Scan barcode
g_occasionally_reads's review against another edition
3.0
On today's episode of "took me 150 pages to work out who was who": a chaotic but sweet romance.
drewbmorgan's review against another edition
4.0
*I received an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review
Forever. Never. Always. tells the second-chance-romance of Ash Forester and April Wallis, who dated for two years before he ended their relationship very suddenly by email. Seven years later, April moves to her best friend’s hometown to escape her failing marriage and mother’s judgement. There, her path again crosses Ash’s, and she finds there is more to his story, and their breakup, than she ever knew - including the eight younger half-siblings he’d hid from her, and is now raising.
The story weaves seamlessly between the two perspectives. Ash’s story, and the chaos of his clan, provide the engine behind the plot. Each of the Forester siblings is named for kind of tree, which struck me as quirky, but the nature/tree theme provides a unifying thread for many elements of the story. I imagine his half of the book would be relatable for anyone from a large family, where the decisions of the individual have far-reaching consequences for the many and the ties that bind them.
April’s side provides a brilliant contrast. While her choices are her own, none of her options are very ideal. Her internal monologue, though as unhappy as Ash’s, is a less stressful read but equally entertaining. She’s a strong woman who knows how to stick up for herself, but it’s clear this is a skill she’s had to learn with time. It’s natural to want to root for her.
Hanna makes it easy to get lost in the chaotic everyday of the Forester clan. Both April and Ash are coy with the the information they give, to each other and to the audience. While far from a mystery and not relying on plot twists, Hanna peppers in just enough about their pasts to keep you curious through the end.
Content considerations:
Though this book wrestles with challenging topics, including addiction, death, infertility, and teen pregnancy, they’re seldom described in detail and inform rather than drive the plot. There is one sex scene depicted, but it’s far from the most graphic thing you’ll find on the romance shelves. I’d call this book suitable for mid-to-older teens, but it will probably resonate best with 20- or 30-somethings.
Forever. Never. Always. tells the second-chance-romance of Ash Forester and April Wallis, who dated for two years before he ended their relationship very suddenly by email. Seven years later, April moves to her best friend’s hometown to escape her failing marriage and mother’s judgement. There, her path again crosses Ash’s, and she finds there is more to his story, and their breakup, than she ever knew - including the eight younger half-siblings he’d hid from her, and is now raising.
The story weaves seamlessly between the two perspectives. Ash’s story, and the chaos of his clan, provide the engine behind the plot. Each of the Forester siblings is named for kind of tree, which struck me as quirky, but the nature/tree theme provides a unifying thread for many elements of the story. I imagine his half of the book would be relatable for anyone from a large family, where the decisions of the individual have far-reaching consequences for the many and the ties that bind them.
April’s side provides a brilliant contrast. While her choices are her own, none of her options are very ideal. Her internal monologue, though as unhappy as Ash’s, is a less stressful read but equally entertaining. She’s a strong woman who knows how to stick up for herself, but it’s clear this is a skill she’s had to learn with time. It’s natural to want to root for her.
Hanna makes it easy to get lost in the chaotic everyday of the Forester clan. Both April and Ash are coy with the the information they give, to each other and to the audience. While far from a mystery and not relying on plot twists, Hanna peppers in just enough about their pasts to keep you curious through the end.
Content considerations:
Though this book wrestles with challenging topics, including addiction, death, infertility, and teen pregnancy, they’re seldom described in detail and inform rather than drive the plot. There is one sex scene depicted, but it’s far from the most graphic thing you’ll find on the romance shelves. I’d call this book suitable for mid-to-older teens, but it will probably resonate best with 20- or 30-somethings.
bagelpapi's review against another edition
3.0
I’m exhausted so this review isn’t going to be as nice as it could be. It was an alright novel that really could have benefited from an editor, however, this is nothing in comparison to what JLA is publishing these days. April could benefit from some healthy therapy, learning to ✨let things go✨, and possibly realizing that the man who is raising all 8 of his siblings has a bit more going on than focusing on her the whole time. Ash deserved better. Beth deserved better.
Things that I enjoyed: Literally everyone else in the novel but April.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be nicer but ya girl is running on 3 hours sleep and not nearly enough breakfast.
Things that I enjoyed: Literally everyone else in the novel but April.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be nicer but ya girl is running on 3 hours sleep and not nearly enough breakfast.
nfathauer's review against another edition
5.0
I thought it was great and easy to read. No big major blow ups but great character development and a lot of room for extra stories like the author is going to do. The next one is about the sister Willow. Im so excited to see how this series progresses.
mt_books_bravo's review against another edition
5.0
Comparable to Penny Reid and Chloe Liese! Love a multi-book family series.
alyssamathews's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn’t expecting to be hit so hard in the feels by this book, but holy cow, “Forever Never Always” broke my heart and put it back together so many times that I’m still trying to recover and process my thoughts enough to write this review.
April & Ash have been through so much, both together and separately, and I’ve never wanted a happy ending for two characters more than I did with these two!
I will say that the romance often felt like it took a back seat to the more important/heavy topics in the story, but I was so in love with the Forester family dynamic and the story as a whole that I didn’t mind it in this case.
Overall this was a 5/5 ⭐️ read and I can’t wait to hopefully read more about this sweet, albeit chaotic, family in the future!
April & Ash have been through so much, both together and separately, and I’ve never wanted a happy ending for two characters more than I did with these two!
I will say that the romance often felt like it took a back seat to the more important/heavy topics in the story, but I was so in love with the Forester family dynamic and the story as a whole that I didn’t mind it in this case.
Overall this was a 5/5 ⭐️ read and I can’t wait to hopefully read more about this sweet, albeit chaotic, family in the future!
shelfishchar's review against another edition
5.0
SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE FOREVER N EVER
second chance romance always delivers. the “it’s always been you”, the “you’re it for me”, the “i never stopped loving you” just HITS. ALWAYS. SO GOOD. SO RIDICULOUSLY TASTY I LOVE IT SO MUCH
second chance romance always delivers. the “it’s always been you”, the “you’re it for me”, the “i never stopped loving you” just HITS. ALWAYS. SO GOOD. SO RIDICULOUSLY TASTY I LOVE IT SO MUCH
haechans's review against another edition
4.0
there were a few things that i felt were resolved too quickly but overall this book was enjoyable.
my favorite part would have to be april’s character. aside from her divorce, she was also dealing with her infertility and the fact most people she trusted ended up hurting her because they don’t trust her. she’s just so real to me.
zelkova is a bonus too! i loved all of ash’s and april’s interaction with him.
my favorite part would have to be april’s character. aside from her divorce, she was also dealing with her infertility and the fact most people she trusted ended up hurting her because they don’t trust her. she’s just so real to me.
zelkova is a bonus too! i loved all of ash’s and april’s interaction with him.
plainjane_readss's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
4.25
The best way I can describe this book is: chaotically messy but oh so chaotically good. Who knew that a little disorganized family would get me so emotionally invested in their journey?
This isn't your usual sweet old linear romance... it's slowburn and families in disarray. It's not clean cut yet that's exactly what I loved about it.
But also, what do you expect when there's like 8 siblings?!...
It sounds like a lot to focus on, but once you get the hang of them, you're completely hooked.
And even though it's through Ash and April's perspective, you can clearly pick up on the struggle that each sibling is experiencing
The romance is sort of like a buffer from the chaos; the cherry on top, so to speak. But April and Ash are exes, and they also have a lot to work through, but they simply fit like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle
what you can expect:
🌳 second chance romance
🌳 large family
🌳 open door/medium steam
🌳 single "dad"/legal guardian
🌳 healing family trauma
You can probably tell that I just love this family. They're authentic, and that's more than enough to win me over
trigger warning topics mentioned:
drug use / drug abuse / addiction, infertility, gamilbling addiction, car accident, death, abortion, adoption, and teen pregnancy.
This isn't your usual sweet old linear romance... it's slowburn and families in disarray. It's not clean cut yet that's exactly what I loved about it.
But also, what do you expect when there's like 8 siblings?!...
It sounds like a lot to focus on, but once you get the hang of them, you're completely hooked.
And even though it's through Ash and April's perspective, you can clearly pick up on the struggle that each sibling is experiencing
The romance is sort of like a buffer from the chaos; the cherry on top, so to speak. But April and Ash are exes, and they also have a lot to work through, but they simply fit like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle
what you can expect:
🌳 second chance romance
🌳 large family
🌳 open door/medium steam
🌳 single "dad"/legal guardian
🌳 healing family trauma
You can probably tell that I just love this family. They're authentic, and that's more than enough to win me over
trigger warning topics mentioned:
drug use / drug abuse / addiction, infertility, gamilbling addiction, car accident, death, abortion, adoption, and teen pregnancy.
chulaisreadingromance's review against another edition
5.0
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
You know a book was so freaking good when you have no idea how to start the review, because there is so much to say and words are not enough.
Second-Chance Romance is one of my favorite tropes and I adored how Hanna wrote Ash and April’s path of getting back together. This wasn’t a conventional type of plot for this trope, which usually makes me pick sides while I figure “whose fault was it”. This story however, made me side with both of them equally. The reasons for the first breakup were so heartbreaking, that I wasn’t only able to empathize with both but to feel the different types of pain they had to endure, not only from their separation and doubts as they went back together, but also in their individual inner conflicts.
Ash is a man who knows what love really is. Someone who loves sacrificially and with no conditions. I will always have a deep admiration to all the older siblings that life had forced to mature so quickly in order to take care of their little brothers and sisters. I was able to feel the weight of all the pressures and responsibilities he had from the very first page and also his genuine concern for the well being of every member of his family.
April was a resilient and strong woman who knew how much she deserved. The kind of woman who picks up the pieces of her life and rebuilds it herself because she knows she can. I felt inspired as I read and learned all she had to go through to get to the beginning of the story. Although my heart was completely crushed with Ash's situation, I completely understood April's heart and felt for her from start to finish.
The slow burn was beautifully written. The tension built up emotionally and physically in every page since they see each other again and by the time it was fulfilled, I was able to feel how much they missed each other and how indeed they were what the other needed to complement their lives in every way. The swoon at this point was so different because their love was so easy to believe; it was as if they were completing something they left on pause, I had tears in my eyes and thought: God! This couple really loved each other!
This story is about true love in all its forms, including the importance of family love and how difficult it is. The Foresters stole my heart and I loved how Hanna intertwined this plotline without taking out the focus off the Romance.
Their family dynamics where beautifully chaotic. The descriptions allowed me to picture every member of this family very well ─adults, teenagers and children─ and feel the tension in every situation they had to go through. Even with all the difficulties, it was heartwarming to see how Ash put them as his first priority and tried hard to play the role he was given.
The sibling banter was real and vivid. I felt like I was there with them the entire time. They cracked me up most of the time, but I ended up bawling as I learned the tragic past of this family. I’m in awe of how well these eight siblings were developed through the pages. Each of them had severe ramifications in their lives for what had happened to them and the psychological and behavioral consequences were evident since the first interactions with Ash at the beginning of the story. My heart ached ─literally and figuratively─ to see how their past affected the events and serious matters they had going on and how they were all affected in different ways. But even with all the turmoil within the incidents they had to go through as a family, the genuine love and affection they had for each other was strong enough to keep them going.
The entire family drama touched based on very serious subjects and added so much to the final resolution between Ash and April.
This book is about learning how to love others the way they need and how to let others love us in ways we probably don't know we need. It's about the acceptance, forgiveness, vulnerability, support and liberation that comes from true love.
Thank you, thank you THANK YOU, Hanna for letting me read such wonderful book before the release.
You know a book was so freaking good when you have no idea how to start the review, because there is so much to say and words are not enough.
Second-Chance Romance is one of my favorite tropes and I adored how Hanna wrote Ash and April’s path of getting back together. This wasn’t a conventional type of plot for this trope, which usually makes me pick sides while I figure “whose fault was it”. This story however, made me side with both of them equally. The reasons for the first breakup were so heartbreaking, that I wasn’t only able to empathize with both but to feel the different types of pain they had to endure, not only from their separation and doubts as they went back together, but also in their individual inner conflicts.
Ash is a man who knows what love really is. Someone who loves sacrificially and with no conditions. I will always have a deep admiration to all the older siblings that life had forced to mature so quickly in order to take care of their little brothers and sisters. I was able to feel the weight of all the pressures and responsibilities he had from the very first page and also his genuine concern for the well being of every member of his family.
April was a resilient and strong woman who knew how much she deserved. The kind of woman who picks up the pieces of her life and rebuilds it herself because she knows she can. I felt inspired as I read and learned all she had to go through to get to the beginning of the story. Although my heart was completely crushed with Ash's situation, I completely understood April's heart and felt for her from start to finish.
The slow burn was beautifully written. The tension built up emotionally and physically in every page since they see each other again and by the time it was fulfilled, I was able to feel how much they missed each other and how indeed they were what the other needed to complement their lives in every way. The swoon at this point was so different because their love was so easy to believe; it was as if they were completing something they left on pause, I had tears in my eyes and thought: God! This couple really loved each other!
This story is about true love in all its forms, including the importance of family love and how difficult it is. The Foresters stole my heart and I loved how Hanna intertwined this plotline without taking out the focus off the Romance.
Their family dynamics where beautifully chaotic. The descriptions allowed me to picture every member of this family very well ─adults, teenagers and children─ and feel the tension in every situation they had to go through. Even with all the difficulties, it was heartwarming to see how Ash put them as his first priority and tried hard to play the role he was given.
The sibling banter was real and vivid. I felt like I was there with them the entire time. They cracked me up most of the time, but I ended up bawling as I learned the tragic past of this family. I’m in awe of how well these eight siblings were developed through the pages. Each of them had severe ramifications in their lives for what had happened to them and the psychological and behavioral consequences were evident since the first interactions with Ash at the beginning of the story. My heart ached ─literally and figuratively─ to see how their past affected the events and serious matters they had going on and how they were all affected in different ways. But even with all the turmoil within the incidents they had to go through as a family, the genuine love and affection they had for each other was strong enough to keep them going.
The entire family drama touched based on very serious subjects and added so much to the final resolution between Ash and April.
This book is about learning how to love others the way they need and how to let others love us in ways we probably don't know we need. It's about the acceptance, forgiveness, vulnerability, support and liberation that comes from true love.
Thank you, thank you THANK YOU, Hanna for letting me read such wonderful book before the release.