3.5+ , overall premise of the book was good, I enjoyed my read and I flew through it. It was fairly predictable. However, I did enjoy reading about the FMC's experience to pulling herself out of comfort and finding something that brought her happiness. While under the premise of finding out whether her deceased high school boyfriend was alive, she actually finds herself falling in love with a charismatic Garrett.

When everything begins to unravel while learning of Adam's death, things sped up so quickly that it felt rather rushed for the last 15-20%? Which is why I gave it a 3.5 rating. The romance aspect was kind and sweet for Adam and Maddie, then Garrett and Maddie.

Thank you, Melissa, Bookouture, and Netgalley for a copy of an e-arc!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutre for the ARC!

5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

First of all holy shit! I thought Love and Other Lost things couldn’t top any of Melissa’s books but I was wrong! So wrong!! This one did it. It had me hooked from the first page. I had to know if Garrett was Adam! I loved reading “Adam” and Madeline’s love story and their second chance romance!

This book read like a young adult novel at first—so I was surprised to find it wasn’t labeled as one. The writing felt underdeveloped, like the author had a list of plot points and then tried to force connections between them without much flow or logic. Many moments felt overly convenient and unrealistic, and the dialogue was stiff and robotic. I don’t know anyone who talks like these characters did.

Both of the major twists were easy to see coming, which took away any real sense of surprise or tension.

Another thing that pulled me out of the story was the way the author handled intimacy. Every time something sexual was referenced, it came immediately after a heavy or emotional conversation—grief, trauma, or some other serious topic. It felt jarring and uncomfortable, like the emotional beats were being used as a setup for something that didn’t belong in that moment.

What really gave me the ick, though, was the explicit scene involving 17-year-olds. It felt unnecessary and completely out of place. That scene especially left a bad taste in my mouth and made me question why it was included at all.

4.5 stars
In this emotional and suspenseful romance, Madeline loses the love of her life, Adam, at the young age of seventeen to a tragic accident. Years later, she thinks she sees him in a video shot in her beachside hometown. While there to investigate, she is saved by a mysterious man who she thinks looks just like Adam. In fact, she thinks he might be Adam. What really happened that night ten years ago?

I love Melissa Wiesner’s writing. Both her romances and romantic comedies always keep me turning pages. This book was no exception! It masterfully combines romance, mystery, intrigue, and drama to create a powerful story that kept me on the edge of my seat. I hate to say much about the story because it’s best to go in blind and discover the plot twists for yourself, but know that it’s going to keep you fully invested in the story from start to finish. The only thing keeping this from being a five star read for me was a few remaining unanswered questions. I’m hopeful this might indicate a followup book for Josie, Madeline’s sister, but it did leave some things unresolved for me. However, the rest of the book was highly entertaining and a wonderful escapist read.

Thank you to Melissa Wiesner and Bookouture for the gifted early copy.

Welllll sheesh I was up till 3am with this book because the spin was spell binding good I loved this read awesome job it’s a book that will have you gripping your seat asking if you just read what you thought you were reading

Madeline pensó que había dejado atrás el pasado. Diez años después de la trágica muerte de Adam, el amor de su vida en la adolescencia, ha construido una vida estable como profesora, está comprometida con su mejor amigo de la preparatoria, Jason, y se prepara para un futuro que parece tranquilo y seguro.

Pero todo cambia cuando, al final del ciclo escolar, Madeline ve un video viral de un hombre rescatando a unos niños en el mar. El hombre, con su figura, sus gestos y sus inconfundibles ojos azules… es idéntico a Adam.

Confundida, Madeline se ve arrastrada por una marea de emociones y recuerdos del pasado. ¿Es posible que Adam haya sobrevivido al accidente del que nunca se recuperó su cuerpo? ¿Y si lo ha hecho, por qué nunca volvió con ella?

A medida que busca respuestas, la historia se despliega entre dos líneas temporales: el presente lleno de incertidumbre y el pasado que revela cómo nació y se transformó su vínculo con Adam y con Jason.


-



Estuve tentada a buscar si Garrett era Adam o si solo era una coincidencia.
Me intriga saber qué pasó para que se fueran de su pueblo; ¿Cuál será el secreto de Josie?

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

This is the second book of Melissa Wiesner's that I've read and I adore her writing! There were so many twists in this book and my mind never stopped racing about what was going to happen next. I appreciated the dual timelines as well as the dual POVs. I thought the pacing was pretty okay, but I wish we had gotten a bit more development in certain parts of the story - Maddie and her grief, Maddie's relationship with Jason and how it began to evolve, etc.

Also,
1. Why DID Madeline and Josie's mom suddenly upend their lives and move? Whether or not Josie knows the reason, it really seemed like there was more to this.
2. The creepy man at the bar - what IS his relationship to Maddie and her family? There's clearly some kind of connection.

It looks like we're getting a second book in this universe, revolving around Josie and Ian, and I can only hope my questions will be answered in that book! I don't feel like we got closure in either area so I'll be very disappointed if Melissa kept bringing those points mentioned above for no reason at all.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Melissa Wiesner for the arc!
4.5 stars.
I went into this one fully blind. It was the perfect mix of romance, mystery and a touch of a thriller. I was hooked immediately from chapter one. I mean come on - girl falls in love with boy in high school. Becomes best friends with his male best friend and they're a cute friendship trio. Boy dies tragically and then girl ends up with the best friend. Then ten years later randomly sees a video and thinks a man looks like the boyfriend who died!? So obviously she goes on a hunt for this man to figure out who he is and why she believes it's her high school love.
I enjoyed the dual timeline and the breadcrumbs scattered throughout leading to twists and turns. The only reason I didn't give this five stars is because one large plot point was never resolved. There's a storyline about why Madeline and her family suddenly left the small beach town they lived in growing up. When Madeline is back in that town a man questions her weirdly a few times but there's never any resolve to who he was or why he was asking her anything. I'm hoping maybe there's a second book coming that explores this?
I would love to read it if there is. The story definitely isn't finished and I need to know what happens next!

All the Ways You Save Me is like if a lite thriller and a romance novel had a baby. It has some of the suspense aspects of a thriller but you definitely have the romance between the FMC and a couple of love interests. It was a one sitting read for me and was very enjoyable. There are clues sprinkled throughout and a character that just gives bad vibes (trying not to spoil anything!). I will be on the lookout for more from this author!!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m such a huge fan of this author. Her books always make me cry, laugh, and gasp in shock. Love it!

In this novel we follow Madeline, Adam, and Garrett in various POVs. We also get glimpses into what occurred ten years ago. Madeline and Adam fell in love when they were 17, but then he tragically died right before Madeline’s eyes. Ten year later, she thinks she spotted Adam in a social media video and heads to her old hometown to find him. There she meets Garrett, and from there she is determined to find out what really happened to Adam.

This was a fun read. Some of the aspects I was able to guess, but there were still several scenes I didn’t see coming. I was truly shocked in the end.

To keep this short and simple, I really like the chemistry with the characters, the engaging and driving plot, the writing style, and how the flashbacks actually accomplished something and weren’t just random.

I gave this 4 stars because of the following reasons:
1. I wanted to see Josie and Ian have a confrontation (maybe they will get their own book?)
2. The creepy dude in the bar was random. It was kind of resolved in the end, but not really. I still don’t know what this had to do with Madeline and Josie’s past.
3. We never found out why Madeline and Josie’s mom made them move. Did it have something to do with the creepy bar guy?
4. Because 2 and 3 were never developed more, I almost felt like this should have been kept out. They could have taken the mystery out of it and had her move because the mom got a new job. The only reason I can think the author left this ambiguous is because she is planning another book where she dives into this more.

This book kept me hooked, and I couldn’t wait to get off work so I could finish it.

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, I absolutely adored this book! The plot was so captivating that I couldn’t put it down for a single moment. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Oh my goodness I absolutely loved this book. It was such a beautiful story and I could not put it down! I kind of wish it was longer with a bit more build up but overall really really enjoyable!

Thanks to Bookouture for the ARC of this book! I have read a number of books by Melissa Wiesner and I was glad to have this one to enjoy on my recent vacation. I read this one cover to cover on a road trip and it did not disappoint. It was truly a heartbreaking and unforgettable romance, just like the cover promised and I was hooked on the story from page 1. Melissa Wiesner has a style of writing that is super easy to read and enjoyable and her characters are very easy to like. Though some of the ideas in this particular book were a little far fetched, it still felt reasonable while I reading the story and reminded me very much of a Colleen Hoover or Mia Sheridan book. This book followed two timelines, one of the characters in high school and then one ten years later. The timelines were woven together very well and the switching back and forth enhanced the story a lot. If you like emotional love stories, authors like Colleen Hoover and Mia Sheridan, and second chance romance, you will love this one. I definitely recommend it!

⭐⭐⭐✨¾ (3.75 stars)

Think emotional tide-pull, layered grief, secret second chances—and a romance that sneaks up on you like a rogue wave. It’s heartfelt, introspective, and yes, a tiny bit melodramatic: exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

Madeline “Maddie” Sullivan shared her teenage dreams—and her first love—with high school sweetheart Adam. Then disaster struck: he vanished and her heart shattered with him. A decade later she’s engaged to her best friend Jason, trying to build a calm life on the shores of Sandy Harbor. But when a stranger washes up after a heroic rescue—someone who could be Adam—everything she thought was steady starts to tumble.

This isn’t frothy romance—it’s driven by emotional complexity. Maddie is carrying guilt like an anchor; Jason is devoted yet overshadowed by history; and the stranger brings both hope and wreckage. Themes of grief, memory, survival, and the lingering pull of first love are all layered into the text—sometimes gently, sometimes like a punch.

Sometimes I wanted the pace to breathe more, especially during scenes heavy with introspection. But the emotional tide? It rolled over me—and didn’t let go easily.

Maddie is cautious, complex, and undeniably relatable. She’s coming into her own—but the past keeps crowding her space.

Adam/the stranger—I’m keeping quiet to avoid spoilers, but his presence is electrifying, ambiguous, and essential to the emotional heartbeat.

Jason is quietly heroic—not a jealous third wheel, but a man anchored in history and worn loyalty. He grounds the story’s more fragile emotional beats.

None of them are flawless. They stumble, they confess, they hurt—and they make it real.

The tone occasionally lifts with breezy banter between Maddie and Jason—little jokes, light teasing, winks of comfort. Contrast that with the mystery of the stranger, the flashbacks to lost teenage years, and the dramatic emotional reveal—this book walks a tightrope, and for the most part, it balances beautifully.

I laughed. I felt chilly nods of recognition. And yes, I reached for tissues more than once.

3.75 stars—not perfect, but thoughtful and layered.

All the Ways You Save Me is for readers looking for:

Emotionally complex romances with grief and nostalgia

Love triangles that don’t feel manufactured

Characters wrestling with guilt, forgiveness, and the pull of old feelings

A beachy setting that feels both comforting and haunted


If you like your romance with emotional depth and a hint of bittersweet mystery—this is your off-season wave. Ride it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars

All the Ways You Save Me is a romantic suspense story that alternates between present day and ten years earlier, following the lives of three best friends…Adam, Maddie, and Jason. In their senior year, Adam and Maddie are in love, but a tragic accident changes everything when Adam disappears. A decade later, Maddie is engaged to Jason, unsure if her feelings are true love or rooted in shared grief. When she sees a video of someone who looks like Adam, it starts her on a search for answers.

The book delivers a few big plot twists and explores the lasting impact people can have on our lives. I found it an engaging, fast-paced read.

I instantly connected to English teacher Madeline ‘Maddie’ Sullivan and followed her back to Sandy Harbor in search of the truth.

The moment one of her students shows Maddie a video of a dramatic rescue at Sandy Harbor, her world is turned upside down. She’d finally found a 'life ring' to hold onto in her downward spiraling existence. In the ten years since she’d lost her high school boyfriend, Adam Nathanson, Maddie had tried to heal, but found that grief was grabbing her tighter as the years rolled on, rather than easing its grip on her.

Nothing prepares her for what she finds in Sandy Harbor.

I enjoyed a great story that was a perfect balance of mystery and romance. I loved that when Maddie opened her heart to the truth, healing began and the seeds of love were nourished. Wiesner always writes an emotionally charged story that begs to be binge read. I obliged and kept turning pages well past ‘lights out.’ I needed to know if Maddie found what she was looking for and if she could also allow herself to love again.

There were parts that made me uncomfortable, so heads up: this is an open door romance.

I’m looking forward to heading back to Sandy Harbor next year to uncover Josie and Ian’s story in All The Ways You Break Me.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

MY GOD WHERE DO I BEGIN. im gonna be honest i loved how madeline and adam met and their intial interactions are very "so high school by taylor swift", but the insta-love sort of turned me off a bit, yet it didnt stop me from finishing this in one sitting.

i really can't say much without spoiling the whole thing because so much happens in only 277 pages, but my god i did not see that twist coming. i predicted the first twist, but the second twist nearing the end got me and at that point i was pissed offffffff at some people in this book. and also for the fact that i did not sign up for thrillerrrrrr like i thought this would be a "hahah kikiki lalala" kind of romance but it's definitely a "AAAAAAAA LOVE ME OR KILL ME" kind of romance. it's very kristin hannah, but also very much a summer contemporary romance!! the scenes in sandy harbor between madeline and garret made me gush!! so!! hard!! for a second i did believe that there was a soulmate for me out there... 3.75/5⭐ perfect quick summer read if you're into very emotional, whiplashed, yearning kind of romance with minimal spice.

(thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!!)

A deeply heartfelt romance drowning in emotion and yet also sweetness. Plot twists and a touch of mystery. So good, yet so sad.