If You'll Have Me

By: Esther Hatch

Narrated by: Noah Wall

A lady desperately seeking freedom. A prosperous younger man. An unexpected connection.

Anna Atwood returns to Breckenridge, where she spent one blissful summer as a young woman. This time, though, she comes to the quaint town as a penniless spinster with a single hope: to build a life free from the constraints her father’s death put on her and free from the persistent suitor Mr. Green, whose plans for marriage are Anna’s worst nightmare. When she runs into David Tate, the boy she knew from that memorable summer, she finds he has grown into a confident and striking man. As they rekindle their friendship, David offers her warmth and protection in the moment she needs it most—when Mr. Green appears in town and threatens to destroy Anna’s carefully laid plans.

David Tate remembers Anna as the spirited woman who once brought light into his dark childhood. Now a man of means, he has a promising future, if he can withstand the powerful Lord Murphy—a man whose menacing hold on the town he owns is surpassed only by his relentless hold on David’s life. When David meets Anna again, he realizes he has a chance to save her from Mr. Green’s schemes, even if it means putting David in danger of Lord Murphy’s wrath and revealing David’s deepest secrets.

In a moment of desperation, David and Anna agree to a proposal of convenience to provide the safety they both need. But as their attraction ignites, the looming dangers from Lord Murphy and Mr. Green threaten to destroy their budding happiness.

©2026 Esther Hatch (P)2026 Shadow Mountain Publishing

Beautifully written

Such a sweet and stirring love story! What could have been tragic and difficult circumstances for the reader to witness in the characters’ past is somehow transformed into a lovely story of kindness, compassion, friendship, and abiding love. The author takes you by the hand and walks you through the tragedies in a way that is uplifting and enjoyable to read. Miraculously done. I read to escape and don’t enjoy topics that feel heavy. I highly recommend this book. It is beautifully written!

Sweet with a side of real

I will place my trauma warnings at the end of this review because it will spoil some things for people who would rather not know… I really loved this book! It is one of my favorite books I have read in the genre… Maybe of all time. I really felt like you could connect with the characters in a way that sometimes is harder to do with this kind of romance where we’re really reading to escape? However, because of the setting in the fact that things didn’t all occur at balls, it really felt like you were able to get to know a person in a more real sort of way. Even though the endings of these books are always predictable, I was able to get wrapped up in the story in a way that belies the predictability. I loved the characters, I loved the depth in the story, and I loved the healing and growth that occurs throughout the story.

Spoilers/trauma warning:
In the story, one of the characters is depicted as being physically abused by his father. The father, also badly beats an animal that is the pet of this son, so that it dies. One child is punished in an excruciating way to torture the other kids who have to either hear or watch the Abuse take place. None of this happens on screen. What you see is the adult grown-up who has the physical and emotional scars. The abuse eventually is revealed as the story is being told. My reason for wanting to warn people is because the abuse that is depicted is quite realistic. It may be triggering to some. I agree with one of the other reviewers, however. I read these books to escape and don’t like the stories to be heavy. nonetheless, because of how the story is told, I did not find the story upsetting. I actually found it more appealing because I was able to watch these characters overcome and escape the abuse of the villain in the story.

A heartfelt story!!

My heart is officially a puddle. 🥹📖 Noah Wall has done a beautiful job brining this story to life. 🤍🤍

Esther’s books are always auto-buys for me, but David and Anna’s story hit me in a completely different way. While it has a different feel than the Proper Scandal series, the depth of the story and romance was absolutely amazing!

Why I loved If You’ll Have Me:
✨The POV is told from Anna’s perspective, but each chapter starts with the sweetest journal entries from David. It’s the perfect way to fall for the hero while staying tucked inside Anna’s head.
✨David is pure gold. He has been carrying a flame for Anna for eight years, and seeing that devotion play out was everything.
✨The theme of this story is a beautiful reminder of how much impact acts of kindness and compassion can have on a person’s life.

Anna’s strength and her journey toward opening her heart was so moving. I don't want to give too much away, but if you love Esther’s signature banter mixed with a deeply heartfelt, moving story—add this to your TBR immediately!

Content: closed door, no language, past abuse-off page, some violence, no gore.

Solidarity

Although this book had some parts that were hard to listen to, it was well worth the time and energy spent. I adored how committed the two main characters were to each other, as well as the siblings to each other, and their solidarity made me grateful for my own family. This book drew attention to the problem of evil in high places, and raised the question of what to do in situations that feel unsolvable. The love story was so sweet and so realistic that I came away with my heart in my eyes! Now I want to hear “the rest of the story“!

Loved this Story!!

Oh my goodness! I love all of Esther’s stories! And this one did not disappoint😍
I hope she continues on with the Tate siblings! I will say I had a few moments of tears but there was also enough fun to balance it all out! 🤗 Well done!!! Can’t wait for the next book!