What if I never get over you - Paige Toon

I’ve long enjoyed Paige Toon’s romance novels, I think I first discovered them a couple of years ago, before a long road trip holiday - and I’ve devoured them ever since! Therefore, when I saw this one on @netgalley, I immediately requested it. Ended up having a bunch of life stuff go down, so didn’t log back into my account for a while, but when I did - this little beauty was sat on my Netgalley shelf!

I really enjoyed this, it was a lovely romance with a HEA - (inspite of a third act breakup, which I’m not a huge fan of!) Ellie and Ash meet each other inter-railing, both filled with grief over the deaths of their best friends, they have a wonderful time, make an amazing connection, and then suddenly they lose track of each other, and don’t see each other for 6 years.

Some of the book I found was filled with the classic romance tropes, third act breakup, another woman lurking around the scenes, family disapproval ect, but I still found it to be a really enjoyable read. I’m glad that both Ellie and Ash worked their stuff out towards the end, and the final chapter was a real joy to read. So thank you to Netgalley, and I recommend reading this now it’s out! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A great easy read for the summer. I really enjoyed the first two parts of this book, for me the third was a bit rushed and clunky but nonetheless I really enjoyed this tale of love, loss, travel and a bit of gardening! Great characters, lovely friendships and a romantic relationship dictated by the fates.

Ellie and Ash meet interrailing in Portugal. Both are escap8ng their familiy and dealing with loss. After failing to meet up later, they both get on with their lives and push their connection to the back of their minds.
Six years later, fate steps in and they bump into each other. Can they make it work this time.
A familiar Paige Toon storyline of will they, won't they. Great for a holiday or curled up by a fire.

Ellie and Ash meet in Lisbon while they are both interrailing through Europe, she had just made the decision to go and meet up with her parents and spend a week on holiday with them before returning to the UK, but she didn't account for meeting a man like Ash and falling so hard for him during the three days they spend together. They both have so much in common; both have had difficult childhoods and clash with their parents and both have lost their best friends, so they decide to meet one week later in Madrid, but Ash never shows up. Six years later, Ellie starts work at a stately home in Wales, as a gardener. This is her dream job and nothing will spoil it, but then she bumps into Ash and, when she discovers who he really is and why he was a no show in Madrid, she knows they can never get back what they had, or can they?

What If I Never Get Over You is a contemporary romance by this author, not my usual genre which is thrillers or crime, but I do like a good palate cleanser occasionally in between and I'm a sucker for a HEA, so I was really hoping that's what Ellie and Ash were going to get! I really liked both of the main characters, but couldn't understand why either of them left it six years to reconnect, until it all became clear why they hadn't been able to stay in touch. First rule of relationships; ALWAYS GET THEIR LAST NAME! This was a fast paced read which focussed heavily on families and their expectations of their children, both when they were young and adulthood, which I find a bit stifling, but it happens a lot in certain circles. It was a very intriguing read by a new to me author which I really enjoyed.

I'd like to thank Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for the approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

What If I Never Get Over You is a bittersweet slice of sun-drenched romance, slow-burning pain, and swoony reconnection, and in my opinion, Paige Toon has outdone herself with this one.

Ellie is travelling across Europe in her early twenties (so far, so gap year fantasy). Enter Ash, mysterious, magnetic, and the kind of guy who makes you consider ghosting your Eurail pass for a long weekend of wandering Lisbon cobblestones with him instead.

Spoiler: she does.

The chemistry? FIRE!.
The connection? Instant.
The plan? Meet again in Madrid.

Only… he doesn’t show. And Ellie is left not just heartbroken, but haunted by a man she barely knew and yet, somehow, knew too well.

Six years (and an entire personality shift) later, Ellie has gone full Cottagecore, living her best grounded life in rural Wales as a gardener for a viscount and viscountess (casual). She’s trimmed the hedges, she’s buried the heartbreak. But you know who’s about to come crashing back in, right? Yup. Ash is back and so is everything she thought she’d buried beneath the begonias.

What follows is a story of love interrupted and love rediscovered, with all the quiet ache of things left unsaid, and all the loud drama of secrets finally spilling over.

The reveal about why Ash never made it to Madrid? Oof.
Paige Toon really said “let me hurt you and make you like it.”

The whole setting is lush (give me that countryside manor, please), the emotions are tender, and Ellie’s journey from lost traveler to someone rooted and self-aware is just chef’s kiss. The chemistry between Ellie and Ash is still electric, but this time it’s tangled with years of longing, guilt, and what-ifs.

This one’s for the romantics, the gardeners, the travellers, and anyone who’s ever asked themselves, “What if?”

This was an easy read, perfect for reading on the beach.
Good for a bit of escapism.
I liked the characters and it kept my interest.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Paige Toon is and will always be an auto buy author for me so I was super excited to get a copy of the arc for her latest book. I think the title really encapsulates the vibes of the book. With how Ash and Ellie are the loves of each other of lives it just takes them a few attempts to get it right without fate intervening to keep them apart.

Ellie and Ash are meant to be together and they had to struggle to refind each other after fate got in the way of them reconnecting in Madrid.

It takes them both a long time after reconnecting to find happiness together without other people getting involved.

I didn't feel as connected to Ellie and Ash as I thought I would so maybe I'll reread the book in the future and see if my feelings change. It's always nice to get a happy ending though

Thanks Netgalley✨

A beautiful second chance romance where opposites attract.

Ash & Ellie were bloody adorable. I was rooting for them from the beginning. I loved their chance meeting and how they really hit it off. I could feel their chemistry through the pages and their bond was so pure.

I rarely read the blurb for books so I didn’t know what to expect as the story progressed. I felt heartbroken for them as well as elation as the narrative went on. This book truly got me in the feels.

I loved their jobs & hobbies. It was very unusual to read about a gardener and astrologer, I loved the sprinkling of plan names and planet information during a couple of chapters.

There was an amazing friend dynamic within the estate. I loved the weekly bbq and how they all stayed within a group of cottages.

This book had a lovely story, a brilliant romance book.

4.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this one & felt like the way it was approached kept things moving at a good pace throughout. The fact that the story kicks off from page one with no tenuous build up had me hooked. I really liked all the characters too, even those who we were understandably meant to question were all developed enough to follow their motivations. There are teary moments & laughs which always bump up a book for me. An easy read which I can see being a summer favourite.

I just finished reading What If I Never Get Over You, and honestly, I'm a bit torn about it.
I came across some reviews saying it felt more like a YA book than expected, which almost made me put it down. But in the end, I couldn’t resist the premise and gave it a shot. The first part was decent, and I was intrigued enough to keep going. Once I hit the point where a lot of things were revealed, I was already 50% in, so I figured I might as well see it through.
That said, the characters' ages really influenced how I felt about the story. They came off as a bit immature, and while that's understandable, the lack of communication drove me up the wall. Ellie kept dodging her feelings and was overly dramatic about situations that could’ve been easily sorted out. By that time, though, I was too invested to stop reading. The third part did pick up, but I felt like it was a bit rushed and trying too hard.
On the bright side, I did enjoy the chemistry between the characters, and Paige Toon has a way of crafting those intense, emotional love stories. This one definitely delivered on that front. Overall, I liked it and would recommend it, but just a heads up: it kicks off when they’re 21 and covers about eight years of their lives. If you’re into intense and slightly dramatic romances, this could be a great pick for you!

I have mixed feelings about this book. Paige Toon was a new author to me but I’d seen good reviews so was keen to read her new release.
When the two main characters were together, they had a good chemistry. Their insta love was pretty plausible and I enjoyed their connection in Portugal at the start of the book. The scene approaching the resolution was sweet as they once again rediscovered their connection to each other.
Unfortunately, I just couldn’t take to Ellie. I found her immature and self-absorbed, and it annoyed me that she expected Ash to give up his heritage just because she’d known some obnoxious rich kids at school. Although a reason was given for her flighty behaviour towards the end of the book, it just didn’t ring true for me and it irritated me that both characters did so little to fight for their relationship if it supposedly meant so much to them.
Maybe I’m just a bit too old and jaded for this kind of story these days. I wish I’d enjoyed it more, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

Another fabulous book from Paige Toon. I love that they meet on the very first page of the book, and the whole story is them. It's an emotional, exhilarating rollercoaster from start to finish and I loved it.

I really couldn't understand why there was so much grief for these characters after having just three days together, then six years apart. I know that their back stories are filled in a bit more later in the book, but I feel these are areas which were undeveloped. I felt Ellie for example had a huge overreaction, resulting in her actions, and even when she explains why later on in the book, I still don't think enough was said to help me understand her. I struggled with her character the most, whilst I was rooting for Ash all the way. The plot, such as it was, took awhile to get going, and much of the introspection was long and rambling. There was enough there to keep me reading, but this book is not in the same league as Seven Summers. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
PS. Cwtch I think is more South Wales (I am from North Wales!).

I had SO much fun reading this. Could barely put it down - why do we need grown up jobs to pay the bills in life? - but still managed to finish it super quickly. The setting is so cosy and I LOVE a second chance (or should I say third chance) romance. Expected this to be good, it was great!
Lovely character development, not too predictable, interesting hobbies/interests... This was a WONDERFUL read

Thank you, Penguin for this arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

I love love love second chance romance, so I had to read this!
What If I Never Get Over You is an emotional, beautifully written story about love, loss, and second chances. I was immediately hooked—Ellie reads ACOTAR (iconic!), and the descriptions of Lisbon were so vivid, I felt like I was right there with her and Ash.

As the story progressed, I found myself wondering what happened—and when the truth came out, it hit hard. I'm glad Ellie and Ash had space for real conversations, and some of the emotional beats were really well done.

But not everything was for me. Some parts felt rushed, and their dynamic got a little toxic at times.
I also wish Ellie had been given more time to build healthier friendships.

Still, the ending felt earned, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it after. I’m definitely interested in reading more of Paige Toon’s work (this was my first one)—she knows how to pull on the heartstrings 🤍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Heart-wrenching, tender, and beautifully written. Paige Toon captures the ache of a love that lingers long after it’s gone, and the slow, hopeful journey of healing. A deeply emotional read that’s as much about self-discovery as it is about romance. Raw, real, and unforgettable.

i read this while on my trip and absolutely adored the story. paige toon’s writing is always so captivating, and i really connected with ash and ellie’s journey. it’s been a long time since i’ve come across a book that feels so unique yet like a breath of fresh air. a beautiful, heartfelt story of love, loss, and finding love again.

thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

paige toon just knows how to write a book that gives u that yearning feeling. All throughout this book I was yearning for this couple to be together and have that happy ending they both deserved. Like i genuinely could feel it in my heart the want for them to be together !!!

I loved reading about ellie finding herself going after what she really loves it’s such a beautiful part of the story. Ash also stole my heart from the very start the way he was with Ellie always encouraging her when they first met and the way he was so proud when he saw her in the future.

I really did love this book but it wasn’t giving me the 5 star feeling like seven summers did i adored that book but this one is still such a good read especially for spring summer. The vibes were immaculate and even though there is slightly heavier topics it was still such a fun read

If you're looking for a lighthearted, heartwarming romance, then this is the book for you.

I was expecting to pick this up and it be a quick read that I could breeze through and get all the warm fuzzys. I didn't get the quick read experience, but it did leave me with a lovely feeling. The plot was a slower burn than I would normally lean into and to be honest, not a great deal happens, however it wasn't about that for me. I was more interested in the "will they, won't they" and whether or not Ellie and Ash were gonna be able to pull it together.

My favourite part of the book was by far the setting. I loved the descriptions of the gardens and the cottages and the nature that was surrounding these characters. It gave me such a lovely homely feeling and all of the Wales references truly made me smile.

If you read this, you'll question whether or not these people will ever make it work, but be rooting for them the whole way through. At a time when I'm feeling super stressed with life, this was a lovely escape from reality.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.
This is a second chance romance between two people who meet interrailing straight out of university and then lose touch through circumstances outside of their control, before accidentally finding each other again years later.
I really enjoyed the start of Ellie and Ash's story. You really go to know the characters at their core through their vulnerable states, meeting whilst travelling and fresh out of university. Them falling in love felt natural and not forced, despite this only happening over a short period of time which can be difficult to do.
I also appreciate the way the authors writing had me picturing the places Ellie and Ash went throughout the book; Lisbon, the cabins, the exploring of the Welsh countryside and the estate gardens, I can see it all in my head which is unusual for me when I read.
The way the author depicted grief was powerful as well and I felt it along with the characters.
I felt the pacing in second half of the book was slow, and I struggled a little bit but I think this was also due to me struggling with the lack of communication between the main characters.
Overall, an enjoyable read!