Name: All the Things We Lost
ISBN: 9781393331308

Kayla Tirrell

I never thought I'd return to River Valley. But after my mom's death, everyone thought a change of scenery might help. Now I'm busy rebuilding my relationship with my dad and working at a local diner. I was even happy to hear my childhood best friend works there as a cook. Too bad he's cold and distant. He acts like he doesn't know who I am. So why can't I stop thinking about him and wondering what happened while I was away?

All the Things We Lost

Candyce Kirk

I was recently given the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review. The description of this book sounded really like something I would enjoy and I was right. I read this book in a day and Katie and Julian quickly grew on me. Right from the start you feel for both of them. I can't imagine the grief Katie is going through and what Julian must be feeling when his family falls apart. Reading from both POV, really made me understand them more. I loved the fact that they already knew each other was really nice and more so with the fact that it wasn't instant love again. They were actually really careful of the other in the beginning. I appreciated this. It happens too often in books that they're instantly in love in less than a minute. 
The only thing that bugged me about this book was that the time seemed to fly by. A jump of a few months happened at times and that made me feel like we were missing certain things. Other than that an amazing book that made me want to jump in the second book right after.


More descriptive review will follow on thebookdutchesses.wordpress.com

I've got a big secret. A huge one, actually. It's why I've always kept Mitch at an arm's length. But the more time I spend with the guy I consider my best friend--and the more he tries to take our relationship to a romantic level--the harder it is to keep it from him. When a mid-winter car accident brings everything to the surface, I hope the boy I love will accept the truth about my past. Unfortunately, it looks like he's might be more interested in a future without me.

All the Things We Found

I was lucky enough to receive the second book in this series to review as well. After finishing the first book I was very happy that I could start the second book right after. The first book left me with a happy feeling and wanting more! Just like the first one I was glued to this book and finished it very quickly. I stared at the cover for a bit at first. I think it's amazing and it made me want snow, haha. Gwen and Mitch were another set of characters I really hoped would end with a happily ever after. I don't know what it was, but I instantly connected with these characters. About halfway through the book I kind of predicted what Gwen's secret was and felt her pain. I loved the Katie and Julian made an apperance in this book as well and were really supportive of their friends. This was another feelgood book for me in the end! And what bothered me in the first book (time going by fast) didn't seem to be an issue in this book. I really want to read the next book in this series. I'm not ready to say goodbye to what I've read.

A more descriptive review will be posted on the thebookdutchesses.wordpress.com very soon.

Nineteen-year-old Michelle doesn't think her summer could get any worse. She's missing out on the sandy beaches of Mexico to work in her father's bookstore, her relationship with her mother is complicated, and to top it all off, her co-worker is the captain of the nerd-patrol. As the replacement guitarist of River Valley's most popular band, Rainier's summer is shaping up to be a life-changing one. No longer the shy kid who barely leaves his house, he feels alive on stage. Everything would be amazing if only he wasn't stuck working with his boss' mean-girl daughter. There's a thin line between love and hate. Will Rainier and Michelle take a chance to explore the connection they can't quite deny? Or will they discover some people are too different to make it work? All The Things We Were is a young adult contemporary romance great for both teens and adults. It is the third in a series of books, each revolving around a different couple living in the same small town. This story can be read as a standalone.

All the Things We Were

I received a free copy of this book and was so happy that I did. I read the first two books in like two sittings, so I knew I needed the third one right away. This one follows Michelle and Rainier. It's the summer vacation and Michelle had plans to go to Cancun with her best friend Avery, but her plans are ruined when her dad tells her she will be working at least 25 hours a week in his bookstore. This is a nightmare for her. She doesn't get that people still visit bookstores. I had a hard time connecting with her in the beginning, because come on, how can you not want to work in a bookstore? Haha. Also, in the previous books she was mentioned a few times and not in a positive way. Rainier is home from college for the summer and has worked on and off at Michelle father's bookstore. Needless to say they don't hit it off in the beginning. While at home, Rainier is also filling in as a guitar player in a friend's band while one member is out with a broken arm. During the course of the book you come to find out that not everything is at it seems and Michelle has a good reason for certain ways of acting out. The relationship she has with her mother isn't the greatest and that makes some things hard. Rainier is a bit ashamed of his hippie parents, but realizes he has it pretty good when he learns more about her situation. Michelle and Rainier kind of have a love/hate relationship. They don't really like the other, but don't understand why they get butterflies anyways. I loved the fact that it wasn't an instant "we're in love" situation, but it took time to grow and had its bumps. Not many books do it this way anymore. I could go on and on about this book, but I don't want to spoil this book for anyone. All I can say is that you really need to read this if contemporary books are your thing. I really hope she writes more books in the future! And I wouldn't say no to a book for Jenny, Avery and Sarah, haha. A girl can dream!

A more descriptive review will be posted on thebookdutchesses.wordpress.com soon!

Paige Green

Rating: 4.5/5

Genre: YA Romance/Contemporary

Recommended Age: 16+ (some violence and slight sexual content)

Pages: 192

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: After her mother’s death, eighteen-year-old Katie finds herself in a town she never thought she'd see again. Lost in turmoil and sadness, hope surfaces when she comes face to face with Julian for the first time in years.
However, he isn’t the same boy she left behind. Reserved and covered in bruises, everyone in River Valley avoids him. Rumors of his activities run rampant. 

Julian is barely keeping it together. He’s the sole provider for his family after his dad leaves. His dreams to go to college are ruined. Even his relationship with his older brother leaves its mark.

Can Katie and Julian find hope and love in each other, or will the struggle to survive their desperate situations prove too much?

All The Things We Lost is a young adult contemporary romance perfect for both teens and adults. It is the first in a series of books, each revolving around a different couple living in the same, small town.

After the slew of fantasy and sci-fi reads I have waded through this month I just HAD to stop and read this cute little teen romance story and I didn’t regret it. It was charming and delightful. The characters were very well developed, their struggles felt real, and I cried. Like ugly cried. The world building was decent for this type of book and the pacing is well done. I also thought for the most part that the plot was good and it did keep me interested in reading the rest of the book.

The only slightly off-putting thing about this book is that it’s sometimes cliché and some of the things that happen in the book are a bit predictable. However, that doesn’t detract from how well written and interesting the book is. It’s also great for a good cry.

Verdict: If you like teen romance books, this is your new favorite series!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4/5

Publication Date: August 10, 2017

Genre: YA Romance

Recommended Age: 16+ (language, underage drinking, some mature content)

Pages: 198

Author Website

Amazon Link

Synopsis: The only thing eighteen-year-old Gwen guards more carefully than the truth about her past is her heart. Which is why falling in love with her best friend was never part of the plan. But as their relationship heats up, Gwen thinks she might finally be ready to date again.

Mitch loves his life in River Valley and everything is exactly how he wants it—everything but his relationship with Gwen. The more their attraction grows, the more Gwen closes herself off from him.

When a mid-winter car accident brings Gwen's secrets to the surface, will the boy she loves accept the truth about her past? Or will he look to a future without her?

All The Things We Found is a young adult contemporary romance great for both teens and adults. It is the second in a series of books, each revolving around a different couple living in the same small town.

Continuing this series, we get a continuation of Gwen and Mitch from the first book. For the most part I really enjoyed this book. The characters are cute and developed. The plot is intriguing. And the book was really well written.

However, I do feel that there was a lot, and I mean a lot, of cursing. It’s not that I don’t care about the cursing, but I feel that sometimes it can be excessive. I also felt the underaged drinking was really excessive too and I worry that it could give younger audiences the wrong impression. Other than those two things I felt the pacing was a bit fast for my taste and that the book could have used a bit more world building.

Verdict: A solid, sweet romance for the romantics in your life.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5/5

Publication Date: October 26, 2017

Genre: YA Romance

Recommended Age: 14+ (some mature scenes)

Pages: 198

Author Website

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Nineteen-year-old Michelle doesn’t think her summer could get any worse. She’s missing out on the sandy beaches of Mexico to work in her father’s bookstore, her relationship with her mother is complicated, and to top it all off, her co-worker is the captain of the nerd-patrol. 

As the replacement guitarist of River Valley’s favorite band, Rainier’s summer is shaping up to be a life-changing one. No longer the shy kid who barely leaves his house, he feels alive on stage. Everything would be perfect if only he weren’t stuck working with his boss’ mean-girl daughter. 

There's a thin line between love and hate. Will Rainier and Michelle take a chance to explore the connection they can't quite deny? Or will they discover some people are too different to make it work?

All The Things We Were is a young adult contemporary romance great for both teens and adults. It is the third in a series of books, each revolving around a different couple living in the same small town. This story can be read as a standalone.

I didn’t really want to read this one as Michelle was easily not a favorite character of mine in the other two books. However, I feel that the author did really well transforming the character from the mean girl and developing her character. I feel that the reader really gets to know Michelle and the other characters well in this book and that the plot was interesting enough to keep my attention. I love the message behind the book and I feel that the author really improved with her writing from the first to the third book.

However, I still felt the pacing was off for me and that the guy was too good to be true. It didn’t feel that realistic to me, but that’s why it’s fiction I guess lol.

Verdict: Don’t judge a book by their cover. But judge this one because it’s beautiful inside and out.

Becca Futrell

I was provided a copy of All the Things We Lost from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! 

If you're anything like me, these will be the stages you go through when reading All The Things We Lost by Kayla Tirrell: 

1) .. okay, sure. This is fine. 
2) Ah, this is gonna be the ship. I see You. 
3) WHAT IS WITH THE SLOW BURN?!@!@! 
4) .. wait, they love each other?! OH COME ON, THEY JUST REUNITED. THEY DON'T KNOW LOVE. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING SO FAST? 
5) .. okay, sure. This is fine. 

All The Things We Lost read like any other fluffy YA novel & that's perfectly fine! I knew that's what I was signing up for! I didn't swoon that much, but it was still cute & precious & very predictable. 

Plus, I really enjoyed that both Julian & Katie worked at a restaurant, because wow it gave me some major nostalgic vibes from my own time in the kitchen. I knew all the slang, the feelings, and everything that goes on behind the scenes. And, I also do understand never being able to get over that someone from your past, because I too, get the butterflies & the hit of a romantic memory when I see that special someone from high school. Some things are just hard to get over. 

Another thing that gets a bonus in All The Things We Lost is the relationship between Julian and his mother, and Katie and her father. Both relationships are really rocky, but just maybe they'll make it work. 

All The Things We Lost is a really short read & if you're in the mood for some fluff, ya mind as well give it a try.

All the Things We Lost

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