Forever

by Kris Bryant

Who doesn’t want to believe in true love? Ten years ago, Savannah Edwards agreed to be a contestant on the lesbian dating show When Sparks Fly. The last thing she expected was to fall in love and get dumped on national television. When she’s invited to be the next bachelorette for the ten-year anniversary show, she makes up her mind that this time she’ll show the world that finding true love on television can really happen.

Lauren Lucas breathed life into a show that was on the brink of cancellation. Her charm as the host of When Sparks Fly catapulted it to a nationwide hit. Her own love life is in shambles, but she puts on a dazzling smile and pretends that love isn’t heartbreak waiting to happen.

Every week, Lauren watches Savannah date other women and tries to ignore the spark. When the cameras stop rolling and their attraction becomes impossible to deny, will they take a chance on real-life love and abandon the reality TV fairy tale?

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Celebrity, Lesbian, Contemporary, Lesbian Romance, Audiobook

280 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2022

About the author

Podcast with Tara Scott at queerlyrecommended.com

Multi-award winning author Kris Bryant was born in Tacoma, WA but has lived all over the world and now considers Kansas City her home. She received her B.A. in English from the University of Missouri and spends a lot of her time buried in books. She enjoys hiking, photography, spending time with her family, and her dog, Molly (who gets more attention than she does on Facebook).

Her first novel, Jolt, was a Lambda Literary Finalist. Forget Me Not was selected by the American Library Association's 2018 Over the Rainbow book list and was a Golden Crown Finalist for Contemporary Romance. Breakthrough won a 2019 Goldie for Contemporary Romance. Listen won a 2020 Goldie for Contemporary Romance. Temptation won a 2021 Goldie for Contemporary Romance. Not Guilty written under Bryant's pen name - Brit Ryder - won a 2022 Goldie for Erotica. Kris can be reached at krisbryantbooks@gmail or ww.krisbryant.net, @krisbryant14.

Jolt - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Whirlwind Romance - ebook, paperback
Just Say Yes (Novella in the wedding series) - ebook only
Taste - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Forget Me Not - ebook, paperback
Shameless (written as Brit Ryder) - ebook, audiobook
Girl Next Door Anthology - "Dog Day of Summer" - ebook, paperback
Touch - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Breakthrough - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Against All Odds - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Travel Anthology (short by Brit Ryder) - ebook, paperback
Listen - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Falling - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Tinsel - ebook, audiobook
Temptation - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Lucky - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Home - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Scent - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Not Guilty writing as Brit Ryder - ebook, paperback (audiobook in the works)
Always - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Forever - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Stranded Hearts (with Amanda Radley & Emily Smith) - ebook, paperback
Serendipity - ebook, paperback, audiobook

Reviews

[pipsqueakreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bachelorette.

I watch reality TV shows on and off and that includes the dating ones. Yeah, they're mindless stuff, but I find them so enjoyable after a hard day's work so I thought I'd have some fun with this story too.

The characters are part of a lesbian reality TV dating show and Savannah is the season's bachelorette. She forms a connection with a couple of contestants but the one she clicks with the most is the host, Lauren. Lauren isn't one of the options for Savannah and because of the fraternisation clause in their contracts, there's a forbidden element to it, which makes the story interesting to me. At the same time, it's also a low angst book without unnecessary drama so it's easy to read and enjoyable too. My type of book.

Kris Bryant paces the book really well. The time Savannah spends with the other contestants isn't too dragged out, neither is it too brief and the side characters have sufficient opportunity to make an impression on me. Concurrently, Savannah and Lauren have time to develop their friendship and romantic feelings for each other and their chemistry is really good.

I really love this story a lot, though I would have liked to also have Lauren's POV, because it would have been interesting to get to know Lauren further, especially how she felt watching Savannah date the other contestants.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[MZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I like books written by Bryant which is why I picked up this book, even though the topic is really not for me. This might not have been my best decision as I have to admit that I struggled during the first half of the book. Not because it was bad or anything, but I was reminded why I dislike reality TV so much, it’s supposed to be “real” while everything is fake and scripted, it absolutely antagonises me. Anyway, luckily the second half of the book made up for it with a building romance and an excellent epilogue. It left me with a good feeling after all.

So, dating shows, that’s what this is all about. Bryant mentions in the acknowledgements that this is meant to make fun of reality TV (and it worked, oh boy were all the fake bits magnified), but also show that it is possible to find something beautiful even when reality TV is involved.
Savannah was dumped on live TV in a dating show and still deals with some scars from it. Yet, when she is asked, 10 years later, to return to the same dating show she agrees, determined to show the world that you can find your forever person on a dating show. But, while dating and flirting with the contestants, she keeps getting distracted by Lauren, the host of the show.

The first half of the book focusses mainly on the dating show and it felt very slow to me, but that could be my annoyance with the topic. As the book is written in first person you get a good feeling of Savannah, who she is as a person and what she looks for in a partner.
In the second half of the book the romance starts building and this is where the book regained my attention. I liked the interactions between these two ladies and their efforts to repress their feelings, as that was not supposed to happen. Told in first person from Savannah’s POV, Lauren remains a bit of a mystery and there were some moments where I would have liked to see her POV. Because, how hard has it got to be to cheer on the dates of the woman you want to date yourself? Savannah and Lauren’s interactions were heartfelt and believable.

While this was not one of my favorite books by Bryant it was still a sweet romance that put a smile on my face.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

TW for mentions of restrictive eating/dieting for aesthetics at the end of review.

Reality TV can often be so mindless, yet time and time again I find myself sitting down to watch the latest hit dating show and saying “this is ridiculous”… and then feverishly pressing that ‘next episode’ button anyway. I don’t know what it is that makes them so addictive, though I can wager that the heightened sense of drama plays a big part. There are fan favourites and villains and couples we root for and ones we deem fake, and when the whole nation is holding its breath waiting for an elimination or a shock reveal, it can be so nice to be able to talk to others about the show everyone is tuning into. The one thing I always wish there was more of in dating shows is queer representation, and Forever absolutely delivered on that.

The concept of the TV show, When Sparks Fly, at the centre of this novel is essentially The Bachelorette with a wholly queer cast. The majority of contestants are sapphic women while one is the show’s first non-binary “Sparkette”. They’re all vying for the attention of Savannah, a fan favourite from the show’s first season who had her heart broken on air and has returned looking for a second chance at love as the 10th anniversary season’s “Flame”. But while she’s dating 10 women on screen, her attraction to the show’s host, Lauren, only grows when the cameras aren’t rolling.

This was a fun celebrity romance that gave an interesting and insightful look into the behind the scenes of reality TV. Any time I had a thought of “I wonder how they do X”, Bryant was right there to answer it. I did wonder about the logistics of having all queer people in a house together when they’re only meant to date the bachelorette and loved the drama this could create. I thought that it began very quickly, but once they were actually on set and starting filming I think the pacing vastly improved. The first person narration was very humanising and I liked that we got to hear Savannah be conscious of the contestants’ feelings as she went through eliminations and bad dates. This was all in character as she had been hurt on the show before, but her current role on it also gave her a newfound appreciation for what others had been through in her position. Savannah at one point thinks to herself “what have I been doing with my life?” and I admit I could think the same about her at times as, beyond her candle business, best friend and past stint on the show, I didn’t know too much about her. I enjoyed the slow burn secret romance but I think the attraction and interest was very evident from Savannah very early on so I wished that had been just a little more gradual. This book had a large cast of characters and most of the on screen ones were distinct but I’ll admit I had a bit of a hard time keeping them straight (the irony doesn’t escape me) in my head at times. This book has a keen awareness of what is cheesy about it, and also of how things will be seen and played up on screen. I liked the moments where Savannah was aware of the dramatic beats and how best to deliver them.

CW: be aware that restrictive eating/dieting for aesthetics was present in a lot of thoughts and conversations throughout the novel.

[khi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years ago, Savannah Edwards was a contestant on a lesbian dating show. She fell in love and got dumped on national television. When she’s invited to be the next bachelorette for the ten-year anniversary show the last thing she expected was to be the heartbreaker. Enter Lauren Lucas, the host and producer of the show who saved it from cancellation and revamped it into the hit show it is. Also struggling with a non-existent love life, it's no shock that these two are drawn together.

Forever by Kris Bryant is certainly an entertaining read, at times giving off the vibes of a telenovela and at others the lightness of an LMN rom-com. This also means it's not for everyone.

I'm quickly realizing that fluffy light, comedic and drama centred books aren't really my thing. By default, any books about reality tv fall into that section so I think I'm gonna stray away from this genre.

Nevertheless, this was a fine read! Though not very fulfilling and I'm slightly shocked at the lack of sexiness we normally get with Kris Bryant.

Savannah and Lauren were a cute pair but I found myself preferring Savannah with Alix, the non-binary-tattooed- sexy- smooth talking contestant on the show. This obviously wasn't the intent, maybe it's because Lauren and Savannah didn't really have any chemistry through their first meeting so it kind of left me on a blank slate with them whereas Alix immediately puts on their best charm in an attempt to swoon Savannah.

But this doesn't mean that I didn't like Lauren and Savannah together, in the end, I didn't mind it.

So I do recommend this if you're looking for a light read!

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.


(Let me know if there are any errors in this review I'm kind of multitasking lol)

[Gaby LezReviewBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming romance with lovable characters

Kris Bryant is an incredibly versatile author, she can write angsty romances like Listen, lighthearted ones like Breakthrough, or even super hot erotica like Shameless (under the Brit Ryder pseudonym). No wonder she is a multi-award winner and a very popular author. Her books go to my to-read list automatically and with Forever, once again she shows all her talent.

Ten years ago, Savanah Edwards participated in a lesbian dating reality show and got dumped on live TV. Now the producers of the show asked her to make a comeback as part of the ten-year anniversary celebrations. As Savannah negotiates to date ten different contestants on national tv, she realizes she only cares for Lauren Lucas, the extremely hot and attentive show presenter. As their mutual attraction grows, so does Savanah’s conundrum between sticking to the show rules or following her heart.

In the acknowledgments, the author says that she’s always been curious about how people fall in love, even in some unconventional ways, and wanted to make fun of reality tv. To be honest, reality tv is not something that interests me and the few wlw books that touch on the subject didn’t catch my interest. However, I have to admit that Ms. Bryant managed to write an absorbing critique of these shows. How real is reality tv? What happens when true feelings are involved? How can a person cope with the complete media intrusion in their intimate lives? Even if you already have an opinion on these issues, this book is a good way to revisit those questions and also to see the backstage production work behind “creating” reality.

As I said at the beginning, Ms. Bryant can write all the spectrum of romances from angsty to heartwarming and do them all really well. Even though I loved Listen, a very angsty romance, my favourites are the lighthearted ones. Forever falls into the latter category, the type of romance that doesn’t break your heart and makes you smile. Despite that, there are some emotional, heart-wrenching moments that keep the reader invested in the story even though the overall message is positive and hopeful.

Both main characters are adorable and it’s very easy to root for them. Ms. Bryant knows how to write chemistry and makes the most of the stolen moments when the cameras are off and both women can be truly themselves. It’s a very good tease and also a big hurdle that the characters need to overcome. As it’s common with this author’s writing style, the book is written in first person from one character’s point of view, in this case, Savanah who is not only trying to find true love but also closure from what happened ten years ago. Her candor and fairness in treating the different contestants were a pleasure to read about and a good counterpoint to the ubiquitous falseness of reality tv.

If you are looking for a heartwarming romance with no angst and lovable characters, this one is for you. Great cover and yet another fantastic one-word title. 4.5 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alicia Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

◦ Forever
◦ Kris Bryant
◦ Game show when sparkles Fly
◦ MC Lauren Lucas & Savannah Edwards



This book was super cute and interesting. I love the game show aspect of the book.

Savannah was unsure if she should do the game show after her last experience, but Lauren made her feel safe. She felt like she could trust her, it did not hurt that the money would help her business stay a float.

It was very interesting to see the back ground of
what the people that do Reality TV shows go through. Alix was a cute character .

Savannah and Lauren could not stay away from each other and needed to be together.

It was a sweet romance with a fresh new twist, The game show story line was unique and interesting.The story definitely keeps you engaged.

I highly recommend this book,Thank you to Bold Strokes book and NetGalley for the ARC! 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about Savanah who becomes a bachelorette on a lesbian tv game show. Ten years ago she was a contestant on this same game show and got dumped on live tv. She’s been embarrassed and upset over it since then. This time she wants to be kind to the contestants and try and find her true love.

Bryant did a good job developing Savanah’s character and showing her ups and downs emotionally and growth as a person. There were a few funny moments that made it a fun read. And there were some serious moments when Savanah and Lauren connect. I wish there were more of Lauren’s inner thoughts and emotions brought out in the book.

Overall it was a good read and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would at the start. This is my first Kris Bryant book and I look forward to reading more in the future.

ARC received for an honest and voluntary review.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never watched The Bachelorette or a dating show like that but I used to watch all of the 90 Day Fiancée things and now my guilty pleasure is Married At First Sight. I am well aware that these "reality" shows are super mindless, but I enjoy them. I mostly enjoy making fun of them and judging the people on these shows. I know, I know...

What does this have to do with this book? Well... It is actually what this book is all about, a dating show for lesbians similar to The Bachelorette. Savannah makes a return to the show, she was on it ten years ago vying for the "Flames" as a "sparkette", now she's back as the Flame. She has a connection with a couple of the contestants on the show, but her main click is with the host - Lauren. Obviously, she isn't an option, but the heart want's what the heart wants. This forbidden element makes it exciting to read.

The book is written from Savannah's POV but it would have been fun and interesting to read Lauren's thoughts on seeing Savannah date, form connections and kiss the contestants. I feel like we get a pretty good idea of who all these characters are but there is a certain something that I miss. I think maybe because of pacing, sometimes it's quick and sometimes it drags a bit, I am not sure what it is exactly.

I really did enjoy this story, didn't want to put it down and it actually felt like I was watching a guilty pleasure show. This book doesn't have a lot of angst or unnecessary drama, it's just a fun and good Kris Bryant read.
A couple days after completing this read I am still thinking about this one and seeing it in my mind as if I actually watched the show instead of read the book, it's that fun and entertaining.

*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*

[queer_aussie_reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forever is a celebrity romance set in the world of reality television. I personally love celebrity romances, but can't really stand reality TV in real life, so wasn't sure how I'd feel about this story. It's safe to say I loved it. It was one of those books that had me telling myself 'one more chapter' until late into the night.

The story centres around Savannah, an ex-reality TV star who returns to the show 10 years later. Although she is surrounded by a group of beautiful women all vying for her affections, it is the host of the show, Lauren, who she develops feelings for.

I haven't ready many books by Kris Bryant and I'm not sure why. Thats definitely something i will have to fix over the next few months. Her writing is original, fun and she creates really charismatic characters. 

Forever is a really fun, sweet love story that you won't want to out down.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Net Galley for my honest review.

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like KB’s setups, but find the inevitable conclusion takes longer to arrive than the ending deserves. So after 50% I find myself skip-reading, though enjoyed the setup.

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I generally hate watching reality TV shows but give me a romance novel about one and I’ll stay up late into the night reading it. Kris Bryant wrote a fun book about a bachelorette style show where the flame falls for the host instead of the contestants. The characters in this one were great, of the 10 contestants we get a few more developed than the others. They were all great and unlike what you’d expect, this fictional show actually attempts to find contestants who want to find a relationship rather than just be on TV. Alix and Kaisley were both cute and I felt what they did as everything played out. Lauren and Savannah were adorable together throughout. I loved the scenes with Mandee, the makeup artist on set, as well and would have loved a few more with Buzzy and Josef. Every time I read a new book by Kris Bryant it makes me wish there were 10 others I could dive into. This was engaging and fun without being too sweet and hit the mark for me.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

If you enjoy the show UnReal (a tv show about a reality tv dating show) and wish there was a sapphic version and less drama, you are so going to enjoy Kris Bryant’s Forever.

I thought the story was brilliant and hilarious(in a good way), it’s easy to read, and the pace is excellent. Everything is really well-written. This is kind of the book where you already know what the ending is going to be like, but you still enjoy every process. I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it, it’s so entertaining, and I recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine being a contestant on a reality show called “When Sparks Fly” that tries to find true love for lesbians ala “The Bachelorette” and getting dumped on national tv. Then imagine the show coming to you ten years later and asking you to be The Flame choosing your true love from a group of ten contestants. Sounds great, huh? Well, Savannah Edwards wasn’t so sure, but decided to try it anyway. Everything starts out great until the spark she is expecting to find from one of the contestants comes instead from the host of the show, Lauren Lucas.

This is a great premise for the novel Forever by Kris Bryant. It provides so many opportunities for the author to add conflict to the story especially in the form of jealousy, angst, hidden trysts and more. I’ve never watched reality shows like this, but from my very limited experience, it seems like the setting of the book is realistic. I know it’s beautifully described. The characters are also well-developed. I connected with both main characters. I also connected with some of the secondary folks, especially Alix, one of the ten contestants. I would love to see Alix get their happy ever after one day, maybe in another book or short story (hint, hint)?

If you’re into reality shows and stories with lots of conflict and romance, then this is the novel for you.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

[currentlyreadingbynat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel! For someone who has never watching an episode of a reality dating show, I can't believe how gripped I was by this book. I was 110% invested in Savannah, particularly when her interactions with Lauren, the host of the show, become even more heated.

Lauren and Savannah had such a sweet build-up and I really liked the way Kris Bryant developed the storyline and romance. It didn't feel rushed at all, and the chemistry between them felt so natural. I spent a 4 hour plane trip devouring this novel and all I can say is - if you haven't read it, get it! It's a super sweet, sexy, low-angst lesfic novel.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Jo reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going, to be honest. I'm not a fan of any form of reality tv series, either adventure or romance, so when I asked for a copy of Forever from Netgalley, I went in very open-minded and promised myself I would at least try. And I'm glad I did! Don't get me wrong, there are a few cringe moments in there, but I did enjoy how the story develops and how friendships are made. Would like a sequel tho... Just to see if they last! 😉

I've given Forever a 3.7 out of 5

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really enjoyed Forever.
Light charming feel good romance. Full of sweet and sappy romcom moments.
Melissa Sternenberg was the perfect choice as narrator.

[Jennabeebs79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had such an interesting concept…reality show star falls for reality show host during filming. This was definitely a no-no on so many levels. I just couldn’t help but root for Savannah and Lauren from their first meeting. I truly enjoyed this book so much, from the witty dialogue to the cringe worthy reality show stereotypes to the chemistry between our two mains. Kris Bryant has written another winner!

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Elana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mm *happy sigh*, a swoon-worthy read that's not only sweet, funny and romantic BUT oh-so sexy (I had quite a bit of trouble putting this one down AND may have lost some sleep along the way). Savannah Edwards is engaging, quirky, a bit clumsy and finds herself in a few awkward situations with the one person she shouldn't be falling for...I did, however, find myself craving MORE dialogue and interplay between the characters; something DEEPER than the surface level "getting to know you" between Savannah and the contestants.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

After such a good experience with Serendipity, I decided to find another Bryant book to read. And then I remembered that I had Forever in my TBR from NetGalley. I'm a mood reader so sometimes it takes me a long time to be in the right mental space to read certain books. I stop and start books a lot...

Full disclosure: I've never watched any of the Bachelor/Bachelorette shows because I don't care for the idea of a bunch of people vying for the attention/affection of a single person in such a way. It makes me feel bad for the group of folks who are competing for that one person. And all of my bad feelings about those shows came out while reading Forever. But the relationship between Lauren and Savannah was a nice journey and made all the other stuff worth it. They had good chemistry and their interactions felt genuine and drew me in.

I almost forgot to mention that I nearly quit reading the book immediately because it's done in first person POV and I wasn't really feeling it. (mood reader, remember? Anything could set me off...) and while I do wish I had gotten more of Lauren's side of things, Savannah did a fine job. I'm glad I took a breath and kept on going.

I'm discovering with each of Bryant's books that she has a knack for capturing the essence of her characters. They feel real, the interact in realistic ways, and they make me want to get to know them and cheer for them. And miss them when I'm done with the story.

I'd go 3.5 if Goodreads allowed it but rounding up because I enjoyed Lauren and Savannah so much.

Big thanks to BSB and NetGalley for helping to feed my addiction.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years after being dumped on a reality dating show, Savannah Edwards is back on When Sparks Fly looking for love. Savannah has baby sparks with a few of the contestants but the one who really lights her fire is the show's host, Lauren Lucas. 

I don't watch reality dating shows but if they were like this, I may tune in.  This was a lighthearted, entertaining read from Kris Bryant. Savannah is a charming character, and I enjoyed her interaction with several of the contestants on the show, in particular Alix, a nonbinary, tattooed charmer, who I think would be a great lead character in her own book. 

Since the story was told from Savannah's point of view, we really get to know her well and what attracts her to Lauren. I wish I could have gotten into Lauren's head. She's a bit of a mystery to me but I can see why she would be drawn to Savannah. She is such a good-hearted woman who really just wants to find her happiness. Kris Bryant clearly had a lot of fun writing this and it shows. This is a book you will enjoy, it's not too heavy, the writing is solid, and it kept me interested the entire time. 

An ARC was received from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review. 

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah Edwards owns and runs a small candle business. As a 22 year old she was on the first season of a lesbian dating show. She was a fan favorite for how she was trashed by the bachelorette. The show want’s her back for their tenth anniversary season but this time she is gets to be the one looking for love. The money will help her business and she is genuinely interested in finding love so she agrees. Lauren Lucas has been the host of When Sparks fly for the last three years and has helped improve the content. She helps Savannah navigate the show and becomes a friend during filming.

I think Kris Bryant nails the artificialness of reality tv. She gets into the nitty gritty of the hours it takes to film introductions or the reality that you eat before you do meal scenes because of time and not wanting to be filmed awkwardly eating. Bryant also has to write and give time to the sparkettes who are vying to be the love interest for Savannah. Alix as nonbinary is a standout sparkette. I liked both main characters but everything is told from Savannah’s POV so Lauren’s thoughts are a mystery. I wasn’t sure why Lauren is attracted to Savannah. A downside for me is that Savannah is very much aware she is playing a character of herself for example she has a squeaky clean image so she keeps her language and other real thoughts off camera. Also once there is attraction between the two, the show becomes more of a manipulation of reality. But I’m willing to suspend belief for a light fun romance from Bryant. And I thought the ending was expected but fit the story. I wasn’t clear why Lauren’s job situation needed changing.

Overall an entertaining read. I rate it as medium spicy and not as explicit as Bryant sometimes writes. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)

[Silvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah was a contestant to a dating reality show 10 years back and it ended up badly for her. She’s now given the chance to go back as the star of the show. She decides that she will be nothing like the woman who broke her heart and humiliated her on national TV and will be genuine in her attempt to make a connection with one of the contestants. And a connection she makes, except is not one of the contestants but the presenter, the seemingly elusive Lauren. Due to the circumstances, Savannah and Lauren end up spending a lot of time together and they end up with more than friendly feelings towards each other. The book focuses on the dating show and the behind the scenes and in parts it feels like there was more chemistry between Savannah and Alix than Savannah and Lauren. I would have liked more on what happened between filming the last episode and the interview after it aired but nonetheless it was a light and enjoyable read.

Free ARC via NetGalley.

[KarenC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who among us wouldn't love to see a WLW dating show? I've personally never really watched The Bachelor or its ilk, but I know it's popular or it wouldn't have gone on for 20 years. Savannah is a super likeable character who I just couldn't not root for to find her own HEA on "When Sparks Fly".

What impressed me the most, however, is how Kris Bryant not only created a full cast of "Sparkettes" from which to choose, but then managed to have a fully diverse group and keep them all straight (odd choice of wording I know) when writing. Another thing that impressed me was the detail of the behind-the-scenes action and how a show like that is made. {Kris, have you been on a dating show?}

Bryant sets the standard at writing in first person, and it really works for this story as there are so many peripheral characters to keep up with and we get to experience Savannah's reaction to each of them. And as always, the MC's friends are always perfectly written and the love scenes are scorching.

Another do-not-miss from one of my favorite authors.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A forever love often comes from the most unlikely places.

The concept of finding a forver love has taken on many forms over the years. A Bachelorette show with the all the spark coming from eligible women was just so good. The complete seclusion for everyone. The group dates and "special" dates each participant got to plan made for fun dialog. Savanah brought a gentle, loving spirit to the show but finding love caught her off guard. Lauren, the producer, did not expect to feel a connection to anyone. A world famous journalist just does her job. Kris Bryant has woven a cast of characters that brought new fun to the dating scene. This is the most delightful read and such a thoughtful story. The behind the scenes look at a production ment to bring love was so visceral. The contestants brought their own agenda to the group. Oh but the real love story did not happen before the camera. The slow burn of the two MC's was a sexy, lust game that was full of steam. I loved how they came together even if I felt the contestants got cheated a little. A beautiful story of looking for love and finding forever home.

[Natalie C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, clever, original, and steamy!

What a fun and sexy romance by Kris Bryant! The cute cover drew me in and the clever story line, original characters, and steamy chemistry kept me turning the pages, non-stop, till the end.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had such a difficult time finishing this book. I just couldn't get interested. The synopsis sounded interesting but after I started reading I remembered....I really dislike the Bachelor or Bachelorette tv shows. I dislike everything about it. And here I was reading a story about that very subject. What was I thinking. Now that I got that off my chest...I must say the story was very well written. I found the non binary character (Alix) the most interesting and the host (Lauren) the most ljkeable. The remaining characters not so much...no real interest there. I didnt warm to the "Flame" (Savannah) either. The "FLAME" and the "SPARKETTTS" and then there is the " I FEEL A SPARK FOR YOU. DO YOU FEEL IT TOO. (oh gag) and they use candles not roses....of course. If you like the tv show you will love this story. You get all the behind the scenes info on how they might run this sort of show. All the outfits, make up, dates and restrictive rules. I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wlw reality show romance novel. Ok peak reality tv to me was P Diddy, making the band haha. I have watched reality shows in the past and we all know they are scripted. Savannah is called to be the love interest on the show, after initially being a participate on it 10 years earlier. I enjoyed this story and the romance between the characters. Cheesy reality show lines and heartbreaks. The only thing that was missing in this story was the POV of Lauren. It would've been awesome to read her reactions/feelings during the story. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reality TV meets lesbian romance
I like how Bryant writes romance and although I am not a big fan of reality TV I wanted to see how Bryant is mixing reality TV and reality with sapphic characters all around. I found a sweet, low-angst, uncomplicated read - just what the doctor ordered in times of turmoil.
I really enjoyed how Bryant focuses on the emotional roller coaster the main character who is looking for lasting love in a reality show modelled on the bachelorette is going through. The seeking-for-romance part is organic and is very well written - albeit a bit tame. I missed some spice in the form of more drama and bitchiness - so many women, so many weeks and not much happens, come on ::)) The getting to know felt - surprise - at times staged and just too short. I liked how respectful Savannah approaches her dates.
Esp. the first half is probably heaven for all femmes and high femmes - make-up, hair, clothing, style, dieting - a bit too much for me, but I am sure others will appreciate it. Some of the secondary characters could have been fleshed out more (Mandy, Buzzy, Josef with an ef - and some of the contestants). The romance was a slow burn with a „forbidden“ element, believable and very sweet. I liked the resolution at the end.

[Bookista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m probably in the minority here, but I find reality dating shows notoriously cringey 😬. At the same time, I also know Kris Bryant usually has an interesting take with her stories so it was with a little trepidation that I picked up “Forever” and I’m infinitely glad I did, as I enjoyed “Forever” immensely.

Savannah’s been invited back to the lesbian dating show “When Sparks Fly” this time as the “flame” looking to find her perfect match. Even though her first time on the show as a “sparkette” (read: contestant) was a bit of a disaster, Lauren the host of the show manages to convince her to give it another go and then all kinds of sparks start flying!

Sure these shows are cringey, but the way Bryant pulled me into the story and built out the motivations behind Savannah’s decision to participate in the show was fantastic. Suddenly cringe gave way to being totally hooked into the plot line and invested in Savannah’s journey. Also I liked how Bryant leans into the reality show cliches when Savannah makes it her mission to not use the word “amazing”, that little thread kept me chuckling throughout the narrative. Also massive respect to folks who sign up to do these shows, it takes a special kind of courage to put yourself out there.

There are more than 10 contestants and through Savannah’s POV we get to know a little bit about all of them. And hey, YaY for non-binary character rep who btw turned out to be my favorite contestant as well. The details of the behind the scenes moments were great and I loved how Savannah and Lauren’s connections during the show’s downtime hours started the slow churn of their 🔥 chemistry together.

There’s a lot of emotions at play here with Savannah dating multiple people and nursing a crush on Lauren, as I got deeper into the book, I think my brain took up a repetitive chant of “omg this is going to be a disaster”. I found myself putting my iPad down and then 5 seconds later picking it back up again becaaaause ….I had to know what happened next!!! 🙈

I knew the hammer was coming towards the end but I really liked how the story evolved to it’s final HEA, with lots of “aawwww” inspiring moments.

My only gripe and it’s a small one… I would have loved to have more Savannah - Lauren moments. It was absolute sizzle 🔥when they were together and yes word count is a constraint but I would have totally been up for a longer book…just sayin!🤓

Overall this was a really fun read and I enjoyed it more than I had expected to . If you like reality shows then this is going to be doubly awesome for you. Also that cover is just hella cute! 4.5🌟s


Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cherie • bookshelvesandtealeaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I love the premise of this book. I’m such a sucker for reality tv romances. Probably because my friends and I wrote so many AU fanfics with this premise. But this one fell a little flat for me and I’m not entirely sure why.

I should have loved this. It’s sapphic, it’s fun, it’s sweet, it’s sexy. But the spark (pun intended) just wasn’t there for me. I didn’t really connect with the characters or the romance even though I desperately wanted to.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this book though, and I encourage everyone to give it a go anyway because what doesn’t work for me might work for you!