Lily never thought she'd come back to Riverside. But when a photography grant lands her back in her small hometown, she can't refuse. She's spent two years running from her past, rebuilding her life in New York. She can handle one year.

Then she runs into Ethan.

He's the one who got away, the ex she never fully let go. And he's engaged to Charlotte, a woman who's everything Lily isn't: stable, safe, committed to staying. But some connections don't fade just because you want them to.

As Lily and Ethan fall back into each other's orbit, the lines between past and present blur. An emotional affair becomes impossible to deny. A confession shatters everything. And suddenly, Lily has to choose between the person she loves and the future she's fought to build.

Because real love isn't about perfect timing or dramatic gestures. It's about the daily choice to show up, even when it's hard. Even when you're scared you're not enough. Even when loving someone means risking everything you've worked for.

A raw, intimate exploration of second chances, the real work of being in love, and learning that sometimes going home means finally discovering where you belong.

Perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover, Christina Lauren, and emotionally complex contemporary romance.