Synopsis:

An Uplifting and Unforgettable Story of Love and Second Chances. A sparkling and tender novel full of bickering neighbors, surprise reunions, and the mysterious power of love.

Sixteen years ago, a teenaged Will Sterling saw—or rather, heard—the girl of his dreams. Standing beneath an apartment building balcony, he shared a perfect moment with a lovely, warm-voiced stranger. It’s a memory that’s never faded, though he’s put so much of his past behind him. Now an unexpected inheritance has brought Will back to that same address, where he plans to offload his new property and get back to his regular life as an overworked doctor. Instead, he encounters a woman, two balconies above, who’s uncannily familiar . . .

No matter how surprised Nora Clarke is by her reaction to handsome, curious Will, or the whispered pre-dawn conversations they share, she won’t let his plans ruin her quirky, close-knit building. Bound by her loyalty to her adored grandmother, she sets out to foil his efforts with a little light sabotage. But beneath the surface of their feud is an undeniable connection. A balcony, a star-crossed couple, a fateful meeting—maybe it’s the kind of story that can’t work out in the end. Or maybe, it’s the perfect second chance . . . 

Oh my heart! Love at First is my first five-star read of 2021. This sweet romance is bursting with charm, characters you’ll cheer for, and emotional moments that will surprise you.

“You don’t have to love people the way you learned to love at first.”

Kate Clayborn, Love at First

Nora grew up spending summers with her grandmother in her small apartment building, and all the neighbors became her extended family. And what a cast of characters they are! After her grandmother dies, Nora stays and settles into Nonna’s life and apartment, not leaving much room for her own life. But when Will inherits his estranged uncle’s apartment in Nora’s building, life becomes much more complicated for both of them. Will wants to unload the apartment as quickly as possible by finding a new tenant and Nora wants the building to remain familial-like, even resolving to a few hi-jinks to keep it that way. The situation forces them to make peace with things from their pasts and embrace a future they didn’t know they wanted. 

While there are moments that made me laugh, this novel has depth, too. Will and Nora do have issues. In fact—let’s be honest—they could both probably benefit from some therapy, but the walls Will has put up and the fact that Nora doesn’t want anything to change are understandable reactions. It was refreshing to watch them work through the things keeping them apart—the ups and the downs—with a little help from their friends.