All That Glitters

good childhood friends to lovers story!!

I enjoyed this read for the most part!! Jameson was a literal sweetheart. Marigold was frustrating to me sometimes, but she also had a lot of hurt she harbored from being betrayed and her upbringing. Their reconciliation was so good! I’m glad Jameson didn’t give up on her and she came around to loving him! 🫶🏻

diaryofacleanreader

116 reviews46 followers

3/5 stars

Angsty enemies to lovers, perfect for the cliche loving, bookish, hopeless romantic.

Spice: NONE (clean!!)
Language: NONE
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine (if you squint), newsroom romance, college romance, YA, angsty, dual POV

I loved Jameson's personality as he was not the typical jock hockey player, he liked tea, reading books, and was rather introverted which made for a refreshing read. As an English major myself, Marigold felt like the typical lit girly you meet in a survey of British literature class. Terribly talented yet overwhelmed and maybe even a bit disjointed, but single handedly the smartest in class. Her backstory felt relevant for the time, and her character progression felt gradual, but nevertheless came to a head at the end. Also was very refreshing to read a clean romance that didn't have a cookie cutter perfect female lead (or a deceased parent) ifykyk!!

I enjoyed the community around Marigold, as they never blindly agreed with her, or let her spiral on her own--they were supportive in every way that mattered. Also s/o to Nash for helping Jameson along the way, as he has his quelms too!

This book takes a much different tone than Annah's normal work, but I appreciated the style change! The main characters Marigold and Jameson, were a journey to read about and like any college romance their main point of contention felt a bit silly; however, I think the author does a great job of reminding readers the hurt and motives behind these silly decisions.

I received an ARC for this title, but all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Elizabeth

137 reviews9 followers

March 8, 2026

Annah!!!! You wrote a glorious amazing book and i love you for it!!!!
I genuinely had the most amazing time reading this (no one is surprised) and obviously i knew i would love it but loved more than i thought i was gonna!!!!
Marigold is the cutest character i loved her literary genius and she was so funny, like i found myself laughing so many times reading her analogies for things.
Jameson was such a consent reliable person for Marigold and i felt so comforted by him he was so well written you could feel his yearning through the pages and i adored it, the whole time i was just like man, this dude is obsessed with his girl, and that’s what i wanna see in a book.
Their relationship throughout the whole book was so funny to read, she was so mad and he was like “just let me love you again”, and they worked out they’re issues so so well and (minor spoilers) i really really really loved how Annah wrote once they got together, he said he was in love with her and she was like “i don’t love you like that yet but i do love you, can i still say it?” and i just really feel like most books they go from 0 to 100 so quickly with love confessions and it was so refreshing to see written how i think most relationships would actually develop.
Im incapable of not absolutely tearing through an Annah Conwell book, the perfect books for a slump or just to binge read!!!
So overall!!!! An amazing book please read this !!!

Thank you to the author for the arc!!

Hannah Erickson

36 reviews1 follower

March 22, 2026

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up! I wish Marigold owned up to her side of things a bit more! But overall LOVED!

Kim Golding

461 reviews2 followers

March 16, 2026

“I wish I could say the urge to punch someone was rare for me, but it’s not. It is, however, much rarer when Jameson Sinclair isn’t in my vicinity.”

Oh my goodness! This friends to rivals to lovers romcom is the absolute cutest! I couldn’t put it down and just loved watching Marigold and Jameson rekindle their friendship and find happiness together after Jameson broke her heart by taking an internship that she wanted.

I absolutely adored Jameson and his sweet to and protective of Marigold that he was! I loved his nickname of Goldie for her, his secret journal entries, and the book quotes he often threw into conversation. He was just the cutest!

I loved Marigold’s spunk and determination and how hard she tried to resist Jameson and his attempts to mend his past mistakes. Her roommates were adorable and it was so fun to see Jasmine and Shep again!

Such a cute book! Make sure you grab a copy today!

Favorite quotes:

“I wish I could say the urge to punch someone was rare for me, but it’s not. It is, however, much rarer when Jameson Sinclair isn’t in my vicinity.”

“I hate that she makes me want to smile even while she tap dances on my nerves.”

“The ice has always been a reprieve for me. Something about cutting across the cold, unforgiving surface turns down the roar of my thoughts. Over the last few months, I’ve used hockey to escape Marigold. Seeing her red hair in the stands today cements what I’ve secretly known all along: I’ll never escape Marigold Belmore.”

“No matter what happens between us, I’ll never stop looking out for her.”

“Jameson’s smile is still sleepy and adorable, which is disconcerting on a man of his size and abilities. Men who can take down other giant guys while skating on literal blades should not be adorable when they smile.”

Sierra

1,022 reviews

2026-from-author arcs-2026

Reader’s Notes:

*Series or Connected Books?* part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

*Point Of View:* Marigold & Jameson

*Any Cursing Or Possibly Offensive Language?* None!

*Romance?* Yes! Just kisses

-it is very briefly mentioned that there is tongue in a kiss

*Things To Know:*

–a character grew up with difficult family relationships (family with them & between the parents)

-there are about 2 mentions of college students drinking (unknown age)

-a character struggles to take care of themselves properly (sleeping & eating the proper amounts in a day)

-there is a brief panic attack on page

-there is some fights mentioned and one has a brief mention of blood

Review:

This is one of my new favorite books written by Annah Conwell! I loved Marigold and Jameson so much! I loved finding out little by little what happened between them before they came to college. We only got bits and pieces in the beginning from both of them and it was interesting to see how it all came together. I loved how much time they spent together between the newspaper & having to work on assignments (but choosing the same location to do so). It was fun to see how well they knew each other and gave us a better idea of just how close they used to be. I also loved how much Jameson took care of Marigold, especially when she was fighting taking moments for herself to rest.

I can’t wait to find out more about our next couple after the little bit we learned about them in this book! I’m also hoping we’ll get a story for Nash & Paisley in the future! I loved getting to see them both throughout this story!

Summary:

Marigold was betrayed by her best friend Jameson before they started college. They’d both agreed to not apply for the newspaper internship, and yet she found out that he applied anyways. Now he’s the newspaper’s golden writer and she’s left trying to work her way into recognition. But getting paired up with him to do a series of articles on his hockey team’s games was not in her bingo card of ways to do it. In fact, if Marigold had her way, she’d never have to see or speak to Jameson again after what he did to her.

Jameson knows that he hurt Marigold when he applied for the internship and wishes she’d let him explain his side of what happened. But her stubbornness might never give him the chance. And despite her stand-off attitude towards him, Jameson can’t help but care about his best friend. Maybe with time and their shared assignment, Jameson can soften Marigold towards hearing him out.

Megatron

81 reviews1 follower

|| ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 ||

“Men who pine like you don't go through life without writing at least one poem.”

Okay NO surprise I loved this! ❤️ What a cute read. I didnt expect anything less truthfully.

Marigold the writer and Jameson the hockey player. 😍 Two best friends that ultimately get pulled apart by an honest mistake. The TENSION this creates in the book is very compelling!! Youre constantly rooting for them to reunite! 😩 Marigold is hurt, Jameson is in turmoil, and their journey is QUITE LITERALLY a roller coaster.

I kept yelling at my kindle GIRL JUST TALK IT OUT. Marigold’s refusal to just talk things through felt a little drawn out and unrealistic at times, BUT THEN I REMEMBERED that they are probably 18 years old and barely know how to navigate super deep emotions as it is. Haha 😅 So I get it!

Overall, such a cute read. So many fun book quotes and references. Found family in friends, and dealing with the hardship of troubling parents! So many good themes and feels.

Thanks to Annah for the ARC and opportunity to read this masterpiece. She’s a pro and getting you hooked on the next one, Aurora that means you! ❤️

Dakota

20 reviews1 follower

March 8, 2026

I absolutely adored this book I finished it in one day! Jameson has my whole heart. You can tell he’s completely head over heels for Marigold and would do anything just to be able to talk to her again. He truly cares about her and genuinely wants what’s best for her, even if it isn’t with him.

(And his notebook🥺😭🥰) I laughed, giggled, and cried while reading this book. I also loved the roommate dynamics. And the found family aspect was so special.

I loved how Jameson helped Marigold with her perfectionism. The way they quoted book lines to each other was adorable, and the fact that he read Shakespeare for her because he knew how much she loved it completely melted my heart.

This is definitely going to be a number one book for me. I seriously love them. I was grinning like an idiot the entire time. This series has been great is Annah Conwell will always be an author whose books I’ll read no matter what. Her stories are so special, and I love them so much.

Thank you, Annah conwell for the ARC of this book. I absolutely adore it and cannot wait for the next one!

Tropes I loved:
• Protective MMC
• Pinky promise promises
• Found family
• Yearning

Honestly… just everything about this book.

Ashley

247 reviews1 follower

If Annah writes it, I want to read it. Plain and simple. I love the way she weaves together a story and makes you fall head over heels for her characters. All That Glitters was no exception and I absolutely loved Marigold and Jameson! I’m a huge fan of friends to enemies to lovers and I really enjoyed reading their story. I loved how Jameson never gave up on Goldie but also gave her space when she needed it. Also, his notebook, 🥹😍! I loved how well Marigold’s friends took care of her and stood by her even if she didn’t make it easy for them. I loved this book and I cannot wait to continue reading the rest of the series!

I was given an advanced copy of All That Glitters. All the opinions expressed above are my own.

Christina

278 reviews

Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading)

Good, but just lacked a little oomph. I think I wanted more flashbacks maybe. We heard about the characters’ history, but I think seeing it in action would’ve made present day a bit more meaningful. I also felt like the climactic moments came a bit out of nowhere in the moment.

846 reviews126 followers

Read

March 8, 2026

I had the privilege of proofreading this one! It's fantastic.

Faith | The Wholesome Shelf

313 reviews16 followers

March 22, 2026

🌟 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.75

📝 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲: A broken trust over a dream internship. Now they're forced to work together. Is it unresolved hurt or lingering sparks?

💬 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
I went into this already invested since I really enjoyed the first book and was curious about Marigold and Jameson’s story after they were introduced there.

Early on, I felt a bit uncertain about Marigold. Around the first part of the book, it was easier to sympathize with Jameson, especially with how his feelings and longing were portrayed. You can really sense how much he regrets what happened and wants to make things right. It also made me wonder whether the fallout was truly just about the internship or if it was simply the surface of something deeper.

As the story progressed, especially midway through, I found myself feeling more for Jameson. He makes a clear effort to respect Marigold’s boundaries while still hoping for reconciliation, which I appreciated. At the same time, I did feel some frustration toward Marigold. However, as more of her background and motivations are revealed, her reactions start to make more sense. The story touches on how past experiences and internalized beliefs can shape the way someone responds to conflict and relationships, which added more depth to her character.

My rating hovered between 3.5 and 3.75 for a while. Some of that comes from how the conflict was handled, particularly the transition once they begin to reconcile, which felt a bit quick to me. However, what ultimately raised my rating was Jameson’s consistency. The way he shows up, respects her pace, and demonstrates care through his actions made their relationship more convincing over time.

In terms of chemistry, I thought it worked well. There is a natural tension between them, and once they begin to reconnect, their dynamic becomes more engaging. The side characters also added a lot of warmth to the story. Paisley, Nash, and the rest of the group bring a strong sense of community, and the found family element really stands out.

I also appreciated getting a glimpse of what is coming next, especially with Aurora’s story, which I am now looking forward to.

Overall, while there were a few pacing and character dynamic elements that did not fully land for me, this was still an enjoyable and emotionally grounded second-chance romance with strong found family themes.

❤️‍🔥 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿:
The found family and roommate dynamics
Jameson’s steady, respectful pursuit
The chemistry and tension between the leads

⚠️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁:
Emotionally neglectful parenting and pressure to be perfect
Family conflict and strained parental relationships
Emotional vulnerability and past relational hurt
No language
Closed-door Romance

✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱/𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Second-chance romance
Friends-to-lovers with unresolved tension
Found family and close-knit friend groups

Hannah Hoover

137 reviews3 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

March 12, 2026

I received and ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Boy did this book have the TENSION with a capital T!!!!

I understand Marigolds feelings and such but at the same time I was on Jamison’s side the whole time because I knew there was more to it than him just going back on a promise. I do think that he could’ve went about things differently but then we wouldn’t have had such a great story!!!!

Again I love getting to see college age characters in a rom-com vs college grads or older. Nothing wrong with those! Just a nice fresh breath of air!! I love the friendships between the girls and it always gets better when one or more have their man and that really plays into their talks and advice for the next ones. Seriously such a good book and so excited for the next one! But also I really can’t wait to see Saylor get her break. Having all those schedules sounds just as exhausting as Marigold’s procrastinating. Gonna be exciting!!

I loved Nash helping Jamison move things along and seeing his own fears of losing even the fighting Marigold if he forced her to actually talk. But he did himself a favor doing all those little things for her because actions DO speak louder than words especially in broken promises situations. Seeing him change did help Marigold see that even in the arguing and fighting she had someone in her corner.

Jamison shouldn’t have let the distance after the kiss in high school affect his decisions that created the rift but at the same time it shows the reality of kids and growing up and such. It’s not like he was a mid 20s adult and let people and things make his decision instead of doing it himself so I feel like it shows how hard it is as young teens and adults sometimes and it was done so well! Him knowing he needed to show up for her before finally talking about it did show how he’d grown up and it was so sweet! The book quotes and him reading Shakespeare for her!!! Oh man that’d be a dream! All in all I do believe he beat Shepherd out for top MMC of this series. It’s not over yet and I’ll most likely love them all but Jamison is definitely at the top!!!

Abby Wall

111 reviews

All That Glitters

Marigold Belmore is a full-fledged tortured artist, pouring her soul into her writing, wearing her heart on her sleeve, and neglecting the trivial things—like eating and sleeping—in the pursuit of the ever-elusive feeling of measuring up to unrealistic expectations, often set by herself. In short, she’s the epitome of a procrastinating perfectionist. After watching her parents tear one another (and her) down all her life, she’s scared to think about, let alone admit, the fact that she’s in love with her best friend. So she chooses to hate him instead. Except she doesn’t, not even a little bit.

Jameson Sinclair is everything a literary romantic could dream of—tall, dark, broody, secretly obsessed with his girl, quietly demonstrative, and intensely focused. He’s been in love with his best friend for years, but never wanted to risk losing her presence in his life. Unfortunately, a ruined moment and a terrible mistake accomplish the very thing he dreaded. He sees everything he ever dreamed of with Marigold slipping through his fingers, and now he’s desperate for another chance. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to show his Goldie that taking care of her is his favorite thing to do.

Annah Conwell has done an excellent job of creating deeply relatable characters in both Marigold and Jasmine that truly encapsulate the struggle with pressure, fatigue, anxiety, frustration, fear, and stress. Thankfully, she also highlights the importance of loyal friendships, healthy balance, and patient love. Seeing yourself in her characters makes it all the more special when they are loved and accepted as they are and helped to grow into something even stronger and more beautiful.

All That Glitters is a clean college romance with copious literary references, an alarming amount of coffee consumption, an intense amount of pent-up emotion, several unfortunate references to losing teeth (Jameson is a hockey player after all), side characters who definitely need their own books, beautiful friendships, a sweet reconciliation, and of course, several swoony moments that will make you giggle and sigh.

Stephanie Young

130 reviews3 followers

2026-new-releases arcs ebook-arcs

That’s right, your next favorite book in Annah Conwell’s RomCom University, All That Glitters, is out now! As soon as Marigold and Jameson’s story dropped in my email, you better believe I gobbled it right up! Betrayal, angst, a protective mmc and all the yearning you could hope for combine in this sweet childhood best friends to neighbors to love story. Throw in the added fun of hockey, found family, and a crazy school schedule and witty banter with sizzling chemistry, and this little book packs a delicious wallop.

Marigold is so focused and driven, but also, incredibly hurt and broken. She doesn’t always make the healthiest choices for herself, but her drive to succeed knows no bounds. Her walls tend to stay up more often than not, but her new roomies have cracked through that wall and become a new family for her. Jameson is also determined to chisel his way back into her favor.

Oh Jameson. He has always seen and truly known Marigold. The pining is next level, and even though the choices he made impacted their friendship in crushing ways, he is determined to get her back.
“‘First, we’ve never dated. Second, if we did, I would never cheat on her. I love her.’ The words come as easy as breathing. Marigold is my person. I know it the same way I know my name. It was taught to me—though I can’t pinpoint when or where—and it’s so ingrained in my soul that when I hear her name I turn as if it’s my own.“ ALL.THE.FEELS!!

Of course, his love for her doesn’t make their journey to a happily ever after any easier. First they have to overcome that pesky betrayal, regain their friendship, confront personal history issues, and maybe even navigate around a hint of danger.
I adored All That Glitters and am so excited for the next story that will be coming in this fun series. As with all of Annah’s books, you can expect some beautiful character growth and all the swoony moments that feel like a hug to the heart while keeping it completely clean and closed door. Grab your copy today!

I was given a complimentary copy of this story. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jessica

392 reviews67 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

March 11, 2026

Thank you to the author for the e-ARC of All That Glitters by Annah Conwell. All opinions are my own.

All That Glitters is book two in the RomCom University series. While it could be read as a standalone since it follows a different couple than book one, I would still recommend reading the books in order to avoid spoilers and to get a better understanding of the characters.

I thought this book had a sweet romance and some great character growth. I do think the conflict between the main characters was a bit too drawn out, but I overall enjoyed the story.

Marigold was a complicated protagonist. While I understood where she was coming from once I learned more about her background, I still found the way she treated Jameson to be unjustified and honestly a bit irritating. I did like how she grew as a person though because it made her character arc satisfying.

Jameson was such a sweet love interest, and I really liked how he treated Marigold so well. I do think his reasoning for taking the internship didn’t really make a lot of sense, but I liked how hard he worked to make up for it.

I loved how Marigold and Jameson had this special love of classic literature and how they had this fun little game of guessing the source of each other’s quotes.

The second half of the book was more enjoyable for me because I felt like Marigold was finally starting to come around, and I liked how both her friends and Jameson helped her see how the choices she was making were negatively affecting her life.

I really enjoyed the hockey aspect of this book because I liked seeing the relationship between Jameson and his best friend. I hope to see more of his friend in future books.

Overall, I would recommend this book. It’s really refreshing to read a college-aged romance that isn’t full of graphic content while still feeling realistic.

Tatum - nuggetybooks

243 reviews19 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

March 18, 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
- College Romcom
- Dual POV
- Childhood best friends to enemies to lovers
- Reconciliation, healing, recognizing self sabotage
- Trying to survive college while burning yourself out
- Deep yearning

✨ a few things I enjoyed:
- Jameson & Marigold’s dynamic; their ability to read one another, care for one another, and have fun together
- His parents’ love for them both
- The healing Jameson helped Marigold find and that he loved her enough to tell her hard things
- The literary quotes
- The roommates, Paisley, and Nash; 😂 just such entertaining side characters
- The memories they share and traditions
- Jameson’s graciousness

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Book 2 in the Romcom University Series - Here is a very cute college age romcom with strong friendships, trying to survive to large a workload, a strong willed FMC, a broody hockey player MMC, insurmountable expectations, broken relationships, yearning, showing love through actions, and a fight club 😉

I enjoyed the characters individually but struggled with the FMC for a majority of the book. She is self destructive in many ways which hurts my heart for her. I have so much grace for her struggles cause I was the same in college. However, I struggled massively with the way she treated Jameson. A simple conversation could have solved a lot, a lot sooner. It was selfish on her part and I’m glad that eventually Jameson stuck up for himself and said his peace. Once there was resolution, everything relationship wise happens rather quickly but there is more conflict resolution and healing for the FMC once she has her person.

I so appreciated the way her friends lovingly took care of her and forced her to take care of herself. Jameson was such a good example of gracious, selfless love. He tried frequently to repair the hurt and take care of her anyways when she was cold to him.

lol love that the marriage muffins are making a reappearance and I hope we get them through each book. Also I’m so intrigued by Aurora’s story!

This is a closed door college age romcom with only kissing and no language. The author has a content warning in the beginning.

**Thank you so much to Annah for letting me read this gifted ARC. No positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.**

arcs contemporary-romance-romcoms

Holly (IG: what.hollys.reading)

41 reviews2 followers

March 21, 2026

🫑: kisses only
🤬: none

After seeing the interactions and tension between Jameson and Marigold in book 1, I was so excited to read their story. It did not disappoint and I really enjoyed reading this cute story!

All That Glitters had so many different facets to it, and I really enjoyed each one. I love the continual growth of the girl gang friendship that Marigold has with her roommates. Seeing them all support each other puts such a positive light on female friendships that I really love! I also loved the friends to enemies to friends to lovers aspect. We get to slowly watch Jameson and Marigold make amends, and then watch as she slowly realizes how deep her feelings actually go. There also is a so much personal growth and healing in both MCs that I appreciated. Each had their own issues to deal with, and they supported the other so well through the tough choices and growing pains.

I will say that Marigold’s stubbornness could be frustrating at times, but it is understandable given her age (I mean who is mature as a freshman in college?) and her relationship with her parents. It’s super hard to process and unlearn life-long beliefs/feelings that we may be exposed to through trauma or toxic relationships (no matter who the relationship is with). Through it all though, Jameson was Marigold’s rock and gave her unconditional support and love. He really is a true friend and green flag boyfriend!

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to continue the series with Aurora and Hayes. 🫶🏼

Angeline

759 reviews24 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

arc closed-door contemporary

Oh I was eagerly waiting for this book! This was just a wonderful addition to the series. All That Glitters is the second book in Annah Conwell’s RomCom University series. This was just the sweetest book and the characters were just lovely.
Marigold and Jameson were old friends but they had had a huge falling out. Marigold was mad and hurt, while Jameson was just trying to figure out how to win her back. I felt for them both as they tried to navigate college and their feelings for each other. They had been best of friends but now there was a huge chasm between them.
I really liked both Marigold and Jameson, though Marigold did get on my nerves at times. They felt young but they felt real. Marigold had been hurt by others before so she was scared to let Jameson in. Marigold had to learn that she didn’t have to be perfect and it was okay to ask for help. Jameson had made a mistake and was trying his hardest to win Marigold back. Jameson had to learn to fight for Marigold and not to bottle everything in.
I liked the progression of their relationship and it was fun to get to know them better. They were so sweet together and truly knew the other person. The side characters were intriguing and I hope Praisely and Nash get their own books. I am so excited for the next book in the series. I adored All That Glitters and I would totally recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy

Romcom Queenie

131 reviews2 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

March 16, 2026

If you are looking for a story that makes you clutch your heart and sigh at every turn, All That Glitters is an absolute must-read. Annah Conwell has crafted a beautiful, "no-spice" college romance that proves you don't need explicit content to feel a staggering amount of chemistry and emotion.
After years of friendship, a broken promise turned Marigold and Jameson into strangers—until college forces them back into each other's orbits via the campus newspaper. What follows is a touching journey of healing and persistence.
Enjoyed seeing Jameson "chase" Marigold it was refreshing that he wanted more and to fix things. He doesn't just tell her he cares; he shows it by supporting her through her heavy workload and personal burnout. His gestures are small, intentional, and utterly swoon-worthy.
Marigold has some struggles with relationships. Her complicated history with her parents and her desperate need to make them proud (despite their absence) felt incredibly raw and relatable.
The camaraderie between Marigold and her roommates provided the perfect balance to the romantic tension. It’s always refreshing to see strong female friendships that show up in times of need.
This is a story about fighting for the people you love and learning to let yourself be cared for. It’s a HEA in its purest form. If you truly love, love stories and HEAs like I do you must read this book and all others that Annah writes. Masterpiece of “romance perfection”.

Faith

259 reviews2 followers

March 22, 2026

I'm loving this series! I read this one in one sitting! I could tell during Jazmine's book that I was going to love Marigold and Jameson, and it didn't disappoint! Learning more about Marigold's family, past, and motivations really fleshed out her character and made her feel relatable. She was super enjoyable as a FMC.

It was sweet to see Jameson take care of her, even when she didn't know it or if they were fighting. He really showed her the unconditional love she didn't get from her parents, and it was so nice to see.

My only negative (and it's not really a negative yet, just has the potential to be) is that both books in this series so far are sort of enemies to lovers/ rivals to lovers. The characters felt different enough that it didn't detract from the story, but I'm worried that the series will continue the pattern of a busy, driven girl chasing her dreams and an athletic boy from her class that she doesn't like at first but turns out to be sweet. Jasmine, Marigold, and all of the roomies are very driven and focused. They each have their own thing that they're chasing and don't have a ton of time to relax or chill. And so far both Jameson and Shepherd have been athletes that their girls didn't like at the beginning of the story but ended up being super thoughtful. With what we saw of the setup between Aurora and the boxing guy (I forget his name?), I hope it doesn't start to get too same-y!

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.

Jo|Ruth Reads

728 reviews90 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

March 7, 2026

I loved this! When I saw book two was Jameson and Marigold’s story, I knew it was going to be a roller coaster of emotions! If you love friends to more, second chance romances with a found family vibe, this is your book.

Jameson and Marigold were once as close as friends could be, until a decision Jameson makes breaks apart their friendship. When they are both forced to work together, the silent treatment they’ve been giving each other must end. It’s time to talk. Jameson wants nothing more than to apologize, explain, and at least get his friend back. But in truth, he wants more because he always has.

Marigold is in denial over the depths of her feelings, and even if she could forgive him, rebuilding a friendship or anything more would be risky. Is she willing to take him back only to lose him again? Could either of them stand to leave each other’s lives a second time?

This was wonderful! The yearning, oh my goodness, it was so strong. And Jameson’s love and devotion for Marigold were everything you would want and more. Marigold took a little patience on my end while I waited for her to finally let him in, but according to Jameson, she is worth waiting for, lol.

Loved this! A total 5 star read, and I cannot wait for the next release in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. This review reflects my honest opinion.

Chelsea | chelseadennreads Dennison

543 reviews22 followers

4.5 rounded up

Thank you so much Annah for the ARC!

I absolutely adored this book so much! Annah Conwell is a favorite of mine and I am loving her Rom Com University series. I loved Jameson and Marigold’s story so much. These two were childhood friends turned rivals/strangers and I could feel their heartache so much. The pining and yearning and the sorrow was just so completely evident in these pages that I felt like I was the one who had lost my best friend. Annah writes it all so well. Jameson is *chef’s kiss* I swear. The things this man thinks and says…swoonworthy. He would do anything for Marigold and he showed his love and care for her daily. Marigold is an overachiever with a complicated sense of love and I think so many people will relate to her. I loved watching these two find their way back to each other. Also Annah’s writing in this one…so good. Some of the lines she writes I’m just like 🤯 they are just too good.

This series is just so so good. If you haven’t picked it up yet I highly recommend it.

👍🏻Read If You Like:
* hockey romance
* college romance
* childhood friends to strangers to lovers
* forced proximity

🛑Content Warnings:
* difficult family relationships
* panic attacks
* lack of self-care

🚪Closed Door Romance

Ella B

87 reviews5 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

The longer I thought about this review, the deeper i felt that to be honest and transparent, this book sits at a 3.75

Thank you to the author Annah Conwell for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own!

This book had me on a wild ride, and I say that because I was not feeling it for the first half. Marigold frustrated me and annoyed with her actions and attitude, to the point where it took me out of the story. But, I am glad I gave her a chance to try and redeem herself in my eyes. Honestly it was Jameson that had me interested enough to continue reading.

Their story is one filled with a lot of hurt and miscommunication, mostly on Marigolds part. But despite the way Marigold was to Jameson, he was constant, kind, and always took care of Marigold in his own way. I will admit that I loved seeing Marigolds growth and character development, she went from a hurt women to one that thrives, not just survives.

I loved the way Marigold and Jamesons relationship developed. Their second-chance relationship was beautifully done and it was just so precious the way Jameson looked out for her.

Again I had my moments with this book, but overall I really started to enjoy it. The college setting, the friendships and romance as always was top tier and hit the spot for me.

🔥 Heat level: Kisses only
🫢 Language: None

Anna Tagtow

11 reviews