Waiting at Hayden's

In a world that can feel heavy at times, I enjoyed picking up this light-hearted read that has an engaging story line with well-developed characters I could identify with. It was a nice escape every night I picked it up before bed. I felt like I was reading about my friends! I also liked how the chapters jump from past to present - since the story deals with the importance of timing in relationships, I thought this was particularly clever. Definitely read this one on your Kindle or iPad where you can engage with the story scene trailers (they're like 2-3 minute movie trailers at the end of some of the chapters, acting out one of the scenes). It was interesting to see whether the picture of the story I had in my head while reading along matched the author's. You can also SHOP THIS BOOK! How cool is that? For example, it'll describe how the character dressed for the evening and you can click on the phrase "black dress" in the sentence and it'll take you to the black dress the author envisions her wearing. And you can buy it! So cool. If you're looking for a love story that's modern, with these extra unique twists - you won't be disappointed.

The perfect summer binge! This interconnected love story will keep you on your toes as the author jumps from past to present. I was completely engrossed in the romantic comedy and felt immediately connected to the characters. It is important to note that this is the author's first published book. SO IMPRESSED! Throughout the book, the author created "movie trailers" to depict what happened in key themes. Not only was this extremely creative and innovative, they were well produced and thought out. Alongside the videos, Riley Costello created shopfiction™ a new reading experience format that allows readers to shop their favorite characters' clothes and home decor. This author is truly making a name for herself with the unique twists she has attached to an already strong story.

What a cute little love story! I read great reviews and I am glad I gave it a try. Growing up as best friends from little on, Jack and Charli end up falling in love. When life takes them in different directions, they make a pact to meet at their favorite restaurant 5 years later on a specific date and time and see if they still connect. Who shows and who doesn’t and what may possibly get in the way?! I enjoyed everything about this book. ❤️

"I feel as if I'm actually in a romantic comedy. I thought I would like this feeling, but it's actually quite stressful." Charli loved dissecting frogs in the lab. Jack yearned to play catch with his dad. Jack had a golden arm on his field of dreams. Charli had a powerful microscope in her beloved science class. Jack was a tanned Big Man on Campus. Charli was a pocket protector-packing nerd. Jack was cheerleader catnip. Charli was studious to a fault. Will love keep them together? Will the distance of their career paths break them apart? And what about the scrumptious Chocolate Mint Cloud Cake? This dessert served in HAYDEN'S (their favorite eatery), where they spent countless hours gazing deeply into each others' eyes under the approving gaze of its' owner Gianna, who was herself looking for love in all the wrong places, but what's a not-getting-any-younger modern woman to do in the dating app swamp that we live in, today? WAITING AT HAYDEN'S for the right man to swipe right just isn't the right way to find Mr. Right; how could it be? "I'm trying to hang in there, but it's tough." Amen, sister, and pass the peanuts; a woman can't wait forever! Is Mr. Right Now the most that a woman can hope for? When romance goes weird - as romance always does - every slight is magnified, every doubt becomes Truth, every gesture turns suspect. Charli and Jack were childhood neighbors who became college sweethearts: the end? Not even close! Ah, romance, it is to love. Gianna has owned HAYDEN'S for 10 years, has had four serious ex-boyfriends and now perfect-on-paper Peter wants to marry her but she feels no butterflies with him and life without butterflies ain't worth s***, is it? Ah, romance, it is to cherish. "Where are the butterflies, d*** it?" Compartmentalize this, Laser beam focus on that, keep it casual with that stone cold fox at Amazon Prime for as long as you are able, but true love will devastate your best-laid plans, true love will break in your brand new pitcher's glove, true love will flip over your tasty banana pancakes. With true romance, resistance is futile, being crazy in love will be your financial futures' funeral, try to bury the inevitable down deep but you will never succeed. Hello! Summertime romance will break your heart in twain but true love will find a way if you are tough enough to hang in there. Perhaps. Come closing time at HAYDEN'S, nothing is for certain except the unexpected. "Butterflies fade. That was what she always said. But here Gianna was ten years after opening her restaurant, still feeling them. Which meant... that she was capable of feeling butterflies for the rest of her life when she truly loved something or someone. If that was the case, wasn't it of utmost importance that she married someone who gave her butterflies?" May love find us all, as we seek, so shall we find. Aloha :D

This book set the bar incredibly high for a first-time romance novel reader. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development, twists and turns, and incredible writing. Due to it's page-turning nature, I found myself forcing myself to slow down and savor the book to prevent myself from finishing it in one sitting. Waiting at Hayden's was my favorite read in a long time and I could not recommend this book anymore!

Put this book at the top of your summer reading list!! This beautiful love story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, and is impossible to put down. You'll not only love the story and characters, but the interactive shopping feature makes for an exciting and fun reading experience. Nothing is better than reading a great book while simultaneously getting to shop the clothes the characters are wearing! Waiting at Hayden's is the type of book you'll want to read every year to get you back in touch with the magic of love and the importance of timing in life. Happy reading!

I literally read this book in one day! Loved the pacing, the characters, and the plot! Plus, there’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming, which is unusual in romance. Being from Portland it was also especially fun to read. Highly recommend!!

2 lovers, whose dreams left them no choice but to go separate ways, made a pact to come back and reunite 5 years later at their favorite restaurant. Gianna was there when that pact was made. The reservation Jack and Charli made has been anticipated since, and this was what kept Gianna's belief in love alive. But this was also what made her question her relationship with Peter, a seemingly perfect man. And when "the day" arrived, chaos ensued. This is a fairly good book. Boy and girl next door, childhood friends turned to lovers, pacts, anticipation and heartbreak. There's a good feel to it especially when Jack and Charli's friendship was budding into something more. And then there's Gianna and Peter. Gianna had a lot of doubts even when Peter seems to be PERFECT! I think that does capture a lot of relationships. Dating is just too hard 😭 Sooo... this book featured this new thing called Shopfiction ™️. There's are links that would lead to a website where you can see a trailer for the chapter, feature the outfits of the characters and you can actually shop/buy the clothes. My thoughts about this: It's a hassle for me to type in the links after the chapters to access it. I recommend doing the E-BOOK, which probably would make this a lot easier. Not really a fan of accessing shopfiction as well. I read books to unwind and step away from electronics and all the distractions that come along with it. This makes it a moot point. Besides, I like imagining the characters, their clothes, faces and the scenery when I read. The videos took the fun away. BUT!!! This is just for me, MY experience. I'm old school. Give this new reading experience a try. You may love it. This book is interesting enough to keep reading. But progressed a little too slow. It's not quite as compelling to read and I almost DNF-ed it. The last 8 chapters saved this book for me. It's pure heartfelt romance, has a somewhat Nicolas Sparks -ish feel. It's not the kind of romance I would typically read. But I have read a lot of good reviews for this book. Still give it a try. It may just be what you're looking for!