I Want You Back by Lorelei James Pages: 400
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Setting: Minneapolis, MN
Source: ARC
Also by this author: When I Need You
Goodreads
New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James kicks-off her Want You Series with a Lund family cousin hot enough to melt the ice and mend a broken heart.
Former NHL star Jaxson Lund has returned to the Twin Cities, but he's at loose ends, unsure if he belongs at Lund Industries, or where he stands with Lucy, his ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Mimi. Despite the signs she'd like to leave him in the penalty box, the attraction burning between them reinforces his determination to prove that he deserves a second chance...
Lucy Quade is in a good place with a steady job, a nice apartment, and a well-adjusted daughter, which is why she's hesitant when Jax insists on co-parenting. It's not that Lucy doesn't trust Jax...she's just unconvinced he can handle multiple responsibilities when he's been singularly focused on playing hockey. But when issues arise with Mimi, Lucy's shocked at how levelheaded and paternal he acts, giving her a glimpse of the Jax she used to know, the sexy, sweet man she fell for years ago.
Once Lucy lets her guard down, Jax goes all in to show her how good they are together, but will their past remain too large an obstacle to ever overcome?
I Want You Back is the story of lost love. Jax and Lucy had a beautiful meet cute story. They had a child together and then he became an asshole. He was boozing and whoring around. He didn’t care about spending time with Lucy or their daughter. Now, Mimi, their daughter, is 8, Jax has left the NHL, and is sober. He wants to become a good father to Mimi. Is it all too little, too late?
Lucy is acerbic with her tongue. She does NOT mince her words and will tell you exactly what she thinks. Obviously, she harbors a lot of disappointment, distrust, and pain for Jax and what he did. Jax knows he was horrible to her. He did things intentionally to make her life hard. How do you even begin to atone for that?
Honestly, I wasn’t sure I even wanted Jax and Lucy back together. The story is told in a mix of current day and flashbacks. You see how Lucy and Jax met, fell in love, and fell apart all mixed with where they are now. I couldn’t believe how awful Jax was. Second chance stories can be really problematic for me because I hold a grudge. I have trust issues. In stories like this, I struggle to disengage my personal feelings from the story. But, I tried. Jax is a good father to Mimi and she adores him. He is sober and doesn’t deny how horrible his past actions were. The story was difficult to read at times because you had these happy memories mixed with the tragic outcomes and it was a poignant disposition.
I Want You Back is perfect for readers who love a second chance and want to have their heartstrings pulled HARD. If you like to see the pain and heartache that can come from loving a professional athlete, James really gives it to you in I Want You Back! The story is probably the most realistic glimpse into a fractured love story and what people really feel when the one the love has broken them. The final question in the synopsis is “…will their past remain too big an obstacle to overcome?” and for me, the answer was yes. I just couldn’t do it. However, I feel that many readers will adore this story and connect with it where I couldn’t (because I seriously hold grudges so hard, I hold them for other people). So, note that my rating/review is based a great deal on my personal feelings with the topics.
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: no
- Trope: second chance, single parent
- Triggers: View Spoiler »
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
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Authors like Jaci Burton, Maya Banks, Kristen Ashley, Monica Murphy…then you will probably like I Want You Back!
I Want You Back
Interesting! My other friends did love this one. I put the series on my TBR because it is set in the Twin Cities and I lived there 30+ years. Wonderful review!
Seriously, this is a case of “its not you, its me”. Everyone loved this book. I have trust issues that extend to others apparently! I am like the only person who didn’t love this. My grudge game is STRONG!
I love second chance romances but they really need to be written well, I am glad to hear that this book worked in some ways though. I am not a big fan of so many flashbacks but I know readers that love them. I think it would give lots of anxiety at times to go back and forth so much between the positive and negative though. Great review darling.
I think this story was very REAL and it appealed to lots of readers. Its a case of “its not you, its me” I think!
So you can hold a grudge, huh? LOL I agree that Jax’s behavior is the past was horrible and it was awful what he put Lucy through. But I felt felt like he totally owned up to his past and made zero excuses for it. He knew exactly what he had lost and was doing all he could to prove he had changed. I loved how desperately he wanted the three of them to be a family.
Yeah, I just could NOT get past it. Its totally a case of “its not you, its me” when it comes to this book because everyone loved it!
I haven’t read this one but I had it on my TBR list… oh well, not anymore. I read a few mixed reviews, one of them by Corina (Book Twins Reviews) and I was hesitating but after reading your review I’m sure that it definitely isn’t for me. I can hold a grudge like nobody’s business and just reading reviews that mention Jax’s behavior… I’m already wishing that Lucy didn’t take him back. I really love second chance romance but not THIS kind of second chance. Thank you so much for your review Sam.
So many people loved this book but I just could NOT move past what he did!