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Blue Sky Bay #1
My Forever Girl
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!**
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!**
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Laura Pavlov
65 books11.6k followersLaura 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!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,621 reviews
June 3, 2026
⭐ 2.5/5 Stars
Another day, another romance novel glorifying a man's playboy phase until he finally finds "the one."
And apparently, in 2026, we're still supposed to find this romantic.
Maybe it's just me, but I am genuinely tired of reading books where the MMC spends years sleeping around, only to suddenly discover commitment when the right woman comes along. Somehow the FMC is supposed to feel special because she succeeded where countless others failed. I don't find that romantic anymore. I find it repetitive.
What makes this particularly disappointing is that this is Cutler's book.
Having read all the interconnected series leading up to this, Cutler was one of my absolute favorite next-generation characters. One of the things I loved most about him was how, even as a kid, he always seemed to have everyone else's relationship figured out. He was constantly dishing out advice, calling people on their nonsense, and declaring that Gracie was his girl and that he was going to marry her one day.
So what exactly happened?
How do you go from spending your entire childhood claiming a girl is the love of your life to needing a decade to figure out you want to be with her?
That was my biggest issue with this book.
To a certain extent, Cutler didn't play games once he realized what he wanted. He went after Gracie and was all in. But I never fully bought into the journey it took to get there because it felt completely at odds with the character we'd known for years.
Then there's Gracie.
Unfortunately, I wasn't a huge fan.
She came across as incredibly indecisive throughout the book. I completely understand wanting to prioritize a career and I firmly believe women shouldn't have to sacrifice their dreams for a relationship. But Gracie had already made a massive life decision once before for the wrong man despite everyone around her warning her against it.
Then when the right man finally comes along—the man she's supposedly loved for years—she still keeps him waiting for six more months while she figures out what she wants.
And don't even get me started on the whole casual relationship idea.
That made absolutely no sense to me.
If your biggest fear is ruining the most important friendship in your life, why would your solution be to start a casual fling with that exact person?
How is that somehow less risky than a real relationship?
The logic simply wasn't there.
My other major issue is something I've been noticing more and more with Laura Pavlov's books lately.
She keeps recycling the same stories.
Not just the same tropes.
The same emotional beats.
The same conflicts.
The same character dynamics.
At multiple points this felt like I was reading a repackaged version of Nico and Viv's story from Always Mine.
And unfortunately, this isn't the first time.
I enjoy Laura Pavlov's writing style. I enjoy her small-town worlds. I love revisiting her characters.
But lately it feels like she's continuously reusing the same formulas across interconnected series and simply changing the names.
And while I can forgive familiar tropes, eventually I need something new.
Because if every couple starts feeling like a variation of a couple I've already read, then the emotional impact just isn't there anymore.
And finally, my biggest disappointment:
This simply didn't feel like Cutler.
The boy we watched grow up across multiple series was thoughtful, loyal, emotionally intelligent, and surprisingly insightful when it came to relationships.
Making him into yet another playboy MMC felt less like character growth and more like forcing him into a mold that Laura Pavlov has already used multiple times before.
And honestly, he deserved better than that.
Another day, another romance novel glorifying a man's playboy phase until he finally finds "the one."
And apparently, in 2026, we're still supposed to find this romantic.
Maybe it's just me, but I am genuinely tired of reading books where the MMC spends years sleeping around, only to suddenly discover commitment when the right woman comes along. Somehow the FMC is supposed to feel special because she succeeded where countless others failed. I don't find that romantic anymore. I find it repetitive.
What makes this particularly disappointing is that this is Cutler's book.
Having read all the interconnected series leading up to this, Cutler was one of my absolute favorite next-generation characters. One of the things I loved most about him was how, even as a kid, he always seemed to have everyone else's relationship figured out. He was constantly dishing out advice, calling people on their nonsense, and declaring that Gracie was his girl and that he was going to marry her one day.
So what exactly happened?
How do you go from spending your entire childhood claiming a girl is the love of your life to needing a decade to figure out you want to be with her?
That was my biggest issue with this book.
To a certain extent, Cutler didn't play games once he realized what he wanted. He went after Gracie and was all in. But I never fully bought into the journey it took to get there because it felt completely at odds with the character we'd known for years.
Then there's Gracie.
Unfortunately, I wasn't a huge fan.
She came across as incredibly indecisive throughout the book. I completely understand wanting to prioritize a career and I firmly believe women shouldn't have to sacrifice their dreams for a relationship. But Gracie had already made a massive life decision once before for the wrong man despite everyone around her warning her against it.
Then when the right man finally comes along—the man she's supposedly loved for years—she still keeps him waiting for six more months while she figures out what she wants.
And don't even get me started on the whole casual relationship idea.
That made absolutely no sense to me.
If your biggest fear is ruining the most important friendship in your life, why would your solution be to start a casual fling with that exact person?
How is that somehow less risky than a real relationship?
The logic simply wasn't there.
My other major issue is something I've been noticing more and more with Laura Pavlov's books lately.
She keeps recycling the same stories.
Not just the same tropes.
The same emotional beats.
The same conflicts.
The same character dynamics.
At multiple points this felt like I was reading a repackaged version of Nico and Viv's story from Always Mine.
And unfortunately, this isn't the first time.
I enjoy Laura Pavlov's writing style. I enjoy her small-town worlds. I love revisiting her characters.
But lately it feels like she's continuously reusing the same formulas across interconnected series and simply changing the names.
And while I can forgive familiar tropes, eventually I need something new.
Because if every couple starts feeling like a variation of a couple I've already read, then the emotional impact just isn't there anymore.
And finally, my biggest disappointment:
This simply didn't feel like Cutler.
The boy we watched grow up across multiple series was thoughtful, loyal, emotionally intelligent, and surprisingly insightful when it came to relationships.
Making him into yet another playboy MMC felt less like character growth and more like forcing him into a mold that Laura Pavlov has already used multiple times before.
And honestly, he deserved better than that.
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dnr
June 2, 2026how about we delete spicy lessons trope from existing
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25 stars
Gracie and Cutler! Eek! I loved these two as kids and was so excited to get their own book. From the very beginning, Cutler knew Gracie was his girl. They’ve been the very best of friends since they were kids, but now things are changing.
Gracie gets back from Paris and is staying with Cutler for the summer. He’s ecstatic to have his best friend back, but things go from friendship to more. Gracie and Cutler adjust to the change, and as they do, Gracie is moving on to her next job. Of course, neither of them really wants her to go, but she has to spread her wings and figure things out.
I loved how sweet and swoony this one was. It had so much romance and a great big romantic gesture. Cutler and Gracie were the best together, and I loved meeting some of the other characters of Blue Sky Bay, as well as getting to see some of my favorite couples (Gracie and Cutler’s parents) from Pavlov’s previous books. This one was a win for me and a great start to a new series!
Gracie and Cutler! Eek! I loved these two as kids and was so excited to get their own book. From the very beginning, Cutler knew Gracie was his girl. They’ve been the very best of friends since they were kids, but now things are changing.
Gracie gets back from Paris and is staying with Cutler for the summer. He’s ecstatic to have his best friend back, but things go from friendship to more. Gracie and Cutler adjust to the change, and as they do, Gracie is moving on to her next job. Of course, neither of them really wants her to go, but she has to spread her wings and figure things out.
I loved how sweet and swoony this one was. It had so much romance and a great big romantic gesture. Cutler and Gracie were the best together, and I loved meeting some of the other characters of Blue Sky Bay, as well as getting to see some of my favorite couples (Gracie and Cutler’s parents) from Pavlov’s previous books. This one was a win for me and a great start to a new series!
Audio book source: Book Funnel
Story Rating: 4.25 stars
Narrators: Connor Crais & Savannah Peachwood
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 9h 23m
June 7, 2026
dnf for now idk if i can handle yet another friends x lovers where he has a great sex life she gets to see and she’s only been with 2 men & has never come during sex… because god forbid! now she needs sex lessons from said bff!!!!!
and his name is Cutler. every time i read it i could just think of a chicken cutlet
and his name is Cutler. every time i read it i could just think of a chicken cutlet
June 3, 2026
Loved the Magnolia Falls series but the adult story of Beefcake and Gracie just didn’t work for me. DNF.
Did Not Finish
June 2, 2026DNF 18%
I didn't know that this was a "have my BFF teach me about sex" trope book or I wouldn't have picked it up. I dislike that trope.
So, nothing wrong with the book per se, just not my current flavor of tea.
I didn't know that this was a "have my BFF teach me about sex" trope book or I wouldn't have picked it up. I dislike that trope.
So, nothing wrong with the book per se, just not my current flavor of tea.
February 5, 2026
ADORE !! All I will say.. an absolute MUST read :) Laura Pavlov NEVER disappoints! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
June 7, 2026
My Forever Girl is the first book in the Blue Sky Bay series by Laura Pavlov! This is a new small town series, 2nd gen, best friends to lovers romance where she moves in with him for a bit and wants some spicy lessons!
Cutler (aka Beefcake) x Gracie! I love a 2nd gen small town book and this definitely delivers as both characters’ parents have previous books from this author (and two of my fav previous books): her parents book is After the Storm, his parents book is Beating Heart. Those were a few series back now so it was easy seeing these two characters all grown up and still the besties they were back then! It was also fun getting appearances from their parents. Gracie ends a relationship in Paris and Cutler (or Bear as she refers to him) travels there to help her pack and bring her home with him, she’ll live with him for a few months until she moves to New York. Gracie asks Cutler’s help in dating casually like he does, since she’s always been a long term relationship girl and that has obviously not been working for her. Her first step in her new life is she wants lessons to be a better lover…!
He has been into her for a while so it was fun seeing them finally have their time together! They definitely are already the closest with that childhood besties vibe so it was easy for them to jump right in and be comfortable around one another. This was a cute, quick, easy listen (audiobook was so fun) and the start of a new small town series!
Cutler (aka Beefcake) x Gracie! I love a 2nd gen small town book and this definitely delivers as both characters’ parents have previous books from this author (and two of my fav previous books): her parents book is After the Storm, his parents book is Beating Heart. Those were a few series back now so it was easy seeing these two characters all grown up and still the besties they were back then! It was also fun getting appearances from their parents. Gracie ends a relationship in Paris and Cutler (or Bear as she refers to him) travels there to help her pack and bring her home with him, she’ll live with him for a few months until she moves to New York. Gracie asks Cutler’s help in dating casually like he does, since she’s always been a long term relationship girl and that has obviously not been working for her. Her first step in her new life is she wants lessons to be a better lover…!
He has been into her for a while so it was fun seeing them finally have their time together! They definitely are already the closest with that childhood besties vibe so it was easy for them to jump right in and be comfortable around one another. This was a cute, quick, easy listen (audiobook was so fun) and the start of a new small town series!
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!
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!
Read
June 8, 2026BEEFCAKEEEE!! 🥹🤭😍
It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for a Laura Pavlov book, but this one absolutely stole my heart! I have loooved watching Gracie & Cutler growing up through other books & I was so happy to finally have their own story!!
This book was amazing! Childhood friends to lovers & probably one of my favorite I’ve ever read! Their relationship is one that is just so perfect! The history between them, the chemistry, and the swooning that came with it all! Cutler!! The man he is! Down bad & always showing up for Gracie!! & Gracie is so lovable and just such a ray of sunshine. The way she knows him inside & out!! To see these two navigate their friendship & the changes they were feeling, just melted my heart and gave me all the feels! The tension, the banter, the CHEMISTRY!! & did someone say spicy lessons?! yess please 🥵🔥
Laura truly knocked this one out of the park & did a fantastic job with this story!! The found family/ friend group is amazing!! I loved it so much and cannot wait for more from this series & the other characters!
It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for a Laura Pavlov book, but this one absolutely stole my heart! I have loooved watching Gracie & Cutler growing up through other books & I was so happy to finally have their own story!!
This book was amazing! Childhood friends to lovers & probably one of my favorite I’ve ever read! Their relationship is one that is just so perfect! The history between them, the chemistry, and the swooning that came with it all! Cutler!! The man he is! Down bad & always showing up for Gracie!! & Gracie is so lovable and just such a ray of sunshine. The way she knows him inside & out!! To see these two navigate their friendship & the changes they were feeling, just melted my heart and gave me all the feels! The tension, the banter, the CHEMISTRY!! & did someone say spicy lessons?! yess please 🥵🔥
Laura truly knocked this one out of the park & did a fantastic job with this story!! The found family/ friend group is amazing!! I loved it so much and cannot wait for more from this series & the other characters!
June 6, 2026
That was really not good.
I originally got this as an eARC, but I just could not get into it, and it took me forever to finish. Frankly, I'm not sure why I didn't end up DNFing. I think I kept hoping it would eventually get better. Big surprise: Beefcake and Gracie Girl never got any less cringey.
I struggled with the repetitive, unimaginative writing, especially when both main characters constantly called each other "bestie" as if we might forget their relationship if we went more than a page without being reminded. The dialogue felt forced, and the humor rarely landed for me.
I also didn't find the character development particularly interesting. Neither main character felt compelling enough to carry the story, and the large cast of secondary characters was so surface level that I had a hard time keeping track of names, relationships, and why I was supposed to care about any of them.
I've heard great things about this author, which makes this even more disappointing. Unfortunately, this book was a big miss for me.
I originally got this as an eARC, but I just could not get into it, and it took me forever to finish. Frankly, I'm not sure why I didn't end up DNFing. I think I kept hoping it would eventually get better. Big surprise: Beefcake and Gracie Girl never got any less cringey.
I struggled with the repetitive, unimaginative writing, especially when both main characters constantly called each other "bestie" as if we might forget their relationship if we went more than a page without being reminded. The dialogue felt forced, and the humor rarely landed for me.
I also didn't find the character development particularly interesting. Neither main character felt compelling enough to carry the story, and the large cast of secondary characters was so surface level that I had a hard time keeping track of names, relationships, and why I was supposed to care about any of them.
I've heard great things about this author, which makes this even more disappointing. Unfortunately, this book was a big miss for me.
Did Not Finish
June 9, 2026DNF at page 101. Don’t put Strengthen Finders references in romance books. It’s triggering for those of us who have attended “leadership” courses. Also, this was poorly written and lame.
June 3, 2026
So this was a no for me. I was so bored
May 29, 2026
Gracie x Cutler💕ARC review
Okay,so forgive me for saying this,but I had a lot of expectations for this & it just didn’t work for me. Friends to lovers is always a very delicate trope for me,and it rarely works unless the emotional transition feels believable.
This book didn’t really give me the why behind the romance. They were childhood best friends,got separated for a few months because of their careers,and the moment they reunite? Boom — flirting,thinking about how hot the other person is,making out,and immediately jumping into a friends-with-benefits situation.
But where was the slow burn? The longing? The emotional confusion? They’ve known each other since childhood,yet it felt like they skipped all the emotional development and went straight into physical chemistry that had apparently been “bottled up” for years. I just needed more build-up to feel that transition from friendship to love.
And then she moves away again,and suddenly both of them forget how to communicate😭 They keep saying goodbye is hard,but they never even discuss long-distance,FaceTimes,future plans,or literally anything practical. Then randomly one year later,he proposes and I was just sitting there like… why???😭
This book lacked the slow burn,the emotional depth,and the convincing reason behind the romance. I wanted to feel why these childhood best friends suddenly saw each other differently,and I just didn’t get that.
That being said,I did love the side characters,the small-town vibes,and especially the parents & friend group🥰💕
Okay,so forgive me for saying this,but I had a lot of expectations for this & it just didn’t work for me. Friends to lovers is always a very delicate trope for me,and it rarely works unless the emotional transition feels believable.
This book didn’t really give me the why behind the romance. They were childhood best friends,got separated for a few months because of their careers,and the moment they reunite? Boom — flirting,thinking about how hot the other person is,making out,and immediately jumping into a friends-with-benefits situation.
But where was the slow burn? The longing? The emotional confusion? They’ve known each other since childhood,yet it felt like they skipped all the emotional development and went straight into physical chemistry that had apparently been “bottled up” for years. I just needed more build-up to feel that transition from friendship to love.
And then she moves away again,and suddenly both of them forget how to communicate😭 They keep saying goodbye is hard,but they never even discuss long-distance,FaceTimes,future plans,or literally anything practical. Then randomly one year later,he proposes and I was just sitting there like… why???😭
This book lacked the slow burn,the emotional depth,and the convincing reason behind the romance. I wanted to feel why these childhood best friends suddenly saw each other differently,and I just didn’t get that.
That being said,I did love the side characters,the small-town vibes,and especially the parents & friend group🥰💕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2026
Let’s face it if Laura Pavlov writes it, this girl is reading it !!
This book gave me all the feels for a small town romance between best friends.
I have not read the Magnolia Falls series yet so I am not clear on the connection there … yet!
I loved the connection between Gracie and Cutler and how their history added so much depth to their relationship. The banter was perfection also !
June 4, 2026
High Expectations
I had really high expectations for Beefcake and Gracie’s epic love story. This wasn’t a bad story, not at all. But it really didn’t feel like Beefcake and Gracie. Yes, the parents and uncles were great to see in cameos and the new characters seem interesting. I guess I didn’t expect them to be a fast rebound after her last boyfriend. For best friends they were terrible communicators. It was an ok story, but if you were a Beefcake and Gracie fan from past books, it may not hit like you hoped.
I had really high expectations for Beefcake and Gracie’s epic love story. This wasn’t a bad story, not at all. But it really didn’t feel like Beefcake and Gracie. Yes, the parents and uncles were great to see in cameos and the new characters seem interesting. I guess I didn’t expect them to be a fast rebound after her last boyfriend. For best friends they were terrible communicators. It was an ok story, but if you were a Beefcake and Gracie fan from past books, it may not hit like you hoped.
June 4, 2026
Cutler, the man you are = Chef’s Kiss
Gracie = whew. I just wasn’t her biggest fan and found her whiny (narrator didn’t help that)
I’m a little unsure about one of the tropes in this book, but that could be a me thing.
But, I did think the ending of this book was sweet.
Friends, don’t come at me.
Gracie = whew. I just wasn’t her biggest fan and found her whiny (narrator didn’t help that)
I’m a little unsure about one of the tropes in this book, but that could be a me thing.
But, I did think the ending of this book was sweet.
Friends, don’t come at me.
June 10, 2026
4.25 ⭐
This was my first book by Laura Pavlov and honestly I loved it, I can't wait to read more! I also went into this blind and didn't realise it was a second generation book so I'm excited to start from the beginning.
Again, I went into this blind and I didn't realise it was friends to lovers which made me a little nervous because honestly friends to lovers isn't always my favourite but I literally devoured this. Cutler & Gracie just have the most special friendship and you could literally feel their connection straight away.
Cutler is just the most perfect book boyfriend. I adore the way he puts Gracie first and supports her with her dreams and regaining her confidence. That man is down bad and he would literally do anything for her, I'm obsessed. I also loved Gracie, I loved seeing her grow and her confidence build throughout the book.
Also the small town and found family vibes in this book are so perfect. Two of my favourite tropes and honestly it didn't disappoint at all.
I can't wait to continue this series and also read some of Laura's other books as well.
✨ Childhood friends to lovers
✨ Found family
✨ Small town
✨ Roommates
✨ Spicy Lessons
Thank you to Laura and Valentine PR for the eARC.
This was my first book by Laura Pavlov and honestly I loved it, I can't wait to read more! I also went into this blind and didn't realise it was a second generation book so I'm excited to start from the beginning.
Again, I went into this blind and I didn't realise it was friends to lovers which made me a little nervous because honestly friends to lovers isn't always my favourite but I literally devoured this. Cutler & Gracie just have the most special friendship and you could literally feel their connection straight away.
Cutler is just the most perfect book boyfriend. I adore the way he puts Gracie first and supports her with her dreams and regaining her confidence. That man is down bad and he would literally do anything for her, I'm obsessed. I also loved Gracie, I loved seeing her grow and her confidence build throughout the book.
Also the small town and found family vibes in this book are so perfect. Two of my favourite tropes and honestly it didn't disappoint at all.
I can't wait to continue this series and also read some of Laura's other books as well.
✨ Childhood friends to lovers
✨ Found family
✨ Small town
✨ Roommates
✨ Spicy Lessons
Thank you to Laura and Valentine PR for the eARC.
June 3, 2026
4.25 stars · Small‑Town Romance · Childhood Best Friends · Blue Sky Bay
Childhood best friends to lovers, this was such a warm, addictive start to the series. After a year abroad, Gracie comes home for the summer a little shaken by the douche she’d been dating, and Cutler steps in pretty quickly to remind her exactly what she deserves.
Their chemistry is so easy to root for, and the spicy‑lessons trope is one I’ll almost always eat up. I also loved the history and comfort between them, you can genuinely feel that lifelong friendship sitting underneath the romance.
I was so excited to finally get Cutler and Gracie’s story after first meeting him in Laura Pavlov’s previous series, and this honestly gave me exactly what I wanted: sweet, flirty, emotional, and full of the addictive small‑town romance vibe she writes so well.
Such a strong start to the Blue Sky Bay series, and I’m already excited for the next book.
Thank you so much to Laura Pavlov and Valentine PR for the gifted ARC - all opinions are my own.
Childhood best friends to lovers, this was such a warm, addictive start to the series. After a year abroad, Gracie comes home for the summer a little shaken by the douche she’d been dating, and Cutler steps in pretty quickly to remind her exactly what she deserves.
Their chemistry is so easy to root for, and the spicy‑lessons trope is one I’ll almost always eat up. I also loved the history and comfort between them, you can genuinely feel that lifelong friendship sitting underneath the romance.
I was so excited to finally get Cutler and Gracie’s story after first meeting him in Laura Pavlov’s previous series, and this honestly gave me exactly what I wanted: sweet, flirty, emotional, and full of the addictive small‑town romance vibe she writes so well.
Such a strong start to the Blue Sky Bay series, and I’m already excited for the next book.
Thank you so much to Laura Pavlov and Valentine PR for the gifted ARC - all opinions are my own.
June 18, 2026
4 1/2 🌟 Some parts did seem a lot like other books in her other series but I really did enjoy this one!
May 23, 2026
ARC Read!
What a great start to a new series! I loved Culter and Gracie. Knowing how Culter was as a kid in the other books and how he said that he was going to marry Gracie was the cutest and I was so excited for them to be grown up and get their own book!
Their story was so cute! I love them together and I loved how they have been best friends since they were 5 years old 🥹 I will say that I don’t know why one of the tropes advertised was forbidden romance, I don’t see it as forbidden.
Anyway, Culter was such a sweet and sexy and supportive MMC. He really supported Gracie no matter what she wanted, he would literally do anything for her.
Gracie was a good FMC, she was this sweet girl with not a lot of experience when it comes it comes to being intimate. So who better to teach her than Cutler? 😏
I thought they were a perfect fit, they had great chemistry, which is what I would hope for being they have been best friends all their lives. There was some good tension, I wanted a little more tension though, but it was still there. They both had great character growth and Gracie really found herself and it was nice to see good things happen for her. I am excited to read Bass’s story and the rest of this series!
What a great start to a new series! I loved Culter and Gracie. Knowing how Culter was as a kid in the other books and how he said that he was going to marry Gracie was the cutest and I was so excited for them to be grown up and get their own book!
Their story was so cute! I love them together and I loved how they have been best friends since they were 5 years old 🥹 I will say that I don’t know why one of the tropes advertised was forbidden romance, I don’t see it as forbidden.
Anyway, Culter was such a sweet and sexy and supportive MMC. He really supported Gracie no matter what she wanted, he would literally do anything for her.
Gracie was a good FMC, she was this sweet girl with not a lot of experience when it comes it comes to being intimate. So who better to teach her than Cutler? 😏
I thought they were a perfect fit, they had great chemistry, which is what I would hope for being they have been best friends all their lives. There was some good tension, I wanted a little more tension though, but it was still there. They both had great character growth and Gracie really found herself and it was nice to see good things happen for her. I am excited to read Bass’s story and the rest of this series!
May 24, 2026
I love me some Laura Pavlov! This book was perfection! I ate this up and left no crumbs could not put it down. This is the best childhood friends to lovers that I have ever read. It was done perfectly!
I’m so in love with Cutler and Gracie. Cutler Heart the man that you are😍😭I loved their story and the way he always put her first no matter what. You could just feel their chemistry and connection. They had an undeniable connection. It was the perfect amount of spice to plot. I loved all the side characters and the found family. I can’t wait to go back and read the series before this one. I also can’t wait for the next book🤭 My fav Laura Pavlov book so far!
Thank you so much to Laura and Valentine PR for this advanced copy. This releases on 6/2 highly recommended this one!
5⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Childhood friends to lovers
Small town
Forbidden
Forced proximity
I’m so in love with Cutler and Gracie. Cutler Heart the man that you are😍😭I loved their story and the way he always put her first no matter what. You could just feel their chemistry and connection. They had an undeniable connection. It was the perfect amount of spice to plot. I loved all the side characters and the found family. I can’t wait to go back and read the series before this one. I also can’t wait for the next book🤭 My fav Laura Pavlov book so far!
Thank you so much to Laura and Valentine PR for this advanced copy. This releases on 6/2 highly recommended this one!
5⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Childhood friends to lovers
Small town
Forbidden
Forced proximity
May 21, 2026
LAURA!!! What 🫠 This book was absolutely phenomenal. This darling best friends to lovers romance was done so perfectly I’m at a loss for words. I genuinely can’t think of another time I’ve loved this trope this much. I had such a great time listening to the ALC and halfway through immediately preordered a physical copy because I was that obsessed.
This was spicy and so flirty but it never once took away from the story. I’m so in love with these characters and their relationship.
The audio was freaking chefs kiss. The production and narrators were absolutely on point and made the whole experience even better.
Thank you Laura Pavlov & Valentine PR for the ALC. I’m so honored to have had the opportunity to receive it!
This was spicy and so flirty but it never once took away from the story. I’m so in love with these characters and their relationship.
The audio was freaking chefs kiss. The production and narrators were absolutely on point and made the whole experience even better.
Thank you Laura Pavlov & Valentine PR for the ALC. I’m so honored to have had the opportunity to receive it!
June 5, 2026
What can I say? Laura Pavlov never disappoints. This was a friends-to-lovers story that gave off we-belong-together vibes from the start. It was heartwarming to see these two grow from best friends to madly in love. The secondary characters were fantastic, especially Cutler’s group of guy friends. I can’t wait to revisit this cast of characters and this small town in book two!
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.
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.
June 9, 2026
This book was hella spicy, but in addition, it was a cute romance also!
Cutler was the best best friend turned boyfriend ever! I love how he gave Gracie the time and space to figure out what she wanted… and every time he was there for her!!
Cutler was the best best friend turned boyfriend ever! I love how he gave Gracie the time and space to figure out what she wanted… and every time he was there for her!!
June 15, 2026
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book called, My Forever Girl. This is about Gracie, she and Cutler have been best friends since they were kids, they were there for each other through the happiest and the lowest points of each other's lives. Gracie is moving back after a breakup and is staying with Cutler for the summer while she gets her life back in order. She is single and wants to have a fun summer before starting her job across the country. But suddenly Cutler is feeling more than just protective over Gracie, he's getting jealous when other guys give her attention. And Gracie isn't liking the way other girls are flirting with Cutler, which is new for her. When Gracie has a proposition for Cutler that he can't stop thinking about once she mentions it, they decide to go for it. But as the summer goes by Cutler has to keep reminding himself Gracie is leaving and he doesn't want to hold her back from her dream job. It's supposed to be a fun summer not a summer to catch feelings, if only they can remember that.
I didn't want to give too much away, but wow I loved this book SO much! It was a really fun storyline and such an enjoyable summer read! These two were the ultimate best friends, which made this story even better (and funnier) because they knew each other so well, their banter was fantastic, and their love for each other felt so genuine because they had such a strong bond since they were kids. They had been through so much together and watching them fall for each other, despite their best efforts not to, was so sweet and fun! I was laughing out loud, rooting for these two, and loving every minute of this story! I absolutely can't wait for the next book! 💜📚
Thank you to Laura Pavlov and ValentinePR for this eARC and two physical (signed) ARCs of My Forever Girl, in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't want to give too much away, but wow I loved this book SO much! It was a really fun storyline and such an enjoyable summer read! These two were the ultimate best friends, which made this story even better (and funnier) because they knew each other so well, their banter was fantastic, and their love for each other felt so genuine because they had such a strong bond since they were kids. They had been through so much together and watching them fall for each other, despite their best efforts not to, was so sweet and fun! I was laughing out loud, rooting for these two, and loving every minute of this story! I absolutely can't wait for the next book! 💜📚
Thank you to Laura Pavlov and ValentinePR for this eARC and two physical (signed) ARCs of My Forever Girl, in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2026
okay yeah… i officially get the laura pavlov obsession now because this book completely owned me 😭
my forever girl was everything i love in a romance — emotional history, aching longing, small town vibes, tension that builds so naturally, and a man who has been gone for his girl for YEARS.
cutler and gracie felt so real together. the kind of relationship where you can feel the love underneath every conversation, every look, every moment they try to pretend things haven’t changed. the emotional payoff in this book was SO good because of how much history they share.
and CUTLER HEART… oh this man 😮💨
protective, loyal, obsessed in the quiet “i’d do literally anything for her” kind of way. he notices everything about gracie, always shows up for her, and somehow manages to be both comforting and ridiculously sexy at the same time.
gracie was impossible not to love too. sunshiney, lovable, emotional, and the one person who truly knows cutler inside and out. watching them slowly shift from best friends into something deeper genuinely melted my heart.
the chemistry is insane.
the banter is perfect.
the tension and spicy lessons are an absolute Y E S 🥵
and the found family/friend group vibes made this feel so warm and addictive. this is one of those books that makes you immediately want to binge an author’s entire backlist the second you finish.
✨ tropes:
🤍 childhood best friends to lovers
🤍 small town romance
🤍 forced proximity
🤍 emotional history
🤍 boy obsessed MMC
🤍 found family
🤍 slow burn tension
🤍 spicy lessons
cutler heart officially made it onto my favourite book boyfriend list
my forever girl was everything i love in a romance — emotional history, aching longing, small town vibes, tension that builds so naturally, and a man who has been gone for his girl for YEARS.
cutler and gracie felt so real together. the kind of relationship where you can feel the love underneath every conversation, every look, every moment they try to pretend things haven’t changed. the emotional payoff in this book was SO good because of how much history they share.
and CUTLER HEART… oh this man 😮💨
protective, loyal, obsessed in the quiet “i’d do literally anything for her” kind of way. he notices everything about gracie, always shows up for her, and somehow manages to be both comforting and ridiculously sexy at the same time.
gracie was impossible not to love too. sunshiney, lovable, emotional, and the one person who truly knows cutler inside and out. watching them slowly shift from best friends into something deeper genuinely melted my heart.
the chemistry is insane.
the banter is perfect.
the tension and spicy lessons are an absolute Y E S 🥵
and the found family/friend group vibes made this feel so warm and addictive. this is one of those books that makes you immediately want to binge an author’s entire backlist the second you finish.
✨ tropes:
🤍 childhood best friends to lovers
🤍 small town romance
🤍 forced proximity
🤍 emotional history
🤍 boy obsessed MMC
🤍 found family
🤍 slow burn tension
🤍 spicy lessons
cutler heart officially made it onto my favourite book boyfriend list
June 11, 2026
4.5⭐️
This book was the absolute CUTEST!! I am actually obsessed with Gracie and Cutler. If any two people have ever been meant to be together, it's those two.
Literally 20% into this book, I was already blushing and kicking my feet and knew immediately that this was going to be an incredible book and I was not wrong! I did both the ebook and audio for this one for the whole immersive reading experience and I could not stop listening/reading!! The narrators really did such a phenomenal job bringing the characters and story to life!
This book was SO good, that I honestly think I might be an even bigger fan of childhood best friends to lovers now after this one. Gracie and Cutler are truly the perfect couple. And I know I've said it already, but I can't get over how cute this book was!! Cutler is such a green flag. The way he is so in love with Gracie and will do anything and everything for her! Omg I can't. He is the definition of perfect!! That man is so head over heels for that woman and I loved every second of it.
Highly recommend this for anyone looking for THE CUTEST small town, best friends to lovers romance with spice, banter, and two main characters with the most amazing chemistry!
This book was the absolute CUTEST!! I am actually obsessed with Gracie and Cutler. If any two people have ever been meant to be together, it's those two.
Literally 20% into this book, I was already blushing and kicking my feet and knew immediately that this was going to be an incredible book and I was not wrong! I did both the ebook and audio for this one for the whole immersive reading experience and I could not stop listening/reading!! The narrators really did such a phenomenal job bringing the characters and story to life!
This book was SO good, that I honestly think I might be an even bigger fan of childhood best friends to lovers now after this one. Gracie and Cutler are truly the perfect couple. And I know I've said it already, but I can't get over how cute this book was!! Cutler is such a green flag. The way he is so in love with Gracie and will do anything and everything for her! Omg I can't. He is the definition of perfect!! That man is so head over heels for that woman and I loved every second of it.
Highly recommend this for anyone looking for THE CUTEST small town, best friends to lovers romance with spice, banter, and two main characters with the most amazing chemistry!
June 25, 2026
God I love friends to lovers romances so much and this one was definitely up there because they have been best friends since childhood & never stopped 😭😭😭
We see Cutler & Gracie as kids in Laura’s other series and now they’re all grown up and we get their story!!
Gracie is moving back home after living in Paris with her dud of an ex-boyfriend and is trying to get back on her feet. Cutler is hosting her as a roommate until she gets things settled. But along the way, Gracie wants to gain more confidence in the bedroom and who better to teach her than her sexy best friend who has plenty of experience 🤪🤪 this was such a good & hot small town romance WITH NO SILLY DRAMA OR 3RD ACT BREAK UP!! we do get a little jealous but who doesn’t love that ;)
The audio was delish & I absolutely ate it up!
Type: audio (thanks MLA)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
💜 childhood best friends
💜 friends to lovers
💜 small town
💜 found family
💜 forced proximity
💜 spicy lessons
💜 forbidden
💜 roommates
💜 hero obsessed
We see Cutler & Gracie as kids in Laura’s other series and now they’re all grown up and we get their story!!
Gracie is moving back home after living in Paris with her dud of an ex-boyfriend and is trying to get back on her feet. Cutler is hosting her as a roommate until she gets things settled. But along the way, Gracie wants to gain more confidence in the bedroom and who better to teach her than her sexy best friend who has plenty of experience 🤪🤪 this was such a good & hot small town romance WITH NO SILLY DRAMA OR 3RD ACT BREAK UP!! we do get a little jealous but who doesn’t love that ;)
The audio was delish & I absolutely ate it up!
Type: audio (thanks MLA)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
💜 childhood best friends
💜 friends to lovers
💜 small town
💜 found family
💜 forced proximity
💜 spicy lessons
💜 forbidden
💜 roommates
💜 hero obsessed
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