This was heartwarming and heartbreaking and so so lovely. I loved the time it spanned and the time we spent with the two. Thank you to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this release in exchange for my honest review of the work!

★★★★☆ 4 stars

Hometown is a character-driven, friends-to-lovers romance that follows Lainey and Jannes over fourteen years as they repeatedly move in and out of each other’s lives.

I really enjoyed their connection, especially the witty banter and the way they became a source of comfort and stability for one another despite both coming from complicated family backgrounds.

The age gap plays an important role in their relationship, although I felt it was emphasized a little too often. The middle also dragged for me at times, and I discovered that fourteen years of yearning may be pushing the limits of my personal slow-burn tolerance. Still, the character development and emotional connection kept me invested.

Overall, I really enjoyed Hometown. There’s something tender and a little aching about watching Lainey and Jannes grow through so many different stages of life while always remaining important to one another. I’d recommend it to readers who love friends-to-lovers, years of longing and missed timing, complicated family dynamics, and a very slow burn.

Thank you to The Book Guild and NetGalley for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

It's a testament to how well "Hometown" is written that I still loved it despite how much I wanted to bang together the heads of central pair to knock some sense into them. I also think that all that emotional trauma earned the reader a longer period after the inevitable conclusion.

this book really showed how much heart we have in all of us. but also rightly so how much those hearts can change, grow and yes become wiser and more mature as we age. there is the whole science thing around needing your brain to actually develop but there is also something else that comes with being uch a young age and then becoming not. eeesh i cringe at some of the things my own self was doing when i was younger. i cringe at when i see some of my families posts when Facebook or even Myspace first started and i know they do too! but time, age and life brings difference. and yes also those developed brains do. in this book we really get to see that play out and i dont mean that in a bad way. in doing so i really came to understand care and yes be frustrated a few times with our pair. these time-span books can be really beautiful when done right and this one was done right for me.
Jannes and Lainey had my emotions all over the place i tell you. come on Martinette dont do this to me again. can they just stay still and be together! haha but alas then we wouldn't have romance books.
this book had my heart feeling full, in pain with and for them, in love with and for them. i really do gobble up books like this where you get to see their journey, their ups and downs, how they connect and you just know something special is there. something important for both of them. their lives move on and yes sometime apart. but this thread between the pair is there even when they dont realise it sometimes.
finding your way back to someone like this was beautiful to see. and life certainly hands them enough!
and in growing up so does their connection. so does their love. something that feels all encompassing when young can feel something deeper, more genuine than you think possible when love really means something when they are older.
and yes. my heart hurt a little too much at times. because bloomin eck people just get together i cant take this no more. but that is books for you. the ones we care about hit deep. and that is why we love these books. that is why i cant help myself needing more of them. and i definitely will be looking for more from Martinette. showing us what someone important can do to our lives was so touching and so heartfelt in this book. love when it works, when its true can be the best thing on earth.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’ll admit, Jannes and Lainey frustrated me at times because I felt like they had SO many opportunities to finally be together, only for the timing to be wrong or for one of them to pull back yet again. There were definitely moments where I wanted to reach into the book and shake them both.

But despite all of that, I absolutely devoured this book.

This is the type of love story that makes reading even more enjoyable for me. The kind that leaves my heart feeling so full when I finish because you don’t just watch two people fall in love, you watch their connection survive over a decade of growing up, moving away, other relationships, heartbreak, distance, loss, and so many moving parts in both of their lives.

What Jannes and Lainey have feels so much bigger than a romance. Their connection is always there, even when they aren’t together and even when years and miles separate them. They continuously find their way back into each other’s lives, and there’s something so beautiful about a love that can grow and change alongside two people for that long without ever truly disappearing.

Was I screaming at them to JUST BE TOGETHER ALREADY? Absolutely. But I think that’s also what made finally seeing them choose each other feel so incredibly satisfying.

I loved this. I devoured it. And I finished it with that warm, full-heart feeling that reminds me exactly why I love reading romance so much.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for the advance copy. All opinions are my own. This is a slow-burning romance because Lainey and Jannes are the couple who work themselves towards each other. I love how, in this book, we were able to travel back in time while also focusing on the future, bringing the story's background to life. The writing in this book is enjoyable, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves romance books.

3.5 rounded down to a 3

This book at times is really beautiful but also really frustrating.

First, I’m going to start with what I loved: the second half of the book, particularly parts 3 and 4. This is the slowest of slow burns. Two people who just can’t get their timing right. I also really liked that it was set in New Zealand, I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read a romance novel set there before, and I’ve read a lot. That was definitely a breath of fresh air.

Now, what I really didn’t like: part 1 of this book. I’m so happy I powered past it because I had A LOT of issues with this part in particular. The age difference between Lainey and Jannes was always there, and always would be there, but I think it was a mistake to start the novel with her at 14 and him at 19 because it just felt gross, especially on his side even though they never physically did anything.

When she hits university, the age difference isn’t as weird, and I feel like the entirety of part one could have left off completely. We juts needed a line or a paragraph about how they knew each other when they were younger and she had a crush and that would have sufficed. But spending so much time with them when she was still so young and he was five years older than her just felt like a misstep. As adults, the age gap is fine. But when your main character is FOURTEEN? No.

I would have rounded my 3.5 up to a 4 if part one of this story didn’t exist.

Wow - this book put me through the ringer (in the best way)! The main characters suffer through so many missed opportunities with bad timing and while it does take a long time (the full 14 years!) to get to see them together, it was worth it. I think a lot of their struggles were realistic given their ages, various points in life, and personal tendencies to self-sabotage (which I can empathize with). I really wasn't sure how we were going to get to the HEA, but the anticipation kept me turning the pages wanting to find out. Was I frustrated at certain points (especially with the MMC's actions)? Absolutely, but we knew this was going to be a slow burn and that certainly delivered.

I can understand how this many not resonate with some readers, but I would encourage you to give this a go if you enjoy emotional reads with a HEA.

The reason I'm rating this a 4 instead of 5 is because I am a greedy reader and would've loved to see a bit more from them as an actual couple. We see a lot of them together, but as friends only. So I would've loved just a bit more from the epilogue or an additional chapter in that regard. I also was a bit confused about some of the characters who were introduced and then their arc fell off (not a huge thing, but just left me wondering or seeking closure).

Overall, I enjoyed this and look forward to more from this author!

The book was okay - I liked the slow burn and the long timeline and all - but it's really hard for me to get over the age gap when they first meet. 14 is very much still a child, and I know they were just friends, but still. And when she's 16 and he's 21? Nah, not super into that. So, I think this could've been good, but the age gap was just too big for how young Lainey is at the start of the story.

I have never experience the amount of slow burns I received from this novel. I've waited in every chapter to see if their was a chance or hope for Lainey and Jannes to get together.
I enjoyed every chapter! I couldn't stop reading. I love the narrative and how it hooked me into it. I would love to read more of the Martinette Williams next book. 📚💯🩷
If you like slow burns and how bff's became lovers, this is for you! 📖💕☺️

Oh man I'm not even sure where to begin.

Well, maybe to say a big THANKS to netgalley for this copy in advance.
I've been finding myself more and more in love with reading books of new authors. What a privilege that it is to have a copy so early in my hands.

That being said... I want to give an honest review for this book.
And keep in mind I don't have big spoilers, but there might be some minor here and there.

If you like back and fourth and extreme miscommunication, this is the book for you. Unfortunately, it's not the book for me.

As an aspiring writer myself, I cannot find it in me to go so far as giving two stars, though I was tempted the whole time to give that or to DNF this book. I really admire someone that was brave enough to put their words into a book. I mean, it's more than I've ever did it, so congratulations to the author!

But, I really did not like the age gap when the story begins. Had he been 2 years older, or had they met at 17, and maybe it would be easier, but even so, it's weird as heck. There's even a part that I cringed a lot when he thought of her body and she was what? 15? 16? And he was 20.

Once they start to get older it's not as weird but then it becomes annoying. It took so long for this story to happen. We got 2% of romance, I'm not even sure if it's not 1%.

And I get it this was supposed to be like this, but man I hated it so much. These characters are bad people that are constantly hurting others (I'm so sad about Cole still, and Mei). It felt like the story was written to always vilanize these other people that would come into their life for the benefit of the plot and to justify their crapy behavior.

In terms of the writing it was okay. Fast paced, a lot of dialogue which helps into reading the book quite fast, so I didn't hate that part.

And for the love of GOD LAINEY, GET SOME SELF LOVE!!!!!

LISTEN TO ME GIRLS, if you find yourself waiting for a man, it means that MAN IS NOT WORTH IT.

If they are hurt, they need a therapist and that's not your job!

Either way, it was still fun, I had a good time reading it, I laughed a lot, mostly out of surprise how these two could not find a timing.

I'm glad I got this copy, thank you again netgalley!!!!

And to the author, this is not against you, just against these two characters. AND CONGRATULATIONS! WISHES OF SUCCESS ON YOUR LAUNCH!

Thank you!

Hometown is one of those quiet, slow-burn romances that is much more about the journey than the destination. Spanning fourteen years, it follows Lainey and Jannes as they grow up, move apart, find their way back to each other, and repeatedly wonder whether the timing might ever be right.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the feeling of history between the characters. Their relationship isn’t straightforward, and there are plenty of missed opportunities, unspoken feelings and moments where you desperately want them to just say what they’re thinking! That made their connection feel very human and believable.

I also loved the sense of place. The small New Zealand hometown setting gives the story a lovely atmosphere, and there is something particularly appealing about the idea of a person and a place becoming so intertwined that they both feel like home.

This is definitely a romance for readers who enjoy a slow burn, friends-to-lovers stories and complicated relationships that develop over time, rather than a fast-paced love story. There were moments when I wanted the story to move a little quicker, but ultimately I think the slower pace suited the themes of timing, growing up and finding your way back to someone.

Martinette Williams has created a tender and bittersweet story about the people who stay with us, even when life takes us in completely different directions. It left me with that lovely, slightly melancholy feeling that the best romances sometimes do.

A really lovely read, particularly if you enjoy character-driven romances with a strong sense of place and plenty of yearning.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for giving me an opportunity to read this arc early! This story centers a couple that meet when they are young and their encounters as they grow older. This focused a little too heavily on their age gap and it started to annoy me after a while

I had mixed feelings about Hometown. There were things I really enjoyed, especially the setting and Martinette Williams’ writing. The New Zealand setting was beautifully described and easy to picture, and I liked the idea of following Lainey and Jannes over fourteen years as they grew up and moved in and out of each other’s lives.

However, I struggled with their relationship. The five-year age gap itself wouldn’t have bothered me nearly as much if there hadn’t been so much emphasis on the fact that Lainey was fourteen and Jannes was nineteen when they first met. Every time their ages were brought up, I became more uncomfortable with their early dynamic.

I also found both characters frustrating for different reasons. Lainey sometimes came across as quite immature and overly emotional, while Jannes spent so much time in his own head. And the constant running away from each other became exhausting after a while. I could understand some of Lainey’s choices when she was younger, but once they were adults, I really wanted them to stop avoiding everything and actually communicate.

There were definitely moments between them that I enjoyed, and I could see why they remained drawn to each other despite the years, distance, other relationships, and everything else happening in their lives. I just wish the back-and-forth hadn’t been quite so repetitive.

Overall, Hometown had a lovely setting and an interesting premise, but the handling of the age gap and the repeated miscommunication kept me from fully connecting with the romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Quick Summary: A balancing act romance

My Review: Hometown by Martinette Williams is a general adult, contemporary fiction novel. It was released TODAY (9/28/26). Happy Release Day! 🎉

About the Book: "When fourteen-year-old Lainey meets nineteen-year-old Jannes in their quiet hometown at the top of New Zealand, she isn’t expecting anything more than a new friendship. But Jannes, who is on the cusp of leaving, awakens something in Lainey she can’t name, or forget about."

Additional Description: "Bittersweet and emotionally resonant, Hometown is a slow-burn love story about self-discovery and the pull of a person who has always felt like home."

In My Own Words: A complicated, messy age gap romance that is more realistic than anyone wants to admit.

My Final Say: There are so many things that I want to say about this book. It is the type of story that is challenging to read and yet, at the same time, it is completely captivating. It was such an original story. It crossed the line on so many levels, however, it was realistic in the sense that you walk away with the thought that: 1) age ain't nothing but a number and 2: the heart wants what the heart wants.

Lainey and Jannes did not have an easy relationship. They had age against them. They both had dysfunctional family dynamics that shaped them and affected how they connected with each other, with other people and with love interests. They could never sync up, even though they never wanted to leave one another. They had a friendship that idled at the more than level at all times.

The emotional support aspect of their relationship was interesting to watch and decipher. They were present for each other even when they were absent. It was like they could not quit each other. In the living of their lives, they filled in the blanks with other people. It was like watching two people treading water.

The family issues came full circle by the end of the book. (I really need to have a book club session just to discuss all the things that were revealed.)

The supporting cast of characters was notably diverse, which I loved. I liked how people moved in and out of both of their lives. Some people moved in and out cleanly and others did not. I thought it made the story that much more authentic and believable.

In the end, all I can say is that this story had me in its grip. I fluctuated with how to rate it. Ultimately, what got me to my final rating rested largely on the fact that the story was unpredictable and achingly romantic with a slight touch of troubling (but not in the bad way; in the unexpected way).

Other: This was a mixed bag read. It will appeal to a niche group of readers, I believe. I think the age factor (early on) will make some people uncomfortable. Others who, perhaps, grew up in small town, rural, off the main path (so to speak) may get the vibe of this type of older-younger dynamic. For that matter, some people who are more metro-forward may get where this story is coming from. What I will say is that although attraction and interest was evident, no inappropriate lines were crossed. Also, Lainey's mother was very much in the know and had the talk. That said a lot.

Nevertheless, with all of that said, it cannot be denied that this story was riveting.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Level: 💬
Format: 📱
Cover: +
Title: +
Book Club Worthy: Yes

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (The Book Guild), and to NetGalley for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. I very much appreciate the opportunity.

I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed seeing how their relationship unfolded and how much history there was between them. Some parts made me smile, while others genuinely hurt my heart. I love a slow burn but it was a little too long for me but I still really enjoyed the book. If you like a slow burn this was most definitely a very slow burn. I’m thankful that I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy.

so sorry for being a day late I had the wrong day put in my calendar!

This book was pretty good but I'm not sure it would be on my list of rereads for the future. This was my first Martinette Williams book. I liked the book enough, but thought it was weird to bring up the age gap between the two characters constantly. I felt like every other paragraph had some type of mention about it in some way or another. I felt like the story could've been told better without it.
I did like the two characters and the writing style of the author. I look forward to reading more from Williams in the future.

Thanks for NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest reviews.

Fourteen years. A friendship that refuses to disappear. And two people who can never seem to get the timing right.

Hometown follows Lainey and Jannes, who meet in New Zealand at fourteen and nineteen and form an unexpected friendship. Over the next fourteen years, they move in and out of each other’s lives through college, relationships, heartbreaks, health scares, and career changes. Once Lainey is an adult, their friendship begins to blur into something more, but somehow the timing is NEVER right.

I’ll admit, the age difference made me VERY nervous in the beginning. A nineteen-year-old hanging out with a fourteen-year-old definitely had me side-eyeing the situation. I appreciated that Jannes recognized a romantic relationship would be inappropriate while Lainey was a teenager, and their relationship remained a friendship during those years.

Once Lainey went away to college and started becoming her own woman, though, I became much more invested. And whew, these two had me STRESSED.

There were so many times I felt for Lainey, and other times I wanted to shake her because it felt like too much of her life revolved around Jannes. Meanwhile, Jannes was SO hot and cold that I completely understood why she was confused by him.

The will-they-or-won’t-they cycle became repetitive at times, but apparently I enjoy suffering because I still needed to know if these two would EVER figure it out.

What kept me invested was the genuine connection underneath all the messiness. When one truly needed the other, they showed up, and some of those moments were incredibly sweet.

If YEARNING is your thing, this one has your name written all over it. Years of longing, missed opportunities, wrong timing, complicated feelings, and me internally yelling, “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!”

This book had a very promising start, but unfortunately, I found the romance increasingly difficult to connect with as the story progressed. There were several moments when I found myself wishing the characters would simply acknowledge their feelings and move forward.

I understand that the intention was to develop a friends-to-lovers romance and to give their friendship enough time to grow naturally. However, for me, the slow burn eventually became somewhat frustrating, particularly because, when they finally got together, we only got to see their relationship as a couple for one or two chapters. I would have appreciated more time to see their relationship develop after all the build-up.

I also struggled with the age gap at the beginning of the book, and I found their dynamic difficult at times. Her constant attempts to pursue him, while he repeatedly pushed her away, became frustrating as the story progressed.

Despite these issues, I think the book had an engaging premise and a strong start. Unfortunately, the pacing and development of the romance made it difficult for me to fully enjoy the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild for providing me with this ARC.

Big thank you for the chance to read this ARC but unfortunately I found some of the tropes to be rather triggering. I don't want to leave a negative review on any social media platforms and I still wish you all the best in your future book launch.