seriously romantic: too hard to forget by tessa bailey

peggy clarkson has commitment issues. she's been engaged four times and not married once. there's this guy she can't seem to get out of her head. only he's not just some guy. he's elliott brooks. the very catholic, super hot, ridiculously talented football coach of her alma mater.

their story sounds like such a cliché. she was a cheerleader. he was grieving the loss of his wife. she caught his glances during practice. he couldn't stop thinking about her. she followed him to the locker rooms. they had the hottest sex of their lives. it was illicit. it was thrilling. he felt like such a sinner. she felt like his dirty little secret. he ruined her for all others. he was ruined without her.

they both have so much pain between them. she's only come back to alumni weekend because it's been three years and she keeps running away from decent guys. she knows it has everything to do with elliott. she needs closure. she hasn't been able to move on for three years and she just needs this to stop. she needs to feel whole again.

if only just being around elliott didn't feel so right. and so wrong. he's had her all turned around inside that she can't get off without feeling guilt and pain and unworthy. the thing is, elliott never meant for peggy to feel unworthy. the truth is all that guilt and pain and unworthiness is his, and his alone. and when he realizes how he's made her feel. well, it's more guilt and pain and unworthiness, but at least he thinks he can make it right.

for three years he's been dreading seeing her again. when he got the invitation to her first wedding, he assumed that she had moved on. seeing her again, realizing that there was so much fire and hurt and love and anguish still living and breathing between them. it's still almost too much for him to bear. he's got a football team to manage. he's got a daughter he's raising. he failed his first wife in so many ways, if he failed peggy like that he'd be devastated.

too hard to forget is so emotional and passionate and is my favorite kind of love story. i can't explain why i love angst so much in my romance. and this story, oh, it has just the perfect amount. elliott and peggy's love isn't easy. it's complicated and fragile and heart-stoppingly beautiful. with every story tessa bailey has told in this series, she's upped the ante on the emotional depth and anguish. these clarkson siblings are something special. i love that we get some updates on aaron and grace. and we see the bond between belmont and sage continue to grow and develop. they're up next in too beautiful to break and i can only imagine the emotional rollercoaster that story will be. i can't wait!

**too hard to forget will publish on april 25, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/grand central publishing (forever) in exchange for my honest review.