Title: From Square One
Author: AM Woody
Publisher: Viking Books
Publication date: October 27, 2026
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads | StoryGraph
Summary
After an accident, Riley Wilson can’t recall the last year of his life. And apparently, that year included him dating his brother’s best friend, Aaron. A person who Riley thought he hated. But it turns out, Aaron is the only one willing to help Riley try to remember the previous year, since his family have decided that everything should go back to normal. As they recreate their relationship “from square one,” Riley just has to make sure he doesn’t fall for Aaron a second time.
Review: From Square On
Thanks to Viking Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of From Square One to review! I’ve loved pretty much everything AM Woody has written, so I was excited to jump into this one. And I definitely wasn’t disappointed.
One thing I think Woody excels at as an author is the ability to write characters you’ll immediately be drawn to. Riley and Aaron are such opposites, and we’re given the ability to learn Aaron’s softer side like Riley is. The two of them have such great chemistry throughout the book, and you’re sure to fall in love with them from their first interaction.
This book also doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. Riley has chronic pain, outside of what happened with his accident, and his portrayal felt realistic to me. He often feels guilty for his chronic illness, making his family work around him. I appreciated the way that Aaron made him put himself first, despite his guilt. Their dynamic worked well in allowing themselves to both work on their own issues.
Overall, this is such a lovely romance where two characters with their own pain are just learning to love each other. If you’re a sucker for a romance with hurt underneath, definitely check this one out!
5/5 stars