The Forever After Bet

Lake City High #4

by Jenny Cole

Hannah and Ford have been through so much as a couple. All they want is to be normal teenagers in a normal relationship, but no matter how they’ve tried, it’s been impossible.
Follow them as they finish their senior year of high school and make plans for the future and find their happily forever after.

Genres: Romance

319 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2023

Reviews

[Ana Rodriguez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating 1.5⭐️
I want to preface this review by saying that I am a highly opinionated 14 girl so please do not take offense to my review if you really like this book/ series.

I want to talk about the series since this is the end of Hannah and Ford's book. Now that said, this series was WAY too long. I will always stand by the fact that no romance series should be longer than 2 books where the same couple is the focus. Hannah and Ford got 4 BOOKS. That is insane. The first two books were good, great even. They were good YA fluffy romances where you see two people fall in love and I really enjoyed them. however, When I saw there was a 3rd book I got lost. I felt like the characters started to lose their personality and become only about how in love they were. Their solutions to all of their problems were stupid and only lead to more problems. I think the turning point for me was when Hannah thought getting MARRIED behind everyone's backs was a smart idea and would solve all of their problems. Overall these last two books were really a letdown for me and left me forcing myself to finish since I had already spent so much time on the series.

And then there's this book. I like this one even less than the 3rd book and that's saying something. while reading this I have also realized that my dislike for how the author writes dialogue contributes greatly to my dislike for the book. The dialogue is awful 75% in my opinion. I feel like every conversation ended with characters having some heartfelt moment when it was not needed. There is constantly some variation of the phrase " I couldn't do this without you and I hope you know how much you mean to me". Also when Hannah and Ford were not together at the beginning it felt way overdone with how badly both Ford and Hannah were taking the breakup. But then Ford literally TELLS HANNAH THAT HE LOVES HER and she thinks, and I quote, " But I'm getting ahead of myself. Ford said he loves me, but that doesn't mean he wants to get back together." I don't know what would imply that he didn't want to be with her because he said HE LOVES HER and that he would keep their promise to be together after graduation. Like am I missing something??? I have also concluded that a lot of their problems in the "excruciating " two weeks they weren't together were because they constantly REFUSE to communicate with one another. I also get that the whole marriage thing in the last week may cause someone to be upset but they constantly talk about how it was traumatic and something they did to "survive". Maybe my understanding of love is wrong but I feel like this situation should not be classified as severely traumatic or equated to a life-or-death situation.

Now let's move on to Beth. I don't like most of the characters in this book but Beth was a whole other level. She treated Hannah so awfully and when they started figuring out why she was so awful it was because she thought SHE WAS GOING INTO MENAPAUSE. In what world would someone going into early menopause, with no intention of having more kids, cause a woman to treat her daughter that way? Beth also finding out that she wasn't going into menopause and was pregnant still doesn't justify her behavior. Bree's character was also just soooo unrealistic. I get that she is supposed to be that mean girl that's a little insane but it was taken too far. Ford was also way too nice to her and honestly can be blamed a little as to why she pushed so hard to be with him. It took him SO LONG to turn her down and lead to the whole blackmail situation. which was stupid by the way, it contributed almost nothing to the story except for removing Bree from the story. Hannah's competition dress going missing was another issue that was not needed in the slightest.

The last thing I'm gonna say is that the writing truly made me not like this book. I think a fourth book was entirely too much because I no longer cared if Hannah and Ford made it through the enormous amount of problems they had and encountered. It felt like the only thing compelling the story was issue after issue that tries to break up Hannah and Ford. This book genuenly envokes a rage in me that most books cannot.

[Kam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m glad this finally ended. This definitely could’ve been wrapped up into three books instead of four and for that it’s mostly just that the writing is written like a journal for the characters point of views and I really did not like that because it felt like waste of page space and filler.

So mostly nice just to read for the closure ha ha

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I smashed through this book because I just needed to know after the last book and it didn’t let me down. Thank you Jenny on the ride you took us on, I had the biggest the smile
On my face as I finished this. I can’t wait to read Jack and Ty’s books. I plan to do a re-read without breaks between books but I would love it if this series was an audiobook as well. Ahhh I’m just sooooo happy

[Paolo A De La Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect read 📚

Thank you, Jenny Cole for the sweetest
story. I was hooked from the beginning but also dreaded getting closer to the ending. I'm a huge fan.

[Heather Newby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny Cole has done it again.

I’ve fallen in love with these characters. It’s a book I could barely set down.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy ending to a good story, I wish I knew what happened next when their families find out they are married.

[Cheyyyyy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sequel series would be great!!

I loved this series so much! I couldn't put it down! I really would love to see a sequel series about Clark and Fords life at Sutherland University!

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved these

[Maggie Boynton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m very dehydrated form crying

I bawled and bawled the entirety of this series I will always recommend this book I love it and will never forget it

[thebooklogue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely a bittersweet ending to the “Forever Bet" series. It was sad to say goodbye to Hannah and Ford, but the whole series is worth the read!!| Some parts were cringe (just some dialog) but other than that great read. I also felt bad for the “antagonist” of the series which her name is Bree. She’s just troubled and needs help, buuuut she’s also kind of stalkery and mean so it’s complicated. I looooved their friend group and there was such strong female dynamics. Please try this series out. It’s a long journey. Kinda hoping there will be a new series on navigating their adult lives. 🤷‍♀️🤭☺️

[Lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waited for what felt like forever!

I found this book series on a whim and I’m so happy I found it. Book 4 wrapped up everything so nicely. Hannah and Ford finally get their happy ending. I was moved to tears several times while reading this book. I’m sad that their story is over but loved every moment of it. When you find that love, you hold them tight and never let them go.

[Autumn Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so sad the series ended. I may or may not have wanted their story to go on forever... I think I may have cried a few times in this book. I remember one was when Ford surprised Hannah at her performance. And then some on the other books too. I wish it would've took us through them telling their parents that they're married. Also maybe another book to know what it was like at Sutherland.

[Annie Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in two days, it was amazing.
I love how Hanna and Ford fought for their relationship and overcome every obstacle they faced.
I think this book had the perfect ending for this couple that made me fall in love, cry and made me forget about the real world.
I love how their friends group supported them every step of the way, the relationship between Hanna and Jacks relationship has grown over the books.

[Sydney Anderson2001 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad to finally end this series. The ending was cute. I guess I wasn’t a fan of the stepmom hence the four stars. Even after the main girl and her fixed their relationship, I still did not like her. But overall, great read and great way to end the series.

[Aldyn Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad to finally wrap this series up, but I think I might miss a lot of these characters. These books were at times hard to read but yet I couldn’t put it down, I needed to know the story. Would love to hear how Jack and Leah’s story ends ..and June and Ty!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series!!!

I loved the Story of Hannah and Ford and their friends. This was my first book(s) written by Jenny Cole and I would definitely read more! I wish the series would continue, it was a great story! Love conquers all!!!

[Stephanie Livering · Rating 4 out of 5]

the bet:)

The last series book was really good however, hits a lot of points that didn't bring my interest and the reason I kept continuing to finish the book ended so abruptly. Wishing it got another book for the stories to feel more realistic and not rushed

[Alyssa Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

infinite stars for this book and just the series as a whole. it’s been so so long since i’ve connected with characters as much as i did with hannah and ford and it was so refreshing and wholesome. forever hoping that everyone gets to experience a love as real and pure as theirs is 🥲

[Ashley E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rollercoaster

This is an emotional rollercoaster. Still not so sure about Beth’s Character glad she came around in the end but still like too crazy. I hope there’s a book 5 love to see them out of high school in college life.

[Kelli Blake · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why was everyone crying all the time? Why did it have this huge build up to just be a non issue……barely finished this one

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

it got a little better but not much and i will most likely never read again :)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the series. Reminds me of Summer I Turned Pretty.
I will say that there are a number of grammar and spelling issues that began to get annoying.

[Supernova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several sex scenes that I skipped.

[Rachael Roloff · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5!

Cute ending to the series. Rooting for Hannah and Ford the whole way through.

[Mariah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book at all. It was too ridiculously cheesy.

[Marissa Curl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute

It was a good story. I feel it got dragged out a lot. I didn't think 4 books were needed. Two would of been great. Still a very cute story.