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Always Forever Maybe
When Betts meets Aiden at the candy store where she works, their connection is like a sugar rush to the heart. Betts already knows the two of them are infinite. Inevitable. Destined to become an us.
Betts has only ever kept one secret from her best friend, Jo, but suddenly there’s a long list of things she won’t tell her, things Jo wouldn’t understand. Because Jo doesn’t see how good Aiden is for Betts. She finds him needy. Possessive. Controlling.
She’s wrong. With a love like this, nothing else matters.
Betts has only ever kept one secret from her best friend, Jo, but suddenly there’s a long list of things she won’t tell her, things Jo wouldn’t understand. Because Jo doesn’t see how good Aiden is for Betts. She finds him needy. Possessive. Controlling.
She’s wrong. With a love like this, nothing else matters.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2018
47 people are currently reading
3768 people want to read
About the author
Anica Mrose Rissi
20 books243 followersWriter, storyteller, editrix. Author of picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA. Fan of dogs and ice cream. Offers energetic, interactive presentations and writing workshops for students of all ages at libraries, festivals, and schools.
Anica Mrose Rissi grew up on an island off the coast of Maine, where she read a lot of books and loved a lot of pets. She now tells and collects stories, makes up songs on her violin, and eats cheese with her friends in central New Jersey, where she lives with her dog, Sweet Potato. As a former book editor turned writer and storyteller, Anica has spoken with kids and adults across the country about all pieces of the writing process. Her essays have been published by The Writer magazine and the New York Times, and she plays fiddle in and writes lyrics for the band Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves. Anica posts about bookish things at @anicarissi on Instagram.
Anica teaches in the Writing for Children & Young Adults MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Arts and is available for in-person and virtual writing workshops and presentations with groups of all sizes and ages. Find out more at http://anicarissi.com.
Author photograph (c) Kim Indresano
Anica Mrose Rissi grew up on an island off the coast of Maine, where she read a lot of books and loved a lot of pets. She now tells and collects stories, makes up songs on her violin, and eats cheese with her friends in central New Jersey, where she lives with her dog, Sweet Potato. As a former book editor turned writer and storyteller, Anica has spoken with kids and adults across the country about all pieces of the writing process. Her essays have been published by The Writer magazine and the New York Times, and she plays fiddle in and writes lyrics for the band Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves. Anica posts about bookish things at @anicarissi on Instagram.
Anica teaches in the Writing for Children & Young Adults MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Arts and is available for in-person and virtual writing workshops and presentations with groups of all sizes and ages. Find out more at http://anicarissi.com.
Author photograph (c) Kim Indresano
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April 7, 2018
Thank you HarperTeen for providing an arc of this in exchange for an honest review!
tw: emotional & physical abuse
Wow, this was an intense heart-wrenching story about a tough issue that I wish was more addressed in YA contemporaries. Abuse. Whether it be physical or emotional abuse is abuse and something that no one ever deserves but unfortunately it happens more frequently than we ever could imagine. And while this is a very difficult topic to write about I feel that the author, Anica Mrose Rissi, handled this beautifully.
It's safe to say that sometimes your "first love" can become extremely dangerous, especially when we are teenagers and unable to recognize immediate signs of abuse because of how naive and inexperienced we are. Now, at 25 I can attest to that.
One of the reasons I really enjoyed this book was because of how much it reminded me of the first relationship I was ever in. I was 15 and smitten, just like Betts, over someone who was not and is still not a good person. While I was never abused, I understand the way Betts felt that "the only thing that matters is us", I pushed my friends and family away for a boy who treated me like dirt for way too long. It took a long time but I was able to pull myself up and out of that hell-hole of relationship. I don't regret it one bit though, because I took a MAJOR break from boys after that and then I met a guy, who is now my husband and is an actual saint and I'm not sure what I did to deserve him.
So needless to say, I was rooting for Betts to pull herself out of this mess and recognize that she was being abused. That she was worth so much more than a boy who would try to keep her away from her friends and family because of how possessive he became. That she deserved to be with someone who would help her grow not try to clip her wings. At times it was a little frustrating to read from her POV because she wasn't recognizing what Aiden was doing to her but I had to take a step back and think at 17 would I have recognized these signs? Probably not. Which was something I kept reminding myself while reading this. Some of Betts thinking and rationalization is juvenile but again, at 17, I'm 100% sure I would think/react/feel the same way she did.
In the beginning stages of Aiden and Betts' relationship the abuse was solely emotional. But it was super easy to pick up on the emotional abuse as soon as at happened. Here are some quotes I've highlighted:
You guys, these HURT to read and were equally as painful as the physical abuse parts. My heart broke for Betts that she always thought she did something wrong that would cause Aiden to lash out or become angry and distant from her. When in reality she did absolutely nothing wrong.
One thing that I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved is Betts' best friend Jo. She was open from the very beginning that she was not a fan of Aiden because of how possessive he became and how rude he was on the occasion of them meeting. At first Betts just thought Jo as overreacting and jealous, but as it turns out all of Jo's hunches were right. Once she realized the truth about Betts' relationship she held absolutely nothing back in terms of helping her best friend, she is the absolute best friend we all need. I'm not even kidding.
There is so much more to this story than all of the above that I've mentioned but I will not spoil anything! There is more to Aiden's abuse than mentioned above too, that was all just the type of the iceberg. There are many other characters woven into this story, which are diverse in terms of race and sexuality. Which is another large plus and something I enjoyed immensely. There are also lots of other plot twists and a few feel good moments while reading this book too.
All in all, while this was a difficult book to read due to the topic, I cannot stress how important of a book I think this is. I really, really hope that this book gets the spotlight it deserves, that young readers who are in relationship with qualities similar to this book can read this and notice some of the signs and get help, or that readers of this book who have a friend that may be in a relationship similar to this will speak up, reach out, or get help for their loved ones. It's never too late.
P.S - If you or someone you know is in a relationship that you believe may be abusive but are unsure of what the signs are please check out this website, it is incredibly resourceful!
Blog | Twitter | Instagram
tw: emotional & physical abuse
Wow, this was an intense heart-wrenching story about a tough issue that I wish was more addressed in YA contemporaries. Abuse. Whether it be physical or emotional abuse is abuse and something that no one ever deserves but unfortunately it happens more frequently than we ever could imagine. And while this is a very difficult topic to write about I feel that the author, Anica Mrose Rissi, handled this beautifully.
It's safe to say that sometimes your "first love" can become extremely dangerous, especially when we are teenagers and unable to recognize immediate signs of abuse because of how naive and inexperienced we are. Now, at 25 I can attest to that.
One of the reasons I really enjoyed this book was because of how much it reminded me of the first relationship I was ever in. I was 15 and smitten, just like Betts, over someone who was not and is still not a good person. While I was never abused, I understand the way Betts felt that "the only thing that matters is us", I pushed my friends and family away for a boy who treated me like dirt for way too long. It took a long time but I was able to pull myself up and out of that hell-hole of relationship. I don't regret it one bit though, because I took a MAJOR break from boys after that and then I met a guy, who is now my husband and is an actual saint and I'm not sure what I did to deserve him.
So needless to say, I was rooting for Betts to pull herself out of this mess and recognize that she was being abused. That she was worth so much more than a boy who would try to keep her away from her friends and family because of how possessive he became. That she deserved to be with someone who would help her grow not try to clip her wings. At times it was a little frustrating to read from her POV because she wasn't recognizing what Aiden was doing to her but I had to take a step back and think at 17 would I have recognized these signs? Probably not. Which was something I kept reminding myself while reading this. Some of Betts thinking and rationalization is juvenile but again, at 17, I'm 100% sure I would think/react/feel the same way she did.
In the beginning stages of Aiden and Betts' relationship the abuse was solely emotional. But it was super easy to pick up on the emotional abuse as soon as at happened. Here are some quotes I've highlighted:
"but this guy - I felt like whatever he wanted me to be, I'd be it. No. Whatever he wanted me to be, that's what I already was."
"I felt like I should apologize, but for what?"
"I would love Aiden better, be more careful not to hurt him, so he'd never again be pushed to hurt me in return. That much was the least I could do."
You guys, these HURT to read and were equally as painful as the physical abuse parts. My heart broke for Betts that she always thought she did something wrong that would cause Aiden to lash out or become angry and distant from her. When in reality she did absolutely nothing wrong.
One thing that I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved is Betts' best friend Jo. She was open from the very beginning that she was not a fan of Aiden because of how possessive he became and how rude he was on the occasion of them meeting. At first Betts just thought Jo as overreacting and jealous, but as it turns out all of Jo's hunches were right. Once she realized the truth about Betts' relationship she held absolutely nothing back in terms of helping her best friend, she is the absolute best friend we all need. I'm not even kidding.
"Seriously, try to see it from my perspective for a second. What if it were me? What if you saw someone I love smack me across the face and shake me like he wanted to kill me? Come on, picture it right now, and tell me what you would do."
There is so much more to this story than all of the above that I've mentioned but I will not spoil anything! There is more to Aiden's abuse than mentioned above too, that was all just the type of the iceberg. There are many other characters woven into this story, which are diverse in terms of race and sexuality. Which is another large plus and something I enjoyed immensely. There are also lots of other plot twists and a few feel good moments while reading this book too.
All in all, while this was a difficult book to read due to the topic, I cannot stress how important of a book I think this is. I really, really hope that this book gets the spotlight it deserves, that young readers who are in relationship with qualities similar to this book can read this and notice some of the signs and get help, or that readers of this book who have a friend that may be in a relationship similar to this will speak up, reach out, or get help for their loved ones. It's never too late.
P.S - If you or someone you know is in a relationship that you believe may be abusive but are unsure of what the signs are please check out this website, it is incredibly resourceful!
Blog | Twitter | Instagram
February 6, 2018
2 1/2 stars. This is a book that I have immensely mixed feelings on! I will say I did not hate it. It doesn’t perpetrate anything that actively made me want to 1) vomit and 2) throw the book away! [The bar for abuse books is currently underneath the floor.] Buuuuuuuut I also think this is of slightly low actual quality than both of the other abuse books I have despised recently. And the ending? The ending is a total mess.
Let’s discuss.
✔️The transition to abuse is done really well. There’s a very subtle transition from a fairly okay relationship to a horrible relationship that isn’t overtold or exagerrated, which is really rare and great for books about abusive relationships.
❌Unfortunately, the abusive relationship is so ludicrously instantaneous that it’s actually hard to believe in them as a couple. Abusive relationships starting quickly? Fine. Believable. But like… when the protagonist says she feels like a girl falling in love after they have literally only met once and flirted for thirty seconds and the first I love you is dropped two weeks in, you’re not going to get the readers at all believing in their progression as a couple. A longer timetable would have made this 300% more believable. But two weeks? Come on.
✔️The relationship between Jo and Bee being how Bee pulls herself out? A fucking mood. Amazing. Outstanding. Showstopping. 300/10. Joanna is the best character in this book and in my opinion, the only reason it works. She is constantly sticking up for Bee and helping to show her exactly how shitty Aiden’s treatment of her is. She is also sapphic and gets the girl at the end!! Having abuse end partially as a result of the bff is a great decision and I love it.
❌Guys, the ending just crashes and burns and ruins the book. The conflict around the abusive relationship is essentially solved by a plot device, and a somewhat overdramatic one at that, rather than a character arc. Everything the novel has built up to for Bee’s character doesn’t fucking happen. A scene romanticizes how controlling her mother was, when it seems fairly clear to me that her parents were basically horrible - I support their thoughts on Aiden, but y’all, her mom is never nice to her. Our intro to her is Bee’s mother walking in the house and ordering her to get the table set without even saying hello. Who the fuck does that to another human being and then doesn’t apologize?
✔️I will say that the ending doesn’t totally go in the romance direction. Way too close for comfort, though. Why couldn't the entire thing with Eric be cut.
on the whole, this just felt like one of those times when you read a book that builds up all that fucking potential and then just crashes and burns and you're extra bitter because it Could Have Been So Great and it Almost Went There and then it didn't. I am in disappointment city and will now proceed to cry in a corner. This might be a good one to pick up for the great girl friendship and the fact pace, but some problems with the ending sort of made this fall of the tracks for me.
Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Youtube
Let’s discuss.
✔️The transition to abuse is done really well. There’s a very subtle transition from a fairly okay relationship to a horrible relationship that isn’t overtold or exagerrated, which is really rare and great for books about abusive relationships.
❌Unfortunately, the abusive relationship is so ludicrously instantaneous that it’s actually hard to believe in them as a couple. Abusive relationships starting quickly? Fine. Believable. But like… when the protagonist says she feels like a girl falling in love after they have literally only met once and flirted for thirty seconds and the first I love you is dropped two weeks in, you’re not going to get the readers at all believing in their progression as a couple. A longer timetable would have made this 300% more believable. But two weeks? Come on.
✔️The relationship between Jo and Bee being how Bee pulls herself out? A fucking mood. Amazing. Outstanding. Showstopping. 300/10. Joanna is the best character in this book and in my opinion, the only reason it works. She is constantly sticking up for Bee and helping to show her exactly how shitty Aiden’s treatment of her is. She is also sapphic and gets the girl at the end!! Having abuse end partially as a result of the bff is a great decision and I love it.
❌Guys, the ending just crashes and burns and ruins the book. The conflict around the abusive relationship is essentially solved by a plot device, and a somewhat overdramatic one at that, rather than a character arc. Everything the novel has built up to for Bee’s character doesn’t fucking happen. A scene romanticizes how controlling her mother was, when it seems fairly clear to me that her parents were basically horrible - I support their thoughts on Aiden, but y’all, her mom is never nice to her. Our intro to her is Bee’s mother walking in the house and ordering her to get the table set without even saying hello. Who the fuck does that to another human being and then doesn’t apologize?
✔️I will say that the ending doesn’t totally go in the romance direction. Way too close for comfort, though. Why couldn't the entire thing with Eric be cut.
on the whole, this just felt like one of those times when you read a book that builds up all that fucking potential and then just crashes and burns and you're extra bitter because it Could Have Been So Great and it Almost Went There and then it didn't. I am in disappointment city and will now proceed to cry in a corner. This might be a good one to pick up for the great girl friendship and the fact pace, but some problems with the ending sort of made this fall of the tracks for me.
Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Youtube
June 7, 2018
Unfortunately, this is probably one of my least favorite books I’ve read in awhile. I guess that’s what happens when you request random books on Netgalley and Edelweiss without knowing what they are.
This book follows a teenage girl as she enters her first romantic relationship, which quickly turns abusive. There honestly isn’t much more than that.
So why did this book not only not work for me, but really bother me?
Writing style is probably the main issue I had with this. The author seems to typically write middle grade, so the characters have an extremely young sounding voices and immature senses of humor. However, this book also includes significant mature content, like swearing but also a rather detailed account of the main character losing her virginity. The dialogue made the characters seem much younger than they are, and this coupled with the activities that they were engaging in made for a very odd reading experience.
The girl hate in this book is pretty bad. The main character is that typical plain, doesn’t think she’s attractive, Mary Sue type. There’s this random character in the book that literally exists just for the main character to scoff at as a popular mean girl. There is NO. POINT. to this character even being in the novel. She does nothing for the story.
Let’s take a look:
Also, some really strange phrasing/writing/attempts at humor:
Instalove. Some of the worst I’ve seen. Even when the romance hasn’t yet turned abusive, it’s annoying and cheesy. Here’s some examples:
Homophobia, possibly? I think this was supposed to be a joke:
This also has the stupid trope of the person in an abusive relationship needing to find a new romantic interest before they get out of the abusive relationship. Also, both the main character and her new love interest currently are in relationships when they kiss, which completely rubbed me the wrong way.
So, one of my least favorite books in a long time. I wouldn’t recommend this one at all, it’s exactly the kind of young adult contemporary that I can’t stand. If you’re looking for a good novel about an abusive romantic relationship, the only one I would recommend at this point is It Ends with Us.
This book follows a teenage girl as she enters her first romantic relationship, which quickly turns abusive. There honestly isn’t much more than that.
So why did this book not only not work for me, but really bother me?
Writing style is probably the main issue I had with this. The author seems to typically write middle grade, so the characters have an extremely young sounding voices and immature senses of humor. However, this book also includes significant mature content, like swearing but also a rather detailed account of the main character losing her virginity. The dialogue made the characters seem much younger than they are, and this coupled with the activities that they were engaging in made for a very odd reading experience.
The girl hate in this book is pretty bad. The main character is that typical plain, doesn’t think she’s attractive, Mary Sue type. There’s this random character in the book that literally exists just for the main character to scoff at as a popular mean girl. There is NO. POINT. to this character even being in the novel. She does nothing for the story.
Let’s take a look:
“Cicily and two of her spirit-squad clones stand in their game-day uniforms of matching skirts and matching smirks, assessing me from head to toe.”
…
“Lexa was the sweetest thing around. She was like a human kitten, all tiny, wide-eyed, and adorable. If she weren’t my best friend’s twin brother’s girlfriend, I would have had to hate her.”
…
“And I wouldn’t ever want her to look at me with the same mix of tolerance and mild disapproval with which I’d seen her eyeing Lexa and the other Lexa-types he’d gone out with before her.”
Also, some really strange phrasing/writing/attempts at humor:
“...the monkeys started screaming and pelting him with their poop, so he ran off and left her there, and everyone called him Monkey See, Monkey Doo-doo for like a month.”
...
“Bee.” He considered that with a head tilt. “I like it. It fits. It’s kind of . . . cute but sharp. Like a cupcake with thorns.” (this quote KILLS ME)
Instalove. Some of the worst I’ve seen. Even when the romance hasn’t yet turned abusive, it’s annoying and cheesy. Here’s some examples:
“I might blurt some awful truth like, this feeling reminds me of Ferris wheels or I could stare at your face until sunrise.” (From the first time she met him)
...
“He lifted his chin. Saw me. Smiled. All of a sudden, it was no longer winter, and a flock of songbirds hatched from my heart and took flight, throwing me completely off guard. Jo pushed me and I walked toward him, feeling the heat of his gaze as I approached.”
...
“In the next instant, the image shifted, and I saw my arms around his shoulders, my face pressing into his neck. His grip firm under my legs, hair falling into his eyes. Both of us laughing and squeezing each other closer. It felt like a premonition, a flash forward into our future. I already knew we were infinite. Inevitable.”
Homophobia, possibly? I think this was supposed to be a joke:
““Whoa.” We kept walking. “Dan is going to freak when he hears his slurping turned you gay.””
This also has the stupid trope of the person in an abusive relationship needing to find a new romantic interest before they get out of the abusive relationship. Also, both the main character and her new love interest currently are in relationships when they kiss, which completely rubbed me the wrong way.
So, one of my least favorite books in a long time. I wouldn’t recommend this one at all, it’s exactly the kind of young adult contemporary that I can’t stand. If you’re looking for a good novel about an abusive romantic relationship, the only one I would recommend at this point is It Ends with Us.
November 17, 2017
Hi, I wrote this book! I'll use this space to share behind-the-scenes peeks and updates that might be of interest. ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE started with a few lines and rough character sketches scribbled in my notebook on a train going home to NYC in December of 2010. It took almost six years of writing and revising (and revising some more) for the idea to grow into an entire draft, but a couple of those early sentences that I jotted on the train actually made it into the final book, including the opening line.
I had *many* moments of "this will never be a book" along the way, but the characters kept pulling me back—especially my narrator, Betts, and her best friend, Jo, who was my favorite character to write. (Fun fact: I have two real-life essential friends for whom Jo is named. My oldest friend, Johanna, is the Jo to whom the book is dedicated. And Jo from the book shares a middle name, Metmowlee, with my high school best friend, Joe.) I'm proud of how the novel turned out, and nervous and excited for it to go out into the world. If you've read the book: thank you! Whether you liked it or hated it, I appreciate that you took the time to engage with it, even if you chose to DNF. (Hey, I do that too: Life is short and the TBR is ever growing.)
You can read the story behind designer Erin Fitzsimmons and artist Sean Freeman's cover creation process here, on the B&N Blog: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/t...
And I'm thrilled to share blurbs for ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE from some of my favorite authors—and beyond grateful to Megan, Jeff, Deb, Elizabeth, and Robin for their generous words. Here's what they said:
“Anica Mrose Rissi masterfully conveys the irresistible power of physical attraction and how that intoxication can unexpectedly turn toxic. I’m afraid too many readers will relate to this unflinchingly honest portrayal of an abusive first love, which is precisely why Always Forever Maybe is an essential book.” —MEGAN MCCAFFERTY, New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series
“Equal parts crackling tension and sparkling humor; the worst relationships have to offer and the best. It’s the rarest book that manages to be so important, so emotionally resonant, and so utterly propulsive and compelling all at the same time. You won’t be able to put it down.” —JEFF ZENTER, Morris Award-winning author of The Serpent King and Goodbye Days
“Relatable and realistic, hopeful and empowering, Always Forever Maybe adresses an important subject: when ‘love’ isn’t what it seems.” —DEB CALETTI, author of National Book Award finalist Honey, Baby, Sweetheart
“Rissi’s extraordinary YA debut wraps you up with beautiful writing and complicated, yet all too realistic characters. Both heartbreaking and stunning, Always Forever Maybe will stay with you long after turning the last page.” —ELIZABETH EULBERG, author of Better Off Friends
“Anica Mrose Rissi’s debut novel is a masterful mix of light and dark—sometimes tender, often funny, always brutally honest. Always terrifyingly real. This book will break your heart—then piece it back together, even stronger than before.” —ROBIN WASSERMAN, author of Girls on Fire
I had *many* moments of "this will never be a book" along the way, but the characters kept pulling me back—especially my narrator, Betts, and her best friend, Jo, who was my favorite character to write. (Fun fact: I have two real-life essential friends for whom Jo is named. My oldest friend, Johanna, is the Jo to whom the book is dedicated. And Jo from the book shares a middle name, Metmowlee, with my high school best friend, Joe.) I'm proud of how the novel turned out, and nervous and excited for it to go out into the world. If you've read the book: thank you! Whether you liked it or hated it, I appreciate that you took the time to engage with it, even if you chose to DNF. (Hey, I do that too: Life is short and the TBR is ever growing.)
You can read the story behind designer Erin Fitzsimmons and artist Sean Freeman's cover creation process here, on the B&N Blog: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/t...
And I'm thrilled to share blurbs for ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE from some of my favorite authors—and beyond grateful to Megan, Jeff, Deb, Elizabeth, and Robin for their generous words. Here's what they said:
“Anica Mrose Rissi masterfully conveys the irresistible power of physical attraction and how that intoxication can unexpectedly turn toxic. I’m afraid too many readers will relate to this unflinchingly honest portrayal of an abusive first love, which is precisely why Always Forever Maybe is an essential book.” —MEGAN MCCAFFERTY, New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series
“Equal parts crackling tension and sparkling humor; the worst relationships have to offer and the best. It’s the rarest book that manages to be so important, so emotionally resonant, and so utterly propulsive and compelling all at the same time. You won’t be able to put it down.” —JEFF ZENTER, Morris Award-winning author of The Serpent King and Goodbye Days
“Relatable and realistic, hopeful and empowering, Always Forever Maybe adresses an important subject: when ‘love’ isn’t what it seems.” —DEB CALETTI, author of National Book Award finalist Honey, Baby, Sweetheart
“Rissi’s extraordinary YA debut wraps you up with beautiful writing and complicated, yet all too realistic characters. Both heartbreaking and stunning, Always Forever Maybe will stay with you long after turning the last page.” —ELIZABETH EULBERG, author of Better Off Friends
“Anica Mrose Rissi’s debut novel is a masterful mix of light and dark—sometimes tender, often funny, always brutally honest. Always terrifyingly real. This book will break your heart—then piece it back together, even stronger than before.” —ROBIN WASSERMAN, author of Girls on Fire
May 28, 2018
Always Forever Maybe is an important and honest look at abusive relationships. Betts meets Aidan at a candy shop and thinks their blossoming romance couldn’t be any sweeter. But their meet cute quickly turns to secrets and lies that Betts is quick to defend.
I like that Always Maybe Forever highlighted both domestic and emotional abuse in teen relationships. It’s an important topic that shouldn’t be ignored because it’s hard to talk about. You could clearly see the warning signs in Aidan’s behavior and how manipulative he was. I thought that the strong friendships were a real plus to the story. Jo is a fantastic friend to Betts - so supportive and never judgemental. I also liked Eric, Jos twin brother and also Betts’ friend.
I did think that the ending was a bit quick for me, I feel like there could have been more build up. It kinda felt like it undercut some character development that could have happened. And the resolution of the story happens because of an outside force; it’s not character driven which I would have preferred. While I did like that we see clear red flags in Aidan’s behavior, it also feltl like a lot of their relationship is established off page. I also did not like Betts’ parents at all. They were the worst and only existed to boss her around. While I do feel like the ending brought the story down for me, I enjoyed it overall.
Trigger warning for emotional and physical abuse.
I received a copy of the book from HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I like that Always Maybe Forever highlighted both domestic and emotional abuse in teen relationships. It’s an important topic that shouldn’t be ignored because it’s hard to talk about. You could clearly see the warning signs in Aidan’s behavior and how manipulative he was. I thought that the strong friendships were a real plus to the story. Jo is a fantastic friend to Betts - so supportive and never judgemental. I also liked Eric, Jos twin brother and also Betts’ friend.
I did think that the ending was a bit quick for me, I feel like there could have been more build up. It kinda felt like it undercut some character development that could have happened. And the resolution of the story happens because of an outside force; it’s not character driven which I would have preferred. While I did like that we see clear red flags in Aidan’s behavior, it also feltl like a lot of their relationship is established off page. I also did not like Betts’ parents at all. They were the worst and only existed to boss her around. While I do feel like the ending brought the story down for me, I enjoyed it overall.
Trigger warning for emotional and physical abuse.
I received a copy of the book from HarperTeen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2018
It's hard to love a book like this-- the relationship in this book is so hard to read about. BUT yet, this is a book I loved anyway.
Betts meets Aiden and he's everything she's been wishing for. He's sexy and super-interested in her-- and who doesn't like a guy on a motorcycle?? But Aiden is damaged, and soon Betts finds herself tip-toeing around his moods and his jealousy. He wants to be with her all the time, which at first she finds adorable, but it soon it becomes obvious that it's not LOVE that is making Aiden needy-- it's control.
Betts and Aiden were toxic. Or really, Aiden was just toxic. I've been in a relationship with an Aiden and believe me when I say, it can be really hard to get out of. These types of dudes know how to suck you in. They know how to pull at your heartstrings, isolate you, and make you feel lower than low. They know when you are about to leave and they know exactly what to say so that you won't. Will every girl or guy fall into their trap?? Probably not. But once they find someone that they can suck into their web, it becomes a dangerous and volatile situation.
Hands down the best part of this book was Jo. Without Jo, I don't know if Betts could have made it. She was losing herself and Jo was the only thing grounding her. Most friends will give up on a girl like Betts-- she's pushing everyone away because in these relationships that's what people do-- but Jo isn't budging. She was an all-around great human being, and I wish there were more Jo's in this world.
I really did love this book. I felt like the progression of the relationship and Betts's evolution was well-done. Betts started out thinking this relationship empowered her to be someone other than a tagalong for Jo and her twin brother, and I think a lot of people fall into that trap. It's easy to confuse being happy that you are finally the center of someone's world, and obsession.
PS-- If you are in a relationship with an Aiden-- LEAVE. I know it's hard. Ask for help. What Betts and Aiden had wasn't love. Love would never make you feel like that.
OVERALL: So happy that I read this book. It brought back painful memories, but it was SO worth it. I hope that anyone who has an Aiden (or may meet an Aiden in the future) gets ahold of this book. The more people are aware of these types of relationships, the fewer people who will be susceptible.
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Pink Polka Dot Books
Betts meets Aiden and he's everything she's been wishing for. He's sexy and super-interested in her-- and who doesn't like a guy on a motorcycle?? But Aiden is damaged, and soon Betts finds herself tip-toeing around his moods and his jealousy. He wants to be with her all the time, which at first she finds adorable, but it soon it becomes obvious that it's not LOVE that is making Aiden needy-- it's control.
Betts and Aiden were toxic. Or really, Aiden was just toxic. I've been in a relationship with an Aiden and believe me when I say, it can be really hard to get out of. These types of dudes know how to suck you in. They know how to pull at your heartstrings, isolate you, and make you feel lower than low. They know when you are about to leave and they know exactly what to say so that you won't. Will every girl or guy fall into their trap?? Probably not. But once they find someone that they can suck into their web, it becomes a dangerous and volatile situation.
Hands down the best part of this book was Jo. Without Jo, I don't know if Betts could have made it. She was losing herself and Jo was the only thing grounding her. Most friends will give up on a girl like Betts-- she's pushing everyone away because in these relationships that's what people do-- but Jo isn't budging. She was an all-around great human being, and I wish there were more Jo's in this world.
I really did love this book. I felt like the progression of the relationship and Betts's evolution was well-done. Betts started out thinking this relationship empowered her to be someone other than a tagalong for Jo and her twin brother, and I think a lot of people fall into that trap. It's easy to confuse being happy that you are finally the center of someone's world, and obsession.
PS-- If you are in a relationship with an Aiden-- LEAVE. I know it's hard. Ask for help. What Betts and Aiden had wasn't love. Love would never make you feel like that.
OVERALL: So happy that I read this book. It brought back painful memories, but it was SO worth it. I hope that anyone who has an Aiden (or may meet an Aiden in the future) gets ahold of this book. The more people are aware of these types of relationships, the fewer people who will be susceptible.
My Blog:
Pink Polka Dot Books
December 14, 2017
Quite The Novel Idea ~ Novel Ink
Wow, okay so this was kind of intense. And it had a lot of themes that hit close to home for me. But honestly? I'm a bit underwhelmed because I didn't really connect to the characters like I hoped I would. I have no idea how to write a proper review for this and it's too early anyway since it doesn't come out until May, I will give you a list of things I thought and things you can expect.
• The main character has the same nickname as me, which is Bee, so points for that.
• Bee, or Betts, has an epic female friendship with Jo.
• Who is honestly the best friend ever
• And also half Thai and probably bi or pan so A+ for diversity
• Her twin brother Erik was totally adorable and sweet and I loved him
• Bee herself was kind of hard to connect to for me even though she was stuck in a totally relatable relationship but - while in another book that deals with this topic it made me feel so much more and much more deeply for the MC - in this book I was just frustrated and annoyed at how oblivious she was
• Speaking off, Aiden is the type of guy that is a perfect example for this sort of situation. Someone who it's easy to fall for and who'll make you feel special and all that stuff. So he was portrayed really well in my opinion.
• He's just an asshole though.
• Also eww
• Bee's parents weren't really standouts to me... they were there but they also weren't when it mattered. They were forgotten a lot it seemed.
• The ending was kind of very predictable and I saw it all coming the moment I started reading.
• But at the same time I feel like this is an important book to read for people because it features a very tough and important topic to speak up about.
• I'm still disappointed though
• I kind of wanted this book from Jo's POV because her storyline was way more interesting to me. Oops.
• I think that is all.
• Bye
Wow, okay so this was kind of intense. And it had a lot of themes that hit close to home for me. But honestly? I'm a bit underwhelmed because I didn't really connect to the characters like I hoped I would. I have no idea how to write a proper review for this and it's too early anyway since it doesn't come out until May, I will give you a list of things I thought and things you can expect.
• The main character has the same nickname as me, which is Bee, so points for that.
• Bee, or Betts, has an epic female friendship with Jo.
• Who is honestly the best friend ever
• And also half Thai and probably bi or pan so A+ for diversity
• Her twin brother Erik was totally adorable and sweet and I loved him
• Bee herself was kind of hard to connect to for me even though she was stuck in a totally relatable relationship but - while in another book that deals with this topic it made me feel so much more and much more deeply for the MC - in this book I was just frustrated and annoyed at how oblivious she was
• Speaking off, Aiden is the type of guy that is a perfect example for this sort of situation. Someone who it's easy to fall for and who'll make you feel special and all that stuff. So he was portrayed really well in my opinion.
• He's just an asshole though.
• Also eww
• Bee's parents weren't really standouts to me... they were there but they also weren't when it mattered. They were forgotten a lot it seemed.
• The ending was kind of very predictable and I saw it all coming the moment I started reading.
• But at the same time I feel like this is an important book to read for people because it features a very tough and important topic to speak up about.
• I'm still disappointed though
• I kind of wanted this book from Jo's POV because her storyline was way more interesting to me. Oops.
• I think that is all.
• Bye
July 12, 2023
Betts never minds following her best friend Jo’s lead. She knows she can never date her crush Eric, Jo’s twin, but he has a girlfriend anyway. Then Betts meets Aiden. Good looking. Charming. The boy of her dreams. She barely notices when Aiden starts taking pieces of her, convincing her to lie to her parents, pulling her away from Jo. Soon Aiden is all Betts thinks about. So what if he’s a little pushy and controlling. So what, right?
ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE started off strong, showing how Aiden slowly crept his way into Betts’s life. She ignored warning signs. I saw how Betts could fall into his trap with overly strict parents and Jo who led the way in their friendship. Debut writer Anica Mrose Rissi showed the insidious nature of controlling behavior that escalates into physical abuse that Betts is convinced she deserved.
ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE seemed destined to be a five star review until the weak ending which felt like a copout. Because of Aiden’s accident and moving away to rehab, Betts never had to impose boundaries on him. She never had to see him not take no for an answer and escalate. She never had to call the police or have Jo call them, never had to tell her parents that Aiden abused her, never had to call a domestic violence hotline. Additionally, Betts deciding she was worthwhile and break away based only on Jo’s support seemed unlikely.
I can’t justify giving ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE higher than four stars because it sends the message that escaping and healing from abuse with virtually no support is easy.
ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE started off strong, showing how Aiden slowly crept his way into Betts’s life. She ignored warning signs. I saw how Betts could fall into his trap with overly strict parents and Jo who led the way in their friendship. Debut writer Anica Mrose Rissi showed the insidious nature of controlling behavior that escalates into physical abuse that Betts is convinced she deserved.
ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE seemed destined to be a five star review until the weak ending which felt like a copout. Because of Aiden’s accident and moving away to rehab, Betts never had to impose boundaries on him. She never had to see him not take no for an answer and escalate. She never had to call the police or have Jo call them, never had to tell her parents that Aiden abused her, never had to call a domestic violence hotline. Additionally, Betts deciding she was worthwhile and break away based only on Jo’s support seemed unlikely.
I can’t justify giving ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE higher than four stars because it sends the message that escaping and healing from abuse with virtually no support is easy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2018
Always Forever Maybe is a winner from beginning to end: Rissi's prose is obviously the work of a polished, professional writer with a firm grasp of character, dialogue, and suspense building. As a reader, I love it when an author takes me in their capable hand and draws me through the story so smoothly that I'm hardly aware that I'm reading text, not living the story--and that's precisely the feel of ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE: total immersion.
Betts is a likeable, funny protagonist, full of believable flaws that so many of us possess as young people: a lack of self confidence, a fear of hurting or disappointing others, an inability to say "no" even when we know we should. When Aidan enters her life, it was like reading about myself at nineteen, just beginning my own unhealthy relationship, ignoring my gut, silencing my instincts, distancing myself from my friends because "he" didn't like them. Betts's inner monologue was that real, that poignant. Jo, the best friend, was so vivid she nearly leapt off the page: brash, funny, whip-smart, sometimes bossy and opinionated, but always looking out for Betts's best interests. I LOVED their friendship and their profound love for each other, even through the worst of times. Okay, enough from me--buy a copy and experience this touching, funny, intelligent, and very necessary novel for yourself!
Betts is a likeable, funny protagonist, full of believable flaws that so many of us possess as young people: a lack of self confidence, a fear of hurting or disappointing others, an inability to say "no" even when we know we should. When Aidan enters her life, it was like reading about myself at nineteen, just beginning my own unhealthy relationship, ignoring my gut, silencing my instincts, distancing myself from my friends because "he" didn't like them. Betts's inner monologue was that real, that poignant. Jo, the best friend, was so vivid she nearly leapt off the page: brash, funny, whip-smart, sometimes bossy and opinionated, but always looking out for Betts's best interests. I LOVED their friendship and their profound love for each other, even through the worst of times. Okay, enough from me--buy a copy and experience this touching, funny, intelligent, and very necessary novel for yourself!
April 1, 2020
1. Read: 2019
2. Read: 2020. I didn’t love it as much as the first time but I still enjoyed it.
2. Read: 2020. I didn’t love it as much as the first time but I still enjoyed it.
August 18, 2018
I don't know how can I rate this book. IT's raw and honest, but hard-hitting. I don't have an intention of re-reading it. I don't hate it, just feel uncomfortable with it. I'm scared with how Aden controls Betts' life. Maybe because I've never been in a relationship similar to the one they have in the book. She has to walk on eggshells most of the time she's with him. She finds herself putting distance between her and her friends. She keeps lying to others and endure all of those terrible things because she can't give up on him. How can a sweet love at the get-go turn sour like this ? OMG, what a jarring read.
October 18, 2019
2nd read (OCT 2019): Listened to the whole book today and wow. It is still so powerful and real and amazing!
1st read (JAN 2019): This book. Ooohh my God, it was both amazing and heartbreaking. A very strong debut YA-novel, that I really can recommend!
The portrayal of an abusive relationship felt so real. The things Aiden would say and do reminds me of what is portrayed as "romantic" in so many other romance books, but this is the first and only time I've agreed with it being in the book because this is the other side. This is the real side. This is what these other stories should have been.
I could both see the appeal of Aidan whilst also hating him for what he did. He was a good example of what a bunch of guys are, and just the thought that so many people out there, in our real world, have to deal with this sort of relationship is awful. The ending confused me a bit, but I was also satisfied; I feel like this sort of situation could have let Bee to have done something else, but I'm glad she didn't.
The writing style was very compelling and I was never bored. I feel like this is also because of the narrator of the audiobook, whom I really liked as well. She did such a great job with telling this story and the way she delivered the lines was 10/10.
1st read (JAN 2019): This book. Ooohh my God, it was both amazing and heartbreaking. A very strong debut YA-novel, that I really can recommend!
The portrayal of an abusive relationship felt so real. The things Aiden would say and do reminds me of what is portrayed as "romantic" in so many other romance books, but this is the first and only time I've agreed with it being in the book because this is the other side. This is the real side. This is what these other stories should have been.
I could both see the appeal of Aidan whilst also hating him for what he did. He was a good example of what a bunch of guys are, and just the thought that so many people out there, in our real world, have to deal with this sort of relationship is awful. The ending confused me a bit, but I was also satisfied; I feel like this sort of situation could have let Bee to have done something else, but I'm glad she didn't.
The writing style was very compelling and I was never bored. I feel like this is also because of the narrator of the audiobook, whom I really liked as well. She did such a great job with telling this story and the way she delivered the lines was 10/10.
April 27, 2018
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exhange for an honest review.
I would find it very hard to say I enjoyed reading this book given the subject matter, however, I can say that it is a very powerful, engaging and important book.
Always Forever Maybe tracks the relationship between Betts and Aiden, from the first head over heels, love at first sight moment, to the intense puppy dog love stage and beyond into more toxic territory.
Anica Mrose Rissi charts the rise and fall of this abusive relationship so realistically it is very difficult to read in places. Although Aiden does become more psychically abusive towards Betts as the book goes on, much of the story focuses on his emotional abuse- alienating his girlfriend from her friends, trying to change her behaviour and making her apologise for insignificant things so that she keeps the peace and avoids his dramatic mood changes.
The intense fast-paced nature of this relationship is so common in abusive relationships. It's a way of gaining complete control over a person and making them feel as if they need the relationship and can't leave. Even with the support of her friends, Betts still found herself trapped, feeling as if Aiden was the only thing that mattered.
I loved Betts and Jo's friendship, and the unwavering support Jo showed for Betts even when she was being a bad friend to her. Jo also provided some much needed comic relief in this book and was probably my favourite character for this reason.
Although it was difficult to read, I'm glad a book like this is out there. This type of toxic behaviour in relationships can be so easy to explain away when you think you are in love. Hopefully, this book will help some people realise that they shouldn't be subjecting themselves to such treatment.
Whilst it's incredibly well written, I only recommend this book to you if you feel you can handle the topic. If you are at all senstive to the subject of domestic abuse I would advise reader discretion.
I would find it very hard to say I enjoyed reading this book given the subject matter, however, I can say that it is a very powerful, engaging and important book.
Always Forever Maybe tracks the relationship between Betts and Aiden, from the first head over heels, love at first sight moment, to the intense puppy dog love stage and beyond into more toxic territory.
Anica Mrose Rissi charts the rise and fall of this abusive relationship so realistically it is very difficult to read in places. Although Aiden does become more psychically abusive towards Betts as the book goes on, much of the story focuses on his emotional abuse- alienating his girlfriend from her friends, trying to change her behaviour and making her apologise for insignificant things so that she keeps the peace and avoids his dramatic mood changes.
The intense fast-paced nature of this relationship is so common in abusive relationships. It's a way of gaining complete control over a person and making them feel as if they need the relationship and can't leave. Even with the support of her friends, Betts still found herself trapped, feeling as if Aiden was the only thing that mattered.
I loved Betts and Jo's friendship, and the unwavering support Jo showed for Betts even when she was being a bad friend to her. Jo also provided some much needed comic relief in this book and was probably my favourite character for this reason.
Although it was difficult to read, I'm glad a book like this is out there. This type of toxic behaviour in relationships can be so easy to explain away when you think you are in love. Hopefully, this book will help some people realise that they shouldn't be subjecting themselves to such treatment.
Whilst it's incredibly well written, I only recommend this book to you if you feel you can handle the topic. If you are at all senstive to the subject of domestic abuse I would advise reader discretion.
June 22, 2018
I haven’t seen a lot of buzz about this book since its release, but it deserves some praise!
I was thoroughly impressed with the author’s ability to write so realistically about toxic relationships. It’s an important topic that isn’t covered very often in YA but happens all too often to teens who are falling in love for the first time. And the friendships in this book are A++!!! The real love and support that’s represented here is soo good and something that people should take example of. Loved this book!
I was thoroughly impressed with the author’s ability to write so realistically about toxic relationships. It’s an important topic that isn’t covered very often in YA but happens all too often to teens who are falling in love for the first time. And the friendships in this book are A++!!! The real love and support that’s represented here is soo good and something that people should take example of. Loved this book!
Read
November 11, 2018It's refreshing to read a tightly-written YA novel that feels like Real Teen problems, and this is one of them. It's a story about a girl named Betts (her nickname) and the quick and fast relationship she falls into with Aiden. Everything seems perfect at first, but then it becomes clear he's manipulative and possessive; it's emotional abuse that, eventually, does turn a bit physical.
At the heart of the story, though, is Betts's relationship with her best friend Jo. Jo who she suddenly finds herself pulling away from. Lying to. Disappearing from. Jo who, despite this, continues to tell Betts she's making a mistake and does so in a way that's loving and kind and comes from a place of knowing what's going on -- despite Betts's denial -- and being cautious with it.
The relationship between Betts and her parents is so teen and so real. The dialog here feels like teens talking, not like adults inserting adult speak into teen mouths.
At the heart of the story, though, is Betts's relationship with her best friend Jo. Jo who she suddenly finds herself pulling away from. Lying to. Disappearing from. Jo who, despite this, continues to tell Betts she's making a mistake and does so in a way that's loving and kind and comes from a place of knowing what's going on -- despite Betts's denial -- and being cautious with it.
The relationship between Betts and her parents is so teen and so real. The dialog here feels like teens talking, not like adults inserting adult speak into teen mouths.
June 15, 2017
If you've read the "Anna, Banana" series or "The Teacher's Pet" already, you know that Anica's writing combines humor and thoughtful social commentary in stories that take you by wonderful surprise. Having seen the sweat and energy that she poured into writing this - her first YA title - I know it will be fantastic! I can't wait for the whole world to read it for yourselves. Also worth noting: she's a cool sister :)
May 16, 2018
This slim book packs a huge emotional wallop, capturing the complete evolution of an abusive relationship with aching clarity and sharp, sensitive prose. The characters of Betts and Aiden are deeply recognizable and human, and fully realized, richly nuanced supporting characters make for an engrossing, emotional, propulsive read. Quietly beautiful and shining with empathy--not to be missed.
July 5, 2018
i have very mixed feelings on this. i did love the central friendship, though. review to come.
June 5, 2018
3.5 stars
Overall, I have positive feelings about this book, and you can read more about why I think it's so important for people to read here.
But, I also think that this could have been executed a little better. I think Rissi did a really good job of getting her point across, but I wish there was more subtlety to it.
The progression from falling in love to an abusive relationship was really clear, and I wish it was a little less obvious. I know for some readers, this is definitely something that can be a mindset-changing sort of book (for me, it was It Ends with Us), but I felt like it was too obvious from the beginning.
Betts was just too naïve for me to feel like she was realistic. Sure, she'd had boyfriends before, but the way she fell in love with Aiden in such a head-over-heels style felt a little unrealistic. For me, it felt like it kind of suggested that these relationships are more prone to developing into abusive ones, which can be true, but I feel like isn't completely accurate.
I wanted to be caught off guard by the abusive nature of the relationship, but it felt too obvious for me from the beginning. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially for readers new to the topic, but for me, I wanted just a little more nuance in the way their relationship developed.
I still think Rissi did a really good job of portraying how a victim of domestic abuse has a hard time leaving a relationship like this. I think this is the part of the story Rissi did the best in portraying, and the way Betts kept justifying her relationship with Aiden, both when he was emotionally and physically manipulating, was really on point.
The positive aspect of the lack of subtlety is how clear it is for readers to understand and empathize. I feel like this is a very important book that opens up conversations in young adult fiction that are very necessary, especially with the large number of "dominating alpha males" portrayed.
Overall, this was a quick read and I do think Rissi didn't mess anything up in terms of the abuse, which is already a solid number of brownie points. Even though this didn't end up being exactly what I wanted, I do think it is such an important book that readers should read. (Especially when other notable books on the topic aren't necessarily YA level reading.)
Thank you so much to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!
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Overall, I have positive feelings about this book, and you can read more about why I think it's so important for people to read here.
But, I also think that this could have been executed a little better. I think Rissi did a really good job of getting her point across, but I wish there was more subtlety to it.
The progression from falling in love to an abusive relationship was really clear, and I wish it was a little less obvious. I know for some readers, this is definitely something that can be a mindset-changing sort of book (for me, it was It Ends with Us), but I felt like it was too obvious from the beginning.
Betts was just too naïve for me to feel like she was realistic. Sure, she'd had boyfriends before, but the way she fell in love with Aiden in such a head-over-heels style felt a little unrealistic. For me, it felt like it kind of suggested that these relationships are more prone to developing into abusive ones, which can be true, but I feel like isn't completely accurate.
I wanted to be caught off guard by the abusive nature of the relationship, but it felt too obvious for me from the beginning. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially for readers new to the topic, but for me, I wanted just a little more nuance in the way their relationship developed.
I still think Rissi did a really good job of portraying how a victim of domestic abuse has a hard time leaving a relationship like this. I think this is the part of the story Rissi did the best in portraying, and the way Betts kept justifying her relationship with Aiden, both when he was emotionally and physically manipulating, was really on point.
The positive aspect of the lack of subtlety is how clear it is for readers to understand and empathize. I feel like this is a very important book that opens up conversations in young adult fiction that are very necessary, especially with the large number of "dominating alpha males" portrayed.
Overall, this was a quick read and I do think Rissi didn't mess anything up in terms of the abuse, which is already a solid number of brownie points. Even though this didn't end up being exactly what I wanted, I do think it is such an important book that readers should read. (Especially when other notable books on the topic aren't necessarily YA level reading.)
Thank you so much to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!
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August 5, 2018
Given how much I've enjoyed the books Anica has edited, I was excited to read a book written by her, and as it turns out, I had every right to be excited, as Always Forever Maybe blew me away. It was raw and heartbreaking, and while it was hard at times to keep reading - to keep watching Betts let Aiden walk all over her, to see Betts drift further and further away from her friends - I couldn't look away. I wanted to know - no I needed to know - what would happen to Betts. Would she be okay? Would she make amends with her friends before it was too late? And most importantly, would she see Aiden for what he truly was?
Always Forever Maybe is an incredibly fast paced read. I sat down to read it one afternoon and didn't stop once until I was down. Anica does such an amazing job of reeling the reader in. Her writing has a casual, simple feel, but it's never too simple. She does a great job of capturing the voice of Betts while also doing a great job of establishing the story and capturing the emotions involved. I felt so many different things while reading this - happiness, sadness, anger...
Betts is a complicated character, and I'd be the first to admit that sometimes it was difficult to stomach the choices she made. There were so many times I wish I could reach through the book and talk some sense into her. At the same time, however, I could understand the choices she made to a certain point. Sometimes it is easy to be wrapped up in the idea of new love, especially when it's first love. I know some have said that they couldn't believe how fast Betts fell in love with Aiden, but I could find it believable. I've seen friends become consumed by similar situations, seeing the good in people that they shouldn't.
One of my favorite parts about this book was the friendship between Betts and Jo. It was real as well as relatable, and it also didn't hurt that I ADORED Jo. She was sassy and fierce, and I admired how she wouldn't give up on her friends, no mater how much they push her away. In some ways, I feel like the reader takes on a role similar to Jo in the book - seeing Aiden for what he is while Betts remains blinded by it all.
Overall, Always Forever Maybe is a gripping book, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen's Dreamland or readers who love contemporary books that take on harder issues.
*ARC was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
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Always Forever Maybe is an incredibly fast paced read. I sat down to read it one afternoon and didn't stop once until I was down. Anica does such an amazing job of reeling the reader in. Her writing has a casual, simple feel, but it's never too simple. She does a great job of capturing the voice of Betts while also doing a great job of establishing the story and capturing the emotions involved. I felt so many different things while reading this - happiness, sadness, anger...
Betts is a complicated character, and I'd be the first to admit that sometimes it was difficult to stomach the choices she made. There were so many times I wish I could reach through the book and talk some sense into her. At the same time, however, I could understand the choices she made to a certain point. Sometimes it is easy to be wrapped up in the idea of new love, especially when it's first love. I know some have said that they couldn't believe how fast Betts fell in love with Aiden, but I could find it believable. I've seen friends become consumed by similar situations, seeing the good in people that they shouldn't.
One of my favorite parts about this book was the friendship between Betts and Jo. It was real as well as relatable, and it also didn't hurt that I ADORED Jo. She was sassy and fierce, and I admired how she wouldn't give up on her friends, no mater how much they push her away. In some ways, I feel like the reader takes on a role similar to Jo in the book - seeing Aiden for what he is while Betts remains blinded by it all.
Overall, Always Forever Maybe is a gripping book, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen's Dreamland or readers who love contemporary books that take on harder issues.
*ARC was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
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March 22, 2018
RATING: 3.5/5 stars
Thank you Tori, Harper Collins, and Epic reads for this arc copy of 'Always Forever Maybe'.
Where to begin. The main issue that the book covers is abusive teenage relationships. I think that Anica Mrose Rissi wrote this quite well, especially how there were signs of abusive but nothing was admitted at first. I had hoped that Anica would have stretched out the timeline a bit more to reduce the instalove - the main characters have fallen in love within two weeks of meeting (which is fine in romance novels). This is a bad metaphor I know but the pacing is like ice cream melting (Bee works at candy store so it works, sssh) - one minute they are happily in love and then it gets abusive all of a sudden. But in another way the pacing did work as Aiden was very obsessive and controlling from the beginning.
Aiden is a very broken character, and no amount of love (at this time in his life) from Bee would change that. I think it would have been interesting to here more of Aiden's background but this would then lend itself to a redemption arc unlike how their relationship ends - but hearing more about his high school days and why he was expelled, and also why his mum left would be interesting.
In a review I read the reviewer made a suggestion that the book should have been told from Jo's (Bee's best friend) point of view. I think this would have worked really well to see her side of the Bee and Aiden's relationship, and at the same time see her feelings for Sydney. Although it would have made the book longer, Anica could have done multiple point of views switching between Bee, Jo, and Aiden ( I do not think Eric's character needs his own chapters).
One reason I want more from Jo is because her (and to an extent her twin brother Eric) was my favourite character. I loved to read about friendship with Bee - Jo was so protective and caring. I liked the inside jokes between Bee, Jo, and Eric as it showed the strength of their friendship. Jo and Sydney are also amazing, so for Jo's sake I really hope they are dating.
I know that Anica named Jo after her friend but was it necessary that for so many Joannas in the book? I think OJ should either not exist as a character or be renamed. I like that Bee (who is also called Joanna) is called Bee or Betts because of her surname.
I do not know how I feel about the ending. However, overall I enjoyed reading 'Always Forever Maybe' as it was a quick read and covered the issue of abuse that I do not really read.
Thank you Tori, Harper Collins, and Epic reads for this arc copy of 'Always Forever Maybe'.
Where to begin. The main issue that the book covers is abusive teenage relationships. I think that Anica Mrose Rissi wrote this quite well, especially how there were signs of abusive but nothing was admitted at first. I had hoped that Anica would have stretched out the timeline a bit more to reduce the instalove - the main characters have fallen in love within two weeks of meeting (which is fine in romance novels). This is a bad metaphor I know but the pacing is like ice cream melting (Bee works at candy store so it works, sssh) - one minute they are happily in love and then it gets abusive all of a sudden. But in another way the pacing did work as Aiden was very obsessive and controlling from the beginning.
Aiden is a very broken character, and no amount of love (at this time in his life) from Bee would change that. I think it would have been interesting to here more of Aiden's background but this would then lend itself to a redemption arc unlike how their relationship ends - but hearing more about his high school days and why he was expelled, and also why his mum left would be interesting.
In a review I read the reviewer made a suggestion that the book should have been told from Jo's (Bee's best friend) point of view. I think this would have worked really well to see her side of the Bee and Aiden's relationship, and at the same time see her feelings for Sydney. Although it would have made the book longer, Anica could have done multiple point of views switching between Bee, Jo, and Aiden ( I do not think Eric's character needs his own chapters).
One reason I want more from Jo is because her (and to an extent her twin brother Eric) was my favourite character. I loved to read about friendship with Bee - Jo was so protective and caring. I liked the inside jokes between Bee, Jo, and Eric as it showed the strength of their friendship. Jo and Sydney are also amazing, so for Jo's sake I really hope they are dating.
I know that Anica named Jo after her friend but was it necessary that for so many Joannas in the book? I think OJ should either not exist as a character or be renamed. I like that Bee (who is also called Joanna) is called Bee or Betts because of her surname.
I do not know how I feel about the ending. However, overall I enjoyed reading 'Always Forever Maybe' as it was a quick read and covered the issue of abuse that I do not really read.
November 16, 2017
Anica Mrose Rissi tackles a tough issue (abuse in teen dating) in her first foray in to young adult literature and she does it with realistic dialogue, a great cast of characters and just the right amount of humor to balance everything out. I started reading this book on a Sunday evening and stayed up way past my bedtime as I needed to read on -- always a good sign. Despite a busy week at work, I managed to find time to finish the book within a few days because I cared about Betts and wanted to find out how her story would end.
I am already looking forward to the next YA book from Anica -- and I do hope that there will be more.
I am already looking forward to the next YA book from Anica -- and I do hope that there will be more.
Read
February 16, 2018Gripping and powerful, heart-wrenching and brutal, Anica Mrose Rissi's YA debut is a raw and resonant look at the swift downslide from intoxicating to toxic in a teen relationship where emotional manipulation and physical and emotional abuse are the smoke and mirrors masquerading as "love." A necessary exploration of a controlling, abusive relationship--but also of resilient, fierce friendship, and ultimately hope.
June 18, 2017
I love this book. Most of all, the dialogue! Dialogue is tough to write well, but this book nails it. I got totally wrapped up in the cast of true, sweet, supportive, sassy friends.
But oh, the romance (and what comes with it). Gripping and well done - this book will be so important for many people. Rissi handles this challenging relationship really elegantly and honestly.
But oh, the romance (and what comes with it). Gripping and well done - this book will be so important for many people. Rissi handles this challenging relationship really elegantly and honestly.
May 25, 2018
I received an eGalley via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Trigger warning: This book contains emotional and physical abuse.
Always Forever Maybe by Anica Mrose Rissi was, to be completely honest, really hard to read. It was addicting, but hard to read because of the perspective that we're reading the story from. The protagonist, Bee, is extremely unreliable and if it weren't for some issues with the pacing, the questionable conclusion, the short length of this book, and how everything tied up conveniently, this would have packed an even stronger punch.
I think the believability aspect of this was mostly the length of time that the story took for this troubled relationship to flourish. I, fortunately, do not have experience with an abusive relationship, so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. For me, the story was hindered by the pacing. Yes, abusive relationships will change the victim of the abuse and their perspective of the life they've lived before the "romance" will also change, but I wish we would have gotten a bit more time for the narrator to fully show the extent of Aidan's control. And because of this, my main complaint regarding pacing is that because we didn't spend enough time seeing Aidan's controlling personality apart from glimpses of it, the effect was made a bit weaker.
That being said, however, this was still a really difficult and disturbing book to read. But I think rather than the things Aidan said and did (except for the obvious, because without even having read the synopsis, I knew this story would lead to where it eventually did lead), it was the way that Bee changed and reacted to him being in her world. In my opinion, Bee's change was the most terrifying aspect of this book. She is so impressionable and so in control of everything that it was almost a relief for her to be in a situation where the control wasn't in her hands.
Bee and her relationship with Jo, her best friend, was one that gave me hope that somewhere out there, someone has a similar observant friendship. She was probably one of my favourite characters in this book, if not my favourite.
To be honest, I kind of loved how the author included POC characters and LGBTQ+ situations without making it seem like she was checking off a bingo card, like so many authors have in the past--patting their own backs for being so inclusive.
My complaints all deal with, again, the pacing and the ending.
Is this a favourite read? No. Is it a jarring read? Yes, very, very jarring simply because of its unapologetic dive into an abusive relationship. The first person narrative and unreliable storytelling makes this book both addictive and disturbing.
This is an important read because, as a friend said when I discussed this book with her, it gets a conversation started. The unreliable and biased voice of Bee is something that might help others see, but still not entirely understand that sort of situation. Also, how hard it can be to rationalize beyond the bubble the abuser has created for their victim.
One of the great things awaiting the reader at the end, however, are the resources for anyone who is, has, or might know someone in an abusive relationship.
Happy reading!
Trigger warning: This book contains emotional and physical abuse.
Always Forever Maybe by Anica Mrose Rissi was, to be completely honest, really hard to read. It was addicting, but hard to read because of the perspective that we're reading the story from. The protagonist, Bee, is extremely unreliable and if it weren't for some issues with the pacing, the questionable conclusion, the short length of this book, and how everything tied up conveniently, this would have packed an even stronger punch.
I think the believability aspect of this was mostly the length of time that the story took for this troubled relationship to flourish. I, fortunately, do not have experience with an abusive relationship, so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. For me, the story was hindered by the pacing. Yes, abusive relationships will change the victim of the abuse and their perspective of the life they've lived before the "romance" will also change, but I wish we would have gotten a bit more time for the narrator to fully show the extent of Aidan's control. And because of this, my main complaint regarding pacing is that because we didn't spend enough time seeing Aidan's controlling personality apart from glimpses of it, the effect was made a bit weaker.
That being said, however, this was still a really difficult and disturbing book to read. But I think rather than the things Aidan said and did (except for the obvious, because without even having read the synopsis, I knew this story would lead to where it eventually did lead), it was the way that Bee changed and reacted to him being in her world. In my opinion, Bee's change was the most terrifying aspect of this book. She is so impressionable and so in control of everything that it was almost a relief for her to be in a situation where the control wasn't in her hands.
Bee and her relationship with Jo, her best friend, was one that gave me hope that somewhere out there, someone has a similar observant friendship. She was probably one of my favourite characters in this book, if not my favourite.
To be honest, I kind of loved how the author included POC characters and LGBTQ+ situations without making it seem like she was checking off a bingo card, like so many authors have in the past--patting their own backs for being so inclusive.
My complaints all deal with, again, the pacing and the ending.
Is this a favourite read? No. Is it a jarring read? Yes, very, very jarring simply because of its unapologetic dive into an abusive relationship. The first person narrative and unreliable storytelling makes this book both addictive and disturbing.
This is an important read because, as a friend said when I discussed this book with her, it gets a conversation started. The unreliable and biased voice of Bee is something that might help others see, but still not entirely understand that sort of situation. Also, how hard it can be to rationalize beyond the bubble the abuser has created for their victim.
One of the great things awaiting the reader at the end, however, are the resources for anyone who is, has, or might know someone in an abusive relationship.
Happy reading!
June 3, 2018
Heads up: If you can’t handle, or don’t want to read stories with physical, emotional and verbal abuse, don’t pick up this book, because it explores all those things. Also, this book is mature, not just because of the abuse, but also because of the sexual content.
My thoughts
Always Forever Maybe wasn’t an easy book to read, because of its dark nature. I’ve never been in a dangerous relationship like Betts, and I’ve also never personally known anyone who has, but I could tell that the author was depicting one perfectly. I understand that those types of unhealthy relationships can escalate quickly, and that the victim doesn’t even realize something’s wrong until something really bad happens, and even then, most times the victim is still blaming themselves.
Before starting Always Forever Maybe, I knew that Betts was going to be a victim, but even so, I couldn’t stop disliking her. I felt sad and scared for her constantly, but I also felt irritated because she kept making bad, careless decisions. She locks eyes with a cute guy, and before she even knows anything about him, she’s hopping on his motorcycle, taking off to an unknown destination. Betts thought she was being spontaneous, and that by being in a relationship with an older guy, made her an empowered young woman. No Betts. No!! You were being reckless and ignorant. It got even worse when she started lying to her parents and best friend. It felt like deep down Betts knew something was wrong with the whole situation, but she couldn’t see past her puppy-love and new feeling of “empowerment”.
I was nervous the moment Aiden was introduced, because we knew that his relationship with Betts was eventually going to take a turn for the worst. Aiden was a ticking time bomb, and it was only a matter of time before he would explode and show his true colors. It was a scary and thrilling wait for all hell to break loose.
Always Forever Maybe was a short, fast read, which was great, because I remained enraptured the entire time. Plus, the speed fit the plot perfectly, because Betts was quickly spiraling into a dangerous relationship with a guy she thought she loved and knew completely, and the fast pace made it feel even more authentic.
This book was sometimes hard to read, because in reality there are a lot of people in the world who have, are, or will eventually enter a dangerous, and even deadly relationship like Bettes did, and this book forces you to think about it.
My thoughts
Always Forever Maybe wasn’t an easy book to read, because of its dark nature. I’ve never been in a dangerous relationship like Betts, and I’ve also never personally known anyone who has, but I could tell that the author was depicting one perfectly. I understand that those types of unhealthy relationships can escalate quickly, and that the victim doesn’t even realize something’s wrong until something really bad happens, and even then, most times the victim is still blaming themselves.
Before starting Always Forever Maybe, I knew that Betts was going to be a victim, but even so, I couldn’t stop disliking her. I felt sad and scared for her constantly, but I also felt irritated because she kept making bad, careless decisions. She locks eyes with a cute guy, and before she even knows anything about him, she’s hopping on his motorcycle, taking off to an unknown destination. Betts thought she was being spontaneous, and that by being in a relationship with an older guy, made her an empowered young woman. No Betts. No!! You were being reckless and ignorant. It got even worse when she started lying to her parents and best friend. It felt like deep down Betts knew something was wrong with the whole situation, but she couldn’t see past her puppy-love and new feeling of “empowerment”.
I was nervous the moment Aiden was introduced, because we knew that his relationship with Betts was eventually going to take a turn for the worst. Aiden was a ticking time bomb, and it was only a matter of time before he would explode and show his true colors. It was a scary and thrilling wait for all hell to break loose.
Always Forever Maybe was a short, fast read, which was great, because I remained enraptured the entire time. Plus, the speed fit the plot perfectly, because Betts was quickly spiraling into a dangerous relationship with a guy she thought she loved and knew completely, and the fast pace made it feel even more authentic.
This book was sometimes hard to read, because in reality there are a lot of people in the world who have, are, or will eventually enter a dangerous, and even deadly relationship like Bettes did, and this book forces you to think about it.
June 6, 2018
I am a sucker for any type of book that deals with physical/emotional abuse. Having had a bad relationship in my younger years, I feel that I can relate to the characters in a way that someone whom had never experienced this type of thing would not be able to.
I really liked Betts and felt that she was really just trying to find herself and had a lot of self esteem issues when Aiden walked into her life. Their relationship in the beginning was kind of "story book" like and it was easy to see the tell tale signs that things would go south quickly. I LOVED her best friend Jo! She was the type of friend that no matter what, she had your back. If you were being stupid, she would let you know and no matter how much you hated her, she always had your best interest at heart! Although the story line was about Aiden/Betts, a major point in the story was Betts and Jo's friendship. It was kind of refreshing to have that aspect and not have the entire story a romance. Jo's brother, Eric was very sweet too and although he seemed more like a side character, he really did have a lot to do with the turn the story had taken.
The ending seemed a bit rushed to me and there was not really a big climax. The story seemed to linger for a few chapters until Betts finally made up her mind. Which honestly, it didn't feel like she wrestled with herself too much over.
Although, I was not a huge fan of the ending, I still very much enjoyed the book itself and thank Edelweiss and the publisher for the review copy.
I really liked Betts and felt that she was really just trying to find herself and had a lot of self esteem issues when Aiden walked into her life. Their relationship in the beginning was kind of "story book" like and it was easy to see the tell tale signs that things would go south quickly. I LOVED her best friend Jo! She was the type of friend that no matter what, she had your back. If you were being stupid, she would let you know and no matter how much you hated her, she always had your best interest at heart! Although the story line was about Aiden/Betts, a major point in the story was Betts and Jo's friendship. It was kind of refreshing to have that aspect and not have the entire story a romance. Jo's brother, Eric was very sweet too and although he seemed more like a side character, he really did have a lot to do with the turn the story had taken.
The ending seemed a bit rushed to me and there was not really a big climax. The story seemed to linger for a few chapters until Betts finally made up her mind. Which honestly, it didn't feel like she wrestled with herself too much over.
Although, I was not a huge fan of the ending, I still very much enjoyed the book itself and thank Edelweiss and the publisher for the review copy.
May 30, 2018
~ 3.5 Stars
~ Trigger Warning:: Abusive relationship
~ starts off like a cheesy stereotypical romance featuring the bad boy in a leather jacket riding a motorcycle and the good girl who’s never spontaneous Honestly would still read it if it was just this but hey it came with a toxic twist.
~Could have been executed in a more elaborate and detailed way, however still got the message across . . .kind of. Everything was rushed from the relationship to self-dwindling aspects to the outcome. If slowed down, I feel like the author could have elaborated a lot more of the aspects of an abusive relationship and how the couple and the people they love start to feel the effects of what is occurring. The writing was okay not mind blowing but with more works and slower pacing, I feel as though the author to become a well-established contemporary writer
~ I only really like Jo the side-character and would be interested in a story about her and her relationships, both Aiden and Bee felt one dimensional and I only cared for Bee when she began to realize how bad her situation had become.
~ Aiden can just go away and never be found
~ Kinda want a sequel/epilogue to elaborate more about the ending since it was a bit vague and wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking
~But give me a book about Jo (with mention of Bee I suppose) any day and I'll be perfectly content
~ Trigger Warning:: Abusive relationship
~ starts off like a cheesy stereotypical romance featuring the bad boy in a leather jacket riding a motorcycle and the good girl who’s never spontaneous Honestly would still read it if it was just this but hey it came with a toxic twist.
~Could have been executed in a more elaborate and detailed way, however still got the message across . . .kind of. Everything was rushed from the relationship to self-dwindling aspects to the outcome. If slowed down, I feel like the author could have elaborated a lot more of the aspects of an abusive relationship and how the couple and the people they love start to feel the effects of what is occurring. The writing was okay not mind blowing but with more works and slower pacing, I feel as though the author to become a well-established contemporary writer
~ I only really like Jo the side-character and would be interested in a story about her and her relationships, both Aiden and Bee felt one dimensional and I only cared for Bee when she began to realize how bad her situation had become.
~ Aiden can just go away and never be found
~ Kinda want a sequel/epilogue to elaborate more about the ending since it was a bit vague and wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking
~But give me a book about Jo (with mention of Bee I suppose) any day and I'll be perfectly content
August 22, 2018
4.5 stars
This book is so incredibly well written that, along with the main character, I slowly fell in love with a boy (who I knew, from the blurb, would turn out to be a wrong 'un.) The sense that their relationship might not be perfect is slowly introduced in a way that feels so genuine, and the whole book is incredibly visceral. I love the friendships, the little hope at a happy ending, and I especially love how the messy love is written - the love where you know your boyfriend is wrong, and doing something unforgivable, but you love him so much you rearrange it in your mind to something forgivable.
Dark and honest with bright rays of friendship. This book is essential reading for all teenagers (and all people.)
This book is so incredibly well written that, along with the main character, I slowly fell in love with a boy (who I knew, from the blurb, would turn out to be a wrong 'un.) The sense that their relationship might not be perfect is slowly introduced in a way that feels so genuine, and the whole book is incredibly visceral. I love the friendships, the little hope at a happy ending, and I especially love how the messy love is written - the love where you know your boyfriend is wrong, and doing something unforgivable, but you love him so much you rearrange it in your mind to something forgivable.
Dark and honest with bright rays of friendship. This book is essential reading for all teenagers (and all people.)
August 6, 2018
Seriously terrible. I'm not sure where I read about this book and/or why I put it on hold for myself, but the characters lacked depth and the main character was not at all smart or level-headed. I mean, I know she's a teenager, and I know that when you're in an abusive relationship that lines can blur between good and poor decision making, but this was just poorly written. If you'd like to read a well-written book about teenagers in an abusive relationship, might I suggest Dreamland, by Sarah Dessen.
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