We're in beta!Check and report glitches to help us improveAuthors: Lock in 50% off for lifeReaders: Free forever

NEWLove talking about books? Earn points and real prizes for sharing your favourites.Join our Street Team →

Variation
3.0 (1 rating)

Variation

Instant USA Today, Amazon Charts, and Publishers Weekly bestseller.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fourth Wing comes a new contemporary romance about the summer a celebrated dancer returns home and unearths years of family secrets and deep regrets with the Coast Guard rescue swimmer she never forgot.

Elite ballerina Allie Rousseau is no stranger to pressure. With her mother's eyes always watching, perfection was expected, no matter the cost. But when an injury jeopardizes all she's sacrificed for, Allie returns to her summer home to heal and recover. But the memories she's tried to forget rush in and threaten to take her under.

As a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hudson Ellis knows that hesitation can mean the difference between life and death. He's always prided himself on being in the right place at the right time, especially when it came to Allie Rousseau...until the night he left for basic. After the biggest regret of his life, the secrets he keeps mean he can never be with the one woman he wants more than his next breath.

When Hudson's niece shows up on Allie's doorstep, desperate to find her birth mother, Allie finds herself in an unimaginable position. Allie and Hudson's past and present might be endlessly complicated. The thread that tied them to each other all those years ago may have unraveled, but the truth could pull them back together, or drive them apart forever.

Pages: 464

ISBN: 9781662514708

Get This Book

Available in: Paperback, Library Binding

See all editions (10)

Reader Reviews

3.0

1 rating

Liz M.

May 19, 2026

This was an emotional, slow-burning romance layered with family secrets, old wounds, and second-chance love. The coastal setting and the connection between Allie and Hudson gave the story a warm, nostalgic feel, and I really enjoyed the themes of healing, forgiveness, and finding yourself outside of other people’s expectations.

Allie’s struggles with pressure, perfectionism, and career-ending injury felt believable, and Hudson had that dependable, protective energy that made him easy to root for. Their history together added a lot of emotional tension, especially as long-buried secrets started surfacing.

That said, the pacing felt uneven at times, and parts of the story dragged more than I expected. While the emotional moments were strong, I wanted a little more depth and chemistry in certain scenes to fully connect with the romance. Some of the twists were predictable, and a few side storylines took attention away from the main relationship.

Overall, this was a heartfelt contemporary romance with plenty of emotion and drama, even if it didn’t completely sweep me away. Fans of emotional second-chance romances and family-centered stories will likely enjoy it.