Chasing The Butterflies by Grayson Long: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

They fell in love once without trying.

Now they have to choose each other on purpose.

Fifteen years ago, Emma fell headfirst into forever with Steven Jones. She put her dreams on hold to chase a life with him, never expecting it to be anything less than perfect. But life happens, people change, and now, with a newborn on her hip and chronic anxiety coiled tight around her, Emma can’t remember the last time they felt like partners.

Steven loves his family enough to break himself for them. He spends his days saving strangers and nights drowning in the exhaustion that follows. He’s stretched thin, working so hard to provide, completely forgetting how to be the husband and dad he swore he’d be. Yet, he knows there’s always a solution, even for his wife.

But when an accident steals fifteen years of memories, Steven wakes up married to a woman he doesn’t recognize and a life he doesn’t remember building. They might be strangers now, but remembering their marriage matters. To him, it isn’t something to fix. To her, it isn’t something to grieve. But for both, it’s something to rediscover.

In the timeline before, they’re falling in love. In the timeline after, they’re learning how to see each other again. Because sometimes loving someone means learning them all over again.

A clean, wholesome, spice-free book. Closed-door romance novel from an interconnected standalone series. Perfect for fans of Katherine Center, Courtney Walsh, Sarah Adams, and Abby Jiminez. Gilmore Girls meets Abbott Elementary vibes.

The Author

Grayson is an up and coming author, with a heart for sweet stories filled with hope and humor. Her debut Thinking Out Loud is the first of many to come in her author journey. When she isn't writing, she can be found working as a Registered Nurse or spending time with her husband and daughter. You can find more information about Grayson on Instagram @authorglong or authorgraylong.com.

Book Review

As a romance reader, of course, I love a good meet cute and watching two people fall in love for the first time... but seeing a couple who have faced life and all its struggles choosing to fight for each other? Well, I think there's something even more beautiful about that type of love story! So, a romance that mixes marriage in crisis + amnesia? Yes, please! I was very excited for Emma and Steven's story, and it absolutely did not disappoint. I think their story is one that so many who have been married awhile can relate to... but it's also a beautiful reminder that marriage is worth fighting for. I loved seeing glimpses of their life together- past and present. Seeing those moments of how they fell in love... and how they fell apart... only made me root for their second chance at a happily ever after that much more.  Admittedly, amnesia can be a trope that can be hard to pull off, but I thought Grayson did so beautifully in this story. It was emotional and tender, dealing with anxiety, marriage and postpartum is ways that felt very genuine... and I loved every minute. 

Chasing the Butterflies is a closed-door romance with implied intimacy within marriage and minor language. It is the third book in The Glendale Series, but I do think it could be enjoyed as a standalone as well. There are a few topics discussed within this story that could be triggering for some readers, so be sure to check out the author's note before reading, if you need them. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4aVzse3