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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No
✨ARC Review✨
Forever Then by @rachae.stevens.author
Release Date: 6/25/25
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
I feel undeserving of this ARC, it is easily one of my top 5 books I’ve read this year. I absolutely loved it.
Connor and Gretchen’s story is all consuming, it sucks you in instantly and invokes so many feelings. I love a book that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and this one takes you on a ride. I cried multiple times.
A second chance romance, Conner is Gretchen’s brother’s best friend and older than her, but he has always had a love and fondness for her. Gretchen feels like maybe they could finally be more than friends and one moment changes everything. Fast forward three years, Gretchen makes the decision to find her birth mother. As fate would have it, last minute changes result in Connor joining Gretchen on this life-changing adventure. Despite their history, there isn’t anyone else that Gretchen could see by her side for this moment.
Gretchen has an instant pull to her that makes you fall in love with her immediately. She really lets you into her head, she’s relatable, full of self doubt, and navigating a life-altering discovery with absolute grace. Conner is the definition of a book boyfriend with golden retriever vibes all day long. The world really does need more men like him. He is by Gretchen’s side every step of the way and incredibly supportive.
Rachae knocked it out of the park with this book. Epic love story, check. Brutal second chance romance, check. Multiple storylines running at the same time seamlessly, check. Their connection was magical, you sensed they belonged together right from the start. Their love is like the best hug or the feeling of home.
Rachae Stevens is now an automatic read author for me, and I am desperate for more, - no lie, it was refreshing, all consuming, and such a joy to read. Do yourself a favor and read this book? Trust me, you’ll love it.
Thank you for selecting me to be an ARC reader for this book, it was an absolute honor. I was thrilled to be able to provide my honest thoughts, opinions and review. 💖
Forever Then by @rachae.stevens.author
Release Date: 6/25/25
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
I feel undeserving of this ARC, it is easily one of my top 5 books I’ve read this year. I absolutely loved it.
Connor and Gretchen’s story is all consuming, it sucks you in instantly and invokes so many feelings. I love a book that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and this one takes you on a ride. I cried multiple times.
A second chance romance, Conner is Gretchen’s brother’s best friend and older than her, but he has always had a love and fondness for her. Gretchen feels like maybe they could finally be more than friends and one moment changes everything. Fast forward three years, Gretchen makes the decision to find her birth mother. As fate would have it, last minute changes result in Connor joining Gretchen on this life-changing adventure. Despite their history, there isn’t anyone else that Gretchen could see by her side for this moment.
Gretchen has an instant pull to her that makes you fall in love with her immediately. She really lets you into her head, she’s relatable, full of self doubt, and navigating a life-altering discovery with absolute grace. Conner is the definition of a book boyfriend with golden retriever vibes all day long. The world really does need more men like him. He is by Gretchen’s side every step of the way and incredibly supportive.
Rachae knocked it out of the park with this book. Epic love story, check. Brutal second chance romance, check. Multiple storylines running at the same time seamlessly, check. Their connection was magical, you sensed they belonged together right from the start. Their love is like the best hug or the feeling of home.
Rachae Stevens is now an automatic read author for me, and I am desperate for more, - no lie, it was refreshing, all consuming, and such a joy to read. Do yourself a favor and read this book? Trust me, you’ll love it.
Thank you for selecting me to be an ARC reader for this book, it was an absolute honor. I was thrilled to be able to provide my honest thoughts, opinions and review. 💖
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
It's one of the best ARCs I've ever read, hands down.
This book is so much more than just a romance. Gretchen and Connor's story is beautiful, emotional,heart-wrenching, swoony, hilarious, and honestly, a rollercoaster in the best way possible. I felt every emotion reading this😭
Rachae Stevens absolutely nailed it for a debut novel. The way she wove in complex family dynamics, layered friendships, and multiple plotlines without it ever feeling overwhelming? Incredible.
And Connor... oh my god. The ultimate book boyfriend. The way I genuinely wish this man existed in real life. Their connection felt soul-deep as in like they were always meant to be. It was warm, grounding, and felt like home.
This is everything I love in a second-chance romance. The writing, the storyline, the pacing - all of it came together so perfectly. Yes, it was a bit long, but honestly? It needed to be. It gave space for everything to unfold naturally, and I wouldn't change a thing.
I loved this book so much it took over my thoughts daily until I finished it. And yes, I am begging - someone please give me a boyfriend like Connor. Why is it always the fictional ones??
@rachae.stevens.author needs to start writing more immediately because I'm now in that situation where I would literally read anything you write. I'm not even joking. Your writing has me hooked, obsessed, emotionally compromised - all of it.
Did I say I love it already? Because I do. So much. Forever obsessed.
A book where he breaks up with his girlfriend almost immediately after seeing the love of his life for the first time in three years, I'm sold. I got attached to this book so fast. Conner and Gretchen are so meant to be and I love an age gap brothers best friend. Conner has such loyalty to her brother but he messed them up once before and he doesn't want to do it again. He has never stopped loving her no matter how hard he tried. He just wants to be by Gretchen's side through life. He was so good when she was meeting her biological family and I just loved it. Gretchen is a really good character and I loved seeing her meet her family and how much they loved her even though they had to give her up.
I received an arc from love notes pr.
I received an arc from love notes pr.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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:
No
Review Coming Soon, but I can tell ya my rating is ♾️/5⭐️
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
If you love second chance, read this book. If you love stories filled with emotion and tension, read this book. If you love a brother’s best friend storyline, read this book. If you love MMC’s that give all the swooning and pining vibes, read this book. If you love FMC’s that are so utterly brave, authentic and real, READ THIS BOOK. Forever Then is Rachae Steven’s debut novel and WOW this did not feel like a debut novel at all. This felt like she has always been doing this. This is the kind of story that will stick with you and have you thinking about at least once a day. Gretchen and Connor’s story packed such an emotional punch that I cannot tell you how many times that tears were shed over these two. Whether they were tears of sadness, frustration or happiness. What makes this story even more special is the personal connection that Rachae intertwined into the story that she goes into a little more in depth in her afterword. Rachae truly made Connor the ultimate book boyfriend. The way I wish this man was real. He truly loved Gretchen and showed up for her in a various different way in the different phases of her life as they grew up with each other. Their connection was at a soul level and they were always meant to be. I also love Gretchen so much. She is a FMC that kind of sneaks up on you. She’s a gentle soul but she’s resilient, brave, and her authenticity really comes through the pages. I don’t want to go into much about the details of the story because I think it’s best that you experience it for yourself, just know that you are about to embark on a truly special journey with Gretchen and Connor and I hope you love it just as much as I did. Thank you so much Rachae for the ARC! Everyone go read this book NOW!
🌶️.5
If you love second chance, read this book. If you love stories filled with emotion and tension, read this book. If you love a brother’s best friend storyline, read this book. If you love MMC’s that give all the swooning and pining vibes, read this book. If you love FMC’s that are so utterly brave, authentic and real, READ THIS BOOK. Forever Then is Rachae Steven’s debut novel and WOW this did not feel like a debut novel at all. This felt like she has always been doing this. This is the kind of story that will stick with you and have you thinking about at least once a day. Gretchen and Connor’s story packed such an emotional punch that I cannot tell you how many times that tears were shed over these two. Whether they were tears of sadness, frustration or happiness. What makes this story even more special is the personal connection that Rachae intertwined into the story that she goes into a little more in depth in her afterword. Rachae truly made Connor the ultimate book boyfriend. The way I wish this man was real. He truly loved Gretchen and showed up for her in a various different way in the different phases of her life as they grew up with each other. Their connection was at a soul level and they were always meant to be. I also love Gretchen so much. She is a FMC that kind of sneaks up on you. She’s a gentle soul but she’s resilient, brave, and her authenticity really comes through the pages. I don’t want to go into much about the details of the story because I think it’s best that you experience it for yourself, just know that you are about to embark on a truly special journey with Gretchen and Connor and I hope you love it just as much as I did. Thank you so much Rachae for the ARC! Everyone go read this book NOW!