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Forever Then
We were almost forever…
Gretchen
It’s been three years since the kiss. The one I can’t seem to forget.
Judging by the girl on his arm, Connor Vining has no such problem.
I guess I misunderstood the look in his eyes that night.
I guess his best friend’s kid sister was never really in the running for Love of His Life.
But I’m not a kid anymore. I’ve graduated college and I’m about to fly interstate, in hopes of meeting my birth mother.
I was never going to face her alone, but when a twist of fate puts Connor by my side, I’m blindsided. And our tangled past is threatening to come undone...
Connor
I’m not sure whose heart is more broken: Gretchen’s or mine. All I know is it took everything in me to walk away from that kiss. I kept a promise, and I lost a friend.
And I think I made a mistake.
The problem is, now is not the right time to break down the walls Gretchen built to keep me out.
But now is the only time we’ve got.
Forever Then is a childhood friends-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, second chance adult romance.
458 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2025
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July 1, 2025DNF
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!
Second chance & brother's sister trope hardly ever work for me, so I didn't have high hopes that this one would be any different - and it isn't BTW.
FMC is 26 yrs old I believe and MMC a few years older. She has always had a crush on him and 3 years prior he finally noticed her and they shared a kiss at her brother's wedding & I guess some heavy make-out session but then he leaves and they ghost each other until the present where FMC is having dinner with her family and in he walks with his GF of 2 1/2 years all lovely-dovey. FMC is hurt he moved on so quickly from her and MMC can't keep his eyes away from her throughout dinner.
Then we skip ahead to 2 weeks later where we learn he & his GF are still together but he can't stop thinking of FMC and starts to evaluate his relationship with OW. This is what he says about OW:
Lauren and I have continued on like normal. We’ve gone out to dinner a few times, including a double date with Drew and Reagan. She’s been at my place in the evenings, where we’ve ordered takeout and binged Netflix like we always do. We’ve slept over at each other’s places several times, but neither of us has initiated sex. I was too tired some nights, we were both exhausted others.
Through every moment spent together and apart, I’ve tried to remember all that’s great between us, to look past my reservations over marrying her. I’ve told myself that our issues are all in my head. I’ve imagined what a life with Lauren would look like and, honestly, it’s a great life. There’s a nice home, a few kids, and a woman who’s an amazing mom and a supportive, faithful partner.
But, in all the visions of our possible future, I don’t see a woman that I’m madly in love with.
I love Lauren. But I’m not in love with her. It’s a reality I should have faced a long time ago. Instead, I’ve tried to will the puzzle pieces to fit, hoping that someday things would click and we’d make sense.
Except, the click never came.
I can’t ignore it anymore. The denial I’ve been living in, the issues I’ve made excuses for in the name of but she’s such a good person, have only served to give her a false hope of a forever together. That’s not fair to her.
We get a lot more info about him & OW like the fact he took her home to meet the family a year after they started dating, how she is beautiful, sweet and so on, and that even though they are not living together, he has been contemplating it and marriage as he feels she would make a great Mother one day. But then he sees FMC and starts to question his relationship with OW. At this point after all this, I was out.
As for FMC, I do not know if she was frozen or not as I pretty much lost interest and DNF'd a few chapters in with MMC's info with OW.
One of my pet peeves in 2nd chances is when MMC moves on to OW/OP. If he could so quickly move on to someone else and stay in it for so long and was happy, that tells me he never felt anything for FMC. And BTW, this is what she thinks as well...So the whole "it's always been you" crap that people like to write these days annoys me.
My advice to people who write fictional romances is if you are going to do a 2nd chance, don't incorporate OW/OM nonsense like this. It is the quickest way to ruin a story for someone and to have them lose interest. What purpose did it serve? It is fiction. We want the story of the 2 MCs you are writing about and for them to be faithful to one another. Is that too much to ask? 👿
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!
Second chance & brother's sister trope hardly ever work for me, so I didn't have high hopes that this one would be any different - and it isn't BTW.
FMC is 26 yrs old I believe and MMC a few years older. She has always had a crush on him and 3 years prior he finally noticed her and they shared a kiss at her brother's wedding & I guess some heavy make-out session but then he leaves and they ghost each other until the present where FMC is having dinner with her family and in he walks with his GF of 2 1/2 years all lovely-dovey. FMC is hurt he moved on so quickly from her and MMC can't keep his eyes away from her throughout dinner.
Then we skip ahead to 2 weeks later where we learn he & his GF are still together but he can't stop thinking of FMC and starts to evaluate his relationship with OW. This is what he says about OW:
Lauren and I have continued on like normal. We’ve gone out to dinner a few times, including a double date with Drew and Reagan. She’s been at my place in the evenings, where we’ve ordered takeout and binged Netflix like we always do. We’ve slept over at each other’s places several times, but neither of us has initiated sex. I was too tired some nights, we were both exhausted others.
Through every moment spent together and apart, I’ve tried to remember all that’s great between us, to look past my reservations over marrying her. I’ve told myself that our issues are all in my head. I’ve imagined what a life with Lauren would look like and, honestly, it’s a great life. There’s a nice home, a few kids, and a woman who’s an amazing mom and a supportive, faithful partner.
But, in all the visions of our possible future, I don’t see a woman that I’m madly in love with.
I love Lauren. But I’m not in love with her. It’s a reality I should have faced a long time ago. Instead, I’ve tried to will the puzzle pieces to fit, hoping that someday things would click and we’d make sense.
Except, the click never came.
I can’t ignore it anymore. The denial I’ve been living in, the issues I’ve made excuses for in the name of but she’s such a good person, have only served to give her a false hope of a forever together. That’s not fair to her.
We get a lot more info about him & OW like the fact he took her home to meet the family a year after they started dating, how she is beautiful, sweet and so on, and that even though they are not living together, he has been contemplating it and marriage as he feels she would make a great Mother one day. But then he sees FMC and starts to question his relationship with OW. At this point after all this, I was out.
As for FMC, I do not know if she was frozen or not as I pretty much lost interest and DNF'd a few chapters in with MMC's info with OW.
One of my pet peeves in 2nd chances is when MMC moves on to OW/OP. If he could so quickly move on to someone else and stay in it for so long and was happy, that tells me he never felt anything for FMC. And BTW, this is what she thinks as well...So the whole "it's always been you" crap that people like to write these days annoys me.
My advice to people who write fictional romances is if you are going to do a 2nd chance, don't incorporate OW/OM nonsense like this. It is the quickest way to ruin a story for someone and to have them lose interest. What purpose did it serve? It is fiction. We want the story of the 2 MCs you are writing about and for them to be faithful to one another. Is that too much to ask? 👿
June 18, 2025
⋆⋅˚₊‧🩰♡🦢⋆⋅˚₊
— 5 stars
⤿ read 6/16/25 - 6/18/25
︵‿୨♡୧‿︵
i. book review
For this being a debut novel it's SOOOOO GOOD ??? This book is so much more than a cute romance. It's not just about love, its heartbreak, forgiveness, friendships, and so so soooo much more
I'm so addicted to this book, i didn't want to put it down when i started reading it. Gretchen and Connor's relationship and connection was shown really strongly the moment they met, their tension and love UGHH its to die for. The flashbacks between these two were sooo cute and special. Connor understood Gretchen SOOO well and i loved how we was always, ALWAYS, supporting her. The constant tension between these two was VERY intense, the yearning and longing are OMGGGG.
This book put me through SO much, one second i was crying and the next i was laughing, ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. Definietly a MUST READ for everyone!!
︵‿୨♡୧‿︵
ii. quotes
➷ “Falling for you was easy. Loving you is even easier. Even when life is hard, loving you isn't."
➷ “Maybe love is that simple. It can arrive unsuspectingly into your life when you’re just a kid. A love that starts out as something innocent and pure, but over time blooms into more. By the time you realize what’s happened, you’re so far gone you don’t even know how or when it began. All you know is you love this person—your person—and you can’t remember a time when you didn’t. I think, maybe, my soul chose hers long before my heart or my head ever could.”
︵‿୨♡୧‿︵
iii. tropes
𐙚 Second Chance
𐙚 Childhood Friends to Lovers
𐙚 Forced Proximity
𐙚 Brother's Best Friend
𐙚 Slow Burn
︵‿୨♡୧‿︵
🌷┇ ೀ୭ 𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝
Forced proximity my love im BACKKKK🤭
Thank you LoveNotes PR & Rachae Stevens for allowing me the chance to read and review this !!!
— 5 stars
⤿ read 6/16/25 - 6/18/25
"I’ll spend the rest of my life with this picture, reminding myself that soulmates do exist—even if I never get to call her mine."
︵‿୨♡୧‿︵
i. book review
this is me trying — Taylor Swift
For this being a debut novel it's SOOOOO GOOD ??? This book is so much more than a cute romance. It's not just about love, its heartbreak, forgiveness, friendships, and so so soooo much more
I'm so addicted to this book, i didn't want to put it down when i started reading it. Gretchen and Connor's relationship and connection was shown really strongly the moment they met, their tension and love UGHH its to die for. The flashbacks between these two were sooo cute and special. Connor understood Gretchen SOOO well and i loved how we was always, ALWAYS, supporting her. The constant tension between these two was VERY intense, the yearning and longing are OMGGGG.
This book put me through SO much, one second i was crying and the next i was laughing, ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. Definietly a MUST READ for everyone!!
︵‿୨♡୧‿︵
ii. quotes
➷ “Falling for you was easy. Loving you is even easier. Even when life is hard, loving you isn't."
➷ “Maybe love is that simple. It can arrive unsuspectingly into your life when you’re just a kid. A love that starts out as something innocent and pure, but over time blooms into more. By the time you realize what’s happened, you’re so far gone you don’t even know how or when it began. All you know is you love this person—your person—and you can’t remember a time when you didn’t. I think, maybe, my soul chose hers long before my heart or my head ever could.”
︵‿୨♡୧‿︵
iii. tropes
𐙚 Second Chance
𐙚 Childhood Friends to Lovers
𐙚 Forced Proximity
𐙚 Brother's Best Friend
𐙚 Slow Burn
︵‿୨♡୧‿︵
🌷┇ ೀ୭ 𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝
Forced proximity my love im BACKKKK🤭
Thank you LoveNotes PR & Rachae Stevens for allowing me the chance to read and review this !!!
December 17, 2025
NTS- MMC falls in love with OW after betraying and ghosting FMC
I wanted to like it but I kinda hated both of the MCs.
He never loved Gretchen if he can move on to OW that fast after ghosting her
Connor was a coward and really fucking selfish. Gretchen, was sweet and kinda pathetic. I hate how she just forgot how awful Conor was to her anytime she looked at him, major BBS and honestly- fuck that. She needed to get a life.
The betrayal was too much and the way it’s written the reader finds out what happened 3 years prior then the next chapter jumps back to the present, so honestly I’m still in the mindset of how badly Connor fucked over Gretchen 3 years ago and I’m not ready to get over it! Yet all he says is a few ‘I’m story’s’ and ‘I respect you NOW’ (cos he obviously has none for her 3 years prior) and she’s all “it’s ok I forgive you”…bitch huh??
What did Connor do that was so bad? Well he spent a year texting, calling, FaceTiming, flirting, and ‘falling in love’ 🙄 with Gretchen, then weekend of Drew’s wedding they spend the rehearsal dinner flirting and making cute book dates to go on together after the wedding. Good old Drew asks Connor to keep their sleazy friends away from his sister and Connor takes this as a personal dig and thinks he has to also stay away from Gretchen, instead of, idk maybe just staying out of her way? Staying friends? Telling her what’s going on? Dipshit brings a date to the wedding to purposely hurt her! He knew it would and he WANTED TO HURT her so she would stay away (which she should have but we’ve already established she’s pathetic so…) and of course the date he brings turns out to be Gretchen ex-bff from school who fucked any guy Gretchen liked or was dating. So anyway, he doesn’t tell OW to leave the wedding, he parades her around and makes Gretchen think he’s leaving with her and is way fucking nicer and cares more about how OW is feeling that how much he’s hurting Gretchen! Sends OW home and comes back to make out with Gretchen and of course she kisses him because why start having self respect now? Just kiss the guy who’s been leading you on and brought your enemy to your brothers wedding? He totally ruined Gretchen day, this was her brothers wedding and she spent most of it in the toilet crying. He could have ditched her after the wedding he didn’t need to do her dirty like that!!!
Anyway, he kisses her and then promptly tells her it was all a mistake and ghosts her for 3 years. Gretchen sees him after 3 years during a family dinner which he turns up to with his girlfriend of TWO AND A HALF YEARS. Yes, this piece of shit man moved on months after ghosting Gretchen.
And of course Gretchen has never had a serious boyfriend, or had sex, or fell in love. Of course she’s no friends and has no real meaningful relationships outside of Connor even though she’s 22 years old. And of course Connor was a manwhore who slept around for years, to then get in to a serious relationship with another woman and also FALL IN LOVE with said woman (idc if he tells her he “loves her but isn’t in love with her” it doesn’t soften the blow. He still moved on from Gretchen after not even trying to speak to her. He still said ‘I love you’ to another woman he was serious with. He still would probably be with the OW if he hadn’t saw Gretchen).
So no, neither MC were likeable because their actions were cowardly and pathetic.
side note - it is also laughable to me that they ok’d a last minute guest to their wedding and was fine with adding a random nobody to their TOP TABLE. For real? Who does that 😂
I wanted to like it but I kinda hated both of the MCs.
He never loved Gretchen if he can move on to OW that fast after ghosting her
Connor was a coward and really fucking selfish. Gretchen, was sweet and kinda pathetic. I hate how she just forgot how awful Conor was to her anytime she looked at him, major BBS and honestly- fuck that. She needed to get a life.
The betrayal was too much and the way it’s written the reader finds out what happened 3 years prior then the next chapter jumps back to the present, so honestly I’m still in the mindset of how badly Connor fucked over Gretchen 3 years ago and I’m not ready to get over it! Yet all he says is a few ‘I’m story’s’ and ‘I respect you NOW’ (cos he obviously has none for her 3 years prior) and she’s all “it’s ok I forgive you”…bitch huh??
What did Connor do that was so bad? Well he spent a year texting, calling, FaceTiming, flirting, and ‘falling in love’ 🙄 with Gretchen, then weekend of Drew’s wedding they spend the rehearsal dinner flirting and making cute book dates to go on together after the wedding. Good old Drew asks Connor to keep their sleazy friends away from his sister and Connor takes this as a personal dig and thinks he has to also stay away from Gretchen, instead of, idk maybe just staying out of her way? Staying friends? Telling her what’s going on? Dipshit brings a date to the wedding to purposely hurt her! He knew it would and he WANTED TO HURT her so she would stay away (which she should have but we’ve already established she’s pathetic so…) and of course the date he brings turns out to be Gretchen ex-bff from school who fucked any guy Gretchen liked or was dating. So anyway, he doesn’t tell OW to leave the wedding, he parades her around and makes Gretchen think he’s leaving with her and is way fucking nicer and cares more about how OW is feeling that how much he’s hurting Gretchen! Sends OW home and comes back to make out with Gretchen and of course she kisses him because why start having self respect now? Just kiss the guy who’s been leading you on and brought your enemy to your brothers wedding? He totally ruined Gretchen day, this was her brothers wedding and she spent most of it in the toilet crying. He could have ditched her after the wedding he didn’t need to do her dirty like that!!!
Anyway, he kisses her and then promptly tells her it was all a mistake and ghosts her for 3 years. Gretchen sees him after 3 years during a family dinner which he turns up to with his girlfriend of TWO AND A HALF YEARS. Yes, this piece of shit man moved on months after ghosting Gretchen.
And of course Gretchen has never had a serious boyfriend, or had sex, or fell in love. Of course she’s no friends and has no real meaningful relationships outside of Connor even though she’s 22 years old. And of course Connor was a manwhore who slept around for years, to then get in to a serious relationship with another woman and also FALL IN LOVE with said woman (idc if he tells her he “loves her but isn’t in love with her” it doesn’t soften the blow. He still moved on from Gretchen after not even trying to speak to her. He still said ‘I love you’ to another woman he was serious with. He still would probably be with the OW if he hadn’t saw Gretchen).
So no, neither MC were likeable because their actions were cowardly and pathetic.
side note - it is also laughable to me that they ok’d a last minute guest to their wedding and was fine with adding a random nobody to their TOP TABLE. For real? Who does that 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2025
Forever Then
By Rachae Steven
♾️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
ARC Review
𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆, 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆, 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆— 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆— 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.
"A second chance, brother's best friend, age gap romance you say? SIGN. ME. UP." That was my first thought when I saw this book being promoted. But reducing it to the tropes inluded is a disservice to this book. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
I love a second chance romance. The yearning is unmatched. The pining is delicious. And this book does not disappoint. I mean these two are mutually, pathetically, down-bad. But second chance means there was a first, and the heartbreak that goes along with this story will get your right in the tear ducts.
But let me tell you, as much as the romance will have you in a chokehold, that is not the part of this story that will pull at your heartstrings. This book follows Gretchen as she goes on a journey to find and hopefully reconnect, with her birth mother. When I tell you this plot had me SOBBING... I mean snotty, disgusting, blubbering tears that I tried to keep quiet because it was 2am and my husband was asleep. I mean I was a MESS. This story is absolutely breathtaking.
Of course to balance out the tears there is a healthy dose of humor. The banter is absolutely top tier. I was giggling basically anytime I wasn't crying. And of course we need a little drama, so add in am over protective brother and an age gap. I mean is it even a good brother best friend trope if no one is threatened or punched?
𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒔. 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒐 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕… 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓. 𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕. 𝑩𝒆. 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒓𝒅.
Read June 18-20, 2025
By Rachae Steven
♾️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
ARC Review
𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆, 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆, 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆— 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆— 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.
"A second chance, brother's best friend, age gap romance you say? SIGN. ME. UP." That was my first thought when I saw this book being promoted. But reducing it to the tropes inluded is a disservice to this book. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
I love a second chance romance. The yearning is unmatched. The pining is delicious. And this book does not disappoint. I mean these two are mutually, pathetically, down-bad. But second chance means there was a first, and the heartbreak that goes along with this story will get your right in the tear ducts.
But let me tell you, as much as the romance will have you in a chokehold, that is not the part of this story that will pull at your heartstrings. This book follows Gretchen as she goes on a journey to find and hopefully reconnect, with her birth mother. When I tell you this plot had me SOBBING... I mean snotty, disgusting, blubbering tears that I tried to keep quiet because it was 2am and my husband was asleep. I mean I was a MESS. This story is absolutely breathtaking.
Of course to balance out the tears there is a healthy dose of humor. The banter is absolutely top tier. I was giggling basically anytime I wasn't crying. And of course we need a little drama, so add in am over protective brother and an age gap. I mean is it even a good brother best friend trope if no one is threatened or punched?
𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒔. 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒐 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕… 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓. 𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕. 𝑩𝒆. 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒓𝒅.
Read June 18-20, 2025
June 26, 2025
ARC Review, thank you Love Notes PR 🩷.
I wish I had the exact words to express how I feel after reading this book… It was one of those painfully beautiful stories. I cried—not just on the outside, but deep inside. My soul cried. And yet, I smiled too.
I deeply connected with the female main character. Her journey to discover who she truly was, where she came from, why certain things happened to her—it resonated with me in such a personal way. She wasn’t just Gretchen, daughter of her mom and dad; she needed to know her roots, her truth. And watching her slowly uncover it all… it was simply beautiful.
Yes, it’s fiction—and sure, it had a happy ending. But I can’t help but wish more people had the same chance to find themselves like that. I say this from a deeply personal place. Because, honestly, parts of her story felt like mine.
Was there anything I didn’t like? Not exactly. But I did feel the main couple had a lot of conflict. I’m not usually drawn to books with heavy emotional friction—I tend to think some things could be solved with a good conversation. That said, I get it. This was a second chance romance, and the tension was necessary. It was well done. And meaningful.
Now, Connor... he was just pure sweetness. Kind. Patient. Afraid, yes—but once he realized life only gives us so much time, he didn’t waste a second. That kind of decision, that clarity… it made him unforgettable.
This was my first book by this author, and wow—what a beautiful read. It touched me. It made me think. It made me feel.
So yes. I absolutely loved it.
I wish I had the exact words to express how I feel after reading this book… It was one of those painfully beautiful stories. I cried—not just on the outside, but deep inside. My soul cried. And yet, I smiled too.
I deeply connected with the female main character. Her journey to discover who she truly was, where she came from, why certain things happened to her—it resonated with me in such a personal way. She wasn’t just Gretchen, daughter of her mom and dad; she needed to know her roots, her truth. And watching her slowly uncover it all… it was simply beautiful.
Yes, it’s fiction—and sure, it had a happy ending. But I can’t help but wish more people had the same chance to find themselves like that. I say this from a deeply personal place. Because, honestly, parts of her story felt like mine.
Was there anything I didn’t like? Not exactly. But I did feel the main couple had a lot of conflict. I’m not usually drawn to books with heavy emotional friction—I tend to think some things could be solved with a good conversation. That said, I get it. This was a second chance romance, and the tension was necessary. It was well done. And meaningful.
Now, Connor... he was just pure sweetness. Kind. Patient. Afraid, yes—but once he realized life only gives us so much time, he didn’t waste a second. That kind of decision, that clarity… it made him unforgettable.
This was my first book by this author, and wow—what a beautiful read. It touched me. It made me think. It made me feel.
So yes. I absolutely loved it.
July 3, 2025
Gorgeous
Second chance, slow burn, brother’s best friend…some of my favourite tropes stuck together in forced proximity - oh, look! There’s another one!
This debut is an amazing read. I really loved the characters (although I wanted to smack a some of them around the head a few times). This was a story that I felt I could see play out in real life. There’s no villains, no monsters, just messy, complicated, real life.
While the romance between the main characters was beautiful, the even bigger love story is Gretchen’s search for her birth mother. The results of her search had me in tears. To then read how the author’s own family inspired this section of the story made it even more special.
There are a number of potential triggers in this book, including adoption and miscarriage. It’s an open door book but includes a guide for sections to avoid (or skip to) if that’s not your thing.
I highly recommend this book to all contemporary romance fans. Rachae Stevens is going onto my auto-read list.
Second chance, slow burn, brother’s best friend…some of my favourite tropes stuck together in forced proximity - oh, look! There’s another one!
This debut is an amazing read. I really loved the characters (although I wanted to smack a some of them around the head a few times). This was a story that I felt I could see play out in real life. There’s no villains, no monsters, just messy, complicated, real life.
While the romance between the main characters was beautiful, the even bigger love story is Gretchen’s search for her birth mother. The results of her search had me in tears. To then read how the author’s own family inspired this section of the story made it even more special.
There are a number of potential triggers in this book, including adoption and miscarriage. It’s an open door book but includes a guide for sections to avoid (or skip to) if that’s not your thing.
I highly recommend this book to all contemporary romance fans. Rachae Stevens is going onto my auto-read list.
July 10, 2025
4.5 stars ⭐️
I really enjoyed this debut novel! Gretchen and Connor’s story was emotional, funny, swoony, and heartbreaking- but will absolutely mend your heart with the amount of love you feel! I liked Gretchen and Connor’s history and enjoyed seeing them get to act on their feelings and get their second chance. Connor was amazing and so kind. I loved the gifts he gave Gretchen and how she had kept the first book for years. I loved how supportive Connor was during Gretchen’s journey to finding herself. Her adopted family was amazing and I loved that her biological family fit right in and were so loving. Overall, it was an amazing debut and I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author 🫶🏻
I really enjoyed this debut novel! Gretchen and Connor’s story was emotional, funny, swoony, and heartbreaking- but will absolutely mend your heart with the amount of love you feel! I liked Gretchen and Connor’s history and enjoyed seeing them get to act on their feelings and get their second chance. Connor was amazing and so kind. I loved the gifts he gave Gretchen and how she had kept the first book for years. I loved how supportive Connor was during Gretchen’s journey to finding herself. Her adopted family was amazing and I loved that her biological family fit right in and were so loving. Overall, it was an amazing debut and I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author 🫶🏻
June 24, 2025
This book has a special place in my heart because of the adoption storyline, a theme that’s rarely done with this much tenderness and depth. I’ve been waiting for this release for what feels like forever, and it delivered everything I was hoping for.
💔 We were almost forever…
Three years ago, one kiss changed everything between Gretchen and Connor. But now she’s on a journey to find her birth mother and the last person she expects to take that journey with her is the boy who broke her heart. What follows is a road trip full of memories, miscommunication, and maybe… a second chance at forever.
🧡 Tropes I adored:
✔️ Childhood friends-to-lovers
✔️ Brother’s best friend
✔️ Second chance romance
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ So much pining
✔️ “Oops, is that one bed?”
✔️ And yes… he cooks for her.
✨ This book is soft, sharp, and full of heart. It’s for anyone who’s ever wondered if the timing was just wrong and what might happen if you finally get the chance to make it right.
Run don’t walk to get your copy today!
June 25, 2025
♾️/5★
Aca-scuse me? What do you mean this is a debut novel? It’s been two weeks since I read this ARC & I still haven’t stopped thinking about it!
I absolutely adore Connor & Gretchen! 🥰 Connor Vining? Made a couple of terrible choices—who doesn’t?—but the perfect book boyfriend nonetheless. I mean, this man would definitely be the type of husband who will take pictures of you living the mom life someday & do it from all the right angles so your double chin doesn’t show. He had me kicking & screaming & horizontal running all over the bed. And Gretchen Fisher? WHAT A GODDESS. 😍 You may have come here for that top tier brother’s best friend romance, but you will be completely captivated by Gretchen’s story as she searches for her birth mom.
I’ve never read anything like this before & to learn that the FMC’s story was inspired by the author’s brother’s adoption story made it even more special. 🥺 Read the Afterword, y’all. Actually, just read the entire book now! Be ready to swoon, smile until your cheeks hurt, be enraged, & sob until you can’t read through the tears anymore. Aca-believe me! This book finished me… like a cheesecake. 😭
What to expect:
•Second chance romance
•Childhood friends to lovers
•Forced proximity
•Brother’s best friend
•Age gap
•Dual POV
•Dual timeline
•Pitch Perfect references
•Witty banter
•SO MUCH PINING
Aca-scuse me? What do you mean this is a debut novel? It’s been two weeks since I read this ARC & I still haven’t stopped thinking about it!
I absolutely adore Connor & Gretchen! 🥰 Connor Vining? Made a couple of terrible choices—who doesn’t?—but the perfect book boyfriend nonetheless. I mean, this man would definitely be the type of husband who will take pictures of you living the mom life someday & do it from all the right angles so your double chin doesn’t show. He had me kicking & screaming & horizontal running all over the bed. And Gretchen Fisher? WHAT A GODDESS. 😍 You may have come here for that top tier brother’s best friend romance, but you will be completely captivated by Gretchen’s story as she searches for her birth mom.
I’ve never read anything like this before & to learn that the FMC’s story was inspired by the author’s brother’s adoption story made it even more special. 🥺 Read the Afterword, y’all. Actually, just read the entire book now! Be ready to swoon, smile until your cheeks hurt, be enraged, & sob until you can’t read through the tears anymore. Aca-believe me! This book finished me… like a cheesecake. 😭
What to expect:
•Second chance romance
•Childhood friends to lovers
•Forced proximity
•Brother’s best friend
•Age gap
•Dual POV
•Dual timeline
•Pitch Perfect references
•Witty banter
•SO MUCH PINING
June 30, 2025
ఌ Forever Then - Rachae Stevens
Romance - Contemporary Romance
📖 VO
𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔:
*𝑨𝒈𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒑
*𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅
*𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
—
4,75★/5
𐙚₊˚⊹ Digital ARC received from Love Notes PR, thank you so much for your trust!
This book completely wrecked me (in the best way). It came so close to being a full 5★. Honestly, the moment I find myself wanting to annotate almost the entire book, that’s when I know it’s something special. And that’s exactly what happened here.
From the very first pages, I was hooked by Rachae Stevens’ writing. She has this gift for weaving emotions into soft, fluid, and deeply addictive prose. It’s the kind of story you fly through (I read it in 2–3 days even though I was in a bit of a reading slump), but one that still manages to hit you right in the heart.
Connor and Gretchen absolutely broke me. Their story felt like two souls who might’ve found each other too soon… but who reconnect at just the right time. Their bond is raw and real, filled with unspoken feelings, tension, regrets : all so beautifully written and layered.
And honestly, what a man, Connor. He sees her quietly flipping through a book in a bookstore, puts it back without saying a word… and later surprises her with it for her birthday. And not just any book: it’s a special edition of one he had already gifted her in the past. 🥹 It’s those subtle, thoughtful gestures that speak volumes. I melted.
Also, huge shoutout to Gretchen’s brother, I loved his role as the fiercely protective big brother!
Gretchen’s storyline around adoption and the search for her identity was incredibly moving. It’s heartfelt, emotional, and there were definitely moments that made my chest tighten. You feel everything with her : the fear, the doubts, but also her quiet strength and courage.
And honestly… I rarely cry when I read. But this one? Yeah, it definitely brought a few tears. It hit me right in the chest when I least expected it.
I highly recommend it, especially if you’re into these kinds of emotional tropes! I’ll definitely be buying the paperback just so I can annotate it properly 🤭
Romance - Contemporary Romance
📖 VO
𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔:
*𝑨𝒈𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒑
*𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅
*𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
—
4,75★/5
𐙚₊˚⊹ Digital ARC received from Love Notes PR, thank you so much for your trust!
This book completely wrecked me (in the best way). It came so close to being a full 5★. Honestly, the moment I find myself wanting to annotate almost the entire book, that’s when I know it’s something special. And that’s exactly what happened here.
From the very first pages, I was hooked by Rachae Stevens’ writing. She has this gift for weaving emotions into soft, fluid, and deeply addictive prose. It’s the kind of story you fly through (I read it in 2–3 days even though I was in a bit of a reading slump), but one that still manages to hit you right in the heart.
Connor and Gretchen absolutely broke me. Their story felt like two souls who might’ve found each other too soon… but who reconnect at just the right time. Their bond is raw and real, filled with unspoken feelings, tension, regrets : all so beautifully written and layered.
And honestly, what a man, Connor. He sees her quietly flipping through a book in a bookstore, puts it back without saying a word… and later surprises her with it for her birthday. And not just any book: it’s a special edition of one he had already gifted her in the past. 🥹 It’s those subtle, thoughtful gestures that speak volumes. I melted.
Also, huge shoutout to Gretchen’s brother, I loved his role as the fiercely protective big brother!
Gretchen’s storyline around adoption and the search for her identity was incredibly moving. It’s heartfelt, emotional, and there were definitely moments that made my chest tighten. You feel everything with her : the fear, the doubts, but also her quiet strength and courage.
And honestly… I rarely cry when I read. But this one? Yeah, it definitely brought a few tears. It hit me right in the chest when I least expected it.
I highly recommend it, especially if you’re into these kinds of emotional tropes! I’ll definitely be buying the paperback just so I can annotate it properly 🤭
June 15, 2025
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 - 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 - 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??
Forever obsessed.
This book is so much more than just a romance. Gretchen and Connor's story is beautiful, emotional, heart-wrenching, swoony, hilarious - 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 - 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??
Forever obsessed.
June 18, 2025
Okay wow - how is this a debut???
Thank you to Rachae Stevens and her team for the ARC. I’m blown away.🤯💖
This is so much more than a romance book. The love story between Connor and Gretchen is so beautiful and flows so easily throughout the book even though their story isn’t easy at all! It almost takes a back seat for a while when Gretchen navigates finding her birth mom. And that’s totally fine because this book isn’t just about the love those two feel for each other. It’s about friendship, family, heartbreak, forgiveness and so much more.
Rachae‘s writing is amazing. There is so much humor even when the topic is heavy. It was really fun to read and I was laughing out loud on several occasions.
And if you know a thing or two about Pitch Perfect, you’re in for a treat!😉
100% recommend all day every day!!
Thank you to Rachae Stevens and her team for the ARC. I’m blown away.🤯💖
This is so much more than a romance book. The love story between Connor and Gretchen is so beautiful and flows so easily throughout the book even though their story isn’t easy at all! It almost takes a back seat for a while when Gretchen navigates finding her birth mom. And that’s totally fine because this book isn’t just about the love those two feel for each other. It’s about friendship, family, heartbreak, forgiveness and so much more.
Rachae‘s writing is amazing. There is so much humor even when the topic is heavy. It was really fun to read and I was laughing out loud on several occasions.
And if you know a thing or two about Pitch Perfect, you’re in for a treat!😉
100% recommend all day every day!!
July 9, 2025
This was such a cute and feel-good read! Gretchen and Connor have this effortlessly vibrant dynamic that had me hooked from the start. Their banter is pure gold, filled with quirky inside jokes and Pitch Perfect references that made me want to break into an a cappella mashup myself. But it’s not just laughs—through all the fun, they also navigate some real struggles in their relationship and the journey to reconnect with lost family. It’s heartfelt, hilarious, and hits all the right notes (yes, pun intended). If you’re looking for a romance that’s as emotional as it is aca-awesome, this one’s for you!
June 22, 2025
Connor & Gretchen – oh. my. word. I am struggling to explain just how much I love this book. I can’t believe this is a debut novel, and it’s easily one of my top reads this year. Absolutely all the stars!!
Stars: 5/5
Spice: 2/5
Gretchen has just graduated college and is going on a trip with her brother Drew. When he has to cancel at the last minute, he sends his best friend Connor in his place. Because he doesn’t want her to be alone. But he doesn’t know the history they’ve kept secret from him.
While Connor & Gretchen’s romance is the center of this story, it is so much more than a romance. But I don’t want to give anything away, and I recommend going in as blind as possible. These characters go on a heck of a journey, and I just could not put this book down. Connor is supportive and swoony and puts her first. Gretchen is shy and introverted and so much braver than she thinks she is. The pining. The longing. The yearning in this book!! These two are so down bad for each other, and you can’t help but root for them from the very beginning. This story is so rich and chock full of characters you can’t help but love. It’s filled with funny moments, sweet moments, and moments that tug at your heartstrings. I cried happy tears, sad tears, angry tears – and I can’t stop thinking about these two. This is a story that will stick with me. A new forever favorite. And a permanent addition to my re-read stack. I can’t recommend this book enough!
CW: Listed at end of book – but I highly recommend going in as blind as possible
I received an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.
Stars: 5/5
Spice: 2/5
Gretchen has just graduated college and is going on a trip with her brother Drew. When he has to cancel at the last minute, he sends his best friend Connor in his place. Because he doesn’t want her to be alone. But he doesn’t know the history they’ve kept secret from him.
While Connor & Gretchen’s romance is the center of this story, it is so much more than a romance. But I don’t want to give anything away, and I recommend going in as blind as possible. These characters go on a heck of a journey, and I just could not put this book down. Connor is supportive and swoony and puts her first. Gretchen is shy and introverted and so much braver than she thinks she is. The pining. The longing. The yearning in this book!! These two are so down bad for each other, and you can’t help but root for them from the very beginning. This story is so rich and chock full of characters you can’t help but love. It’s filled with funny moments, sweet moments, and moments that tug at your heartstrings. I cried happy tears, sad tears, angry tears – and I can’t stop thinking about these two. This is a story that will stick with me. A new forever favorite. And a permanent addition to my re-read stack. I can’t recommend this book enough!
CW: Listed at end of book – but I highly recommend going in as blind as possible
I received an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.
July 29, 2025
Severely Inappropriate Age Gap And She Was Too Young, But Trumpler's Second Pedo Reich Is In Full Swing And The Nazis Women Love Groomers, The Unseen Bitches
Imagine pretending him slipping his dick inside other women is "hes in love with me" you pathetic Unseen, Unloved and utterly Unfucked, UTTERLY unfucked, Patriarchial Pick Me.
Wow Stevens, your standards of Love and Respect are minimal.
Oh hell to the fuck no.
18 and 11?
23 and 16?
Oh girl Imma warn my girls to stay away from yours and your own, eh?
Fucking pedo shit is this?
Seriously you disgusting White Women reviewers, I hope you don't have daughters, letting an 18 year old flirt with an 11 year old.
Holy Epstein Island, you disgusting Sex Traffick Enablers.
He Could Be Intimate With Other People While Telling Himself He Had Feelings For Her And Then Pretend He Was Careless Instead Of Determined, And He Was, To Fuck All Those People
This book cares more about the relationships between Drew and Conor, and its fucking chronic.
She dismisses him cumming inside other women after bonding with her and its pathetic.
Fucking People Pleasing Snark Fest.
He never had to emotionally exercise, just act out like a toddler.
Patriarchial Parable of Toxicity.
Where his abuse of women is dressed up as sex addiction.
Is Connor LolOverruleds best friend? Pretending dehumansijg women like this is an addiction?
Slipping inside other women over and over and pretending its addiction when its fucking narcissism.
Gretch The Doormat.
Her brother had to see his BIL inside other women.
Boke.
Gross.
Imagine she had standards.
Please get an STI check and HPV vaccine, touching his dirty body.
Wow his feelings are worth shit if he can bond with her and then touch other people.
Wow imagine going "Thats your past" when he left you.
He led on other women.
Misogynist.
Forgiven way too quickly.
As always, "use your words" toddler brained men and the women parenting them.
Snore.
I see the "Emotionally Deep" perceptions and bitch no, he was deep inside other women.
Maybe you havent had a man lie to you about slipping but narcissist.
Imagine pretending him slipping his dick inside other women is "hes in love with me" you pathetic Unseen, Unloved and utterly Unfucked, UTTERLY unfucked, Patriarchial Pick Me.
Wow Stevens, your standards of Love and Respect are minimal.
Oh hell to the fuck no.
18 and 11?
23 and 16?
Oh girl Imma warn my girls to stay away from yours and your own, eh?
Fucking pedo shit is this?
Seriously you disgusting White Women reviewers, I hope you don't have daughters, letting an 18 year old flirt with an 11 year old.
Holy Epstein Island, you disgusting Sex Traffick Enablers.
He Could Be Intimate With Other People While Telling Himself He Had Feelings For Her And Then Pretend He Was Careless Instead Of Determined, And He Was, To Fuck All Those People
This book cares more about the relationships between Drew and Conor, and its fucking chronic.
She dismisses him cumming inside other women after bonding with her and its pathetic.
Fucking People Pleasing Snark Fest.
He never had to emotionally exercise, just act out like a toddler.
Patriarchial Parable of Toxicity.
Where his abuse of women is dressed up as sex addiction.
Is Connor LolOverruleds best friend? Pretending dehumansijg women like this is an addiction?
Slipping inside other women over and over and pretending its addiction when its fucking narcissism.
Gretch The Doormat.
Her brother had to see his BIL inside other women.
Boke.
Gross.
Imagine she had standards.
Please get an STI check and HPV vaccine, touching his dirty body.
Wow his feelings are worth shit if he can bond with her and then touch other people.
Wow imagine going "Thats your past" when he left you.
He led on other women.
Misogynist.
Forgiven way too quickly.
As always, "use your words" toddler brained men and the women parenting them.
Snore.
I see the "Emotionally Deep" perceptions and bitch no, he was deep inside other women.
Maybe you havent had a man lie to you about slipping but narcissist.
October 5, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I was quite enjoying this for the first 50-60%. Then it kind of just plateaued and dragged and took me about 4 days to read the last 10%.
I really liked the adoption element to this but felt like it was built up so much to almost be forgotten afterwards. I wanted more from that storyline. I liked both MCs for the most part but I felt like I wanted more of their relationship build up. It felt strange we saw their bond and connection so young with such an age gap but we barely got to understand their adult friendship and connection outside of one night. It just made it hard to buy into it. I also wish he didn’t “notice” her for the first time when she was 16 and he was like 23, sorry that’s weird to me and icky!
I was quite enjoying this for the first 50-60%. Then it kind of just plateaued and dragged and took me about 4 days to read the last 10%.
I really liked the adoption element to this but felt like it was built up so much to almost be forgotten afterwards. I wanted more from that storyline. I liked both MCs for the most part but I felt like I wanted more of their relationship build up. It felt strange we saw their bond and connection so young with such an age gap but we barely got to understand their adult friendship and connection outside of one night. It just made it hard to buy into it. I also wish he didn’t “notice” her for the first time when she was 16 and he was like 23, sorry that’s weird to me and icky!
June 14, 2025
Forever Then
by Rachae Stevens
“I loved you long before I kissed you and every day since. All the days I wasn’t supposed to, all the days I shouldn’t have—I’ve loved you anyway.”
5⭐️
1.5🌶️
Have you ever started to read a book and you knew from the first chapter that it would consume your soul and emotionally destroy you in all the best ways! Well… this book did that !! 🩷 Loved it so much!!!
I loved every single chapter of this beautifully written love story! And it takes a lot for me to cry and feel such raw emotions about certain events and characters. But this story sucked me in and I was sobbing 😭 ( happy & sad tears) throughout this book 😅
‘“Forever Then” is a second chance romance, brother’s best friend , childhood friends to lovers, age gap ,
forced proximity, light spice 🌶️ is full of angst and self discovery, found family, a tearjerker, soul mates and ends with a HEA.
This story revolves around Connor and Gretchen .
They grew up together and Connor is best friends with Drew ( who is Gretchen’s big brother )
One of my favorite tropes “Brother’s Best Friend “ and it was done so well!
Connor and Gretchen try to navigate their secret attraction and love for each other when they go on a trip to Arizona to meet Gretchen’s biological mother.
The trip ends up being one of forgiveness, acceptance and the rekindling of a friendship and love that was lost.
The journey that Gretchen takes to discover her heritage and find her biological family is just so touching. And I loved that Connor was just so supportive and the perfect “book boyfriend “ I just loved his character so much!!
There’s so much more to this wonderful story and I could go on and on about it … but I don’t want to spoil it. So I highly recommend you read this beautifully written love story!
Thank you to Rachae Stevens and Love Note PR for selecting me to read and review this wonderful book!!
🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
by Rachae Stevens
“I loved you long before I kissed you and every day since. All the days I wasn’t supposed to, all the days I shouldn’t have—I’ve loved you anyway.”
5⭐️
1.5🌶️
Have you ever started to read a book and you knew from the first chapter that it would consume your soul and emotionally destroy you in all the best ways! Well… this book did that !! 🩷 Loved it so much!!!
I loved every single chapter of this beautifully written love story! And it takes a lot for me to cry and feel such raw emotions about certain events and characters. But this story sucked me in and I was sobbing 😭 ( happy & sad tears) throughout this book 😅
‘“Forever Then” is a second chance romance, brother’s best friend , childhood friends to lovers, age gap ,
forced proximity, light spice 🌶️ is full of angst and self discovery, found family, a tearjerker, soul mates and ends with a HEA.
This story revolves around Connor and Gretchen .
They grew up together and Connor is best friends with Drew ( who is Gretchen’s big brother )
One of my favorite tropes “Brother’s Best Friend “ and it was done so well!
Connor and Gretchen try to navigate their secret attraction and love for each other when they go on a trip to Arizona to meet Gretchen’s biological mother.
The trip ends up being one of forgiveness, acceptance and the rekindling of a friendship and love that was lost.
The journey that Gretchen takes to discover her heritage and find her biological family is just so touching. And I loved that Connor was just so supportive and the perfect “book boyfriend “ I just loved his character so much!!
There’s so much more to this wonderful story and I could go on and on about it … but I don’t want to spoil it. So I highly recommend you read this beautifully written love story!
Thank you to Rachae Stevens and Love Note PR for selecting me to read and review this wonderful book!!
🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
June 30, 2025
ARC - PUBLICATION DATE 25TH JUNE 2025
3.5 ☆
『 tropes 』
•age gap
•found family
•brothers best friend
•second chance
•forced proximity
『 plot 』
gretchen and connor kissed, 3 years ago, and haven't seen each other since. they had a part of each other for a year that no one else knew about, and then the kiss happened and everything changed. gretchen has found her birth mother and is set to fly out to meet her, unbeknownst to both her, connor ends up by herside for it all. old feelings resurface, past regrets are brought out into the open and their hearts slowly begin to heal.
『 my thoughts 』
i am going to preface this first by saying i did not know this was an age gap romance (and depending on the circumstances surrounding an age gap, sometimes it makes me feel icky reading, unfortunately the age gap in this made me feel that way) there is a 6/7 year age gap, where the two main characters have known each other for a lot of years, from the fmc being 7/8 years old i believe so the mmc met her when he was 14/15.. obviously it was all very innocent but there was some indication that the mmc was attracted to the fmc when she was 16 so he was around 22/23, unfortunately that makes me feel a little uncomfortable. that being said, nothing romantically happened until the fmc was 18/19.
i got the advanced reader ebook of this, and had it not been a book i promised i would review, i probably would have dnf'd.. that being said, i am SO glad i continued to read (i kind of put the age gap to the back of my head, in my opinion the age gap didn't need to be as big as it was with the characters being silly fairly young when the reconnect, but i digress)
gretchen's adoption story was my favourite part of this book, it was beautifully told and done, it was bittersweet, emotional and hopeful. she had an amazing life with her adoptive family but she also wanted to know about her birth parents, and the way she handled the whole situation was uniquely her and powerful. she's shy, reserved but opens up to the ones who mean the most to her. she doesn't easily let people in so trying to track down her adoptive family was inspiring.
connor made a lot of mistakes in his past, he tried to stay loyal to everyone around him but ended up making some wrong choices and hurting the people he cared about. but gretchen made him want to be better, he was better for her, until he messed it up but being by her side throughout her journey to finding her birth mother, gave him the chance to right his wrongs and be the man he actually is.
i did find connor and gretchen very sweet together, it was a cute romance story between them. there was angst, and cute moments, and redemption and forgiveness and just all the great aspects of what a second chance romance should be.
drew, gretchen's brother, was ok. i think he was meant to be endearing and the 'protectice' big brother type but he low-key pissed me off for most of this book.
overall i enjoyed this book, it made me cry in parts, which for me, is always a tell tale sign of a good book. the story was emotional and moving and made my heart hurt in the best way.
3.5 ☆
『 tropes 』
•age gap
•found family
•brothers best friend
•second chance
•forced proximity
『 plot 』
gretchen and connor kissed, 3 years ago, and haven't seen each other since. they had a part of each other for a year that no one else knew about, and then the kiss happened and everything changed. gretchen has found her birth mother and is set to fly out to meet her, unbeknownst to both her, connor ends up by herside for it all. old feelings resurface, past regrets are brought out into the open and their hearts slowly begin to heal.
『 my thoughts 』
i am going to preface this first by saying i did not know this was an age gap romance (and depending on the circumstances surrounding an age gap, sometimes it makes me feel icky reading, unfortunately the age gap in this made me feel that way) there is a 6/7 year age gap, where the two main characters have known each other for a lot of years, from the fmc being 7/8 years old i believe so the mmc met her when he was 14/15.. obviously it was all very innocent but there was some indication that the mmc was attracted to the fmc when she was 16 so he was around 22/23, unfortunately that makes me feel a little uncomfortable. that being said, nothing romantically happened until the fmc was 18/19.
i got the advanced reader ebook of this, and had it not been a book i promised i would review, i probably would have dnf'd.. that being said, i am SO glad i continued to read (i kind of put the age gap to the back of my head, in my opinion the age gap didn't need to be as big as it was with the characters being silly fairly young when the reconnect, but i digress)
gretchen's adoption story was my favourite part of this book, it was beautifully told and done, it was bittersweet, emotional and hopeful. she had an amazing life with her adoptive family but she also wanted to know about her birth parents, and the way she handled the whole situation was uniquely her and powerful. she's shy, reserved but opens up to the ones who mean the most to her. she doesn't easily let people in so trying to track down her adoptive family was inspiring.
connor made a lot of mistakes in his past, he tried to stay loyal to everyone around him but ended up making some wrong choices and hurting the people he cared about. but gretchen made him want to be better, he was better for her, until he messed it up but being by her side throughout her journey to finding her birth mother, gave him the chance to right his wrongs and be the man he actually is.
i did find connor and gretchen very sweet together, it was a cute romance story between them. there was angst, and cute moments, and redemption and forgiveness and just all the great aspects of what a second chance romance should be.
drew, gretchen's brother, was ok. i think he was meant to be endearing and the 'protectice' big brother type but he low-key pissed me off for most of this book.
overall i enjoyed this book, it made me cry in parts, which for me, is always a tell tale sign of a good book. the story was emotional and moving and made my heart hurt in the best way.
June 17, 2025
“𝙵𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢. 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚎𝚛. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍, 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚜𝚗’𝚝.”
This book was so beautifully written and such a unique story. Gretchen starts out as Connor’s best friend’s little sister, but over the years turned into one of his best friends. But sadly when you’re young and dumb, and it’s your best friend’s little sister who is off limits, mistakes are made.
“𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒚. 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖…𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒂 𝒉𝒖𝒈𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆.”
Fast forward 3 years and that’s where we find Connor and Gretchen.
Gretchen, Fish.. This quiet, yet brave woman! She went and did the big brave thing, and look what happened. I love that the very person she wanted to be there with her for this moment was there.
“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐈’𝐦 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐦𝐞.”
Connor, Old Man, QB.. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬. He is so down bad for our girl Gretch. Bringing her a bag of PB M&Ms and a Diet Coke to calm her nerves or just because. *insert swoon eyes emoji*
I am with my girl Gretchen. Peanut Butter M&Ms are 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛.
The way Connor and Gretchen yearned for each other, the banter and nicknames. As a lover of Pitch Perfect, I loved the Pitch Perfect references as well!
This story of adoption was so beautiful and I love that it comes from Rachae’s family personal story.
Thank you to @rachae.stevens.author and @lovenotes.pr for giving me a chance to read this beautiful story! I can’t say enough wonderful things about this story. So please, please pick it up on June 25th! I can’t believe this is Rachae’s debut novel. *insert hand clap emoji*
This book was so beautifully written and such a unique story. Gretchen starts out as Connor’s best friend’s little sister, but over the years turned into one of his best friends. But sadly when you’re young and dumb, and it’s your best friend’s little sister who is off limits, mistakes are made.
“𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒚. 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖…𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒂 𝒉𝒖𝒈𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆.”
Fast forward 3 years and that’s where we find Connor and Gretchen.
Gretchen, Fish.. This quiet, yet brave woman! She went and did the big brave thing, and look what happened. I love that the very person she wanted to be there with her for this moment was there.
“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐈’𝐦 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐦𝐞.”
Connor, Old Man, QB.. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬. He is so down bad for our girl Gretch. Bringing her a bag of PB M&Ms and a Diet Coke to calm her nerves or just because. *insert swoon eyes emoji*
I am with my girl Gretchen. Peanut Butter M&Ms are 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛.
The way Connor and Gretchen yearned for each other, the banter and nicknames. As a lover of Pitch Perfect, I loved the Pitch Perfect references as well!
This story of adoption was so beautiful and I love that it comes from Rachae’s family personal story.
Thank you to @rachae.stevens.author and @lovenotes.pr for giving me a chance to read this beautiful story! I can’t say enough wonderful things about this story. So please, please pick it up on June 25th! I can’t believe this is Rachae’s debut novel. *insert hand clap emoji*
June 12, 2025
This is easily one of my top reads of the year.
I fell deeply in love with Gretchen & Connor’s story. Not only is this a story about love, but it also focuses on family, growth, and finding your place in life.
I absolutely adore Gretchen & Connor.
Gretchen, “the quiet girl who doesn’t put herself out there easily” is so brave and resilient. She may be quiet, but she will immediately humble you and call you out on your shit. Her authenticity is so refreshing and I loved watching her be grow and find her place in life.
Connor. Connor. Connor. The man that you are. We love a man that is not afraid to be vulnerable and show his emotions. A man so loyal & honorable that he would give up his own happiness over those that he loves. The way he sees Gretchen in a way no one else does and the way he protects her even as children is so damn beautiful.
I loved the dual POVs, the flashbacks of their history from childhood friends to lovers, and all the YEARNING AND TENSION. My god, the yearning from both FMC & MMC was unreal.
I’d also like to note that the side storyline webbed in between the love story is so beautifully written. You know when books have a side storyline and it feels like it drags on or takes away from the main storyline/love story? NOT HERE. You’ll love this storyline just as much as the love story - maybe even more? It made me cry so much and really brought Gretchen’s story full circle. What makes it even more special is Rachae’s personal connection to it.
Thank you Love Notes PR & Rachae Stevens for this ARC. This review and thoughts are mine alone.
I fell deeply in love with Gretchen & Connor’s story. Not only is this a story about love, but it also focuses on family, growth, and finding your place in life.
I absolutely adore Gretchen & Connor.
Gretchen, “the quiet girl who doesn’t put herself out there easily” is so brave and resilient. She may be quiet, but she will immediately humble you and call you out on your shit. Her authenticity is so refreshing and I loved watching her be grow and find her place in life.
Connor. Connor. Connor. The man that you are. We love a man that is not afraid to be vulnerable and show his emotions. A man so loyal & honorable that he would give up his own happiness over those that he loves. The way he sees Gretchen in a way no one else does and the way he protects her even as children is so damn beautiful.
I loved the dual POVs, the flashbacks of their history from childhood friends to lovers, and all the YEARNING AND TENSION. My god, the yearning from both FMC & MMC was unreal.
I’d also like to note that the side storyline webbed in between the love story is so beautifully written. You know when books have a side storyline and it feels like it drags on or takes away from the main storyline/love story? NOT HERE. You’ll love this storyline just as much as the love story - maybe even more? It made me cry so much and really brought Gretchen’s story full circle. What makes it even more special is Rachae’s personal connection to it.
Thank you Love Notes PR & Rachae Stevens for this ARC. This review and thoughts are mine alone.
July 3, 2025
**ARC REVIEW**
Forever Then is Rachae Steven's standalone debut novel.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spicy rating: 🔥
You will love this book if you enjoy these tropes:
💕Second chance romance
🤫Brother’s best friend
👩🏻❤️👨🏼Childhood friends to lovers
✈️Forced proximity
🛏️One bed
✨6.5 year age gap
🥰A few childhood flashbacks
🔥Slow burn
🫠It’s always been you
🤌🏼So much pining
🥹Emotional journey
🫂FMC looking for her birth mom
My Thoughts
I loveeeeeed this book sooooo much!!!
Connor and Gretchen have my heart. This book made me cry so much!
Gretchen has always been in love with Connor but something happens where things ended between them before it ever really even started. You find out the reasons why but it's still so heartbreaking.
Fast forward to the present, Gretchen is trying to find her birth mother and there is no one's support she wants more than Connor's. Unfortunately when she is reunited face to face with Connor he has a new girlfriend.....
Without giving too much away Gretchen ends up getting a contact for her birth mother and let's just say fate helps Connor to be there for her.
I loveeeeed the journey she goes on and let's just say keep the tissues handy! I sobbed so much!
Also loveeeeeeed all the Pitch Perfect references and banter!
Overall, 5 stars from me and I cannot wait to see what Rachae has coming next.
Thanks so much to Rachae and Love Notes PR for kindly sending me an arc to read and review. This is my own honest opinion on the book.
Forever Then is Rachae Steven's standalone debut novel.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spicy rating: 🔥
You will love this book if you enjoy these tropes:
💕Second chance romance
🤫Brother’s best friend
👩🏻❤️👨🏼Childhood friends to lovers
✈️Forced proximity
🛏️One bed
✨6.5 year age gap
🥰A few childhood flashbacks
🔥Slow burn
🫠It’s always been you
🤌🏼So much pining
🥹Emotional journey
🫂FMC looking for her birth mom
My Thoughts
I loveeeeeed this book sooooo much!!!
Connor and Gretchen have my heart. This book made me cry so much!
Gretchen has always been in love with Connor but something happens where things ended between them before it ever really even started. You find out the reasons why but it's still so heartbreaking.
Fast forward to the present, Gretchen is trying to find her birth mother and there is no one's support she wants more than Connor's. Unfortunately when she is reunited face to face with Connor he has a new girlfriend.....
Without giving too much away Gretchen ends up getting a contact for her birth mother and let's just say fate helps Connor to be there for her.
I loveeeeed the journey she goes on and let's just say keep the tissues handy! I sobbed so much!
Also loveeeeeeed all the Pitch Perfect references and banter!
Overall, 5 stars from me and I cannot wait to see what Rachae has coming next.
Thanks so much to Rachae and Love Notes PR for kindly sending me an arc to read and review. This is my own honest opinion on the book.
July 21, 2025
This book isn’t just a MUST read. it’s a full on experience that left me with a serious book hangover. It’s got the swoon, the depth, and absolutely everything you could ask for in a story. I found myself shedding tears of pure joy — a truly rare and wonderful feeling.
I never knew I needed a story quite like this.
The balance of present-day events with perfectly placed flashbacks and past event was simply captivating. I’m already a huge fan of stories that weave in the past, and this one executed it flawlessly.
I laughed, I giggled, I cried, and yes, I even lost sleep because I simply couldn’t put it down.
The characters were so on point. From the nicknames to the emotional development. The nervousness but he was the one who could calm her down. 🥹🥹🥹
This book made me feel everything.
Imagine a compelling mix of the brother’s best friend trope, a heartwarming childhood friendship, and the emotional journey of finding your biological family, all seamlessly blended into one unforgettable narrative.
Tropes
✨Brother’s best friend
✨childhood friendship to lovers
✨second chance
✨virgin FMC
✨forced proximity
✨adopted rep
Thank you @lovenotes.pr and @rachae.stevens.author for the opportunity to read this book. Review may be late but I LOVED this book!!!
I never knew I needed a story quite like this.
The balance of present-day events with perfectly placed flashbacks and past event was simply captivating. I’m already a huge fan of stories that weave in the past, and this one executed it flawlessly.
I laughed, I giggled, I cried, and yes, I even lost sleep because I simply couldn’t put it down.
The characters were so on point. From the nicknames to the emotional development. The nervousness but he was the one who could calm her down. 🥹🥹🥹
This book made me feel everything.
Imagine a compelling mix of the brother’s best friend trope, a heartwarming childhood friendship, and the emotional journey of finding your biological family, all seamlessly blended into one unforgettable narrative.
Tropes
✨Brother’s best friend
✨childhood friendship to lovers
✨second chance
✨virgin FMC
✨forced proximity
✨adopted rep
Thank you @lovenotes.pr and @rachae.stevens.author for the opportunity to read this book. Review may be late but I LOVED this book!!!
June 29, 2025
What a beautiful debut! A second chance, brother’s best friend romance full of swoon worthy moments AND I get to read about the beauty that is Arizona?!
Rachae wasn’t lying when she said that you would shed some tears along the way as we go through Gretchen and Connor’s journey of coming back together. This is an absolute must read full of romance and self discovery.
I loved the flashback moments; from Gretchen’s childhood and through the year that these two fully connected. Along with the moment Gretchen felt her heart get ripped out and Connor walked away with barely a word.
Gretchen is coming into her true self as she’s recently graduated college and searching for a job. She’s always known she was adopted and after an ancestry kit gives her birth mom’s name, she dives deep into planning the trip that will have them [hopefully] meeting for the first time. Her brother, Drew, has to back out at the last minute, but Connor swoops in to be there for her.
Secrets were kept going in, but the truth finds its way out and Gretchen and Connor truly learn just how much they mean to one another.
AND YES TO THE PEANUT BUTTER M&Ms. They’re so underrated!
Rachae wasn’t lying when she said that you would shed some tears along the way as we go through Gretchen and Connor’s journey of coming back together. This is an absolute must read full of romance and self discovery.
I loved the flashback moments; from Gretchen’s childhood and through the year that these two fully connected. Along with the moment Gretchen felt her heart get ripped out and Connor walked away with barely a word.
Gretchen is coming into her true self as she’s recently graduated college and searching for a job. She’s always known she was adopted and after an ancestry kit gives her birth mom’s name, she dives deep into planning the trip that will have them [hopefully] meeting for the first time. Her brother, Drew, has to back out at the last minute, but Connor swoops in to be there for her.
Secrets were kept going in, but the truth finds its way out and Gretchen and Connor truly learn just how much they mean to one another.
AND YES TO THE PEANUT BUTTER M&Ms. They’re so underrated!
June 18, 2025
Gretchen and Connor used to be best friends and could've been more until one night, everything changed, and Connor ghosted Gretchen, leaving her heartbroken. Three years later, and through an unexpected turn of events, Connor and Gretchen go on a week-long road trip to meet Gretchen's biological mom and just maybe, reconcile their relationship.
From the start, the premise really interested me, and boy, did I tear through this book. There were so many amazing quotes and it was such a beautiful book. I loved how this book had chapter titles because I genuinely wish more books had them. I loved the flashbacks to them in the past to learn what happened to cause the rift and to get more context for their relationship.
Disrespectfully, the older brother, Drew, can step on Lego for certain things he did because he was incredibly selfish and cruel. Gretchen is truly a better person than me cuz I would have bitch-slapped him into another dimension. This is tragic because, until a certain point, he actually was doing okay on my annoying-brother meter.
The family reunion had me screaming, crying, and throwing up, as someone who has also been adopted. It truly was such a beautiful story and definitely hit close to home. I also thought the epilogue was super sweet and the personal acknowledgement from the author was lovely, too!
Pick up this book if you enjoy:
- second chance
- childhood friends to lovers
- brother's best friend
- road trip
- forced proximity
- found family
From the start, the premise really interested me, and boy, did I tear through this book. There were so many amazing quotes and it was such a beautiful book. I loved how this book had chapter titles because I genuinely wish more books had them. I loved the flashbacks to them in the past to learn what happened to cause the rift and to get more context for their relationship.
Disrespectfully, the older brother, Drew, can step on Lego for certain things he did because he was incredibly selfish and cruel. Gretchen is truly a better person than me cuz I would have bitch-slapped him into another dimension. This is tragic because, until a certain point, he actually was doing okay on my annoying-brother meter.
The family reunion had me screaming, crying, and throwing up, as someone who has also been adopted. It truly was such a beautiful story and definitely hit close to home. I also thought the epilogue was super sweet and the personal acknowledgement from the author was lovely, too!
Pick up this book if you enjoy:
- second chance
- childhood friends to lovers
- brother's best friend
- road trip
- forced proximity
- found family
June 23, 2025
This book was amazing! Forever Then is a very emotional and heartfelt romance that kept me captivated from beginning to end. It tells the story of Gretchen and Connor whose relationship is filled with both heartbreak and healing. Connor is Gretchen's brother's best friend since they were young. As time went on they started having feelings for eachother but neither of them knew it and Connor soon became Gretchen's best friend also. One night during her brother's wedding something happens and they don't speak to eachother for years. Until one day Gretchen set's out to find her birth parent's and that's when fate step's in and throws the two of them back together. Gretchen is forced to face the past and stuck with the man that broke her heart. This is a story about second chances, the bonds that never fade, and the kind of love that is forever. This book is beautifully written and the world building is superb. I highly recommend this book.
February 4, 2025
This book is soooo much more than JUST a romance! Gretchen and Connor’s story is beautiful, emotional, heart wrenching, unique, swoony and hilarious. I mean you name the emotion; and I felt it while reading Forever Then. The way Rachae wove this story to include so many unique family dynamics, friendships, and plot lines was truly incredible considering this is a debut novel. I’m so impressed and cannot wait to read whatever else she writes in the future! You do not want to miss this book when it releases!
June 14, 2025
Arc read: Gretchen and Conner’s story was such a fun read. He is her brother’s best friend and over the years became her best friend as well. It was frustrating to see Conner push Gretchen away out of loyalty to her brother and fear of how he would react, but we do get some good growth with Conner choosing to make his own choices and not make them based on what he thinks those around him want him to do. I really liked the story of Gretchen finding her birth mother and some of her feelings associated with that, but I felt the brother’s best friend drama overshadowed that at times. I think this could have been a five star if it took out the flashbacks and spent more time exploring Gretchen’s feelings about finding her birth mother.
June 30, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 stars
“𝒯𝓌𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓈𝓎𝓃𝒸, 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐼 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝓈𝒶𝓎.”
It’s been three years since Gretchen and Connor shared an unforgettable kiss at her brother’s wedding. But it has also been three years since Connor walked away from Gretchen. With Gretchen on a mission of self discovery and Connor having to help, will she hold a grudge or will she give him a second chance?
I felt like there was so much to unpack during this story. It felt like I was reading more than one story, which felt a bit overwhelming at times. I was hooked on the love story and I was hooked on Gretchen’s personal story. I do feel like the FMCs brother overshadowed some things in the story, but maybe that was the point?
Overall, it was a good read. I would recommend this book if you like
-second chance romance
-brothers best friend
-mutual pining
-forced proximity
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 stars
“𝒯𝓌𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓈𝓎𝓃𝒸, 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐼 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝓈𝒶𝓎.”
It’s been three years since Gretchen and Connor shared an unforgettable kiss at her brother’s wedding. But it has also been three years since Connor walked away from Gretchen. With Gretchen on a mission of self discovery and Connor having to help, will she hold a grudge or will she give him a second chance?
I felt like there was so much to unpack during this story. It felt like I was reading more than one story, which felt a bit overwhelming at times. I was hooked on the love story and I was hooked on Gretchen’s personal story. I do feel like the FMCs brother overshadowed some things in the story, but maybe that was the point?
Overall, it was a good read. I would recommend this book if you like
-second chance romance
-brothers best friend
-mutual pining
-forced proximity
July 3, 2025
This was such an emotionally rich and deeply layered novel. I absolutely loved the way the author paralleled themes of longing and acceptance within the adoption storyline and second chance romance. It was definitely everything I wanted for a summer read— a beautiful, scenic trip, forced proximity, longing, banter, and another top tier book boyfriend I would literally do anything for. There’s just so much to love about this book and so many complex topics explored within 450ish pages.
Rachae Stevens absolutely delivered with her debut. So, so many emotions felt!!
Rachae Stevens absolutely delivered with her debut. So, so many emotions felt!!
June 18, 2025
ARC Review ✨
📅 Pub. Date: June 25
Forever Then ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“How is it, after three years of no contact, he’s still my favorite person? How can I look at this man who broke my heart so thoroughly and still see a best friend?”
“I think I’ve always loved you. It looked different when we were kids and it didn’t mean the same then as it does now, but it was there. It’s like one day I looked up and there you were—my favorite person. Somewhere along the way my heart became so tethered to yours I’m not sure it beats apart from you anymore.”
Now that, my friends, is how you write a debut novel! My dear friend @rachae.stevens.author’s first book releases next week and I’m going to need you all to set your alarms, mark your calendars, leave sticky notes all over your house so that you don’t miss reading this gem of a story 🥺 I am seriously blown away at how much I loved this story and how it felt like I was reading a well-seasoned author- not someone who is giving this their first go!
I adored Gretchen and Connor’s love story and the way that Rachae wove together not only a cute romance, but a story of self discovery and identity. Rachae, I’m so impressed and you should feel immense pride in putting this out into the world next week! Can’t wait to see what you create next ✨
brother’s best friend
childhood friends to lovers
second chance
forced proximity
📅 Pub. Date: June 25
Forever Then ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“How is it, after three years of no contact, he’s still my favorite person? How can I look at this man who broke my heart so thoroughly and still see a best friend?”
“I think I’ve always loved you. It looked different when we were kids and it didn’t mean the same then as it does now, but it was there. It’s like one day I looked up and there you were—my favorite person. Somewhere along the way my heart became so tethered to yours I’m not sure it beats apart from you anymore.”
Now that, my friends, is how you write a debut novel! My dear friend @rachae.stevens.author’s first book releases next week and I’m going to need you all to set your alarms, mark your calendars, leave sticky notes all over your house so that you don’t miss reading this gem of a story 🥺 I am seriously blown away at how much I loved this story and how it felt like I was reading a well-seasoned author- not someone who is giving this their first go!
I adored Gretchen and Connor’s love story and the way that Rachae wove together not only a cute romance, but a story of self discovery and identity. Rachae, I’m so impressed and you should feel immense pride in putting this out into the world next week! Can’t wait to see what you create next ✨
brother’s best friend
childhood friends to lovers
second chance
forced proximity
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