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Where We Went Wrong

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Vinnie Marino has lived a hard life.

Between suffering from abandonment, drug addiction, and tragedy, he can't imagine how things could get any worse. Until his father is diagnosed with a terminal disease, giving him only a few months to live.

Vinnie's world is turned completely upside down, and it's becoming harder to keep it together and stay sober.

His only saving grace is the unique and beautiful Andy Bennett. But Andy has a secret, one that could change everything.

Soon, Vinnie begins to wonder ...Could his only saving grace be his biggest downfall?

483 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2020

285 people are currently reading
1498 people want to read

About the author

Kelsey Kingsley

32 books3,127 followers
When I was a wee lassie, I was told by my preschool teachers that I was a natural at storytelling. When I was just a little older than that, an old friend's mother said to me, "Kelsey, one day your books are going to be on the shelves at the library."

Well, Diane, I don't know if my books are ever going to be on the shelves of libraries, but I'm sure as hell going to try.

When I'm not writing stories destined to be bestsellers, I enjoy devouring TV shows, listening to every type of music there is and going to concerts, reading pretty much anything (with a soft spot for romance and certain books located in 18th century Scotland), obsessing over makeup, and pretending to workout.

I also have a fondness for cats, my family, tattoos, and a really good French fry.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
Profile Image for Bookgasms Book Blog.
2,863 reviews1,565 followers
November 27, 2020
Honest. Uncomfortable. Unsettling.

There is a love story nestled between these covers, but this is no romance.

I had to take breaks from this book. It maybe didn't help that my own mental state was a little...dark when I picked it up. The storyline felt like a heavy weight pulling, pulling, pulling me deeper. I felt irritable and on edge while reading. And yet I kept coming back for more, my battered, aching heart always optimistically hoping there'd be relief, a light at the end of this very dark tunnel.

And it came -- but uffda.

Vinnie and Andy were a breathtaking, harrowing, beautiful train wreck.

The story is gritty and powerful. The experience of this book was an emotional gut-punch followed by the bright lights of hope. I didn't always understand the love between Andy and Vinnie, but I felt rewarded by their happy ending nonetheless. However, what resonated with me so much more deeply was the transformation of the other relationships in the book over the course of the story and - perhaps most of all - Andy's character arc. Her storyline, without question, was the most heartwarming and rewarding for me.

This is not an easy journey. It's dark and deeply upsetting at times. These characters are deeply flawed and half the time I couldn't decide if I wanted to hit them or hug them. It hurt to read. But - there were also moments of such incredible beauty that made it impossible to step away from them for any amount of time. In fact, I woke from a dead sleep at 4 a.m. -- thinking of them. This reading experience is not for the faint of heart, but those who read will find that the story will stick with you - these characters will plant themselves firmly inside your beat-up, weary heart - and they'll likely live there forever. ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
503 reviews5 followers
November 23, 2020
All the stars!
This book was hard to read at times and it left me gutted in a puddle of my own tears more than once, but, what an amazing story! I have read everything Kelsey Kingsley has written and I think this may be her best book yet. Vinnie is so damaged that he can't see how wonderful he is. Andy loves him from the first but she has her own issues to deal with. Their journey isn't easy and it isn't pretty. It IS so worth the read. It will tear you apart and put you back together in the best way!

Two of my favorite passages from the book are~

Damaged does not equal unworthy.

None of us ever really know how long someone we love will be in our lives, but we can hope that no matter how long we have, we love them enough.

Profile Image for ✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ .
2,333 reviews1,342 followers
December 4, 2020
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We already met Vinnie in the last book. He's a pizza baker in his dad's pizza place in Manhattan.
The mom left the family when the three kids were very small. Vinnie and his brother Zach were a bit lost during their younger years. Drugs, alcohol et cetera. Things are good now though. Zach found his happily ever after with Greyson and their sister is happily married with two kids too.
But now dad is having problems. Health-wise.
Plus there's this nurse who is showing up everywhere ...

Andrea. She's the nurse. She's also different. Bruce Willis movie different if you know what I mean. And I don't mean the Yippie Ka Yay one. ☺

Andrea is super attracted to Vinnie. She's drawn to him for some reason.
But two people with so much difficulties in their life shouldn't be together, right?

We'll see ....
Let the fun and not so fun times begin ...


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Welllll. Hehehe.
Uhm. Yup.
Things.
There are things in this book that I do not want to read about.
I'm not a religious or spiritual person at all. I hate everything religious.
And even though it's not really religious ... it's still going in that direction.
And I hate that. The moment I first realized the thing, I wanted to delete the book from my kindle. BUT ... it's a Kelsey Kingsley book. And I've read ALL her books. Plus it's set in the Devlin-Greyson world - which I love. So I read it. And I loved it. I cried a lot. And I rolled my eyes a lot at the things.
But I really liked it.
There were a couple of other kinda hard-limits that I don't want in my books: drugs -nope. I can't have my hero be a drug addict. And a guy hitting a girl (only once and with a good reason - so it wasn't that bad, but still)! So with all those things you'd think I would've hated the book ... but I didn't. I loved it.

I could keep on writing about all the things I loved and hated and cried about but I'll just stop here. You need to read it to see if it's for you - it won't be for everyone ... but give it a chance. It's beautiful. And horrible and sad and heartbreaking and a bit silly - but I enjoyed reading it. Finished it in one day!

WHERE WE WENT WRONG was an utterly heartbreaking but so very beautiful love story.
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Vinnie - he'll be sold out in no time! And get some extra boxes of tissues while you're there!


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Profile Image for BookAddict.
2,078 reviews207 followers
November 23, 2020
First up I need to tell you that if you have issues with addiction, you may want to pass on this one or, at the least, make sure you’re in a good place when you read it. The title should have tipped me off, coupled with the synopsis, but I tripped blithely into the pages, excited to finally have my hands on Vinnie's story.

So, I loved the beginning! The meet-cute, those butterfly feelings, the opposites attracting, and the euphoric feeling of falling in love. And I adored the ending after demons were conquered and ghosts laid to rest, and especially the epilogue with a glimpse down the happily ever after road. But the middle? Well, let's just say it's apropos for everything that the year 2020 has been.

There’s so much I’d love to tell you about this story and these characters, but it’s tricky to do so without spoilers. You really do need to go into this as cleanly as possible to get the full emotional impact.

And is it ever emotional!! My achy, broken heart was on angst overload. You see, Vinnie and Andrea (Andy) are so real and raw and authentic that it's impossible not to empathize with them and want to wrap them up in your arms. But the other edge of that sword is that you get dragged through the mire right along with them, experiencing every bit of their pain, heartbreak, and disappointment.

Snag a box of tissues, take a deep breath, and prepare for a tsunami of emotion to overwhelm and pull you under. You’ll be reminded that life is often unfair and be faced with the reality that sometimes love is not enough.

You’ll have a love/hate relationship with these amazing characters as they leave their indelible mark on your soul. Your heart will be battered and maybe a little worse for the wear, but you’ll be left with a happy sigh and begging the author for more from these unique, beloved characters that you’ve come to know better than some of your own family members. So get your copy and start reading, because I guarantee this will be one of your top reads for the year.
Profile Image for Shabby  -BookBistroBlog.
1,937 reviews987 followers
December 27, 2020
"addiction doesn't have one face, does it? Sometimes it hides behind the guy down on his luck, just looking for an escape, and sometimes, it grabs ahold of a guy trying to recover from a broken leg … or a nurse just desperate to escape the ghosts. "

It's rare delight for me to come across a book of ugly truths that pack such a powerful punch, they leave a massive hole in my heart. After I finished, it seemed like the world had come to an end. How do I move on...how do I climb out of the pages...how do I stop thinking about my Vinnie & Andy😢
With every chapter I was certain that a deluge of tears was just around the corner. At the turn of every page, I spiralled down with Vinnie and Andy.
I could see the end already, I knew their obsessions would ultimately kill them. I had started weeping for them halfway through, But I was fully involved now. I had no choice but to lay in bed of their making, with them. If they went...I was going down with them.

"I thought about all of the promises time had broken since then, and I spent the minutes of the song wondering where we went wrong. We had been so good together, hadn’t we? He, the broken bad boy, and I, the innocent girl destined to put him back together. But tropes are meant for predictable movies and cheesy romance novels. They didn’t fit into the real world, with real people and real problems. And no matter how deep I delved into it, I couldn’t pinpoint any one pivotal moment that had ruined everything, and I wondered if maybe it had simply always been."


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Vinnie Merino is a boy left behind. His pleas echo in the empty room, knocking on the closed door his mom stepped out of. The ache of abandonment, the search for connection,the craving to belong made the mold for his personality to build around. His addictions are front and center of the story.
with a history of depressive tendencies, finding heartbreak and dejection while the world and siblings around him go on In a normal manner.

"I know I promised my life to him. I know I promised to stay by his side. But all I cared about, all that truly mattered, was that I was committing my heart and soul, fully and completely, to this beautifully broken man. For better or worse. Until death do us part, to then be reunited somewhere else.
If you die, I'll die."



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I felt he was like a raging hurricane. All that were in his proximity, were ultimately were either running away or devastated. His pull brought Andy into his storm and the brief moment when they're in the eye, seems calm and romantic, but a storm ultimately destroys everything inside it or outside and the impending doom in its finality, made me cry so hard.
His salvation is Andy Bennett, his angel, his light at the end of the tunnel. She's supposedly here to rescue her. Pulling him out of the darkness and into the light....but that's not what happens. The toxicity of their relationship seeps into every part of their lives. Professional, personal, emotional and the ensuing erosion made me scream in frustration at all times

"It was toxic. There was no doubting that now. This, my relationship with him and what he was doing to himself and me, it was dangerous and scary and so, so unhealthy in every sense of the word. An outsider might look at the situation and think me insane for still being inside that apartment, sitting at that table. An onlooker might say they'd never put themselves in this situation to begin with. But it was my reality now, and no, it wasn't good, but somehow, in the moment, it didn't seem as bad as one might think it should."


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The feels were like a megolith, sitting heavy on my chest. They were unshakable, indelible and oppressive at times. And This is just about the love story between Vinnie and Andy.

"Depression? Rock bottom? Overdose? The possibilities were endless."

The there's a flip side, the secret Andy has, which was equally, if not more fascinating to read about. Her battle with her gift/curse was eye-opening. Her denial to accept and then ultimate epiphany, aided by Tracey, was like a sigh of relief after a long tumultuous day of struggle.
The book has impacted me deeply, the writing is outta this world good. Kelsey is a master wordsmith. With the strokes of her pen she's managed to elicit feelings of sympathy, love, camaraderie in me for her characters and somewhere in there I started affiliating with them too.
The scenes become their own short stories interwoven yet they all come together to push the story further.
In particular Andy's encounters on subways or hospitals were mind numbingly stunning. I could just stare at the words dumbstruck, wishing it was me with that sense and then dreading if I had. Know what I mean?

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Moe's return to jamie at the end particularly broke me apart. I just wept like crazy, couldn't stop. I'm teary eyed right now, even while typing this review.
I'm definitely going to read her back list books now. Obsess over her words, nag and trouble her more, cause that's my toxic fangirling at best.
5 stars for Mortal heroes and worthy Damaged
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Profile Image for Kindle Crack Book Reviews Cheri .
1,335 reviews1,087 followers
December 4, 2020
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4.5 stars! I’m thrilled that author Kate Stewart posted about Where We Went Wrong in her group. Based on her recommendation, I took a chance on a new-to-me author, Kelsey Kingsley. This heartbreakingly beautiful romance is about second chances, addiction, and rebirth. Where We Went Wrong was so real and raw and yet out of the world. You’ll understand once you read it. Where We Went Wrong is a stand-alone, but there is another interconnected book to read first. Check out The Life We Wanted. It sounds really good as well!
Profile Image for Stephanie Osborne.
386 reviews8 followers
November 29, 2020
“... tropes are meant for predictable movies and cheesy romance novels. They didn’t fit into the real world, with real people and real problems.”

Realistic, HARD, faulty. Ever since I discovered the incredible writing of Indie authors, my FAVORITE thing is realism & characters with flaws... when we get to see their growth.

There are very few stories I’ve EVER read that do this better than Where We Went Wrong.

Even the title is perfect.

Kelsey Kingsley wrote the first 2020 book I called a FOREVER favorite (Warrior Blue). She also wrote the last 2020 book with that same badge. This is not a fun read. It’s not a fuzzy warm feeling read. It’s disturbing in that the damage Vinny & Andy do to themselves is so hard to watch. It’s soooo angst filled, but never ever in the immature way so many other stories are.

But it’s also filled with hope and healing.

“Damaged does not equate unworthy.”
Profile Image for Jenn the Readaholic.
2,175 reviews70 followers
November 23, 2020
This book almost broke me. Andy and Vinnie had so much going on in their heads that their time together was both the best and possibly the worst thing that could’ve happened at the moment...and every moment thereafter. It’s not often that I find a story that has my heart pounding in dread halfway through. It’s even rarer for that book to have me angry, sad, wanting to throw the book, wanting to stop because of the train wreck to come, and still feeling that I absolutely MUST keep going because otherwise I’ll never know where everything went right or wrong. And trust me when I say that THIS is definitely the book that did all of that.

I wanted to cry and demand that Vinnie and Andy just communicate. I wanted so badly for them to both magically come to their senses, but then that wouldn’t be realistic. That wouldn’t be what makes this author and her works so utterly consuming to read. And I knew that both Andy and Vinnie would end up where they needed to be. Sure, there was plenty of worry and fear that they wouldn’t, but what good is a story if the reader isn’t so fully invested in it that the book can’t be put down? The rawness of what Andy and Vinnie went through made it all feel that much sweeter in the end.

Don’t be fooled. This is a book that requires tissues, but it’s also such a good read that the itchy eyes are well worth finding out how Andy and Vinnie get to their own versions of happy.
Profile Image for B. C. Booklover.
783 reviews55 followers
December 4, 2020
Kelsey Kingsley has ventured beyond what she's done in the past and delved into new, exciting territory with her latest novel, Where We Went Wrong.  If you've had the pleasure of reading The Life We Have, then you've already met her newest leading man- Vinnie Marino.  He's self deprecating, stuck in a rut of his own making and not enjoying his life very much these days.

His older brother, Zach, has found happiness with his partner, Greyson, out and proud, living his best life.  His sister has her husband and kids but what does HE have?  Now in his 30's, he's still living in the same apartment, working the same job in the family pizzeria and he wonders- will there ever be more to his life than this? Vinnie would love to be happy like everyone else but he's been trying his whole life to shove down his feelings of unworthiness, but they don't stay buried for long.

Then one night, into his life walks Andrea and things are about to take a turn.  She may be a weird, sarcastic smart ass, but Vinnie is intrigued with this awkward, intuitive nurse just as much as she is with him. As they begin to be a couple, each are holding parts of themselves back.  They are not being completely honest with each other.  When times get tough, Vinnie struggles with loss, guilt and anger which are tearing apart his resolve to remain clean and sober as the devil on his shoulder watches on.

Between the secondary, sometimes unexpected characters that have their own stories to tell, the otherworldly qualities that will keep you guessing and the dark turns this story takes, I'll say without a doubt-this one broke me like I haven't been broken in years.  I haven't cried this much over a book in so long I can't even remember.  Was it worth every tear- hell yes!  Does it have ALL the feels- oh yeah.  Am I recommending it- definitely. 

This emotional hurricane called Where We Went Wrong, was just a phenomenal, goosebump inducing journey that can only be appreciated by diving in and reading it yourself. Don't worry though, Kelsey Kingsley is not going to leave you hanging with red eyes and tissues stuffed up your nose!  No, in the end, this amazing storyteller will ensure your happiness with a warm and wonderful feeling in your newly repaired heart and perhaps a little wink for good measure. This is a truly unforgettable story that should be added to your must read list right away.

Complimentary copy received, review honestly given.
Profile Image for Tammy - .
1,107 reviews139 followers
November 25, 2020
"Damaged does not equal unworthy." I'm having a difficult time putting this story into words, but that quote pretty much sums it up.

You know that a book is going to be good when the prologue makes you cry. I don't believe that I've ever been so touched, so heartbroken, so drawn into a story from just the first few pages. That is the impact of Where We Went Wrong by Kelsey Kingsley.

Where We Went Wrong is Vinnie Marino's story. Although this can be read as a stand-alone novel, we first meet Vinnie in The Life We Wanted which is his brother Zach's story. They have both been dealt an unimaginable loss and have struggled with drug addiction, but while Vinnie continues to battle his demons, his brother seems to have his under control.

Vinnie crosses paths with Andrea (Andy) more than once before they begin to build a relationship. At first, life seems to be going well for both of them, but then Vinnie's life takes an unexpected turn. He begins to lose his fight, and Andy is keeping secrets of her own. Together, they find themselves in a downward spiral that could destroy both of their lives.

I have said it before, and I will continue to scream it from the rooftop...Kelsey Kingsley is one of the most underrated authors that I've ever read. She writes stories that make you feel, stories that make you question, stories that make you understand. Her characters are so real that you feel like they could be your friends. The worlds that she creates are ones that you could find yourself living in.

While Vinnie's story is darker than some of her previous works, it's not dark in the "taboo, forbidden, shock factor" sense. No. This story is dark in the "this is life sometimes and it's not always pretty" sense. Then, amongst the brutal reality, is another entire element that will make you question everything and just might make you believe. Beautifully told, 5+ star read!
Profile Image for Natasha's Reviews.
1,178 reviews61 followers
November 24, 2020
ARC provided for an honest review.

I can't post spoilers yet so I'll post how this book made me feel.
This damn book. This damn book is like a drug. I say this because once you start it, you want to finish it and it's hard to put down. It's addictive. It's a wreck. There's a lot going on. It's romantic. It's dramatic. It's dark. There's hope and it does have a HEA. So prepare for falling in love with these characters and having your heart stomped on. This is an emotional ride.
561 reviews
November 25, 2020
It's so hard to review this book. It was really hard on me but I absolutely loved every word.

Vinnie still lives with his father and runs the family pizzeria. His brother Zach (The Life We Have) and his sister Jenna are married with kids and houses, but Vinnie is still alone and has to fight every day against his addictions.

Abandoned by their mother as children, Vinnie doesn't trust easily and never wanted a "girlfriend". Until his siblings moved out of their home and made a life for themselves, he was fairly content with his own. But with his past and the difficult times that lie ahead, Vinnie's fears and his addictions threaten to come back and take all the people he loves away.

Andy is a nurse at the hospital where she meets Vinnie, while he's there with his father. The girl, Vinnie recognizes from day one, hates crowds and she's not only beautiful and passionate for her job, she also has a gift. A gift she doesn't want at all and which let's her make stupid decisions.

Destroyed!!! Kelsey Kingsley made me cry (very often, very ugly) and very uncomfortable with this story, if I'm honest. But not in a bad way. I think it's absolutely necessary for this story to be told like this, as unsettling as it may be. Its extremely difficult for me to get into it and find the right words to express, how this story made me feel without giving away too much. It's so hard to witness all the struggling, the sadness, the anxiety and insecurity these characters are going through. Kelsey Kingsley took it upon her to write about a very hard topic and she did so good. The story is very realistic and I think that's the reason it was so hard to read.

But don't be afraid, because Kelsey Kingsley doesn't let us down and rewards us readers with a beautiful HEA.
Profile Image for PP's Bookshelf.
2,791 reviews400 followers
November 30, 2020
Where We Went Wrong by Kelsey Kingsley is a raw, gripping and heartbreaking tale of love, addiction, redemption and hope. This gritty, chaotic, mess and soul shattering love story took everything out of me. And left me breathless and speechless. This is one of those rare gems to stand out and shine. One of my top 2020 read.

Vinnie has always struggled to find balance and contentment in his life. His early life is scarred with traumatic memories. He battled with addiction. Losing his father is destroying all his will and composure. And around this time he meets Andrea. Sweet, compassionate, caring and loving nurse Andy. Can she keep his demons away? Or will he drag her down? Because Andy has her own secrets whispering in her ears.

I will strongly ask you to go in with an open mind. This is not for faint hearted. You need to go through hell. And I am not saying it lightly. The author broke me so many times that I feared I have nothing left. But she also glued my heart back. Vinnie's struggle was multidimensional. He has anxiety and depression getting more exacerbated with his addiction. He is flawed, damaged but not unlovable. He can get unreasonably bitter and angry and desperate. But on his good days, he is an amazing man. Kind. Loyal. Honest. Loving. His heart is a dark place but Andrea is his light.

Andrea's secret is a pivotal thing in this story. Her ability to feel things beyond normal people changed the game. Vinnie's demons were not only things devouring her soul. She needed an escape. A reprieve. And she slipped. Their love is toxic because it's another form of addiction. But their love is also their lifeline. Something worth fighting for. May be not enough because they had to slay the monsters in their hearts first. It was a difficult love story but so worth all the pain.


Where We Went Wrong by Kelsey Kingsley is an aching, brusing and heartfelt saga of humanity and its struggles. The writing was extraordinary. The author cut me, made me bleed feels and left with scars those will forever remind me of this very special story.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Profile Image for Debbie.
482 reviews
December 5, 2020
I have to say that it took me a few days to read this book, as it is at times hard to read. Addiction is obviously a real thing and the way it has been written in this book shows the raw reality of it. Vinnie and Andy both have problems and Vinnie’s are made worse by his fathers diagnosis. It would be easy for the author to skip most of the reality and go into all the nice good bits, but she doesn’t, and that’s makes it an even better read, but be warned, one or two tissues won’t do it, you will need a box.
Profile Image for Jenn Amy.
910 reviews82 followers
December 6, 2020
This book is unlike anything I have ever read. It took me a few days to recover before I could even begin to write my feelings down on this incredible book. The journey these characters face is very raw and real. There was beauty in their pain. It made me feel so much and not always in a good way. The subject matter was uncomfortable at times but everything was so, so worth it. Kelsey is a one truly gifted author. Her passion for her characters bleeds off the pages and her incredible gift of story telling blew me away. This book is not going to be for everyone and is not for the faint of heart. There are triggers for suicide and addiction but if you can push through the parts that make you feel uncomfortable and let yourself feel the emotions of this book and these characters I promise you will not regret it, but have tissues at the ready because you will most definitely need them.

Vinnie is a recovering drug addict working at his family’s pizziera in NYC. Vinnie is extremely broken. He has abandonment issues and is struggling every single day to stay sober. His siblings have their own lives and he is resentful and lonely. He is getting through one day at a time with the help of his father but just when Vinnie thinks he is gaining some control back in his life he is struck down with a devastating loss and he doesn’t know how to keep from drowning deeper and deeper.

Andrea, aka Andy is a nurse, she comes from a wealthy family but is extremely lonely. She lives at home at 30 years old and has struggled to form attachments with people due to the gift she posseses.

Andy and Vinnie’s connection was rare and beautiful from the start. These are two very broken people that find healing within each other.

This book has several deep messages. The biggest one and most important is the truth in loving yourself before you can even begin to love someone else, broken pieces, and all.

The supporting characters in this story play such a pivotal role. Particularly Moe and Goose. I hope Moe’s story comes after Goose’s because I feel there is so much more to learn about him, and Goose’s story, Scars & Silver Linings is coming next and I cannot wait.

*Advancer reader copy generously provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
Profile Image for Jaime Reynolds.
1,943 reviews23 followers
November 24, 2020
Phenomenal and emotionally charged read. To be honest I don’t even know how to write a review to do this story justice. Stock up on tissues, wine, chocolate...whatever helps and settle in for one heck of a ride. Vinnie and Andrea will break your heart while making you whole at the same time. A beautifully told story detailing the struggles of addiction and effects not only on the users but those around them. Make sure you one click this story because it will be one of your top reads of 2020.
Profile Image for Angela's Book Addiction.
803 reviews
November 30, 2020
Where We Went Wrong by Kelsey Kingsley is an opposites-attract contemporary romance told in first person, dual POV. It's a standalone, but if you have read The Life We Have, then you've already met Vinnie in his brother Zach's story.

Vinnie Marino ("Junior") is a former bad boy, and a drug addict in recovery. He works at his family's pizzeria and lives with his father. Andy is a good girl from a wealthy family. She works at the local hospital as a nurse. She also has a secret gift.

They have a fleeting chance encounter, and end up meeting again when Vinnie's father is hospitalized. Vinnie and Andy have an immediate attraction that develops into a relationship over the course of Vincent senior's treatment. But when two sad and broken people get together, it makes for a very bumpy ride.

What will happen between Vinnie and Andy when their demons can no longer be ignored? Will their relationship survive or will it be torn apart? Read the book to find out. Seriously. Go get it, right now! You won't be sorry.

Before I tell you what I thought about the book, I'm going to share a few of my favorite quotes that I highlighted. I think they do a great job of summing up the story without spoiling anything.

I know Vinnie is a good man. Troubled, sure, but I've never known troubled to mean bad.

Damaged does not equate to unworthy.

We had been so good together, hadn’t we? He, the broken bad boy, and I, the innocent girl destined to put him back together. But tropes are meant for predictable movies and cheesy romance novels. They didn’t fit into the real world, with real people and real problems.


Wow. Wow. WOW! Holy book hangover! This is all I could think when I finished reading Where We Went Wrong. A few days have passed, and it's still what comes to mind when I think about this incredible book. I absolutely loved Andy and Vinnie's story! I don't know if I'll be able to find the words to do it justice and to accurately convey how good this book really is - but I'm going to try.

Where We Went Wrong is not an easy, warm and fuzzy read. It's realistic, hard, gritty, disturbing, and gut-wrenching. It's also beautiful, poignant, hopeful, inspiring, and romantic. It will make you uncomfortable, it will break your heart, and it will probably make you cry. I did! But after all the tough stuff, it will pick up those broken heart-pieces and put it back together again. After all, it is a romance, and that means there's a happy ending. When you finally reach that hard-won happy ending, it's all the sweeter and more satisfying because of the struggles and hardships that Andy and Vinnie both experienced and overcame to get there.

This is the best book that Kelsey Kingsley has written so far. I would know because I've read them all. I say "so far", because everything she writes just keeps getting better and better. I don't know how that's possible, but it's true. Where We Went Wrong is brilliantly written and easily one of the best books I have ever read in my life. Full of depth and emotion, it explores themes of grief, substance abuse, identity, calling, friendship, family, and love. Simply put, it's a story about two broken people who find healing, hope, and love. I highly recommend it, and will keep on recommending it for years to come. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

*** I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. ***
Profile Image for Siobhan.
5,030 reviews598 followers
December 4, 2020
Where We Went Wrong is a real and raw read, one that hooks the reader and ensures they have no wish to put the book down. It sucks the reader in from the very first chapter, and each chapter sucks them in deeper.

I’ll be honest and say I didn’t quite feel the connection between the characters, but all they went through had me rooting for them and invested in how things were playing out. Their story is not easy, it’s one not everyone will be able to deal with, but those willing to take the risk are in for a wild ride. There is so much packed into the story, with plenty of things to hook, and it makes it difficult to put the book down.

Without a doubt, this is a powerful read that hits hard and lingers long after finishing.
Profile Image for A.BookNerd.Bookseller&Bibliophile.Blog.
2,787 reviews107 followers
December 4, 2020
Ok where to start with this one...this definitely deserves a trigger warning for addiction! Honestly it took me a bit to get into it. But there was a point where I couldn’t put it down. There is a lot to this book and it’s very emotional. I’m so hesitant to write this review because I just don’t want to give anything away! Vinnie is a broken soul and he has so much guilt that he needs to let go of. He feels abandoned by so many people. Then there is Andy. At first she seems so innocent with absolutely no problems. But it becomes obvious that isn’t the case and she has her own demons to fight. And the relationship between Vinnie and Andy becomes very toxic. They have to figure out if they can overcome their demons to be together. This was such a heartbreaking story! I can’t even imagine how difficult it was to write it because at points it was so difficult to read! But at the same time it was so real and I’m so glad I read it. Kelsey Kingsley has a way with words and she showcases it here! Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions!

~Alexis💜
Profile Image for Deborah G..
637 reviews11 followers
December 21, 2020
As a long time fan of this author I can always count on a book that opens up my heart, serve a hard taste of reality and fill me with angst & tears. Vinnie, is a secondary character in a previous book & a relatively forgettable one so I was doubtful that I would enjoy his story as much as the others. I was so wrong. After what I considered a slow start, his turmoil stemming from childhood to the present became so very apparent. With a strong and interfering family, all busy with their own lives, a medical emergency with his father causes unwelcomed stress to his already fragile mental state. Andrea, a nurse caring for his father, is the bright light he needs, although she has a huge secret of her own. There is a love story here, yet it's muted and strained by addiction, drug use & an inability by both parties to be honest with their demons. This story has gritty hurtful moments, characters with whom I shared a love/hate relationship & a long journey for both to come to the realization they are worthy of love, admiration & valued. As much as the story focused on Vinnie, it was wonderful to have Sebastian, Greyson and Zach incorporated into a few chapters, after all, they are the characters that stole my heart in "The Life We Wanted", where all of this began. I love this author & look forward to her next release & hopefully that's very soon.
Profile Image for AJ's Book ReMarks.
1,580 reviews41 followers
November 24, 2020
Did you ever read a book that touched your soul? Well, you will find that when reading Kelsey Kingsley's work, she doesn't shrug off the difficult parts of life. She gets in there and brings out all the ugly, horrible bits and makes you face what real life is all about.

Where We Went Wrong is Vinnie Marino's story. We first met Vinnie in The Life We Wanted; he is Zachery's younger brother. Vinnie has some issues, abandonment, and drug abuse. When tragedy happens, he spins out of control. He meets Andrea Bennet, a nurse taking care of his father, a woman he has run into before at a show. Andy has a secret that will be her undoing, or will it?
Where We Went Wrong is a complete stand-alone you don't need to read The Life We Wanted, but I highly recommend reading all Kesley's work if you get the chance.

Profile Image for Dana.
655 reviews60 followers
December 4, 2020
Have you ever wondered if you can lose sleep over a book? Well I can tell you that yes, yes you can. Because that’s what happened when I started WWWW...I had no sleep.

This story is so heartbreaking, and honestly, I wouldn’t expect anything less from Ms. Kingsley, because that is what drew me to her writing.
Profile Image for L.J. Evans.
Author 32 books1,321 followers
December 17, 2020
Another soul grabbing story from Kelsey Kingsley that will tear you apart and build you back up.
Profile Image for A.G..
185 reviews2 followers
November 24, 2020
Where We Went Wrong is a story about emotionally scarred, recovering addict Vinnie and sweet, naive Andrea. Andrea’s secret mixed with Vinnie’s addictive past and events that left him vulnerable, made for a volatile situation. There were points in the story that were devastating but the ending wrapped it up in a way that soothed my aching heart.
Profile Image for Haley Walker.
13 reviews4 followers
January 25, 2023
This was a unique book. I read this over the course of a few days but it was so emotional that it felt like much longer. It was a heavy read but was well done. It’s heartbreaking but beautiful and will take you on a roller coaster ride.
Profile Image for Kristy Odom.
1,548 reviews40 followers
November 30, 2020
I felt like my heart was wrapped in barb wire... through all of this book it felt hard to breathe. Vinnie was a character that ripped my heart out, and stomped on it. He was hiding, but Andy was hiding too. This book is so well written. This author is able to pull you into her story, and consume your mind. I sobbed thru the last of this book. It broke me. It was beautiful. Vinnie and Andy found their peace in their brokenness. I absolutely love this family.
Profile Image for Nicole Chu.
213 reviews3 followers
November 28, 2020
I am not even sure where to start. This book tore me open and then in the most intricate way put me back together. I have read Kelsey’s work since her first novel and as she writes her writing expands and her characters become richer. I always say her books takes a piece of your soul and this one is no exception. We take a winding turning road but we do reach a happy ending. A lot of novels are happy all the time and Kelsey is gonna make you cry so grab the tissues and get started!
Profile Image for Cat.
2,185 reviews1 follower
November 29, 2020
I apologise To Kelsey first of all because this might be a short review,but to be honest with you I am just lost for words...I have no idea what to write.
I have no clue how to construct a review that would be even worthy of this book and to describe my feelings.
I spent most of the time crying and feeling my heart ache....I do struggle reading about addiction and thats on me ,but I really wanted to read Vinnie and Andy's story and of course because of Kelsey Kingsley.She is an Amazing author and I love her words they are always so beautiful.
Vinnie and Andy's story tore me in half and crushed my heart,it left me emotionally wrung out.
Andy has a secret that plagues her
Vinnie has his demons that he is struggling with ,they are both imperfect characters but perfect for one another. They see something within eachother that will help them both heal.
But even though I cried like there was no tomorrow Where We Went Wrong is a must read,the writing is perfection,bringing the characters to life,and giving a real,raw account of the struggles of an addict and the way it turn everyones life upside down...and that a gift doesn't always have to be a curse but a blessing.
Don't worry though its not all doom and gloom.
There is Hope in these pages and heartwarming moments of brilliance.
Kelsey's words are radiant and unforgettable I am in Awe of her excellence.
This book will test your emotions,but it is so so worth it.
I did LOVE it although it was a bumpy ride.
5 incredible Stars 🌟
Profile Image for Nance.
1,603 reviews115 followers
December 6, 2020
This was nothing like what I thought it was going to be, which is a good thing. Phenomenal story with so much pain involving both main characters for two separate reasons. Both going through the day-to-day just trying to survive. When I say you will shed some tears, I mean you will shed some tears! It’s not always easy to read. I had to stop a few times and just think. So BEWARE if you have addiction issues it might not be for you. Both characters, Andrea and Vinnie, face some tough battles. And, while Ms. Kingsley’s writing is exceptional, she’s also being painfully truthful and explicitly raw. Oh, I don’t want to get into particulars and give away the details of the story, but just give it a shot if you’re willing to bury yourself in two peoples’ challenging and heart-rendering journey. One not to be missed...
Profile Image for TheLazyCatLady .
366 reviews9 followers
December 15, 2020
Everything happened so fast

This was an OK book. It had a few angsty scenes but mostly it was meh. Everything happened quickly and there was a lot of jumping forward. Maybe if the story had been about drug addiction I would have enjoyed it more but it also the paranormal plot line. Both topics require depth so putting them in the book together weakened them. It's definitely not the worst book I've read but it's a long way from bad. I'm giving this book three stars.
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