[Asis’ Review] Nothing But This by Natasha Anders

A married couple yearns to rediscover lost love in this novel about forgiveness, reconciliation, and emotional growth.

It’s always been complicated between Libby Lawson and Greyson Chapman—and married life isn’t any simpler. But when Libby gets pregnant, she, at last, sees a bright future ahead. There’s just one problem: Greyson says he’s sterile.

Furious, Greyson abandons the young family. Equally furious and deeply hurt, Libby cuts all ties with him. After all these years, it seems their relationship has finally expired. But love is resilient and endures even when you don’t want it to. Greyson still longs for Libby, and though Libby’s heartbroken by Greyson’s lack of trust, she holds out hope for a complete, happy family.

And so they embark on the journey back to each other, wary of all the obstacles between them. It’s been a long road already—one strewed with fear, doubt, and misunderstandings. Will they keep looking to the past, or will they look to each other and walk hand in hand toward a broad new horizon?

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I was super excited to read another marriage book by Natasha Anders because I’ve loved every single other book of hers that’s come into my hands. And her writing did not disappoint with this one, I enjoyed it a lot and it sucked me right in.

I did make a dumb mistake by thinking this was the first book in the series instead of the second one, and throughout the book, I was so excited for the next one because Harris and Tina’s story seemed so intriguing and awesome, I was DYING for it… turns out, that one’s already out and yes, I am absolutely going to be reading it as soon as I can LOL If any of my views would’ve been different by me reading their book first… my apologies?

As for the main characters and the story… After finishing Nothing but This —even while I was reading it, really —, I had some very mixed feelings about it.

Basically, the entire beginning of the story did not click for me at all. The characters’ actions were super out of the blue, I didn’t feel the connection between them that I was supposed to, and I really feel the author should have explained way better the previous relationship they had, because they clearly had a connection in the times that take place before the book begins and I didn’t even realize that until about way in the middle of the book.

I love it when the main couple has a previous connection before we meet them… or when they are in love already and so the first couple of scenes with them when we start reading are pure fire or tension or just completely romantic. The first scenes with these two were none of that, it was just awkward… and yes, I guess they were hot. But the scenes being steamy along with the characters’ behavior afterward just didn’t do it for me at all.
Especially when the main conflict in the story at first (him being sterile, she being pregnant) seems to be because they never connected enough, trusted enough or simply didn’t know each other enough —when, again, we later realized that was not entirely the case. It was also totally a miscommunication problem, a very simple and stupid one, and that was just super frustrating and a little bit unbelievable for me. It made the hero look like a complete stupid asshole, that’s for sure…

Now, there was definitely some drama here, as well as a super cute growing baby that we got to see connect with her father. There were a lot of scenes with Grayson and his baby daughter… we see him getting to meet her and I absolutely adored each and every one of these moments. It was amazing to see that relationship unfold.

There was also a lot of groveling made by the hero (something that this author never fails to deliver perfectly) which, if you know me at all, you know I’m a sucker for. I absolutely loved that. Our heroine was pretty cool in regards to that as well: she was not easy to win over, she didn’t just go back into his arms as soon as he apologized, she made him work for it and work hard. And I loved that because what he did was NOT nothing.

Now, even though the hero was not a likable character at all in the beginning, the author managed to get the reader to eventually REALLY love him and feel for him on his journey. To root for them. He learns and tries and repents and really gets us on his side.

We really see Greyson grow and mature. There’s a great true character development for him and a very healing journey for his and Libby’s relationship and marriage. That was very nice to read.

So, there were good and bad things but in general, I did like the book. Let me know what you guys think of it!

Asis

Asis is a Mexican girl whose life changed at the age of six when her father read the first chapter of Harry Potter to her. Ever since that night, the book world sucked her in and she’s never been seen amongst mortals again.

I am a professional Translator-Interpreter, currently working as an ESL teacher at an elementary school and an ELE teacher online. I have a passion for languages and an imagination that works 24/7. I am a romantic at heart, and my favorite genre is fantasy.
I’m incredibly obsessive towards anything I like, I can’t just like something, I always end up obsessed with it.

I love Scotland, musical theatre, Taylor Swift, beautiful places, Critical Role, and I love stories in all formats.
Stories are a refuge for me and they’ve always been, they are also the one thing that makes me feel, interact and truly live.

I’m not the most social person but when it comes to fangirling… whenever, wherever… I’m your girl. Hit me up!