After All by Heidi McLaughlin gripped my heart from the beginning. Two of my favorite reads are small town romances and second chances. Heidi gives us both.

It is written in 3rd person which I normally have trouble getting into but Heidi knows how to keep the words flowing. Her writing pulls you in so you feel Bowie and Brooklyn's love, pain and anger.

Heidi's words make you feel like you are part of Cape Harbor and their lives. There were parts that had me laughing and there were parts that had me so angry I wanted to jump into the book any yell at them especially Carly (Brooklyn's almost mother in law.)

I couldn't put it down. After All is my favorite read of 2020 so far.

Brooklyn left Cape Harbor and everyone there behind in order to be able to move on. I hated how people there and her friends there were angry at Brooklyn because she left and didn’t go back. She’s back because of Austin’s mother to renovate her inn.
Brooklyn had a daughter and she had to move on with her life for her daughter and give her the best life she could. I hate how the people of Cape Harbor loved Austin so much and put him on a pedestal. I really didn’t care for him. I actually didn’t like Austin at all from the flashbacks. He loved his momma but he was selfish and a real jerk.
I liked Bowie and how he was always her friend and was always there for her. I just didn’t like that he was mad at her because he thought she should’ve stayed and raised her daughter there so Austin’s friends could all be a part of her life.
There are secrets that are kept from Brooklyn and others for so long that aren’t fair. People supposedly mean well but they are selfish and are just thinking of themselves.
Brooklyn is a single mom but she always has her daughter with her and she takes her everywhere with her. She also has her spend time with her grandparents and she talks to her about her father.
I must say that I wasn’t surprised by the secret. I knew from the beginning. It didn’t take away from the story at all. What was a surprise was the person who knew it and kept it from others for so many years. I highly recommend this book.

A sweet romance story about second chances. Better late then never, right???
I’m not going to tell you anything so I don’t ruin anything for you.

This was a pretty slow burn and a little predictable. Not a lot of drama and no real twist or surprises for me.

That being said, it was a second chance romance with lots of deep regret, guilt and secrets.

A nice easy read, with a possible surprise for some who may not predict it early in the book, with a mix of characters in a small fishing town. I really liked the book!

After All was an incredible book that was both achingly beautiful and heart-wrenching. There were so many moments that left me on the verge of tears, and so many others that had me smiling from ear to ear. I connected with the characters, not based on shared experiences but rather how real they felt. Heidi Mclaughlin developed the characters so expertly that my emotions began to mirror theirs; their joy, sorrow, happiness, it all became mine too. I consumed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a story with a poignant plot and angst-filled characters. You will not be disappointed!

Brooklyn left her home in Cape Harbor after the tragic death of the boyfriend with whom she had just broken up. She had never returned in the fifteen years following Austin’s death, until Austin’s mother, Carly, asked her to restore her historic inn. Despite Brooklyn’s refusal to return, she did send her daughter Brystol to visit her grandmother every summer.

Bowie fell I love with Brooklyn the first time they met but hadn’t felt able to make a move since his best friend Austin claimed her immediately. The most Bowie thought he could ever be to Brooklyn was her best friend. He was the friend with whom she shared the inconsiderate and sometimes cruel things which Austin said to her. While Austin was Cape Harbor’s golden boy, both Bowie and Brooklyn knew that he wasn’t really perfect.

However, after Brooklyn returns, Bowie finds that he is battling feelings of both love and hate toward Brooklyn. He hates that she left town immediately after Austin’s funeral and shortly after he and Brooklyn made love for the first time. He also hates that Brooklyn never told him or any of Austin’s other friends that he had a daughter. Can two people who were once incredibly close get past old hurt as well as a terrible secret that Carly has left for many years?

After All was written with several different troupes blended into one book. It had a love triangle (albeit a little different spin on it), enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, second chance and more. I liked the premise of the story and also the main characters - - Brooklyn and Bowie. In addition, the supporting characters lent a great deal to the strength of the storyline. This book truly had all the ingredients to be spectacular - - but I needed a little more of a connection with the characters that I just didn't feel. For that reason, I can definitely say it was a good book, just not amazing.

Brooklyn has recently returned to Cape Harbor to help Carly (her daughter's grandmother) with refurbishing her Inn. Brooklyn's been gone for fifteen years and the friends she left behind, particularly Bowie, are a little bitter about being left behind for so long. There are a lot of hard feelings to work through, secrets to uncover, guilt to be addressed and emotions to struggle with. Right off the bat, I really liked Bowie. You can tell he is a good man who will do anything for those he cares about. Unfortunately, he's been damaged by life and is hurt by the fact that Brooklyn left so many years ago and never looked back. In addition to Bowie and Brooklyn's relationship, there are other relationships that need mending as well. After All provides these characters a chance to find redemption, healing and second chances.

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake Romance and Ms. McLaughlin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A really wonderfully written novel about love, family, traditions, friends and loss. I could not put this book down. I enjoyed every word.

Heidi McLaughlin gives us a well written small town story and I was cheering for Brooklyn and Bowie the entire time. I really liked this entire cast of characters, including Luke of course! This is a slow burn, kind of second chance that fell a little short for me. I didn't quite feel their deep connection, although I liked them together very much. I thought the story had so much potential, but just skimmed the surface. I do look forward to more stories from Cape Harbor!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a temporary digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hold onto your hats - it is going to be a bumpy ride......Fifteen years ago after the death of the love of her life Brooklyn left Cape Harbor and never looked back. But now she has returned with her daughter to renovate the Driftwood Inn and the tragedy of Austin's death has never been forgotten especially by his best friend Bowie. When Bowie and Brooklyn work together on the Inn secrets and guilt surround them. Will the Inn be the only thing that is rebuilt? Can their heart wrenching past lead to a heart warming future? With beautifully written characters and a storyline that had me laughing out loud as well as wiping tears from my cheeks this is another masterpiece from Heidi McLaughlin. True romance and characters the reader cannot help but fall in love with. 5 Stars are not enough!!

Omg this book will definitely give you all the feels. This is a phenomenal second chance romance that will have you glued too your kindle. The characters you will love and of course the story, you won’t want it too end. Another 5 star read that everyone absolutely must read.

This was a beautiful and emotional journey we get to take with Brooklyn as she journeys back to the place she didn't her teenage and very young years. Those years were ones filled with discovery, young love, losing herself to someone else, delaying her dreams, finding comfort, and finding ultimate heart break.

When Carly Woods requests Brooklyn to renovate her inn, she knows she must do it, if nothing else, for the sake of her daughter. Carly is a true character is many sorts. She's a recluse, unbeknownst to Brooklyn, and she's a manipulator. While her manipulation and deception covers years of hurt, Carly has an ulterior motive to requesting Brooklyn back and I loved it.

Bowie was a very close friend of Brooklyn when they were younger and he has years of anger and resentment built up and ready to lash at Brooklyn. However, once they are face to face other emotions overcome the anger.

Brooklyn and Bowie both dredge through the pain of the past, the revelations made present all in hopes for a happily ever after future.

I felt this was a beautiful story and greatly written.

I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley. After All was an emotional read. It is about going home to face the past. There are secrets that may or may not ever get aired. I loved going to Cape Harbor where everyone knows everyone.

A beautifully written heartfelt story about love, loss and Finding forgiveness in others and yourself.
It’s an emotional journey that leaves you with all the feels.

I love a great small town story and adored this book. It’s a story with a lot of emotion and will fill your heart with ending happiness.

The book is written in third POV, which took some time from me to get used to. But that's just me, because once I got pass my issues I had no problems with reading. I read this book almost in a one sitting.

The book starts with Brooklyn coming back to Cape Harbor, the place where she spent her teen years. Back to the same town where she fell in love with Austin, the local boy which was loved by everyone. Back to the same town where she lost the love of her life. Back to the town she left behind and never looked back. The town isn't all she left behind, because once she comes back she sees that there are still the people she once cared about.

Bowie lost so much more than a best friend 15 years ago. He lost two friends. One to the sea and another one just disappeared without a trace. His life hasn't always been easy. He's struggling with his company and once he's offered to renovate the local inn he jumps on board.

What these two doesn't know is that they're supposed to work together. They are supposed to bring the life back in inn. The inn that once was so great and has a special place for local. But the inn hadn't been the same for 15 years. While they are building the inn together it's hard to ignore one another. Old feelings and ways to behave come back.

They struggle to let go of the past and move on. The events from the past can be powerful and they can keep you from living your fullest life. Small town brings its own vibes. Everyone knows everyone and everyone thinks they know everything. So many secrets waiting to be come out and open. So many people and feelings to sort out.

For me this book is mainly about friends and family. No matter what happens you should be able to turn to your friends and find comfort with them. But I can clearly see why Brooklyn did what she did. I can understand how heartbroken she was. I also understand why Bowie reacts as he does. This book felt really real.

I liked how we got to see inside of both of them heads. I like dual POV. The book mainly happens in present time, but I loved how there were scenes from the past. A solid summer read. Or a winter read, because you feel the summer coming out of that book. Four summer stars!

Well, it was well written and the characters and world were well developed. Unfortunately I just didn't fall in love with it. I was frustrated by the characters decisions, and confused by some reactions. It just felt kinda bleak. Not my favorite.

3.5 stars.
A very romantic and sweet love story, set in a charming costal town I fell in love with, “After All”, by Heidi McLaughlin (Montlake Romance), features an appealing, brooding hero, who quickly learns second chances should be grabbed right away.
The old crush and the yearning is so well written. Bowie’s feelings of defeat, self-pity, jealousy and envy are wonderfully portrayed and instead of putting me off, they made the male character more endearing to me. Bowie broods a little but he’s also far too practical to let it linger. He’s also a very decent person who, in the beginning of the story, is going through some tough times. Having his POV throughout the story makes him just a regular, ordinary man, with qualities and flaws.
The story has some unexpected twists, a bit far-fetched sometimes, and there’s a bit of repetition and dragging but I enjoyed so much watching our handsome teddy bear hero reach his HEA with the heroine.

This book was a story that kept you involved throughout the whole book. You were just waiting to find out what happens next! This was a great book and I will recommend this book to all my friends!

3.5 Cute read but would’ve liked for it not to be all over the place. I didn’t really like that the heroine and hero were clueless to a major issue. If not for some side characters they wouldn’t have known. This book is for people who like little to no angst.

I haven't read a book by Heidi McLaughlin in awhile and I'm regretting that.

Brooklyn lost the love of her life to this town and left soon after. Only finally returning home to help with a situation and leave. She doesn't really put roots down anywhere. She kind of turned her back to everyone there. Only she has a bit of a secret and she's not the only one keeping one.
Bowie has always had a major crush on her, but his best friend saw her first. Only Austin died a long time ago.

I love a good small town story. It's also a bit of a second chance romance. The story is heartbreaking, has a bit of mystery, a meddling old lady and a dog. It's very sweet and honest.