Jump to ratings and reviews

Win a free print copy of this book!

13 days and 12:04:12

5 copies available
U.S. only
Rate this book

Blue Sky Bay #1

My Forever Girl

Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26

Win a free print copy of this book!

13 days and 12:04:12

5 copies available
U.S. only
Rate this book
A Small Town, Friends-to-Lovers, Forbidden Love Standalone Romance from USA Today and Amazon #1 Bestselling Author, Laura Pavlov.

Gracie Reynolds and I have been best friends since we were kids.
She’s smart, kind, funny, beautiful—and one of the best parts of my life.
When Gracie walks into a room, people notice.
I always notice.

But when she moved across the world with a guy I despised, it felt like I’d lost a piece of myself.
I missed her in ways I still can’t explain.

Now she’s back— and she’s crashing at my place for a couple of months while she figures things out.
She’s single and ready for a fresh start.
I’ve always had her back, and that hasn’t changed.

What has changed?
The way that she looks at me.
The way I can’t stop looking at her.
So, when Gracie makes me a once in a lifetime proposition--obviously, I'm all in.
But this isn't your average gray area--it's a full-on, sweat-inducing, five chili pepper detour we never meant to take.

Gracie has big dreams though, and I’d never be the guy to hold her back.
Even if all I want…is to be the reason that she stays.

**This is Book 1in the Blue Sky Bay Series. Each can be read as a complete standalone. A HEA is guaranteed!**
Blue Sky Bay Series:
My Forever Girl
The Last Goodbye
My First Promise
The Best Part of Me
My way Back to You

Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 2, 2026

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Laura Pavlov

69 books11.4k followers
Laura Pavlov is a USA Today and Amazon top 10 Bestselling author. She writes sweet and sexy small town romance that will make you both laugh and cry. Laura is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome kids who are currently adulting, one temperamental yorkie and one wild bernedoodle. She's living her own happily ever after in Las Vegas. Be sure to sign up for updates on new releases. Laura loves hearing from readers!

Instagram➡️https://bit.ly/2TKf5Zs
Pav-Loves Readers ➡️ https://bit.ly/2OKU6T5
Newsletter ➡️ https://bit.ly/2M3MzRv
Facebook➡️http://bit.ly/3eSvEdp
Goodreads ➡️ https://bit.ly/31sh2Oz
BookBub➡️http://bit.ly/3ii8Vdp
Amazon➡️http://amzn.to/3c1xKZX
Website➡️https://www.laurapavlov.com/

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
103 (87%)
4 stars
14 (11%)
3 stars
0 (0%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
Profile Image for Leanna Streeter.
503 reviews87 followers
May 6, 2026
I am officially in my Laura Pavlov era because this book completely hooked me. I went into My Forever Girl as a Laura Pavlov newbie I’ve only read one other of her books and now I fully understand the obsession. She is definitely moving up my list of favorite authors. This was such a heartfelt, emotional friends-to-lovers romance with so much longing and tension woven through every scene.

Cutler and Gracie’s history made the romance feel so real and layered. You could feel how much they meant to each other long before either of them fully admitted it, and that kind of slow-building emotional payoff is my favorite. Add in the small town vibes, the angst, the chemistry, and the absolutely swoony romance and I could not put this down.

It was sexy, emotional, comforting, and honestly just the kind of love story that makes you immediately want to binge an author’s entire backlist which I plan on doing!
13 reviews
February 5, 2026
ADORE !! All I will say.. an absolute MUST read :) Laura Pavlov NEVER disappoints! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for ReadTillDawnBooks ~ IG.
574 reviews15 followers
May 11, 2026
Laura Pavlov truly is the queen of small town romance, and My Forever Girl was absolutely everything I wanted from Cutler and Gracie’s story.

This childhood friends to lovers romance gave me ALL the feelings. The friendship between Gracie and Cutler was so genuine, comforting, and beautifully built that you could feel the love between them long before either of them admitted it. Their bond, the history they shared, the way he always showed up for her… it was perfection.

And CUTLER. Our beloved “Beefcake” absolutely lived up to every bit of the hype from Magnolia Falls. Adult Beefcake? Obsessed. Watching him realize Gracie was always it for him and then fight for their forever had me smiling nonstop.

I also loved how supportive he was of Gracie’s dreams. He loved her enough to let her go grow into herself, but also knew when it was time to stop standing back and fight for the life they truly wanted together.

Laura Pavlov completely nailed this second generation romance. Sweet, emotional, sexy, heartfelt, and packed with the kind of epic friendship that turns into forever love. My face literally hurt from smiling by the end. A perfect HEA and an incredible start to the Blue Sky Bay series.
Profile Image for Chelsea Mansell.
357 reviews24 followers
May 11, 2026
My Forever Girl by Laura Pavlov eARC review 💜

Beefcake (Cutler Heart) finally gets his story and it was everything you could want for him and Gracie girl.

Such a sweet childhood best friends to lovers story. The two of them have been absolute besties since they were 5 years old. They were always bound to end up together but the timing was never right and they didn’t realize the enormity of their feelings. Watching them fall head over heels in love was the sweetest thing to witness.

This was a great way to start off this new series. Laura will always be the small town romance queen in my opinion and this book solidifies that. Seeing the ROD men again, in all their glory was one of my favorite parts.

So many swoon worthy moments and my heart is so full after this one. Cutler and Gracie are the definition of soulmates and this book had all of the sweetest vibes you could want.

What to expect:
Friends to lovers
Forced proximity
Small town
Spicy lessons
Forbidden
Found family

Thank you so much Laura and VPR for the arc!
Profile Image for ashlee ❤.
2,164 reviews121 followers
May 6, 2026
Cutler + Gracie

-small town romance
-childhood besties to lovers
-roommates/forced proximity
-sexy lessons
-boy obsessed
-found family

AHHHH MY BEEFCAKE!!! i can’t believe our little charmer is all grown up with his one & only girl gracie!! i’ve missed their families so much but now to be in this new timeline & era of blue sky bay i know it’s just going to be even more magical!! as always laura did HER magic on this baby & made us fall even more in love with these two!! it was such a wild ride, knowing they were inevitable but having to see all the torture they put each other through to get to that end game!! gah! perfection!! but at the end of the day, cutler is just like his daddy🥹🥹 & laid it all on the line for his forever girl!!
Profile Image for Destiny Graham.
421 reviews42 followers
May 18, 2026
Laura Pavlov writes SUCHHHH good small town romances.
The setting always gives you that warm cozy feeling you should get when you read a good one.
And dare I say, friends to lovers might be becoming one of my new favorite tropes!
This storyline hooked me so quick. The FMC comes back “home” to her childhood best friend after a shitty breakup. They find themselves coming up with a plan to ✨educate✨ her on 🤭🤭 As the lines begin to blur, they realize they’ve fallen for each other & they’ve BEEN falling for each other for yearsssss!
This was childhood friends to friends with benefits to lovers & I LOVEDDDD it!
Cutler was completely obsessed with Gracie. But not in an overbearing, possessive way. He’s sweet, caring, & so genuine. He allows Gracie to be independent & prioritize herself before ever worrying about the situation they find themselves in. He would always be there when SHE was ready.
This was so sweet & wholesome. The spice was also some of the best i’ve ever read from this author!
Excited to see where this series will go!
Profile Image for Katie.
809 reviews21 followers
Read
May 17, 2026
Full review to come!
796 reviews21 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 13, 2026
I absolutely loved Gracie and Cutler’s love story in My Forever Girl by Laura Pavlov; it is a small-town friends to lovers love story. So glad that “Beefcake” finally got his girl. It is the first book in her new Blue Sky Bay series. I loved meeting all of Cutler’s friends and the other characters in the book. Laura Pavlov shows that she is an amazing storyteller, and she is a one click, must read author for me. I was hooked from the first few pages of My Forever Girl; it was impossible to put down and I loved every moment on every page; it filled me with a rollercoaster of emotions. It is one of the most enjoyable books that I have read recently. Who does not love hot sexy men, strong females, loving families, and friends, who always support one another? I love how Laura Pavlov always manages to create the "perfect" heroine, who is a strong woman on her own, to balance out the sexy, swoon worthy men. My Forever Girl is the story of Gracie Reynolds, interior designer and her childhood best friend, Cutler Heart, architect and owner of ROD Construction in Blue Sky Bay. Gracie moved to Paris with her then boyfriend, Gabriel. He promised to help her start her own design company. Gracie breaks up with Gabriel after learning that he cheated on her. Cutler heads to Paris to help Gracie pack up and return to Blue Sky Bay for the interim before her new design job in New York for J&J Interiors. Gracie was always Cutler’s girl, but following his mother’s cancer battle, he is no longer willing to take a chance on love. I love all the mementos that Gracie has from her childhood from Cutler. As Gracie stays with Cutler, things between Gracie and Cutler quickly heat up. Cutler agrees to help Gracie with her love life, and they decide to keep this relationship to themselves as long as Gracie is in Blue Sky Bay. Gracie takes on some design jobs based upon Cutler’s recommendations. One of the jobs was designing the Chadwick family home that Culter is building in Blue Sky Bay. One of my favorite parts is how they call each other the nicknames from their childhood. Gracie calls Cutler “Bear” because he gives the best bear hugs, and Cutler calls Gracie “Jeege” short for Georgie Girl. I love the sizzling chemistry between Gracie and Cutler and the conversations between them flow so easily, with innuendos and playful banter, and Gracie constantly flirting with dirty talking Cutler. I love all the little things that each of them does for the other, especially everything that Cutler does for Gracie and her love life. I love all the heart-to-heart conversations between Gracie and Cutler, especially when she reveals what happened between her and Gabriel, as well as Cutler’s conversations with his mother, and his godfathers. Another favorite part is how Melody Chadwick visits with Gracie and Cutler and the advice that she gives to Cutler, it was heartbreaking. I love that Melody calls Cutler, BC, short for “Beefcake” since he decided in high school to no longer go by that name. Even though he owns a boat by that name. I enjoy that Gracie rescues a dog "Meatball" to keep Cutler company when she moves to New York. I love Meatball’s antics, especially the swimming lessons. My Forever Girl is a more than just a romance, there are dilemmas that both Gracie and Cutler are facing that need to be resolved. I love that Cutler is willing to take the risk to have a relationship with Gracie, even if it means a long-distance relationship for the near future, and the possibility of moving to New York to be closer to Gracie and support her in her career. My favorite part is how Cutler sent a 911 text to the original ROD, River, Romeo, Hayes, and Kingston, to help him with his decisions regarding Gracie. I love how they all said the words of their motto together, “Ride or die. Brothers till the end. Loyalty always. Forever my friend.” I love all the surprises and plot twists in their love story. I love that changes that Cutler and Gracie are willing to make in their lives to have a life with each other and how they change because of their love for one another. My favorite part is the epilogue, told from Cutler’s perspective and how it is the perfect ending of Gracie and Cutler’s love story. I love Cutler’s proposal to Gracie, it was my favorite part of the book, where it takes place, and the party that happens after the proposal. My favorite part of the book is how Laura Pavlov incorporates the picture on the cover and the title of the book into the love story. I love all the descriptions of the Blue Sky Bay setting. My Forever Girl is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a love story, Laura Pavlov did not disappoint, especially with the poignant and bittersweet moments, plot twists and surprises that filled this page turner, as well as many moments that had me laughing. I really enjoy how the book is written in the first person from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting inside their minds and knowing their thoughts and how they really feel. I love all the characters in My Forever Girl. They feel like family and friends. I enjoyed all the interactions between the Cutler and his friends: Cannon, Phoenix, Bass, and Brody; it feels like real family love and makes me laugh at their teasing. I especially love the group text stream Cutler and his friends. Another favorite part is catching up with characters from Laura Pavlov’s prior books. Who does not love family and friends that always have each other’s backs? I thoroughly enjoyed My Forever Girl, who does not love a friends to lovers love story. It was such an enjoyable book to read. Highly recommend this incredible love story. Received an advanced copy from the author.
Profile Image for World Of Books 65.
3,371 reviews63 followers
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
May 11, 2026
Laura Pavlov fans, myself included, had been waiting with baited breath for the moment we finally got Cutler Heart’s story. Affectionately known as “Beefcake” throughout the Magnolia Falls series, Cutler stole every single scene he walked into. Watching him grow up in the background of those books while seeing his dad and uncles all find their happily ever afters made the anticipation for his own story feel even more emotional. His presence was impossible to ignore, especially when his dad finally got his own beating-heart romance, setting the perfect stage for Cutler to one day become the leading man himself.

And honestly, Laura Pavlov could not have chosen a more perfect way to launch her beautiful new Blue Sky Bay series than with My Forever Girl.

What makes this story hit even harder is the history behind both Cutler and Gracie. These are not characters readers are meeting for the first time. We first met Gracie years ago as a child herself when her father found his happily ever after in After the Storm from the Cottonwood Cove series, which later beautifully crossed into Magnolia Falls. So for longtime Laura Pavlov readers, this book carries something incredibly special — the feeling of coming home to characters we have watched grow up, rooted for quietly in the background, and patiently waited years to see finally get their own love story.

And what a love story it is.

Gracie has always been Cutler’s girl. Even when they were “just friends,” there was always something deeper flowing between them, something unshakable and quietly all-consuming. What completely stole my heart was how Laura Pavlov never forces their connection — it feels deeply rooted in years of friendship, trust, loyalty, and unconditional love. Their relationship feels real because it is built on the little things: never hiding secrets, always being there through heartbreak and triumph, understanding each other in ways nobody else can.


Although Cutler didn’t grow up in Blue Sky Bay, it always held a special place in his heart from the summers and memories spent there as a child. Now older, he has returned to build something of his own, opening his construction company ROD in the town that always felt like home. Meanwhile Gracie, a talented interior designer, followed both her career dreams and the man she was seeing all the way to Paris after he promised connections and opportunities to help elevate her future — and honestly, what better place for an interior designer than Paris?

But six months later that relationship is over, and Gracie is finally coming home.
Working alongside Cutler on the interior design of a stunning house he has been building for his aunt should be easy. They have always worked effortlessly together. They know each other better than anyone else. But somewhere along the way something shifted… or maybe those feelings had always been there, quietly waiting until neither of them could ignore them anymore.

The chemistry between Cutler and Gracie absolutely sizzles. The stolen glances, the lingering touches, the quiet jealousy, the moments loaded with tension — suddenly everything feels far more dangerous than friendship. Yet underneath all the heat is fear. Fear of ruining the most important relationship they have ever had. Fear of rejection. Fear of loving someone so deeply only to watch them leave again when Gracie plans to head back to New York in just a few short months.
And that emotional push and pull is what makes this story unforgettable.

I genuinely do not think my words can fully express just how heartfelt this storyline is. Laura Pavlov writes romance with so much warmth and emotion that you do not simply read her books — you feel every page. The friendships surrounding Cutler and Gracie become the rock of the story, and you can already feel the foundations being laid for future books in Blue Sky Bay. Seeing familiar faces from Magnolia Falls and Cottonwood Cove appear throughout the story added another beautiful layer of depth and nostalgia that longtime readers will absolutely adore.

More than five stars honestly feels like the only way to describe this book.

Cutler continues to shine on every single page exactly the way he did as a child in Magnolia Falls, only now readers finally get to see the man behind the charm, loyalty, and heart that made everyone fall in love with him years ago. My Forever Girl is emotional, swoony, heartfelt, and the perfect friends-to-lovers romance to start what already feels like another unforgettable Laura Pavlov series.
Profile Image for Camille Parra.
174 reviews7 followers
May 10, 2026
CH + GR
What do you get when you take beloved young characters and then fast forward time to them now as adults? Pure magic.

Anyone who has ever read a book by Laura Pavlov knows all about Beefcake. Cutler Heart (aka Beefcake, Bear, BC) has been an integral and magmatic character in the Lauraverse from day 1. Him and his leather jacket, overflowing amount of charisma, and a collection of his “girls” in his wake. Now this adorable little guy is all grown up and living in a small town, Blue Sky Bay, while running his own business, ROD Construction.

Gracie Reynolds (aka Jeege) is Cutler’s best friend and the girl he has repeatedly proclaimed to marry one day.

Cutler and Gracie met when they were only five years old. How many people have such strong feelings throughout their entire childhood on the exact person that they are going to marry one day? Despite this, these two have remained only best friends and have never taken any steps towards a relationship. Cutler has no intention of settling down and Gracie has been in relationships with all the wrong men. She moves in with Cutler for a few months while she’s in between jobs. Gracie ends up asking Cutler to help her get her confidence back and well, it goes about as great as we’d expect. Cutler has all the green flags and these two have a bond and love for each other like no other. It truly is what fairytales are made of. Not to mention Meatball… seriously, cutest ever.

I wondered if we would be able to easily see Cutler now as an adult, and Laura did such a fantastic job. It was so easy to see him as an adult, while still remaining true to the character that we all know and love from his childhood. There are many familiar faces from other books that made appearances, which is always the best to get snippets of.

This book gripped my heart, made me laugh (Gunther for the win!), and brought me to tears (the epilogue!). Everything Laura writes is pure gold. 10/10 recommend!
Profile Image for Anastasia.
423 reviews
Review of advance copy
May 15, 2026
I fell in love with Cutler Heart when we met him in the Magnolia Falls series when he was little. He was the sweetest boy, and I just knew then that when he grew up and fell in love, he would have the best story. And I wasn’t wrong. From the age of 5 he claimed he would marry Gracie one day, his soul knew she was something special to him. But as time went on, they became inseparable she was his everything and did not want to ruin everything they had. She was the one person that knew him better than he knew himself, but lines were starting to grey and he would do anything she asked, even if it destroyed him letting her go after.

Gracie was over guys and looking for serious relationships. Her life has been turned upside down and the only person that can help her fix it, and help her put it back together was her best friend, Cutler. So, she packed her bags and moved in with him for a few months until she moved and started her new job in New York as a designer. But she wanted to let loose and have fun, she wanted to have random hookups and see what it was like to not be in a serious relationship, so she asked Cutler to help her. He would be able to show her how it’s done, since that all he knew. Cutler was not a relationship type of person.

But as the time went by and they crossed more lines, they realized that the feeling they had for each other were not just friendship, it was a lot more. But how could she be moving across the country and ask him to be with her. He wasn't even a serious relationship type of man. So, to make it easier on both of them she set rules and a timeline. She would have to deal with the consequences when she left. But the thing is that Cutler would do anything for her, but how would he convince her that they were end game, without her giving up her dreams?

Received this ARC for my honest review and opinion. And if I tell you this is a must read, I am not kidding. It’s the start of a new series with an old character from another series. So good!
Profile Image for Maddy Hummel.
333 reviews5 followers
May 15, 2026
Easiest 5 stars I have ever given!
If you are an avid Laura Pavlov reader, like me, you know that Cutler ‘Beefcake’ Heart & Gracie Reynolds were huge parts of multiple of Laura’s previous series’s. They are beloved characters and I was foaming at the mouth to get my hands on this book! I can promise you, this book well exceeds the hype that has surrounded it!

“The only dream that I’m chasing is right in front of me. She’s been in front of me my whole life.”

Cutler & Gracie have been best friends since the moment they met at the age of 5, and Cutler made sure everyone knew that she was his girl! Though they grew up together, and did so much together, the timing was never right and they ALWAYS found themselves being just best friends.

When life doesn’t go as planned Gracie finds herself needing a reset. Insert Cutler & Blue Sky Bay. *DREAMY SIGH*

“Once you give your heart to Blue Sky Bay, you never get it back.” I DEFINITELY FELL IN LOVE!!

What was supposed to be a short reset for Gracie before she moved to her next adventure turned into so much more. This book truly explores best friends who love each other, embarking on the journey of absolutely falling head over heels in love with each other!! It was an absolute masterpiece! One of the best second generation books I have ever read!

I definitely had to turn my brain from Cutler being the adorable little boy who called all of the ladies around him his girls, to the sexy, grown man that still had all the ladies eating out of the palm of his hand. This book was the perfect mix of sexy, sweet, and oh so swoony! Honestly I wish I could flip back to page 1 and start all over again for the first time.

I’m excited for this new place and this fun group of guys we get to hang out with in the most adorable little town! And I’m excited that we get more Gracie & Cutler while we are there!! Enjoy giving your HEART to Blue Sky Bay, I know I sure did!
Profile Image for Dani.
161 reviews83 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 11, 2026
𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 • 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴-𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦-𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 • 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 • 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺 • “𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴” • 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 • 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥

“𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦—𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞.”

This was my first book by Laura Pavlov, and I’m absolutely in love with it. I’ll definitely be picking up more of her books after this one. This had me staying up way too late, laughing and crying at 1 a.m., completely unable to put it down.

“Gracie Reynolds just might ruin me in a way I’d never seen coming.”

I’m a sucker for a good small-town friends-to-lovers romance, and this one absolutely nailed it. It pulled me in from the very beginning and never let go. Laura did such an incredible job with this story. Not only did I fall in love with the main characters, but I also found myself completely invested in the side characters, too.

“Vulnerability was most people’s weakness. But it was Cutler Heart’s superpower.”

The tension, chemistry, and longing between these two were so beautifully written that you could truly feel how much they loved each other. I loved Gracie’s character; she’s one of those characters I think so many people will relate to in some way. And Cutler “Bear”? Honestly, who wouldn’t fall for this man? I know I did. The way he would do anything for Gracie, especially helping her rebuild her confidence, made me love him even more.

“You’re so fucking beautiful, Jeege. You really do take my breath away, at least when you stand still long enough for me to look at you.”

I’m already counting down to the next book and can’t wait to see more of these two throughout the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Sarah Stevens.
255 reviews
May 10, 2026
From the day we first met little Gracie and Beefcake, I was hoping and praying we’d eventually get their story…and when I tell you that this was so much more than I ever imagined 😭💜

If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for a childhood friends to lovers trope, and this story was a top tier example of it. From Beefcake and Gracie being inseparable little besties, to Cutler and Jeege growing up and figuring out life, these two were endgame from the moment they met (and did our boy know it 😮‍💨).

After leaving a crappy relationship in Paris and relocating back home, Gracie moved in with her bestie to make up for time spent apart while she was with her ex. However, in true crappy ex boyfriend fashion, one of the last things he told her before she left was that she was bad in bed. The only way to get that thought out of her head? Spicy lessons with her best friend, obviously.

And while Miss Type A Gracie had a great plan in place so no one would fall in love or get their feelings hurt, there’s a reason there is a cliche about the best laid plans….it didn’t take long for both of them to open their eyes to realize what had been in front of their faces for over two decades, but when they finally realized it, it was truly beautiful.

This book was everything I hoped it would be and more, but it’s also the perfect first book to start this new series off! I thought I knew who everyone (that I think would get a book of their own) would wind up with, but I’m already second guessing myself 😂 I absolutely cannot wait to see what Laura has in store for us next!
Profile Image for _bookishmegan.
214 reviews41 followers
May 14, 2026
A million stars!!!!!! I could not put this book down.

Cutler and Gracie each stole a piece of my heart when I first met them, and now they have the whole damn thing. This was everything a friends to lovers should be. Full of yearning, angst, sweet intimate moments and inevitable feelings that blossom at the right time.

Cutler was an absolute dream. He oozed charm and charisma and I couldn’t help but swoon at how protective he was over Gracie. He loved her enough to let her find her own wings, but also knew when it was the right time to fight for their forever. He continued to shine on the page the exact way he did during the Magnolia Falls series.

Our sweet Gracie Girl, my gosh I love her so much. She was a ray of sunshine and a pure joy. She returned to Blue Sky Bay and not only found her confidence again, but the love of her life who’d been standing by her side for over two decades.

Their history added more layers to their romance which made their relationship feel natural. Their connection was deeply rooted in years of friendship, trust and unconditional love. It was that slow burning emotional pay off that I always love. These two were everything.

The familiar faces woven through this story had me feeling all kinds of nostalgic and I may have shed a tear or 2000.

“I realised the only dream that I’m chasing is right in front of me. She’s been in front of me my whole life.”

Tropes:
🏞️ small town
💜 childhood best friends to lovers
🫦 spicy lessons
🏡 forced proximity
🤌🏻 boy OBSESSED
🤭 forbidden love

Thank you to Laura and team for the ARC 🫶🏻
Profile Image for Shelby Grenz Winckler.
271 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 18, 2026
OMG BEEFCAKE!! I cannot believe we are getting Beefcake's story, and omg when did he stop going by Beefcake, that made me sad!

Absolutely obsessed with Bear and Jeege. Like stop it. So cute, it's giving Always Mine vibes (my absolute favorite).

My Forever Girl is a
*Best Friends to Lovers
*Small Town
*He falls first and harder
*It was always you
*Feels forbidden because its your best friend

Gracie goes to Blue Sky Bay to live with Cutler before her big new start in New York. After being away from each other while Gracie tried living in Paris, they needed some bestie time. Gracie is realizing that she has never had a fling and wants to give it a try to prepare for her new start, but Cutler isn't so sure. This is his best friend but suddenly the lines are starting to blur and Gracie is leaving, but those pesky feelings don't care about that whole idea of "no feelings", and suddenly their whole world shifts into perspective.

Cutler took his sweet time realizing that Gracie was the one, because Beefcake knew it and Beefcake would probably smack his older self when he realizes that he took so many years to make his Gracie girl his forever. And once Cutler realized it, that was it. The ROD would be so proud.
I absolutely adore Cutler and Gracie's friendship. Cutler is a supportive king, helping Gracie to spread her wings and sore.

Already obsessed with Blue Sky Bay and the friends that have become Cutler's family. I cannot wait to see where this series takes us!
Profile Image for Bari (justbookedup).
882 reviews45 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 13, 2026
There’s something really special about finally getting Cutler “Beefcake” Heart’s story after watching him grow up throughout Magnolia Falls, & Laura Pavlov absolutely delivered here. This honestly felt like a love letter to both Magnolia Falls & Cottonwood Cove while also giving us the perfect introduction to Blue Sky Bay.

Cutler & Gracie’s relationship has that effortless longtime best friends energy that makes the romance feel so natural. Even when they were “just friends,” it was obvious there was always something deeper there, & watching those feelings finally surface was so sweet. Cutler is exactly the kind of hero Laura Pavlov writes so well: loyal, protective, swoony, & completely gone for his girl.

What I loved most about this book was how comforting it felt. The small town atmosphere, the found family dynamics, the friendships, the familiar faces from previous series all gave me that cozy feeling I always want from a Laura Pavlov romance. Seeing characters from Magnolia Falls & Cottonwood Cove pop up throughout the story made this feel extra nostalgic in the best way.

This also did such a great job setting up Blue Sky Bay. The supporting characters we're introduced to are strong (I'm looking at you Phoenix!). I’m already invested in this entire group & really looking forward to seeing what Laura has in store for this series!

💕 Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
🏡 Small Town Romance
💋 Spicy Lessons
🛌 Forced Proximity
🫶 Found Family
✌🏻 Dual POV
Profile Image for Kenny__Reads.
374 reviews3 followers
May 11, 2026
There is just something so special about a childhood friends-to-lovers story done right, and My Forever Girl felt like the absolute blueprint for it. Laura Pavlov captured the kind of love that grows quietly over years of inside jokes, comfort of knowing someone’s history, the heart wrenching missed timing, unwavering loyalty, and knowing someone so deeply that they become stitched into every version of your life.

Cutler and Gracie’s connection felt effortless in only the way decades of friendship and learning every piece of one another, even the broken ones, can develop. Every moments carries the kind of history that has the yearning make you chest ache because they know each other better than anyone else ever could. This story perfectly shows how love can exist through every season of friendship, even when the two people involved can’t quite see how perfectly their broken pieces fit together.
The slow burn realization of oh, it’s always been you was done so flawlessly, weaving their history in with this new phase of love. The tension, the comfort of knowing someone’s going to show up for all your messy pieces, the vulnerability, the way Cutler loved Gracie with this quiet certainty for years… it all made this romance feel incredibly layered and real.

And honestly, Cutler is the kind of book boyfriend that ruins you a little. Boy obsessed in the best way, patient, protective, completely gone for his girl from the very beginning. Watching these two finally open their eyes to something that felt inevitable from page one was equal parts heartbreaking and healing.

Thank you to Laura’s team and Valentine PR for the continued joy of being on the ARC team, getting to read early copies and share my honest reviews!
Profile Image for Books I Flove.
822 reviews42 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 9, 2026
Cutler Heart. Well known as beefcake. Or bear for Gracie. They have known each other since they were little, and early on Cutler knew that he would marry Gracie one day. I mean, every lady in the multiple series‘ was ‚his girl‘ but Gracie (or Jeege) was his forever girl.

𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕. 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚. 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅. 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉. 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒚𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍. 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆. 𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏.

When Gracie needed help coming back home to the US, Cutler was the first to jump on a plane to pick her up from Paris, and offered her a place to stay and work until her job in NYC started. Having her close makes him just realize that he never wants to let her go.
And same for Gracie. To see these 2 figuring everything out, talking to each other about their feelings so openly made me swoon like a lunatic.

“𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑱𝒆𝒆𝒈𝒆.”

The banter in the friends group is super fun and I am very excited to see what the author has in store for us in this series.
Seeing all the characters from previous series just made me love this so much more. I got so emotional in the last 25% that I was a sobbing wreck reading their story!

This book is simple perfection and I couldn’t love it more!


I kindly received an arc from the author and voluntarily left a review.
Profile Image for Francis.
245 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 9, 2026
The first book in a new series is always is bit new... but this is THE book we've all been waiting for.... Beefcake and his Gracie.
We've met them when they were younger in Magnolia Falls and Cottonwood Cove and now they're all grown up.
I seriously loved Cutler as a kid with his dad and uncles. But also "his girls". And now we get him as an adult and wow... he's the BEST and learned from the best persons he grew up with.
Where do I begin.... Cutler and Gracie both have eachothers back and still get along great.
When Gracie decided to move to Paris, things have changed and when Cutler gets her back home in Blue Sky Bay, things shift between them when Gracie wants to learn some things.

Oh man... Cutler sure grew up!
The boat trip was amazing! But when Melodie did her psychology talk, it really hit Cutler. Loved it!
We get a lot of cameo's and wondered if Bridger still got the toilet..hehe
We get amazing text messages between Cutler and his friends and uncles and I didn't stop crying after the ROD911 text message. Oh my!
Seriously... this book was everything I wished for and even more! Laura sure did Cutler and Gracie right!
The book we've all been waiting for is EVERYTHING and MORE we got.
Thank you so much Laura! Been following her for a couple of years right now and this is absolutely my favourite one!
Can't wait for the rest of this series.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
979 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 12, 2026
I knew that this story would be everything and it truly was. Cutler has always loved his best friend Gracie, but their timing was never right. Until the moment finally is there. Gracie needs a soft place to land for a little bit while she gets her feet under her again and who better to catch her then her Bear. We have met these two before and what I love the most about this story is that we get to see them not only grow into the adults that they are, but also their friendship and love for each other. There are moments where you wonder if they will cross the friendship line, but when they do, you know that both are so far in love with each other that it truly scares them. I love how they lean on each other anyways. That the person is truly their everything. We get to spend time with their parents and even more special is Cutler’s uncles. I will never get enough of seeing all these characters on page. But in the end of it all, it is the communication that these two always have and once that wall is down you can see that it is so much more than anyone could ever expect. They are not just best friends, they are soulmates. And with that knowledge, you are reminded that sometimes the risks are worth everything. This story is beautifully written. It has love and laughter as well as tears. My heart is beyond happy with each moment.
Profile Image for Reading  In the  Red Room .
3,480 reviews74 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 7, 2026
Loved this book so darn much!! This was a beyond perfect start to a new series!! If you have ever read any of my reviews for this author…you know my love of Beefcake! We meet beefcake as a young child, who was raised by his father and godfathers. He was funny, sweet and had his eyes on one girl. Well beefcake is all grown up and going by his given name…Cutler. Cutler is still funny, sweet and still has has his eyes on one girl..Gracie. Gracie and Cutler have always been best friends. They have always depended on each other. What happens when these two cross the friendship line and become sooo much more?!? This friends to lovers read was beyond perfect. This well layered read told a story about friendship, family and everything in between. The characters had great chemistry and fun banter. Gracie and Cutler truly belonged together and everyone knew it…they eventually figured it out. I am Beyond excited for this series. This book gave me all the feels I laughed out loud at the friend group…I truly enjoyed the text feed. Then…boy oh boy did I ugly cry…several times during some of the best moments in this book. I enjoyed every character in this amazing book and I’m soo ready for book two!!
910 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 7, 2026
As a long-time fan, this was the story I was most excited for—and it absolutely did not disappoint. Seeing Cutler Heart and Gracie Reynolds all grown up was everything I hoped for. Their friendship pulls you in immediately and sets the perfect foundation for their story.
Cutler has clearly learned well from his dad and godfathers; it’s obvious from the start that this man loves with his whole heart. Gracie brings just as much sass as she did as a little girl, and I absolutely adored her. Together, they are breathtaking. Watching them fight for each other and realise they’ve always been endgame is truly special.
I’m already loving this group, and the group chat had me laughing out loud—so I know we’re in for a fun, heartfelt series. If you’ve read Laura’s previous series, you’ll recognise the background, but it’s not essential. This story stands beautifully on its own and can be fully enjoyed as a first visit to Laura’s world.
That said, returning readers will be treated to plenty of clever callbacks and some appearances from much-loved characters. One moment in particular was my absolute favourite—but no spoilers!
An amazing start to our time in Blue Sky Bay, and I genuinely can’t wait for book two!
Profile Image for Leann Olsen.
260 reviews15 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 7, 2026
♾️⭐️

I’m not sure where to even begin. I just finished and spent the last solid 25 min of the book happy crying. This book was better than I could’ve ever imagined.

Cutler Heart, you stole my heart when you were a little kid & we all called you Beefcake & you stole my heart all over again being all grown up. I can’t say I’m surprised considering he grew up around my ROD man. The scenes with Nash, Emerson, Cage & Presley warmed my heart & I couldn’t contain my tears.

Gracie Reynolds was one of my favorite child characters & seeing her all grown up & turn into this strong woman through out this book was everything I could’ve hoped for. Cage was my #1 so seeing little snippets of him made me so freaking happy that I literally cried…. A lot.

As always, Laura does NO wrong. There’s a reason she is my favorite author & this book just proved it all over again. I have 0 notes on this book. It was perfection from start to finish. I know Laura knew how much we all loved & adored Beefcake & let me just say.. she delivered all we could’ve wanted in this book. I know I always say this but Laura makes me want to jump in the pages & live my life in small tow with all her characters. I’m so excited for this series & for everyone to read Beefcake!!!
Profile Image for Suds Maclennan.
73 reviews2 followers
Read
May 9, 2026
My Forever Girl by Laura Pavlov

ARC Review

Ive been waiting for this book for what seems like ages , this is the 1st book in the Blue Sky Bay series.

This series connects with the Magnolia Falls series, the book Beating heart was about Cutlers dad Nash heart , Another great book.

So this book starts with a grown up Cutler(he will always be beefcake to me) and his bestie Gracie, who moves back home after being in Paris working and her life is well -complicated, but she can always rely on her best friend Cutler.

They try very hard to convince themselves they are only friends but life doesn't always work out the way you think!

I'm sold on Blue Sky Bay and loved the imagery of the lake , the boat and small town living all the different relationships between family and friends as always I enjoy.

I loved the storyline full of twists and turns , and lots of characters that thread through several of Laura's books, you feel a real sense of family in her writing.

I laughed and cried , and absolutely loved Meatball 😄 he definitely added to their family!

Its always Joy to read Laura Pavlovs books and this one was no exception.
If you love small town romance with a big heart this book is it ❤️ 💜

5 🌟
#laurapavlov#blueskybay#arcreader#smalltownromance@nanas_book_club
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 10, 2026
I was so excited to receive my first ARC from one of my favorite authors! I’m not an influencer, just a working mom who reads romance as a hobby. I literally signed up for Goodreads because I told Laura I would in my ARC application 😂. I didn’t think I had a shot, and I was thrilled to get the email that I’d been chosen!

I’ve read all of Laura’s books and have been a big fan of Beefcake in the Magnolia Falls and Cottonwood Cove series, and I was delighted to see he was getting his own book.

My Forever Girl was exactly what I needed after a tough week and going into Mother’s Day weekend. It was so fun seeing Cutler and Gracie as adults and how their friendship matured over the years.

They support each other even more fiercely as adults than they did as children, and their commitment to each other in the face of significant life events was an example of what everyone hopes to find in their person - whether it’s a close friend or a partner.

Some Magnolia Falls favorites make cameos, which was also fun.

I gave it four stars instead of five because there were a few parts that felt repetitive.

Four stars, 3/5 spice level.

If you love Laura Pavlov, you won’t be disappointed! Can’t wait for the rest of the Blue Sky Bay series!
Profile Image for Julia.
131 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 11, 2026

💜 𝗠𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟 𝘅 𝗟𝗔𝗨𝗥𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗩𝗟𝗢𝗩 💜

“ I loved everything about her. Her heart. Her body. Her mind. Her laugh. Gracie Reynolds really was my forever girl.”

𝗠𝗬 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗡𝗡𝗚!

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲 𝗔𝗞𝗔 𝗝𝗲𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗳𝗰𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿.... 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗪𝗢... 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲, 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗳𝘂𝘇𝘇𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮'𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱. 𝗪𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴. 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝘆. 𝗛𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗵𝗲𝗿? 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹?! 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻, 𝗴𝘂𝘆𝘀.... 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼. 😭
𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗠𝗚 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁...𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱.

𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆/𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮'𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀. 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆, 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗜𝗧!

𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲'𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿? 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 ♥️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦!!!!
Profile Image for Aina.
394 reviews15 followers
May 19, 2026
I cannot believe we get to read Beefcake all grown up! He now goes by his name Cutler and still has all the swagger he had as a kid! I adored reading him getting his girl!

Speaking of, Gracie is also all grown up, and I adored seeing her slowly get her confidence back and to fight for her dreams.

Second generations is always a treat and Laura did a beautiful job balancing all old favourites characters appearances as well as introducing new characters that I am sure we are all going to love.

Gracie and Cutler relationship was so special, their connection so deep and beautiful that you could feel it with every page. It was so sweet to see them realize their feelings for each other run deeper than friendship!

I loved the circle moment where Cutler’s uncles gave him courage and counsel with his girl as he did to them when he was younger, it made me so emotional!

As always Laura does an excellent job at making you feel like you are part of the town with all the quirky and beautiful people!

Cannot wait to read the next book in this new series!

💜 Friends to lovers
✨ Roommates
📖 Found family
🌸Childhood best friends
🌶️Spicy Lessons
🫶🏼 Forced proximity
🌲 Small town

Thank you so much to Laura Pavlov and Valentine PR for this ARC!
Profile Image for Téa Arney.
160 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 6, 2026
I don’t even know where to begin! I absolutely devoured My Forever Girl. Having been a big Beefcake fan in Magnolia Falls, I KNEW I was going to love Cutler and Gracie’s story. I have read all of Laura’s books and to get to revisit characters from Cottonwood Cove and Magnolia Falls warmed my heart!

Laura totally nails the friends to lovers trope every time and I was SAT for this one. I loved watching both of them realize what their feelings actually were especially in the midst of them just casually saying “I love you” in the way all best friends do.

There was one moment I got teary eyed just because I loved Nash and Emerson’s book when I read it and to see more of them was just wonderful.

The spice in this is immaculate. But the story was just so so so beautiful. And I LOVED every second of it!

The groupchats once again had me CACKLING! Such a fun read!

• Forced Proximity
• Small Town
• Friends-To-Lovers
• Found Family
• Childhood Besties
• Roommates

Everything about Cutler was picture perfect and Gracie was literally one of my favorite characters ever! Cutler is literally the definition of if he wanted to he would. If I could rate it 6 stars I would!
Profile Image for Lou_lovesreading.
531 reviews14 followers
May 6, 2026
Hello Cutler Heart! The boy who stole our heart not only in Beating Heart but the whole of the Magnolia and Rosewood series was absolutely AMAZING and Laura did not disappoint with Cutler and Gracie.
I devoured this book, it was so heartwarming reading about these two besties figure out their feelings for each other and how they dealt with them. Cutler is a playboy - doesn’t do serious relationships and is a happy go lucky guy until we find out (thanks Melody) why he is the way he is but also that he has loved Gracie for a very long time. Gracie having uprooted her life from LA and a great job to move to Paris with an older guy comes home after a breakup and stays with Cutler at his home in Blue Sky Bay where she realises what has always been in front of her for years. Their friends with benefits arrangement has an end date, they have rules! But rules are always made to be broken. Friends to lovers at its finest!
Love an appearance or two from Nash and Emerson and a few old faces too.
Chapter 23 had me LOL-ing! This book will make you laugh and cry
Thank you so much to Laura and the team at Valentine PR for this eARC in exchange for my honest review
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews