Now and Then and Always Review: First Line Friday
Now and Then and Always Details:
Welcome to my Now and Then and Always Review on this First Line Friday. I apologize that I’m running late getting this one posted today, but I hope you forgive me and stick around. This one is SO good. But before we go there, here are the details. While not a breezy book, I read this one in a day. It kept me turning pages that well. The book was written by Melissa Tagg and published by Larkspur Press. Now and Then and Always is the first in a series and comes in at 352 pages. This book was a 2020 Christy Award winner.
First Line:
“It was just a house.”
Okay, that’s technically the first line of the prologue, but that still counts as the first line. And what a house it was. But we’ll get to that in just a minute. Don’t let the simplicity of this first line stop you. You should read this book.
Now and Then and Always Review:
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book by Melissa Tagg before, but this one’s cover was so inviting and intriguing all at the same time. I did judge this book by its cover, and I’m glad I did. The story inside is even more beautiful than the cover would suggest.
First, this “just a house” is considerably more than “just”. A Victorian house in need of some TLC. Even in the description of the B&B’s run down state, I could picture its potential and its innate beauty. And as the story progresses, the house becomes as much a character as any human on the page. Seriously, this story would not be close to what it is if the house was some generic one level ranch with a detached garage. This house is worthy of the stories it contains.
Second, this house isn’t the only great character. The main characters are all seeking, hurting, questioning, and struggling through things in life that give their existence on the page reason and depth. They’re likable and believable. Even the mysterious house owner who has disappeared from her small town without a trace is well-rounded enough to keep us invested in her part of the story.
That brings me to the small town dynamics. I love a good small town story, and this one is no exception. That feeling of community and family is even more potent considering the struggles felt by the two main characters to connect and belong. And the romance is written at just the right amount to produce all the feels without overwhelming the rest of the story and making some very important plot points feel unnecessary. It is perfectly balanced.
Considering I bought and finished the sequel immediately after reading this one, I can safely say you won’t be disappointed with Now and Then and Always. I give it a solid five stars. It may be the best book I’ve read so far in 2025.
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