An absolute joy…Laugh out loud funny in places and desperately poignant in others but thankfully not in the least bit soppy’ Sarah

Over the course of ten years, Becca and Charlie’s paths collide as they deal with grief, love and life after Ally. Not since Emma and Dex in One Day and Will and Lou in Me Before You will you root for a couple as much. Becca and Charlie have known each other since they attended university. Becca’s best friend, Ally, fell in love with Charlie. But despite the connection, Becca and Charlie didn’t really get along. However, they were there while Ally battled cancer until she finally died in 2011. TEN YEARS covers the day of Ally’s funeral and through each year up to 2020. Unbeknownst to them, Ally left behind a mission for Charlie and Becca to do together. I thought it was a light novel, but I've never been so wrong. It was something unusual, but definitely enjoyable. We follow Becca and Charlie in the years following Ally's death, we see their relationship grow from distaste to mutual respect to attraction. I thought the characters were really well written, likeable although definitely definitely flawed. We see the tenderness of friendship and we watch the relationship growing, another one that I flew through. This is an Enemies to Lovers romance book. To be honest, it is not my favorite trope. I like friends to romantic partners much better. I suppose that is why I did enjoy this book, because their relationship did evolve over time and they did become friends. (This is not giving anything away, since it is a romance book, readers already know that a happily ever after is in the horizon.)

I think I needed half a box of Kleenexes reading this well-written book. Not to say that’s all there is. I laughed with & cursed under my breath @ the characters plenty, too. The funeral scene literally made my heart ache. The fight scenes made me gnash my teeth. Lots of scenes made me smile. Even though I could guess where the story was headed, there are twists & turns I didn’t expect along the way. The memories & stories of Ally as they are shared over the years made me feel like she was there in the story, even when she physically wasn’t. I think the only issue I found with the book is that it is written in British vernacular. There were times when I was lost at a reference or implication. However, it wasn't enough to deter reading it.

As these two force themselves to honor Ally with their tasks over the course of 10 years, they are forced into a deeper introspection with several missteps along the way. But isn't that the journey of life; moving forward and looking deep inside to see who you are to better understand the world around you? The big question: Do they share enough besides their love of Ally to become a couple? Can enemies ever really fall in love?Charlie and Becca both love Ally - Charlie as a fiancée, Becca as best friend of many years - and her death, at a heartbreakingly young

I’m not ashamed to say I shed a few tears whilst reading this book. The grief must both process is huge and it was quite refreshing to see from the point of view from a best friend. Everyone expects a fiancée to be sad but losing your best friend must be absolutely devastating. Especially if you don’t have family support. Dear Romance Readers, if I know anything, I know that Ten Years will have you rooting for Charlie and Becca as much as you've cheered on any literary couple. I certainly did and am so thrilled I had a chance to read this lovely book. You will too!

In TEN YEARS, it's a long, very long, slow burn of somewhat mutual hatred for … ten years. Almost too excruciatingly slow. I know, I know. However - it was worth the wait.