Close to You (Through the Years, 1)
Close to You (Through the Years, 1)
Make Me Want To Read It:

Read the Summary
Read the Summary
An epic and emotional coming-of-age romance for fans of Chloe Walsh.
Milow can't speak. Her father took her voice before she ever had a chance to use it, leaving her trapped in silence and haunted by memories no one should ever endure. Every day is a reminder of what was taken from her, and every moment is a quiet battle to survive the shadows of her past.
When she arrives at a new foster home, Milow expects nothing. Just another place where she doesn't belong and isn't loved. But then she meets Ashby, her new foster brother, who has lived through his own hell. Somehow, he sees her, and without words or judgment, he understands her in a way no one else ever has.
Growing up together, their bond deepens into something unbreakable. Ashby becomes her protector and the one constant in her life. They spend years leaning on each other, but childhood doesn't last forever, and that closeness starts to shift into something more complicated and intense.
As they grow older, the world gets crueler. The bullying Milow has endured her whole life never lets up, and it only becomes heavier. At the same time, the pressure on Ashby keeps building as school and swimming demand more from him.
Milow has to decide how much of herself she can risk in a world that has never treated her gently, while Ashby has to choose what he's willing to sacrifice to reach his goals.
But after everything, they know one truth: no matter what it costs, they will always choose each other.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Each book in this series focuses on a different couple and tells their story. All the stories take place during the same time period, so events in one book may overlap with those in another. You will encounter familiar situations, locations, or characters from the other books, but from the couple's perspective featured in the current story. Because the books share the same timeline and interconnect in this way, they are meant to be read in order (or, in the future, as tandem reads) and cannot be fully understood as standalone stories. Together, the books form a continuous, interconnected series.
That said... Milow and Ashby will get at least 1 more book!

Book Tropes & Spice
Book Tropes & Spice
This title has not been assigned a spice rating.
Shipping Info
Shipping Info
Pre-order titles ship on or around their publication date, once we receive inventory from the publisher.
- If you order a preorder book, everything in that same order will wait to ship until the preorder arrives.
- Have more than one preorder in the cart? Your order will ship once all of them have been released.
- If you’d like your in-stock items sooner, just add a note at checkout and I’ll send a quick invoice to cover the extra postage for a separate shipment.
Share this product
💛 More Than Just a Bookstore
When you shop at Flirting With Fiction, you’re doing more than buying a book—you’re helping us deliver hope.
A portion of every sale goes directly to Fun With Fiction, our nonprofit that brings the power of story to children facing trauma, loss, or major life changes. Through our Book Buddy program, we create hand-picked book packages tailored to each child’s age, interests, and unique situation.
It’s not just a box of books. It’s a message that says: you matter, you are not alone, and your story is still being written.