I did kinda guess what she was going to do after that. There’s a lot of angst and emotional turmoil and some really well written scenes of conflict which I really enjoyed. I think i started to like Serenity when she started to like herself and make some good decisions.
I found Westin to be very charming, he’s solid as a rock and very grounding for Serenity. The resolution at the end was very satisfying and definitely felt like the right way for it all to go.
The story is very well written and I’m sure will be loved by just about everyone it just didn’t quite hit it for me. If you love a story full of emotional highs and lows this is definitely the book for you.
This book was so amazing! I have loved everything I’ve ever read by Corinne Michaels, but this one is right up there as one of my all-time favorites!
Not only was this book angsty and emotional, but there was also an amazing story told about how Serenity got to where she was. Highly recommended!
I received an ARC from the author, and this voluntary review is my honest opinion of You Loved Me Once.
“I love you. Until my last breath.”
Holy crap. My stomach dropped 5 chapters in.
You Loved Me Once was not quite what I was expecting, but Serenity’s story was an emotional rollercoaster of a professional struggle. What is selfish and what is selfless? Is it morally okay to do something ethically wrong when your intentions are in the right place? This story had my thoughts all over the place as Serenity’s past collided with her present during the biggest professional moment of her medical career.
You Loved Me Once definitely falls under the category of women’s fiction rather than contemporary romance. There is a romance between Serenity and another doctor, Westin. And her past failed engagement — which broke apart at the same time as her mother’s death from cancer when Ren was in college — overshadows everything she does. It’s why she keeps Westin at a distance, why she’s so determined to be successful with this medical trial. But it is Ren’s professional struggle that is at the core of this story. I loved the choices she had to make, and her journey is full of anger, passion, elation, and tears as she finally comes to her happily ever after.
All of the characters were richly developed, and Ren has great, deep connections with her father and brother, an elderly patient, and young Allison, one of the patients in her trial. My heart broke so many times during this story! And where I thought Ren’s story was going to go is not where it ended up… and I was pleasantly surprised that the unexpected happened!
Narrator Julia Whelan was brilliant in bringing Serenity’s story to life.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.
4.5+ stars….Spoiler Free
This is the story of a brilliant gynecological oncologist named Serenity Adams. She is hyper-focused on work, her upcoming clinical trial, and has a bit of a savior complex. Due to heartbreaking events in her past, she guards her heart fiercely and resists feelings or real relationships. She tries to control what she can in life, but sometimes it is just too much.
Neurosurgeon Westin Grant is her friend, colleague, lover, and would like to be more. But he has been quietly standing by and being her safe place and not pushing her too far and risk pushing her away.
But Serenity’s life is about to become exciting, chaotic, and complicated. Her past and present are about to collide in a way that will make her question everything. And how she handles it all could have a ripple effect.
Her story is about priorities, trust, opening up, choices, sacrifice, forgiveness, and dealing with the past to have a chance of moving forward. It is heartwrenching, emotional, unpredictable, and inspiring. It explores the things you do for love and the consequences both good and bad.
This is a captivating story with a plotline I have never read before. The author made it feel real and intense and showed the emotional toll that can occur by decisions that are made. But at the core of it is how important it is to truly open yourself up to the possibility of love. But that is still just part of Serenity’s tumultuous journey.
amazing
Serenity and Weston’s story is EVERYTHING!!!!!
Before I start this review is going to be a hard one fr me because I have alot to say. And I dnt know if I will do it justice.
This story as far as I’m concerned is Corinne Michaels best book. I have read and loved them all. BUt because f the subject matter it’ now my favorite….I think it’s because Serenity is the best in her field, my Mom had breast cancer. Serenity reminded me of my Mom’s Dr.
Serenity also has my respect, the type of Dr she is is hard and she has the personality t show every side of her persona. She dealt with a lot of sadness in this book. But she is truly a badass and that is not easy.
Weston Grant is so many things. Let me say it’s easy to love him and it was easy to be mad at him. But the fact that Serenity is his everything made him a rock star in my eyes
You Loved Me Once by Corinne Michaels was fabulous. I loved it from start to finish. While I can generally figure out the storyline of many books, Corinne always keeps me guessing as to what direction it’s going, and I can’t stop reading!
Serenity, our heroine, is a brilliant, compassionate doctor specializing in gynecological oncology. She is spearheading an independent clinical trial using a combination of medication that can shrink tumors in women hoping to have children one day so they can more easily be removed and hysterectomies can be delayed or avoided. This book was very relatable to me personally, as in 2019 I had to undergo a radical hysterectomy due to cancer.
Serentity is so warm and loving, taking care of her dad and brother after her mom passed from cancer, dedicating her life to helping others and often putting her own needs and happiness last. She befriends one of her older patients and it was so heartwarming to read of their special relationship.
Her beautiful heart and qualities are what catches the eye of Dr. Weston Grant, a neurosurgeon with the goal of becoming Chief of Staff. He is so supportive of Serenity and her research, and couldn’t be a more perfect hero. He’s not only a brilliant doctor, he’s hot and handsome, sweet and kind, so thoughtful and understanding, and has been patiently waiting for over three years for Serenity to be ready for more. His love for her shows on every single page. Usually in a romance, it’s the other way around, and I just swooned over Wes and his understated charm and devotion.
This book is a nail biter in true Corinne Michaels fashion! It’s filled with angst and will she or won’t she as she longs for her college boyfriend, the one that got away. Even though she and Wes have a super hot sexual relationship, their relationship is in limbo. Serenity knows deep in her heart Wes is a wonderful man with tremendous character, and my heart leaped as she started to let him in, little by little.
It’s not until her married ex shows up unexpectedly, and she has to deal with unresolved feelings and expectations, that she makes a decision. He is a wonderful man too, but 13 years have passed and they are different people now. This book flashes between the present and the past, and as a reader, you get all the feels as you get to know what they went through then and what they are going through now. In case you are wondering, THERE IS NO CHEATING!
He loved her once, but will they love again? Or will she realize how the right man for her has been in front of her all along? I love her relationship with her friend at work who tries to set her straight and encourage her to let love in. But with what man? The man who loved her once or the man who loves her now?
People aren’t perfect and I love how this author always creates characters that have flaws. Serenity is mindful of her imperfections and so sincere and distraught over a decision she had made that could cost her medical license. And there is honorable Wes, conflicted over what to do…morally as a doctor or risk it all for the woman he loves. Which will win out?
Read You Loved Me Once and find out! I am so glad I did. It’s a book that will stay with me for a long, long time. I just wish there was a longer epilogue because I didn’t want it to end.
Wow. That is my first thought when I think about this book, in addition to how much this story gutted me. ( and I rarely get emotional when reading a book). Serenity is an physician who wants to save the world to try make up for the loss of her mom. She also lost her first love during that time and her coping mechanism was to focus on medicine and her career. Westin (also a focused physician) and Serenity have been dating for awhile but she hasn’t wanted to move the relationship forward. Everything starts to change when her old love is thrust back into her life. This is a gut wrenching story of love, loss and trying to find your way out of darkness, but there is also hope. As a medical professional, I will comment that Corinne took some liberties on what would actually happen in a medical trial, but it was not different that what would be seen in a medical drama. Do not miss this book!
If you are on the fence to read this then don’t be. If the words woman’s fiction scares you don’t let it. This book is a Corinne Michaels book through and through. I knew it would be emotional but nothing prepared me for this story but I’m glad I took the chance.
Julie Whelan put so much energy and emotion in this story bringing Serenity to life. She was amazing and couldn’t have been more perfect to narrate this.
This story was heartbreakingly beautiful. It made me cry, broke my heart but then Corinne but it back together. This is a unique storyline and I’m so glad Corinne took a chance and published this book.
I had the opportunity to listen to an early audio of You Loved Me Once by Corinne Michaels and I loved it. Just loved it. Narrated by Julia Whelan, the story was emotional and full of angst, and I could not stop listening. Serenity was a woman full of determination and driven to succeed, but she carried so much hurt and loss from her past. Westin, also a doctor, and was absolutely amazing. He was caring and protective. Though they shared a causal relationship, Serenity continued to keep walls up around her heart to protect herself. But when faced with difficult decisions, will her choices be her downfall?
You Loved Me One by Corinne Michaels captivated me right from the start and was full of the feels. The choices we make, and the consequences of those decisions have everlasting effects that can affect those around us. I just loved this story and highly recommend it.
Happy listening!
This book destroyed me, and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same. So much heartbreaking loss, but the underpinnings of family, redemption, unconditional love and second chances are what make this such an extraordinary read.
Dr. Serenity Adams had her heart broken long ago, both by her mother’s lost battle with ovarian cancer and by her first love. But these tragedies made her into a driven, dedicated oncologist, and she’s determined to do for other women what she couldn’t do for her mother – help them beat this terrible disease. Just when it seems like her dreams will come true with a new clinical trial she’s leading, everything in her life falls apart, starting with a ghost from her past invading the life she’s worked so diligently to create.
Westin Grant is every Dr. McDreamy and Dr. McHottie you’ve ever known, combined. Gifted surgeon with a heart of gold, he’s waited two long years for Serenity to drop her walls and see him as more than a friend with benefits. He wants nothing more than to be the rock she can lean on, if she’ll just let him in.
I don’t even know where to start with this one. Prepare to be drowned in waves of emotion and have your heart strings masterfully manipulated. With perfectly imperfect characters, nothing about this story is manufactured or contrived, and angstaholics will savor and delight in all these feels. Yes, it’s clever, witty, and steamy, but it’s the abundance of heart that makes this a truly spectacular, unforgettable read. Add it to your TBR now because you won’t want to miss it!
What a beautifully written book written by Corinne Michaels. Serenity’s story is one of lose and love and how to one’s past affects their life and future.
Serenity tried to keep relationships at arms length while saving people’s lives. Her work as a doctor is to try and Hellas many people as possible. She Pat comes back to affect her current decisions.
This book is about a wonderful person who struggles to make herself happy and take care of her. As she lets her walls come down and lets those into her life, even in her mistakes and struggles, she is truly loved by those around her.
Honestly, if there was a way to give this book more than 5-stars, I would.
This is Corinne Michaels best work yet and my new favorite. I believe this one my stay on the top of favorites list for a long time.
I listened to the audio version and I loved Wes and Ren.
I have already purchased me a paperback copy. This one must be added to my collection.