The History Between is Ashley Manley's first book in her new series, Back to Fontain, which focuses on Rue Conway, the eldest daughter and oldest of two sisters. Rue works with her mother at the family antique store, where she meets Nash Fletcher, who is a traveling substitute, and the two share an instant attraction. Eight years later, Rue is now a single mother; she and Nash have a falling out, Rue is engaged to a dentist, and the family antique store is struggling financially. In addition to that, Rue discovers her mother has been harboring a health problem; she learns the truth about her birth father, but most importantly, the truth about Nash and his whereabouts. As Rue goes on a treasure hunting journey in an attempt to save her family's failing antique store, she reunites with her estranged father, reconciles with Nash, and discovers history never goes away, no matter how deep you bury it.

Rue is the responsible sister, the one who’s serious and predictable. Nash is the opposite of her, more adventurous and spontaneous. Their attraction and chemistry upon first meeting were instantaneous and palpable. Furthermore, despite not having any contact with each other, their ardent chemistry didn’t waver or dissipate within those eight years. Rue needed Nash to bring life back into her mundane life, while Nash needed Rue to ground him. Their love for each other is fervent and steady, and the relationship between the two allows acceptance and forgiveness for their faults and flaws. 

Can Ashley Manley ever write a book that doesn’t make me cry? Emotionally tender and just overall gorgeously written, Manley takes the reader on a historical adventure, weaving past and present together while showcasing how a person’s past doesn’t define their future as long as they’re actively making changes during their present time. Manley is an exhilarating voice in women’s fiction, and every book she writes is promising and trustworthy. This is such a heartwarming and beautiful start to a new series, and I’m so excited to read the other two books and learn more about each sister’s backstory.

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ashley Manley for a digital ARC of The History Between.

I have to admit, when I first learned Ashley Manley was writing a book about a treasure hunt, I was...not into the idea. But she's my FAVORITE author, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to read early, and let me tell you, this woman knows what she's doing. I don't know how she made it work, and perfectly, but she did. I ATE THIS UP. As I'm pretty sure I said on my last review of hers, she can do no wrong. Nobody writes a MMC like her or has the most unique and laughable side characters. I'll buy this when it comes out and I'll buy the audible too. What a gem of an author, and incredible storyteller! I told myself to slow down because I'm always empty after finishing one of her books, but I devoured this in a day and a half!

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I am a huge Ashley Manley fan and I’ve loved all her books. This is definitely one of my favorites. I loved the mystery element. The characters, the history, the city!

Charleston is one of my favorite cities. The characters were so unique and alive.
Rue works at a family antique store living a quiet ordered life when her world falls apart. in an uncharacteristically spontaneous choice she decides to go on a treasure hunt with a cast of characters. There’s adventure, romance and huge character growth. There were also heartwarming passages about life. Ashley Manley remains one of my favorite authors and readers will eat this up.

I’ll admit I was a little nervous about the length of the book but it was still a very quick read! I think I read it in 3 days. Thank you to Ashley Manley, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Five big gold stars this book is a treasure. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ashley Manley has become one of my favorite writers. The History Between is book one of her new Back to Fontain series and drew me in from the description and beautiful cover.

Set in the small town of Fontain, Rue runs an antique store with her mom. She lives a predictable life with her daughter and her fiancée, until some huge events with her mom could change her life forever. Set out to try and find a lost treasure, Rue only has a couple of weeks to try and change the outcome of her life. While there Rue meets Cap and also reunites with her "ex-husband" Nash.

I loved the treasure hunt parts of the story. Ashley's writing is so atmospheric I felt like I was in Charleston on all of the quests to find treasure. I absolutely adored Rue and Nash, they definitely thrived on miscommunication but their love and desire and spot on. You can't forget all of the side characters, who really make it all one big happy family.

The History Between gutted me, especially when Nash says "I'll wait for you for the rest of my life." This book will have you laughing one minute, crying the next, and laughing again. I can't wait for this series to continue with Rue's sisters and hope that we see more of Rue and Nash as well!

Thank you Ashley Manley for an ARC of The History Between for an honest review.

I have loved every single book written by Ashley Manley and this one did not disappoint.

I was instantly hooked by the prologue and immediately knew this would be a five star read for me. Rue desires stability above all else, yet discovers some life altering news in the first few chapters which leads her to act completely out of character and leave town in search of treasure. What she finds is so much more.

Ashely has a way of writing these quirky, yet lovable characters that really have a way of sticking with you. I love her sense of humor and found myself laughing and crying throughout the book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to Victory Editing, NetGalley and Ashley Manley for the opportunity to read The History Between as an ARC.
I enjoyed the book and read it in about 3 days. For me, the best parts of the book are the relationships. The relationship between Rue and her mother, her sisters, her bio-dad and of course between Rue and Nash. I especially liked the real banter between Rue and her sisters.

Character driven stories are my thing and the characters are what make this book. Rue grows as a person, as does Nash and her mother. The characters seem like real people that say things like: “Irony is a down and dirty bitch” and “For better or worse, we learn how to mother from our own mothers”. The setting kept my interest and the description was engaging. An enduring love story, a great setting with history throughout makes a great book. I am looking forward to the stories of Rue’s sisters.

Ashley Manley does it again! Obviously I am a big fan but her stories are so fun. Just totally bingable and the right amount of tension. I'm ready for the next Fontain book!

it was no trouble at all to follow Rue on her journey. infact it was brilliantly easy. Ashley has poured such heart into the characters in this book that they just came alive from the pages. the fact that this is book one feels really exciting of whats to come.
i was instantly rooting for Rue she and the other characters feel like people you now know. you can picture the vivid detials of their looks, how they carry themselves and then what they get up to. the cast of characters ,means we get a bit of everything. and more often than not i was just smiling in my soul and lips the whole way through i was reading.
this book really was a treasure hunt for adults book. and in the best way it made me feel the whole breadth of emotions along the way.
i totally understood Rue and her need for things to be stable, safe and just the way she likes it. but her life doesn't want to live by Rue and her rules and so she is thrown into an adventure where in the end the treasure she finds might not be a pot of gold but something so much more.
i love how Rue and Nash meet and then meet again. and its almost like there has been this invisible thread between them even in the missing years they haven't been together. so much has happened in between then but these two, their bond is still as strong. their chemistry is charming, deep but also off the scale banter just made my chuckle. Nash though doesn't mind the spontaneous side of life. hes up for an adventure. he balances out Rue really well and just comes along and adds spark into Rue and she in return is such a steadying soul for him, one that grounds him.
there is the adventure aspect to this book but like most books of this kind the treasure is happening more along the way, the journey really is one, the moments and people met the most important things.
seeing Rue at the centre and then all the layers to her life was something that touched, tugged and excited the heart every step of the way and every new page i felt lucky to read.
lots of relationship dynamics are woven trough the book. most make you understand completely how and RUe is the way she is. and with each new things i read of her made me want to jump into the pages and me by her side. show her how to beleive in herself and that she didnt have to make evertying come together on her own. big sisters, eh? her vulneraility seems to be something she wears like a cloak. her lack of self belief sometimes sits like stones in her pockets.
one true gem of my read is Cap. oh come on he needs to be a presence in every ones life. what a light of a man.
the added touch of making the story be mainly from Rue's point of view but then others mixed in was a brilliant way to follow our lead but also get a much more added perspective to things too.
with every new page i felt like i could see the locations being build around me too. the details Ashley adds are so aware, so observing and so the book feels even more vivid and just gets all its hooks into you. then you add the fantastic way Ashley has with her characters and storytelling and you've got a bit that feel like its come, sat in my soul, and was a balm to it.
im trying really hard not to give too much away. this is one of those books where i want to just sit here and give you all every details just so i can talk about it all again. and then i can sit and think about it all again. but i also know its one of those books where i also loved it so much i want others to come and find it fresh and new so they too can be delighted every step of the way with each new character and twist.
but TRUUUUST me its taken everything i have not to just ruin the whole thing just so i can excitedly sit here and go over it all again.
the fact this is a series, the fact i think i know who we might get to know more of the others characters just makes me jiggle with reader excitement. that i get to be a book one and sooooooo ready for me is one of the best feelings as a reading lover.
everyone needs this book in their life. right now this book need to come along and balm the soul and lift the heart just like it has me.

I keep waiting for this author to screw up and write a horrendously shitty book… But I honestly don’t think she can. And that kinda makes me wanna stalk her till she agrees to be my friend 🥴

No one does character development and depth quite like Manley. Her books are all wildly entertaining, engaging, atmospheric and oh-so-damn-endearing. They’re swoon-inducing and low-key sexy, laugh-out-loud hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking, but always fully fleshed and wholly satiating.

And this one was no exception.

How she manages to pull you in and hold you there… I do not know. I think she’s basically the human equivalent of of Dyson Ball Animal 3, with that top tier suction.

So don’t even bother opening this book if you have crucial plans looming, because you’ll forget about them. Or you’ll pretend to. That’s how good she is. And that’s the kind of reader you are.

Request her latest, The History Between, if you’re lucky enough to have the opportunity & then go back and grab her previous works so you’re not missing out. Because you are absolutely missing out if you’ve yet to read her.

As always, huge thanks to you, Mrs. Manley, aka my personal Paul Sheldon, for the opportunity to read this jewel early!

Honestly though, I’d be your private Rat Terrier straight from the bowels of hell0 if you denied me — barkin your head off till you gave up the goods 😌

Yours,
Annie W.

Pub: 4.20.2026.

(** Purrs at Nash before walking away 🤤😍🤌🏼🤤)

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this book. I will preface by saying that I’ve loved everything that Ashley Manley has written. Her books are so good. She has the ability to spin a story that feels fresh and it never feels like a ‘oh I’ve read that before’. This story of Rue and Nash spans 8 years and has a cast of characters - one of which is the city of Charleston! It definitely stands as a key character in this story.

I tore through this book on a long flight. I did not put it down.

Don’t sleep on this book - download it! I promise it is a story that has not been done before.

This story had many twists and turns and a big cast of characters. Without any spoilers - here’s my little ode to some of the key characters…
Rue - you really made me crazy with the fact that you didn’t tell a man that you had his child and I thought you were a wuss. But you (mostly) redeemed yourself.
Nash - you really grew up and I love that for you.
Reese & Rémy - best sisters ever. Loved their banter.
Gypsy/Mom - you free-spirit! Your big secret spill to Rue was CRAZY! But it felt about right for this woman. I could picture her perfectly - with an armful of bangles.
Cap - Super sad backstory. Not sure how I got over the choices he made but I did fall in love with him.

I will read anything Ashley Manley writes. This book blew me away in so many ways. I love historical anything, and I love Charleston. My Aunt took us on one of these walking tours when I was in 6th grade and I still remember it all vividly. Everything about this book was fun, mysterious, and just what I needed to laugh, cry a little and then laugh more. Nash, Cap, and Sunny stole the story for me. I also learned a new favorite word 😉 This is surely one of my new favorite books.

Book Report: The History Between by Ashley Manley

I finally picked up my first Ashley Manley book thanks to NG… (despite owning three already🫣) and immediately started The History Between….and wow…I was not prepared for how much I’d love this one.

Rue Conway has built her life around stability. Running her family’s antique shop…raising her daughter and planning a safe and predictable future. But when everything starts to unravel (financial trouble…her mother’s illness and the sudden appearance of a treasure hunting father she never knew) she’s forced to chase something far less certain… and maybe far more meaningful✨

This story completely swept me away.

It’s…
🤗Fun
🥹Emotional
🥰and full of heart

It’s one of those books you just want to live inside for a while. I was hugging my Kindle the whole time 🥹 The characters felt so real and I got way too attached (no regrets) And Cap?? Hands down one of my all time favorite characters ever…you’re going to love the crap out of him💛Now I’m side eyeing the other Ashley Manley books on my shelf like… why did I wait this long?! Ohhh and The History Between is book 1 in a new series called Back to Fontain! I am giddy!

Thank you Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for the gifted ecopy!

Releases 4/20

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This book is an enjoyable and engaging read. 4.5 stars, I rounded up for Goodreads. :)

I appreciated the focus on a female main character,Rue, in her 40s, which brought a refreshing perspective to the story. Overall, it’s a heartwarming and emotional novel that reminds us we don’t know how long the impacts of those people we’ve met can last.