ARC Review: If the Sun Never Sets by Ana Huang

My Review:

Five years have passed since Farrah and Blake last saw each other in Shanghai. Blake, now a successful businessman, hires Farrah as his interior designer. However, he has ulterior motives – he’s still in love with Farrah and wants a second chance.

Farrah and Blake showed such growth and maturation in this series, and I enjoyed seeing them change and develop into strong and independent people. Their reunion is the awkward mess you would expect of former first loves with baggage, but the chemistry is still there. I love the connection that this couple has and that it has not dwindled after so many years.

Farrah, understandably, struggles to trust Blake and let him in completely, and Blake has to do quite a bit of groveling (which I love) to convince her that his intentions are true. He is pretty clear that he loves her and wants to be with her, but she is still crushed from their old break-up and takes some convincing. Their second-chance romance blossoms wonderfully. It’s not without setbacks and misunderstandings, especially when Blake listens to the advice from his well-meaning but totally clueless friends, but Blake and Farrah’s love proves strong.

I found it interesting that in the first book Farrah had plans and goals while Blake seemed less sure about his future. In If the Sun Never Sets, the roles are reversed. Blake is an established and successful business owner, and Farrah is unemployed and considering her future plans. Similar to the first book, they continue to encourage each other to chase their dreams and are supportive even in the midst of conflict and confusion.

Farrah’s mom is a wonderful addition to the story. Though she does not have a huge role, her sage advice is exactly the affirmation Farrah needs.

Grudges are the worst thing to hold onto. No matter how bad someone hurt you, you can’t heal until you forgive. Sometimes that means moving on. Other times it means giving things another shot.

Farrah’s mother doesn’t tell her what to do when it comes to her relationship, but her advice is poignant and true. I love when she urges Farrah to listen to her heart:

Do what your heart tells you. We can be so afraid of getting hurt we lock it up in a fortress, but hearts are meant to roam free until they find what they’re searching for. Let yours lead you where you need to go.

It is as if Farrah’s mother finally sees and treats her as an independent woman, not a child. She speaks from personal experience and knows Farrah needs her support and encouragement but must do what makes her happy. Her unconditional support and love for Farrah are beautiful as is their bond.

Unlike Farrah, Blake has a strained relationship with his family, especially his father. Blake tries to avoid dealing with his feelings and past hurts. Farrah does to an extent as well, but she seems to avoid facing her feelings for Blake. Can Farrah trust Blake? Some terrible things happened to him after Shanghai, and he needs to open up to Farrah in order for her to fully trust him again. Luckily for both, he’s really good at groveling, and he’s persistent. Both need to resolve their conflicting emotions, trust issues, and desire to please others before they can move forward.

The hustle and bustle of New York City is a wonderful backdrop to this second-chance romance. Again, Huang’s attention to detail immerses the reader into the busy city life of the characters, and it feels as if you are there with Farrah, Blake, and their friends.

Speaking of friends, several Shanghai friends from the first book make an appearance in this book. I loved finding out what happened to this core group of friends that shared a year abroad and how they remained friends.

I loved this story. It made me laugh and cry and feel all kinds of feels, and I loved every second of it. I was so invested in Farrah and Blake’s story that I read both books in two days. It has great characters, a spicy romance, and the possibility of a happily-ever-after for Blake and Farrah. What’s not to love? Thanks so much to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance, of course! I love Farrah and Blake and rooted for the couple throughout both books in the series!

• The themes. The poignant and powerful messages are great!

• The characters. Not just Farrah and Blake – Blake’s friends, Blake’s sister, Farrah’s mother, and some old friends from their time abroad are all interesting, dynamic, and unique.

Favorite Lines:

It’s easier to turn something into something than nothing into something.

His lips quirked up in a smile and sent the butterflies in her stomach in a tizzy. Butterflies, Farrah decided, were the Benedict Arnolds of the animal kingdom.

Recommendations:

Since this is the second book in the series, I recommend reading the first before you read this one. This is the perfect book for readers who like new adult contemporary romance with a HEA! You won’t be disappointed!

Check out my review of If We Ever Meet Again, the first book in the If Love Duet!