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incensesuspense's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't know too much about this book before reading - so I got to experience the red flags just like a concerned friend as they slowly exposed themselves. For some reason this book really pulled me in and I enjoyed the short chapters. I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed, and would have liked a bit more development of some of the side characters.
spookyreads92's review against another edition
4.0
Wow.
What a frustrating read.
That being said, I think that this book is so important. Toxic relationships are REAL, and it is imperative to bring these dark realities to light.
What a frustrating read.
That being said, I think that this book is so important. Toxic relationships are REAL, and it is imperative to bring these dark realities to light.
angel02's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
entropyseeker's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Oof, definitely a rough one to get through and sometimes the thoughts felt super heavy handed, but a good book about toxic relationships that gets you in and out pretty quickly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
Minor: Car accident and Sexual content
bookladysreviews's review against another edition
3.0
*I received this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!*
Always Forever Maybe was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and I jumped at the chance to read and review it for a Blog Tour! It follows an abusive relationship that doesn't start out as such and explores the effects it has on the victim - in this case, Betts - and those who deeply care about her. The beginning of the book hints at something that's not right with Betts but, it's not revealed right away. She takes us back in time in this sort of flashback that starts to slowly unravel her secrets and what really happened with Aiden. How they met, how they fell in love and how their relationship basically spiraled out of control.
I'm not going to get into any more details where the plot is concerned because I feel like this is one of those books you need to read in order to feel the impact of but, I'm going to talk about what I enjoyed and what I didn't about it! Obviously, the story itself deals with a very sensitive subject that can be a hit or miss, depending on how the author handles it. It this case, I really felt like it was well written and got the message across, which is very important when it comes to books of this nature! The author did a pretty good job at highlighting the emotional and domestic abuse that prevailed in Bett and Aiden's relationship without overstepping any boundaries. It was both realistic and relatable, written in a very raw and poignant way that definitely made an impression on me, both as a reader and an actual human being!
Maybe Betts would've had more experience if she were older and would've been able to recognize the signs a bit better but still, it can happen to anyone because truth be told, we're more naive than we think sometimes. We have this distorted notion that love means accepting everything our ''other half'' says or does but, it doesn't work that way. We're trying so hard to create this ideal way of loving someone without realizing that it's just an illusion and the importance of it all lies in how much truth that love can handle without being overwhelmed by it. I'm getting a bit sentimental here, I know but, this is a very important topic that people need to talk about and stop brushing off or completely ignoring! I know that talking and writing about difficult topics that are considered to be a bit taboo in literature and life in general is not the easiest thing but, that is the main reason I was so interested in reading Always Forever Maybe and why I immensely appreciated its existence before doing so!
There were so many warning signs in Aiden's behavior and reading about them but not being able to do anything in order to prevent them from taking their hold on Betts was quite frustrating. Being a reader is more difficult than normal people realize sometimes, something that was very prominent in this particular novel, more so than in others I've read recently. I just sat there and kept turning its pages while dying on the inside because of what Betts was going through! I felt so many emotions while reading it because I simply could not change how it progressed and had to suffer along with the main heroine and everything an abusive asshole put her through. I usually try to keep emotion out of my reviews because that's what makes them more personal but, if you think about it, they are personal. Reading is supposed to make you feel things - positive or negative - and sharing them with the world is the least you can do for yourself and those who are interested in reading them as well, which is the point of running a blog or writing reviews in general!
Betts came off as being super sweet and dependable, throughout the novel. She obviously had no previous experience on relationships and the excitement of first love made her unaware of the dangers that lurked under its surface. She didn't know what it was supposed to be like and that is why she was more susceptible to denying its abusive nature. Aiden was a master at manipulation and she was easily affected by it, without realizing what it truly meant for her and her relationships with others. Her strong friendship with Jo was basically the thing that stood out the most in this story and the importance of it did not go unnoticed! Having supportive friends is the key to happiness and Jo was definitely the best of the bunch when it came to it! She stuck by Betts until the end, even when she did everything in her power to push her away! Eric was also a nice addition to the story. You could tell that there was a thing brewing between them but, I really enjoyed the fact that it took a backseat to everything else that was going on in the novel! Her parents were a completely different story, which becomes pretty apparent as soon as they're introduced! They're basically assholes and this is where the usual shitty and controlling parents trope comes in!
The thing that bugged me the most was the ending. I found it to be very rushed and it was definitely uncalled for, considering how well written the beginning of the book was. It was very quick and did not cover the basics of an ending, if that makes any sense. It didn't wrap things up for me and it felt like it was written in a haste, just for the heck of it. There could've been a more substantial build up to it that would've completed the characters' development in a way, mainly because they didn't reach their full potential, in my opinion! I'm also not very sure whether I really liked how the relationship ended because of an outside factor that kind of forced it to. I know that sounds complicated but, I'm not going to delve deeper into this particular statement because I don't want to spoil anything but, I feel like if it weren't for what happened that was not character driven in any way, Betts might've still been with Aiden. I can understand his troubles and the fact that he went through some pretty difficult times but, taking that out on her by being an abusive monster was not okay! We all deal with stuff but, violence is not a way to get over it!
Overall, I really enjoyed Always Forever Maybe because of how well it dealt with a very sensitive subject and made sure that readers understood how important speaking about it is! It can eat at your soul from the inside and you'll just keep denying it because that's how it's supposed to feel! Even though I wasn't a big fan of the ending and how underdeveloped it felt, I was more than appreciative of the message it sent across and how realistic it kept things throughout it!
Always Forever Maybe was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and I jumped at the chance to read and review it for a Blog Tour! It follows an abusive relationship that doesn't start out as such and explores the effects it has on the victim - in this case, Betts - and those who deeply care about her. The beginning of the book hints at something that's not right with Betts but, it's not revealed right away. She takes us back in time in this sort of flashback that starts to slowly unravel her secrets and what really happened with Aiden. How they met, how they fell in love and how their relationship basically spiraled out of control.
I'm not going to get into any more details where the plot is concerned because I feel like this is one of those books you need to read in order to feel the impact of but, I'm going to talk about what I enjoyed and what I didn't about it! Obviously, the story itself deals with a very sensitive subject that can be a hit or miss, depending on how the author handles it. It this case, I really felt like it was well written and got the message across, which is very important when it comes to books of this nature! The author did a pretty good job at highlighting the emotional and domestic abuse that prevailed in Bett and Aiden's relationship without overstepping any boundaries. It was both realistic and relatable, written in a very raw and poignant way that definitely made an impression on me, both as a reader and an actual human being!
Maybe Betts would've had more experience if she were older and would've been able to recognize the signs a bit better but still, it can happen to anyone because truth be told, we're more naive than we think sometimes. We have this distorted notion that love means accepting everything our ''other half'' says or does but, it doesn't work that way. We're trying so hard to create this ideal way of loving someone without realizing that it's just an illusion and the importance of it all lies in how much truth that love can handle without being overwhelmed by it. I'm getting a bit sentimental here, I know but, this is a very important topic that people need to talk about and stop brushing off or completely ignoring! I know that talking and writing about difficult topics that are considered to be a bit taboo in literature and life in general is not the easiest thing but, that is the main reason I was so interested in reading Always Forever Maybe and why I immensely appreciated its existence before doing so!
There were so many warning signs in Aiden's behavior and reading about them but not being able to do anything in order to prevent them from taking their hold on Betts was quite frustrating. Being a reader is more difficult than normal people realize sometimes, something that was very prominent in this particular novel, more so than in others I've read recently. I just sat there and kept turning its pages while dying on the inside because of what Betts was going through! I felt so many emotions while reading it because I simply could not change how it progressed and had to suffer along with the main heroine and everything an abusive asshole put her through. I usually try to keep emotion out of my reviews because that's what makes them more personal but, if you think about it, they are personal. Reading is supposed to make you feel things - positive or negative - and sharing them with the world is the least you can do for yourself and those who are interested in reading them as well, which is the point of running a blog or writing reviews in general!
Betts came off as being super sweet and dependable, throughout the novel. She obviously had no previous experience on relationships and the excitement of first love made her unaware of the dangers that lurked under its surface. She didn't know what it was supposed to be like and that is why she was more susceptible to denying its abusive nature. Aiden was a master at manipulation and she was easily affected by it, without realizing what it truly meant for her and her relationships with others. Her strong friendship with Jo was basically the thing that stood out the most in this story and the importance of it did not go unnoticed! Having supportive friends is the key to happiness and Jo was definitely the best of the bunch when it came to it! She stuck by Betts until the end, even when she did everything in her power to push her away! Eric was also a nice addition to the story. You could tell that there was a thing brewing between them but, I really enjoyed the fact that it took a backseat to everything else that was going on in the novel! Her parents were a completely different story, which becomes pretty apparent as soon as they're introduced! They're basically assholes and this is where the usual shitty and controlling parents trope comes in!
The thing that bugged me the most was the ending. I found it to be very rushed and it was definitely uncalled for, considering how well written the beginning of the book was. It was very quick and did not cover the basics of an ending, if that makes any sense. It didn't wrap things up for me and it felt like it was written in a haste, just for the heck of it. There could've been a more substantial build up to it that would've completed the characters' development in a way, mainly because they didn't reach their full potential, in my opinion! I'm also not very sure whether I really liked how the relationship ended because of an outside factor that kind of forced it to. I know that sounds complicated but, I'm not going to delve deeper into this particular statement because I don't want to spoil anything but, I feel like if it weren't for what happened that was not character driven in any way, Betts might've still been with Aiden. I can understand his troubles and the fact that he went through some pretty difficult times but, taking that out on her by being an abusive monster was not okay! We all deal with stuff but, violence is not a way to get over it!
Overall, I really enjoyed Always Forever Maybe because of how well it dealt with a very sensitive subject and made sure that readers understood how important speaking about it is! It can eat at your soul from the inside and you'll just keep denying it because that's how it's supposed to feel! Even though I wasn't a big fan of the ending and how underdeveloped it felt, I was more than appreciative of the message it sent across and how realistic it kept things throughout it!
sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
Betts has always played supporting role to her best friend, Jo. However, when Betts meets her dream guy at her part-time job at the local candy store, she finally feels that she is the star. Aidan adores her and he thinks she is beautiful. Jo doesn't like Aidan, because she thinks that he is more controlling than loving, to her, his actions seem more sinister. Betts begins pushing everything out of her life but Aidan, however, when she starts to see Aidan's dark-side she doesn't feel comfortable telling anyone else. Betts must decide what is love and what is acceptable in a relationship.
This story moved quickly and was the after-school special that I was expecting to find. There are times when I want to read these tough novels, just like the teens at the library. I think the relationship moved quickly and the warning signs/issues appeared and were addressed more quickly than I would expect in the real world. However, this is the type of book that is supposed to hook you fast and get you in and out. I think it gave me everything that I wanted/expected and could see many readers finding their way to these pages.
This story moved quickly and was the after-school special that I was expecting to find. There are times when I want to read these tough novels, just like the teens at the library. I think the relationship moved quickly and the warning signs/issues appeared and were addressed more quickly than I would expect in the real world. However, this is the type of book that is supposed to hook you fast and get you in and out. I think it gave me everything that I wanted/expected and could see many readers finding their way to these pages.
lestaslettering's review against another edition
3.0
Omg! The whole time from the start, I was screaming Bee to abort, abort, abort! All major red flags right up there, and at the beginning, the story didn't even seem realistic. You don't just go off on the bike with a stranger you just met a day before for all of five minutes. No one does that. Do they? And the ending? That change doesn't come overnight, just, like that.
This didn't impact me as much as The Places I've Cried in Public did but some major points were brought up here and the importance of healthy friendships, the blaming yourself for everything so it's a problem you can fix? It all kinda hit too close to home. A wonderful book which should also include a tw, please?
This didn't impact me as much as The Places I've Cried in Public did but some major points were brought up here and the importance of healthy friendships, the blaming yourself for everything so it's a problem you can fix? It all kinda hit too close to home. A wonderful book which should also include a tw, please?
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
2.0
This is an important subject. I loved the main female friendship in this story but felt like the actual subject was just surface without much depth. Betts relationship with her parents and older brothers was odd and almost felt unnecessary.
michelle_pink_polka_dot's review against another edition
5.0
It's hard to love a book like this-- the relationship in this book is so hard to read about. BUT yet, this is a book I loved anyway.
Betts meets Aiden and he's everything she's been wishing for. He's sexy and super-interested in her-- and who doesn't like a guy on a motorcycle?? But Aiden is damaged, and soon Betts finds herself tip-toeing around his moods and his jealousy. He wants to be with her all the time, which at first she finds adorable, but it soon it becomes obvious that it's not LOVE that is making Aiden needy-- it's control.
Betts and Aiden were toxic. Or really, Aiden was just toxic. I've been in a relationship with an Aiden and believe me when I say, it can be really hard to get out of. These types of dudes know how to suck you in. They know how to pull at your heartstrings, isolate you, and make you feel lower than low. They know when you are about to leave and they know exactly what to say so that you won't. Will every girl or guy fall into their trap?? Probably not. But once they find someone that they can suck into their web, it becomes a dangerous and volatile situation.
Hands down the best part of this book was Jo. Without Jo, I don't know if Betts could have made it. She was losing herself and Jo was the only thing grounding her. Most friends will give up on a girl like Betts-- she's pushing everyone away because in these relationships that's what people do-- but Jo isn't budging. She was an all-around great human being, and I wish there were more Jo's in this world.
I really did love this book. I felt like the progression of the relationship and Betts's evolution was well-done. Betts started out thinking this relationship empowered her to be someone other than a tagalong for Jo and her twin brother, and I think a lot of people fall into that trap. It's easy to confuse being happy that you are finally the center of someone's world, and obsession.
PS-- If you are in a relationship with an Aiden-- LEAVE. I know it's hard. Ask for help. What Betts and Aiden had wasn't love. Love would never make you feel like that.
OVERALL: So happy that I read this book. It brought back painful memories, but it was SO worth it. I hope that anyone who has an Aiden (or may meet an Aiden in the future) gets ahold of this book. The more people are aware of these types of relationships, the fewer people who will be susceptible.
My Blog:
Pink Polka Dot Books
Betts meets Aiden and he's everything she's been wishing for. He's sexy and super-interested in her-- and who doesn't like a guy on a motorcycle?? But Aiden is damaged, and soon Betts finds herself tip-toeing around his moods and his jealousy. He wants to be with her all the time, which at first she finds adorable, but it soon it becomes obvious that it's not LOVE that is making Aiden needy-- it's control.
Betts and Aiden were toxic. Or really, Aiden was just toxic. I've been in a relationship with an Aiden and believe me when I say, it can be really hard to get out of. These types of dudes know how to suck you in. They know how to pull at your heartstrings, isolate you, and make you feel lower than low. They know when you are about to leave and they know exactly what to say so that you won't. Will every girl or guy fall into their trap?? Probably not. But once they find someone that they can suck into their web, it becomes a dangerous and volatile situation.
Hands down the best part of this book was Jo. Without Jo, I don't know if Betts could have made it. She was losing herself and Jo was the only thing grounding her. Most friends will give up on a girl like Betts-- she's pushing everyone away because in these relationships that's what people do-- but Jo isn't budging. She was an all-around great human being, and I wish there were more Jo's in this world.
I really did love this book. I felt like the progression of the relationship and Betts's evolution was well-done. Betts started out thinking this relationship empowered her to be someone other than a tagalong for Jo and her twin brother, and I think a lot of people fall into that trap. It's easy to confuse being happy that you are finally the center of someone's world, and obsession.
PS-- If you are in a relationship with an Aiden-- LEAVE. I know it's hard. Ask for help. What Betts and Aiden had wasn't love. Love would never make you feel like that.
OVERALL: So happy that I read this book. It brought back painful memories, but it was SO worth it. I hope that anyone who has an Aiden (or may meet an Aiden in the future) gets ahold of this book. The more people are aware of these types of relationships, the fewer people who will be susceptible.
My Blog:
Pink Polka Dot Books