Name: A Long Time Coming
ISBN: 9781405955836

Meghan Quinn

This hilarious and swoony new rom-com will follow long-time neighbours and co-workers who finally fall for each other

A Long Time Coming

🫶🏼

She had no idea if they had apartments for rent, but she liked the flowers out front and the Jamba Juice across the street. Lo and behold, when she inquired, there were two apartments right next to each other. She called me immediately and told me I was moving. We’ve lived here for the past five years.

I scrub my hand down my face just as a light tapping comes from the other side of the wall. And just like that, a smile spreads across my face. Reaching up to the wall, I rap my knuckle four times. Like clockwork, she knocks three. Four knocks for four letters in love. Three knocks for three letters in you.

“Put it on.” He hands it back to me, and I slip it on my finger. “It looks great on you, Lia,” he says softly. And there he is, my best friend. He will say just about anything to make sure I feel comfortable, even though he probably knows that I’m anything but comfortable wearing this ring.

“I’m being serious,” he says. “I can go with you. It’s not like I have anything going on right now. I have to stay away from work. This might give me something to do to keep me busy.” He smirks. “Maybe I can be your wedding planner.”

“Listen, Lia. I know this is going to be tough without your parents. Losing them was so hard, and they wouldn’t want you to do this alone. I have the time, and even if I didn’t, I would make the time for you. I can help. I can be your backup, your wingman, your bodyguard, your bruiser.”

I raise my hand to the wall and knock four times. She knocks three, and for the second night in a row . . . I don’t get much sleep at all.

“Are you jealous I’m going out with this girl tonight?” “What?” I pull away. “Why on earth would I be jealous?” He lets me go just as a knock sounds on the door. The food is here. “Because you’re supposed to be the only woman in my life, right?” “Well, yes. Of course.” He laughs and presses a quick kiss to my head before grabbing the food. “Don’t worry, Lia, you’ll always be my best friend.”

“Lia, we have to be real about this. In five weeks, things are really going to change. You’re no longer going to live next to me. You’re going to be occupied with your new life, and sure, I know you won’t forget me, but I don’t want there to be any reason for there to be distance between us other than actual distance. I don’t want to give Brian a reason to put a wedge between us.” “I wouldn’t let him,” I say.

“I know, but if I don’t get along with him, that could hurt your marriage. There could be resentment, so yeah, I’m going to do something for him. Sure, because I know if I do this little thing for him, I won’t run the risk of not getting to hang out with you.”

“Do you really think life will change that much? I mean . . . you could always move close.” I smile. “Your brothers live across the street. That could be us.” He tilts his head to the side. “Are you . . . asking me to follow you?”

“This is . . . this is not the Breaker I’m used to. I don’t see you dress like this, all suave and, you know . . . handsome.” I gulp. And that stupid smirk of his appears as he says, “Yeah, well, I never see you like this either.” He motions to me and says, “All dressed up and . . . beautiful. Normally, I hang out with the troll lady who lives next door and has a penchant for eating green olives straight from the jar.”

“I don’t talk about it much because there isn’t much to talk about. And I’m not the type of guy who runs around to his friends, telling them about the pussy I scored the night before. But if you so desire, I can start doing that.” “Do you score a lot?” “More than you’re probably aware, but since you’re curious, I’ve gone through a bit of a drought as of recently. Just haven’t had time. I think the last woman I was with, if you must know, is your friend Charise, the one you hooked me up with for Huxley’s wedding.”

“I’m just trying to tell you that no matter what happens, you will always know me best, and there’s a reason for that. You’re my best friend, Lia. Nothing can come between that. I won’t let it happen. Hence us driving downtown to go on a double date.”

I’ve always considered Lia gorgeous, but seeing her in that dress, yeah, she looks really fucking good. But I quickly tamped down that initial reaction to her appearance because it would do me no good. I realized that back in college after I saw her dressed up for the first time for a date. I was so taken aback that I started to crush on her. And I quickly realized what a bad idea that was, given how much I cherished our friendship, so I tucked away those feelings, and I’ve been able to block them out. Every so often, they appear, but I know better. Tonight is no exception.

“You won’t be alone. We’re going to live next to each other, remember?” “Still, Brian won’t want me over all the time, Lia. Face it, things are changing, and that’s okay. We knew the time would come.” “But . . . I don’t want things to change,” she says softly. “I like things the way they are.” God, so do I.

“Your glasses are fucking awesome,” he says quietly, his mouth close to my ear. “Besides your heart, your honesty, and your sauciness, your glasses are one of my favorite things about you.” “Breaker.” I shake my head, but then he grips my chin, holding me still. “Not only are they a direct depiction of your personality, but they make the beautiful, light green flecks in your eyes stand out even more. It’s already sometimes impossible to look away from them, but when they’re highlighted so exquisitely, you can’t help but be captivated.”

“I’m so embarrassed,” I say. “The only people in this scenario who should be embarrassed are The Beave for saying such a demeaning thing to you and Brian for even thinking that your glasses are unflattering.” His thumb caresses my cheek, and he quietly adds, “You’re gorgeous, Lia. The glasses accentuate just how gorgeous you are.”

“I’ll walk you down the aisle,” I say. “You won’t be alone. You’ll have me.”

I knock on the door three times, and I’m tempted to kick the footboard but remind myself that’s something I do with Lia and hold back.

“What does it feel like?” I ask him. When he turns toward me, he asks, “What does what feel like?” “To be that in love. You’re so protective, possessive, infatuated. I don’t think I’ve ever been like that with someone.” “Of course you have,” he says. “You’re that way with Lia.”

This series was more than I ever thought it would be. This was my favorite book in the series and what a way for it to end too. The friends to lovers in this book was so good. The tension, tha angst of what was going to happen, the humor was amazing. I love the main characters and found family in this book. Then the characters I wasn’t suppose to like succeeded there too. Honestly I just loved this book and highly recommend this series!

Priscilla Stanfield

Lia and Breaker have been friends for ten years since they met as part of a Scrabble club in college, but now that Lia is engaged to Brian, Breaker is starting to realize that his feelings for her are more than friendship.  Breaker is determined to be the friend that Lia needs, so when Brian's mother known as "The Beave," starts taking over the wedding arrangements, he steps in to play the role that Lia's deceased parents would have taken if they had lived.  The more time Breaker spends with Lia, the more he wants her for himself, so he and his brothers come up with a plan.

A Long Time Coming is a frustrating romance because Breaker and Lia seem to be the only ones who don't see their feelings for one another.  There are some parts of the story that are funny, but the characters come across as flat, especially Brian and his mother.  There is lots of angst in the first half of the story, but there is never really any question as to how the story will end, leaving most of the events with little impact.  The steamy scenes are well written, but are mostly located in the last half of the book interrupting the pacing.  Overall, A Long Time Coming is an entertaining read but never attains much emotion. 

Lynn Braden

Lia and Breaker have been friends for ten years since they met as part of a Scrabble club in college, but now that Lia is engaged to Brian, Breaker is starting to realize that his feelings for her are more than friendship.  Breaker is determined to be the friend that Lia needs, so when Brian's mother known as "The Beave," starts taking over the wedding arrangements, he steps in to play the role that Lia's deceased parents would have taken if they had lived.  The more time Breaker spends with Lia, the more he wants her for himself, so he and his brothers come up with a plan.

A Long Time Coming is a frustrating romance because Breaker and Lia seem to be the only ones who don't see their feelings for one another.  There are some parts of the story that are funny, but the characters come across as flat, especially Brian and his mother.  There is lots of angst in the first half of the story, but there is never really any question as to how the story will end, leaving most of the events with little impact.  The steamy scenes are well written, but are mostly located in the last half of the book interrupting the pacing.  Overall, A Long Time Coming is an entertaining read but never attains much emotion. 

I wanted to like this. I went into this thinking I was going to like this. I am generally a fan of this author so I will keep reading more by her, just other titles. 

Okay, this has a romance pet peeve of mine. The supposed love interests are with other people for too large of a chunk of the book. Yes, I was aware before reading that MMC is FMC’s best friend and man of honor for her upcoming wedding to someone else. But here’s the thing, I never really felt like they needed to be together. And this is coming from someone who loves the friends to lovers trope. They are both with people who seem pretty nice. It would be one thing if the FMC is technically engaged but her fiance is absent but no there’s lots of scenes of them hugging/kissing and talking things over. This was starting to feel like a dual romance, marriage/engagement in crisis vs a friends to lovers with a splash of cheating trope.

What saved this for me was the MMC, Beaker. He’s an awesome guy and character. He really looks out for his family and friends. Their codependency in their friendship honestly didn’t bother me, I just needed more romance. A lot of this truly was awkward. And even the initial premise of why they never dated, cause he had a mustache when they first met so he looked unattractive to her? Some overly slapstick feeling rom com stuff really makes me feel like a grinch but I can’t help the way I feel about certain moments like that one. 

It took way too long for them to get together and I enjoyed the pacing of some of Meghan’s other books more. Thank you to Bloom Books for this eARC. I am loving the updated covers!

Abigail

I wanted to like this. I went into this thinking I was going to like this. I am generally a fan of this author so I will keep reading more by her, just other titles. 

Okay, this has a romance pet peeve of mine. The supposed love interests are with other people for too large of a chunk of the book. Yes, I was aware before reading that MMC is FMC’s best friend and man of honor for her upcoming wedding to someone else. But here’s the thing, I never really felt like they needed to be together. And this is coming from someone who loves the friends to lovers trope. They are both with people who seem pretty nice. It would be one thing if the FMC is technically engaged but her fiance is absent but no there’s lots of scenes of them hugging/kissing and talking things over. This was starting to feel like a dual romance, marriage/engagement in crisis vs a friends to lovers with a splash of cheating trope.

What saved this for me was the MMC, Beaker. He’s an awesome guy and character. He really looks out for his family and friends. Their codependency in their friendship honestly didn’t bother me, I just needed more romance. A lot of this truly was awkward. And even the initial premise of why they never dated, cause he had a mustache when they first met so he looked unattractive to her? Some overly slapstick feeling rom com stuff really makes me feel like a grinch but I can’t help the way I feel about certain moments like that one. 

It took way too long for them to get together and I enjoyed the pacing of some of Meghan’s other books more. Thank you to Bloom Books for this eARC. I am loving the updated covers!

Im the type of reader who thinks that skipping pages in a book means thet it doesn’t count as a read butbyou know what fuck it. I actually quite liked this book but I did not like how ophelia as a character lacked a lot of depth, didn’t get to see much of her past, her insecurities, her trauma with her parents dying, or anything related to her apart from the guys that surrounded her. I like how birdy was not  portrayed as a bitch for like a breaker but rather human and I like that they ended it on good terms. This book made me laugh the hardest from the series and the friendhship those two shared was truly so beautiful, deep and meaningful. I think this book contained bit too much about the other side characters and towards the end it was just going on and on about other random characters and it felt like and advertisement for the authors other books rather then them actually contributing to the storyline. I think I only like Huxley from his point pf view and dislike him when someone else talks about him because he comes off as such a bitch and Lottie too comes of really mean and self obsessed from others POV’s. It’s weird how myra came out of nowhere, hm come to think of it there are many things I did not like when it came to this book but oh well, I liked the romance. A LOT. in my head breaker wears glasses and is really really fucking hot and smart and the smut after the 70% mark on the book was crazyyyyy, I loved the build up and it was so worth waiting for the buildup, I’m happy I read the series but I doubt I will read her other work because the way the characters came out of nowhere towards the end of the book really ruined the vibe for me. During some parts of the book it felt like Breaker was the singer of Ophelia by the Lumineers and it just felt so fitting. his reaction to Ophelia in that wedding dress literally made me giggle an kick my feet up in the hair ahaha, I love nerdy guys I guess. 

Anushree Taparia

Nouran Hazem

This was basically everything I ever wanted! I’m a sucker for best friends to lovers (and I mean best friends ) and this was just the perfect rom com.. the friendship was immaculate.. he’s like a hot sexy nerd and he definitely falls first and harder.. he falls so hard it’s kinda pathetic and just perfect 🤌🏻 the tension was everything and this book definitely got me out of my slump so that was perfect! I mean it also had one bed trope so there’s that.. it really felt like I was watching a rom com and made me so giddy!

Nouran

Pretty sure Breaker Cane is just Henry Cavil and for that I say, thank you. 

Steffi J

I’m a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope, so I was really excited when I came across this book. Boy was I disappointed. After the 75% mark, every chapter is basically just sex. It’s like reading glorified porno. It was as if the writer was basically finished with the plot, but needed to produce more words to meet the minimum limit set by her publisher, so she filled the pages with sex and more sex. A very basic and average read at best.

Meredith pant

linhie

4/5 ☆
too cute and loved their friendship so freaking much :( quirky friends to lovers with sm love and care for each other YES SO SO GOOD 🫶🏻

Valeria 

Jennifer mitchell

this book.
this booooook.
THIS BOOK.

Key takeaways from reading this book:
-Friends to lovers is a superior trope
-nobody writes spice like meghan quinn
-Breaker owns my whole heart
-seriously the mouth on this man 🥵 
-NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP AND NO MISCOMMUNICATION TROPE!!!!!! (SERIOUSLY MORE OF THIS PLEASE)
-nothing makes my heart flutter quite like characters only calling each other nicknames but then using their real name in serious moments

Meghan Quinn has done it again. 5 stars.

Okay third time writing this review because it didn’t save the first two times 🤦‍♀️

I love the Cane brothers. The first of the series made me literally(😉) laugh out loud multiple times and inspired me to read a lot of Meghan Quinn books. These boys hold a special place in my heart and Breaker is lovely. 

I don’t read a lot of friends to lovers so this was a fun change for me and I like how the story was told. Slow build for the first 2/3 or so as their relationship develops into something new. I felt there could have been a bit more communication between the two as things changed but I still thoroughly enjoyed. 

My favorite part was the dirty talk and tension. Dang. I had to stop reading at work because I was getting too warm. 😂

Overall, an enjoyably silly friends to lovers romance with lots of sweet bits and good steamy moments. Quinn is one of those authors where I feel like I know what I’m getting every time, solid rom coms with good smut. 

P.s. the covers though… I’ve had enough men on couches with cherubs floating around them 😝

Megan BV

Okay third time writing this review because it didn’t save the first two times 🤦‍♀️

I love the Cane brothers. The first of the series made me literally(😉) laugh out loud multiple times and inspired me to read a lot of Meghan Quinn books. These boys hold a special place in my heart and Breaker is lovely. 

I don’t read a lot of friends to lovers so this was a fun change for me and I like how the story was told. Slow build for the first 2/3 or so as their relationship develops into something new. I felt there could have been a bit more communication between the two as things changed but I still thoroughly enjoyed. 

My favorite part was the dirty talk and tension. Dang. I had to stop reading at work because I was getting too warm. 😂

Overall, an enjoyably silly friends to lovers romance with lots of sweet bits and good steamy moments. Quinn is one of those authors where I feel like I know what I’m getting every time, solid rom coms with good smut. 

P.s. the covers though… I’ve had enough men on couches with cherubs floating around them 😝