I Could Never

Penelope Ward

Aug 2023 · Penelope Ward Books, Inc.

About this ebook

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new forbidden, enemies-to-lovers story…

It all started with an unexpected phone call.

Two years after my fiancé passed away in an accident, his father died suddenly, leaving Brad’s adult, special-needs brother with no one to care for him.

The next thing I knew, I was on a cross-country drive to New Hampshire where I’d be moving in to look after Scottie until I could get him into a group home.

The last thing I ever expected?

I wouldn’t be taking care of him alone.

Josh Mathers, my fiancé’s best friend—who also happened to be my sworn enemy—insisted he was the better person for the job. He told me to go back to California, and I told him where he could stick that demand.

Our disdain for each other wasn’t anything new. It dated back to a text I’d accidentally read years ago.

We hated each other. But we both loved Scottie, so neither of us budged.

Now we were living together in a tiny house—with one available bedroom. Thank goodness it was only temporary.

Over time, I realized the broody jerk I thought I knew was different than I’d imagined.

I found myself slowly growing attached to someone I once considered the enemy…and growing attracted to him. 

Sure, both of us were guilt-ridden over Brad. We were also two grown people with pent-up frustration toward one another—stuck in a cabin in the woods.

But this was Josh.

I could never.

Ratings and reviews

I freaking loved this steamy, enemies to lovers romance story. I truly think Brad brought his favorite two people together! Carly was so fun and sweet. Josh was tall, dark and handsome on the outside but a squishy teddy bear on the inside. They may have come together for Scottie, but in the end they also came together for themselves. This story will make you laugh, cry and swoon but in the end you feel really good.

I do not know how Penelope Ward continues to come up with these stories. Once again Ms. Ward has delivered a fabulous read that is one of my top reads of 2023. I Could Never ticked all the boxes for me as I quickly became invested in Carly Garber and Josh Mathers’ story. From the first paragraph I was hooked. This was a well written, steamy, witty story with plenty of emotion and heart and soul. The characters who were engaging and easy to fall in love with.

I Could Never took me for a ride. My emotions were all over the map reading Josh and Carly's story. These characters both had hearts of gold. Circumstances beyond their control had them thrown into each other's worlds unexpectedly. Watching them move from hating one another into slowly falling for one another was a tumultuous, beautiful ride. The way they came together to care for Scottie was too beautiful for words. Another great book by Penelope Ward!

About the author

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.