What if You and Me by Roni Loren was such a fun and adorable read. It is one of those stories that will have the reader smiling from ear to ear. You will know what I mean when you meet Hill and Andie.
This is the second book in the Say Everything series. Having met Andie in the previous book, Yes and I Love You, I looked forward to her story.
Andie is a true crime podcaster, and a published author in the horror genre. I would never have guessed that this outgoing true crime podcaster and published author and suffered from anxiety. The deeper we get into the story, the more we learn of the traumatic event that led to the development of her anxiety. Because of her anxiety she doesn’t date and she never allows a man to sleep over. Then she meets Hill, her new neighbour and landlord.
Hill is a retired firefighter who lost his leg and his fiancée in one fell swoop. His life has not been same since. He suffers from PTSD because of the accident that led to him losing his leg. He also struggled with low self-esteem which manifested after being dumped by his fiancée. However, meeting Andie would bring new meaning to his life and brighten his bleak days.
Andie and Hill were great characters, and I enjoyed spending time with them. From their initial meeting, these two had me laughing. They brought out the best in each other. The grumpy hero never stood a chance against the ray of sunshine that entered his life. The development of their slow burn romance, while they navigate their issues, had me swooning and smiling throughout the story. They shared so many sweet moments that I never had experienced a dull moment in the story.
I loved the heroine’s fighting spirit and her determination to overcome the issues associated with her anxiety. I found Hill’s honesty and his protective and supportive nature endearing, however I was not pleased with his actions near to the end. I understood the place he was coming from. Thank goodness he came to his senses before allowing his fears to conquer.
The story is free of drama and angst. Loren included an element of suspense that added a different layer to the story. It played minor role in the scheme of things, but it was important to the story.
Conclusion/Recommendation
What If You and Me hit all the spots for me. I enjoyed my time spent with these awesome characters and I am looking forward to what next the author has to offer. Hands down Hill and Addie are my favourite couple for the year. Fans of contemporary romance should consider adding this to their summer reading list.
Favourite Quotes
“And have you heard your voice?” She put her hand on her bookcase of DVDs. “I mean, it’s like melted butter and molasses had a baby. I would listen to anything in your voice. You could read me the ingredients on the cereal box and I’d be enthralled.”
Anxiety was a dictator, not an elected official. You couldn’t simply vote it out of office. Anxiety grinned it’s evil grin and told you to take a seat.
That’s why you two make a good pair,” she said casually. “From the outside, it seems a weird match. You, the quiet, stoic type. Andi, the quirky, bubbly one. But underneath that, you.ve both experienced real trauma. The kind of stuff that distills life down to its most vital parts.”
Love meant someone had your back. Love meant you didn’t have to hide what you were struggling with. Love taught you that sometimes it was okay not to be okay.
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About Roni Loren
Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. She holds a master’s degree in social work and spent years as a mental health counselor, but now she writes full time from her cozy office in Dallas, Texas where she puts her characters on the therapy couch instead. She is a two-time RITA Award winner and a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.
