Leticia (jerseygirlsbookshelf)'s Reviews > All Too Well

"One day I hope you’re willing to take your own advice and fight for what you want."
All Too Well is a it’s-always-been-you, mutual-pining small-town romance that will steal your heart.
Believe it or not, this was my first Corinne Michaels book. And I think I’m in love with her writing style and her voice—OK, and Ainsley and Lachlan and Ember Falls as a whole.

"Lachlan West is that guy who I was never allowed to like but did anyway, and I am way too weak when it comes to him."
It’s hard not to like Lachlan when all he does is prioritize his little girl in everything. I mean, my heart! And it gets harder when you see how long and how much he’s been pining for Ainsley. The one who got away.

"Ainsley has been that girl. The one that I knew would destroy my entire life and I wouldn’t even care."
Although I didn’t like her running away, I have to like Ainsley for pursuing her dreams. For daring to try. And I also have to like her for the huge heart she has and for not giving up on people when that would be the easy way.

"You want me?"
"Every fucking minute, and I hate myself for it."
Ainsley’s older brother is Lach’s best friend, and the three of them were joined at the hip when they were kids. Even if Ains was 4 years younger, they were best friends. Too bad Ainsley started seeing Lach as a lot more than a friend without realizing that, well, so did he.
In a moment of weakness, with emotions running wild, something happens between them. And he told her it was a mistake. So she left.

"You think about me a lot, huh?"
"No." I think about her all the damn time.
Four years later, Ainsley, who is now a reporter, comes to Ember Falls to do a story on a hero who rescued a girl from the flames—Fire Chief Lachlan. But turns out he’s not really into the whole fame thing. And he doesn’t really want her that close either, but it’s not due to lack of feelings.
If anything, he wants her way too much and he doesn’t quite know what to do with it.

"One day we’re going to have to figure this out and stop dancing around what we feel,"
"Just not today, it seems."
"No, because our dance ended before it began."
It gets worse! With the cabin she rented being a fire hazard, Lach has to take her in. So she’s suddenly there in his space, getting close with both him and his daughter. Getting close to the life he has in this small town and to his friends too.
Especially since the story she was supposed to write about him takes a turn into sports. Specifically, Ultimate Frisbee, which he plays with his three best friends.

"Then I really have to find something to wow you."
"Ainsley, you’ve been doing that your whole life."
I loved seeing the girl who knows nothing about sports going to Ultimate Frisbee matches. I loved her going to Rose’s, Lach’s daughter’s, cheer competitions. I loved how well she fit into Lachlan’s life. And even though all his walls were up, she keeps coming back.

"You. You are my biggest weakness, and it’s why I tried so hard to shut you out of my fucking world."
There are small stolen moments between them. You can see how hard this is for Lachlan… until they finally let go. And I mean finally, because these two are clearly made for each other and you can’t tell me otherwise.
And them finally starting to enjoy each other and what it could be—even if it has a deadline because Ainsley is bound to go back to NYC—warmed my heart.

"I’ll protect you."
"You stole my line."
"You stole my heart, so it’s only fair."
There’s a past Lachlan needs to deal with. It’s family-related, but the way Ainsley supports him throughout everything speaks volumes about the kind of relationship they have. I loved how she pushed him to do something, to heal, so he could be able to open himself to what they’re feeling and to being happy.

"I’m coming back to you. I chose you. You’ve always said that no one ever chose you, well, I’m going to show that changed the day you let me fall in love with you."
When her time in Ember Falls comes to an end, what will happen? Ah, that was my favorite thing. Because Ainsley takes control of the situation and she’s not about to allow him to retreat into what he thinks he deserves anymore. He's hers, she's his, and she's fighting for it.
Good for her.

Also, thank you, Corinne, for not bringing around the overbearing big brother routine. And, to be honest, I loved her brother Caspian and I hope to see more of him!

"You’re my something to look forward to, Ainsley."
"And you’re mine."
Life’s too short to live with regrets, what-ifs, and what-could-have-beens. And yeah, taking a chance on love sometimes leads to heartache, but others… It gets you the one you should have always been with.