Love Changes Everything Review — Is It Worth Reading?

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Verdict: A well-written second chance romance that is really a coming-of-age story in disguise: an ER doctor in midlife meets the lawyer who was her first love — and most of the book flashes back to their summer together decades earlier. Readers praise the chemistry and the honest look at Catholic guilt, but many wanted far more present-day story and a less abrupt ending.

Best for: Readers who enjoy first-love flashbacks and coming-out stories.

Heat level: 🌶️🌶️

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.4/5 — a 3.83 Goodreads average across 76 ratings, 3.0 on StoryGraph from 6 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 68 Amazon ratings)

Tropes: Second chance, first love, dual timeline, late bloomer, divorced mother, empty nest.

Love Changes Everything is Jaime Maddox’s 2020 contemporary lesbian romance from Bold Strokes Books. Dr. Samantha Brooks is having a midlife crisis: her twin sons are about to leave for college, and she is being deposed for a lawsuit. Then she discovers her lawyer is Kirby Fielding, the woman she had a brief but dazzling affair with just before medical school.

It holds a 3.83 average across 76 Goodreads ratings, with 68% of them four or five stars, 3.0 on StoryGraph from 6 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 68 Amazon ratings.

What Is Love Changes Everything About?

Back then, Sam had a boyfriend, a strict Catholic mother and a plan, and she didn’t have the courage to follow her heart. The story returns to the summer they met through a softball league and fell hard.

In the present, Sam is ready for change — if Kirby will give her another chance.

What Works in This Book

• Chemistry: Readers felt Sam and Kirby’s connection through the page.
• Catholic guilt: Several readers, including one “recovering Catholic”, found it handled truthfully.
• Relatable awakening: Readers recognised their own confusion in young Sam.
• Writing: Reviewers say it flows smoothly and the dialogue rings true.

Book Synopsis

A doctor facing an empty nest and a lawsuit walks into her lawyer’s office and finds the woman she walked away from thirty years ago.

She only hopes Kirby will give her another chance to prove that love changes everything.

My Review

The flashback romance is heartfelt and the characters feel real; readers who liked the structure were captivated.

But the balance is the big complaint: readers who came for a midlife romance found themselves mostly with 22-year-olds, the present-day relationship is resolved quickly, and the ending feels abrupt. One reader felt the first chapter spoils much of what follows; others got bored in the middle.

My honest note: Adjust expectations — this is mostly a first-love story.

Element	In Love Changes Everything
Central relationship	Dr. Samantha Brooks (ER doctor) & Kirby Fielding (lawyer)
Core tropes	Second chance, first love, dual timeline
Setting	Present day and a college summer three decades earlier
Heat level	🌶️🌶️
Length	259 pages (paperback)
Structure	Mostly flashback
Content notes	Religious guilt, a closeted youth, a medical lawsuit

How Spicy Is Love Changes Everything?

Moderately; readers focus on the chemistry of the young couple rather than explicit scenes.

Expect religious guilt and a painful coming-out process.

Who Should Read This Book?

You’ll likely love it if: you like first-love flashbacks. It is on our women over 40 list.

You may want to skip it if: you want a present-day romance between older women.

In short: A midlife reunion wrapped around a coming-of-age story.

What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)

On Goodreads the split is 22% five stars, 46% four, 26% three, 2% two and 2% one. Most reviewers land at three or four stars, praising the writing while wishing for more of the present.

Why readers love it (according to the discourse): The chemistry first. Second, Catholic guilt done right. Third, relatable coming out.

What readers argue about and complain about: Too much past, above everything. Second, the abrupt ending. Third, a slow middle.

The comparison worth making first: Maddox’s Bouncing, a slower-building contemporary romance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of Love Changes Everything is set in the past?

Most of it. Readers estimate around three-quarters of the book is the college-era flashback, which surprised several who expected a midlife romance.

Is Love Changes Everything a second chance romance?

Yes. Sam and Kirby had an intense summer affair before Sam started medical school, and meet again decades later when Kirby is assigned as her lawyer.

How does it end?

A couple of readers found the ending abrupt, and one calls it a brick wall.

What themes does it explore?

Coming out late, Catholic guilt and a strict mother — readers say the guilt is handled realistically.

Is Love Changes Everything on Kindle Unlimited?

Not when we checked; the Kindle edition was listed at $9.99.

If You Loved Love Changes Everything, Read These Next

Try At the Water’s Edge or browse our women over 40 list and the full Book Reviews archive.

The Bottom Line

Love Changes Everything sets out to give first loves a second chance, and its past storyline is heartfelt. What holds it back is how little time the present gets. Fair. Check Love Changes Everything on Amazon →

The Eikna Overall Ranking

On the Eikna scale, Love Changes Everything ranks as a fair second chance romance — tender past, thin present.

The Evidence Scorecard

Overall ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5

• ✓ 3.83 average across 76 Goodreads ratings
• ✓ 68% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
• ✓ 3.0 on StoryGraph from 6 reviews
• ✓ 4.6 stars across 68 Amazon ratings

Romance ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5

• ✓ Strong chemistry
• ✓ First love
• ✓ Second chance
• ✓ Present rushed

Characters ★★★★☆ 3.5/5

• ✓ Relatable Sam
• ✓ Out Kirby
• ✓ Strict mother
• ✓ Real friends

Writing ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5

• ✓ Smooth flow
• ✓ True dialogue
• ✓ Flashback-heavy
• ✓ Slow middle

Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.5/5

• ✓ Catholic guilt
• ✓ Coming out
• ✓ Heartbreak
• ✓ Hope

Heat Level ★★★☆☆ 2.5/5

• ✓ Moderate
• ✓ Chemistry-led
• ✓ Young love
• ✓ Adult romance

Ending ★★★☆☆ 2.6/5

• ✓ Abrupt
• ✓ Brick wall for one
• ✓ Quick resolution
• ✓ Dissatisfying for one

Re-read Value ★★★☆☆ 3/5

• ✓ $9.99 Kindle price
• ✓ 259 pages
• ✓ Mostly flashback
• ✓ Not on Kindle Unlimited

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