Jessica Sherry's Every Chance After is a beautifully crafted narrative that explores the complexities of love, guilt, and forgiveness. The protagonists, Marnie and Grady, are richly developed, each carrying emotional baggage that adds depth to their evolving relationship.

The age-gap dynamic is handled with sensitivity, focusing on mutual respect and emotional connection rather than mere novelty. Sherry's writing shines in the quiet moments, where characters confront their pasts and make peace with their present.

Highlights:

Character Development: Both leads undergo significant growth, making their journey satisfying.

Emotional Resonance: The story tackles heavy themes with grace, ensuring readers are both moved and hopeful.

Engaging Prose: Sherry's writing is evocative, painting vivid emotional landscapes.

Conclusion:

Every Chance After is a heartfelt exploration of love's capacity to heal. It's a story that lingers, reminding readers of the beauty found in vulnerability and the courage it takes to embrace love anew.

📚Every Chance After📚
Arc review
Rating 4🌟
Release date: 27th May 2025
I was so happy to be accepted to read this book before it came out
I loved this book. I didn't expect it to get interesting straight from the beginning of the book. I was shocked. The fact that he just kept helping her with everything was just so cute. I love how she makes her own board games (now that's interesting)

This book was AMAZING! I don’t have enough good words to say about how this book made me feel. One moment I’m on the verge of crying, the next I’m smiling and laughing. Perfection.

In this novel we follow Marnie and Grady. On the day Marnie is to marry her man-child fiancé Ashe, Grady is driving home from a 32 hour shift and falls asleep at the wheel. The outcome results in Marnie getting badly injured, but Grady also saves her life. While most people would be angry their life has changed so drastically, Marnie stays positive and is grateful to Grady for saving her. Grady on the other hand feels so much regret he vows to make it up to Marnie. As he helps her get back on her feet, they both find themselves growing in their love for each other.

This book has all the feels. The first few chapters are dramatic and slightly graphic (I hate blood and I was able to handle this no problem), but I kept tearing up. Then I would be laughing. Marnie is a funny, strong character - the epitome of a sunshine character. I think she hit me the hardest because she reminded me of myself and the stuff I went through as a child.

This isn’t just a love story, but the story of found family. The side characters wormed their way into my heart. I want to hug Wade, Christie, and Roy.

The plot just kept me wanting to read. I’ve been in a book funk for a few weeks and this took me out of it. I loved every page. The only thing I would change is the mom situation in the second half. No spoilers, but I’ll just say Marnie is more forgiving than I would be. Multiple characters in this book would have been slapped.

Please pick up this book! I already know I’ll be binge reading the rest of this author’s books. Bring em on!

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

WOW. This book was addictive. I came across it on Netgalley Saturday and immediately had to request it. I started reading the second the approval came through and let me tell you, I did not want to put it down. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about when I could pick it back up again.

Every Chance After is a grumpy/sunshine, age-gap romance set in a small town that tackles some heavy topics. While handled with extreme care, I recommend checking the list of trigger warnings included in the beginning of the book.

Marnie and Grady are EVERYTHING. I loved them so much. Though they were brought together by trauma, there’s a genuine friendship that forms between them and I loved the way their relationship evolves. Their chemistry was insane and the slow-burn was just👌🏻
The way he repeatedly shows up and takes care of her when no one else does was perfection. Even better, the dual POV allows us to witness the yearning on both sides which makes it that much better when they finally accept that they belong together. Nothing about their situation was easy but their journey to love was absolutely beautiful.

You can’t help but admire Marnie’s strength. In light of all she’s lost, she keeps a bright smile on her face determined not to let anyone see her cry so seeing her eventually let her guard down around Grady was wonderful.

The found family in this is FANTASTIC. Family is all Marnie’s ever wanted and being so close to finally belonging to one only to lose it was devastating (even if the family she was about to marry into wasn’t the greatest). Thankfully, Grady is surrounded by wonderful people who welcome her with open arms. I loved them all and the mental health rep in this book was amazing.

There’s also adorable cats, dogs and even a gator named Bessie!

This is my first book by Jessica Sherry but it certainly won’t be my last! I’ve already downloaded Yes No Maybe through KU and can’t wait to get started!

This was a beautiful novel of love but second Chan e love as well. I could relate so much to Marnie and her longing of family and that sometimes our happily ever after date were we least expect to find them. Gorgeous story and cover. Readers will enjoy escaping to this gorgeous tale.

Sherry writes an entertaining romance story that also deals with grief. She gives us both the male and female main character perspectives. It was a refreshing book to get lost in. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley, Jessica Sherry and the publisher for this ARC!

4.25 ⭐️ This is my first Jessica Sherry book and won’t be my last! I devoured this book, went to bed thinking about it, I loved it! The chemistry between Marnie and Grady is beautiful. Even though their first meeting together was tragic and sad, throughout the book the growth and character development for Marnie and Grady was amazing. Grady comes across as a protective man, but deep inside he was kind and loving (even braiding her hair!!) Marnie lost a lot thought out the book but she still remained resilient, and continued to be a powerful and strong women.

The writing was beautiful making you want to read more. The structure of the plot was amazing and thought out, although it feels like a slowish burn it was a perfect pace for the themes within the book. The various mental health and neurodivergent representations through the book were well written. I think everyone should add Every Chance After to their tbr!

Tropes - grumpy sunshine, age gaps, mental health representation, age gap, he is the care giver, strangers to friends to lovers, small town, and second chances.
Happy reading!!

My first Jessica Sherry book and OMG. I devoured this book. I read this is one day. Could not put it down.
Marnie and Grady!!! I love them together.
Tropes: age gaps, grumpy sunshine, found family, mental health representation, slow burn (but in a good way), he is the caregiver, animals, and horrible meet-cute.
Grady is a top-tier book boyfriend. The man holds her and lets her cry. He braids her hair! He also shows love to the cats. I just couldn't get over his character. He had such a tough exterior, but he was such a kind, loving, tender man!
While their meeting was so tragic and sad, the growth that happened in both MCs because of that tragedy was beautiful.
They were made for one another in all the best ways. I can't get enough of how well this author writes her characters and has the reader so invested in everything with these characters. You feel what they feel. I just can't say enough about this writing.
The structure of the plot is wonderful, and the pace is perfect for the story.
I haven't had many 5-star reads this year, but this will go down as one of my favorite books of the year.
I don't want to give away too much, but do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR immediately! It comes out today!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jessica Sherry for the opportunity to read and review this exceptional book!
Happy Reading!

3.75 ⭐️

This is a small-town, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance with a grumpy/sunshine dynamic and a hell of a meet-cute.

After Marnie Strange almost dies in Grady Tripp’s arms on her wedding day, they form an unbreakable bond.

Grady “Grouchy” Tripp is definite book boyfriend material, so devoted to Marnie from the start, even when he mistakes that devotes as guilt. It’s easy to love this character.

Marnie, I had a harder time with. As a character, she’s great, but I sometimes found the writing of her to be contradictory. I mean, here’s a woman who lost almost everything in one day, after already losing so much in her young life, and yet she remains resilient. In her words, she “bends, doesn’t break”. So it’s confusing to see her written in a way that occasionally infantilizes her. (All the giggling, for instance.)

As far as the romantic chemistry goes, it’s there from the moment they meet. Even on her would-be wedding day, Marnie is just as drawn to Grady as he is to her. My only complaint here is that the transition from “friends” to “lovers” was very sudden and felt somewhat jarring.

There’s a great cast of supporting characters in this book. Kudos for neurodivergent representation without making it a whole thing. Rather, it’s just an organic part of the character. I loved the G&G crew, but wish they weren’t quite so broad. At times they felt like caricatures rather than characters.

I’d recommend this book if you like small-town romances with a large cast of quirky side characters and some emotional depth.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Jessica Sherry for the advanced copy of this book, offered in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I need more Marnie and Grady in my life!! I will fully admit that I wasn’t sure how their trauma-filled beginning was going to play out into a romance, but damn if Jessica Sherry isn’t the most thoughtful and romantic writer I’ve read in a while. I loved the pace of this book which allowed these characters to develop feelings slowly while still giving us readers the thrill of a “will they, won’t they” read. A great read for those who hold fast to love, even during the dark times.

This story was intense. It wasn’t the kind of book you breeze through—it demanded something from me as a reader. The sadness was heavy, and there were moments that felt almost too real. It was hard to sit with some of the pain the characters were going through, but at the same time, I couldn’t look away.

What made it all worth it was the connection between the two main characters. Their bond was everything. It wasn’t perfect or easy, but it felt real—raw, honest, and deeply human. Even when the world around them was crumbling, they kept finding each other in the chaos. That connection gave the story so much heart.

By the end, I felt both drained and full. It hurt, but it was beautiful. This story reminded me how powerful it is to be seen and loved by just one person, especially when everything else feels like it's falling apart.

He braids her hair?? Ugh, I’m melting! 🥵💘
The drama, the slow burn, the vibesss—I was living for every second!
Jessica totally nailed it with these characters. Like, even the side characters had me obsessed?? They all felt so real and lovable.

This book was such a breeze to read—well-paced, addictive.

If you’re a sucker for grumpy x sunshine ☀️, small-town charm, a sprinkle of spice 🌶️, and that warm fuzzy found family goodness 🥺💕… trust me, you need this book in your life!

Thank you to Jessica Sherry and NetGalley for providing me with an arc copy of this book!

This is such a lovely story. A small town, grumpy-sunshine story about falling in love, letting yourself have the things you want, and above all, family.

Marnie is such a unique character. I don't think I've read about an FMC like her in while - a lot of the time, the sunshine character in grumpy/sunshine tends to annoy me (I'm a grump - sue me). But Marie is just such pure goodness, and all of her foilbes come from a place of genuinely caring about people and wanting to make their lives better, and just being happy to be in their lives at all.

Grady is a grade-A grump (he's got some trauma under all that gruffness), and he's running himself ragged trying to be all things for all people. He's a vet, an all-around animal lover, and he loves taking care of people (but especially Marnie). oh also he's bad at asking for what he wants.

The accident that brings them together is heartbreaking, as is the fallout (mostly the way people around Marnie start treating her), but Grady really steps up in her life and becomes a pillar for her (mostly for guilt reasons). Their slow path to love and romance was so wonderful! And the families Marnie kept making for herself (especially those guys down at the G&G) were such a heartwarming addition to the story.

Please check trigger warnings!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing the ARC.

This book is a stunning foray into what happens when your worst day brings about the best kind of change in your life. Grady is a grumpy, closed-off veterinarian who causes a life-threatening accident with Marnie, the resident sweetheart. Bonded by this trauma, Marie and Grady navigate the after together, as life throws more curveball their way.

Not going to lie, but the first chapter of this book was absolutely hard to read, as it details the accident somewhat graphically. This accident is the true foundation for the story, as it deals with Marnie coming to realize certain truths about herself and the place where she's at in life, and Grady's overwhelming grief and guilt at the accident. This book navigates both of those topics with delicacy and thoughtfulness, allowing for an authentic representation of how people handle trauma differently.

Grady and Marnie are truly what shines in this book. Marnie is an endless font of positivity and enthusiasm, whereas Grady absolutely prefers to be left alone. But just as Grady teaches Marnie to be mean and look out for herself first, Marnie also teaches Grady how to relax and really and truly open up with her. The character growth in this book is truly amazing and I enjoyed every second of it.

This is a great book and definitely should not be missed.

4.5 stars rounded up. If you’re someone who loves a good caretaking scene in a romance novel, this is the book for you.

The first maybe half of this one is a collection of superb caretaking scenes, done in a way that doesn’t undermine the capability of Marina, the FMC, but allows the MMC, Grady, to reassure her she has someone she can lean on. The accident that connects them adds a layer of nuance to their interactions, and Jessica Sherry does a great job of showing that Grady is not operating solely out of guilt but acknowledges it is there. As Marina recovers, the two of them build a friendship that begins to help unburden them both even as they question or deny what more they could be to each other.

Grady has a large circle of family and acquaintances around him that he often feels frustrated by. Part of his new bond with Marina helps him work through his conflicted feelings about his family dynamics and come to appreciate the people he has around him. Even when he’s at his most people-averse, he has a natural caretaking instinct and routinely shows up where he’s needed. He feels a sense of obligation, and that really helps establish how his perspective shifts with Marina because he *wants* to be there for her.

Marina has faced abandonment time and time again since childhood. Her determination to remain positive, take whatever is thrown at her, and move past it is simultaneously admirable and concerning in how little she allows herself to process the negative emotions that are a part of life. She has experienced more than her fair share of circumstances and treatment from others that would warrant a breakdown or at least a self-pity party now and then. Grady becomes exactly who she needs to show her it’s ok to let herself be down and out because A) she’s not the type to let something or someone *keep* her down and B) he is there for her to lean on now.

There are a lot of very real and serious conversations, situations, and losses that are touched on throughout this book. I think Jessica Sherry handles them all with care and in a genuine, thoughtful way. She provides more information about what to expect before the book begins.

Thank you to Jessica Sherry via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This jumped straight to the top of my tbr for this weekend when I spotted it on NetGalley this morning, I knew then I’d not be able to put it down or read anything else. As soon as I started Every Chance After I knew it was going to be a 5 ⭐️ read and Grady Tripp did not disappoint.

I don’t know what Jessica Sherry puts in her books but they make for the best kind of all day reading experiences. The MCs are top tier and so well written they jump right out of the pages fully formed and real, I love the cameos or mentions of characters from previous books, it makes everything like an inside joke that I’m in on. I love the side characters she writes too because they too bring the comedic value to moments, I particularly love the scene about 44% of the way through - I was howling with laughter as it unfolded.

Every Chance After is a swoon fest from the go, but let’s be honest it starts when you look at that cover! I can’t wait to catch Marnie + Grady in future books and see what they’re up to! Thank you so much Jessica for the ARC and for making my weekend ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥