Soft, swoony, and quietly emotional—Over & Out is the kind of romance that sneaks up on you. Thoughtful characters, tender moments, and so much heart. I loved the slow-burn and the second-chance vibes.

3.5 stars. This books was a cute read. I’m usually not a fan of a “workplace” romance or a “boss-employee” romance, but this one I think leaned into it the right amount to intrigue me. I also like the various times that mental health was talked about in this book. I always like when real life hardships are added into romance books because life sometimes is a little messy. I will say I’m not a fan of the “hiding information to protect her” troupe, which was very prevalent in the second half of the book.

Firstly thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy. I really enjoyed this book. The storyline is easy to follow and the characters are easy to fall in love with. Even when you want to hate Hopper you really can’t. don’t get me wrong he’s a huge man baby but he’s got a huge heart. loved this book!!

After a crash stole her confidence and the thrill-seeking life she once loved, Chris is just trying to stay afloat working at a beach bar in her quiet coastal town. But when she stands up to a rude customer, everything changes. That customer turns out to be Hopper Donnach, a Hollywood heartthrob with a bad attitude and an unexpected connection to her past. Now he is her temporary boss and the tension between them is undeniable. Chris wants to keep her distance but the more time they spend together the more the lines blur. With secrets simmering beneath the surface and emotions running high, Chris must decide if protecting her heart is worth missing a chance at something real.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me at 30%.

I didn't find myself connecting with the characters, the insta-lust/love didn't work for me (sometimes I love this trope but this one didn't hit right for me) and I also had a hard time understanding why a waitress would get a job she was completely unqualified for just because she was a bit snarky! 😅

I can see that this book is still a decent romance and judging by other reviews here I can see I'm in the minority here so if you are thinking about reading this book you may want to take a look at other reviews too!

I think ultimately this book just didn't grab me in the way I wanted it to. I didn't find myself invested in the characters or where the story was going and so I decided to DNF this one.

Over and Out was my first introduction to Claire Wilder and the Redbeard Cove series, and let me just say, it won’t be my last. This heartfelt smalltown romance caught me by surprise in the best way, compelling me to go back and add the previous books in the series to my TBR.

Wilder delivers a beautiful blend of tropes: there's a hint of second chance romance, workplace tension, some delicious enemies to lovers friction, and an underlying journey of healing. The dynamic between the grumpy MMC and the bold, stubborn FMC hooked me from the start. Their mutual annoyance was the perfect spark for the witty, snappy banter that followed. I especially appreciated the FMC’s unapologetic confidence, she was strong, bold, and held her ground in every interaction.

Despite the fiery tension, this story had an undercurrent of softness and healing that gave it real heart. There were genuinely funny moments too, scenes that had me laughing out loud as I vividly pictured them unfolding. I’m someone who naturally sees stories play out in my head like a movie, so when an author can craft a world that’s easy to connect with visually and emotionally, it makes the experience all the more enjoyable.

This was a quick, easy, and satisfying read—a refreshing palate cleanser between my usual darker romances. While everyone rates books differently, for me this is a solid 4/5. Did I enjoy it? Absolutely. Would I recommend it? Yes, especially to readers who enjoy smalltown charm, complex characters, and well balanced romantic tension. Will I read another Claire Wilder book? Without a doubt.

Over & Out is a fun story, at times very clever in terms of the dialogue between the protagonists, and it also has some difficult moments for both. It's light, relatable, and easy to read.

Something I struggled with a bit was Hopper's character. I think he needs to go through many years of therapy, and while it shows that not everything the media said was really true... there are unnecessary attitudes and situations. Obviously, it's okay to portray a character like that; not all male characters have to be perfect, but the idea of ​​the protagonist arriving and changing him so radically is a bit outdated, I think. That's what I felt; he always had the same style of behavior (I'm not going to judge) and then suddenly he changed, he's different. We all know it doesn't work that way.

There's a spicy moment that I found ridiculous (mini spoiler: I'm talking about the plane) and it's... ugh. It's all very strange... at a certain point, there's turbulence, and everything is magical. Wow. I don't know. I thought it was bizarre. Although this is a very, very personal thing, it could be wonderful for other readers... I guess.

Beyond the above, it was a fun read that made me want to know more. At times, I wanted the two of them to sit down and have a long, four-hour chat to be honest about everything. But otherwise, there wouldn't be a story!

Thank you so much for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for giving me an Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I hadn’t read the previous novels in this series but this book is fine as a standalone,

I really liked Chris. She was spunky and easy to read. The pacing in the story was slow at times, but well written. I wasn’t head over heels for hopper and some of his lines killed me. I’m not a typical fan of famous leading man falls hard for normal girl tropes so blame it on that! Worth reading, the town was cute, not sure I’ll go after the first two books in this series.

I really liked the FMC of this one! At first, I didn't love the MMC, but he grew on me. While this is not my favorite read of 2025, it was still a fun one.

Super cute loved it and written beautifully will be recommending it to everyone there wasn’t a part I didn’t love

This is book 3 in the series and I enjoyed it enough that I’ll likely go back and read the first two. I really enjoyed the story - the secret identity aspect was fun, but it also made it easy to pick up where the third act shift would come from. I enjoyed about 95% of the book, but the grand gesture was disappointing. I’ll give it credit for being different than anything I’ve read before and without giving any more spoilers, I’ll just say it missed the mark for me. Hopper and Chris have instant chemistry, but they also seem to care deeply about each other. The side characters were great and added that extra flair to make the book more dimensional.
3.5 stars, rounded down.

Over & Out is a cute, lighthearted rom-com following Chris, a dirt-bike racer, and Hopper who’s a world-famous actor known for his hot yet snarky attitude ❤️‍🔥

I had an enjoyable time reading Over & Out, it was an easy read that I could just pick up and relax with 🥹

Chris and Hopper’s relationship was a slight enemies to lovers, which obviously paved the way for intense tension between them 🙈

The story not only had major romantic themes, it also had emotional themes that were intertwined with Chris and Hopper’s character development.

Chris, who found herself unable to ride again after an accident and how that affects her to this day. Along with this, we have Hopper who’s struggling with his identity and choosing his own path in life instead of letting that decision be dictated by others…

The story follows both of them as they attempt to navigate these traumas, and when their paths cross, the secrets within them threaten to break the bond neither of them were ready to have.

I loved how the romance was balanced with the severity of the secrets Chris and Hopper had–it was definitely a bit angsty. However, I do wish the moments were more impactful when the truth came to light. I feel like the plot fell a bit flat and did not deliver the emotions that it could have… 🧡

This was a very fun story to follow. Definitely lots of different emotions coming through. Very well written. Over & Out

Over & Out by Claire Wilder book review

This is a heart-warming story of two damaged people finding love amidst a lot of obstacles. Some of the hurdles were in their minds from the walls they had built up after facing trauma. Some of the stumbling blocks were the publicity that comes from being a famous person.

Hop is a well-known actor and constantly in the public eye for how he behaves and talks. Chris takes on the temporary job of his personal assistant and comes as a breath of fresh air with her no-nonsense attitude.

This story reminds us that celebrities are human and entitled to privacy in their personal lives. Most of the times, the fans and even team members working with well-known people, treat them like their screen persona and a money-making machine. In the process, the individuality of the star gets lost in the public image and commercial interests.

Loved the banter between Hop and Chris. They helped each other become stronger and more true to themselves. Such a sweet love story with huge character growth.

Highly recommend 👍🏻

Great book. Loved the characters and storyline.
Chris and Hopper have great chemistry together that keeps the story flowing.
Thanks to the publisher for ARC.

When I tell you i DEVOURED this book in one whole day!! It was SO SO GOOD! Fans of Lucy Score, Claire Kingsley, and Avery Maxwell- Claire Wilder is my newest add to the list! And nothing excites me more than to find a new author that I love and then discover she has written a ton of books! If anyone needs me I'll be reading Claire's books for the next month. The banter and sass in this book was unmatched! I loved how they went at it and he fell first! And Hop was such a tough guy but he literally had such a sweet heart of gold, I might have teared up a few times. If you're still reading this review, RUN do not walk, and go get more of Claire's books!!!!

Over & Out might be the third book in the Redbeard Cove series, but you can dive into it without reading the others first—and trust me, you’ll be hooked! This story blends sweet small-town charm with some seriously deep feels. On the surface, it’s all witty banter and swoony moments, but underneath there’s real heart and some emotional weight that sneaks up on you in the best way.

Hopper is your classic grumpy guy with hidden layers—cool and quiet on the outside, but a total softie once you get to know him. Chris is pure sunshine, always smiling, but secretly dealing with a lot more than she lets on. Watching these two slowly break down each other’s walls and fall hard was such a treat. Their connection is messy, emotional, and real—and their journey to love is unforgettable.

I couldn’t put it down! Big thanks to Claire and the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy. Happy Pub Day!

This was absolutely delightful. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were charming and witty. I highly recommend this fun and quick read.

Okay, wait - I LOVED this! I freaking ate. this. up. The mix between comedic relief and serious topics was perfect.

Chris (Christine) & Hopper were so fun. I haven’t read the first two books but you can bet I will be now!

Tropes include: Forbidden romance, boss/employee, secret identity, grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, forced proximity

Let’s start with a few things I loved:
• The BANTER 😍
• Dirt biking?? Um yes 🏍️
• Hopper’s self-esteem ✨glow up✨
• The Duke
• No BS 🐂💩
• Over.

We love growth and support. Chris and Hopper made each other better. They both had parental trauma, although both were very different circumstances. They shared in their own time and were so understanding of one another. Even when Hopper messes up, Chris supports him and doesn’t jump to conclusions. Idk if I, as a real human adult, could even do that. It was really refreshing to read.

We REALLY love a third act /problem/, not a third act breakup. Like, okay maturity 👀 And we still got a grand gesture so who can be mad?

Just a side note - Miles and Dolly?? They didn’t even need to be together on page for you to feel the tension 🥵🪭 Cannot wait for their story!

All in all, I also felt like the story just flowed really well. Even with some flashback stuff and not knowing the other characters from previous books, I still felt like I knew what was going on and I never felt like the book was dragging on for the sake of length.

This was my definition of a perfect epilogue. It highlighted their successes individually, and didn’t solely focus on marriage/babies like every epilogue ever.

So so good. A definite summer read.

The Basics:
Actor 🎭 // Waitress/Assistant 👯‍♀️
1st Person Dual POV
Standalone, but 3rd book in the “Redbeard Cove” series
HEA 🖤 + epilogue
🌶️🌶️.5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


Thank you to NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🤍

Didn’t realise it was part of a series when I requested to read however, it can be read as a standalone and I really enjoyed it. I’m going to check out the rest of the series.

A great quick read with some great tropes. I enjoyed the characters very much ♥️.