What is your opinion?
Loved it!
"Well written with excellent character development and dashes of tongue-in-cheek humour that made me chuckle! Eveline is relatable, with a personality that will engage most readers. She's funny and adorable in a self-deprecating way! Trystan is the perfect love interest, and they chiemisty is the cherry on top, with Adrian as an excellent foil. I am so looking forward to where this will go :) "
Relatable MC
"Eveline has (self-deprecating) humor and heart, and is all-too-relatable for anyone who has experienced the horror of realizing your friends are actually a single friend, who is actually just a coworker you speak to occasionally. The story is immersive and detail-rich without ever feeling overwhelming, and you're left with a strong vision of the characters from the get. #ICBC"
Absolutely fabulous❤️❤️❤️
"I love this. Eveline is such a great character and she’s so relatable. Painfully so, sometimes 😂 The chemistry between her and Trystan is INSANE from the very first moment, and the dialogue is absolutely chef’s kiss. I love how natural their interactions feel and how much personality comes through in the narration. The narration, the dialogue, the characters... I’m absolutely loving all of it. 10/10."
Steamy and intriguing!
"I love the dialogue, some of the jokes and was not expecting chapter 4!! I loved Trystan, but feel he's so good, I want to know if he has a past and if he's related to Adrian? Maybe I am too cynical? A relatable protagonist who hates housework as much as me! "
The Next Phase of Ourselves
"omg! I'm only a few chapters in, but this story is fantastic! I love Eveline and her internal monologue. She is such a great character. I am hooked! Each chapter, every paragraph, has me wanting more. I am so interested to see where things go with Eveline and Trystan. I hope he does her good. As for Adrian... well we'll see about him. Overall, I thoroughly enjoy the writing. It's easy to follow, descriptive, funny, and, as I said, Eveline's pov is great. I will def update this review once I finish reading #icbc"
💕💕💕
"The novel successfully balances classic genre tropes with a fresh, highly readable narrative. The author skillfully builds relationship dynamics through palpable tension and well-crafted dialogue, avoiding superficiality. The emotional layering of the characters and their internal development give the story added depth, while the pacing effectively holds the reader's attention from beginning to end. Although the plot relies on predictable structures inherent to the genre at times, the overall execution, writing style, and convincing chemistry make this work an exceptionally solid and highly recommended read for fans of contemporary romance."
Professional-level Treasure
"This is my top favorite current read on Inkitt; I can't lie about that. It is an absolute page-turner! Eveline captured my attention immediately with her personality and depth of character. Her romance with Trystan is completely captivating. They have an instant deep connection that draws them into a whirlwind beginning, and the intensity of their growing bond plays out beautifully and passionately. The villain Adrian is a character readers will love to hate; I'm excited to see how Trystan handles him, because there is no way he will let any harm come to Eveline. If you enjoy romance, don't overlook this book; it's a professional-level treasure you won't want to miss. 👌❤️🔥 #ICBC"
Humor, love, intimacy, and intensity.
"Humor, love, intimacy, and intensity—what more could you ask for in a good story? Two people with separate lives and interests meet and get swept into a whirlwind of emotions and events. Their chemistry was palpable from their very first messages and developed quickly. But alongside that fast-paced romance, their feelings and vulnerabilities also grew—the parts of themselves they had kept hidden from the rest of the world. That’s what makes Trystan and Eveline so relatable. And let’s not even get started on their spicy moments, which complement their relationship in the hottest way. 🔥 I’ll definitely be coming back to this story, especially to see Adrian get what he deserves. 😏"
A Quiet Opening That Makes You Curious
"This story has a quiet, character-driven beginning that quickly made me curious about Eveline and what she's really searching for. Her inner thoughts feel natural and relatable, especially those moments when she catches herself imagining possibilities before anything has even happened. I also enjoyed how the author gives us small hints that there's more beneath the surface without immediately explaining everything. It creates just enough mystery to make you want to keep reading and find out what Eveline isn't telling us yet. A promising start with a relatable main character, subtle humor, and plenty of unanswered questions. I'm curious to see where her journey takes her!"
Perfection
"Eveline is so relatable. Trystan is perfect. Their chemistry is perfect. The spice starts earlier than I expected. Just like that I‘ve consumed a hundred inkunits. Klick on read. Klick on the green button. Read a sentence, then a paragraph and then a chapter. And don’t forget to thank me later! #ICBC"
Hooked!
"An absolute page-turner!This book grips you straight from the beginning. I'm only three chapters in, but the writing flows so naturally that the pages just fly by. It is a refreshing take on love and dating with characters that are deeply charming, interesting, and realistic. The dialogue is a major highlight—it is fun, snappy, and feels completely natural. The author knows exactly how to end a chapter; the hooks are perfect and keep you desperately wanting to read more. I am already fully invested in the main character and rooting for them. A flawless start! #icbc"
Great blend of romance, suspense and humour
"I binged the first few chapters of this book despite having other things to do. That's how engaging it was. The writing is really well planned and clever. And the main character is easy to get invested in. Her dry, witty, at times self deprecating humour is relatable which made be very drawn the the character. The love interest as well is a interesting guy. And while it is an easy, engaging read, characters and plot have depth to them. If you're browsing for a read in the contemporary romance genre, I'd highly recommend you give this a go and I'm confident most people who start this won't be able to stop at 1 chapter. #icbc"
Damn masterpiece! What's this even doing on Inkitt? It should be in every bookshelf!
"*cracks fingers* I guess this is as good a time as any to do this! Probably gonna come back when I finish this! Sorry if I sound a bit too raw and emotional for the entirety of this review. This is only happening because, I LOVE THIS BOOK TO DEATH! Let the fanboying begin! Plot: We generally follow the life of the FMC of the story! As ordinary as her life might look originally, one decision, one message, changes everything! Suddenly, you're thrown into an endless abbys of romance, affection, spice and unfortunate encounters! Fair warning, while the romance part is wholesome and sweet (except of course for when it's "adult time" *wink, wink*) the parts where the main antagonist is involved go hard... So hard in fact you're gonna be wishing him worse things than to step on a lego! Still, the point remains! You will never be bored reading this! There is always something going on! Characters: Oh my... If you think you know about some good character writing and have read a bunch of books, educating yourself on how things work, forget about all of that! The characters in The Next Phase of Ourselves are not fictional. They are real breathing human beings! They are you, they are me, they are everyone! Not only will you relate but, you'll fall in love with them faster than you can say: "Trystan and Eveline"! Sure, there is a nicely written and important plot-wise supporting cast of friends and family and of course, the main antagonist is incredible in his own right but, the real focus is on the two lovebirds! Let's start with the man capable of turning all men! Trystan! That dude is just amazing! I am trying to find the right words but, nothing else comes to mind! His mannerisms, his way of talking, his looks, everything screams perfection! Until... you realise he's got his own demons to fight... Oh and they aren't the ordinary or casul type, either... Which, of course, makes you love him even more! Eveline, the FMC and the one we mainly see the world through, is also adorable and relatable down to every damn thought! As you are allowed to expect, there is a bunch of depth to her, too but, with Trystan by her side, she handles everything! Dialogue: You think Game of Thrones has good dialogue? You clearly have never read The Next Phase of Ourselves! Dude, Imma be straight. I love dialogue. Way more than the average guy. This book? This is basically the dialogue equivalent to "food p***". Like, I swear to you! Every line. No. Listen to me. EVERY DAMN LINE, is better than the next! Never missing a bit! Texting/sexting? Date talk? Creepy vibes from the antagonist talk? Everything! Just everything is incredible! It's... it's just so damn real... I can go on and on but, if I haven't convinced you to read this right now, I don't know what to tell you! Some warnings: This does get sexual and graphic at points. If you can't handle it, it is what it is. The chapters tend to be on the larger side but, to me, that's only a good thing when a book is this level of good! So, man (or woman) up and read! Now, for a proper sign off! Trystan is life!"
Phase 1 (Chapter 1) off to a great start :)
"Chapter 1 is off to a really great start! The book opens with the main character, Evline (Ev for short) reflecting on her life and really having a moment where she realizes that it's time to re-evaluate where she is, in this phase of her life. The opening chapter is enticing, incredibly well written, and provides needed exposition without feeling like an information dump. Evline's character is dynamic and complicated, and within her are some very deep, intimate reflections that allow introspection of the reader. I found a lot of what Evline experienced in her thoughts to be relatable and that allowed a very deep and immediate connection with the main character. This book is off to an extremely strong start and I highly recommend to anyone looking for a deep, intimate romance novel. #ICBC"
Absolutely amazing!!!
"One of the very best stories I have read in years! Not much if a fan of romance these days, this isn't an awestruck, virginal type of romance! This is a grown up type of romance, but written with grown up themes and in a grown up manner. The main characters (and side characters for that matter) are SO easy to fall in love with, and I've found myself rooting for them throughout the whole story! The writing is superb, does not drag along, keeps the reader engaged and doesn't have plot holes or grammar issues that drag the reader away from the story. Amazing to think this is S.E. Armitage's first novel, as it is superbly written, and just simply so much fun to follow along with! Hoping this is just the first of many novels from this author."
Purely perfection
"This book is absolute perfection from my point of view. It’s so neatly written and it seems professional to me. The plot is amazing, the main character is a hot mess and the way her funny thoughts and actions are handled by the author make you want to keep reading. The tension, the suspense, the amusing nature of this book is definitely going to keep readers hooked ❤️"
Glued!
"This story has me hooked. As I read their intimate moments it takes me back to a time i fell in love so quickly. The characters and how the story develops is easy to follow and relatable. "
Brilliant 1st Chapter - But gets even better as you go along.
"What an incredible opening chapter! @S.E. Armitage does a phenomenal job of introducing us to Eveline, who feels real, raw, and wonderfully messy. The pacing is perfect, the writing is sharp and witty, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens. #ICBC"
Absolutely lovely story
"When I first saw it was over 600 pages, I was a bit scared, but I just couldn't put it down. True the characters are somewhat too perfect, but it feels nice to read such stories too. The style is extremely nice, with thorough approach, not a single plot hole and rather vivid descriptions. I loved the Welsh built in, as well as trauma and healing - very personal and important to me. It was very beautifully dealt with. Definitely worth reading and waiting! 🥰"
Kc's Review
"What a lovely (and spicy) love story. There are dark moments but mostly we watch the characters grow and become themselves full thanks to each other. Love the explanation about the chapters' titles at the end!"
