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The Cost of Forgetting You
Falling in love with a Parker must be genetic. It's the only way Delilah Ridgefield can make sense of the mess that is her life.
Some other things that are genetic? The hazel eyes she shares with her mom, the need to care for others that she gets from her dad, and her father's dementia diagnosis, which brings him back into her life after years of radio silence.
The truth is, after he had an affair that imploded her life, Delilah thought she had more time to be angry. But time is a finite resource, one she'd like to make the most of while they still have it.
Returning to her hometown means facing those feelings head-on, along with the ones she never fully let go of for Truett Parker, the boy she's loved since childhood. And the son of the woman her dad cheated with.
Delilah's falling into the exact life her father led: caring for an ailing parent, putting her own dreams aside, and falling for a Parker. Is history doomed to repeat itself, or can it ever be changed?
More importantly, does she want it to?
Some other things that are genetic? The hazel eyes she shares with her mom, the need to care for others that she gets from her dad, and her father's dementia diagnosis, which brings him back into her life after years of radio silence.
The truth is, after he had an affair that imploded her life, Delilah thought she had more time to be angry. But time is a finite resource, one she'd like to make the most of while they still have it.
Returning to her hometown means facing those feelings head-on, along with the ones she never fully let go of for Truett Parker, the boy she's loved since childhood. And the son of the woman her dad cheated with.
Delilah's falling into the exact life her father led: caring for an ailing parent, putting her own dreams aside, and falling for a Parker. Is history doomed to repeat itself, or can it ever be changed?
More importantly, does she want it to?
512 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2024
176 people are currently reading
7226 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Bird
7 books398 followersHannah’s accolades include a 2nd grade teacher who said her story about bats had “very good potential” and enough accelerated reading medals to sink a body at sea. Her goals in life are to write Contemporary Women’s and New Adult Fiction novels that will make you cry and to check everything off the bucket list she wrote at seventeen.
Hannah resides among the rolling hills of Tennessee with her other half and their clingy golden retriever. When she is not writing, she is trying to outrun her sweet tooth in the gym
Hannah resides among the rolling hills of Tennessee with her other half and their clingy golden retriever. When she is not writing, she is trying to outrun her sweet tooth in the gym
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
September 4, 2024
This book is the most intense thing I’ve ever written. It took my whole heart and then some to carry it across the finish line. I’m so immensely proud of it. Proud of these complex characters and their individual growth. Proud of the joy they find in the midst of some of life’s most painful circumstances.
This story weaves tragedy and love together so intricately that you are forced to see that neither can ever truly be separated from the other. That’s my hope, anyway. It is all things bittersweet and lovely. Painful and beautiful. Happy and sad all at once.
I hope this story makes you think. I hope it makes you look at your parents differently. Most of all, I hope it makes the women who sacrifice themselves at the altar of others to stop and realize how much more they deserve. Because they deserve the world.
Here’s to the book that broke me. The book that made me better. It belongs to you all now. Take care. 🤍
This story weaves tragedy and love together so intricately that you are forced to see that neither can ever truly be separated from the other. That’s my hope, anyway. It is all things bittersweet and lovely. Painful and beautiful. Happy and sad all at once.
I hope this story makes you think. I hope it makes you look at your parents differently. Most of all, I hope it makes the women who sacrifice themselves at the altar of others to stop and realize how much more they deserve. Because they deserve the world.
Here’s to the book that broke me. The book that made me better. It belongs to you all now. Take care. 🤍
skimmed
December 26, 2024This book has two love stories :
~ The MCs (present time)
~ Henry (fmc’ father) and Lucy (mmc’s mother) (Their love story from beginning to end)
This book also focuses on fmc's relationship with her father.
Dual pov :
~ Fmc (the present)
~ Henry (fmc’ father) (multiple timeline)
Kina spoiler!
Lucy is the one i feel sorry for!
She loved a pathetic man like Henry who never fight for her (the love of his life) or for himself or even for his daughter 😕
She never got her happy ending 💔.
I have mixed feelings about Henry and tbh i never felt his love for Lucy!! His wrong decisions are the reason for his miserable life.
I won't spoil the whole "affair" thing because the whole book is about it and made me nervous to know the truth but it was disappointing to me!!
__________
Note:
~ About safety… the MCs’ side story probably safe!! (I didn't finish their story so I'm not sure 💯) But they separated 9 years before the book began and both were with other people (They shared a kiss in the past and they loved each other) From another review she was mentioned that there is no ow/om
~ About Lucy & Henry’ side story i can't really decide!!!
They loved each other in the past and shared a kiss but he was never intimate with her. Her father threatened him so he stayed away from her, he met fmc's mother at a prom and they ended up sleeping together and she took his virginity (He liked feeling attracted to someone other than Lucy 😒 I felt like he cheated on Lucy here and i really hated him).
Later fmc's mother got pregnant and they ended up getting married. Lucy was promised to someone else (mmc’s father) at this point (like i said Henry never fought for Lucy in the present or the past).
~ The MCs (present time)
~ Henry (fmc’ father) and Lucy (mmc’s mother) (Their love story from beginning to end)
This book also focuses on fmc's relationship with her father.
Dual pov :
~ Fmc (the present)
~ Henry (fmc’ father) (multiple timeline)
Kina spoiler!
Lucy is the one i feel sorry for!
She loved a pathetic man like Henry who never fight for her (the love of his life) or for himself or even for his daughter 😕
She never got her happy ending 💔.
I have mixed feelings about Henry and tbh i never felt his love for Lucy!! His wrong decisions are the reason for his miserable life.
I won't spoil the whole "affair" thing because the whole book is about it and made me nervous to know the truth but it was disappointing to me!!
__________
Note:
~ About safety… the MCs’ side story probably safe!! (I didn't finish their story so I'm not sure 💯) But they separated 9 years before the book began and both were with other people (They shared a kiss in the past and they loved each other) From another review she was mentioned that there is no ow/om
~ About Lucy & Henry’ side story i can't really decide!!!
They loved each other in the past and shared a kiss but he was never intimate with her. Her father threatened him so he stayed away from her, he met fmc's mother at a prom and they ended up sleeping together and she took his virginity (He liked feeling attracted to someone other than Lucy 😒 I felt like he cheated on Lucy here and i really hated him).
Later fmc's mother got pregnant and they ended up getting married. Lucy was promised to someone else (mmc’s father) at this point (like i said Henry never fought for Lucy in the present or the past).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2024
♾️/5✨️ 2/5🌶
Happy Release Day to The Cost of Forgetting You 💙
For TCOFY, if you take one recs from me, this is that book. This is so deeply emotional that if you're like me, you'll hug your loved ones a little longer. As, this story was unequaled when it came to tears, the value of time, and love.
Henry & Delilah's stories begins in Alabama, where Hannah refers to this story as “two love stories in one.” But to me, this was also a story about a bond between a father and daughter. Aka Henry & Delilah. These two may share the same looks, music taste, & personalities; they also love people with the same last name. As we travel back and forth in time, we see Henry's POV between him and the pastor's daughter Lucy, and Delilah in love with her son, Truett.
At 17, Delilah's dad finds his life in shambles as a second of happiness backfires. It leaves Delilah broken as she cuts ties with him. Delilah, now 26 years old, gets a voicemail that rocks her to her core. When she learns that her dad has dementia, she goes back home, to her heart of 17 years—her dad, his diagnosis, amd he boy with whom she had her first kiss, who has always seen Delilah. Truett is all man now, as they say, save a horse-ride a cowboy, with some delicious wranglers. As Delilah and Henry's story unfold, we begin to ask if Delilah can let go to have her time of happiness?
Henry is a remarkable man; he is a visionary with a generous heart. He is passionate about music, which leads him to share his talent with others through teaching. But I just wanted to shield him away from the world, change the outlook. Every time I see a grand piano, I think of Henry.
Delilah is looking for the missing pieces and carrying many unresolved issues. As a result, her heart is bleeding out. When everyone around her should have held her up, they instead left her angry, gaslit, and distraught. There were so many parallels with myself & Delilah, from her upbringing, family, and having to care for our fathers. Yet, when Delilah found her peace it was like a therapy session for me.
This book is just mesmerizing & beyond exquisite. I can't thank Hannah enough for what this story meant to me.
Please check TW this book deals with some difficult subject matters. 💙
Thank you, forever Hannah, for the ARC.🫶
Happy Release Day to The Cost of Forgetting You 💙
For TCOFY, if you take one recs from me, this is that book. This is so deeply emotional that if you're like me, you'll hug your loved ones a little longer. As, this story was unequaled when it came to tears, the value of time, and love.
Henry & Delilah's stories begins in Alabama, where Hannah refers to this story as “two love stories in one.” But to me, this was also a story about a bond between a father and daughter. Aka Henry & Delilah. These two may share the same looks, music taste, & personalities; they also love people with the same last name. As we travel back and forth in time, we see Henry's POV between him and the pastor's daughter Lucy, and Delilah in love with her son, Truett.
At 17, Delilah's dad finds his life in shambles as a second of happiness backfires. It leaves Delilah broken as she cuts ties with him. Delilah, now 26 years old, gets a voicemail that rocks her to her core. When she learns that her dad has dementia, she goes back home, to her heart of 17 years—her dad, his diagnosis, amd he boy with whom she had her first kiss, who has always seen Delilah. Truett is all man now, as they say, save a horse-ride a cowboy, with some delicious wranglers. As Delilah and Henry's story unfold, we begin to ask if Delilah can let go to have her time of happiness?
Henry is a remarkable man; he is a visionary with a generous heart. He is passionate about music, which leads him to share his talent with others through teaching. But I just wanted to shield him away from the world, change the outlook. Every time I see a grand piano, I think of Henry.
Delilah is looking for the missing pieces and carrying many unresolved issues. As a result, her heart is bleeding out. When everyone around her should have held her up, they instead left her angry, gaslit, and distraught. There were so many parallels with myself & Delilah, from her upbringing, family, and having to care for our fathers. Yet, when Delilah found her peace it was like a therapy session for me.
This book is just mesmerizing & beyond exquisite. I can't thank Hannah enough for what this story meant to me.
Please check TW this book deals with some difficult subject matters. 💙
Thank you, forever Hannah, for the ARC.🫶
April 1, 2025
I have no tears to shed because I have shed them all , what a beautiful story
September 4, 2024
last page thoughts
truly so stunning but omg it was literally impossible to read the last few chapters through all of the TEARS!!! my hair is actually sticking to my soaked face rn
full review
"Exactly. I'll be with you till the very end, Delilah. And if ever there's a time where you can't remember, I'll do it for both of us. I promise."
Hannah Bird never misses!!! I absolutely devoured this book and am already ready to experience it again! thank you for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! Also look at all these preorder goodies 💕💕
After reading, I am unwell in the best way possible, truly one of the most stunningly heartbreaking stories I have ever read. Truett and Delilah stole my heart, Henry and Lucy broke it. I fear I will never get over this.
I loved everything about this… the characters, the romance, the father daughter dynamic, even the parts that made me cry so much I couldn’t see the page. Truett and Delilah are everything, but Henry’s chapters had me 🥹🥹🥹 there was just so much going in this story and it ended in the most perfect way imaginable!
read if you like: multiple storylines, small town, cowboy mmc, childhood friends to lovers, dementia rep, healing, dual timeline and pov, it’s always been you, skinny dipping, nicknames, tattoos, just one lawnmower
rating: 5/5 ⭐️
truly so stunning but omg it was literally impossible to read the last few chapters through all of the TEARS!!! my hair is actually sticking to my soaked face rn
full review
"Exactly. I'll be with you till the very end, Delilah. And if ever there's a time where you can't remember, I'll do it for both of us. I promise."
Hannah Bird never misses!!! I absolutely devoured this book and am already ready to experience it again! thank you for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! Also look at all these preorder goodies 💕💕
After reading, I am unwell in the best way possible, truly one of the most stunningly heartbreaking stories I have ever read. Truett and Delilah stole my heart, Henry and Lucy broke it. I fear I will never get over this.
I loved everything about this… the characters, the romance, the father daughter dynamic, even the parts that made me cry so much I couldn’t see the page. Truett and Delilah are everything, but Henry’s chapters had me 🥹🥹🥹 there was just so much going in this story and it ended in the most perfect way imaginable!
read if you like: multiple storylines, small town, cowboy mmc, childhood friends to lovers, dementia rep, healing, dual timeline and pov, it’s always been you, skinny dipping, nicknames, tattoos, just one lawnmower
rating: 5/5 ⭐️
September 5, 2024
Delilah returns home after 9 years to take care of her father, Henry, who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. She not only has to face the father she left all those years ago, but also her childhood friend, Truett. This is a story of love, healing, acceptance, and forgiveness. A story that is heartbreaking and beautiful. A story everyone should read!
This book has dual POV, dual timelines and dual love stories, one belonging to Delilah and the other to her father Henry. I absolutely loved the depth and growth of each character and the relationships between them. While I loved the love stories between Delilah and Truett, and Henry and Lucy, the father-daughter relationship between Delilah and Henry was my favorite. Hannah has the ability to create characters and stories that pull on my heartstrings (and make me sob) and feel for these characters as if they were real people. It’s hard to find words to describe how much I loved this story. It will be one that will have a special place in my heart forever.
This will 100% be one of my top reads of the year! Highly recommend reading it and having a box of tissues (or in my case roll of toilet paper) ready!
Hannah, thank you so much for this story and for allowing me to ARC read for you!
This book has dual POV, dual timelines and dual love stories, one belonging to Delilah and the other to her father Henry. I absolutely loved the depth and growth of each character and the relationships between them. While I loved the love stories between Delilah and Truett, and Henry and Lucy, the father-daughter relationship between Delilah and Henry was my favorite. Hannah has the ability to create characters and stories that pull on my heartstrings (and make me sob) and feel for these characters as if they were real people. It’s hard to find words to describe how much I loved this story. It will be one that will have a special place in my heart forever.
This will 100% be one of my top reads of the year! Highly recommend reading it and having a box of tissues (or in my case roll of toilet paper) ready!
Hannah, thank you so much for this story and for allowing me to ARC read for you!
September 5, 2024
thank you so much to hannah bird for accepting my arc request for tcofy, i'm so grateful for the opportunity!
this is hands down one of my favourite books EVER. full rtc on pub day, but ♾★ and ♾😭 for this masterpiece of a novel. absolutely remarkable!! 💙
■□■□■□■□■
* PUB DAY ARC REVIEW *
♾★
"𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦. 𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦."
happy release day @hannahbirdauthor ! i'd like to start my review by thanking hannah and book funnel for an e-arc of this book, my first one ever actually and i truly couldn't think of a better book to have gotten this wonderful opportunity to read and share my love before the rest of the world is introduced to this masterpiece🥹
the fact that tcofy is written by one of my favourite authors and is the literal combination of my most treasured trropes (small town, friends to lovers, cowboy romance, second chance, dual pov and two love stories with all the feelings?!) made it one of most anticipated releases this year and it did not disappoint!
truett & delilah had the most pure relationship and i LOVE them to pieces🥹 both characters were so mature, so strong and so understanding it was refreshing to read! i loved how patient truett was with delilah, i loved delilah's growth and seeing her figure out what she wanted through the course of this book and i loved the chemistry between them❤️🔥
henry & lucy's story was so heartbreaking to read and had me on the verge of tears for most part, especially towards the end😭 'how cruel and how unnecessarily unfair' as quoted in the book is exactly how i'd describe the way fate dealt their cards🥺 they deserved the world together! it was also what made this book extremely realistic; not everything always works out the way you wish for it to.
henry & delilah's father-daughter dynamic was EVERYTHING🥹🥹 my heart shattered multiple times with how unfair life treated them, but also healed with the way hannah gave them the story and understanding both deserved. the writing, the found family, the friendships were all top tier as always!
both the book and this post have to be among my favs til date💌 if you haven't read any of hannah's books yet, i HIGHLY recommend you do ,she can absolutely do no wrong.!! tcofy is hands down my favourite by her but none of them are less than 5★ reads🤭
this is hands down one of my favourite books EVER. full rtc on pub day, but ♾★ and ♾😭 for this masterpiece of a novel. absolutely remarkable!! 💙
■□■□■□■□■
* PUB DAY ARC REVIEW *
♾★
"𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦. 𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦."
happy release day @hannahbirdauthor ! i'd like to start my review by thanking hannah and book funnel for an e-arc of this book, my first one ever actually and i truly couldn't think of a better book to have gotten this wonderful opportunity to read and share my love before the rest of the world is introduced to this masterpiece🥹
the fact that tcofy is written by one of my favourite authors and is the literal combination of my most treasured trropes (small town, friends to lovers, cowboy romance, second chance, dual pov and two love stories with all the feelings?!) made it one of most anticipated releases this year and it did not disappoint!
truett & delilah had the most pure relationship and i LOVE them to pieces🥹 both characters were so mature, so strong and so understanding it was refreshing to read! i loved how patient truett was with delilah, i loved delilah's growth and seeing her figure out what she wanted through the course of this book and i loved the chemistry between them❤️🔥
henry & lucy's story was so heartbreaking to read and had me on the verge of tears for most part, especially towards the end😭 'how cruel and how unnecessarily unfair' as quoted in the book is exactly how i'd describe the way fate dealt their cards🥺 they deserved the world together! it was also what made this book extremely realistic; not everything always works out the way you wish for it to.
henry & delilah's father-daughter dynamic was EVERYTHING🥹🥹 my heart shattered multiple times with how unfair life treated them, but also healed with the way hannah gave them the story and understanding both deserved. the writing, the found family, the friendships were all top tier as always!
both the book and this post have to be among my favs til date💌 if you haven't read any of hannah's books yet, i HIGHLY recommend you do ,she can absolutely do no wrong.!! tcofy is hands down my favourite by her but none of them are less than 5★ reads🤭
August 10, 2024
Look, Hannah, I'm not sure how and why you must take my heart and rearrange it with pieces of your stories intertwined my soul, but you do it. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
And I'll gladly allow you to do this with every book.
This book was just EVERYTHING. It was tragic, it was heart shattering, it was heartwarming, and it was just utterly beautiful too.
I really liked the dual timelines. Getting not only Delilah and Truett's story, but also Henry and Lucy’s story...which was the most heartbreaking one ever. 🥺😭
I felt for Henry so much, he sacrificed so much to do what was right...regardless of his happiness in the end...I mean how can you not fall for his character.
And Lucy too, oh to have gotten her pov, but I imagine my heart wouldn't have been able to take that at all.
Than we have Delilah, her character was just so warming. I could completely relate to her. So I felt for her during the struggles she was going through. Being pulled in so many directions, wanting everyone to be happy...just like her dad did...🥺
Ugh and her mom ! 🤬 her mom was a piece of work...
I mean even at the end...I still couldn't forgive her.
And Truett....Truett, Truett, Truett. 🫠🫠🫠
Loved loved loved him so much.
Absolutely freaking adored the childhood friends to lovers trope in this. They were just too cute.
Yes I was upset with Tru with how he handled things when they were teens...but they were kids after all.
But man, grown up Tru was just PERFECTION! 🤌🏻
His dedication, loyalty, and unconditional love he has for Delilah is just...everything. Just everything. 🥹
.
The first date attempt was cute.. regardless it didn't turn out as planned.
.
Look, if I keep going I'll end up spoiling something.
.
I actually devoured this book 😅 Hannah was shocked by how quickly I read it...but look...it sucked me right in from the very beginning. I couldn't put it down. And as I was reading it was playing out like a movie in my head. I so seriously wish it could be an actual film because it was just so damn good.
.
Highly, highly recommend this book.
It is a tear jerker...you'll need tissues for sure because I cried several times.
There is a happy ending.....but for some it's different than others.
But I do recommend checking tws.
Thank you Hannah, again, for the arc. And thank you for this story for all the caregivers out there.
And I'll gladly allow you to do this with every book.
This book was just EVERYTHING. It was tragic, it was heart shattering, it was heartwarming, and it was just utterly beautiful too.
I really liked the dual timelines. Getting not only Delilah and Truett's story, but also Henry and Lucy’s story...which was the most heartbreaking one ever. 🥺😭
I felt for Henry so much, he sacrificed so much to do what was right...regardless of his happiness in the end...I mean how can you not fall for his character.
And Lucy too, oh to have gotten her pov, but I imagine my heart wouldn't have been able to take that at all.
Than we have Delilah, her character was just so warming. I could completely relate to her. So I felt for her during the struggles she was going through. Being pulled in so many directions, wanting everyone to be happy...just like her dad did...🥺
Ugh and her mom ! 🤬 her mom was a piece of work...
I mean even at the end...I still couldn't forgive her.
And Truett....Truett, Truett, Truett. 🫠🫠🫠
Loved loved loved him so much.
Absolutely freaking adored the childhood friends to lovers trope in this. They were just too cute.
Yes I was upset with Tru with how he handled things when they were teens...but they were kids after all.
But man, grown up Tru was just PERFECTION! 🤌🏻
His dedication, loyalty, and unconditional love he has for Delilah is just...everything. Just everything. 🥹
.
The first date attempt was cute.. regardless it didn't turn out as planned.
.
Look, if I keep going I'll end up spoiling something.
.
I actually devoured this book 😅 Hannah was shocked by how quickly I read it...but look...it sucked me right in from the very beginning. I couldn't put it down. And as I was reading it was playing out like a movie in my head. I so seriously wish it could be an actual film because it was just so damn good.
.
Highly, highly recommend this book.
It is a tear jerker...you'll need tissues for sure because I cried several times.
There is a happy ending.....but for some it's different than others.
But I do recommend checking tws.
Thank you Hannah, again, for the arc. And thank you for this story for all the caregivers out there.
September 1, 2024
“I’ll be with you until the very end, Delilah. And if ever there’s a time where you can’t remember, I’ll do it for the both of us. I promise”
It’s hard to put into words how much I loved this book. It’s one of my favourites of the year so far, and I’m going to be thinking about this one for a very long time.
I knew that I’d love this book as I cried through the author’s note and dedication. This story touches close to home for me. As someone who, unfortunately, watched a family member suffer from dementia, I felt this in my soul. Hannah did an outstanding job of illustrating how horrible this disease can be and how hard it is for loved ones to witness.
Both love stories were so heartbreakingly beautiful. I love how we got to follow both Delilah and Henry’s separate love stories in their own POVs and timelines. I felt the chemistry and love for these characters so deeply.
And then there’s Truett…Such an incredible MMC. I loved the way he cared for Henry and Delilah, and boy did he make me swoon🥵.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned. It was everything you could ever want in a book. It’s a masterpiece. I HIGHLY recommend checking this out.
Thank you so much Hannah Bird for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to start your backlist, and for you to rip apart my soul and heal my heart all over again. 🥹
CWs: dementia, cancer, loss of a parent
It’s hard to put into words how much I loved this book. It’s one of my favourites of the year so far, and I’m going to be thinking about this one for a very long time.
I knew that I’d love this book as I cried through the author’s note and dedication. This story touches close to home for me. As someone who, unfortunately, watched a family member suffer from dementia, I felt this in my soul. Hannah did an outstanding job of illustrating how horrible this disease can be and how hard it is for loved ones to witness.
Both love stories were so heartbreakingly beautiful. I love how we got to follow both Delilah and Henry’s separate love stories in their own POVs and timelines. I felt the chemistry and love for these characters so deeply.
And then there’s Truett…Such an incredible MMC. I loved the way he cared for Henry and Delilah, and boy did he make me swoon🥵.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned. It was everything you could ever want in a book. It’s a masterpiece. I HIGHLY recommend checking this out.
Thank you so much Hannah Bird for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to start your backlist, and for you to rip apart my soul and heal my heart all over again. 🥹
CWs: dementia, cancer, loss of a parent
July 31, 2024
How do I write a review through sobs? Oh. My. Gosh. This was a beta read, so I know I shouldn’t say too much. But I will say- this is Hannah’s best book yet. And my top read of the year so far. It was brilliant. Absolute perfection. I’ll write more when I can. Just know…. Hannah created an absolute masterpiece with this book. Absolute. Masterpiece. I may never get over it.
July 25, 2025
I’ve had this book in my TBR for far too long and completely abandoned my family on our beach vacation to binge this book. I identified with many of the characters and characteristics, loved the poetic words, and for sure found myself in tears at the end. Ok, I have to get back to vacation but I had to share a mini review first. Hannah, outstanding! I am excited to read more of your work. And congrats on your new baby! 💖
September 11, 2024
This was not just a “romance” book. This was a story of love and loss and the complicated relationships we can have with parents and others.
We have a MFC and MMC who met when kids. MMC moves next to MFC. They became best friends. They did not know that the MFC’s father and MMC’s mother not only knew each other prior but had been in love and briefly involved. They were torn apart by circumstances and poor decision making.
The MFC father has sex for the first time with a girl and she becomes pregnant they marry but it was never a truly happy marriage. The mother was bitter about being stuck in the small town.
Meanwhile the MMC’s mother moved on with another, married and becomes pregnant right away so there is not much difference in age of the mains.
When the mains are teenagers it comes out that the MFC’s father was cheating with the MMC’s mother. Two marriages are over. The MFC is bullied and setup by a bully to be assaulted and filmed. The MMC has distanced himself from her and is not bullied. Her mom decides to move out of state and she decides to leave with her due to bullying and the abandonment of the MMC.
Skip forward 9 years later and the father calls the MFC he has dementia. She decides to go home to help and I feel make peace with her father who she has not heard from.
Here the story picks up with the complicated feelings of all involved. As the MFC gets to know her father and the MMC again fears and feelings are intense. The relationship between father and daughter was beautiful and heartbreaking as he continues on the dementia journey. Her relationship with her childhood friend and crush was also beautiful.
The portrayed story of dementia was very accurate and I have personal experience with it (mom). The sensitivity of how it was handled while still portraying the challenges and heartbreak was well done. There is no OM/OW drama. No virgins and both had known they only wanted each other deep down. When the truth comes out about the affair and her father’s marriage it was certainly eye opening but also illustrated the depth of a father’s love for his daughter.
I especially liked the portrayal of caregivers and the guilt we carry. It was so accurate and put into words in a meaningful way. I hope someone who is a caregiver currently reads this and gain some comfort from the words.
We have a MFC and MMC who met when kids. MMC moves next to MFC. They became best friends. They did not know that the MFC’s father and MMC’s mother not only knew each other prior but had been in love and briefly involved. They were torn apart by circumstances and poor decision making.
The MFC father has sex for the first time with a girl and she becomes pregnant they marry but it was never a truly happy marriage. The mother was bitter about being stuck in the small town.
Meanwhile the MMC’s mother moved on with another, married and becomes pregnant right away so there is not much difference in age of the mains.
When the mains are teenagers it comes out that the MFC’s father was cheating with the MMC’s mother. Two marriages are over. The MFC is bullied and setup by a bully to be assaulted and filmed. The MMC has distanced himself from her and is not bullied. Her mom decides to move out of state and she decides to leave with her due to bullying and the abandonment of the MMC.
Skip forward 9 years later and the father calls the MFC he has dementia. She decides to go home to help and I feel make peace with her father who she has not heard from.
Here the story picks up with the complicated feelings of all involved. As the MFC gets to know her father and the MMC again fears and feelings are intense. The relationship between father and daughter was beautiful and heartbreaking as he continues on the dementia journey. Her relationship with her childhood friend and crush was also beautiful.
The portrayed story of dementia was very accurate and I have personal experience with it (mom). The sensitivity of how it was handled while still portraying the challenges and heartbreak was well done. There is no OM/OW drama. No virgins and both had known they only wanted each other deep down. When the truth comes out about the affair and her father’s marriage it was certainly eye opening but also illustrated the depth of a father’s love for his daughter.
I especially liked the portrayal of caregivers and the guilt we carry. It was so accurate and put into words in a meaningful way. I hope someone who is a caregiver currently reads this and gain some comfort from the words.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2024
I just want to start this review by saying Hannah Bird’s writing is UNREAL. If she has no fans, consider me deād. For some reason, this book didn’t quite click with me. I think it was written beautifully but I found myself getting distracted and bored. At times, I felt frustrated and upset with the storyline.
There were moments I absolutely adored and I highlighted some beautiful quotes throughout the book so it was a solid 3 star read for me. Please read the description and if it sounds like the book for you, I’m sure you won’t regret reading it!
Sometimes we’ve just gotta be honest and say that the book isn’t for you, but it could be someone else’s next favourite read 💛
*ARC reader*
There were moments I absolutely adored and I highlighted some beautiful quotes throughout the book so it was a solid 3 star read for me. Please read the description and if it sounds like the book for you, I’m sure you won’t regret reading it!
Sometimes we’ve just gotta be honest and say that the book isn’t for you, but it could be someone else’s next favourite read 💛
*ARC reader*
April 2, 2024
This is such a beautiful story!
July 12, 2025
The FEELINGS in this book!! 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 … I was crying nonstop towards the end 🥺 and I know I’ll never get over it
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘩 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤, and her characters are so real you get attached to them, ache for them, root for them.
𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 500 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯, especially that 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺：
*•.༄* there’s Delilah and Truett, her childhood friend and first love
*•.༄*and there’s her dad’s story that caused the whole scandal and made Delilah leave with her mom for 9 years … and then coming back when her dad gets diagnosed with dementia.
💞𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, especially that he’s not that little boy who let her go without a fight many years ago … he’s a grown-up cowboy taking care of his farm and also of her sick dad! And he never stopped loving her but they have so many hidden complicated issues from the past they have to resolve.
🩵Delilah made my heart ache because she paid the price of something she didn’t do: she has so much love in her heart 🙌🏻
💙and Truett, so responsible and mature and caring, with a flirty side that added so much to his story with Delilah, his only love.
⏳𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 because I needed to understand what happened, and yes Henry and Lucy’s story broke my heart because of the sacrifices they made 🥺
📖 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, it’s a story about the complexity of parenthood, family, sacrifices, father-daughter bond, and second chances … and mostly never giving up on the people we love 🙌🏻
Detailed tropes:
•Childhood friends
•Small town setting
•Caregiving
•Family relationships
•Dementia rep
•Grief journey / healing
•Emotional & sweet moments
•He calls her “temptress”
•Dual time line
•Dual POV
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘩 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤, and her characters are so real you get attached to them, ache for them, root for them.
𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 500 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯, especially that 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺：
*•.༄* there’s Delilah and Truett, her childhood friend and first love
*•.༄*and there’s her dad’s story that caused the whole scandal and made Delilah leave with her mom for 9 years … and then coming back when her dad gets diagnosed with dementia.
💞𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, especially that he’s not that little boy who let her go without a fight many years ago … he’s a grown-up cowboy taking care of his farm and also of her sick dad! And he never stopped loving her but they have so many hidden complicated issues from the past they have to resolve.
🩵Delilah made my heart ache because she paid the price of something she didn’t do: she has so much love in her heart 🙌🏻
💙and Truett, so responsible and mature and caring, with a flirty side that added so much to his story with Delilah, his only love.
⏳𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 because I needed to understand what happened, and yes Henry and Lucy’s story broke my heart because of the sacrifices they made 🥺
📖 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, it’s a story about the complexity of parenthood, family, sacrifices, father-daughter bond, and second chances … and mostly never giving up on the people we love 🙌🏻
Detailed tropes:
•Childhood friends
•Small town setting
•Caregiving
•Family relationships
•Dementia rep
•Grief journey / healing
•Emotional & sweet moments
•He calls her “temptress”
•Dual time line
•Dual POV
August 20, 2024
“We’re the best of our parents, and also entirely ourselves. Their unfinished love story and our very own that’s just getting started, all rolled into one.” 🩵
Delilah hasn’t seen or spoken to her dad in close to 10 years but just found out he needs her help after being diagnosed with dementia. She has to put aside her feelings towards everything that made her move away from home all those years ago, especially her childhood love Truett.
This book was absolutely everything 😭 we get two love stories in one, both equally heartwarming and tragic all at the same time. The longing… I can’t 🥲 My heart hurts so bad after finishing and crying through 90% of this read. This book hit me in a way that I didn’t expect and felt really close to home for me. I’ve come to expect the angst and emotion with Hannah’s books but this one knocked everything else out of the park. It was just truly beautiful and I know I’ll think about them forever 🥺
Microtropes & moments I loved:
The river
Mowing the lawn
The nickname
Sick caretaking
So much pining
The first date 🐮
Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Second chance
It’s always been you
Right person, wrong time
Dual timeline (dual love stories)
Dysfunctional family dynamics
Caretaker of a family member
Delilah hasn’t seen or spoken to her dad in close to 10 years but just found out he needs her help after being diagnosed with dementia. She has to put aside her feelings towards everything that made her move away from home all those years ago, especially her childhood love Truett.
This book was absolutely everything 😭 we get two love stories in one, both equally heartwarming and tragic all at the same time. The longing… I can’t 🥲 My heart hurts so bad after finishing and crying through 90% of this read. This book hit me in a way that I didn’t expect and felt really close to home for me. I’ve come to expect the angst and emotion with Hannah’s books but this one knocked everything else out of the park. It was just truly beautiful and I know I’ll think about them forever 🥺
Microtropes & moments I loved:
The river
Mowing the lawn
The nickname
Sick caretaking
So much pining
The first date 🐮
Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Second chance
It’s always been you
Right person, wrong time
Dual timeline (dual love stories)
Dysfunctional family dynamics
Caretaker of a family member
August 27, 2024
this book BROKE me. I knew from the beginning it would hit close to home & it did. I’m not gonna lie.. the amount of pages made me nervous. BUT after reading it all makes sense & I wouldn’t take anything out. I wanted to give Delilah the biggest hug because I swear she’s me. So many things she went through are things that I endured growing up. She had to take care of everyone around her while still trying to grow up as a child should. I’m glad she decided to stay with her dad & take care of him. Watching them build their relationship again had me so emotional 🥺 can we take a minute for Truett Parker? Because I’m obsessed & I love him. I’m not usually a childhood friends to lovers fan but I ATE this one up! Yes, Truett didn’t handle the situation the best when they were kids. But also, they were KIDS! He grew so much & I loved getting to see him as an adult. New book husband? I think so 🤪 I can’t recommend this book enough! It broke me & put me back together at the same time. Hannah Bird, AMAZING work! This book is a new favorite & I can’t wait to reread & annotate it 🧎♀️🥰
read if you like ||
-dual pov
-dual timeline
-cowboy mmc
-small town romance
-“it’s always been you”
-dementia caregiver rep
-childhood friends to lovers
read if you like ||
-dual pov
-dual timeline
-cowboy mmc
-small town romance
-“it’s always been you”
-dementia caregiver rep
-childhood friends to lovers
August 19, 2024
WOW. I have absolutely devoured and adored every book Hannah has written, but The Cost of Forgetting You is hands down my new favorite! Hannah has this incredible way of creating complex characters that everybody can relate to in one way or another. Especially those of us who have been through trauma.
Delilah was a complicated, extra-relatable character to me. Her relationship with her mother was so challenging to read due to her mom’s constant guilt-tripping, need to be #1 in Delilah’s life, and her doing everything in her power to turn Delilah against her dad. However, this relationship was EXTREMELY relatable as if reflects my own relationship with my mother. Delilah being a people-pleaser, peacemaker, and caretaker (emotionally) to her mother was such an incredibly accurate depiction that some parts had me pausing and rereading while in tears. I felt so incredibly seen, and reminded that I’m not the only one with this kind of parental relationship.
Delilah’s relationship with her father, Henry, was so heartbreaking but so beautiful to watch. It made me so incredibly sad they were separated for so long, and reunited in terrible circumstances, but I’m so glad they got to rekindle their relationship before it was too late. Henry’s own precious storyline was so insightful to who he was and why he made the life choices he did. It really opened my eyes about how we really only know our parents as our parents, and not the people they were before and the choices they had to make. Watching Henry as a teenager/young adult was very enlightening, but also difficult knowing that he gave up his entire life and happiness (besides Delilah).
And I surely can’t forget about Truett! What a man! It was so dreamy learning about how head over heels he has always been for Delilah, and how he would do anything for her. He was so incredibly patient and supportive with Delilah through the several burdensome situations she was dealing with. He made sure she knew he was there whenever she was ready, and really let her sort things out in the way she wanted to. His support of Henry was so emotional, especially knowing how Henry loved Truett’s mother (Lucy) his whole life but never got to have her. Henry and Truett’s relationship was so deep-rooted in their matching loving and grieving of Lucy, and now in their current circumstances of Henry’s dementia diagnosis.
There were so many intricate relationships weaved together so beautifully. I heavily related to so many different situations and honestly I want to reread it already. This will 100% be one of the top emotional reads I recommend to everyone!
Delilah was a complicated, extra-relatable character to me. Her relationship with her mother was so challenging to read due to her mom’s constant guilt-tripping, need to be #1 in Delilah’s life, and her doing everything in her power to turn Delilah against her dad. However, this relationship was EXTREMELY relatable as if reflects my own relationship with my mother. Delilah being a people-pleaser, peacemaker, and caretaker (emotionally) to her mother was such an incredibly accurate depiction that some parts had me pausing and rereading while in tears. I felt so incredibly seen, and reminded that I’m not the only one with this kind of parental relationship.
Delilah’s relationship with her father, Henry, was so heartbreaking but so beautiful to watch. It made me so incredibly sad they were separated for so long, and reunited in terrible circumstances, but I’m so glad they got to rekindle their relationship before it was too late. Henry’s own precious storyline was so insightful to who he was and why he made the life choices he did. It really opened my eyes about how we really only know our parents as our parents, and not the people they were before and the choices they had to make. Watching Henry as a teenager/young adult was very enlightening, but also difficult knowing that he gave up his entire life and happiness (besides Delilah).
And I surely can’t forget about Truett! What a man! It was so dreamy learning about how head over heels he has always been for Delilah, and how he would do anything for her. He was so incredibly patient and supportive with Delilah through the several burdensome situations she was dealing with. He made sure she knew he was there whenever she was ready, and really let her sort things out in the way she wanted to. His support of Henry was so emotional, especially knowing how Henry loved Truett’s mother (Lucy) his whole life but never got to have her. Henry and Truett’s relationship was so deep-rooted in their matching loving and grieving of Lucy, and now in their current circumstances of Henry’s dementia diagnosis.
There were so many intricate relationships weaved together so beautifully. I heavily related to so many different situations and honestly I want to reread it already. This will 100% be one of the top emotional reads I recommend to everyone!
September 4, 2024
Uhhh this book, my heart, all the feels.
Hannah has again written such a beautiful story, one for the ages. This friends to lovers book has two timelines and two very amazing stories. I truly am at a loss for words. Both stories had me captivated from the very beginning.
Also, there was no lack of tears from the immense heartache I experience when the characters I become emotionally attached to have to face so many hardships.
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tears 😭 😭😭😭😭
Hannah has again written such a beautiful story, one for the ages. This friends to lovers book has two timelines and two very amazing stories. I truly am at a loss for words. Both stories had me captivated from the very beginning.
Also, there was no lack of tears from the immense heartache I experience when the characters I become emotionally attached to have to face so many hardships.
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tears 😭 😭😭😭😭
April 3, 2024
BETA READ:
As I'm sitting here right now trying to put words as to how much this book changed me, it's April. April 3rd to be exact. I...I don't think I've ever been so moved....so altered by a book in my entire life. I'm honestly struggling to put into works HOW much I love Truett and Delilah. But here is my best shot at it.
It is no surprise that I love to cry. I love books that make me feel any sort of emotion, whether it's sadness, love, happiness. I want it all. Hannah has definitely made me cry before. I am pretty sure that she has made me cry with every book she graces us with. But this book....THIS book....this book altered me. It changed me. I don't think I've been so emotionally attached to characters in a long time.
I don't read blurbs so I went in completely blind. And I was crying by chapter 6. I've never seen or read a book written the way Hannah has written this book. It's the most unique story I've ever read. I have personal experience with some of the trials that these characters went through and it makes me beyond protective of them. I will protect them at ALL COSTS.
You can read the blurb to get the gist of what you'll get with this book but trust me. Read it. You MUST read it. Smalltown, cowboy, second chance, dual time line, making amends....all the feels. Truett is absolute perfection. ABSOLUTE. PERFECTION.
Hannah, my friend, this is your best work yet and I am beyond honored that you allowed me inside this world early and trusted me. I am so grateful for you. Congrats on this. THIS is THE book.
As I'm sitting here right now trying to put words as to how much this book changed me, it's April. April 3rd to be exact. I...I don't think I've ever been so moved....so altered by a book in my entire life. I'm honestly struggling to put into works HOW much I love Truett and Delilah. But here is my best shot at it.
It is no surprise that I love to cry. I love books that make me feel any sort of emotion, whether it's sadness, love, happiness. I want it all. Hannah has definitely made me cry before. I am pretty sure that she has made me cry with every book she graces us with. But this book....THIS book....this book altered me. It changed me. I don't think I've been so emotionally attached to characters in a long time.
I don't read blurbs so I went in completely blind. And I was crying by chapter 6. I've never seen or read a book written the way Hannah has written this book. It's the most unique story I've ever read. I have personal experience with some of the trials that these characters went through and it makes me beyond protective of them. I will protect them at ALL COSTS.
You can read the blurb to get the gist of what you'll get with this book but trust me. Read it. You MUST read it. Smalltown, cowboy, second chance, dual time line, making amends....all the feels. Truett is absolute perfection. ABSOLUTE. PERFECTION.
Hannah, my friend, this is your best work yet and I am beyond honored that you allowed me inside this world early and trusted me. I am so grateful for you. Congrats on this. THIS is THE book.
February 11, 2025
This book had so much potential. The story was so full of love and heartbreak and healing. However, the romance part of it was anything but…🙄 Not my kind of romance. What could have been a beautiful and sweet story of two lifelong friends who finally get together felt gross and not romantic at all.
August 31, 2024
Hannah, Hannah, Hannah... I don't know what you put in your books that makes them so raw, emotional, addicting, passionate, and beautiful, but I hope you never stop writing because you are SO talented.
I can't believe I read your first book last year before meeting you at my local Barnes and Noble, and now you've published multiple books that have made me laugh, cry, sob uncontrollably (yes there's a difference between this and crying lol), and simply FEEL. Your writing just keeps getting better and better, and it's been so incredible to witness your author journey.
Now onto this story that required an entire box of tissues... Miss Hannah... MA'AM... This story blew me out of the water. I don't know how you did it, but you created a story that had me absolutely heartbroken, but also simultaneously put me back together.
This story was so unique because it showcased Delilah's POV, and her father, Henry's POV. Most romance novels are either single POV or the two love interests, but not this one because we need Henry's backstory to understand everything.
Delilah's been gone from her hometown for nine years after her father cheated on her mother... If that wasn't bad enough, the woman her father cheated with is the mother of Delilah's childhood best friend and the man she's loved in secret, Truett Parker. Delilah is off living with her mom in South Carolina when she gets an unexpected call from her father letting her know his health has declined... Henry has frontotemporal dementia, and it's progressing.
With word of the diagnosis, Delilah gathers her courage to return to the town that holds so many heartbreaking memories - her father's cheating, Truett's radio silence after the cheating scandal, and the abandonment from her friends. But Delilah is always taking care of others - always playing the role of care giver. Returning home to her small town was supposed to be temporary, but life's got other plans in store for Delilah Ridgefield...
This story is near and dear to my heart as I witnessed both of my grandmother's suffer from dementia. It's a terrible, horrific disease that I hope and pray we can one day find a cure for. So thank you, Hannah, for writing a love story that is real, and showcases emotional and vulnerable characters. This story will forever hold a special place in my heart.
I can't believe I read your first book last year before meeting you at my local Barnes and Noble, and now you've published multiple books that have made me laugh, cry, sob uncontrollably (yes there's a difference between this and crying lol), and simply FEEL. Your writing just keeps getting better and better, and it's been so incredible to witness your author journey.
Now onto this story that required an entire box of tissues... Miss Hannah... MA'AM... This story blew me out of the water. I don't know how you did it, but you created a story that had me absolutely heartbroken, but also simultaneously put me back together.
This story was so unique because it showcased Delilah's POV, and her father, Henry's POV. Most romance novels are either single POV or the two love interests, but not this one because we need Henry's backstory to understand everything.
Delilah's been gone from her hometown for nine years after her father cheated on her mother... If that wasn't bad enough, the woman her father cheated with is the mother of Delilah's childhood best friend and the man she's loved in secret, Truett Parker. Delilah is off living with her mom in South Carolina when she gets an unexpected call from her father letting her know his health has declined... Henry has frontotemporal dementia, and it's progressing.
With word of the diagnosis, Delilah gathers her courage to return to the town that holds so many heartbreaking memories - her father's cheating, Truett's radio silence after the cheating scandal, and the abandonment from her friends. But Delilah is always taking care of others - always playing the role of care giver. Returning home to her small town was supposed to be temporary, but life's got other plans in store for Delilah Ridgefield...
This story is near and dear to my heart as I witnessed both of my grandmother's suffer from dementia. It's a terrible, horrific disease that I hope and pray we can one day find a cure for. So thank you, Hannah, for writing a love story that is real, and showcases emotional and vulnerable characters. This story will forever hold a special place in my heart.
August 31, 2024
When Delilah receives a letter from her father about his dementia diagnosis, she immediately goes to his side. Her mother, who moved herself and Delilah away after he cheated on her, is not thrilled that Delilah is headed to care for him. Going back to ”home” means more than just seeing and caring for her father though. It means reliving the trauma of when her father got caught cheating, and worse, seeing the people that were supposed to have her back, but turned them on her when it happened.
Oh hey…want to cry? Read a Hannah Bird book! No seriously, have the tissues ready when you pick up this book. It’s not a matter of if you will cry, but how many times you will cry. Dementia is such an horribly difficult disease to face with your loved one, and being a caretaker is not a small gig at all. My mom is currently caring for her ailing parents and I know how draining it can be. It’s so hard to see the people we love get older, and to watch their health deteriorate is devastating. Shit, I can’t even write this review without crying. While I fully appreciated that the first “spicy” scene fell at exactly 69% on the e-book, I didn’t love the way Truett spoke to Delilah during the act. Besides that though, I loved their relationship from page one through the entire book. Maybe it felt like they had such a sweet and innocent love as children it threw me when they finally had sex as adults? I fully believe that is just a me thing though! felt for both Delilah’s parents and the life they lived, though I really hated how manipulative her mother was. I was just waiting for her to finally put her foot down with dear old mom. As always, Hannah weaves a tale of love, family, and forgiveness, with a side of spice for a good time!
As a side note I don’t recommend reading while flying to set a family member up on hospice. Or maybe it was the perfect thing to read then I just don’t know.
Thank you to @hannahbirdauthor for my gifted copy of this book!
Oh hey…want to cry? Read a Hannah Bird book! No seriously, have the tissues ready when you pick up this book. It’s not a matter of if you will cry, but how many times you will cry. Dementia is such an horribly difficult disease to face with your loved one, and being a caretaker is not a small gig at all. My mom is currently caring for her ailing parents and I know how draining it can be. It’s so hard to see the people we love get older, and to watch their health deteriorate is devastating. Shit, I can’t even write this review without crying. While I fully appreciated that the first “spicy” scene fell at exactly 69% on the e-book, I didn’t love the way Truett spoke to Delilah during the act. Besides that though, I loved their relationship from page one through the entire book. Maybe it felt like they had such a sweet and innocent love as children it threw me when they finally had sex as adults? I fully believe that is just a me thing though! felt for both Delilah’s parents and the life they lived, though I really hated how manipulative her mother was. I was just waiting for her to finally put her foot down with dear old mom. As always, Hannah weaves a tale of love, family, and forgiveness, with a side of spice for a good time!
As a side note I don’t recommend reading while flying to set a family member up on hospice. Or maybe it was the perfect thing to read then I just don’t know.
Thank you to @hannahbirdauthor for my gifted copy of this book!
September 6, 2024
This. Book! I know when I pick up a Hannah book that there’s a good chance I’m going to cry (who am I kidding? I’m a Pisces. There’s a 100% chance I’m going to cry), and I am ever so thankful for the pack of tissues she provided to those of us who pre-ordered her book. They were definitely needed! But in the best of ways!
Delilah hasn’t spoken to her father in nine years, but when she gets a call that he’s sick and diagnosed with dementia, she finds herself back in her hometown caring for him. Of course, she’s not just met with her ailing father upon her return home but with her childhood best friend, Truett. Except they’re not on speaking terms at this point either.
What Hannah gives us is this beautiful dual timeline, one path delving into the past of Delilah’s father, Henry, as we see his struggles and the choices he made which led to the dissolution of their family. The other path follows the reunion of Delilah and Truett. And oh, how I loved their chemistry and banter. It immediately leapt off the page, even if they were too stubborn to acknowledge it. Truett can come and mow my lawn any day…just saying. 😏
I’ve nothing to say except this book is so beautiful. And touching. And heart wrenching. As someone who has watched family members suffer with dementia, it is so hard on everyone, but Hannah did such a wonderful job of putting that struggle to the page in the most respectful of ways. This is truly a beautiful story of love and loss and second chances.
Thank you so very much to Hannah for the advance copy.
What to expect:
💙 small town romance
💙 childhood friends to lovers
💙 “it’s always been you”
💙 dual timeline
💙 second chances
💙 dementia caregiver rep
Delilah hasn’t spoken to her father in nine years, but when she gets a call that he’s sick and diagnosed with dementia, she finds herself back in her hometown caring for him. Of course, she’s not just met with her ailing father upon her return home but with her childhood best friend, Truett. Except they’re not on speaking terms at this point either.
What Hannah gives us is this beautiful dual timeline, one path delving into the past of Delilah’s father, Henry, as we see his struggles and the choices he made which led to the dissolution of their family. The other path follows the reunion of Delilah and Truett. And oh, how I loved their chemistry and banter. It immediately leapt off the page, even if they were too stubborn to acknowledge it. Truett can come and mow my lawn any day…just saying. 😏
I’ve nothing to say except this book is so beautiful. And touching. And heart wrenching. As someone who has watched family members suffer with dementia, it is so hard on everyone, but Hannah did such a wonderful job of putting that struggle to the page in the most respectful of ways. This is truly a beautiful story of love and loss and second chances.
Thank you so very much to Hannah for the advance copy.
What to expect:
💙 small town romance
💙 childhood friends to lovers
💙 “it’s always been you”
💙 dual timeline
💙 second chances
💙 dementia caregiver rep
August 8, 2024
ARC REVIEW:
I finished this book in three days, which says a lot for me these days. I just couldn’t put it down for even a second. and now that i’ve finished, I already wish I could’ve stayed in this book for a little while longer.
15% of the way in I was tearing up, and by the end — shocking absolutely no one — I was sobbing.
this is such a beautiful story of love and family and regrets and forgiveness. A dual POV like you’ve never seen (protagonist and her dad, with her dad’s POV in a different timeline).
a man who fell in love with a girl he couldn’t have. his daughter who fell in love with her very best friend, the son of the woman her father loved all his life. and his brain slowly leaving the present moment due to a cruel disease.
I love this book for so many reasons. but one of them being the honesty and care given to Henry’s struggle with dementia. my grandfather suffered from dementia at the end of his life, and though I was in college and never bore witness to the very worst of it, it was still a difficult journey for every one of us who loved him. the rollercoaster that this illness takes people on is told so honestly in this book and it’s heartcrushing, yet beautiful? to see how we hold each other up amidst struggle, and how we almost love each other better in it.
and even alongside the emotion in this book, I laughed out loud! I love the banter between Truett and Delilah, and the different characters in Fly Hollow.
if Hannah isn’t one of your auto-buy authors by now, I think she very much should be.
I finished this book in three days, which says a lot for me these days. I just couldn’t put it down for even a second. and now that i’ve finished, I already wish I could’ve stayed in this book for a little while longer.
15% of the way in I was tearing up, and by the end — shocking absolutely no one — I was sobbing.
this is such a beautiful story of love and family and regrets and forgiveness. A dual POV like you’ve never seen (protagonist and her dad, with her dad’s POV in a different timeline).
a man who fell in love with a girl he couldn’t have. his daughter who fell in love with her very best friend, the son of the woman her father loved all his life. and his brain slowly leaving the present moment due to a cruel disease.
I love this book for so many reasons. but one of them being the honesty and care given to Henry’s struggle with dementia. my grandfather suffered from dementia at the end of his life, and though I was in college and never bore witness to the very worst of it, it was still a difficult journey for every one of us who loved him. the rollercoaster that this illness takes people on is told so honestly in this book and it’s heartcrushing, yet beautiful? to see how we hold each other up amidst struggle, and how we almost love each other better in it.
and even alongside the emotion in this book, I laughed out loud! I love the banter between Truett and Delilah, and the different characters in Fly Hollow.
if Hannah isn’t one of your auto-buy authors by now, I think she very much should be.
August 24, 2024
Thank you Hannah Bird for the #gifted finished copy to read and review 🩵
Hannah Bird never fails to get me yelling at her books 😆 the emotions!! As always, you can expect big BIG emotions in this book. It would be a good idea to look up content warnings 🫶🏼
Expect 👉🏼 Small Town, Estranged Father & Daughter, Best Friends to Strangers to Lovers, Two Love Stories (past and present), Dementia, Forgiveness
Delilah hasn’t spoken to her father in almost a decade. Until she gets a call that he is sick. It’s time to return home, get answers and find a way to forgive all the pain of the past.
This story has me in a vice. Delilah was so human. She endured such manipulation and my heart hurt every time she questioned herself and her worth.
Truitt is just wonderful. He’s a cowboy. He’s the best friend. He’s steady. He’s supportive. He’s patient. He’s hot. He’s her soulmate.
This is not a super spicy book although there are a couple of great spicy scenes. It’s a much heavier emotional love story.
Dementia is a large part of this story and probably the hardest part for me to talk about. It’s a cruel disease that has affected my family in life changing ways.
4.5/5
Hannah Bird never fails to get me yelling at her books 😆 the emotions!! As always, you can expect big BIG emotions in this book. It would be a good idea to look up content warnings 🫶🏼
Expect 👉🏼 Small Town, Estranged Father & Daughter, Best Friends to Strangers to Lovers, Two Love Stories (past and present), Dementia, Forgiveness
Delilah hasn’t spoken to her father in almost a decade. Until she gets a call that he is sick. It’s time to return home, get answers and find a way to forgive all the pain of the past.
This story has me in a vice. Delilah was so human. She endured such manipulation and my heart hurt every time she questioned herself and her worth.
Truitt is just wonderful. He’s a cowboy. He’s the best friend. He’s steady. He’s supportive. He’s patient. He’s hot. He’s her soulmate.
This is not a super spicy book although there are a couple of great spicy scenes. It’s a much heavier emotional love story.
Dementia is a large part of this story and probably the hardest part for me to talk about. It’s a cruel disease that has affected my family in life changing ways.
4.5/5
September 5, 2024
Since learning my local Barnes was hosting an author signing last year, I decided I had to try to read every author I was meeting. I started with The End and Then by Hannah and it absolutely wrecked me and put me back together.
Now reading her fifth book and I think I have a new favorite one by her. 🤍 The Cost of Forgetting You, may be the most heart wrenching book I’ve read all year. This book has hit the closet to home to me and might make me a bit biased towards it.
Delilah and Truett were childhood best friends until their parents actions forced them apart. Nine years later, Delilah drops everything to come back to Fly Hollow and care for her father. But is she ready to face the town she left behind and the people in it?
Him calling her by her nickname and buying her shoes >>>>
TCOFY is dual POV, in a unique way that makes you want to just crawl in there and hug all of them. Especially Lucy.
If you need a book that makes you sob, laugh, and feel all of the feelings then you have to read this book.
Now reading her fifth book and I think I have a new favorite one by her. 🤍 The Cost of Forgetting You, may be the most heart wrenching book I’ve read all year. This book has hit the closet to home to me and might make me a bit biased towards it.
Delilah and Truett were childhood best friends until their parents actions forced them apart. Nine years later, Delilah drops everything to come back to Fly Hollow and care for her father. But is she ready to face the town she left behind and the people in it?
Him calling her by her nickname and buying her shoes >>>>
TCOFY is dual POV, in a unique way that makes you want to just crawl in there and hug all of them. Especially Lucy.
If you need a book that makes you sob, laugh, and feel all of the feelings then you have to read this book.
August 22, 2024
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC copy of this book, and I’m finding it hard to gather all of my thoughts on it because I have so many!! Let me just start by saying Hannah’s use of imagery is BEAUTIFUL. Her stories are so descriptive & well-written. Her characters have so much depth you can’t help but become emotionally invested in them. Delilah was an extremely relatable character, and I fell in love with her and Truett’s story. Henry and Lucy’s story especially tugged on my heartstrings.
This book has two different timelines and two beautifully complex love stories that tie together perfectly. Despite these two love stories being the main focus of the book, there were so many other relationships formed & rekindled that were just as important and made the story what it was.
I rate books based on how they make me feel, and this one made me feel every emotion. It was happy and sad and heartbreaking and powerful. This book reminded me of why I love reading so much. 10/10 worth the puffy eyes I have this morning.
I highly recommend you read this beautiful story when it releases on September 5th. Just be sure to have some tissues handy.
This book has two different timelines and two beautifully complex love stories that tie together perfectly. Despite these two love stories being the main focus of the book, there were so many other relationships formed & rekindled that were just as important and made the story what it was.
I rate books based on how they make me feel, and this one made me feel every emotion. It was happy and sad and heartbreaking and powerful. This book reminded me of why I love reading so much. 10/10 worth the puffy eyes I have this morning.
I highly recommend you read this beautiful story when it releases on September 5th. Just be sure to have some tissues handy.
September 12, 2024
Let’s set the scene. It’s a Wednesday evening, I’m working on dinner and usual evening chores. I decide to start a new book. Oh. My. God. It is now Thursday, 1:51 AM and I have to be up in 4 hours.
This is the most beautiful, soul crushing, healing, and gut wrenching work of art I’ve ever read. This was absolutely phenomenal in every single aspect and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s PERFECT.
Truett and Delilah have the most unique story. I love the childhood best friends to lovers trope, but this was SO much more than that.
Delilah and Henry’s relationship was so complex and so well written. It was the perfect mix of love, despair, forgiveness, and healing. I have no words to accurately describe the ways that this book has made me feel, but I can tell you: you MUST read this.
This is the most beautiful, soul crushing, healing, and gut wrenching work of art I’ve ever read. This was absolutely phenomenal in every single aspect and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s PERFECT.
Truett and Delilah have the most unique story. I love the childhood best friends to lovers trope, but this was SO much more than that.
Delilah and Henry’s relationship was so complex and so well written. It was the perfect mix of love, despair, forgiveness, and healing. I have no words to accurately describe the ways that this book has made me feel, but I can tell you: you MUST read this.
May 17, 2025
the story was so heartbreaking and sad I felt sorry to every single person except lucy’s dad I wish him a miserable life tbh everything happened because of him but anyone else I feel sorry for them and I really do understand their actions they were hurting and young, I wish we saw them all getting their happy ending :/
but if I’m being honest I felt bored Idk sth was wrong I felt disconnected even though I was emotional reading their story it was too long for my liking and there was many details mentioning so I felt overwhelmed all the time.
it wasn’t for me but it’s a good story and I do see why people loved it
but if I’m being honest I felt bored Idk sth was wrong I felt disconnected even though I was emotional reading their story it was too long for my liking and there was many details mentioning so I felt overwhelmed all the time.
it wasn’t for me but it’s a good story and I do see why people loved it
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