Before the Exhale

A viral indie sensation and tender college romance perfect for fans of Off Campus and the Boys of Tommen series about a girl determined to disappear, and the golden boy who makes her feel seen.

“Achingly romantic and tender, filled to the brim with yearning. Truly a magnificent book.” —Peyton Corinne, USA Today bestselling author

“You asked me what I want, and what I want is you.”

It’s freshman year, and Ivy Combs only wants to fly under the radar—putting up walls is her only coping mechanism for the trauma she’s carried since high school. Still, her anxiety seeps into everything, and she’s barely holding it together when her second semester starts with the worst class imaginable: public speaking.

Then she meets Wes.

Smart, athletic, and charming, senior Wes Tucker is a guy who everyone notices, and the type Ivy is desperate to avoid. When a class project throws them together, she braces for the worst. But Wes isn’t what she expects. He’s kind and patient, and Ivy finds herself lowering her defenses.

Yet, learning to trust again seems impossible. She knows she must confront her past, yet healing isn’t linear. But maybe, finally, it’s not something she has to do alone.

The Slowburn edition includes a bonus chapter from Wes’ POV!

Tropes: Friends to lovers / Emotional scars / Forced proximity / Golden retriever MMC / Opposites attract / Fish out of water / Slow burn