Mobility Mom Bookshelf: Trying Not to Love You by: Kaylee Ryan (Audio Review)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Book Description

NYT and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylee Ryan brings you a new standalone series set in a small town, surrounding four sisters. Trying Not to Love You is a small-town, second-chance, first-love, ex-military romance.

Ellison
Copeland James was my first love, my first heartbreak, my first everything.

Then he left without explanation, and never came back.

My sisters and our closest friends helped me pick up the pieces, but my heart hasn’t been whole since the day he walked out of Magnolia Ridge.

I’ve learned to live with what could have been… until his mother’s illness brings him back to our small town. He’s older, harder, and more magnetic than I remember.

He’s a man now. The man I learned to live without. And yet, he’s back, stirring everything I thought I’d buried, making my world feel unsteady.

Because loving him nearly destroyed me… and now, I’m still trying not to love him.

Copeland

I left Magnolia Ridge with nothing but a duffel bag and a decision.

I told myself joining the Marines was the right choice. That loving her meant protecting her, and this was the way to do it.

I was wrong.

Now I’m back, years later, and she’s just as breathtaking as the day I left. All these years, I imagined she’d have moved on, married someone else, but she’s still single, and in my heart, she’s still mine.

But Ellison doesn’t see me the way I see her, not anymore. All I find in her eyes is the wound I left behind. The one that never healed.

I didn’t fight for us back then, but I’ve learned. Now I’m ready for battle, fighting for what we could be while she tries not to love me.

About Kaylee Ryan

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kaylee Ryan has earned the affectionate title of “Queen of Swoon” from her devoted readers. With over sixty romance novels to her name, Kaylee has built a beloved catalog of heartfelt stories that celebrate love in all its tender, emotional, and undeniably swoony forms. Her signature blend of charm, chemistry, and genuine happily-ever-afters has captivated readers around the world.

When she’s not crafting new love stories or dreaming up her next unforgettable couple, Kaylee can usually be found with a book in hand, fueling her creativity as a lifelong reader. She cherishes the time spent with her family and friends, embracing the moments that inspire the heart of her stories.

My Thoughts

Trying Not to Love You by Kaylee Ryan is a beautiful, deeply touching start to the Moran Sisters series, delivering a perfect blend of small-town charm, forced proximity, and the enduring power of first love.

The story follows Ellison, the eldest sister who always puts others first, and Copeland, the ex-military hero who left years ago without an explanation. Drawn back to Magnolia Ridge by his mother’s illness, Copeland returns to find an older, harder version of himself—but one who is instantly locked in when he realizes Ellison is still single. He knows she is his ultimate endgame, even if he spent years avoiding that truth.

What makes this second-chance romance so compelling is how realistically the characters navigate their reunion. Instead of rushing blindly into a future together, Ellison and Copeland do the hard work of seeking closure for the past, overcoming years of hurt and mistakes in a truly beautiful way.

Their connection feels like an unbreakable, invisible string, pulling them back together despite the time they've spent apart. Ellison’s selflessness shines as she steps into Copeland's path for the sake of his mother, while Copeland proves he is ready to fight for the love he once walked away from.

Brought to life by the narration dream team of Connor Crais and Savannah Peachwood, the audiobook performance is an absolute standout. Delivered in a seamless duet style, their voices perfectly capture the emotional weight, the swoony tension, and the magnetic pull between these two characters. It is a heartfelt, deeply satisfying read that will leave you eagerly anticipating the rest of the series.