Always Saw the Real You (Cozy Endings in Riverbend Book 3)

Always Saw the Real You (Cozy Endings in Riverbend #3) A heartwarming YA romance about being seen for who you really are — perfect for fans of Eva Austin, Kasie West, and readers who love authentic representation, found identity, and the courage to stop performing. 📖 The Story Jenna Lundquist has spent her whole life being watched—by coaches, by teammates, by a family legacy that expects her to follow the script. But being watched isn't the same as being seen. Nate Berglund notices things. Patterns. Probabilities. Basketball plays developing three moves ahead. The way Jenna's ankle rolls during unsafe stunts. The way she lights up when she's baking instead of performing. The way she's been shrinking herself to fit a mold that was never hers. He's learned to translate himself for a world that doesn't always understand him—following social scripts, performing "normal," hiding the parts that don't fit. When his team nominates him for captain, he has to decide: keep performing what he thinks leadership should look like, or trust that his way of seeing the game is enough. But with Jenna, he doesn't have to translate. She's always seen past the performance to the real him. When a dangerous fall exposes the toxic culture of her cheer squad, Jenna has to decide who she really wants to be—not who everyone expects. And Nate has to find a way to say what he means, even when feelings don't fit neatly into spreadsheets or scripts. Because they've always seen each other clearly. They just never knew how to say it out loud. ❤️ Why You'll Love This Book Friends-to-lovers who've always seen something deeper Being seen for who you really are, not the labels others put on you "You're not broken" — a story about authenticity over performance Team captain decisions and finding your own way to lead Basketball court vision, baking experiments, and math-nerd meets athlete dynamics Standing up to bullying and toxic team culture Dual POV with emotional depth and slow-burn sweetness Cozy small-town warmth, supportive families, and ensemble cast Clean, wholesome YA romance perfect for ages 12+ 🌟 Perfect for fans of Eva Austin, Kasie West, and Lynn Painter Always Saw the Real You is a standalone in the Cozy Endings in Riverbend series — a heartwarming YA romance about the courage to be yourself and the people who love you for exactly who you are. . View Less