Only Him by Kennedy Fox

Angsty with romance and drama, Tyler and Gemma’s story begins with Tyler coming home from being in the military, during which time he and Gemma wrote to each other and developed a sort of relationship. They share an amazing summer, but Tyler feels like he needs to get out of his hometown and leaves Gemma and himself heartbroken. After being released from prison for crimes he didn’t commit, he’s decided to finally go home 12 years later. When he gets back, he finds a job with Gemma’s father as a mechanic, and they’re forced to work alongside one another. There’s so much that’s unresolved between them, and with them working together and Gemma being best friends with Tyler’s sister, Everleigh, they find themselves around each other more than they had thought they’d be. Neither of them ever got over the other, but eventually Gemma found someone and is now engaged to be married to him. There’s an element of will they or won’t they, and along with other circumstances we get to experience the rollercoaster that is their relationship.

This book is not only a romance, but it’s a total drama, too. It isn’t just some sweet and easy love story (though it is at times), and I couldn’t put it down. The outside factors surrounding Tyler and Gemma create a deliciously tense plotline, and so much of the fun of this book is seeing them navigate it all. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but know that there’s some serious strain produced throughout the story and add that to the feelings simmering between these two characters, and we get a truly compelling book.

And Tyler and Gemma are everything. He’s this wounded character that’s gone through so much in his life, and he’s finally home but his lost love is getting married to some shmuck. And she’s such a sweetie, but she’s dealt with great losses including the one man she felt was her whole world for a time. I adore their complicated history and present, and the anticipation is simply so good. When they finally start to realize things aren’t exactly over for them, the real romance starts, and I loved every bit of it.

This brother’s best friend/second-chance romance is chock full of ups and downs, and it’ll make you feel all the things. This book is truly unputdownable, and now I’m desperate to see what happens in the rest of this series to the other characters.