Book Review: What If I Never Get Over You

Asher and Ellie meet at 16 while interrailing through Lisbon. After just three days together, they agree to meet up a week later to continue their adventure, but one of them never shows. They each move on, heartbroken and wondering what could’ve been… until they cross paths again six years later.

As soon as I read that this story included a summer romance in Lisbon, I was all in. Fun fact: I’m Portuguese, and I used to spend summers there growing up—so any book set there is an automatic yes for me. I was totally ready to be hit with all the summer nostalgia and teenage magic I remember from my own trips.

That said, I went into this one with very specific expectations… and the story took me in a completely different direction. Lisbon was really only featured in those first few chapters, and while it gets referenced later, the majority of the book takes place years later in the UK.

I also struggled a bit with the “insta-love” element. I know it works for some, but I’m a little too cynical for that kind of whirlwind connection—even at sixteen. And then there’s Ellie. While she was written with depth and complexity, her character didn’t quite click for me. I found her frustrating and whiny, particularly her refusal to accept Asher as he was. Her hang-up about his title felt oddly judgmental. It felt like she was trying to take a moral stand, but in the end, it just made her seem closed off and judgmental in a different way.

Still, I have to give credit where it’s due. Paige Toon is a really strong writer. The story was well-paced, the emotions were real, and the characters felt layered, even when I didn’t love them. The writing pulled me in, and despite my mixed feelings about the characters, I still found myself rooting for them in the end. Even though I don’t have a green thumb, I could picture myself gardening with Ellie, soaking in those quiet, tender moments she shared with Asher.

In the end, this was a heartfelt, well-crafted story that left me thinking about the “what ifs” we all carry. It may not have been what I expected, but it still delivered a compelling exploration of young love, missed chances, and how time changes us.

📚✨ If you like second-chance romance with a bit of heartache, this one’s worth checking out.