Like First Love, Again

Ahhh this book was so perfect. I’m such a sucker for besties-to-lovers, and JJ Arias delivers again with a deeply emotional, beautifully written romance. From the moment I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. The story is packed with emotion and gracefully explores themes like grief, healing, self-discovery, and so much love. Mia goes through so much, and watching her grow was incredibly rewarding. Tori was such a beautifully patient soul wrapped in a tough exterior. I found her incredibly relatable. From the very beginning, I felt a connection to her. She’s stand-offish but kind, quiet but not, and she hides her emotions while still coming across as put-together. But deep down, she’s struggling, just dealing with it differently. And then it was mentioned that she’s a Scorpio, and I was like bam! No wonder—I’m a Scorpio too, and we are awesome 😅 This slow-burn, second-chance romance is beautifully written and completely worth the wait. When the tension finally breaks? Whew 😅 the spice was emotionally loaded and so hot🔥 Side note: Larissa ate her role as a side character. She seriously needs her own book—I’m beyond intrigued.

🌟Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💧Drip-o-Meter: 💦💦💦💦 💗Something I Loved: The chemistry and connection between Tori and Mia charmed the heck out of me and their communication was everything. LFLA initially seemed fairly lighthearted but I was pleasantly surprised by the level of depth in this story, seen especially through Mia’s character as she deals with immense grief and loss in addition to self-discovery. I loved her character growth and the vulnerable authentic way mental health was addressed throughout the book, and adored the way Tori reacts to everything Mia is going through with nothing but patience and steadfast support. 🫤Something I Would Have Changed: Honestly, nothing. 🥰Favorite Moment: Don’t even get me started on their first kiss. The setting *swoon* and build up and yearning! I could viscerally feel their anxious questioning and nervous anticipation, and I was so very here for it. 🌶️Spiciest Scene: Oh, I don’t know… all of them? Listen, this is not the book to read while recovering from a hysterectomy because it is unbelievably hot and all but guaranteed to stir up some feeeelings. Ch. 24 came in swinging with the tension but if I had to pick… it’s the strap scenes in ch. 39-40. Tori’s bossiness in particular wORkeD for me but both characters are charismatic and sexy in their own irresistible ways and their chemistry throughout the entire book is crazy off the charts. 📚Standalone vs. Series: Standalone 📖Would I Recommend: Yes. This was such a wonderfully…

Tori and Mia’s story is a lesson in living honestly, saying what you want to say, out loud with an audience, even knowing that you’re risking what’s a good, safe status quo. J.J.Arias’s Like First Love, Again sensitively illustrates how hiding your feelings doesn’t yield peace; it’s likely to result in living a half life full of regret. Your rewards for being authentic and open, however terrifying your emotional exposure may be, are what constitute the rich life you’re meant to have. Hot, sexy, sentimental, sweet, emotional, and engaging, this book is one to read.