I didn’t expect to have a reckoning with shame when reading a book some would classify as smut. But here we are.

Heathen and Honeysuckle spoke to me on so many levels it was borderline unnerving. Sheltered childhood? Check. Religious trauma? Double check. A woman reclaiming her power, her life, and her body—without asking for permission? Hell yes.

This book is raw and tender and furious and sensual. It’s about shedding the weight of silence, of shame, of everything we were told we had to be. And yes, it’s sexy as hell. But the steam is never just there to titillate. It’s part of the healing. Part of the unlearning. Part of the becoming.

It made me feel seen in a way I didn’t expect. Like it handed me a mirror I didn’t know I needed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, and to Sarah A. Bailey for writing a book that feels like both a liberation and a love letter to the ones still clawing their way free.

I was absolutely obsessed with this book. I couldn’t get enough of Leo and Darby, so much so that I find myself re-reading some sections just to feel the butterflies that these guys gave me. Sarah A Bailey does good girl/bad boy soooooo well. I had no expectations going in, other than I loved the premise of old flames still burning bright, but I was blown away. The chemistry that Leo and Darby have is seriously unmatched. It’s spicy in all the right places, without being smutty for the sake of it. Leo is an absolute dream of a man, and Darby has the most pure heart. They truly are the perfect couple.

I can’t wait to dive into Book 2.

Second chance romances and insta-love stories are not my favorite rom com tropes but I enjoyed this one, and I think it had to do with the depth as well as the growth the characters went through. The dual timeline storyline of this book is probably the best I have read, the way it was done and how the story unraveled through the dual timeline was phenomenal. Somehow the book managed to be a great combo of sweet with heartbreak, deep emotions and 🌶️. Can’t wait to read the next book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

I really enjoyed this second chance dual narration audio! This was my first read from this author and I’ll definitely read more!

Both narrators were new to me also and I really enjoyed both! I’ll definitely want to hear more from them!

Oh my gosh. I loved this book SO SO much.

I savoured every single word of Darby and Leo's beautiful story. The sweet and tender love between them as teenagers, the mysterious circumstances surrounding their decade long separation, the freedom of escaping a life controlled by misogynistic men - it was all *chefs kiss* perfection!

Darby and Leo had this heartwarming connection - and honestly... I WISH 17/18 year old boys were like him when I was that age. He was both protective of Darby while challenging her to step outside the sheltered little world she had been forced into.

Darby's relationship with her sister is everything I would want from a sister. I loved how they looked out for one another.

As soon as I finished this book, I immediately went and downloaded the next book in the series along with Sarah Bailey's backlist and even though I have other books/arcs I need to read, all I want to do is live in the pages Sarah writes forever!

**Reread for NetGalley/rerelease!**

I'm so happy for Sarah in getting a trad deal for this amazing book!
This was my first read by Sarah A Bailey and it immediately inspired me to buy the rest of her back list so I can consume everything she writes.

Rereading this book gave me all the same feels it did the first time! It made me cry, swoon, blush and laugh in all the best ways. This is one of those books that I know will be a comfort read and I will likely reread it many more times.

I enjoyed it, at the beginning the constant back and forth between flashbacks was hard to get into which is why 4 stars.
The young romance turns into a second chance. Was fun to see the original story unfold at the same time.

Thanks netgalley for the Arc

Book one and two are absolutely incredible so heartfelt and just such a good read. Go in blind and you wont regret it. These two are books that will live with me forever.

Heathen & Honeysuckle, by Sarah A. Bailey, is presented in a dual timeline (then and now) and is easy to follow. The characters are diverse, and their situations are believable. Drama abounds, as does love, laugh-out-loud situations, and unfortunately, heartbreak. In the end, it's more about being true to yourself. This novel is the first in a series, and I am looking forward to reading more.
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC ebook that I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much ARC provided by Victory Editing & NetGalley for the e-arc.


The split timeframe greatly enhances the Leo and Darby story, which I adore. It was so emotional and sincere. Witnessing young love blossom into the kind that endures through all the ups and downs is something so beautiful and one-of-a-kind. Although this was my first book by Sarah Bailey, it will undoubtedly not be my last.

I struggled to get through this one. The timeline was confusing, the characters were incredibly childish. Not super impressed, but this is also the first I've heard or read of this author. Might be the right fit for some readers, but I couldn't click with these characters!

Heathen & Honeysuckle
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heathen & Honeysuckle by Sarah A. Bailey is full of tension, funny moments, and some heartbreaking moments. I love the story of Leo and Darby and the dual timeline makes it so much better. As far as second chance romances go this is by far one of my favorites. The connection between Leo and Darby is instant and unwavering, I love the emotional rollercoaster ride that this book took me on. Thank you so much to Page & Vine and NetGalley for the early copy!

I really, really, really wanted to love this. I think the summary sounded fantastic. The characters and the plot just were not interesting enough to keep me entertained. The writing felt extremely juvenile to me. I could not connect. I really wanted to love this more.

Why in the HEATHEN AND HONEYSUCKLE have I not read this until now? This was so good.

I am not too sure how long this has originally been out but it caught my eye in it’s rerelease and I am forever happy it did 🥹 this is the perfect example of a first love forbidden summer romance. Oh it was so good. AND AND AND usually I don’t jump into dual timelines right away because I find that you end up caring about one timeline way more but this might be the first that I was equally as invested in both past and present timelines.

Darby moves to spend the summer with her grandma in a small seaside town when she’s 17 where she meets Leo, a flirty surfer. She was a good girl, he was a ‘bad boy’ - can I make it anymore obvious? 🏄 this teenage summer love made me nostalgic for high school summers lol

Something divides these two and fate (and letters and a sister) bring these two back together 10 years later. A runaway bride and a road trip is good for the soul and reconnecting with your teenage love.

OH it was good. Please read this this summer / it’s so perfect for the warm weather ☀️ can’t wait to dive into book two. This found family has already solidified a place in my heart.

5/5 stars
2/5 peppers

Good Girl x Bad Boy, Second Chance, Forced Proximity, Surfer MMC, Runaway Bride, Roadtrip, Dual Timeline

Leo and Darby’s story was literally everything! It was so heartfelt and so full of emotion! Leo is the definition of a green flag! He has such an old soul and I love how patient and caring he was with Darby. What an emotional ride!!!

I am excited to continue on with the series... I am really enjoying Sarah A. Bailey's writing!

Oh a second chance romance with all my favorite tropes? Why yes, please bring on the emotional damage!
I loved this story. It was sweet in an engaging way that kept me reading to learn more about ‘heathen’ and ‘honeysuckles’ relationship. I loved seeing both path and present play out in tandem as it brought so much more enrichment and depth to the characters. I am definitely going to pick up the next one!

The book begins with a letter to Leo from Darby, where she reveals that she is marrying another man, who she doesn’t love nor loves her. Soon Leo is at her doorstep, on the day of her wedding, wanting answers. I loved the flashbacks to when the golden-haired and sharp-tongued Darby Andrews meets the young surfer, Leo, in the small town of Pacific Shores, where Darby stays for the summer with her grandmother. Their budding friendship soon turns into a burning love that neither of them could’ve expected. Leo is determined to protect it at all costs until Darby runs out on him in the middle of the night. The book alternates between ‘then’ and ‘now,’ gradually revealing the events leading up to Darby’s departure.
I loved the character of Leo, who is so decent. Even as a young man, his goodness shines through, as does his love for Darby. She is definitely a product of her parents, with her father demanding unrealistic expectations from her. I enjoyed seeing Darby and Leo adapt to their new relationship with greater courage and respect for each other.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I went into this book thinking it was going to be one way, and it absolutely went that way and then sped off in a completely different direction and I was absolutely DOWN for the entire ride.

Cute fluffy little beach romance? Wrong. This story had so much more depth than I was expecting by far. The characters, I was prepared for them to be cute caricatures like you sometimes find in romance books. But they were fleshed out so well and then some.

And a blonde surfer boy love interest? Yes please. I am foaming at the mouth for any man with blonde or red, or even brunette hair these days instead of the standard tall, dark, and morally grey. This one was golden retriever, green flag from day one.

Second change, right person/wrong time, runaway bride, it's always been you. Eating it up with a spoon.

And the dual timeline was done very well, because sometimes that can get a bit funny.

All in all I'm snagging a physical copy of this book for my shelf because guess what, the book is gorgeous too.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.25/5

- second chance
- dual timelines
- runaway bride
- good girl x "bad boy"
- road trip
- no third-act breakup
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
- dual pov

This made my second-chance, dual-timeline heart so happy!

We meet Darby and Leo during an unforgettable summer in Pacific Shores. As their love blooms, Leo pushes Darby out of her comfort zone and helps her grow into someone braver and freer. But just as things feel perfect, she's forced to leave him behind, and the real reason slowly unravels in the past timeline.

In the present, Leo shows up at Darby's wedding (with a bit of help from her sister), and she does the only logical thing—runs away with him. Cue the road trip back to where it all began, giving them time to reconnect and finally face what drove them apart.

There are so many beautiful moments: the "it's always been you" energy, the fact that Leo kept her ring, their matching tattoos (!!), and the way he defends her again and again. He wants her to chase her dreams, not the life her parents tried to script for her. With him, she gets to be her whole self, and that kind of love? That's gold.

Also… the spice? It's spicing. One scene in particular lives rent-free in my brain.

If you're a second-chance romance lover, Heathen & Honeysuckle is a must-read. No breakup, just two soulmates finding their way back to each other 💛.

Thank you, Page & Vine, for the early copy!

This was my first Sarah Bailey book and it definitely won’t be my last! Heathen & Honeysuckle was nothing short of incredible, but WOW it really took my emotions for a ride! 😳 I haven’t felt a characters emotions so deeply since I read ALLTW by Kandi Steiner, and IYKYK. The dual timeline was everything and really helped build the whole story.

Leo and Darby were perfection in character form and I still think about them everyday. There is something so special and unique about seeing young love evolve into the everlasting kind that weathers the storms Leo and Darby faced.

If you love an “it was always you” moment then this book is absolutely for you! I’m not sure I have ever wanted a HEA for a couple more than I did for them. This book needs to be in your TBR!

Huge thanks to Sarah A Bailey , Page and Vine and NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow I didn't think I would love this book as much as I did! I loved the Now/Then dynamic where we can learn the characters more indepth and see how their love progressed and then where they are 10 years after.

I am moving on to the next book IMMEDIATELY!