*Starred Review* Tess and Gus meet briefly in Italy as teenagers in 1997 Tess is having her summer vacation before eagerly heading to university, while Gus is there with his parents, trying to escape the gloom that has settled after his older brother's tragic death. As the story moves into the present, Tess and Gus seem to keep showing up in the right place at the wrong time, narrowly missing chances to meet again. But this is much more than a series of missed meet-cutes; instead, the novel explores how their lives unfold into adulthood. Tess never gets the chance to further her education; instead, she becomes caretaker for her younger sister after their mother passes away. Gus manages to escape his stifling home life but never seems to land on what he wants to do or why he wants to do it. Readers follow both characters in alternating chapters, but the appeal here for fans of women's fiction is Tess' story. Eberlen, who has written historical fiction and chick lit under the name Imogen Parker, excels in creating realistic characters whom readers will adore including Tess' unusual sister, Hope; Tess' sassy best friend, Dolly; and Gus' impulsive college pal, Nash. Eberlen also shines at keeping the story moving through 16 years of friendship, purpose, and love. Swoon-worthy.--Vnuk, Rebecca Copyright 2017 Booklist

In Eberlen's debut novel, Tess and Gus first meet in 1997, while traveling in Florence. Both are awaiting the results of their college entrance exams, and both seem to have bright futures: Tess as a writer and Gus as a physician. Gus, however, is awash in grief and guilt following the death of his overbearing older brother, unreasonably blaming himself for the fatal accident. And Tess is about to experience a loss of her own, as her mother's cancer advances-and Tess's future grows less certain. Over the course of the next 16 years, as they individually fumble through romantic shortcomings, familial frustrations, and professional setbacks, the two narrowly miss one another several more times; these missed connections, however, are never particularly clever or dramatic and the narrative fails to build a case that the two are, in fact, meant to be together. In the end, Eberlen's novel is more successful as a chronicle of the way grief and loss shapes young people's life choices than it is as a romance. Consequently, the denouement lands unconvincingly. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Have you ever caught a stranger's eye for a moment too long and wondered, "what if?"In 1997, 18-year-old Tess and her best friend, Doll, are in Florence, Italy, the summer before Tess is supposed to begin university in London. She first encounters the lanky, disheveled Gus when they both wander inside a quiet church. By chance, Tess and Doll see him again on the Ponte Vecchio, where Gus takes a picture for thembut then they're gone. That momentary connection is all that binds these two together as life hands them obstacles and heartbreaks separately. Gus must deal with the guilt he feels over his older brother's death in a skiing accident and grabs the chance to reinvent himself at school with a new girlfriend, Lucy, who knows nothing of his past. Tess returns from Italy to the realization that her mother is not only sick, but dying. Who will care for her unusual baby sister, Hope? For Tess, it means forgoing her spot at the same university where Gus is starting over. Debut novelist Eberlen develops two wonderfully distinct storylines, but her characters are carefully connected by proximity and circumstance. It's as if their shadows are moving in sync from opposite sides of a screen. For readers who like their romance to simmer throughout a story, be warned that Eberlen deals more in missed chances: "In front of me, there was a tall woman with a fidgety little girl in one hand"if only Tess had turned around. We instead have the pleasure of getting to know Gus and Tess completely before they truly meet each other. It's a bittersweet moment when their timelines finally converge years later, as there isn't much time before Eberlen lets the curtain fall. Though at that point it's already clear: "Sometimes the best things are staring you right in the face, know what I mean?" Eberlen's characters are so real and deserving of lovethankfully it's safe to root for them both, and root for them you will. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Eberlen's marvelous debut novel captivates and immerses, invoking all human emotions, which engage throughout. We meet both Tess and Gus as they separately vacation in Florence, Italy, back in 1997, days away from embarking on new journeys, hopes, and dreams that college can bring. Though they cross paths, they don't actually meet each other. As we get to know them through separate story lines, we realize they may just be the perfect match as they confront grief, missed chances, or opportunities, and challenging family lives. The protagonists and stories stand on their own, but they also complement each other in their similar experiences, which is part of this novel's charm. Tess and Gus are completely relatable, and readers will want to play Cupid for them-hoping they will see each other again. Sixteen years after their Italian excursion, they both are in the city at the same time. Will they connect and be together? VERDICT This worthy, wonderful, and witty read is a must-have for all romantics who believe in hope. [See Prepub Alert, 10/31/16.]-Anne M. -Miskewitch, Chicago P.L. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.