The Day He Came Back

The Day He Came Back is a tour de force of longing and second chances. An adult story about true love and sacrifice. Yet it’s so much more. It doesn’t fit neatly into any little boxes. And everyone should read it. I was overcome by the stark portrait of choosing between selfish and selfless love, between family we’re born into, and the family we choose. TDHCB is a simple, stellar romance set amid an elegy on sacrifice, greed and the callous indifference of illness. You will fall for Raven, just as Gavin did, and this story will stay with you. Long after you’ve tried to move on, these lovely people won’t let you. The Day He Came Back is so full of soul. It pulses with need and brutal honesty, and it’s the perfect tonic to a long season of stories of redeemed bullies and immature jerks. Raven and Gavin are honest, devoted star-crossed lovers. Gavin Masterson is a prince among men. Gavin is the modern hero we need today, and in a sea of caricatures and nasty book boyfriends, he surfaces as the answer. The only man we need. He’s complicated, yet smitten and he knows it, his obligations weigh on him, yet he keeps himself and the readers above water, never pandering or compromising himself or his ideals. He expresses himself and while he’s patient, the story unfolds leaving no doubt that he knows what he wants, even if events beyond his control force his hand. And yet he is no heartbreaker. He’s a deliberate, careful lover and the bittersweet developments in this story make it impossible to stay away. What I liked most about Gavin? How Ward drew him, with so many dimensions, and yet he was always honest and committed, to everyone. It’s hard to write a man as smitten and not have him sound like a girl, but Ward gave us a real young man who grows into an incredible adult, full of love, and passion, longing and fear and vulnerability, altho he never came across as pitiable. Gavin moved me in every scene. I kept thinking to myself, true love is the family you choose, whelp. I love this story. Raven is the epitome of self sacrifice, and her journey from curious outsider to head over heels young love was thrilling and she is up there with my favorite young heroines. She had so much thrust upon her. And over and over she put everyone else on her back, choose their battles over her own. No wonder Gavin fell so hard. I can understand what happened, and the heartbreak was agonizing yet felt inevitable. How did Ward do that? God, my emotions were all over the place. Tears and laughter mixed equally because the narrative was freaking compelling, and it was fantastic. I can't say anymore, you’ll have to read the story, and I don’t want to spoil it, but Ward has a gift. She can weave a complicated world where we care deeply for everyone in the story, and the humanness she conveyed--even in the simplest of phrases--moved me. About that title. It was in so many ways, a perfect metaphor for Raven’s beats in this story. I feel like Gavin had many days and he came back over and over (I'm not giving anything away, I'm talking about the effect of the story). Gavin wanted Raven from the moment they saw each other. Their first scenes together are the perfect launch for their languid romance. There is great plotting and 'yell at your kindle' arcs that carry us through, even the brother and best friend find peace. Sigh, I could go on, I enjoyed this story so much. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves true love.

Enjoyed it very much, the pacing, the plot and the twist. The Characters each had goodness, depth and likability. Of course an joked the romance and HEA! Raven such strong girl who had sense of self and worth. Who was tested emotionally and physically but came out on top 💪 Gavin can I just he is one of the best male characters that was just so good to be thru but when he got heart by the breakup and finding the truth later on 😥 I like that you made Paige into decent character and not be bad gal. It was just to late since Gavin 💓 has always belonged to Raven. Thank goodness Weldon turned out to be ok douche 😁👍 and I just ❤🙋 Marni she was so don't beat around the bush kind of gal. That was the quickest coming out ever 😂 A great job dealing with real life subject matters like alcoholics, consequences and Dementia. So heartbreaking when any love ones passes and the longer remember 😭 Raven definitely bless her heart for holding Mr M and making it as dignified for him. Thanks for your beautiful writing.

I can’t even begin to explain how much I loved this book!! I’ve seriously had this one in my library for a couple of years and have NO idea why it took me so long to read it. It was phenomenal! Love how it was separated into parts, love the dual POV… and ohhhh Gavin and Raven’s relationship was everything! The buildup and their history was incredible, the tension was amazing, full of angst and emotion and oh boy, the DRAMA! Just an overall amazing read and one I would highly recommend!!

Penelope Ward has once again reminded me why I love her work so much. The Day He Came Back is wonderfully written and heartbreakingly beautiful. The characters were well developed and the plot well thought out. I loved everything about it! Get ready to meet your next book boyfriend because Gavin will knock you off your feet! Gavin and Raven come from two different worlds and Ward does a stellar job of setting the scene where the haves and the have-nots exist in their own worlds and never shall the two mix. But that doesn't matter to our hero and heroine who find ways to be together when they shouldn't be. I loved Gavin---he was completely unexpected! A down-to-earth, loyal, loving man who follows his heart when it matters the most. Raven is a fun, hard-working woman who faces many challenges with as much strength as she can. When the unexpected happens, Gavin and Raven are ripped apart and forced to go on without one another. Ward starts the story in the present tense then jumps back ten years to give the couple's history then forwards back ten years to pick up where the story started. This is done perfectly and I really enjoyed getting the full backstory along with the present story. The Day He Came Back is emotional and will leave you with a lump in your throat. My heart broke for both Gavin and Raven but in the end, these two find their happily ever after in the perfect way. Their story is a bumpy one but it's a beautiful one. 5 stars

3.5*** The Day He Came Back was a cute second chance romance, I'm a sucka for such books but I have to say that I expected more from this book. I thought the story of Raven and Gavin was adorable but I would have liked more character development, more insight on the years they were apart and more elaborate information on their feelings for each other. Penelope can write beautiful stories that capture your heart, I would have wished a little more would have been put in this book. I think my favorite part of this book was the past and how they met and developed their relationship. I would have wanted more in the second half when he came back, more of a struggle to re-connect, more of insight on how he was able to make the tough decision of loving Raven again. All in all the book was good, I just think that certain parts could have been more elaborated.

This book should be advised for 16-18 years teenagers, mainly for the first part of the romance, otherwise it is boring. In the whole, so many tragedies in both families that maybe they are haunted or the plot is unrealistic, probably the latter. I gave three stars because I know Penelope Ward is a good writer, but to this book I should be giving two.

...like all these author's books. There's always plottwists you should've seen coming but didn't and they'll rock your world. Her books never fail to make me laugh and cry and the only criticism I have is that they're not longer.

Ms Ward doesn't write bad books - fact - but this is brilliant even by her high standards. If you like time lapse, soulmate devotion then this is for you. Full of angst, family intrigue, misunderstandings and sharp witty humour and soulful characters you'd love to meet in person, this is a fantastic read I thoroughly recommend. So get reading! 💗💥😍 You won't regret it - promise!

Beautiful and heartbreaking story! She suffered so much, endured so much and I was so happy with the HEA! I love it

‘The Day He Came Back’ is an emotional, angsty second-chance romance from Penelope Ward - classic Ward in every way... Right from the start, Gavin and Raven’s story hooked me in, and I had a hard time stopping myself frantically swiping. Packed with the sweet, tender first love feels, the first half of the story is full of all the excitement of young love, genuine connection and new attraction. "Raven was like a drug. I was fine until I let myself have a little taste of her again." Yet despite all the common ground they found, they came from very different worlds. Raven was the hired help at Gavin’s family’s estate, and his mother makes is crystal clear that Raven has no place in Gavin’s life. Ten years later Raven is back at Gavin’s family’s estate as his father’s caregiver who is suffering from dementia. A surprise visit brings the biggest surprise of all for both of them. The feelings they both still habour come roaring back, but there is a lot of hurt, a lot of change and some big secrets to sort through. Ward takes readers through their heartbreak step by step as this couple forgive and heal. The love is still there, though, that’s not going away. "How many times in life do you have a chance to undo your biggest regret?" This second chance romance is a story of epic proportions filled with all the love, angst, and heartbreak you'd know and love in a Penelope Ward book. A beautiful, poignant, and romantic love story, ‘The Day He Came Back’ gets five stars from me.