What do you think?
Rate this book
The History of Us
From Sweet Bliss author Jennifer Bardsley comes a poignant romance about a small-town crime that throws together ex–high school sweethearts who have never quite gotten over their past.
Andrea Wint’s life in the small town of Port Inez, Washington, is a simple one. She works, enjoys the gorgeous view from her bay window, and visits her dad at the memory-care facility. Her father is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, but Andrea brings in one coin from his valuable collection every day—little bits of precious metals that seem to bring him back to himself, even if just for a few moments.
So when Andrea’s house is burgled and the coins disappear, she’s bereft.
To track down the culprit, she turns to Dustin Karlsson, who just happens to be her former high school sweetheart. Years ago, they broke each other’s hearts, and some wounds are slow to heal. But Dustin feels indebted to the ailing Tom Wint and wants to help.
What’s more, Dustin has a personal stake in finding the perpetrator. In fact, he suspects the thief could be his own brother-in-law, a gambler and a drunk who skipped town, leaving Dustin’s sister and two young nieces behind.
As Dustin and Andrea travel the Pacific Northwest in an effort to recover the missing coins, old feelings rekindle. Maybe their happily ever after can still be minted.
Andrea Wint’s life in the small town of Port Inez, Washington, is a simple one. She works, enjoys the gorgeous view from her bay window, and visits her dad at the memory-care facility. Her father is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, but Andrea brings in one coin from his valuable collection every day—little bits of precious metals that seem to bring him back to himself, even if just for a few moments.
So when Andrea’s house is burgled and the coins disappear, she’s bereft.
To track down the culprit, she turns to Dustin Karlsson, who just happens to be her former high school sweetheart. Years ago, they broke each other’s hearts, and some wounds are slow to heal. But Dustin feels indebted to the ailing Tom Wint and wants to help.
What’s more, Dustin has a personal stake in finding the perpetrator. In fact, he suspects the thief could be his own brother-in-law, a gambler and a drunk who skipped town, leaving Dustin’s sister and two young nieces behind.
As Dustin and Andrea travel the Pacific Northwest in an effort to recover the missing coins, old feelings rekindle. Maybe their happily ever after can still be minted.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2022
295 people are currently reading
9936 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Bardsley
20 books922 followersJennifer Bardsley believes in friendship, true love, and the everlasting power of books. A graduate of Stanford University, she lives in Edmonds, Washington with her husband and two children. Jennifer’s “I Brake for Moms” column has appeared in The Everett Herald every week since 2012. She also writes Young Adult Paranormal Romance under the pen name Louise Cypress. When she’s not writing books, or camping with her Girl Scout troop, you can find Jennifer walking from her house to the beach every chance she gets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
February 13, 2022
It's a cute and heartening read. In my opinion, it's average but others might enjoy it more. It's a small town romance, giving love a second chance.
The story stars at a face pace but slows down midway. It picks up pace again towards the end but loses it touch. The chemistry between the main characters- Dustin and Andrea is pretty good. The supporting characters do well but I didn't like Leanne, she was really annoying to me but at the same time I was able to sympathize with her.
The author has a way with making people feel what the characters are going through which I admired. I really liked the author's note at the end.
ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
The story stars at a face pace but slows down midway. It picks up pace again towards the end but loses it touch. The chemistry between the main characters- Dustin and Andrea is pretty good. The supporting characters do well but I didn't like Leanne, she was really annoying to me but at the same time I was able to sympathize with her.
The author has a way with making people feel what the characters are going through which I admired. I really liked the author's note at the end.
ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
April 17, 2022
It's been a while I have read such a heartwarming, comforting romance read. But I would say it's the effortless writing style that drew me in straightaway.
Second chance romance, good flawless writing, a good plot and a little bit of mystery. I would choose all anyday anytime but when it all comes as one in a short good book, I am here for it and I am going to recommend it to everyone I know!
Of course, the book delivers as much as the blurb says but expect more lovely, young and older side characters who are going to stay with you even after reading the book.
I love how comforting the romance is. I love the character representation, their development and the chemistry between the two main characters.
All the Christmas vibes I would say.
I feel the representation of one of the characters with late stage Alzheimer's condition has been done well quite sensibly. I appreciate this so much.
However, I feel one of the main parts of the plot about the missing rare coins and its follow up could have been more convincingly done.
I had a good time reading the entire book in one night. It's good!
Thank you, Montlake, for the advance reading copy.
Second chance romance, good flawless writing, a good plot and a little bit of mystery. I would choose all anyday anytime but when it all comes as one in a short good book, I am here for it and I am going to recommend it to everyone I know!
Of course, the book delivers as much as the blurb says but expect more lovely, young and older side characters who are going to stay with you even after reading the book.
I love how comforting the romance is. I love the character representation, their development and the chemistry between the two main characters.
All the Christmas vibes I would say.
I feel the representation of one of the characters with late stage Alzheimer's condition has been done well quite sensibly. I appreciate this so much.
However, I feel one of the main parts of the plot about the missing rare coins and its follow up could have been more convincingly done.
I had a good time reading the entire book in one night. It's good!
Thank you, Montlake, for the advance reading copy.
October 16, 2023
Read a month ago during a trip. I can barely remember the book, the characters, the plot. The whole thing was silly. And it took me ages to read.
May 8, 2022
"Emotions are like water, Josh had said. They can do a lot of damage if you’re not careful. But sometimes, Dustin realized, emotions could heal, and the best thing was to let those feelings flow."
I loved @jenniferbardsley Good Catch last fall as part of her book tour, actually it was the first month for me as an Instagram #booktourhost and the physical copy still sits on my dresser as a reminder . When I saw #TheHistoryOfUs I couldn't wait to take a trip back to Harpers Ferry to everything that makes her books cozy and. like your fave You Tube vlog walking from place to place feeling like you are there.
Reasons to pick up #TheHistoryofUs:
❤ sweet second chance at love with high school sweethearts who haven't seen each other in 18 years
🎰 trip through all the casinos that add to the history of Washington state..
🏩 heartbreaking view of a parent with Alzheimer's but a daughter who visits her Dad everyday
🛣 Dustin throws himself into helping Andrea find her fathers coin collection that was stolen ..and page by page Jennifer adds little bits of coin history.
What I would have liked more of..
🌶 steam.. for those who want a clean read this would be perfect though. Me I wanted a little more angst..a little more longing.more rhan kisses..but .. we got sweetness and hearts being drawn in fogged up windows which was adorable of a grown man.☺
Where there is suspense, in what is happening with the lost coin collection.. I would have been happier if police were involved. Hunting a trail got a little drawn out. I wanted more between the love growing between the main characters.
Leanne bugged me .. blocking her brother and sister was sad, and without spoilers I wish she had gotten wise sooner than she did.
All in all I still be waiting for the next story coming from Harpers Ferry!
I loved @jenniferbardsley Good Catch last fall as part of her book tour, actually it was the first month for me as an Instagram #booktourhost and the physical copy still sits on my dresser as a reminder . When I saw #TheHistoryOfUs I couldn't wait to take a trip back to Harpers Ferry to everything that makes her books cozy and. like your fave You Tube vlog walking from place to place feeling like you are there.
Reasons to pick up #TheHistoryofUs:
❤ sweet second chance at love with high school sweethearts who haven't seen each other in 18 years
🎰 trip through all the casinos that add to the history of Washington state..
🏩 heartbreaking view of a parent with Alzheimer's but a daughter who visits her Dad everyday
🛣 Dustin throws himself into helping Andrea find her fathers coin collection that was stolen ..and page by page Jennifer adds little bits of coin history.
What I would have liked more of..
🌶 steam.. for those who want a clean read this would be perfect though. Me I wanted a little more angst..a little more longing.more rhan kisses..but .. we got sweetness and hearts being drawn in fogged up windows which was adorable of a grown man.☺
Where there is suspense, in what is happening with the lost coin collection.. I would have been happier if police were involved. Hunting a trail got a little drawn out. I wanted more between the love growing between the main characters.
Leanne bugged me .. blocking her brother and sister was sad, and without spoilers I wish she had gotten wise sooner than she did.
All in all I still be waiting for the next story coming from Harpers Ferry!
July 31, 2022
I really enjoyed this! I ended up listening to the audiobook and can’t count how many times I found myself laughing. The relationship between Dustin and his siblings was fantastic. I love their close knit family and all that they do for each other. They stuck by Leanne even when she was resistant to help and didn’t believe her family about her husband. My heart also went out to Andrea and all that she was dealing with in her family. She felt so alone and it was nice to finally see things turn around for her despite the circumstances that led her there. Andrea and Dustin slowly made their way back to each other and it was nice that after so many years they finally communicated. They were perfect for each other. Their chemistry was off the charts and made for some swoony kisses. I love the drama hinted at between Heidi and Mack and I’m looking forward to (hopefully) their story!
Thanks for NetGalley and Montlake for an advance copy. My thoughts are my own.
Thanks for NetGalley and Montlake for an advance copy. My thoughts are my own.
April 3, 2023
https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/jen...
I was introduced to Jennifer Bardsley last year with her Harper Landing series, which I thought was adorable. THE HISTORY OF US takes place in the same univers, although not in Harper Landing–these characters live across the channel in Port Inez, Washington. I loved the hints to the Harper Landing series, though–the Sweet Bliss yogurt shop is mentioned, as well as the Good Catch dating app.
THE HISTORY OF US somewhat moves away from the Hallmark feel of the Harper Landing series. There’s a bit of a mystery portion to the story, which I really enjoyed. Andrea and Dustin become amateur detectives hunting down Andrea’s stolen coins, and these were my favorite scenes.
Andrea and Dustin both have complicated family lives, but they were able to come together in a way to help each other out. Both characters were very well-written with a lot of depth. I enjoyed most of the side characters, with the exception of Leanne, who was annoyingly naive and not willing to do what it took to protect her children.
This story is an easy-to-read romance and made for a great palate cleanser between some grisly thrillers! I really enjoy Bardsley’s writing and will certainly continue to read her future novels.
I was introduced to Jennifer Bardsley last year with her Harper Landing series, which I thought was adorable. THE HISTORY OF US takes place in the same univers, although not in Harper Landing–these characters live across the channel in Port Inez, Washington. I loved the hints to the Harper Landing series, though–the Sweet Bliss yogurt shop is mentioned, as well as the Good Catch dating app.
THE HISTORY OF US somewhat moves away from the Hallmark feel of the Harper Landing series. There’s a bit of a mystery portion to the story, which I really enjoyed. Andrea and Dustin become amateur detectives hunting down Andrea’s stolen coins, and these were my favorite scenes.
Andrea and Dustin both have complicated family lives, but they were able to come together in a way to help each other out. Both characters were very well-written with a lot of depth. I enjoyed most of the side characters, with the exception of Leanne, who was annoyingly naive and not willing to do what it took to protect her children.
This story is an easy-to-read romance and made for a great palate cleanser between some grisly thrillers! I really enjoy Bardsley’s writing and will certainly continue to read her future novels.
July 8, 2022
“The History of Us” follows Andrea and Dustin in a dual POV tale as a shared betrayal brings these ex high school sweethearts back together. Andrea and Dustin first met when Andrea’s father represented Dustin and his siblings after a tragic event took their parents from them at a young age, and once the two met, the rest, as they say, is history. Thrust back together over a decade later, the two must examine how and why they broke up so suddenly in their senior year, and get past their own misgivings and hurts toward the other in order to track down a thief who took advantage of both Dustin’s family, and Andrea by stealing her father’s—suffering from Alzheimer’s disease—prized coin collection. As far as second chance romances go, which can be tricky depending on why the couple broke up to begin with, this one really hits the sweet spot.
First things to note about this romance: if you’re looking for super steam, keep walking. The romance in this is incredibly sweet and tender, but the “spice” happens off page, which I was honestly fine with! It fit the tone of this story very, very well. But also note that part of the book can be a little painful… Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease for everyone involved, and Andrea does her best to always take care of her dad, but it can be very painful to see her go through that, and how her mother chooses to deal with his diagnosis as well. I applaud the author’s ability to both treat Alzheimer’s disease and those who suffer through it with dignity, but also not shirking from the reality of the toll it takes. So, just know that going in, that while this is very much a sweet, second chance romance, the book does deal with heavier topics and doesn’t shy away from the dynamics and resentment of the mother/daughter relationship when it comes to caring for Alzheimer’s patients, as well as the complex relationship of siblings forced into parental roles.
The book starts off really strong, but the middle does suffer from a bit of a lull where things, especially the hunt for the person who stole Andrea’s coins, feels like it comes to a halt. Things do pick up again, and I really loved how this book ended, but I did find myself wanting to speed through that middle section. Plus, one of Dustin’s siblings annoyed me to no end. I won’t say who to avoid all spoilers, but while I definitely could sympathize with the character, their aggressively blind devotion to their partner felt like too much at times, and I was more frustrated by them then I ever felt empathy for their plight. Ultimately, that’s why this gets 4 stars from me, the romance was sweet, the “mystery” fun even if it wasn’t that mysterious, but that lull and the sheer frustration I had for one character did suck some of the enjoyment away, but all in all, that’s just my personal taste. If you want a sweet, PG-13 romance with a sprinkling of mystery, I highly recommend this beauty! And thank you to the author and Literary Bound Tours for providing an ARC for an honest review!
First things to note about this romance: if you’re looking for super steam, keep walking. The romance in this is incredibly sweet and tender, but the “spice” happens off page, which I was honestly fine with! It fit the tone of this story very, very well. But also note that part of the book can be a little painful… Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease for everyone involved, and Andrea does her best to always take care of her dad, but it can be very painful to see her go through that, and how her mother chooses to deal with his diagnosis as well. I applaud the author’s ability to both treat Alzheimer’s disease and those who suffer through it with dignity, but also not shirking from the reality of the toll it takes. So, just know that going in, that while this is very much a sweet, second chance romance, the book does deal with heavier topics and doesn’t shy away from the dynamics and resentment of the mother/daughter relationship when it comes to caring for Alzheimer’s patients, as well as the complex relationship of siblings forced into parental roles.
The book starts off really strong, but the middle does suffer from a bit of a lull where things, especially the hunt for the person who stole Andrea’s coins, feels like it comes to a halt. Things do pick up again, and I really loved how this book ended, but I did find myself wanting to speed through that middle section. Plus, one of Dustin’s siblings annoyed me to no end. I won’t say who to avoid all spoilers, but while I definitely could sympathize with the character, their aggressively blind devotion to their partner felt like too much at times, and I was more frustrated by them then I ever felt empathy for their plight. Ultimately, that’s why this gets 4 stars from me, the romance was sweet, the “mystery” fun even if it wasn’t that mysterious, but that lull and the sheer frustration I had for one character did suck some of the enjoyment away, but all in all, that’s just my personal taste. If you want a sweet, PG-13 romance with a sprinkling of mystery, I highly recommend this beauty! And thank you to the author and Literary Bound Tours for providing an ARC for an honest review!
March 2, 2022
If you haven’t laid hands on the book yet, here’s your clue to stop reading. This review has spoilers.
Have you heard about one of those books that have you hooked from the first sentence? Yes, this was the book for me. The initial plot wasn’t generic, but it was intriguing until it wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong, the book is great, once you follow the plot. But initially, uh-oh, no. When Andrea’s emotional turmoil and the tragedy that struck her family are talked about, I enjoyed it. It connected to me so well, I almost cried in the first chapter. Enters Cade, hot, handsome, useful, married. I mean, I’m totally against cheating but it would’ve made a great plot. But then it goes downhill and boom, present Cade the villain.
Okay, I might be a tad bit dramatic but that was the only reason I took off a star. The plot is beautiful as is, but I couldn’t connect to the rest of the story as much as I did with the first chapter. I adore Dustin and Andrea, and no, I do not wish Cade would be the hero or anything, but the emotional depth of the book was lost somewhere along the way. Undoubtedly, Dustin and Andrea make a great couple and they are #couplegoals. But the writing style did not make me feel as much as the first chapter did.
I love the book, really. Especially how adorable Jane and Kendal are, but I feel most pity for Leanne. She acted foolish, yes, and she had enablers all around, yes again, she was spoilt, omg yes, but she had her struggles too. She wanted Cade even if he’d hurt her because she didn’t want her children to live without their father. Yes, she hid her family matters from her siblings, but then it was her, who had to live with a good-for-nothing husband and struggle for her kids.
Andrea, however, I feel happy for her in almost all ways except the siblings' part. The epilogue or at least some chapter should’ve suggested that she’s as close to Karlsson siblings as Dustin is to them. I know they are family and would stick with her if need be, but a deeper bond with them (apparent to us, not that she couldn’t have had it without being written in direct words) would’ve probably gotten that star back. Anyhow, the book is amazing and I can’t wait for people to fall in love with it the way I did.
Have you heard about one of those books that have you hooked from the first sentence? Yes, this was the book for me. The initial plot wasn’t generic, but it was intriguing until it wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong, the book is great, once you follow the plot. But initially, uh-oh, no. When Andrea’s emotional turmoil and the tragedy that struck her family are talked about, I enjoyed it. It connected to me so well, I almost cried in the first chapter. Enters Cade, hot, handsome, useful, married. I mean, I’m totally against cheating but it would’ve made a great plot. But then it goes downhill and boom, present Cade the villain.
Okay, I might be a tad bit dramatic but that was the only reason I took off a star. The plot is beautiful as is, but I couldn’t connect to the rest of the story as much as I did with the first chapter. I adore Dustin and Andrea, and no, I do not wish Cade would be the hero or anything, but the emotional depth of the book was lost somewhere along the way. Undoubtedly, Dustin and Andrea make a great couple and they are #couplegoals. But the writing style did not make me feel as much as the first chapter did.
I love the book, really. Especially how adorable Jane and Kendal are, but I feel most pity for Leanne. She acted foolish, yes, and she had enablers all around, yes again, she was spoilt, omg yes, but she had her struggles too. She wanted Cade even if he’d hurt her because she didn’t want her children to live without their father. Yes, she hid her family matters from her siblings, but then it was her, who had to live with a good-for-nothing husband and struggle for her kids.
Andrea, however, I feel happy for her in almost all ways except the siblings' part. The epilogue or at least some chapter should’ve suggested that she’s as close to Karlsson siblings as Dustin is to them. I know they are family and would stick with her if need be, but a deeper bond with them (apparent to us, not that she couldn’t have had it without being written in direct words) would’ve probably gotten that star back. Anyhow, the book is amazing and I can’t wait for people to fall in love with it the way I did.
July 8, 2022
Y’all know I love to hand out stars, and I truly hate to rate a book under three stars. I actually don’t know if I’ve ever even written a negative review. But this one was just not good. I’m going to give a generous two stars, because I did appreciate what the author was trying to do with the history of Washington State, even if it did seem awkwardly interjected in the story.
I was not engaged in this story at all. Major plot points were incredibly unrealistic. A failed actor and former locksmith turned handyman (yes all of this for one person) hears one conversation in which he learns a woman has a safe behind a painting, and next thing you know he has figured out who she is (his wife���s brother’s ex girlfriend from high school), and where she lives, and has broken into her home and stolen the safe right out of the wall along with her fathers coin collection worth thousands of dollars. Then two totally normal people, a builder and a graphic designer, those same high school exes, become amateur investigators and start looking for him. It was a too unbelievable to me. It was also really hard to get into the characters. The FMC, Andrea, seems very immature, even though she is 36, cares for her dad who now lives in a memory care facility, and has a successful career as a graphic designer. There were also several points brought up that didn’t really fit into the plot and were left hanging out there. The sheriff was an on-again/off-again boyfriend of Dustin’s sister/ Andrea’s best friend, but Andrea seems to dislike him or feel like he isn’t helping the investigation, but then it’s never mentioned again. Dustin’s brother’s ex girlfriend was included in one scene and brought up again later, but there was no resolution. The author makes a point of how dishonest Andrea’s was, which didn’t fit into the story at all, given Andrea mentions several times what great memories she has with her dad, how loving and kind he was to others, etc. And later out of the blue Andrea’s mom apologizes for not standing up to Tom when Tom tried to break up Dustin and Andrea (although Dustin broke up with her because she wanted to bring her pet hedgehog to prom and he thought it was another guy??). Character dialogue was… weird. There were several word choices that seemed like they were chosen from a thesaurus. And throughout it all, Andrea and Dustin display basically no chemistry but go from dating a little while in high school and breaking up after prom, not seeing each other for about 18 years, having dinner together like once, and then they’re making wedding plans. The whole book felt flimsy and unorganized, and it just didn’t work for me.
Thank you to the author & publisher for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was not engaged in this story at all. Major plot points were incredibly unrealistic. A failed actor and former locksmith turned handyman (yes all of this for one person) hears one conversation in which he learns a woman has a safe behind a painting, and next thing you know he has figured out who she is (his wife���s brother’s ex girlfriend from high school), and where she lives, and has broken into her home and stolen the safe right out of the wall along with her fathers coin collection worth thousands of dollars. Then two totally normal people, a builder and a graphic designer, those same high school exes, become amateur investigators and start looking for him. It was a too unbelievable to me. It was also really hard to get into the characters. The FMC, Andrea, seems very immature, even though she is 36, cares for her dad who now lives in a memory care facility, and has a successful career as a graphic designer. There were also several points brought up that didn’t really fit into the plot and were left hanging out there. The sheriff was an on-again/off-again boyfriend of Dustin’s sister/ Andrea’s best friend, but Andrea seems to dislike him or feel like he isn’t helping the investigation, but then it’s never mentioned again. Dustin’s brother’s ex girlfriend was included in one scene and brought up again later, but there was no resolution. The author makes a point of how dishonest Andrea’s was, which didn’t fit into the story at all, given Andrea mentions several times what great memories she has with her dad, how loving and kind he was to others, etc. And later out of the blue Andrea’s mom apologizes for not standing up to Tom when Tom tried to break up Dustin and Andrea (although Dustin broke up with her because she wanted to bring her pet hedgehog to prom and he thought it was another guy??). Character dialogue was… weird. There were several word choices that seemed like they were chosen from a thesaurus. And throughout it all, Andrea and Dustin display basically no chemistry but go from dating a little while in high school and breaking up after prom, not seeing each other for about 18 years, having dinner together like once, and then they’re making wedding plans. The whole book felt flimsy and unorganized, and it just didn’t work for me.
Thank you to the author & publisher for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2022
Andrea’s dad is in a care facility suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s, with her mother already moved on its down to Andrea to visit her dad everyday and take the brunt of his decline.
Andrea’s dad used to be a coin collector and everyday that she visits him she brings him a coin from his collection and it brings him back to her when he talks about his rare and valuable coin collection. Tragically her home is robbed and Andrea and her high school sweetheart go on a road trip to hunt them down and catch the person who stole them.
This story is like a cute episode of Virgin River or something like that , it’s just full of wholesomeness and the sweet small American town vibe that I love so much.
Andrea’s dad used to be a coin collector and everyday that she visits him she brings him a coin from his collection and it brings him back to her when he talks about his rare and valuable coin collection. Tragically her home is robbed and Andrea and her high school sweetheart go on a road trip to hunt them down and catch the person who stole them.
This story is like a cute episode of Virgin River or something like that , it’s just full of wholesomeness and the sweet small American town vibe that I love so much.
April 15, 2022
ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
The History of Us is a small town, second chance romance. It centers around a former couple who come together to hunt down a coin thief. Andrea has a prized coin collection that is her father's. When her house is broken into, her safe and her father's prized coin collection are stolen. Dustin and Andrea dated when they were young. When Dustin discovers his brother- in- law is missing, along with Andrea's father's coins, both Dustin and Andrea are on the hunt for him.
The book was an okay read. It's a lighter romance novel. I honestly didn't feel a connection with the characters I was reading.
The History of Us is a small town, second chance romance. It centers around a former couple who come together to hunt down a coin thief. Andrea has a prized coin collection that is her father's. When her house is broken into, her safe and her father's prized coin collection are stolen. Dustin and Andrea dated when they were young. When Dustin discovers his brother- in- law is missing, along with Andrea's father's coins, both Dustin and Andrea are on the hunt for him.
The book was an okay read. It's a lighter romance novel. I honestly didn't feel a connection with the characters I was reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2022
This is one of those books that genuinely make you believe in love again, It's a second chance romance that so heartwarming and so well written it feels real.
The characters Dustin and Andrea are so amazing and have incredible chemistry and are real.
It's one of my favorite reads of this year and I just know that I'll read it over and over again , such a comforting novel.
I 100% recommend it to absolutely anyone.
The characters Dustin and Andrea are so amazing and have incredible chemistry and are real.
It's one of my favorite reads of this year and I just know that I'll read it over and over again , such a comforting novel.
I 100% recommend it to absolutely anyone.
May 31, 2022
Thank you Rockstar Book Tours and Jennifer Bardsley for sending me an Advanced Reader’s Copy of The History of Us !!! I love how there was some Alzheimer’s representation but wish there were some more details for others to learn about. I am always all about details. But it was really soft and fluffy kind of romance.
Stay tuned for my stop when the tour happens!!!
Stay tuned for my stop when the tour happens!!!
July 14, 2022
I loved this book! So sweet, and just what I was looking for. I wanted some action with my romance, but I wasn't in the mood for anything heavy. This book was just the ticket. I loved Andrea and Dustin's relationship, it was totally believable and relatable. The side characters were great too, as was the mystery/chase. Excellent read!
April 16, 2022
With intimate and touching moments set in the breathtakingly beautiful Pacific Northwest, The History of Us is a captivating novel that features the challenges and heartache of loving someone with Alzheimer's, the complicated nature of familial bonds, and a satisfying, chaste romance that will leave readers wanting more of Bardsley's compassionate, confident prose.
July 19, 2022
A sweet, second chance romance set in rural Washington. I loved getting to know Dustin’s big family and a bit about numismatics from Andrea’s father’s collection. I also enjoyed the mystery element. Overall, the romance was a bit light, but I enjoyed the story.
August 16, 2022
High school sweethearts that breakup and reunited in this charming romance.
July 2, 2022
I love when a character driven story just hits me in the heart. That is exactly what author, Jennifer Bardsley does with The History of Us. As soon as I started reading, I was instantly emotionally connected with Andrea and her father. Luckily, my parents do not have Alzheimer's, but I could easily imagine one of them experiencing it and me being in Andrea's shoes. I found myself reading multiple chapters at a time.
Then there is Andrea and Dustin's past. I like that they slowly worked out their heart break and reconnected but not instant. Thus, it felt real as they were pouring out their feelings. While, the story may have focused on Andrea and Dustin, Dustin's sister played a good part in the story as well. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and do want to read other books by Jennifer.
Then there is Andrea and Dustin's past. I like that they slowly worked out their heart break and reconnected but not instant. Thus, it felt real as they were pouring out their feelings. While, the story may have focused on Andrea and Dustin, Dustin's sister played a good part in the story as well. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and do want to read other books by Jennifer.
August 23, 2022
I received this book for free from Author, MTMC Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. You can also find this review, a character Q&A + a book-inspired quiz at The Reader and the Chef!
I’m so thrilled to have read another amazing contemporary romance by Jennifer Bardsley, am a fan!! Visiting the beautiful towns like Harper Landing and Port Inez, the romantic and cozy feelings throughout reading this book are just *sighs*😍. In The History of Us we meet Andrea, a talented graphic designer that enjoys her quiet life in Port Inez after settling there to live near her father that is on the last stages of Alzheimer. She makes sure to carry coins from his valuable collection to help with his memory, little did she knew that one day they would be stolen. Andrea is desperate to find them so when her former high school sweetheart, Dustin offers to help, she teams up with him to find the culprit.
As expected The History of Us was a sweet and heartfelt story. We get to experience Andrea’s sorrow for her father after realizing that he is slowly loosing the battle against Alzheimer. I felt so much for her, she feels lonely after her mother decided that she could not handle it and decided to get a new life instead. Andrea is still doing her best and she has her best friend Heidi who is one of the reasons why Andrea came back to live in Port Inez, but she cannot help to wish for a better support system. However, she’s a super strong, cheerful, smart, thoughtful person that learned from her mistakes but isn’t afraid to open her heart and talk things through whenever it’s necessary. I believe thouse are one of her strongest qualities and I just really liked her!
Then there is Dustin, who is still very much in love with Andrea, but after a misunderstanding they had years back, he believes she’s no longer interested. However, when he suspects his brother-in-law is the one responsible for stealing her father’s coin collection he immediately offers to help. I really liked Dustin, he’s a really sweet guy that cares a lot for his family, but sometimes he has trouble communicating his feelings and that gives off the wrong impression.
Andrea and Dustin are practically soulmates, we get to read so many cute moments while they were together despite the circumstances. We learn about their backgrounds, they share a love for history and there is also a lot of driving around the Olympic Peninsula. The beautiful descriptions in this book were so inspiring and the historical details shared from the places they visited to the coin collection of Andrea’s father were fascinating. There were also bits of humor shared throughout the story and also mentions of landmarks and places that belong to the author’s previous books like Sweet Bliss, that made this into such an enjoyable read.
The History of Us was such a charming and emotional read for me. It’s the type of story I would recommend to snuggle up in a blanket while drinking a warm beverage. It had me smiling and at times crying, but it was just so good. Will forever love reading about Harper Landing and its inhabitants. ✨🍂
I’m so thrilled to have read another amazing contemporary romance by Jennifer Bardsley, am a fan!! Visiting the beautiful towns like Harper Landing and Port Inez, the romantic and cozy feelings throughout reading this book are just *sighs*😍. In The History of Us we meet Andrea, a talented graphic designer that enjoys her quiet life in Port Inez after settling there to live near her father that is on the last stages of Alzheimer. She makes sure to carry coins from his valuable collection to help with his memory, little did she knew that one day they would be stolen. Andrea is desperate to find them so when her former high school sweetheart, Dustin offers to help, she teams up with him to find the culprit.
As expected The History of Us was a sweet and heartfelt story. We get to experience Andrea’s sorrow for her father after realizing that he is slowly loosing the battle against Alzheimer. I felt so much for her, she feels lonely after her mother decided that she could not handle it and decided to get a new life instead. Andrea is still doing her best and she has her best friend Heidi who is one of the reasons why Andrea came back to live in Port Inez, but she cannot help to wish for a better support system. However, she’s a super strong, cheerful, smart, thoughtful person that learned from her mistakes but isn’t afraid to open her heart and talk things through whenever it’s necessary. I believe thouse are one of her strongest qualities and I just really liked her!
Then there is Dustin, who is still very much in love with Andrea, but after a misunderstanding they had years back, he believes she’s no longer interested. However, when he suspects his brother-in-law is the one responsible for stealing her father’s coin collection he immediately offers to help. I really liked Dustin, he’s a really sweet guy that cares a lot for his family, but sometimes he has trouble communicating his feelings and that gives off the wrong impression.
Andrea and Dustin are practically soulmates, we get to read so many cute moments while they were together despite the circumstances. We learn about their backgrounds, they share a love for history and there is also a lot of driving around the Olympic Peninsula. The beautiful descriptions in this book were so inspiring and the historical details shared from the places they visited to the coin collection of Andrea’s father were fascinating. There were also bits of humor shared throughout the story and also mentions of landmarks and places that belong to the author’s previous books like Sweet Bliss, that made this into such an enjoyable read.
The History of Us was such a charming and emotional read for me. It’s the type of story I would recommend to snuggle up in a blanket while drinking a warm beverage. It had me smiling and at times crying, but it was just so good. Will forever love reading about Harper Landing and its inhabitants. ✨🍂
July 22, 2022
This was a heartwarming small town romance thatalso had some tragedy, mystery, and plenty of humor injected that makes it a well rounded book. It wasn’t very spicy but more of a sweet romance and plenty of familial love.
Synopsis
Andrea has just moved to Port Inez, Washington to be closer to her father that is currently in a memory care facility. His Altzheimers make the visits very difficult for her. But what does seem to bring him back is when she brings in one of his coins from his extensive gold coin collection worth over a $100,000 Andrea has been keeping the coins in a safe at her home but now someone has stolen the collection.
To find the thief she teams up with her ex high school sweetheart, Dustin Karlsson. She’s not keen on this because he broke her heart all those years ago and she has carried a torch for him after so many bad relationships she’s been through.
Dustin has a vested interest in the crime because he is convinced the thief is his brother-in-law, Cade. Not only is Cade suspected of stealing the gold coins but also of stealing from Dustin and his sister, Heidi’s company again. They are frustrated with their younger sister Leanne who's married to him for being so gullible. Leanne wants to believe the best in her husband especially since they have two girls to consider.
The investigation brings Andrea and Dustin closer. However, his family keeps interrupting all of their attempts to rekindle their romance.
My thoughts
I liked the details that Bardsley used that may seem trivial but made the character, Andrea, seem more relatable to me. One example was her struggles of finding adult books at the LFL, because I struggle with that here- they usually only have children’s books which is part of the reason I started my own! I also liked that both Dustin and Andrea were fans of audiobooks! I loved the banter between Andrea and Dustin and Dustin and his sister Heidi. Their renovation business reminded me of my daughter who is a realtor and has done a couple of flips of her own. But Dustin don’t you be talkin about my girl Joanna Gaines! She is magical and my dream house would be one that she designed!
My only complaint would be that I prefer shorter chapters and keep the pace up sometimes there were sme slow parts.
Read if you like:
Small town romance
Second chance romance
Altzheimers issues with parents
Home renovations
Hedgehogs
A bit of a mystery
Sibling relationships
Relationships with parents
Synopsis
Andrea has just moved to Port Inez, Washington to be closer to her father that is currently in a memory care facility. His Altzheimers make the visits very difficult for her. But what does seem to bring him back is when she brings in one of his coins from his extensive gold coin collection worth over a $100,000 Andrea has been keeping the coins in a safe at her home but now someone has stolen the collection.
To find the thief she teams up with her ex high school sweetheart, Dustin Karlsson. She’s not keen on this because he broke her heart all those years ago and she has carried a torch for him after so many bad relationships she’s been through.
Dustin has a vested interest in the crime because he is convinced the thief is his brother-in-law, Cade. Not only is Cade suspected of stealing the gold coins but also of stealing from Dustin and his sister, Heidi’s company again. They are frustrated with their younger sister Leanne who's married to him for being so gullible. Leanne wants to believe the best in her husband especially since they have two girls to consider.
The investigation brings Andrea and Dustin closer. However, his family keeps interrupting all of their attempts to rekindle their romance.
My thoughts
I liked the details that Bardsley used that may seem trivial but made the character, Andrea, seem more relatable to me. One example was her struggles of finding adult books at the LFL, because I struggle with that here- they usually only have children’s books which is part of the reason I started my own! I also liked that both Dustin and Andrea were fans of audiobooks! I loved the banter between Andrea and Dustin and Dustin and his sister Heidi. Their renovation business reminded me of my daughter who is a realtor and has done a couple of flips of her own. But Dustin don’t you be talkin about my girl Joanna Gaines! She is magical and my dream house would be one that she designed!
My only complaint would be that I prefer shorter chapters and keep the pace up sometimes there were sme slow parts.
Read if you like:
Small town romance
Second chance romance
Altzheimers issues with parents
Home renovations
Hedgehogs
A bit of a mystery
Sibling relationships
Relationships with parents
June 28, 2022
4/5 ⭐️
I was granted an e-copy via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
One of the only things Andrea’s father, who has Alzheimer’s, remembers is his coin collection. When it’s stolen, she pairs with Dustin(her high school boyfriend who broke her heart) to retrieve it, after finding out that it was Dustin’s brother-in-law who stole it. They only intended to find out the coins, but they ended up unearthing their own history.
I liked Andrea’s character. Not only because she spoke about Twilight and admitted that she probably wouldn’t like it she reread it because of the Edward stalking Bella part(Dustin gets a bonus point for calling Edward a sparkly vampire) but also because her love for her father was truly beautiful to read. She doesn’t give up on him, fighting to make sure there’s something he remembers.
Second chance love is usually a trope that’s a hit or miss for me. Eighteen years had passed since Dustin and Andrea’s break up and it would’ve been weird if they had gotten together fast. I liked that the author rebuilt their relationship by first addressing what happened between them in the past all the while making it clear that there was an obvious chemistry between them. And they listened to audiobooks together, which is an instant ship for me.
This book was the kind of book that you flow through quickly but don’t have much to say about. I was delightfully reminded of Nicholas Spark books and I think this would appeal to readers who enjoyed his works.
Minor Spoilers
Why did I give it four stars? Well, firstly there wasn’t much of a plot. Yes, finding lost coins and building family relationships is warming but I don’t know…I needed more.
Secondly, I don’t like how it justifies cheating. Andrea’s dad gets Alzheimer’s and her mom just moves on with her boyfriend. Like just moves on because divorce is complicated(despite being such a good lawyer). Andrea’s dad, despite forgetting a lot of things, doesn’t forget her and keeps asking for her. This is cheating, plain and simple and I didn’t like that.
I was granted an e-copy via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
One of the only things Andrea’s father, who has Alzheimer’s, remembers is his coin collection. When it’s stolen, she pairs with Dustin(her high school boyfriend who broke her heart) to retrieve it, after finding out that it was Dustin’s brother-in-law who stole it. They only intended to find out the coins, but they ended up unearthing their own history.
I liked Andrea’s character. Not only because she spoke about Twilight and admitted that she probably wouldn’t like it she reread it because of the Edward stalking Bella part(Dustin gets a bonus point for calling Edward a sparkly vampire) but also because her love for her father was truly beautiful to read. She doesn’t give up on him, fighting to make sure there’s something he remembers.
Second chance love is usually a trope that’s a hit or miss for me. Eighteen years had passed since Dustin and Andrea’s break up and it would’ve been weird if they had gotten together fast. I liked that the author rebuilt their relationship by first addressing what happened between them in the past all the while making it clear that there was an obvious chemistry between them. And they listened to audiobooks together, which is an instant ship for me.
This book was the kind of book that you flow through quickly but don’t have much to say about. I was delightfully reminded of Nicholas Spark books and I think this would appeal to readers who enjoyed his works.
Minor Spoilers
Why did I give it four stars? Well, firstly there wasn’t much of a plot. Yes, finding lost coins and building family relationships is warming but I don’t know…I needed more.
Secondly, I don’t like how it justifies cheating. Andrea’s dad gets Alzheimer’s and her mom just moves on with her boyfriend. Like just moves on because divorce is complicated(despite being such a good lawyer). Andrea’s dad, despite forgetting a lot of things, doesn’t forget her and keeps asking for her. This is cheating, plain and simple and I didn’t like that.
May 22, 2022
A huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Rating: 4.5/5
It's hard to find a book where it truly warms your heart and make you feel blissed and hopeful, but I'm glad 'The History of Us' delivers all that.
A second chance romance between our main characters Andrea and Dustin, who were high school sweetheart until a heart break left a trail of broken hearts. Fast forward 18 years later, Andrea had to track down the burglar who had stolen her father's most prized possesion, and to do that she had help from Dustin who felt indebted to Andrea's father for some reason. Awkwardly, they both travels to hunt down the culprit but old feelings catches up on them. And that's how this book is going to unravel..
As for the characters, I admire how well-grounded they are, despite being flawed and all, and see how each characters figured out their emotions, history, fate and all those stuff in order to move forward. The family ties between Dustin and his family members warms my heart (despite Leanne being a bit.. rough around the edges). We also follows Andrea who had a mixed feelings when she felt what she feels duding and after taking care of her father, and with her mother having another boyfriend, she feels trapped for some reason and how i wish i could give her a hug.
Everything about this book is comforting, heartwarming and the development was just so great i could stop reading.
It also has the representation of Alzheimers, whete it was written in a great manner with easy-to-understand elaboration. Other than that, this book also included the numismatic history of coins which is very new to me and I like reading about it!
I would totally recommend this book for everyone who loves a comforting, heartwarming romance with family ties and realizing your own feelings.
Rating: 4.5/5
It's hard to find a book where it truly warms your heart and make you feel blissed and hopeful, but I'm glad 'The History of Us' delivers all that.
A second chance romance between our main characters Andrea and Dustin, who were high school sweetheart until a heart break left a trail of broken hearts. Fast forward 18 years later, Andrea had to track down the burglar who had stolen her father's most prized possesion, and to do that she had help from Dustin who felt indebted to Andrea's father for some reason. Awkwardly, they both travels to hunt down the culprit but old feelings catches up on them. And that's how this book is going to unravel..
As for the characters, I admire how well-grounded they are, despite being flawed and all, and see how each characters figured out their emotions, history, fate and all those stuff in order to move forward. The family ties between Dustin and his family members warms my heart (despite Leanne being a bit.. rough around the edges). We also follows Andrea who had a mixed feelings when she felt what she feels duding and after taking care of her father, and with her mother having another boyfriend, she feels trapped for some reason and how i wish i could give her a hug.
Everything about this book is comforting, heartwarming and the development was just so great i could stop reading.
It also has the representation of Alzheimers, whete it was written in a great manner with easy-to-understand elaboration. Other than that, this book also included the numismatic history of coins which is very new to me and I like reading about it!
I would totally recommend this book for everyone who loves a comforting, heartwarming romance with family ties and realizing your own feelings.
February 14, 2022
The History of Us is the first book I've read by this author. I was intrigued by the description, as I'm a sucker for a good second chance story. I found that I really liked the two main characters, Andrea and Dustin.
Andrea is a graphic designer who spends every afternoon with her ailing father at a long term care facility for patients with Alzheimer's. This part of the story was superbly well-written, in my opinion, and definitely would hit home for anyone who's ever had to visit a loved one in this type of care facility. Andrea is the keeper of her dad's super valuable coin collection, and every day she brings one with her to share with her dad.
Dustin Karlsson works with his sister, Heidi, to renovate and flip houses in their tiny Washington town of Port Inez. They previously employed their brother in law Cade, but had to fire him due to some theft issues. Enter the main conflict of the story, when Andrea's coin collection is stolen and Dustin is pretty sure who did it, throwing Andrea and Dustin together for the first time in 18+ years.
When I read a second chance romance, I want more flashbacks and more angst about the past. I didn't get that here, which was a bummer. The author did a nice job creating angst elsewhere, though, in the siblings' relationship with Cade's naïve wife and with Andrea's relationship with her own mother, who appears to have abandoned her husband with Alzheimer's and completely moved on with life.
Clean reads are usually not my cup of tea, but there was enough other action in this book to make up for that. Overall, it was a well-written story, but not one that I'll be thinking about for weeks to come (which is my thermometer for a great book).
Andrea is a graphic designer who spends every afternoon with her ailing father at a long term care facility for patients with Alzheimer's. This part of the story was superbly well-written, in my opinion, and definitely would hit home for anyone who's ever had to visit a loved one in this type of care facility. Andrea is the keeper of her dad's super valuable coin collection, and every day she brings one with her to share with her dad.
Dustin Karlsson works with his sister, Heidi, to renovate and flip houses in their tiny Washington town of Port Inez. They previously employed their brother in law Cade, but had to fire him due to some theft issues. Enter the main conflict of the story, when Andrea's coin collection is stolen and Dustin is pretty sure who did it, throwing Andrea and Dustin together for the first time in 18+ years.
When I read a second chance romance, I want more flashbacks and more angst about the past. I didn't get that here, which was a bummer. The author did a nice job creating angst elsewhere, though, in the siblings' relationship with Cade's naïve wife and with Andrea's relationship with her own mother, who appears to have abandoned her husband with Alzheimer's and completely moved on with life.
Clean reads are usually not my cup of tea, but there was enough other action in this book to make up for that. Overall, it was a well-written story, but not one that I'll be thinking about for weeks to come (which is my thermometer for a great book).
July 14, 2022
There are two things that mean the world to Andrea one of them being her father and the other being the collectible coins that help jog his Alzheimer fogged memory, so when her home is robbed and someone steals the coin collection Andrea is determined to get to the bottom of this thrift and retrieve the coins even if it means asking her high school sweetheart Dustin for help… however the last thing that she expected was for old feelings to resurface and for them to find more than just a few old coins while their cross-country the Pacific Northwest…
..
Firstly I have to mention this book cover! I loved the dreamy vibe that set the scene to a sweet little romance. It was pretty hard not to fall in love with Andrea and Dustin as they found their way back to each other. I will say that this was a pretty closed door romance but that really didn’t take to much away from the overall reading experience.
..
Andrea, gosh girl my heart just broke for you. This leading lady really had a lot going on, I mean it is not easy to watch one of the most important people in you life slip away and be unable to do anything to help them. In saying this I have to say that Bardsley has done a great job with handling these sensitive issues and showing how the families have to deal with this illness. As for our hero Dustin, I really liked that he was more invested in find the coins as they also effected his family and that Tim was also an important person in his life. I think their shared history only made this book all the more emotional and touching.
..
The History Of Us was a sweet and emotional read that is definitely worth checking out.
..
Firstly I have to mention this book cover! I loved the dreamy vibe that set the scene to a sweet little romance. It was pretty hard not to fall in love with Andrea and Dustin as they found their way back to each other. I will say that this was a pretty closed door romance but that really didn’t take to much away from the overall reading experience.
..
Andrea, gosh girl my heart just broke for you. This leading lady really had a lot going on, I mean it is not easy to watch one of the most important people in you life slip away and be unable to do anything to help them. In saying this I have to say that Bardsley has done a great job with handling these sensitive issues and showing how the families have to deal with this illness. As for our hero Dustin, I really liked that he was more invested in find the coins as they also effected his family and that Tim was also an important person in his life. I think their shared history only made this book all the more emotional and touching.
..
The History Of Us was a sweet and emotional read that is definitely worth checking out.
September 7, 2022
I came across this book through Kindle Unlimited, my new favorite addiction! I liked the synopsis and went for it. The first few pages were a little hard to get in to, and the download came with an optional audio format, so I thought I'd tackle it this way.
The story is about love lost and found again. It is part romance, part mystery, with a dash of family drama. It follows Andrea, a 36 year old woman who is struggling with her father's Alzheimer's diagnosis. She visits him daily, and always brings a coin from his very impressive and rare collection because it's one of the few things he remembers. When his coin collection is stolen, she quickly figures out that it's an employee of the center her father lives at. She is quickly paired up with her ex-boyfriend from high school, Dustin, whom she still has feelings for. What happens when they hit the road together to find her father's missing coins and his no good brother in law?
I liked the premise of the story. It was sweet and heart felt. My biggest gripe with the audio version is the male narrator. Oh. My. Goodness. He was not good. I felt this guy needed lessons in reading punctuation and the room. His inflection, tone, and emotional responses to the written word took me out of the story multiple times. I'd be so distracted by how he read sections, especially highly emotional scenes, that I'd get lost and miss parts of the story. Let this be your warning, if you go the audio route, he's campy and hard to take seriously, imo. Overall it's a story with a feel good ending, which I think we all could use more of in this world of ours.
The story is about love lost and found again. It is part romance, part mystery, with a dash of family drama. It follows Andrea, a 36 year old woman who is struggling with her father's Alzheimer's diagnosis. She visits him daily, and always brings a coin from his very impressive and rare collection because it's one of the few things he remembers. When his coin collection is stolen, she quickly figures out that it's an employee of the center her father lives at. She is quickly paired up with her ex-boyfriend from high school, Dustin, whom she still has feelings for. What happens when they hit the road together to find her father's missing coins and his no good brother in law?
I liked the premise of the story. It was sweet and heart felt. My biggest gripe with the audio version is the male narrator. Oh. My. Goodness. He was not good. I felt this guy needed lessons in reading punctuation and the room. His inflection, tone, and emotional responses to the written word took me out of the story multiple times. I'd be so distracted by how he read sections, especially highly emotional scenes, that I'd get lost and miss parts of the story. Let this be your warning, if you go the audio route, he's campy and hard to take seriously, imo. Overall it's a story with a feel good ending, which I think we all could use more of in this world of ours.
July 15, 2022
Thank you to @letstalkbookspromo and @jenniferbardsleyauthor for having me on this tour of The History of Us!
Read this if you
👩🏼❤️💋👨🏼 love second chances
💘 want a clean romance
🪙 are a coin collector
👴🏻 have a relative with Alzheimer’s
Andrea is a 36 year old, single woman, still hung up on her high school boyfriend, Dustin. Though it’s been 18 years since they were together, he’s always on her mind. As she struggles to care for her father living with Alzheimer’s in a special facility, she meets Cade, Dustin’s brother in law, when her father ends up getting his hand stuck inside of a paper towel dispenser. To calm him, she reminds him of his coin collecting hobby, hidden behind a photograph in her house.
Unbeknownst to her, Cade is listening to every word, and ends up stealing the entire collection, taking off along the West coast to pawn them all and start a new life, leaving behind his daughters and wife. As Dustin and Andrea search for Cade and the stolen coins, their relationship rekindles, and Andrea wonders if a second chance really is possible.
This was a really cute, clean romance, told from 2 POVs (Andrea and Dustin), alternating every chapter. I enjoyed how the first chapter really set up the entire plot. I skipped the synopsis, so I was shocked that Cade turned out to be a bad guy. I also enjoyed all of the imagery of the PNW and the Seattle area. As someone who had grandparents just north of Seattle, it was nice to read about it!
Read this if you
👩🏼❤️💋👨🏼 love second chances
💘 want a clean romance
🪙 are a coin collector
👴🏻 have a relative with Alzheimer’s
Andrea is a 36 year old, single woman, still hung up on her high school boyfriend, Dustin. Though it’s been 18 years since they were together, he’s always on her mind. As she struggles to care for her father living with Alzheimer’s in a special facility, she meets Cade, Dustin’s brother in law, when her father ends up getting his hand stuck inside of a paper towel dispenser. To calm him, she reminds him of his coin collecting hobby, hidden behind a photograph in her house.
Unbeknownst to her, Cade is listening to every word, and ends up stealing the entire collection, taking off along the West coast to pawn them all and start a new life, leaving behind his daughters and wife. As Dustin and Andrea search for Cade and the stolen coins, their relationship rekindles, and Andrea wonders if a second chance really is possible.
This was a really cute, clean romance, told from 2 POVs (Andrea and Dustin), alternating every chapter. I enjoyed how the first chapter really set up the entire plot. I skipped the synopsis, so I was shocked that Cade turned out to be a bad guy. I also enjoyed all of the imagery of the PNW and the Seattle area. As someone who had grandparents just north of Seattle, it was nice to read about it!
July 18, 2022
The History Of us by Jennifer bardsley
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to netgalley and Jennifer Bardsley for the opportunity to read this book.
This was cute, I enjoyed it. But it didn't quite hit me in the emotions as much as it could have. That could entirely be down to me having an off day though and I think that anyone who connects so either of the main character situations would definitely appreciate it more. For this reason I gave it 3 stars. It wasn't by any means but there are other books I like more.
The scenes with the female MCs dad seemed (to me) to be well written. I loved the touch at the end when she speaks with her mam too. Often stories like this can focus too much on the main relationship and the drama but the author did a great job of keeping the side character front and centre here.
I'm glad we got the miscommunication about the break up trope out of the way quickly. I hate it when it gets dragged out for almost the whole book. I'm also glad that there was no steam in the book. I'm sure some would have appreciated but it would have felt out of sync with the rest of the book in my opinion.
The MCs were likeable and the relationship believable but its their relationships eith the side characters that make this book i think. I'd love a book about dustins siblings finding their own happy endings, especially leanne she deserves one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to netgalley and Jennifer Bardsley for the opportunity to read this book.
This was cute, I enjoyed it. But it didn't quite hit me in the emotions as much as it could have. That could entirely be down to me having an off day though and I think that anyone who connects so either of the main character situations would definitely appreciate it more. For this reason I gave it 3 stars. It wasn't by any means but there are other books I like more.
The scenes with the female MCs dad seemed (to me) to be well written. I loved the touch at the end when she speaks with her mam too. Often stories like this can focus too much on the main relationship and the drama but the author did a great job of keeping the side character front and centre here.
I'm glad we got the miscommunication about the break up trope out of the way quickly. I hate it when it gets dragged out for almost the whole book. I'm also glad that there was no steam in the book. I'm sure some would have appreciated but it would have felt out of sync with the rest of the book in my opinion.
The MCs were likeable and the relationship believable but its their relationships eith the side characters that make this book i think. I'd love a book about dustins siblings finding their own happy endings, especially leanne she deserves one.
March 18, 2022
Jennifer Bardsley's books are just what is called for in dark, contentious, and anxious times. Warm, sweet, and uplifting, The History Of Us puts two high school sweethearts, who never quite got over each other, back into each other's orbit.
Andrea is living a solo life, resentful of her mother, who abandoned her father when he developed dementia. Every day, Andrea goes to visit her father, bringing one of his priceless coins from his collection, seeking to tether him to reality. Then one day, the collection is stolen. and she teams up with Dustin, whom she's still in love with, to track down the charming sleazeball they both know must be the perpetrator.
Bardsley gives us clear bad guys in her stories. Yet she also presents other characters who we're certain we know, only to discover, as the story unfolds, that there's a reason for their actions. Isn't that just like life? We assign hero and villain status to those close to us, only to discover that the reality is a lot more nuanced. In the end, humanity is mostly a bunch of flawed people with good intentions, messing up and needing redemption... with the occasional true villain thrown in. But unlike real life, Bardsley's villains ALWAYS get their comeuppance.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy, provided for review purposes.
Andrea is living a solo life, resentful of her mother, who abandoned her father when he developed dementia. Every day, Andrea goes to visit her father, bringing one of his priceless coins from his collection, seeking to tether him to reality. Then one day, the collection is stolen. and she teams up with Dustin, whom she's still in love with, to track down the charming sleazeball they both know must be the perpetrator.
Bardsley gives us clear bad guys in her stories. Yet she also presents other characters who we're certain we know, only to discover, as the story unfolds, that there's a reason for their actions. Isn't that just like life? We assign hero and villain status to those close to us, only to discover that the reality is a lot more nuanced. In the end, humanity is mostly a bunch of flawed people with good intentions, messing up and needing redemption... with the occasional true villain thrown in. But unlike real life, Bardsley's villains ALWAYS get their comeuppance.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy, provided for review purposes.
June 28, 2022
First of all, CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL THE COVER IS???
In all honesty, the cover made me select this book and I was not disappointed.
The History of Us is an easy, light read that I finished in 2 days. You might think it's another small town romance but it's NOT. It has a little bit of suspense, a whole lot of family drama, and information about collectable coins.
The story revolves around Andrea, who has moved back to her hometown to take care of her dad who has Alzheimer's. Andrea has bought a beyond lovely refurbished house which surprisingly was sold to her by high school boyfriend, Dustin. Things didn't end well between the two when they were in high school but they never really moved on. Andrea and Dustin's family find themselves in a turmoil when both families are robbed by someone they both know. Andrea and Dustin embark on a journey of catching the culprit and recovering Andrea's father's valuable coin collection. Will this crime solving rekindle their love that they had buried deep within? Read to find out!
Although I felt the chemistry between the leads was a bit lacking. But, I absolutely loved all the side characters. If you're looking for a light yet fun read, you should definitely pick this up.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Taking away 1.5 stars because of lack of chemistry
In all honesty, the cover made me select this book and I was not disappointed.
The History of Us is an easy, light read that I finished in 2 days. You might think it's another small town romance but it's NOT. It has a little bit of suspense, a whole lot of family drama, and information about collectable coins.
The story revolves around Andrea, who has moved back to her hometown to take care of her dad who has Alzheimer's. Andrea has bought a beyond lovely refurbished house which surprisingly was sold to her by high school boyfriend, Dustin. Things didn't end well between the two when they were in high school but they never really moved on. Andrea and Dustin's family find themselves in a turmoil when both families are robbed by someone they both know. Andrea and Dustin embark on a journey of catching the culprit and recovering Andrea's father's valuable coin collection. Will this crime solving rekindle their love that they had buried deep within? Read to find out!
Although I felt the chemistry between the leads was a bit lacking. But, I absolutely loved all the side characters. If you're looking for a light yet fun read, you should definitely pick this up.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Taking away 1.5 stars because of lack of chemistry
February 26, 2023
Love the History
I enjoyed this book for many reasons. Last spring I visited a friend on the coast of Washington. We visited some of these places and I fell in love with Washington. In this book, I felt that connection again and thoroughly enjoyed visiting the state again through her words.
Jennifer Bardsley did an excellent job of connecting many personal situations we might all experience: a family member with dementia or Alzheimers, death of loved ones, dealing with emotions, abusive situations, sibling interactions, and so on.
I loved her knowledge of construction, coins, flowers, as well as sentimental things like tablecloths, China, and sweaters. Her characters were genuine and I liked the true way they played off each other - even down to store owners.
I wonder how many times a misunderstanding or an outside influence changed the trajectory of events in my life. Great concept and execution.
Her writing was well done, and the flow was spot on, in my opinion. The only thing I noticed was that her description of the main character's kisses seemed a tiny bit repetitive. Not in exact words but in feel. However, I wasn't distracted with sloppy sentence structure or disjointed paragraphs. I'll definitely be reading more of her books -- and taking another trip to Washington.
I enjoyed this book for many reasons. Last spring I visited a friend on the coast of Washington. We visited some of these places and I fell in love with Washington. In this book, I felt that connection again and thoroughly enjoyed visiting the state again through her words.
Jennifer Bardsley did an excellent job of connecting many personal situations we might all experience: a family member with dementia or Alzheimers, death of loved ones, dealing with emotions, abusive situations, sibling interactions, and so on.
I loved her knowledge of construction, coins, flowers, as well as sentimental things like tablecloths, China, and sweaters. Her characters were genuine and I liked the true way they played off each other - even down to store owners.
I wonder how many times a misunderstanding or an outside influence changed the trajectory of events in my life. Great concept and execution.
Her writing was well done, and the flow was spot on, in my opinion. The only thing I noticed was that her description of the main character's kisses seemed a tiny bit repetitive. Not in exact words but in feel. However, I wasn't distracted with sloppy sentence structure or disjointed paragraphs. I'll definitely be reading more of her books -- and taking another trip to Washington.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews