The Whole Time by Naomi Maddison

Is love worth the risk?

Always-cautious, always-prepared—six-year-old Alfie Zunker isn’t ready to fall in love with the plucky, wild child Esther Pip. But after she moves in next door from Australia in the British school holidays, he’s soon making plans and hoping six weeks is enough time to save up for a wedding.
As the school term begins, there are many obstacles Alfie’s not prepared for. Like other boys. Other girls. And even…his own brother? Finding out he’s too young to get married will be the least of his problems… At eighteen, Alfie and Esther are best friends. But that’s not enough for Alfie. However, he’s confident his steady approach will win her heart because he believes he’s learnt to take some risks. Appropriate risks.
But when he finds himself inadvertently jumping out of a plane strapped to Esther’s fiancée, he realises things have got to change. He’ll have to decide between finally telling Esther how he feels—risking their friendship and losing her from his life forever—or do nothing and watch his childhood love walk down the aisle with someone else.
The Whole Time is a standalone young adult sweet romance with charm, humour, and all the emotions of first love. Contains mild closed door love scenes and mild trauma scenes. There’s also a heart-warming happily ever after ending—pinkie promise.