I’ve been a massive fan of Clare Gilmore since I read Perfect Fit last year. That book is *chef’s kiss*. I don’t know what it is about books about music that kind of turn me off, but I didn’t let that stop me from enjoying her newest release, Never Over.
Here we have another wonderful second chance romance. Paige is a songwriter living in Tennessee who is struggling to break into the industry. Her big break comes with a music exec finally comes by to listen to her tunes. He realizes she’s a phenomenal talent for melody, but her lyrics don’t quite hit the way they could. That’s not a surprise to her, considering her heart has been walled off ever since her catastrophic breakup with Liam.
She’s not too proud to go to him and ask if they can strike up a new fling so she might be inspired again, the way he once inspired her.
I’m not the greatest fan of the setup here, however, I can appreciate that this is the fake dating trope without actually being fake dating. I love Liam for laying out in their rules that this is real. He can’t fake it with her. But they will leave the end date a nebulous thing. Whatever happens, happens. So, basically, like any relationship. It’s a risk. Things might light up, they might burn to the ground.
We’re taken back and forth between the present timeline, with Paige trying to write new music and lyrics, and the past, when writing music was only a hobby and her best friend was Liam the baseball pitcher extraordinaire, not Liam the roadie.
The connection between the two of them is inevitable. They’re electric, which is my favorite thing to find in a romance novel. Especially their physical connection, wink wink. Yes, there is some spice here. But they both have some issues to work through, both in past and present timelines, in order to lock in for the long haul.
In conclusion! I very much enjoyed this book (though it hasn’t quite knocked Perfect Fit from the number one spot). If you’re looking for a tension laden romantic story to hold you over – this one is a great choice!
Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Details
Title:: Never Over
Author:: Clare Gilmore
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: St. Martin’s Griffin
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 52m
Audiobook Narrator:: Carly Robins
Published:: October 28th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
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