REVIEW: Hard to Forget by Essie Sloane (Hard to Love #3)

- March 08, 2026

HARD TO FORGET

Hard to Love - Book Three

by Essie Sloane

Release Date: March 7, 2026

Review

A loving and gentle story between two teenage sweethearts found their back to each other 10 years on.

They are both likable guys who have managed to stay friendly over the years, despite the heartache of breaking up before University.

Now they have a chance at forever; they just need to take the leap, and communicate.

It’s a sweet relationship and they are wonderful together, as are the friends that surround them.

I really enjoyed most everything about it. The rubber duck obsession was the only thing that was a bit much for me.

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Synopsis

After high school, I left King’s Bay with a broken heart. It took years to rebuild, to learn who I was without Matthew Bennett.

Now that I’m back, I can’t stop thinking about my high school sweetheart. He’s grown into an amazing man. He’s handsome and kind, and he makes me smile like no one else ever has.

I’m drawn to him. There’s no denying it.

The problem is: since we broke up, I’ve learned that I don’t feel things the way most people do. Should we even give it another shot if I can’t love him the way he expects?

Matt

I’ve always believed in love, despite the heartache and pain. Noah Guthrie was the first, and most painful, heartbreak I’d ever experienced.

But he’s back in King’s Bay, and I’m finding myself charmed by Noah once again. More than that, I’m attracted to him, and I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve found myself attracted to someone.

Can we start something new, built on the ruined foundations of high school romance or is history always doomed to repeat?

Hard to Forget is the third book in the Hard to Love series. This second chance romance between two high school sweethearts features second chances, demisexual and grayromantic rep, and more rubber ducks than any one person should ever own. This book can be read as a standalone, but is best enjoyed with the series.

About Essie Sloane

Essie Sloane currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her daughter, cat, and ancient black lab. She’s a life long reader and has dreamed of being a writer since she was a child. When they're not reading, they enjoy doing small craft projects - crocheting and diamond painting, mainly. She also enjoys listening to music, studying queer history, and playing on her computer.

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