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shelves_by_sim's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Usually I love a book that represents past trauma and helps the main character to overcome obstacles and become a better person. I think these sorts of relationships really show how hard one has to work to be happy, to be able to function and to live a healthy life. However, Be Mine Forever fell short for me.
Even though this book can be read as a standalone, I highly advise against it. There is so much trauma and baggage that seems to happen "previously" and its all pulled into this one and is technically what the entire plot revolves around. It was hard for me to follow at some points and quite infuriating because we see Cam deal with so much pain from the events of the first two books and I just feel it would be better to experience the entire story together.
I did like Cam's character development, his past and where he grew up and his journey to making peace with himself to be the person Jo needed. But in general, I didn't really have any connection to these characters. Cam was self-sabotaging and Jo, even though she's from a prominent family and is career driven, I found to be lacking and extra clingy.
To me, the relationship between these two was awkward. Even though they have both been in love with one another for years, Cam was the one who had huge reservations due to his past, but once he finally gave in it felt like that past no longer played any role, it felt rushed and unnatural. I can see why some people love this book, it was fast-paced and the writing style was easy to read. It just wasn't for me.
Even though this book can be read as a standalone, I highly advise against it. There is so much trauma and baggage that seems to happen "previously" and its all pulled into this one and is technically what the entire plot revolves around. It was hard for me to follow at some points and quite infuriating because we see Cam deal with so much pain from the events of the first two books and I just feel it would be better to experience the entire story together.
I did like Cam's character development, his past and where he grew up and his journey to making peace with himself to be the person Jo needed. But in general, I didn't really have any connection to these characters. Cam was self-sabotaging and Jo, even though she's from a prominent family and is career driven, I found to be lacking and extra clingy.
To me, the relationship between these two was awkward. Even though they have both been in love with one another for years, Cam was the one who had huge reservations due to his past, but once he finally gave in it felt like that past no longer played any role, it felt rushed and unnatural. I can see why some people love this book, it was fast-paced and the writing style was easy to read. It just wasn't for me.
khris_with_a_book's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I did like this book more than I expected. I didn't like cam all that much cause of how hard he was on Kerris in the first 2 books. But I'm glad him and Jo got a hea. My issue with this book is I feel they jumped into the relationship too soon and neither one gave the other time to heal.
ivorypearlb's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
mellove's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I didn’t give a damn about Jo or the love story this this book to be honest
but my god I loved Cam and his story, his past and just how he’s dealing with everything I would of loved the book more if it was just about Cam more
but my god I loved Cam and his story, his past and just how he’s dealing with everything I would of loved the book more if it was just about Cam more
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warnings:
Two of the secondary characters from books 1 & 2 in Ryan's The Bennetts' series get their own love story in this third installment. Shifting from third to first person narration, Ryan gives us Cameron Mitchell, whom we've only seen from the outside as the now third wheel in love triangle from those previous books. For those who haven't read them, Cam is a former foster child, one who experienced major trauma before entering the system. Unlike the Bennett family, who informally adopted him, he's not solely white: "he was an ethnic enigma. Folks speculated—was he Italian, Puerto Rican, Cuban?... And when they gave up on staring and asked, well, how the hell was he supposed to know? His father was some john his mother probably fucked for twenty bucks" (354).
Despite the difficulty of having his best friend marry his ex, Cam is trying to bridge the gap between himself and Walsh Bennet and Bennet's extended family. An extended family which includes Walsh's cousin, Jo, who has known Cam since the Bennett foster child charity became involved in his life. Jo has been quietly crushing on Cam for years, trying to get his attention, even openly asking him to take her to the Sadie Hawkins dance and to prom, only to be refused by a Cam who spends his social life sleeping around. Ever since, Jo has taken care to hide her feelings. She's still remained his friend, though, and has supported Cam through his wreck of a marriage.
But it turns out that Jo's not the only one who's been hiding feelings. Cam has always felt something for Jo, but knew he was too emotionally messed up when they were teens to risk her friendship by sleeping with her. Now, though, in the wake of his divorce, his feelings are especially raw, and he finds himself teetering between imagining what it could be like with Jo and pushing her away, fearing that his "special talent for ruining beautiful things" will harm her.
Jo, a rich white fashionista, has wedded her privilege to a determined work ethic, supporting the Bennett family's charitable organization. And now, after the death of the charity's founder, her beloved aunt, Jo is completely in charge. And she's feeling overworked and unworthy, not coming close to living up to her aunt's model.
For the first time, Cam feels he might have something to offer a newly vulnerable Jo, and finally gives in to his feelings. But his own past traumas, and his refusal to seek help for himself, jeopardize both of them.
Though this book contains as much backstory trauma as the previous two, it doesn't veer off into melodrama; the two characters are portrayed with sympathy and care.
Spoiler
childhood sexual abuse; parental abandonment; drug abuseTwo of the secondary characters from books 1 & 2 in Ryan's The Bennetts' series get their own love story in this third installment. Shifting from third to first person narration, Ryan gives us Cameron Mitchell, whom we've only seen from the outside as the now third wheel in love triangle from those previous books. For those who haven't read them, Cam is a former foster child, one who experienced major trauma before entering the system. Unlike the Bennett family, who informally adopted him, he's not solely white: "he was an ethnic enigma. Folks speculated—was he Italian, Puerto Rican, Cuban?... And when they gave up on staring and asked, well, how the hell was he supposed to know? His father was some john his mother probably fucked for twenty bucks" (354).
Despite the difficulty of having his best friend marry his ex, Cam is trying to bridge the gap between himself and Walsh Bennet and Bennet's extended family. An extended family which includes Walsh's cousin, Jo, who has known Cam since the Bennett foster child charity became involved in his life. Jo has been quietly crushing on Cam for years, trying to get his attention, even openly asking him to take her to the Sadie Hawkins dance and to prom, only to be refused by a Cam who spends his social life sleeping around. Ever since, Jo has taken care to hide her feelings. She's still remained his friend, though, and has supported Cam through his wreck of a marriage.
But it turns out that Jo's not the only one who's been hiding feelings. Cam has always felt something for Jo, but knew he was too emotionally messed up when they were teens to risk her friendship by sleeping with her. Now, though, in the wake of his divorce, his feelings are especially raw, and he finds himself teetering between imagining what it could be like with Jo and pushing her away, fearing that his "special talent for ruining beautiful things" will harm her.
Jo, a rich white fashionista, has wedded her privilege to a determined work ethic, supporting the Bennett family's charitable organization. And now, after the death of the charity's founder, her beloved aunt, Jo is completely in charge. And she's feeling overworked and unworthy, not coming close to living up to her aunt's model.
For the first time, Cam feels he might have something to offer a newly vulnerable Jo, and finally gives in to his feelings. But his own past traumas, and his refusal to seek help for himself, jeopardize both of them.
Though this book contains as much backstory trauma as the previous two, it doesn't veer off into melodrama; the two characters are portrayed with sympathy and care.
lakic07's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
booksandbabbles18's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
ifechilu's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
platzapus's review against another edition
2.0
💛💛💛 Objectively, this book is fantastic. It’s just not for me. It was definitely heavier than I thought t would be. Though mention of childhood sexual abuse is in the Author’s Note it is re-visited in a way that weighs on the soul, and is re-visited often in the book. Along with that, it’s “flowery.” I mean, it’s almost like it’s written for writers. Or readers on a higher reading level than me. Like I said, objectively, I think it’s fantastic. But my opinion is 2 stars, I won’t be reading the others in the series.
lololovesthings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
3.25 stars.
I am a Kennedy Ryan stan, as the youths say. While I don't think "Be Mine Forever" is her best book, I still enjoyed reading it as part of The Bennetts series. Cam and Jo's story is full of deep, dark secrets, drama, and years-long life-altering trauma. Kennedy Ryan's immaculate writing style is, once again, on full display here. She has the ability to make characters I never cared about before, ones who had seemingly villainous tendencies in The Bennetts 1 and 2, into fully sympathetic main characters. Still, I don't think I was ever fully convinced of Cam and Jo as a couple. He says over and over that he suppressed his feelings for her for nearly two decades, but I just didn't feel it. I never felt the bursting, teeming, undeniable chemistry between them. Jo is basically a doormat when it comes to Cam. If he said "jump," she'd ask, "how high?" Their decades-long friendship is undeniable, but their romance felt a little lackluster to me. And honestly, I wanted better for Jo! Cam can be such a jerk, and I know he was fighting his own demons, but he just didn't ever treat her with the respect she deserved. Unfortunately, Jo is blinded by her infatuation with Cam, and she spends the entire book *begging* him to be with her. A little less desperation and a little more natural affection might have gone a long way into making me feel the connection between the two of them. It's not a bad book, it's just not my favorite Kennedy Ryan book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kennedy Ryan, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
I am a Kennedy Ryan stan, as the youths say. While I don't think "Be Mine Forever" is her best book, I still enjoyed reading it as part of The Bennetts series. Cam and Jo's story is full of deep, dark secrets, drama, and years-long life-altering trauma. Kennedy Ryan's immaculate writing style is, once again, on full display here. She has the ability to make characters I never cared about before, ones who had seemingly villainous tendencies in The Bennetts 1 and 2, into fully sympathetic main characters. Still, I don't think I was ever fully convinced of Cam and Jo as a couple. He says over and over that he suppressed his feelings for her for nearly two decades, but I just didn't feel it. I never felt the bursting, teeming, undeniable chemistry between them. Jo is basically a doormat when it comes to Cam. If he said "jump," she'd ask, "how high?" Their decades-long friendship is undeniable, but their romance felt a little lackluster to me. And honestly, I wanted better for Jo! Cam can be such a jerk, and I know he was fighting his own demons, but he just didn't ever treat her with the respect she deserved. Unfortunately, Jo is blinded by her infatuation with Cam, and she spends the entire book *begging* him to be with her. A little less desperation and a little more natural affection might have gone a long way into making me feel the connection between the two of them. It's not a bad book, it's just not my favorite Kennedy Ryan book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kennedy Ryan, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Death, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Child death