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Until Forever
When Luisa’s mother died, Luisa was left to take care of her family. Her dream of leaving Naples for a better life died too. Hard work and sacrifice left no time for dreaming or romance. Until one day she met a U.S Marine stationed in Italy. Though Brandon didn’t speak Italian, he understood what Luisa needed and made her feel like a princess. They fell in love, married and began to build a life together in the United States.
Because of Brandon’s military service, Luisa spent long periods apart from him. Under the stress, their marriage slowly began to fracture, leading to infidelity and separation. During that time apart, both Luisa and Brandon realized what they truly meant to one another. When they reconciled, their love grew even stronger, and Luisa faced something she didn’t think she would ever recover from.
Because of Brandon’s military service, Luisa spent long periods apart from him. Under the stress, their marriage slowly began to fracture, leading to infidelity and separation. During that time apart, both Luisa and Brandon realized what they truly meant to one another. When they reconciled, their love grew even stronger, and Luisa faced something she didn’t think she would ever recover from.
- GenresBiography
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2018
36 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 9, 2018
I love memoirs, but this book read more like a dramatic romance novel, and I mean that in the best possible way. The storytelling was direct and discriptive and kept me captivated the entire time. I read it in one sitting and stayed up super late to finish it. It's been a long time since I've done that. The relationship between Luisa and her husband is entirely relatable and inspiring, I've been with my husband since our early 20's as well, so explaining the constant highs and lows and dealing with hardships and tragedies and digging each other out of holes you never thought you'd get out of is entirely appreciated and real. Reading this story felt like having a long intense conversation with a new friend. I loved it.
August 8, 2018
Fantastic!
I am not usually one for memoirs but to me this didn't read like a memoir at all. Instead it read like a true romantic story. Luisa meets her true love Brandon. Their love although rocky at times emitted from the pages as being so real and so passionate. The author told this story as if she was telling a story. I felt like I knew Brandon and Luisa. I was taken by total surprise at the end. Every step of the way in this story I was captivated by the ups and downs of their relationship. I am so grateful to the author for telling her story. What a tale and I recommend it for any to romantics at heart and anyone who believes in love.
I am not usually one for memoirs but to me this didn't read like a memoir at all. Instead it read like a true romantic story. Luisa meets her true love Brandon. Their love although rocky at times emitted from the pages as being so real and so passionate. The author told this story as if she was telling a story. I felt like I knew Brandon and Luisa. I was taken by total surprise at the end. Every step of the way in this story I was captivated by the ups and downs of their relationship. I am so grateful to the author for telling her story. What a tale and I recommend it for any to romantics at heart and anyone who believes in love.
August 13, 2018
LUISA CLOUTIER, UNTIL FOREVER
When you’re writing a book, are you also writing A Book? A lot of people publishing autobiographies seem to think so. It’s annoying and distracting to read someone’s story when they obviously think it’s too simple to be interesting. They dress it up with things they couldn’t have possibly done at the time and feelings and thoughts they couldn’t logically have had. They and the people they tell about talk in language nobody uses for conversation. One of the endearing qualities of Luisa Cloutier’s book is her clear goal to express her life and feelings simply and realistically.
Reading her story gives you a feeling for what she must be like as a fitness instructor. She gets to the point: this is how I saw it. She admits her limits: I didn’t know what that meant. And she uses what she learned through her own experiences to help other people: honoring someone’s memory means handling their goals and dreams responsibly, but it’s okay to let go of the past and make another try at being happy. You get the feeling that, instead of leading the class by giving directions from the front of the room, she walks around to students. If she has to say “you’re doing that wrong,” she’s also quick to say “here, let me help you get it right.” It’s probably a class you work hard at and don’t want to miss because you come out of it feeling good.
It’s a simple story and a quick read but, like a good workout, it makes you feel stronger and more upbeat. She wrote her book to inspire others who are struggling with how to leave the past behind. She has succeeded.
When you’re writing a book, are you also writing A Book? A lot of people publishing autobiographies seem to think so. It’s annoying and distracting to read someone’s story when they obviously think it’s too simple to be interesting. They dress it up with things they couldn’t have possibly done at the time and feelings and thoughts they couldn’t logically have had. They and the people they tell about talk in language nobody uses for conversation. One of the endearing qualities of Luisa Cloutier’s book is her clear goal to express her life and feelings simply and realistically.
Reading her story gives you a feeling for what she must be like as a fitness instructor. She gets to the point: this is how I saw it. She admits her limits: I didn’t know what that meant. And she uses what she learned through her own experiences to help other people: honoring someone’s memory means handling their goals and dreams responsibly, but it’s okay to let go of the past and make another try at being happy. You get the feeling that, instead of leading the class by giving directions from the front of the room, she walks around to students. If she has to say “you’re doing that wrong,” she’s also quick to say “here, let me help you get it right.” It’s probably a class you work hard at and don’t want to miss because you come out of it feeling good.
It’s a simple story and a quick read but, like a good workout, it makes you feel stronger and more upbeat. She wrote her book to inspire others who are struggling with how to leave the past behind. She has succeeded.
August 3, 2018
What I didn't really expect to find when I decided to read this memoir is that once I started, I couldn't put it down. I read a ton of memoirs and generally, those which don't deal with something shocking e.g. abuse, murder etc, and aren't written in what I call "fiction style", don't grab my attention quickly and hold it till I finish the book. Given that I was in the process of reading 2 other books and planning to finish them before starting in on this book, and a simple scan of first 20 pages sucked me into reading on and on, says a lot about "Until Forever".
It's essentially a love story...and one that truly captures what true love is. That kind of book, especially when written as a memoir, hasn't the broad appeal of timely social, psychological or criminal issues. But Luisa Clouthier's delivery is so heartfelt, her characters so alive, and her use of dialogue so well done that it reads like fiction...and that's what makes any memoir a better read. So many memoir writers just narrate ad nauseum. I can't get through those books no matter how intriguing the subject matter.
I also really enjoyed learning about the expectations of Italian families and the contrasts between living in small towns in Italy as opposed to life in the USA. Thanks for the insights! Well done.
It's essentially a love story...and one that truly captures what true love is. That kind of book, especially when written as a memoir, hasn't the broad appeal of timely social, psychological or criminal issues. But Luisa Clouthier's delivery is so heartfelt, her characters so alive, and her use of dialogue so well done that it reads like fiction...and that's what makes any memoir a better read. So many memoir writers just narrate ad nauseum. I can't get through those books no matter how intriguing the subject matter.
I also really enjoyed learning about the expectations of Italian families and the contrasts between living in small towns in Italy as opposed to life in the USA. Thanks for the insights! Well done.
August 17, 2018
This memoir was not what I was expecting and in a good way. It touched me on a personal level and caused me to look at grief I was holding onto. This particular memoir has a hidden self-help aspect to it. The book revolves around not just Luisa's life but life she built with her husband and how she navigated through his unexpected death. Being a part of a military family, I was totally able to relate to Brandon, and their love story is something I'm familiar with having heard similar stories from family friends. Also being familiar with Italy, the story just made me feel like I was in it. Luisa doesn't just paint the pretty but she gives the hardships of marriage too. When an author shows vulnerability, it pulls the reader in and that is exactly what happened with me.
I struggled when the book dove in to her grief and depression because I could relate to it. I went through it as did my mother. But it was so raw and beautifully written that I was right there with Luisa. Her journey to finding hope and happiness again was real and inspirational. I would definitely recommend this book to read.
I struggled when the book dove in to her grief and depression because I could relate to it. I went through it as did my mother. But it was so raw and beautifully written that I was right there with Luisa. Her journey to finding hope and happiness again was real and inspirational. I would definitely recommend this book to read.
August 19, 2018
Luisa is a young woman in Naples who is tasked with taking on her mother's dying wish of taking care of her family. With a father who is strict on woman following in Italian customs, Luisa must quit her job to raise her younger siblings while making plans to marry her older, Italian boyfriend Nino. Luisa is unhappy with this life that she has been charged with, but she does not wish to disappoint her family's customs nor her mother's last request. But when she meets an American Marine named Brandon, she must choose whether to follow her heart and disappoint her family or continue with the life that is not what she wants for herself.
Until Forever is a memoir written about the consequences and happiness that can arise from falling in love with your true soulmate. It's a story that brings tears and smiles as the love story of Brandon and Luisa unfolds within the pages. One cannot but feel the intensity of the feelings these two have for each other and cheer for them to get their happily ever after story. This is a tale of true love that everyone can fall for.
Until Forever is a memoir written about the consequences and happiness that can arise from falling in love with your true soulmate. It's a story that brings tears and smiles as the love story of Brandon and Luisa unfolds within the pages. One cannot but feel the intensity of the feelings these two have for each other and cheer for them to get their happily ever after story. This is a tale of true love that everyone can fall for.
August 11, 2018
Until Forever is a truly fascinating memoir which reads as a romance novel about a young Italian woman who meets a US marine, marries him and moves to the States to begin a new life together. What’s fascinating is the change in cultures, from a traditional Catholic Italian culture to the ‘freedom’ of the American – attitudes, values, goals are different and they form the backdrop of the memoir. It’s the repeated sense of starting again that draws the reader in: starting again taking on the role and responsibilities of the Italian mother when Luisa’s own mother dies, starting again as a wife and new US citizen in America, starting again later as things take an unexpected turn. I enjoyed the sense of progress. At one point in the memoir Luisa says that we become different ‘shaped by our experiences’ and this is certainly true of her own life. Reading the book makes you admire Luisa’s tenacity amongst all the struggles and her love of life through the good times. A very good read, and very worthwhile!
August 8, 2018
Until Forever is a story of true love and overcoming tragedy. Although many stories in this theme can come off as cheesy, Luisa Cloutier depicts her tale in a beautifully realistic manner. The more I read about Luisa, the more I was able to relate and sympathize. It wonderfully displays the hardships of long distance relationships as well as the ups and downs each marriage has. Luisa’s story is an enjoyable, easy read that conveys inspiration to anyone struggling to overcome the tough moments in their life.
August 12, 2018
I found this memoir well written and engaging, and I could have read it in one sitting. It's a wonderful tribute to Cloutier's husband and their life together, their love and the impact they had on each other's lives. Until Forever details the story of their relationship, from meeting in Italy to his tragic passing and everything in between. It was wonderful to read, and a lovely reminder that true love still exists.
June 29, 2018
Book: Until Forever
Author: Luisa Cloutier
I read about an hour a day. It was so easy to get caught up in their story "Until Forever" to find out why the book was titled this way.
I give this author and book a 5-star rating because it touched my heart with how young this author was when she lost her Mother and the rest of the family depended on her to take on and accept her Mother's responsibilities to the family. The author never expressed anger at this expectation and she did so much to help her Dad and siblings. Myself, being a US citizen and being brought up with only children's responsibilities, it was eye-opening to realize that not everyone has life as easy as some of us have had. This young girl deserved to move on and have what others had ... love and commitment.
When her sister and friend insisted she get out to a dance and start socializing, she met the love of her life there in Italy, where, as a US Marine, he was stationed. Reading how they were apart when he had to go Stateside again while she remained in Italy, all they went through to bring her to the United States, getting her family to accept him, her decision to accept his marriage proposal and leave her family in Italy to make a new life in the United States was not an easy thing to do and is amazing that she worked so hard to learn about our traditions, language, finding work, and fell into a loving family that accepted each other.
As we all do, they had some troubles but quickly overcame them and became stronger together because of it.
This is a "must read" if you want the rest of her story. The author presented any negatives without bitterness or anger. She did a magnificent job looking and writing about what was beyond that part of their lives. Truly? This book should be made into a Hallmark movie -- the love, commitment to one another, to their families, and nothing but hard work, lots of unprecedented hours to buy a business and make it very successful is something many of our younger generation know nothing about because they don't even want to try. This couple forged ahead in every aspect of their lives and they succeeded.
I promise, you will not be sorry if you purchase and read this outstanding true story. And there's a reason for the title "Until Forever" that you will never forget.
Author: Luisa Cloutier
I read about an hour a day. It was so easy to get caught up in their story "Until Forever" to find out why the book was titled this way.
I give this author and book a 5-star rating because it touched my heart with how young this author was when she lost her Mother and the rest of the family depended on her to take on and accept her Mother's responsibilities to the family. The author never expressed anger at this expectation and she did so much to help her Dad and siblings. Myself, being a US citizen and being brought up with only children's responsibilities, it was eye-opening to realize that not everyone has life as easy as some of us have had. This young girl deserved to move on and have what others had ... love and commitment.
When her sister and friend insisted she get out to a dance and start socializing, she met the love of her life there in Italy, where, as a US Marine, he was stationed. Reading how they were apart when he had to go Stateside again while she remained in Italy, all they went through to bring her to the United States, getting her family to accept him, her decision to accept his marriage proposal and leave her family in Italy to make a new life in the United States was not an easy thing to do and is amazing that she worked so hard to learn about our traditions, language, finding work, and fell into a loving family that accepted each other.
As we all do, they had some troubles but quickly overcame them and became stronger together because of it.
This is a "must read" if you want the rest of her story. The author presented any negatives without bitterness or anger. She did a magnificent job looking and writing about what was beyond that part of their lives. Truly? This book should be made into a Hallmark movie -- the love, commitment to one another, to their families, and nothing but hard work, lots of unprecedented hours to buy a business and make it very successful is something many of our younger generation know nothing about because they don't even want to try. This couple forged ahead in every aspect of their lives and they succeeded.
I promise, you will not be sorry if you purchase and read this outstanding true story. And there's a reason for the title "Until Forever" that you will never forget.
December 2, 2021
In Until Forever, Luisa Cloutier tells a very personal story about the unexpected loss of her husband at a young age. The story opens at a time after her husband's death when she is extremely depressed and losing the will to live. From there, she goes back in time to recount how she and her husband met in Italy, fell in love, then built a successful life together in the United States. While there is heartache and conflict, the two manage to find their way, eventually opening their own fitness studio, which becomes very successful. The sudden loss of her husband is a brutal shock, but Luisa eventually moves on and opens her heart again to another.
Woven throughout the book is the story of cultural differences between Italy and America, traditional Catholic values vs the societal pressures of modern day living, and parental expectations of what it means to be a good daughter vs a young woman's need for independence. An important point, which provides additional tension in the story, is the deathbed promise made by Luisa to her mother. These critical aspects, demonstrating conflicting cultural and family values, nearly cripple Luisa, who is caught between pleasing and honoring others and tradition while longing to expand her horizons and follow her heart. They nearly prevent her from thinking for herself and letting her husband go after he dies. Fortunately, she has the help and guidance of those who teach her to listen to herself and do what she knows in her heart is the right thing to do.
A compelling story from the outset, describing an experience when the author's grief has taken her to a very dark place, Until Forever also relates the author's coming-of-age. Through overcoming the loss of her husband, she also grows from it, learning what it can teach her, so she becomes stronger and wiser. The reader is not given any further information after she meets a new man, but she expresses her growing confidence and maturity, her independence, as she faces, yet again, the big empty house she and her husband once shared. We are left with new possibilities when her new boyfriend arrives in America.
Intimate and emotional, Luisa Cloutier has written an excellent story, something that takes courage and a brave willingness to bare one's heart and soul to readers. Those grieving the loss of a spouse may benefit from this book. Others may simply enjoy this heartfelt and dramatic love story.
Woven throughout the book is the story of cultural differences between Italy and America, traditional Catholic values vs the societal pressures of modern day living, and parental expectations of what it means to be a good daughter vs a young woman's need for independence. An important point, which provides additional tension in the story, is the deathbed promise made by Luisa to her mother. These critical aspects, demonstrating conflicting cultural and family values, nearly cripple Luisa, who is caught between pleasing and honoring others and tradition while longing to expand her horizons and follow her heart. They nearly prevent her from thinking for herself and letting her husband go after he dies. Fortunately, she has the help and guidance of those who teach her to listen to herself and do what she knows in her heart is the right thing to do.
A compelling story from the outset, describing an experience when the author's grief has taken her to a very dark place, Until Forever also relates the author's coming-of-age. Through overcoming the loss of her husband, she also grows from it, learning what it can teach her, so she becomes stronger and wiser. The reader is not given any further information after she meets a new man, but she expresses her growing confidence and maturity, her independence, as she faces, yet again, the big empty house she and her husband once shared. We are left with new possibilities when her new boyfriend arrives in America.
Intimate and emotional, Luisa Cloutier has written an excellent story, something that takes courage and a brave willingness to bare one's heart and soul to readers. Those grieving the loss of a spouse may benefit from this book. Others may simply enjoy this heartfelt and dramatic love story.
August 14, 2018
In this memoir, the author pays loving tribute to her late husband, how they met, their life together, and her journey through grief after his very unexpected passing. They came from vastly different worlds -- Luisa was the oldest daughter in a traditional Italian family from a small town outside of Naples and Brandon was a young Marine from Boston. They met while Brandon was stationed in Naples, after Luisa's mother died and Luisa took over caring for the household and her family. Luisa paints a picture of a passionate romance and courtship, and marriage full of ups and downs. She is vulnerable about her and Brandon's struggles, which makes the joys that much more meaningful. Luisa also shares her grief and the deep depression she experienced after Brandon dies suddenly, and her long struggle through that grief to a place where she can feel hope and happiness again. I liked Luisa's straight-forward, honest writing which let the reader feel like they were getting to know a new friend.
April 11, 2018
It is a surprisingly emotional story. I could sense that Luisa Cloutier had put her heart and soul into writing this tale of her life. Although the pacing felt a little rushed at times, Luisa Cloutier made up for it with the honest emotions through which she narrated her story of how she met her husband and how they made their lives together through all the hurdles life threw at them. She bared all the highs and lows of her life as she put forward her tale of how she moved from her native home in Italy to America. She depicted their struggles as the two of them made a life for themselves. Through all the turmoil, their love and attention towards each other remained strong. It had been most wonderful and heart warming to read about them.
June 16, 2018
An emotional yet wonderful storyline
December 10, 2018
Until Forever is a beautifully written story about the challenges life presents and how one woman fought to break the mold and become the master of her own life. I felt the joy and emotion as I read her story. If you think you aren't strong enough, read this book, because Luisa is a stunning example of how life can and must go on despite the roadblocks we may encounter along the way.
May 28, 2018
Great read! Luisa draws you in and you can feel and understand all the emotions. The story of all the hopes and dreams of a young girl growing into a woman and what it takes to achieve your goals. A true love story!
October 13, 2019
After finishing this book I googled the author and found the business she started with her husband with photos of them and others mentioned in the book. She is evidently a motivational speaker now, something not mentioned in the book.
This is the "real life" story of how Luisa and Brandon met and fell in love, and of their life together, initially in her hometown in Italy and then after their return to his homeland, America. I found it easy to read and Luisa's "voice" feels authentic.
This is the "real life" story of how Luisa and Brandon met and fell in love, and of their life together, initially in her hometown in Italy and then after their return to his homeland, America. I found it easy to read and Luisa's "voice" feels authentic.
February 15, 2021
interesting story sad in parts.
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May 24, 2018#GoodreadsGiveaway
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews