Considering us is available now

A personal chef crosses paths with a past lover after her life takes an unexpected turn in Bouchard’s romance novel.

Devon Paige has made a grave misstep: She was caught mid-kiss with Bentley Preston, husband of her  employer Julianna. Devon has worked hard to build up her clientele as a  personal chef in Boston, but Julianna Preston is quick to get the word out, and soon Devon is fired from all her contracts but one. At loose  ends, she accepts a job offer as dining services director at the  Rockwood boarding school in New Hampshire, desperate to get away from all the attention. When Devon arrives in New Hampshire, there is a  surprise waiting for her: a blast from the past in the form of history  and government teacher (and soccer coach) Kyle Holling. Back in 2007,  Devon spent one romantic night with Kyle, then never saw him again. Kyle is now divorced and available, and their attraction has not gone away.  Bouchard’s romance trundles along at a good speed. In the course of the  story, the author touches on questions of whether there is ever room for  second chances in romance and what to do when life throws you a curveball. Devon is entirely relatable in the position in which she has  found herself, if not necessarily for how she got there. While her  chemistry with a paramedic called Heath seems anything but natural—it’s a  placeholder romance from the start—her big-sisterly relationship with  basketball player David Anders, who remains her only client after her  initial indiscretion, is a welcome side plot that shows the caring  nature of her character. The glimpse into the world of boarding-school  gossip is also fun (Devon observes, “Apparently, I had fled one scandal-ridden situation for another one”), avoiding predictable tropes about going from the big city to a small town. Bouchard does not settle for a one-dimensional story, and the romance fares better because of it.

A soul-searching, second-chance romance for readers who love a strong female lead.

Considering Us by Jenn Bouchard is a romance that follows Devon, a private chef who loses her job after her affair with a famous client is discovered. She seeks a fresh start at Rockwood School, where  she is offered a position as Dining Services Director. As she settles into her new role, Devon reconnects with Kyle, a former fling and surprise Rockwood colleague, which reignites unresolved feelings from their past. As she juggles her responsibilities and the wild dynamics of  a school environment, she faces further complications from a budding relationship with Heath, a paramedic she begins dating. Devon dances between feelings for both men as the scrutiny grows from rumors about her personal life and her family's expectations...
 

Considering Us by Jenn Bouchard is an absorbing romance that ticks all the boxes, and a few more for good measure. Can we take a second to talk about the food, though? Devon is a chef of the highest caliber, and I swear there were moments when I almost ate the page. There is one scene  where Devon's mother says she prefers store-bought pot pies over homemade ones, and I genuinely wanted to ask if I could have hers. Bouchard's storytelling is great, and even though this is a character-driven story, Bouchard plants some third-party  passive-aggressive jealousy that is as delicious as a parfait. The main trio of Devon, Kyle, and Heath all feel authentic, and the dialogue is  sharp and realistic, particularly when Tam is on the line. Overall,  Considering Us is a rosy, cozy romance with a satisfying ending and I  have no doubt contemporary romance fans will enjoy it. Very highly recommended.

This is my first reading experience with this author, and it won’t be my last! I love books with characters who are belovedly flawed, and that is Devon all over. There is the understanding that while Devon  doesn’t support a lifestyle of scandal and affairs, she has found herself amidst that very thing with her client’s husband, and the reader  knows from the get go that while Devon is successful and enjoys what  she does for a living, there is something missing from her life that has led her down a path she wouldn’t ordinarily take. 

Armed with only one loyal client, she lands a job as the head cook in a boarding  school kitchen, an occupation she’s never done and never really saw  herself doing. It was fun to see her switch gears and go for something  completely outside of herself, because that type of experience lends into character growth, and I saw a lot of that within Considering Us. Digging deeper into her past and how she was raised, by getting to meet her parents–one who has been very supportive, but the other has never  let Devon feel good enough, not ever–along with Kyle, a former flame of hers who has felt like a lost opportunity, I felt like I learned so much  about Devon and why she is the way she is, and how important her new job is to her. She has an opportunity to shape young minds while trying  to figure out where she stands with Kyle, and how he could potentially  fit into her life. 

I loved the dialogue between everyone, particularly when Devon talks with Kyle. There is witty back-and-forth  banter that made the experience fun, and I could feel the connection between them, and the camaraderie of their shared history. Heath  reminded me of Chris Klein’s Dusty Dinkleman, from the movie Just Friends. It’s one of my favorite rom-coms, and I could totally see this  overly sweet, seemingly perfect person–and they even share the same  profession! And while Heath isn’t as much of a jerk as Dusty turns out  to be, it seems everyone, including Devon’s friends and relatives, feels  some type of way about Heath. He could be the safe choice–but who wants to play it safe?

I really enjoyed Considering Us. It was fun, and it was sweet. And I loved the connections–Devon and Kyle, Devon and her one loyal client (an epic scene between the two of them brought  me to tears), and the friendship connections Devon makes along the way with some unexpected characters. It really was a joy to read, making it a  five-star experience for me!

CONSIDERING US by Jenn Bouchard follows Devon Paige—a private chef who, after a scandalous affair ruins her career, takes a new job at a prestigious boarding school where she reconnects with Kyle Holling, a man from her past. As she navigates a blossoming romance with someone new, Devon is forced to confront old feelings and decide whether to rekindle her connection with Kyle or pursue a fresh start. With a blend  of humor, emotional depth, and a compelling storyline, this novel beautifully explores second chances and the complexities of love, making it a perfect read for romance lovers.

"Bouchard dishes up the sweetest second chance romance that will warm your heart to the end." - Caitlin Moss, author of You First and Goodbye Again

"Set in small town New England, Considering Us is for readers who know sometimes the right person comes along at the  wrong time, but that fate has a way of bringing us second chances." -Sharon M. Peterson, author of The Do Over, The Fake Out, and The Fast Lane

"Nobody writes a New England story like Jenn Bouchard,  especially with mouth-watering food you can taste while you read. I need  those cookies! Considering Us is a feel-good, humorous yet realistic book that I'll hold in my heart as a new classic." -C. D'Angelo, author of The Difference, The Visitor, and The Gift

"I've been a fan of Jenn Bouchard since I read First Course, and I've been eagerly awaiting anything and everything from her, knowing I would love it. And Bouchard did not disappoint with Considering Us! This second-chance romance has all the heart and more I expected. Devon Paige is a private chef who makes a mistake in having an affair with a client's husband. When that relationship goes up in flames, Devon moves to Rockwood, a New Hampshire boarding school, and to head their dining services. There she encounters an old love, Kyle Holling, and though it's been fifteen years since she's spent any time with him, Devon is still intrigued. Humorous, heartwarming, and especially engaging--and full of culinary delights and Bouchard's characteristic New England setting--Considering Us is one of my new favorites!" - Christina Consolino, author of Rewrite the Stars and The Weight We Carry

"Most of us have that “what if?” person, who seemed so right until life interfered. Jenn Bouchard’s Considering Us provides the perfect second chance with the one that got away. With a cast of true-to-life characters who make mistakes, but work to clean up their messes, Bouchard expertly cooks up the most realistic of modern fairy tales. I couldn’t put it down—even when I snuck off to try to copy Devon’s cookie recipe!"

- Sara Goodman Confino, bestselling author of Don’t Forget to Write and Behind Every Good Man

"If you’re looking for a rom-com in novel form, Considering Us might hit a sweet spot. It’s a heartwarming and refreshingly messy tale of rediscovering love, with realistic characters whom Bouchard presents as well-developed studies in personalities shaped by history. The chemistry between the protagonist, Devon, and Kyle, her love-interest, then and now, captivates with a complicated, sparkling mix of tension and  hilarity of late-night adventures and the interference of pesky teenagers.
As a native New Englander, I loved the book’s setting  at a boarding school off the New Hampshire coast, complete with eccentric students, gossip, and quirky faculty. Those secondary characters add charm as the story unfolds. Bouchard also mixes in  relatable memories of college life to form a nostalgic connection to those hidden thoughts of what could have been.
At its heart, Considering Us beautifully captures the complexities of coming to terms  with mistakes and learning to let go of the past. Devon’s journey travels up and down the emotional scales with awkward laughs and heartfelt moments along the way that will leave readers cheering for her. It’s an irresistible read for anyone who loves the sweetness of  first loves, the bittersweet pull of nostalgia, and the laughter and  heartache that come with finding romance all over again."

- Janis Robinson Daly, award-winning author of The Unlocked Path and The Path Beneath Her Feet

"Chef Devon Paige fears her career and life are over when an ill-fated affair  becomes public in a very big way. After losing all but one of her  high-end clients, all she wants to do is retreat to her beloved studio apartment in Boston while she tries to figure out what to do to salvage  her reputation, but fate- it seems- has other plans. Following her  spectacular downfall, her best friend refers her to a job at the  prestigious boarding school Rockwood in New Hampshire. With no other options in sight, and despite "the one who got away" working at the  school, Devon accepts. Thus begins the first of many second chances for  Devon Paige.
I'm a big fan of redemption stories and second chances. Especially after major public embarrassments. I'm always rooting for people to be better and have a better life. Most people. Devon is no different. After working for upscale clients, she gets sucked into a romance with an unhappily married man and gets ruined  (because the woman always gets ruined, right?), and she has to figure  out how to keep her life going while dealing with the very public  backlash of her affair.
Being tucked away at Rockwood might have  been just what she needed, if there wasn't someone on the school's underground newspaper with some sort of vendetta against her. Adding to  that, the undeniable chemistry she still has with the man she had a one night stand with 15 years before, and she fears scandal will just follow her wherever she goes.
I found Bouchard's writing to be very accessible and the story to be a fast, light read. There's a hunky paramedic, a lovelorn coach, and even a professional basketball player with crippling imposter syndrome and a bad case of introversion. Not to  mention loads of little historical facts that made this former historian-in-training smile more than once, and pop culture references you'll only get if you're 40+ (or Gen X at heart).
There is plenty of food talk, but not so much as to overwhelm the reader.  Bouchard also (thankfully) manages to avoid too many food metaphors or  puns.
Considering Us is chock-full of second chances, so if you  love the second chance trope, you're going to absolutely love this story.
Things to love:
- Second chances
- Forced proximity
- Foodie references
- Historical fun facts
- '80s & early '90s pop culture references.
If you're looking for a light read that will make you smile (and maybe a little hungry), this is the book for you."

- Sayword B. Eller, author of The Things We Lose in the Dark

"Jenn Bouchard's second novel is just as yummy as her first and by yummy, I mean, you'll want to have some homemade cookies to pair with this delicious second chance romance. Set against the backdrop of a New Hampshire boarding school, the novel dives into the lives of the  students, staff, and a pro basketball player as they come to terms with where they've been, where they are, and where they are headed. A  scrumptious story that will steal your heart and leave you hungry for more!"

- Tanya E. Williams, author of The Hotel Hamilton series, The Smith Family series, and the Vintage Vineyard series

"As a New Englander, I can confidently say—Jenn absolutely nailed the  beauty and charm of Boston and NH. I absolutely loved seeing the  specific mentions of surrounding towns and businesses! As for the story,  she nailed the charm there, too. I absolutely loved Considering Us—I  didn’t want to put it down. You dive right into the action off the bat and the roller coaster of emotions and mishaps continue the whole ride  through. I was rooting for Devon and loved being on this journey with  her!"

- Colleen Temple, author of Summer Breakdown

"A fun romance set at an East Coast boarding school. Likable characters and a super fun setting keeps the pages turning. Another great read by  Jenn Bouchard!"

- Kerry Chaput, award-winning author of Chasing Eleanor and Wild as the Stars