It Was Always You by Judy Corry Summary

It Was Always You follows sixteen-year-old Lexi Stevens, who has never been kissed, and Noah Taylor, her brother's best friend who becomes homeless after his abusive stepdad kicks him out. When Noah offers to be Lexi's fake boyfriend to make her crush jealous, their pretend relationship quickly becomes complicated as real feelings develop. The novel explores fake dating, forbidden romance, and healing from family trauma while navigating the challenges of first love and overcoming fear of vulnerability.

Judy Corry is a USA Today Bestselling Author specializing in YA and contemporary romance, known for writing heart-pounding kisses, endearing characters, and hard-won happily ever afters. She is the author of the Ridgewater High series, which includes Meet Me There, Don't Forget Me, and It Was Always You. Corry's writing style emphasizes emotional depth, sweet romance with strong chemistry, and clean content that explores serious issues like domestic abuse and family dysfunction while maintaining hope and healing.

It Was Always You is perfect for readers who enjoy YA contemporary romance with fake dating and brother's best friend tropes, especially those seeking clean romance with emotional depth. The book appeals to fans of swoony first kisses, forbidden relationships, and characters overcoming difficult family situations. Readers who appreciate stories about healing from trauma, building self-confidence, and navigating overprotective parents while finding genuine connection will find this novel particularly resonant and emotionally satisfying.

It Was Always You earned a 3.89 out of 5 rating with readers praising the sweet romance, character development, and handling of serious topics like domestic abuse and family dysfunction. Many reviewers loved the chemistry between Noah and Lexi, the emotional depth, and the hopeful message about healing and choosing your own path. However, some readers found the abstinence messaging heavy-handed and certain portrayals stereotypical. Overall, it's worth reading for fans of emotionally intelligent YA romance with substance.

It Was Always You features two beloved romance tropes: fake dating and brother's best friend. The fake relationship begins when Noah offers to pretend to be Lexi's boyfriend to make her crush jealous, but the arrangement becomes complicated as genuine feelings develop. The forbidden element of dating her brother's best friend adds tension and secrecy, especially with her overprotective father's strict rules. These tropes combine to create romantic tension as Lexi and Noah struggle to distinguish between performance and reality.

It Was Always You explores healing from family trauma, particularly through Noah's experience with domestic abuse and homelessness, and Lexi's struggles with an overprotective father following her sister's teen pregnancy. The novel examines vulnerability and trust, showing how both characters learn to remove their emotional masks and confide in each other. Additional themes include first love and self-discovery, breaking free from family expectations, choosing your own path, and the courage required to fight for genuine connection despite fear and social pressure.

It Was Always You is the third standalone novel in the Ridgewater High series by Judy Corry, following Meet Me There (Ashlyn and Luke's story) and Don't Forget Me (Eliana and Jess's story). While each book can be read independently with its own complete romance, they share the same high school setting and interconnected characters. Noah appears in earlier books, and readers familiar with previous installments will recognize supporting characters like Ashlyn, though prior knowledge isn't required to enjoy this story.

Lexi Stevens and Noah Taylor begin as acquaintances—he's her brother Easton's popular best friend while she's a shy band geek who's never been kissed. Their fake relationship starts as a favor when Noah helps Lexi make her crush jealous, but evolves into something real as Lexi discovers Noah's homelessness and lets him secretly sleep in her closet. Through late-night conversations, practice kisses, and shared vulnerability, they develop genuine feelings while navigating her father's strict rules and her brother's potential disapproval.

It Was Always You delivers a hopeful, romantic happy ending where Lexi and Noah confess their real feelings and commit to building an honest relationship despite obstacles. After a heartbreaking temporary breakup and dramatic confrontations with family members, they reunite with a passionate kitchen confession scene. Lexi's father eventually grants permission for them to date under strict conditions, Noah's family begins healing from abuse, and both characters find courage to fight for their relationship, proving that trust, honesty, and genuine love can overcome fear and family dysfunction.

Critics of It Was Always You found the abstinence messaging heavy-handed, with some readers feeling the book promoted problematic views on gender roles and sexuality through its emphasis on purity culture. Some reviewers felt the novel lacked depth and featured stereotypical character portrayals, particularly regarding the overprotective father dynamic. The handling of serious topics like domestic abuse received mixed feedback—while some praised the sensitive approach, others felt it was oversimplified or used primarily as a plot device rather than explored with full complexity and nuance.

It Was Always You addresses domestic abuse through Noah's backstory, showing his abusive stepdad kicking him out and his mother's inability to protect her children from violence. The novel portrays Noah's resulting homelessness, trauma responses, and fear of being discovered, while Lexi becomes his safe haven by secretly sheltering him. The book ultimately shows the family seeking refuge, the mother hospitalized from violence, and community support facilitating healing. While some readers praised this sensitive portrayal, others felt these serious issues deserved deeper exploration beyond romantic plot development.

It Was Always You is classified as a clean YA romance with a steam rating of 1 out of 5, featuring only glimpses and kisses without explicit sexual content. The novel emphasizes chastity rings and abstinence values, with characters practicing physical boundaries and respecting Lexi's commitment to waiting. The romance focuses on emotional connection, swoony first kisses, hand-holding, cuddling, and building trust rather than physical intimacy. This makes it appropriate for younger teen readers, though the clean romance emphasis is a central theme that some readers found preachy.