A review of the book Always by Sarah Jio. Post may contain affiliate links.
I have read every book Sarah Jio has published, including The Last Camellia, Blackberry Winter, and The Violets of March, and Always confirms why I keep returning to her work. Her storytelling remains consistent and engaging, and this novel is no exception.
Always centers on Kailey Crain, an investigative journalist with a promising career and an upcoming wedding. Her life appears secure until one night on a Seattle street when she spots a homeless man and recognizes him instantly: Cade McAllister, the love of her life who vanished without explanation years earlier.
Kailey is assigned a series about homelessness in Seattle, and encountering Cade thrusts her into a personal and professional conflict. Determined to help him, she secretly investigates his disappearance and circumstances while trying to maintain her relationship with her fiancé. Her dual roles — reporter and former lover — create tension, moral dilemmas, and emotional stakes that drive the narrative.
The novel alternates between past and present, giving the reader both the history of Kailey and Cade’s relationship and the unfolding present-day search for answers. The past sections paint a vivid picture of their meeting, the intensity of their romance, and the moments that made their bond feel almost magical. The present-day chapters follow Kailey’s efforts to uncover what happened to Cade and to reconcile her current life with unresolved feelings from the past.
Stylistically, Jio blends romance and gentle mystery, using the dual timeline to build sympathy for the characters and to maintain momentum. The plot is accessible and emotionally driven rather than twist-heavy. While portions of the story follow familiar patterns and are somewhat predictable, the conclusion retains enough ambiguity that it could plausibly resolve in more than one way, which keeps the reader engaged through the end.
Ultimately, Always is a warm, heartfelt read — a sweet love story with a touch of mystery and an emphasis on character emotion over elaborate plotting. Fans of character-focused contemporary romance who appreciate a quiet, evocative tone will likely enjoy this novel.