What If I Never Get Over You by Paige Toon

This book started off really promisingly, but the further we went on the more confused I got.

I really liked the beginning. I loved the scene where Ellie and Ash first meet and enjoyed hearing about their experiences travelling around Lisbon. The author did a great job at making the places immersive so you feel as if you’re walking through the streets alongside the characters. I felt the connection between the two main characters, especially when they are chatting at the beach and was looking forward to seeing the connection deepen throughout the book.

However, things started to go downhill for me when Ash does not appear in Madrid. I was hugely confused and frustrated when Ellie began detailing how she spent almost 6 years disassociating, refusing to take any joy from life simply because a boy she met for 3 days had ghosted her. Perhaps it is just my outlook on life, but I found this to be really annoying and I lost all respect for her as a character. I felt if they’d have had longer together travelling and we’d have had longer to watch their bond grow, I may have understood it but it felt too superficial to warrant this level of grief over the relationship. I’m not someone who feeds into the insta-love ideology, so that is likely where my opinions are coming from more than anything else.

Then, when they meet again at the manor house, I thought hmm maybe I can get back onboard with this story, but nope. Ash time and time again refused to make Ellie a priority and yet there she was still fawning over him. It just made me even more put-off by her character and I found myself wanting to reach into the pages to give her a good shake and tell her to snap out of it. I think Ellie on a whole had a lot of potential as a character but she just came across as a boy obsessed lady who would sacrifice herself for the bare minimum treatment from an attractive man. I liked Ash as a character, but couldn’t understand why Ellie was so obsessed with him because I just didn’t feel the really powerful connection between them that the author was trying to get us to feel. He definitely warmed on me more towards the end, but when we see him during Ellie’s time working at his family’s house he just came across as a bit of an idiot what with him constantly trying to appease Beca.

I also wasn’t necessarily sure that the stories about Ellie and Ash’s childhood friends who died added much to the story other than it initially being something they could bond over. I understand perhaps more Taran’s involvement as I liked his final words and saw how these added to Ash’s decision to change his life, sell the family home etc but Stella not so much.

Overall I was just a bit disappointed with the way this book turned out. I found myself rushing through the parts based at Ash’s family home as it just wasn’t as engaging as the beginning when they are interrailing. I did, however, enjoy the author’s writing, their lovely descriptions of places like the gardens, the murmuration at the end etc and the almost lyrical way in which she wrote. I rated this a 2.5 (rounded up to 3) stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Paige Toon for the ARC.

Ellie is travelling alone, when she meets Welshman Ash. They instantly connect, and Ellie decides she is not going to go home, she will travel on with Ash. When he doesn't appear at their designated meeting place, Ellie is heartbroken. Years later their pair are unexpectedly reunited - are they truly soulmates?

A bumpy romance story with a predictable ending, but with lots of twists, turns and mixed messages along the way. Paige Toon has a wonderful style of writing, that is very easy to read, and describes scenery beautifully. The book is full of great characters, and she is a definite must read author for me.

Paige Toon is one of my auto-read authors and so I was thrilled to receive this as an ARC.

This book and the connection between Ash and Ellie was everything and somehow very nostalgic. It was very ‘insta love’ which some may find jarring but I’m actually quite a sucker for when done well, which this was. You really did get sucked straight in and the connection and chemistry between the two were palpable. You could tell from the start this wasn’t just a holiday fling and so the ‘insta love’ felt justified.

The start and end were by far my favourite parts, it lost me at times in the middle and I felt a bit of a disconnect after the time jump and felt a bit uninterested. I also couldn’t get over some of the stupid decisions and events that took place and I also found there to be a lot of ‘recapping’ of situations or emotions that didn’t actually need to be there.

However, i’ll put that aside because of how much I love these two characters, Paige really is the best at writing relatable and real FMC which just absolutely adds to how much you are gunning for them and a happy ending. I also loved both the settings of Lisbon and Wales.

I don’t think I will ever get over the experience of seven summers and so maybe that’s why I felt slightly short changed with this one. If I had have read this before, I probably would have loved it rather than liked it.

This is a sweet romance that spans several years from a chance encounter whilst travelling to becoming "the one that got away".
I enjoyed the settings in Lisbon and in Wales and how the rhythms of nature and space are woven into the storyline.
There were a few too many miscommunications and obstacles for me to fully enjoy the story as it just felt quite frustrating at times, which was a shame as it felt like the story had huge potential to be really engrossing.

Paige Toon is an auto buy author for me, I trust in her writing so much that she is one of only a few authors whose books I don't read the synopsis before I start as I know I am in safe hands and like to go in with no clue what is going to lay ahead for me.

With the title of this book What If I Never Get Over You and having read many of Paige's books that have made me sob uncontrollably I did expect to need the tissues to hand and yet for me they were not needed this time although the storyline has some emotive moments in this book I didn't find this book a tear jerker so you are safe to read this one in public!

This book follows Ellie and Ash who meet whilst travelling alone and spend three amazing days together exploring Lisbon where they have found a special connection. As they have to part and promise to reunite shortly in their travels Ellie arrives but Ash never appears. The story then follows the pair through their lives as they are unexpectedly reunited but are they truly soul mates or are their lives worlds apart?

This was a bumpy romance story that explores the effects of outsiders opinions and expectations has on a relationship, a couple can be perfect for each other and even they know and feel that too but the thoughts and feelings of others can way so heavily on couple that it influences the relationship and Paige Toon has delved into this in depth including class and toxic family relationships.

I really enjoyed this book, selfishly I would have loved to have spent more time exploring Lisbon with Ellie and Ash and getting to know them together more there as this was the more exciting care free part of the book but I appreciate what the author was doing keeping this part short as it was meant to be a whirlwind romance discovering a strong bond.

I love how Paige always writes the perfect romance but whilst including raw and relatable hiccups along the way rather than a fairytale romance and this one definitely didn't disappoint.

Well this was just perfect! Even though it was agonising at times, I enjoyed reading about Ellie and Ash so much. The sparks flight right away when they meet on their travels in Lisbon. I definitely didn't see where the story was going when Ellie shows up to her new job in Wales.

There were many more levels to the story than I was expecting. A gorgeous love story but also grief, class, family relationships. The conundrum when the people around you have a different idea about what's good for you. And at the centre of it all, a magentic force between these two people.

I wanted to bang my head against the wall in frustration at times. They're two good people who mess up without meaning to but their love for each other and their friends is a force. Just loved it, like everything Paige Toon writes.

Will Paige Toon ever write a bad novel? I somehow doubt it! This was a complete rollercoaster of ALL the emotions. I loved both Ellie and Ash, and all the gardening, posh houses and country living hit the perfect note. As beautifully romantic as ever, and with just the right amount of plot twists - utter perfection (again)!

I was fortunate enough to receive an early ARC of this book from Netgalley.
Paige Toon is one of my favorite authors, and I always enjoy her books.
This novel tells the of Ash and Ellie, who meet whilst traveling in Lisbon. They quickly fall in love, but events interfere. Years later life throws them both back together.
As always Paige's books make me want to visit the places mentioned in the story.

Some books come along at just the right time and completely consume you - What If I Never Get Over You is one of those books for me. I didn’t just love this story; I felt every single moment of it. From the instant connection between Ellie and Ash to the years of longing, heartbreak, and fate pulling them back together, this book held my emotions captive from start to finish.

Paige Toon is a master of writing love stories that aren’t just about romance but about the raw, messy, and deeply emotional journey of finding and losing someone who feels like home. I laughed, I smiled, and I sobbed—more than once. It’s the best emotional rollercoaster I’ve experienced in a long time, and I was utterly swept up in every joyful, devastating, and hopeful moment. Reading this book made me feel like I had sparklers inside me, fizzing and flickering with emotion, much like butterflies in my stomach. 💖

The way the story shifts between heartwarming and heartbreaking is brilliantly done. There’s a depth to Ellie and Ash’s relationship that makes you root for them, ache for them, and desperately need to know if they’ll find their way back to each other.

I adored the settings, from the magic of Lisbon to the peace of the beautiful gardens and Welsh countryside. Ellie’s new job at Berkeley Hall, a privately owned estate on the Welsh side of the border with England, is described in such intoxicating detail—Paige Toon brings every square inch to life, filling the pages with vibrant colours, rich scents, and the sheer wonder of nature. The way the gardens mirror Ellie’s own journey of rediscovery and healing makes them feel like a character in their own right. The beautiful gardens are described so wonderfully that I wish I could jump in the car and drive to visit them myself.

This isn’t just a love story—it’s a story about fate, timing, and the kind of connection that never really fades, no matter how much time passes. It is, without a doubt, the most moving book I have read this year, and I know its impact will stay with me for a long time. If you love books that break your heart and put it back together again, this is an absolute must-read.

I loved this story about Ellie and Ash, who met in their early twenties while inter-railing around Europe. The path of true love most certainly did not run smoothly for this pair, but despite the predictability of this story, I loved the immediate connection between this lovable pair. I read it in a day and recommend it to anyone who is looking for an easy to read, romantic storyline,

This was a surprisingly quick read, and I am glad that I managed to read it in two sessions rather than across a number of days because I felt this would have affected the timeline.

Ellie and Ash meet up while they're both interrailing through Europe. Ellie is about to leave and meet her parents in Portugal after struggling to find a way to fit in, while Ash is roughing it, taking each day as it comes. They appear to be incredibly different people, but over the three days they're together, they form a bond that's stronger than it seems initially possible for them to build. They both have uncomfortable relationships with their parents (who expect more than they seem willing to give in return), they are both mourning the loss of close friends, and they both want to belong to something. Ash has his astronomy and while Ellie is destined for a very different career, she is in love with horticulture and longs to be a gardener.

Of course, the path of true love ne'er did run smooth and that is certainly the case with these two. Separated by circumstance, it's more than 6 years before their paths cross again.

I have read every single book by Paige Toon and as with any reader, I do have my favourites. I loved the fact that was very much a 'boy meets girl' (literally), and I enjoyed that aspect of their story. I found the fact that we revisited the issues that caused both Ellie and Ash's mistrust of people, namely distorted relationships with their parents. A great many people can identify with this particular aspect of their own psyche. The fact that Ellie's emotional and psychological issues, tying her fear of Ash's father, her inability to stand up for herself, the fact that she feels as though her parents never listened to her and treated her emotions as insignificant, and her initial role as a people pleaser, to events that occurred in her past was incredibly relatable.

The one thing I felt sad I didn't get from this was a connection to the loss both Ash and Ellie experienced, with Taran and Stella respectively. I knew as soon as Stella was mentioned that something had happened and this is an element of many stories I have truly identified with in the past. For some reason, there was something missing with it this time (and this is the only reason my rating is a 4 rather than a 5), I just can't put my finger on what.

As with every Paige Toon you know that this is not going to have an open ending, and that despite there being potential evidence to the contrary, the MMC is not going to be the bad guy in disguise...just confused, hurt and tormented. That was an element of the story and Ash's character that I loved...the fact that in this instance he was not at all in charge, Ellie was!

I don't think I'll ever be able to read a Paige Toon book slowly. And this one is no exception. It has been such an emotional one. From page 1 I was hooked, and I loved the characters. The whole story. Omg I'm a mess. Totally could not stop reading until I knew how it ended.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t read a book from Paige Toon for a while, but reading this book really got me back into her style of writing.
The story of Ash & Ellie spans a number of years and their connection burns so bright the reader can almost feel it scorch the pages.
I really enjoyed this book; a bit of escapism into a world where no matter what barriers are encountered along the road, love will find a way, it just sometimes needs a little help.

I loved Seven Summers by Paige so when I got this ARC for her new book I was super excited!
This book was SO addictive that I couldn’t put it down.

Ellie is travelling through Europe when she meets Ash in Lisbon. They spend 3 days together and they fall for each other.
Ellie has plans to meet her parents and has to leave Ash.
Ash has no phone or anyway of being contacted so they agree to meet in Madrid a few days later however Ash doesn’t show up. Ellie has no way of contacting him, doesn’t know his surname or where he lives so returns home heartbroken.
Ellie spends the next 6 years wondering why he never showed up and where he was until she starts a dream job and all is revealed!

I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 (4.5)

Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin Random House for his ARC.

Oh Paige Toon what have you done to me, another fantastic gripping story.

Elle met the one Ash travelling through Portugal, 3 days together and a plan to meet up again in a weeks time after Elle meets up with her parents.

What a beautiful beautiful read this is, I ploughed though these pages but I didn't want it to end!

An engaging story about love, starting over, and making the most of life and to follow your dreams.

Such a beautiful read, Bravo Paige Toon you never disappoint ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another classic by Paige Toon! I wanted something to loose myself in and this certainly did that in the usual addictive fashion of a Paige Toon novel. If you want travelling, to learn something and romance with a happy ending, then this is the book for you.

Was lucky enough to get an early arc of this book from net gallery and Paige Toon!! Paige took is one of my favourite authors and I always love her book!! This book features the story between Ash and Ellie who met whilst travelling!! They quickly fall in live but life events get in the way!! I liked the characters and their story!! Both main characters have the constraints of parental influence and expectations which hinders the relationship! Elle doesn't think she's good enough for ash and ash doesn't want his privileged life!!!
Would highly recommend this book!!

I was completely enchanted by this book, and from the clear connection Ellie and Ash have from their very first meeting.

And I absolutely adored the days the spent in Lisbon, and how Ash was inspiring Ellie to try to take control of her life and to stop being a people pleaser. They were even both travelling for similar reasons, which in Ellie's case I figured out the truth very early on.

But why on earth would Paige Toon give her characters a nice easy time of it, for after a missed meeting in Madrid, and seeing in snippet form what Ellie does after she heads home heartbroken, fate steps in.

And wow I just loved it any time Ash and Ellie were together, there is just something about this couple that I totally adored.

This was such an easy book to read, I was lucky to even notice my tube had stopped at the end of the line on my way home as I was so absorbed. There are so many ups and downs, and I loved all of the various settings of the book.

Paige Toon has just such a way with words that absorbs me into the pages and won't let me go from start to finish. And this is possibly one of my favourite books of hers (but I might say that every time as she is that good!).

What a wonderful love story. Truly adored every second of this.

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I loved this!

This was the first Paige Toon book that I've read and it definitely won't be my last. I loved how she described the characters and the settings sounded beautiful. The relationship between the main characters felt so real and I was desperate for them to get together.

Overall, a beautiful, cosy read!

Firstly, thank you so much for the pleasure to read What If I Never Got Over You.
Ellie and ash both meet backpacking around Europe after uni. It only took 3 days to fall in love.
The promised to meet up before they finished. However ash was nowhere to be found.
Ellie spent the next six years thinking about ash and why he did not show.
That is till Ellie started a new job and who does she see but ash, however he is not who she thought he was.

I absolutely adored the story, simply beautifully written, I felt all the emotion whilst reading.