 
 
From the publisher:
Six years ago, Zoey Roux secretly married her best friend Sawyer. But all that did was destroy the best relationship she’s ever had. They went their separate ways, but Zoey never could go through with a divorce. Seeing him again at her sister’s charity event is a shock, but also enlightening: no matter how much she still loves him, it’s time to let him go.
Zoey was Sawyer Wilson’s first love. She broke his heart, but his feelings never died. Love was never their issue—only timing. Seeing her again is a shock: in a perfect world, she would run back into his arms. Instead, she’s asking for a divorce.
But a lot can happen in twenty-four hours: old wounds can heal, first loves can be reunited. And a second chance might just lead to happily ever after.
Review:
I confess, I have yet to read book 1 of this series, starting directly with the second book, One Day to Fall. Despite this fact, I quickly fell in love with Therese Beharrie’s writing, which is very precise, demonstrating a deep understanding of why people do the things they do. Though meant to read as a standalone, the advantage belongs to the reader who’s read all three books. Having already read the middle book, I had a clearer understanding of the family dynamics that have built up over the series. Zoey is set up as the reckless Roux sister, given to impulsiveness and in need of stability.
The height of Zoey’s impulsivity is demonstrated when she secretly marries Sawyer, her childhood friend, and essentially wrecks the most important relationship of her life. It’s their journey towards understanding themselves and what they did wrong that constitutes the emotional journey of this novel.
One thing I really appreciated about the two books I read was Beharri’s willingness to take structural risks with her romances. In book 2, the events of the novel take place in one day. In this novel, she alternates timelines between past and present. Many readers might be thrown by this, preferring a linear narrative but I love her willingness to find the structure that would work best for each story. I could not see this particular story being told any other way without pages of info-dumping. Her editor and publisher deserve all the kudos for allowing her space to do that.
Despite the struggles and angst between Zoey and Sawyer, you never lose the feeling that these two lovers were meant to be together. They simply needed to be in the right emotional place to make things work between them. The narration and internal dialogue of the characters is thoughtful and honest, making you believe even more in their HEA. And the return of earlier couples in the series leaves the reader satisfied. A terrific series that has made Beharrie an autobuy author for me.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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