Thriving Through the Thirties

The Story Unveiled:

Mallory and Chris first crossed paths in college. She was “persuaded” to kiss him during a dare orchestrated by her friend Sloane, who was well aware of her crush on him. Chris had quite the player reputation at that time, while Mallory was in the process of healing from a traumatic love experience. In the “Revive Me” series, we tag along with them for over a decade. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t a straight shot to their happy ending – there were twists and turns, detours and pit stops. And then there’s “Restore Me,” centered around Sloane and Dominic, both of whom happen to be Mallory’s partners-in-crime. Get ready for a rollercoaster of camaraderie, love, and maybe a touch of mischief.

My Thoughts:

Getting my hands on ‘The New Haven Series’ was a bit like embarking on a literary treasure hunt. I borrowed the first installment, “Revive Me | Part One: The Act,” from Libby as an audiobook. Then, I purchased the second book, “Revive Me | Part Two: The Affair,” on Apple Books, also in audio format. As for the third one, “Revive Me | Part Three: The Apology,” I delved into it on Kindle Unlimited while simultaneously immersing myself in “Restore Me” through Libby. Yes, it was an extra mile (or maybe ten), but I’d do it all over again without a second thought.

Now, let me tell you, me falling head over heels for a four-book series, let alone a romance series? That’s a rarity. It’s only happened once before with Colleen Hoover’s “Hopeless” series.

That first book? It left me in tears, no joke. Mallory’s heartbreak felt like my own.

“The Affair” offered a perspective we don’t often get, especially when it comes to navigating the complex world of “situation-ships.”

Now, let’s talk about “Restore Me.” If you know me, you know that betrayal-based relationships, especially those involving seducing your friend’s or sibling’s significant other, don’t sit well with me. That’s one thing I can’t overlook, no matter how much I want to support “love.” To this day, there’s a list of fictional characters I hold a grudge against for such shenanigans, like Serena van der Woodsen cozying up to Nate in Gossip Girl or Peyton and Lucas sneaking around behind Brooke’s back in One Tree Hill. So, Nick daydreaming about his best friend’s wife? I was torn. But, hey, something eventually happened between them four years after Eric’s death. That, I suppose, changes the perspective a bit.

Honestly, adding a third book to Mallory and Chris’s story seemed like a bit of a stretch, but they sure deserved their happy ending, and we were along for the ride.

Yes, there are some repetitions as the two stories (“Revive Me | Part Three: The Apology” and “Restore Me”) overlap in time, but honestly, it works. Most of the time, they complement each other and offer a deeper insight into the dynamics of this group of friends.

As for the friendships, well, there were just too many significant secrets being kept among them all, and that didn’t sit right with me. Also, some of the struggles the characters face with their obscenely rich parents flew over my humble, budget-conscious head. But hey, it’s a whole different world.

Oh, and can we talk about those steamy scenes? I was listening on the go, and there were moments I swear the entire world could hear what was blaring through my AirPods.

If you’re in the mood for a heart-wrenching love saga featuring characters with undeniable chemistry, generously sprinkled with some (okay, a lot of) steamy bedroom scenes, then this series is definitely worth the read.