Forgetting Him: A Friends-to-Lovers Love Story

by Isabel Jolie

**Originally titled Lost on the Way**
A sexy, heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance with all the feels.

“Highly Recommended…so refreshing to see people work through their issues and come out on the other side.” - BookRiot


They were friends—just friends. Now they’re something else entirely…

Jason

Maggie was my best friend’s girl. When he died…I wasn’t sure we’d get through it.

But we healed. Together. Maggie became my friend, my confidant, and my family. She’s everything to me.

And I ruined it all last night.

One drunken night. That’s all it took. Now I’m lost.

She deserves someone better than me.

Now, if I can’t figure out how to go back to the way things were, I’ll lose the most important relationship I have. The only one that truly matters.

Maggie

Last night, we shared tequila. I found myself hoping like I always do.

I’d replay last night a thousand times if I could. It’s the morning after that needs erasing.

Our problem? His love for me isn’t the more kind of love. He’s made that abundantly clear. And that’s okay. Some part of me knows Jason will always see me as his best friend’s girl.

I can’t lose our friendship. If he wants to stay in the friend zone, I need to accept that. Move on. Rationally, I know this.

But convincing my heart…well, that’s another story entirely.



Forgetting Him is a standalone contemporary romance novel and the fourth novel in The West Side Series, a steamy contemporary romance series full of brooding, protective men and the strong women they fall for while living the single life in the city that never sleeps.

**Originally titled Lost on the Way**

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 7, 2024

About the author

Apple Books Contemporary Romance Bestselling Author of spicy thrillers where love always wins. Get free books + early access: https://isabeljoliebooks.com/#newsletter

Heart-pounding romance. Unforgettable heroes. Sizzling happily-ever-afters—with a side of suspense that'll keep you up way past bedtime.

I dreamed of being a writer as a kid but took the "safe" route: journalism degree, advertising career, MBA, corporate gigs at Chase and Universal. Then in 2020, I said screw it and published my first book. Twenty-five books later, I'm living the dream.

I'm also a mom to two teenage daughters who are perpetually mortified by my career choices. My husband's an entrepreneur whose latest product is Nampons (yes, it rhymes with tampons and yes, it's for nosebleeds). Between my spicy romance and his biz... we've cornered the market on parental embarrassment.

My books feature tough characters facing tougher choices, compelling suspense, and storylines that'll make you think. But no matter how dark things get, my people always choose love.

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Reviews

[Sarah Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional and bittersweet read.

I was drawn in from page one and read Jason and Maggie's story in one sitting. The hungover morning after was an uncomfortable introduction to these best friends, and as I discovered more about them and their relationship through memories and current day events, they wove a spell over me I couldn't escape. I empathised with Jason, while simultaneously wanting to yell at him out of pure frustration. I loved that Maggie stood by him, while also silently begging her to leave. This was an intense, emotional and bittersweet read that respectfully and sensitively covered difficult subject matter. I enjoyed the supporting cast of characters, but best of all, the hard won happily ever after and sweet epilogues told from both Jason and Maggie's points of view.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jacquelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Forgetting Him’ was heartfelt. Its captivating plot was filled with melancholy, flashbacks, a one-night stand, developing feelings for a bestie, keeping a friend at bay, reminiscing about a mutual deceased friend, breaking up a date, meeting for dinner and drinks, entertaining another person, being miffed, making up, being insulted, more flashbacks, being given an ultimatum, seeing a therapist, giving mixed signals, intentionally being inconsiderate, interviewing for a new job offer, catching up with family, counseling a grieving person, moving on, saying goodbye, a breakthrough in therapy, visiting his bestie, having an epiphany, and love.
Moreover, I liked the author’s writing style: well-written yet complicated characters, an engaging big-city setting, vivid descriptions including imagery and just-right word choices which created a warm tone, and a fascinating storyline that held my interest throughout. Overall, I liked the sweet narrative.
I received a copy for free and am voluntarily giving my honest review.

[Floraljoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional read:
This book draws you in and it was really emotional and heart breaking at times.
Maggie is secretly in love with Jason yet out of a sense of loyalty and misplaced self sacrifice, he's determined that they can never be more than friends. I was desperate for them to find their way together and at times wanted to scream at them!
It is quite a heavy book where the main characters only find happiness right at the end. However I appreciated how the author tackled tough subjects such as survivors guilt. I also enjoyed Jason's reminiscing and the dual timeframe which helped to provide context and depth to the current situation. Overall an enjoyable read and I look forward to the final book in the series (they can all be read as standalones but the group of friends make various appearances).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contemporary romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building and characters that are captivating, exuding power, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with forgetting him, explicit romance that is consumed by steamy sizzling passion, lust, desire, and spice with all the feelings to leave readers breathless and begging for more, friends-to-lovers romance, a strong heroine, women's fiction, one drunken night, heartfelt emotions, drama, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with forgetting him and explicit romance that is sure to transport readers into a world that is wild and unforgettable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grief and Tequila will bring a lot of questions

Forgetting Him is the fourth book in the West Side Series. This book was previously published with the title Lost on the Way. I had not read it but I have read other books in this series. As usual the author delivers in all ways with this book. You will be reaching for more than a few tissues along the way as the story deals with the loss of someone that is close to you and just how you can heal. It finds Maggie and Jason dealing with the death of Adam, his best friend and her boyfriend. They had been friends and were both attempting to heal in a way as their hearts were broken in different ways. But one night with Tequila and body shots turned into something a lot more. The morning after will bring a lot of questions, emotions and then where to they go and just how do they get there.

[Book Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! I don’t know if the build up was too much or my hormones are totally out of whack but what a tear jerker. I am soooo happy that a HEA was inevitable.

The way the author weaves the MMC memories and intermingles the FMC present responses to his actions are well done…. It’s so clear that he is experiencing emotional turmoil. However the reader is also feeling it too! Well woven tale. Definitely recommended reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a compassionate story that had my emotions all over the place. Jason and Maggie are coming to terms with the death of his best friend who happened to be her boyfriend. Their mutual loss helped them heal together but it also brought about feelings that both are dealing with. One night was all it took for things to come apart between them. Jason can't get beyond the fact that Maggie was his best friend's girl and the feelings he is experiencing makes him guilty. The story is profound, and I couldn't help but sympathize with him all that he is going through. Will he and Maggie find common ground in their relationship and find their chance for happiness.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed this story though I was sometimes frustrated with how Jason treated Maggie. A few people gave a previous edition of this book a lower score due to things such as the characters' co-dependency and this initially let me to thinking that no one in the book was aware of it. However, that isn't the case and the point is raised in the plot by secondary characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason & Maggie: Book 4 of West Side Series: Friend’s to lovers/ best friend’s girl: Previously released under the title "Lost on the Way." Interconnected standalone. Isabel Jolie has delivered a beautiful yet tear jerking emotional read. I was hooked right away, and the main and side characters have me falling for this series. I can’t wait to devour more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sue Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow.... what a truly emotional roller coaster!
I absolutely loved Jason and Maggie's heartwarming story.
Best friend's for over 10 years, but Jason is terrified of not being enough for Maggie and not being able to give her the life she deserves.
Will these best friend's ever have the love they are both seeking?
Wonderful storyline with great characters and absolutely loved the HEA.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, and I'm willingly leaving an honest review.

[JM G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a definite page turner. The characters pull you in and you want to keep reading about them. a friend to lovers romance that sends you on a roller coaster of emotions. Wonderful writing and fantastic storyline. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Liz M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotions just poured off the page. I couldn't stop reading, even though it tore my heart out.
A story of love and loss, heartbreak and healing, trying to move on when the past still drags you down.
This one will stay with me for a while.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this storyline very interesting, full of angst and brokenness.
This is romance between friends who believe that they have to stay in this stage, just friends.
But what about this one night ?
It’s not fast or easy ready but very rewarding.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm, this book was not at all what I expected. I was curious to find out more about Jason’s background and what made him act like he was depressed. It was an emotional story which made me cry. It was a good book but it did seem to go over certain bits a bit too much in my opinion.