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Aly Martinez
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Release: A Standalone Friends-to-Lovers Romance (The Release Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Aly Martinez (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,373 ratings
From USA Today Bestselling Author Aly Martinez comes an emotional new standalone.
Growing up, Ramsey Stewart branded my soul in ways time could never heal.
At twelve, he asked me to be his girlfriend.
At thirteen, he gave me my first kiss.
By sixteen, we'd fallen in love, planned a future together, and had our eyes set on the horizon.

Love never fails, right?
But for Ramsey, it did.
Love failed him.
I failed him.
The entire world failed him.

At seventeen, Ramsey was convicted of killing the boy who assaulted me.

Move on, he wrote in his first and only letter from prison.
Start a new life, he urged.
I don't love you anymore, he lied.

There was no such thing as giving up on Ramsey. Love may have been our curse, but he was mine—then, now, and forever.

So here I am, twelve long years later, waiting for a man I don't even know to emerge from between the chain link gates.
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Release Series
  2. Print length
    282 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 4, 2020
  5. File size
    2.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Popular Highlights in this book
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  1. However, in that tree, suffering alone and also together, I fell in love with her like the stars falling from the sky.
    Highlighted by 410 Kindle readers
  2. That was exactly how I lived my life, showing the world a pretty exterior to hide the disaster on the inside.
    Highlighted by 315 Kindle readers
  3. “I can’t do this without you.” “Do what?” He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “Breathe.”
    Highlighted by 240 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Aly Martinez is one of the best in the business. You have to read her books. -Meghan March New York Times Bestselling Author

I couldn't put it down! Do not start this book late at night. The incredible premise and the tension will keep you turning the pages until dawn. -Sarina Bowen, USA Today Bestselling Author

Aly Martinez rips your heart out, drowns you in angst and slowly mends all your wounds with heartfelt lifelong promises and swoony moments. -Bookgasms Book Blog

Loss, heartbreak, young love, devastation... it completely consumed me, and I loved every single minute of it! -I Love Story Time Blog

From page one I found it virtually impossible to put this book down. The angst, love and emotion flew off the pages solidifying this book as one of my all-time favorite reads. It is not a book you just read it is one you experience, feel and live right along with Ramsey And Thea. -Nanci, Goodreads Reviewer

if you want to start your 2020 reading off on a high, I would highly recommend you start with this moving, captivating and emotional story, beautifully written -Jan, BBBF Blog

I always fall madly in love with Aly's books because of her fascinating way with words...but this story? This will hold a special place in my heart. -Little Bookish Ways

Aly Martinez knocked it out of the park, the year hasn't even begun and I can guarantee this is one of the best books of 2020. - Britt, Red Hatter Book Blog

This love story is one that grabbed hold of my heart in my chest, ripped it out and stomped on it a million times, and then right when I thought I couldn't take any more, the author started piecing it back together. -Sassy Nerd Blog

Release is a friends to lovers romance that will give you heartbreak, fill you with hope, and make you believe in the power of love all over again -Chatterbooks Book Blog

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B083H4L6KD
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (January 4, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 4, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 282 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,373 ratings

About the author

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Aly Martinez

Aly Martinez

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Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four hilarious children.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys movies that can surprise her with a twist, charcuterie boards, and her mildly neurotic golden retriever. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine by her side.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
5,373 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the well-written story and emotional content. They found the love story engaging and heartwarming. The writing style was described as smooth, easy to read, and talented. Readers appreciated the original characters and humor. Overall, they felt the book captured a beautiful and sweet message about love and life.

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Story qualityLove storyEmotional contentWriting qualityCharacter developmentBeautyLaughterDepth
165 customers mention "Story quality"161 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the story. They find it well-written, with an intriguing plot and engaging characters. The book is described as awesome, amazing, and a masterpiece.

"...It just brings the story to life, plus I hate to feel like I am missing something 😁...." Read more

"...I really loved young Thea and young Ramsey. They had so many amazing scenes together and I could feel their connection and the pull between them...." Read more

"Superb!!! This was A Awesome Story with Love Betrayal and Drama and Hatefulness But Find Eachother Again I love it And The Ending is My favorite part" Read more

"...AMAZING book and if I could give it 10 stars I would. Literally the best book I have read this year so far and I know it will stay in the top 5..." Read more

108 customers mention "Love story"95 positive13 negative

Customers enjoy the love story. They find it a touching tale about not giving up on love, even in the face of obstacles. The book explores the past and present lives of the characters with great detail. It depicts the bond between two damaged souls that never breaks. Overall, readers appreciate the well-balanced relationship between the backstory and present.

"...I really loved young Thea and young Ramsey. They had so many amazing scenes together and I could feel their connection and the pull between them...." Read more

"Superb!!! This was A Awesome Story with Love Betrayal and Drama and Hatefulness But Find Eachother Again I love it And The Ending is My favorite part" Read more

"...Which then led to a beautiful loving relationship. That was until Thea’s world turned upside down, sending Ramsey to prison for many years...." Read more

"I really enjoyed this—it’s a unique take on second chances and friends to lovers...." Read more

95 customers mention "Emotional content"84 positive11 negative

Customers find the book's emotional content engaging. They say it makes them laugh, cry, and smile. The story touches on grit, love, pride, joy, sorrow, and more. Readers appreciate the great characters and experiences.

"...There is a lot of angst, heartbreak, love, anger, lost, smiles, tears, grief, rage, frustration, miscommunication, lies, hate, sorrow, guilt, etc.,..." Read more

"...This book made me smile, made me sad, made me want to throat punch some fictional kids, made me laugh hysterically and also made me cry...." Read more

"...Release is a friends to lovers romance that will give you heartbreak, fill you with hope, and make you believe in the power of love all over again...." Read more

"...hours, minutes, and seconds... it all adds up to the beautiful, emotional, heartbreaking story of Ramsey Stewart and Thea Hull." Read more

41 customers mention "Writing quality"38 positive3 negative

Customers enjoyed the writing quality. They found the narration amazing and the book easy to read with just the right balance. The writing was smooth, easy to follow, and the characters were believable and easy to fall in love with. The story was complicated yet emotional, flowing smoothly so it was quick to finish.

"...There are a couple of grammatical issues, but nothing difficult to interpret, such as incorrect word tense and punctuation...." Read more

"All I good say is it will not end up like you think. Its was a great very well written store to keep you hooked. Must read." Read more

"...The narration is amazing. Both narrators know how to express the depest feelings, and they cause many tiny heartbreaks...." Read more

"...I cried, I laughed and at times I held my breath. Thea and Ramsey were hilarious! Thea and Ramsey both came from broken homes...." Read more

32 customers mention "Character development"32 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters' development. They find the characters amazing, with heart, soul, and beauty. It's refreshing to get new stories with original characters. The banter and humor from the characters, especially Thea, had them laughing.

"...she does a really good job with childhood friends/lovers and character development...." Read more

"...Author Aly Martinez made her characters so real it was not hard to imagine yourself as part of the story. Grab a few tissues...." Read more

"...The complexity of the characters, the twists you never expected to even be part of the story. All of it!..." Read more

"...Martinize has done that in spades in this novel. The characters are well fleshed-out and complicated. The hard questions are never ending...." Read more

29 customers mention "Beauty"29 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's beauty. They find the flashbacks adorable, even when the events are hard. The characters have a sweet and loving nature that makes you laugh, cry, and put a smile on your face. The story brings together heart, soul, and emotional depth into the characters. It makes you laugh, cry and put a smile all at once.

"...Aly made me cry in the end because it was so beautiful. Ramsey & Thea definitely have a piece of my heart. <3" Read more

"...months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds... it all adds up to the beautiful, emotional, heartbreaking story of Ramsey Stewart and Thea Hull." Read more

"...Well, I’ve been served. The flashbacks, though, were adorable, even when the events weren’t always pleasant...." Read more

"...The story of Ramsey and Thea is intense. The meet cute is unlike any other and 100% perfect for this dynamic duo...." Read more

27 customers mention "Laughter"27 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book's emotional range. They found it heartwarming, with moments of joy and sadness. The book evoked strong emotions in readers, from laughter to tears. The story touched their hearts and souls, providing hope and belief.

"...This book made me smile, made me sad, made me want to throat punch some fictional kids, made me laugh hysterically and also made me cry...." Read more

"...is a friends to lovers romance that will give you heartbreak, fill you with hope, and make you believe in the power of love all over again...." Read more

"...I’m so glad I did. It made me laugh and oh how it made me cry multiple times...." Read more

"...The story follows them from age 10 to 28. There are alot of good times, fun times, sad and tragic times that happen in between. HEA..." Read more

10 customers mention "Depth"8 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the book's depth. They find the insights into specific situations accurate and relatable. The book tugs at their heartstrings with its themes of love, devotion, and family.

"...you on your toes with all of their heartbreak, missing time, and truths. Everyone in this family was impacted by one persons injustice...." Read more

"I love the love, devotion, and family of this book. Aly is a one click for me! Always a stunning twist." Read more

"...If you are looking for a really in-depth, heart wrenching, heart pounding, tear jerker of a book - get this one. You won't be disappointed." Read more

"3.5 stars CW: Assault, rape, mentions of childhood emotional & physical abuse and domestic violence, death of parent, parental abandonment..." Read more

Couldn't put this one down!
5 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put this one down!
I'm not sure what Aly puts in her books but I'm fairly certain it's borderline illegal. I am physically unable to put down any book I start that is written by her.I actually read this duet a few months ago and I'm STILL THINKING about it. I can't stop thinking about. It is truly a masterpiece.I fully believe that her books should be read by going in blind. Obviously if you have triggers, check those, but if you can....go in knowing NOTHING about the book. It just makes it that much better.This duet is so freakin good. I promise you that if you pick this up, you won't be able to put it down. Magic, I tell you...pure magic...with a side of emotional damage! ;)
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Top reviews from the United States

  • GrayJA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Smiles can be used as a weapon or a shield …
    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first book in a two book series that features the brother, Ramsey, and his childhood bff and sweetheart, Thea. The second is about Ramsey’s sister, Nora, which I plan on starting next.

    * There are multiple scenes, and / or references, to subject matter that may be difficult for sensitive readers. High-level topics are listed at the bottom of my post. *

    ** If you have not read this story, the following may contain spoilers. I try not to provide them, but sometimes it is unavoidable when describing something I love or think needs clarification / refinement. **

    Ramsey’s and Thea’s story is a very emotional tale that is told utilizing dual POVs, which I very much enjoy. It just brings the story to life, plus I hate to feel like I am missing something 😁. This is definitely for adults only and focuses on when Ramsey is released from prison for killing the man who assaulted Thea when he was seventeen.

    It encompasses their entire timeline from childhood forward. Their story begins with heartbreak, although it takes a while before they both realize it. They meet when Thea runs away to a tree in a field to get away from home after her mother dies. Unbeknownst to her, Ramsey is sitting in the tree watching and waiting on her to leave. When it becomes apparent that is not going to happen, he speaks and their unlikely love story begins.

    Everything can hidden behind a smile … It can be a weapon or a shield. There is a lot of angst, heartbreak, love, anger, lost, smiles, tears, grief, rage, frustration, miscommunication, lies, hate, sorrow, guilt, etc., most of it in the name of love. It is an emotional roller coaster that I am glad I was able to take with Ramsey and his sparrow.

    There are a couple of grammatical issues, but nothing difficult to interpret, such as incorrect word tense and punctuation. There is also a chapter that wasn’t real clear as to whom Ramsey was speaking. I made highlights and nights because I thought the incorrect pronouns had been used (he/she, his/her). It wasn’t until I went back and re-read the first few pages of the chapter did I realize that it a conversation between Ramsey and Thea’s father. I mention these issues for readers such as myself that visualize the story as it is read, because errors interrupt the flow and stop the “movie” in my mind.

    ⛔️ Contains references to, or scenes detailing, subject matter that may be a trigger or offensive to some, including, but not limited to: adult language; derogatory terms; mental health challenges; steamy adult intimate scenes; violence such as murder, torture, assault, fighting, betrayal, coercion / grooming, blackmail / threats, (serial) rape, domestic violence, child neglect, etc.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Hannah
    4.0 out of 5 stars Overall solid second-chance, angsty romance
    Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    3.75 - 4ish stars (all TW for book at end of review)

    Release by Aly Martinez kept me hooked throughout the entire novel. I needed to know what happened and how Ramsey and Thea ended up. Thea and Ramsey meet when they're about 12 years old and become friends due to Ramsey's persistence. As they grow up, they transition from best friends to lovers, but one night changes everything and rips them apart for 12 years. Ramsey is sent to prison and the entire time he is there, he refuses to see Thea. Not one to give up, Thea holds out hope for them and is there the day he gets out. Now out of prison, Ramsey has changed and continuously pushes Thea away. How much more will Thea be able to take before she decides to give up? And what secrets is Ramsey keeping from her that could ruin any chance they have at a happily ever after?

    Aly Martinez is one of my favorite authors because of her On The Ropes series. All three books were amazing and I loved the world she built with the Paige (Page?) brothers. Release felt extremely similar in some aspects to these past books. The prologue/immediately in the beginning, you get the present day and it's something that's meant to hook the reader. Then she goes back to the beginning or to an earlier time and really starts the book there. It can be a bit slow going, but with the whole friends to lovers/ childhood lovers tropes, there is almost always a need for the buildup and really forming a strong relationship. I really loved young Thea and young Ramsey. They had so many amazing scenes together and I could feel their connection and the pull between them. After this and the formation of the relationship, you get the big scene that changes everything, and then kind of jump to the present day/what you're expecting to read about. In this case, it was Ramsey being out of jail and Thea pursuing him again. I liked how realistic some of the scenes with Ramsey getting reacclimatized with being out of prison felt. But, having never experienced that firsthand, I cannot say how accurate and how well done those scenes were. I thought there were a number of situations, pieces of information about characters, different plot points, that were rushed and could have been expanded upon to help strengthen the story. I can't elaborate, or I'll spoil parts, but I was hoping there had been a bit more elaboration on many aspects of the story in the second half of the book. My big issue with Release was the pacing of things. The beginning was slow and a significant amount of time was dedicated to building the young love between Thea and Ramsey. Then you got to the present day/second part of the story, and it fell a little short for me. There were rushed scenes and situations that I felt needed to be elaborated on and it all felt so sudden and fast at the end. I really liked the secondary character Nora, Ramsey's younger sister. She really intrigued me, as did Thea's father. Again, there were situations with both of these characters which I wish Martinez had spent more time fleshing out, but the story overall still read fine. I really was hooked, and the writing was amazing. I would definitely recommend reading Aly Martinez's books, she does a really good job with childhood friends/lovers and character development. While I did find that this book felt a bit formulaic when comparing it to some of her other books, it was still a great read and the characters jumped off the pages easily.

    TW: rape, assault, abuse, prison, small mention of attempted suicide
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wowozers
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Superb!!! This was A Awesome Story with Love Betrayal and Drama and Hatefulness But Find Eachother Again I love it And The Ending is My favorite part
    Helpful
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  • Dawn G
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What an emotional, fantastic book!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I love Aly’s books but haven’t read too many of them yet, so I picked Release because it sounded really good & figured it would probably break my heart, as she usually does. LOL This one had me from the beginning. It was cute how Ramsey & Thea met. She quite disliked him, but then he grew on her. They both had their own secrets, but once out, they both realized they were more like each other than they thought. Thea’s dislike of Ramsey led to him trying to make her laugh or smile daily. Which then led to a wonderful friendship between two kids who had been hit with a hard life at an early age. Which then led to a beautiful loving relationship. That was until Thea’s world turned upside down, sending Ramsey to prison for many years. Thea held out for her man until he was released, not knowing what kind of man was going to walk out of that prison. This book made me smile, made me sad, made me want to throat punch some fictional kids, made me laugh hysterically and also made me cry. At one point I literally jumped up and wondered WTH I just read. I couldn’t believe what I just read, so I went back a couple paragraphs just to make sure. Then I had to sit down & breathe a minute. PLOT TWIST! Crap just got real! I so did NOT see that coming. I literally had to calm down before I was able to keep going. I was so worried about someone sabotaging Ramsey’s new life & BOOM! Something totally unexpected hit me hard in the chest. I was shook! I absolutely loved this book. Aly made me cry in the end because it was so beautiful. Ramsey & Thea definitely have a piece of my heart. <3
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Leyendo Forever
    3.0 out of 5 stars It was ok
    Reviewed in Mexico on March 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    3⭐️

    I liked this, even though I felt really tired of the hero saying “no” and the girl not paying attention.

    He was ignored all the time because everyone around knew better, and if that would be the scenario for a girl, things would be taken in a wrong way. So the double standard is… so not cool.

    What I liked? The cover! Amazing 🫶🏼
    Report
  • Slyroch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ramsey and Thea
    Reviewed in Canada on January 8, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book broke my heart a few times. In Aly Martinez fashion, it was an emotional roller-coaster! The characters draw you in early, the sentences flow, there are twists and surprises, it is hot, chemistry fled and heart-wrenching half the time. My only regret, is that it's over and I have to wait for her next book!!!
    Report
  • Marijke75
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in Germany on May 20, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I have to be honest, it took me a while to get into this book, cause the beginning is a little depressing. But I read on and it got better and better. Very emotional book.
    Report
  • CazT
    5.0 out of 5 stars All those great reviews were spot on.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    What a wonderful, emotional, sad, funny, gut wrenching story about childhood friends who help each other through devastating loss, to going from friends to teenage lovers. The All encompassing kind. Only for at age sixteen and seventeen a horrific end to their wonderful first time together, changes their lives forever. 12 years pass and we are left wondering how they will find a way of being with each other again. Thea and Ramsey's story is written beautifully, Aly's writing never fails to pull you in to each and every character. Hopefully Nora, Ramsey's sister gets her story too, a great character. Please read this, it will capture your heart.
    Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Reviewed in Australia on March 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Ramsey and Thea fell in love when they were young. They Thea was attacked and Ramsey was jailed for killing the man that attacked her.
    Ramsey sent Thea 1 letter while he was in jail and that was telling her he didn't love her and she needs to move on. He t hen a also refused to put her on the list to be able to visit him.
    But she didn't move on and she continued to write to him all the time.
    Then he was let out on parole and because Thea lived with his sister he had to move in with her.
    Ramsey did and said some really awful things to Thea but she didn't give up.
    A brilliantly written story with excellent characters and a happy ending guaranteed.
    Report

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