It Was Always You

by L.A. Witt

Tyler Schaeffer’s whole world has been yanked out from under him. Job? Gone. Marriage? Kaput. With nothing to keep him in Chicago, he’s headed home to Seattle to lick his wounds and start over. To his surprise, his high school best friend—the man he ghosted five years ago—swoops in to help him pick up the pieces.

Justin Tucker still stings over Tyler vanishing, but when his old friend needs help, saying no is out of the question. Justin’s got a spare room, and he’ll do anything he can to help Tyler get back on his feet.

As the guys find their way back to friendship, Justin’s old feelings find their way back to the surface. He long ago made peace with Tyler being straight, but that doesn’t make twenty years of longing any easier to bear. Now he’s wondering if he can really handle having the man of his dreams living under his roof and out of his reach.

Except maybe Tyler isn’t as far out of reach as either man thinks…

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Gay, LGBT

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2018

About the author

L.A. Witt and her husband have been exiled from Spain and sent to live in Maine because rhymes are fun. She now divides her time between writing, assuring people she is aware that Maine is cold, wondering where to put her next tattoo, and trying to reason with a surly Maine coon. Rumor has it her arch nemesis, Lauren Gallagher, is also somewhere in the wilds of New England, which is why L.A. is also spending a portion of her time training a team of spec ops lobsters.

Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.

Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.

Reviews

[Elithanathile · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah, really not pleased that these two only got together at about 80%+ and then the ending was so damn rushed!! What on earth is going on with this author lately?!!? It's like she's pushing out these books just to push them out, but there's no REAL substance, character development, OR a proper glorious swoon-worthy HEA!!
The ending WAS sweet, don't get me wrong, but I felt like it was a bone being thrown at us than anything else, just for putting up with the previous 80%!! If these men got together much sooner, even just passed the 50%, but SOONER, my rating may have been a bit higher ... maybe!! As it stands, this is what it is, and I feel like I'm being really generous with even the ONE star!!

More thoughts::
Also, what's up with this author and more and more of her characters not liking anal?!!? I am NOT saying I expect it to be for everyone, of course not, but I just find it a bit odd that all of a sudden, more and more of her characters are turned off by it! This new development DOES turn me off with her stories!! It's like this has become a running theme or trend with this author now! Oh well ... meh!!

Also, also [*snickers*], to introduce topics like seeing other people [NOT that any of them want to at all] and stuff like that, only to leave the conversation settled but hanging, is a very weird thing to do at 97%!! Blech ... if this author continues on this path, I am very sure I'll have to stop expecting her books to automatically interest me!! I'll definitely be re-assessing!!

[Vanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars!
Let me start out by saying that I have liked L.A Witt's books and was really interested because of the premise..
Friends to Lovers Check
Straight to Bi/Gay Check
Hunky mature MCs in their 30s Check
Slow-burn Check
Unrequited love Check
But somewhere around the middle, the story started dragging on. Things were happening and yet there was nothing happening between Justin and Tyler. Even when the first kiss actually happened at 82% mark ; and there were some passionate scenes, it didn't feel explosive.., it felt explorative, despite the I love you . I was disappointed since I was expecting some light hearted love story of friends with lots of passion and heat ; since Ms. Witt's books typically have that in loads.
Nevertheless, it is still a sweet and tender story of childhood friends who had grown up together, but have drifted apart in the last five years. The bond of friendship has hidden their love for a long time and the story is how they discover that. I just wish there was more heat and sizzle. So if you have patience for a really slooooooow burn, then feel free to check it out.

[BR11 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Warning: a super obtuse MC and another MC that not only has he sex with another guy in the book (granted, the MCs were not yet a couple) but the other guy is in the house and hears him getting off... uff just no.
This was probably the most anticlimactic friends-to-lovers story I’ve read in a long time. Tyler only has his moment of clarity at about the 95% mark... and then it just was mehh.
Didn’t care for this book at all.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

It was a so-and-so friends-to-lovers story; with a touch of "one is straight bi but only for his friend and the other is not".

While I appreciated that they took time before consummating their love with one another, I have genuinely resented MM romance that picture women as bitchy villains. Be they were ex-wife, ex-girlfriend, et cetera. So it ruined my overall mood reading this one *shrugs*

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit floored. This is NOT like any story by this author that I have ever read. Yes...it's a sweet story of childhood friends who had grown up together but have drifted apart in the last five years. The bond of friendship has hidden their love for a long time and the story is how they discover that. This is where it begins to shift away from what I'm accustomed to getting from anything that L.A. Witt writes. There was so little of the usual heat or sizzle that readers are accustomed to from this author. Somewhere around the middle, the story started to drag. Things were happening but there was nothing happening between Justin and Tyler, the two people that something should have been happening. By the time they got together I really didn't care any longer. If you have patience for a really...and I mean REALLY, slow burn then you will probably like this one more than I did. I'm not holding one mediocre offering against one of my favorite authors, as no one is perfect, and everyone is entitled to have a bad day.

[Evelyn Bella (there WILL be spoilers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never have I ever read a romance novel that's not poly where one MC overhears the other getting it on with another person and gets so heated that he soon, nay, immediately whips it out and cranks one out to their soundtrack. After today, I would drink to this.

Not entirely sure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, Tyler and Justin were really sweet with each other and I love them to bits but on the other hand, their relationship progression was extremely unusual.

They get together about 85% in.

And then it's a near-instant declaration of love and off they go into Bang City.

So. Really, really odd.

But hey. It was fun to read, and at no point did I get bored.

[Elyxyz Elyxyz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se amate le storie a cottura leeenta e l'argomento ‘da amici ad amanti’, questa fa per voi!
Tyler e Justin sono due uomini ormai quarantenni e migliori amici da venticinque anni, anche se vivono in città lontane e negli ultimi tempi si sono persi di vista (non vi anticipo nulla, perché leggendo si capiscono tutti i motivi).
I nostri eroi si ritrovano improvvisamente a coabitare quando Tyler è costretto a cambiare completamente la sua vita e Justin si offre di aiutarlo a rimettersi in carreggiata, con un nuovo lavoro da iniziare, una nuova casa da trovare, la macchina da comprare, una vita da neo-single da rispolverare dopo molti anni di matrimonio.
In questo frangente di assestamento, finalmente i due hanno modo di parlarsi, capirsi, fare pace su tante cose e… beh, analizzare sentimenti repressi e sconosciuti.
Justin – che è gay dichiarato – sa di amare Ty da sempre, ma lo ha sempre creduto etero e sposato, quindi off-limits per lui e non ha mai avuto il coraggio di dichiararsi per non perdere la loro preziosa amicizia.
Tyler è un beato ignaro che vive coi prosciutti interi sugli occhi, legato a una donna che non brillerà nelle preferenze del lettore perché ha l'ingrata parte della 'cattiva', e che è facile odiare, anche se potrebbe non essere completamente in torto: lo ammetto, un pochettino Gina si fa rivalutare lungo la lettura.
La Witt è ormai una delle autrici che so piacermi anche a scatola chiusa sebbene sia molto eclettica nella sua produzione, e difatti è stato così anche stavolta.
Ho apprezzato come la trama sia molto introspettiva più che erotica, che tutto il racconto sia un viaggio nell’interiorità dell’uno e dell’altro protagonista, grazie anche all’alternarsi dei punti di vista fra i vari capitoli.
I protagonisti sono ben caratterizzati e ben amalgamati, perciò si fa presto ad affezionarsi a loro.
Sì, c’è parecchio sottofondo di tristezza e pena a causa delle premesse non proprio felici con cui si ritrovano – Tyler è praticamente allo sbando quando Justin lo raccatta a casa propria –, ma la trama rimane leggera, senza drammi reali o angosciosi. La parte erotica non è tanta, ma è esplicita e funzionale alla storia e la resa italiana è davvero piacevole.
All'interno del libro troviamo alcuni brevi accenni a personaggi secondari simpatici e a luoghi già citati in altri libri dell'autrice, perché Seattle è una delle sue città preferite da usare come ambientazione.
Se vi piacciono le storie dolci, romantiche e dove l'amicizia e l'amore si fondono, oppure cercate un libro gradevole per qualche ora ben spesa, ve lo consiglio.

[Valerie ❈M/M Romance Junkie❈ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Real talk... had I not been listening to this at the gym, I would have quit at the voyeuristic jerk off session. By the time the couple got together, I really didn't care. Michael Ferraiuolo does a fantastic job with the narration, but he didn't have a lot to work with.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Not my favorite LAW book. I usually love the GFY/OFY (especially combined with FtL) trope; unfortunately the whole thing felt flat...and took forever to develop. But Michael Ferraiuolo carries this story with his narration - and earns it half a star (which rounds it up). I don't know if I'd have finished it otherwise.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/20/2019)! 🎁

[El Ma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* Eine nette Geschichte - für 4* hat es diesmal nicht gereicht, weil ...

Das war es mit den deutschen Übersetzungen von L.A. Witt für mich. Da nehme ich mir doch lieber die englischen Originale vor - auch wenn's etwas länger dauert, bis ich durch bin. Aber mir fehlt einfach der letzte Schliff bei den Übersetzungen.
Warum:
Lektorat ist laut Impressum vorhanden - passt, die Geschichte ist rund und stimmig, aber eine Korrekturlesung hätte (wieder mal) nichts geschadet.
Es fehlen wieder Buchstaben, manchmal ganze Wörter, manche passen einfach nicht in den Kontext. Leider merke ich auch den Unterschied, ob jemand Sellerie hakt oder hackt (ich bin ja schon froh, dass er nicht geharkt wurde) und wenn ich nicht weiß, wie das Wort geschrieben wird, dann schneidet den Sellerie um Himmels willen ...
Ich weiß, dass man sich bzgl. des Geschlechtes "divers" in Deutschland (leider) noch nicht wirklich viele Gedanken gemacht hat, was z.B. auch den Schriftverkehr oft schwieriger gestaltet und Anreden fast unmöglich macht. Aber was ist zu schwer daran, die Autorin zu fragen, ob Sidney männlich oder weiblich ist? Man kann doch in einer Übersetzung nicht "er/sie oder sie/ihn" lassen, nur weil im Original "they" steht. Hier hat man es im Englischen eindeutig leichter, aber sorry, eine kurze Rückfrage hat noch niemandem geschadet :-(. Und wenn Sidney "divers" ist, dann muss ich als professioneller Übersetzer (wird wie das Lektorat im Impressum aufgeführt) etwas kreativer sein und mir Gedanken machen, wie ich es "umschreiben" kann.

Ich möchte meinen "ich lese L.A. Witt" Lesemarathon (noch) nicht abbrechen, da ich ihre Geschichten wirklich mag. Deshalb: weiter mit einem Original, auch wenn's anders einfacher für mich wäre.

Eigentlich wollte ich nichts zu dieser Geschichte schreiben, aber wenn jemand ebenso Schwierigkeiten mit solchen "Fehlern" hat, sollte man es wissen, bevor man sich - so wie ich - über ein gekauftes Buch ärgert. Wenn sich jemand nicht daran stört, viel Spaß damit :-)

[Lady Macbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I love L.A. Witt's stories and I loved this one too, even if it was a little bit of a clichè: the gay man in love for ages with his oblivious "straight" best friend, who stomped over his heart for years without realising it. There is the devil ex wife too.
I loved that Tyler's bisexual awakening was not rushed the second he goes to live with his best friend and I also understand that, while over 20 yearss seem a lot of time, coming to terms with our own sexuality has not the same timeframe for everyone.

Still, the fact that the story finishes right after their have their first sexual experience is not satisfying for me: I'm disappointed, I really wished the author would have given us more about their life together after that night.

[Anke]

Ok, can't take it anymore. Yes, I know it might be just the beginning of the story, as I'm at 20%. I took a break and today got back to it and still, I don't like it. The description of the ex-wife is rather bad and exaggerated - yes, she's bad, I got it, so move on already. Only I'm not interested in any moving on anymore. So, off to the DNF shelf.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as other stories by this author. I dragged and at some point I was like ok yeah they are totally getting together but at that point I didn't even care anymore. Just Ok for me.

[SJ]

Read this a long while ago and can remember plot line and characters. Might reread to rate.

[Lorenzo Adduci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voto 4+
Quando parlo di L.A. Witt rischio di diventare ripetitivo, ma è difficile non spendere elogi per quest’autrice così talentuosa che riesce sempre a sorprendermi con la sua originalità. “Sei sempre stato mio” è la storia di una profonda amicizia che deve attendere numerosi anni prima di giungere alla consapevolezza che si tratta di un vero e proprio amore. Tyler e Justin sono due protagonisti delineati con una profondità tale da far percepire completamente ogni loro sensazione.
Tyler Schaeffer si trova in una situazione davvero complicata. La difficile separazione da sua moglie, con cui è stato sposato per quattordici anni, e la perdita del suo lavoro di perito presso l’azienda con cui ha lavorato per lungo tempo, lo spingono a lasciare Chicago e a ritornare a Seattle, la sua città di nascita. Fortunatamente, Justin, suo migliore amico fin da quando erano ragazzini, è disposto a dargli una mano e ad accoglierlo in casa sua per qualche tempo. Tyler deve affrontare i sensi di colpa per aver chiuso i contatti con il suo amico per cinque anni, ma nello stesso tempo è davvero felice di ritrovarlo e di poter vivere con lui. La convivenza rappresenta l’occasione per riscoprire qualcosa di se stesso che ha per troppo tempo ignorato.
Justin Tucker è davvero entusiasta di rivedere il suo miglior amico Tyler, ma nello stesso tempo non può fare a meno di provare dolore per gli anni in cui senza motivo si sono persi di vista e per i sentimenti non ricambiati che ha sempre provato per lui. La convivenza fa riaffiorare l’amore che Justin nutre per Taylor e lo spinge a sostenerlo il più possibile, pur dovendo tollerare gelosia e frustrazione. Qualcosa nell’atteggiamento di Tyler lo spinge a pensare che potrebbe ricambiare, ma non vuole illudersi e continuare a soffrire.
L’autrice, attraverso la sua scrittura intensa e densa di emozioni, ha dato vita a una storia intima e ricca di introspezione in cui la parte erotica, seppur presente, rappresenta il giusto corollario di un amore che ha dovuto aspettare anni per trovare la sua esatta definizione. La coinvolgente narrazione ci mostra con il giusto equilibrio due protagonisti alle prese con un riavvicinamento molto desiderato che finisce per diventare una necessaria riscoperta.
Da un lato vi è la graduale presa di coscienza di Tyler, sempre più pentito di aver chiuso i rapporti con Justin negli ultimi anni, non avendo saputo tener testa alla sua ex moglie. Vi è il suo stupore nel ritrovare l’intimità con il suo migliore amico attraverso stretti abbracci e confidenze, sempre più colpito dalla crescente intensità dei sentimenti che prova e dal bisogno di avere Justin vicino. Vi è, poi, una inconsapevolezza che necessita di un forte incoraggiamento esterno per poter finalmente giungere a una reale comprensione di sé.
Dall’altro lato vi è Justin che colpisce per la sua profonda generosità, la pazienza e la dolcezza. Farebbe qualsiasi cosa per Tyler, persino aiutarlo a rimettersi in gioco per trovare una nuova ragazza. Deve sopportare la gelosia e il dolore di non essere ricambiato, eppure non esita a rimanere al suo fianco per sostenerlo. E quando tutti i pezzi sembrano finalmente trovare il proprio posto non si può non tirare un sospiro di sollievo.
L’unica pecca di questo romanzo è la mancanza di un epilogo che possa dare qualche spiegazione in più al lettore. Tuttavia, “Sei sempre stato mio” rimane un libro molto bello che parla con sincerità e realismo di amicizia, amore e riscoperta di sé.

[Jinx · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were two sex scenes in the entire book and one on them was with someone else. Even though the Mc's weren't together yet I kinda got hurt feelings when one of them over-heard the other having sex. I didn't appreciate that at all and finishing the book became really hard for me. Also there was too much angst and not enough relationship building to convince me that the Mc's made a good couple. ='(

[Raff Duk * The Goddess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rilettura e romanzo che passa da tre a quattro stelle.
Il libro è lo stesso quindi o la prima volta non era il momento giusto o… chissà

[Carol (§CoverLoverGirl§) · Rating 3 out of 5]

MM Pairing - Best Friends Forever?


The trope of childhood friends to forever is probably one of my favourites, even though a glitch frequently crops up when the MC’s part ways at college age.

This kind of happens here with Justin and Tyler, only it’s because Tyler marries and moves away from his hometown Seattle to Chicago. He wanted to put distance between himself and his overbearing mother. The woman he married wanted to put distance between Tyler and his best friend Justin. She didn’t like Justin and he hated her. Mostly because of how she treated Tyler, the man that Justin has lived forever.

It wasn’t until Tyler was in his late 30’s when he’d had enough that he woke up and saw what a mess he’d let his life become. Most of all losing contact with his best friend.

It was Justin who threw him a lifeline by offering him a place to stay until he settled into his new job. He promised to help him get back onto the social scene as soon as he was ready.

I do like this trope and Justin just stole my heart with his kindness and his strength of character given the situation with Tyler. It took a lot longer for me to engage with Tyler because he seemed so spineless and henpecked and I wondered what Justin saw in him to have carried a torch for him for so long. Maybe Tyler only became like that after his marriage.

Watching Justin and Tyler settle as housemates was fun, especially Justin’s sense of humour and innuendos.

This was a short read, just over 4 hours I think, and it was an enjoyable read from the pen of L A Witt who I’d read before and will read more of in the future.

[Earlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justine and Tyler

A second chance of love with your best friend.
They have been friends forever Justine has always loved Tyler and Tyler the same but in different ways.
Everyone thought they were the perfect couple. They thought Tyler was gay and Tyler thought he was straight.
After losing his job and filing for a divorce, Tyler makes his way back to Justine.
I don't think it was a gay for you love story. It was a matter of finding your truth.
Lovely story

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have worked well as a short novella, but as it is, it's a one-note plot that is far too lean to sustain a longer book. Justin has always loved Tyler, will do anything for him, except tell him how he feels. Tyler married a domineering woman, divorces after 14 years, and ends up living with Justin in Seattle as he gets back on his feet. Everyone around them (including Tyler's ex-wife) knows they love one another and belong together. But Tyler spends the entire book wondering if he just might be bisexual - rinse, lather and repeat. Around 90%, we finally get a resolution that is not worth the long, long wait. Just didn't work for me - 2.5 stars.

[HarriReadsRoMMance · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't mind a slow burn, but they don't declare feelings and NOTHING romantic/intimate happens between them until chapter 18 out of 20! I needed way more of them. It has a hopeful/HFN end but I really wanted more from them after they finally got together.

[Pianisuparse · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 'Awesome quick and easy, best friends to lovers, joy to read' stars.

[•Siℓvia• · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 STELLE -

[Valeria DePaula · Rating 5 out of 5]

✔ Letto! Questa volta la Divina mi porta a Seattle e mi presenta a Tyler Schaeffer e Justin Tucker. Sapendo già che il viaggio insieme a loro sarà meraviglioso, mi metto comoda, riuscirò a dormire questa notte?
Justin e Tyler sono sempre stati migliori amici, dalle elementari, durante l'adolescenza, quando Justin ha fatto coming out e durante il liceo. Sono stati amici anche quando un Justin innamorato del suo miglior amico ha rinunciato a qualsiasi possibilità di avere qualcosa con lui, perché si cari miei. Tyler era etero.
Sono stati migliori amici anche quando hanno preso strade diversi in stati diversi durante l'università. Ma quando una donna si è intromessa tra di loro, Gina... e Tyler l'ha anche sposata😩 e che ha anche preteso che Tyler stessi il più lontano possibile da Justin, perché da brava arpia che era, ha visto qualcosa che Tyler non aveva ancora percepito.
Alla fine del loro matrimonio durato anche troppo secondo me, incluso i 5 senza vedere il suo amico, Tyler ritorna a Seattle, ha bisogno di un amico, di una casa, di affetto, di ricominciare. E Justin da bravo amico lo accoglie. Lo ama ancora, ma sa che questo amore dovrà essere solo amichevole, fraterno. Sa che il suo migliore amico sarebbe sempre rimasto fuori dalla sua portata. E ha tutte le intenzione di aiutare Tyler a riprendersi la sua vita e aiutarlo a trovare una donna capace di farlo felice.

" 𝑵𝒐𝒏 𝒎’𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂 𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒂 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆 𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝒔𝒖𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂... 𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒍𝒐 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒊 𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒐."


Ma va afaunbagnofreddo😠 E che gran fastidio, che gran sofferenza vedere Justin ingoiare la gelosia, la sofferenza e incollare i pezzi del suo cuore pur di far felice Tyler, pur di poter averlo vicino a sé.
Tyler ci ha messo 25 anni, un matrimonio fallito, le corne della moglie e tutti che davano per scontato la loro relazione, per rendessene conto di quello che provava per Justin, ha rischiato di allontanarlo ancora una volta, ma poi l'ha visto, ma visto veramente chi aveva davanti...


"𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒐 𝒅𝒊 𝒑𝒊ù. 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒖𝒊. 𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒗𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒂 𝒍𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒊 𝒑𝒊𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝒈𝒍𝒊 𝒖𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊, 𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒓𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒂 𝒑𝒊ù 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒐 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐 𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒛𝒂 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕’𝒖𝒐𝒎𝒐 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒆."


Per me è ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ è Witt, che sa rendere tutto possibile!

[MN Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justin and Tyler have been friends for 25 years. After high school and college take them to different states, Tyler gets married and divorced and moved back home. Even after ghosting Justin for 5 years, Justin lets Tyler move in to get his bearing after moving home. Justin has loved Tyler for years and just wants to see him happy. Through the months of this book and the living that happens, a drunken night turns out the best for these two.

This is what I have come to expect from an LA Witt book. Wonderful story.

[Debi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bland. Lackluster. Repetitive. MC's without any chemistry. VERY slow and almost zero sex. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adoro la Witt e questo libro mi ha confermato che è sempre un piacere leggere qualcosa di leggero e incredibilmente dolce! 💚

[☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ ѕℓιм ☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was always you; it is definitely true for these two best friends.

https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2019...

**** splashing a couple of spoilers throughout this review*****


Twenty-five years Justin waited for Tyler... whereas Tyler just realize who he was at age thirty-eight... he finally figured out what his sexuality is... he could be bisexual, but he’s gayer “since” he in love with Justin, which he finally realize at his class reunion after talking to a classmate and checking out another classmate...

It’s funny how everyone saw it, but Tyler didn’t. Clearly, his ex-girlfriends and ex-wife saw that both he and Justin liked each other. & thought they were more than friends, especially when Tyler wife kept arguing with him about it. & people kept coming to Justin about Tyler and asking are they dating or whatever. Justin wanted what everyone was asking, but Tyler assumed he was FULLY a straight man even though he had wondering eyes (looking at men) when he thought no one including his ex-wife wasn’t looking...

At that time, “growing up” and getting older he didn’t know what he truly wanted because he didn’t admit to it until twenty-five years later at the age of thirty-eight. I think he (Tyler) should’ve put things into consideration when he was at least a teenager or in his twenties because waiting until you are forty to figure out your sexuality is crazy... but it’s good that he learned that he was bisexual and was always in LOVE with his best friend, Justin... Because that ex-wife of his was very toxic though I think she may have been more Jealous and insecure because she knew that Justin liked men more particularly “Justin” and didn’t want Tyler around Justin because she knew how Tyler looked at Justin; even when Tyler didn’t see the way he looked at his best friend. She knew that once Tyler moved back to Seattle, she wasn’t going to get him back because once he was again close to his best friend their marriage was a rap for good... which was true since both Tyler and Justin ended up being in a relationship by the end of the book...

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook review:
Overall 5
Performance 5
Story 5

OMG this audio is fantastic!

I am in love with Michael Ferraiuolo's audiobook performances. I have yet to listen to one that wasn't a 5 for me for his performance and he will often times elevate a so-so book from a 3 or 4 to a 5 overall. I think that he and L.A. Witt make the perfect couple. (Don't tell her husband, Eddie. 😊) OK, maybe change that to the perfect pair? 😊

It Was Always You is a sort of a second chance story and it is definitely an "out for you" one – two of my favorite romance tropes.

I made the mistake of starting this audiobook fairly late in the evening assuming I could stop when it was time for sleep. Boy was I wrong. I am a night owl but I needed to get up early for an appointment. As a result of this book I had only 4 hours of sleep but I regret nothing.

The blurb describes the book better than I ever could. Two guys who were best friends in high school over twenty years ago haven't been in touch for five years. One is gay and has pined for the other since high school knowing that his friend is straight.

The story is told in first person, alternating chapters between Tyler and Justin. I really felt the connection between these characters. Tyler is really remorseful about ghosting Justin five years ago (you find out why in the story). Justin wants to help him now but is finding it too difficult to keep his feelings hidden.

Why do I have such a hard time expressing why I loved this book so much? I know that a lot of it has to do with Michael's performance but I still think I'd have loved it even if I'd read it instead. Once Tyler wakes up and realizes he loves Justin things really heat up. The only thing that could have made this more perfect for me is an epilogue just to let us see the happy couple a year or so down the road.