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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
ayamtshali_97's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
beethelibrarian's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
justkeyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wheww, I’m wiping my tears are I type this. This was a heartbreaking journey that Cam and Jo went through. Wow, I knew that man through some things, but Kennedy makes you earn this romance. I loved the therapy talk that and the breakthrough sessions to be able to see that we have to let go some aspects of our past to make steps for our future.
tbreann's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.0
booksbycc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
I jumped out of my skin when I ripped the brown paper to shreds and your name peaked out at me from a pink cover as my Blind Date with a book for Valentines Day. Thank you so much @jonathanballpublishers .
What a treat!!! It turns out Kennedy and I, Jo and Cam doubled up for love day.
I found myself in New York City I know, again. Maybe I need to find myself an apartment here soon. I seem to be hobo-ing around corners. Any suggestions? Okay, wait let me introduce you to my new friends - Cameron Mitchell the inegmatic Graffiti artist and Jo Walsh the powerhouse boss lady heiress.
Jo has loved this man longer than some marriages last. Cam has well skirted around the feelings his known runs deeper than most friendships go. One weird request from his best friend brings them face to face and a little vulnerable. Cam has nowhere to run and Jo nowhere hide when somehow they end up sharing an apartment and all either of them can imagine is the other one naked.
As you can imagine the apartment no matter how many square feet was much too small to house all the thoughts and feelings either of them had words for.
Cam is stuck in the dark when Jo takes his hand and forcefully drags him into the light where the rest of their lives wait.
It's a beautiful book. I really enjoyed it. Shout out to the person who picked this book for me 🙋🏽♀️
I rated it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads. Go get it.
Full review on my blog ✌🏽
Have a great Sunday, Love Cece xx
What a treat!!! It turns out Kennedy and I, Jo and Cam doubled up for love day.
I found myself in New York City I know, again. Maybe I need to find myself an apartment here soon. I seem to be hobo-ing around corners. Any suggestions? Okay, wait let me introduce you to my new friends - Cameron Mitchell the inegmatic Graffiti artist and Jo Walsh the powerhouse boss lady heiress.
Jo has loved this man longer than some marriages last. Cam has well skirted around the feelings his known runs deeper than most friendships go. One weird request from his best friend brings them face to face and a little vulnerable. Cam has nowhere to run and Jo nowhere hide when somehow they end up sharing an apartment and all either of them can imagine is the other one naked.
As you can imagine the apartment no matter how many square feet was much too small to house all the thoughts and feelings either of them had words for.
Cam is stuck in the dark when Jo takes his hand and forcefully drags him into the light where the rest of their lives wait.
It's a beautiful book. I really enjoyed it. Shout out to the person who picked this book for me 🙋🏽♀️
I rated it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads. Go get it.
Full review on my blog ✌🏽
Have a great Sunday, Love Cece xx
caseroo7's review against another edition
4.0
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
Be Mine Forever is the third Bennetts book by Kennedy Ryan, and I was a little apprehensive going into this story. While I was really curious about Jo and Cam, I have to say that I have had moments where I didn't really care for either of them. That was especially true for Cam. While I had felt for him and everything he had been through, I also hated his actions at times. I have to say though that this book was better than I had hoped for, and Cam definitely redeemed himself. While this book probably could be read as a standalone, I would recommend starting at the beginning of this series. I really think that the first two books add so much more to the understanding of the characters and you really get to see more of their history that makes them who they are.
Jo Walsh has loved Cameron Mitchell for most of her life. She has loved him through him pushing her away for years and even through him marrying someone else. After his marriage fell apart and he suffered a horrible loss, Cameron left town in order to find himself again and that meant cutting ties with those that he was closest to. He has turned his life around and has been pursuing a career in the art he has always been passionate about. When he returns home, he knows that he will have to confront Jo. Cameron has always pushed her away, believing that she deserved someone better than him. But when he pushes her away yet again, Jo decides that it is finally time to give up and actually move on. If Cameron wants to be with her then he will have to prove to her that he is willing to go all in. But Cam isn't ready to fully let her in and share the past that he has always hidden from her, and that could be the one thing that makes her run from him.
Cam had so much ground to make up for in this book, and I was so glad that he did. He was better than I was expecting, and it was good to see him not being a complete jerk. He had a horrible childhood and then had suffered a horrible betrayal by those he was closest to. But it was so good to see him finally start to move forward and heal with the help of Jo and those around him. He was always meant to be with Jo, and I was happy that he finally stopped getting in his own way. He deserved to be happy and he was the best thing for Jo because of their history and how much he cared about her. He would do anything for her, and it was clear just how deep his feelings went. Jo had always been sort of an ice queen to me in the first two books. We finally started to see her thaw a bit though, and I couldn't wait to finally get more of her as well. She really opened herself up in this book and I felt like for the first time we really got to see just how vulnerable she was. Jo was proof that even the most well maintained facade can be hiding so much underneath it. She had loved Cam forever, and she would have stood by his side through anything. She was one of the strongest heroines I have ever seen, and I admired her for always knowing her feelings and not being afraid to repeatedly put herself out there. She never gave up on Cam, and it was so good to see that finally pay off for her. Cam and Jo had so much history, but it was great to see the chemistry and passion between them this time around. They also were surprisingly fun and playful, and I really enjoyed seeing that side of them too.
Overall, this was a great book. Jo and Cam were truly meant to be together, and it really showed. I was excited to see how things would play out for them, and Kennedy Ryan definitely didn't disappoint. These two were so complicated, and yet when they stopped fighting everything and just let things happen between them it could not have been more simple and natural. Jo and Cam were some of my absolute favorites this time around, and I know that their story will be one that I read again in the future. I loved getting to see familiar faces again as well, and couldn't have enjoyed this series more. I highly recommend this series, and I think that it really has something for everyone. I look forward to more from Kennedy Ryan in the future, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
**ARC Provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing)**
Be Mine Forever is the third Bennetts book by Kennedy Ryan, and I was a little apprehensive going into this story. While I was really curious about Jo and Cam, I have to say that I have had moments where I didn't really care for either of them. That was especially true for Cam. While I had felt for him and everything he had been through, I also hated his actions at times. I have to say though that this book was better than I had hoped for, and Cam definitely redeemed himself. While this book probably could be read as a standalone, I would recommend starting at the beginning of this series. I really think that the first two books add so much more to the understanding of the characters and you really get to see more of their history that makes them who they are.
Jo Walsh has loved Cameron Mitchell for most of her life. She has loved him through him pushing her away for years and even through him marrying someone else. After his marriage fell apart and he suffered a horrible loss, Cameron left town in order to find himself again and that meant cutting ties with those that he was closest to. He has turned his life around and has been pursuing a career in the art he has always been passionate about. When he returns home, he knows that he will have to confront Jo. Cameron has always pushed her away, believing that she deserved someone better than him. But when he pushes her away yet again, Jo decides that it is finally time to give up and actually move on. If Cameron wants to be with her then he will have to prove to her that he is willing to go all in. But Cam isn't ready to fully let her in and share the past that he has always hidden from her, and that could be the one thing that makes her run from him.
Cam had so much ground to make up for in this book, and I was so glad that he did. He was better than I was expecting, and it was good to see him not being a complete jerk. He had a horrible childhood and then had suffered a horrible betrayal by those he was closest to. But it was so good to see him finally start to move forward and heal with the help of Jo and those around him. He was always meant to be with Jo, and I was happy that he finally stopped getting in his own way. He deserved to be happy and he was the best thing for Jo because of their history and how much he cared about her. He would do anything for her, and it was clear just how deep his feelings went. Jo had always been sort of an ice queen to me in the first two books. We finally started to see her thaw a bit though, and I couldn't wait to finally get more of her as well. She really opened herself up in this book and I felt like for the first time we really got to see just how vulnerable she was. Jo was proof that even the most well maintained facade can be hiding so much underneath it. She had loved Cam forever, and she would have stood by his side through anything. She was one of the strongest heroines I have ever seen, and I admired her for always knowing her feelings and not being afraid to repeatedly put herself out there. She never gave up on Cam, and it was so good to see that finally pay off for her. Cam and Jo had so much history, but it was great to see the chemistry and passion between them this time around. They also were surprisingly fun and playful, and I really enjoyed seeing that side of them too.
Overall, this was a great book. Jo and Cam were truly meant to be together, and it really showed. I was excited to see how things would play out for them, and Kennedy Ryan definitely didn't disappoint. These two were so complicated, and yet when they stopped fighting everything and just let things happen between them it could not have been more simple and natural. Jo and Cam were some of my absolute favorites this time around, and I know that their story will be one that I read again in the future. I loved getting to see familiar faces again as well, and couldn't have enjoyed this series more. I highly recommend this series, and I think that it really has something for everyone. I look forward to more from Kennedy Ryan in the future, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
**ARC Provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing)**
aly_camia's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Physical abuse, Addiction, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia
transportedlfl's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0