Some books make you feel seen. Others crack your heart open. And then there are books like Everywhere You Look—that somehow manage to do both.
Emily Shacklette’s novel is a breathtaking blend of grief, love, and found family, and while there is a romantic story at its core, this book is so much more than a romance. It’s about stepping up when life breaks your heart. About building something lasting in the middle of chaos. And about learning that sometimes, love doesn’t shout—it simply stays.
🖤 The Weight and Beauty of Grief
Grief is a constant presence in this book—not something to be overcome, but something to be carried. And it’s not just Luke’s grief for his sister, Gigi, that’s portrayed. The pain is magnified through the eyes of her three small daughters, who ask heartbreaking questions like “when is mommy coming home?” It’s gutting, and it’s real. Their innocence makes the loss feel even sharper, and Shacklette handles it with so much care and respect. These children are not plot devices—they’re people, and their mourning is as important as Luke’s.
👨👧👧 Parenthood, Not By Choice—but By Heart
Luke is young, injured, freshly retired from professional football, and suddenly the guardian of three children. And yet, never once does he resent his role. There’s no bitterness, no “poor me” attitude. He simply does the work. He rolls up his sleeves and puts his nieces first—even when it costs him. That quiet, determined love made me fall for him completely.
The parenting in this book is messy and exhausting, but also tender and full of grace. And while the trope of the “fake marriage” can often feel like a shortcut in romance, here it felt earned and deeply intentional. Luke and Dean marry not to justify the romantic arc, but because it’s the best decision for their family’s stability. It’s practical, it’s believable, and it actually adds emotional tension rather than resolving it.
💔 Dean Deserves the World
Let’s talk about Dean. Because while Luke’s emotional arc is front and center, Dean’s slow-burning heartbreak is what really hit me. He gives up everything—his home, his plans, his freedom—just to help Luke, and for a long stretch of the story, Luke doesn’t see it. He’s so focused on what Dean is giving up that he misses what Dean is gaining: a purpose, a home, and a real partner.
Their relationship builds slowly, unevenly. Luke is ready to move things forward before Dean is—and the moment when Dean finally snaps and lets out all the feelings he’s been burying was absolutely raw. That scene where everything comes to a head had me holding my breath. But then comes that soft, real conversation: “I wish we’d done this sooner.” And Luke’s quiet realization that rushing into romance would’ve destroyed their friendship—that was everything. It’s so rare to see a love story where the emotional bond is given more weight than the physical.
🧸 Tension, Levity, and a Whole Lot of Disney
Despite the heavy themes, the book never drowns in its own sadness. The girls bring light and humor into every scene they’re in. Luke and Dean might be dealing with custody issues, trauma, and unresolved feelings, but there’s still movie nights, snacks, chaotic bedtime routines. There’s joy in the everyday, and it keeps the story grounded and hopeful.
The writing flows beautifully, with a clear narrative and dual POVs that add richness and emotional nuance. Getting both Luke and Dean’s perspectives allowed me to connect with them equally—especially when they were seeing the same events so differently.
🌅 A Future We Can Believe In
By the time I reached the end, I didn’t want it to stop. I wanted to see how this family would grow, how the girls would flourish, how Luke and Dean would evolve as partners and parents. And yet, the way Shacklette ends the story—just a few weeks later, with their new life gently unfolding—felt just right. It’s not a “happily ever after” tied up with a bow, but a quiet, hopeful look toward the future.
Final Thoughts
Everywhere You Look is a story about loss and healing, but also about showing up for the people you love, even when it’s hard. Even when it breaks you a little. It’s about choosing your family, again and again, and letting love grow at its own pace. I cried, I laughed, I underlined a dozen passages, and I will absolutely be rereading this one.
If you’re in the mood for something emotionally rich, deeply human, and profoundly comforting—this book belongs on your shelf.
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