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darlingbookreader 's review for:
Between Never and Forever
by Brit Benson
Oh my god - I devoured this book. I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC and this was my first read of Brit Benson's but after this stunning work of art I will have to go through and devour some of her other stories.
This story is told in three parts...Then (15 years old), Then (18 years old), and Present (28 years old). It centers around childhood bestfriends Levi and Savannah. Sav grows up in a trailer park where she is constantly on the run, usually to Levi, from her abusive step father. Levi is in his own personal hell with fanatic and overly strict catholic parents whose punishments involve a belt and bible verses. Sav and Levi form a bond and see other as a safe space until something forces Sav from town. Three years later they have a chance encounter and pick up right where they left off. Except the universe is still not on their side and an unexpected situation separates them again. Ten years later, Sav is part of a super famous rockstar band, has been in and out of rehab, has a rocky relationship with her bassist/bandmate Torren and she decides to take a break from the band and expand her horizons by taking part in a film as lead actress back in her hometown. There she runs back into Levi who's construction company is in charge of building the set for the film. But both have rings on their fingers, decade worth of festering anger and resentment, and yet an undeniable attraction to each other.
This story was unveiled and laid out so well. There were surprises along the well, anger at how unfair & cruel life could be, tears in those moments where you realize life is grey and messy and imperfect, and yet you could feel the hope for better, perseverance through the worst moments of life and the undeniable strength of love. Sav is a beautifully broken spirit who you can't help but root for and Levi somehow remains kind despite the life handed to him. The side characters were great - I felt just as captivated and desperate for the stories to continue with her bandmates Mabel, Torren and Jonah. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five was because the last 15% of the book felt like trauma/surprise overload. It was a bit too much, the story didn't need it, and I felt it hindered a bit of the HEA, especially the last surprise about his daughter.
The tropes are second chance, single dad, rockstar FMC, childhood bestfriends, angst overload, small town, dual POV.
This story is told in three parts...Then (15 years old), Then (18 years old), and Present (28 years old). It centers around childhood bestfriends Levi and Savannah. Sav grows up in a trailer park where she is constantly on the run, usually to Levi, from her abusive step father. Levi is in his own personal hell with fanatic and overly strict catholic parents whose punishments involve a belt and bible verses. Sav and Levi form a bond and see other as a safe space until something forces Sav from town. Three years later they have a chance encounter and pick up right where they left off. Except the universe is still not on their side and an unexpected situation separates them again. Ten years later, Sav is part of a super famous rockstar band, has been in and out of rehab, has a rocky relationship with her bassist/bandmate Torren and she decides to take a break from the band and expand her horizons by taking part in a film as lead actress back in her hometown. There she runs back into Levi who's construction company is in charge of building the set for the film. But both have rings on their fingers, decade worth of festering anger and resentment, and yet an undeniable attraction to each other.
This story was unveiled and laid out so well. There were surprises along the well, anger at how unfair & cruel life could be, tears in those moments where you realize life is grey and messy and imperfect, and yet you could feel the hope for better, perseverance through the worst moments of life and the undeniable strength of love. Sav is a beautifully broken spirit who you can't help but root for and Levi somehow remains kind despite the life handed to him. The side characters were great - I felt just as captivated and desperate for the stories to continue with her bandmates Mabel, Torren and Jonah. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five was because the last 15% of the book felt like trauma/surprise overload. It was a bit too much, the story didn't need it, and I felt it hindered a bit of the HEA, especially the last surprise about his daughter.
The tropes are second chance, single dad, rockstar FMC, childhood bestfriends, angst overload, small town, dual POV.