Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

*Starred Review* Rachel and Andy meet when they are children and reconnect as teenagers, falling into a pattern of finding and losing one another again as adults. Rachel, who was born with a heart defect, is recuperating in the hospital yet again when she comes across Andy, who is there with a broken arm. They couldn't be more different Rachel is spoiled by her wealthy, over-protective parents, while Andy and his single mom live in near poverty but they have an instant connection. When they meet again by chance on a high-school volunteer trip, they fall madly in love the way that only teenagers can. In college, Rachel ends up a sorority girl, while Andy relentlessly trains to make the Olympic track team, and even though the two have different life goals, they are drawn to each other again and again. But can they overcome their differences? Weiner's latest is pure romance and utterly heart tugging, showcasing her ability to write characters that readers will instantly connect with, flaws and all. There is a special delight here in getting to know Rachel and Andy from childhood to adulthood, and readers will find themselves laughing, crying, and hoping right along with the pair. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Weiner's previous novels have always contained romantic elements, but this one is decidedly a romance. That won't matter to women's fiction fans, who will drive it to the top of the best-seller lists.--Vnuk, Rebecca Copyright 2015 Booklist

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Andy and Rachel fall in love and fall apart, over and over, in this emotional outing from Weiner (All Fall Down, 2014, etc.). Eight-year-old Rachel Blum and Andy Landis meet in a hospital ERshe's there because of a congenital heart deformity while he's suffering from a broken arm caused by lack of parental supervision, having fallen off a balcony while doing circus tricks on the railing. They tell each other about the challenges in their young livesfor Rachel, it's that her surgery makes everyone think she's fragile, and for Andy, it's being biracial, which makes him feel like he doesn't fit in with white or black kids. When they meet again as teenagers, they almost instantly fall in love. But their relationship isn't without its obstacleswhile Rachel is a Jewish upper-middle-class girl, Andy lives in poverty with his single mother. Andy and Rachel break off and rekindle their romance multiple times as he sets his sights on becoming an Olympic runner and she finds her way in her own career in social work. Through marriages, deaths, scandals, and successes, they keep finding their ways back to each other. Does their connection mean they're meant to be togetheror are their differences simply too big to overcome? It's hard not to get invested in Weiner's characters, particularly Andy, who struggles to deal with his father's absence, his biracial identity, and feelings of being left out of Rachel's privileged world. Although some side characters are painted with broad strokes, Andy and Rachel feel fully realized and easy to root for, even when they're behaving badly and making mistakes. There are plenty of twists and turns (both predictable and surprising) in their relationship, and it's satisfying to watch them wend their ways toward the novel's perfectly realized conclusion. This moving story of love that spans a lifetime is Weiner at her heartstring-tugging best. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Rachel Blum and Andy Landis met in the ER waiting room when they were eight. He was in with a broken arm, and she was in for treatment of her congenital heart defect. She grew up in an affluent area of Florida with happily married parents, while Andy grew up in a poor area of Philadelphia with a single mom. Their lives couldn't have been more different: she excelled at academics and received a graduate degree, while he, with a talent for running, worked hard pursuing his dream of becoming a medal-winning athlete. For 30 years, their lives intersect in mysterious ways, bringing them together and tearing them apart. Weiner (All Fall Down) delivers yet another flawless and gripping read with realistic and well-developed characters in her unforgettable love story. With her well-known humor and charm, she conveys the essence of first love, particularly the adage that true love never dies. Complete with a riveting, realistic recounting of 9/11 and a plot twist that will make your jaw drop, Weiner's brilliantly written novel will capture your heart. Verdict Readers will simultaneously want to savor and devour Weiner's latest. [See Prepub Alert, 6/21/15.]-Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.