Friday, September 23, 2022

Book Review - A Lot Like Forever by Jennifer Snow


My Review

Whitney Carlisle is a workaholic living in the small town of Blue Moon Bay, California.  She is a real type A personality and very driven -- so much so that she can't focus also on her wedding plans to Trent Connolly.  (As in, can't even get started making plans!)  Whitney is also hiding a health secret -- while Trent has a secret of his own.

I wanted to read this book because the small town romance sounded appealing.

This is the third book in the Blue Moon Bay series, but it also read well as a standalone.  

I liked the structure of the storytelling, with some parts "Now" and others "Then."  We are able to see how Whitney and Trent got together, what appealed to them both about each other and their relationship, and their individual backgrounds.

Whitney has a lot going on.  Her mother is struggling with Alzheimer's and Whitney also has a serious health issue that she is not addressing.  I sometimes felt a bit frustrated with her extreme drive to work and to tamp down her feelings (with Trent and with not spending as much time with her mother, who needs her).  The conflict Whitney and Trent have could have been resolved by better communication -- and not keeping secrets.

That said, I got really engrossed in this book and kept reading (late at night!) because I wanted to see how it would all resolve.  I kept pulling for Whitney and Trent to open up to each other.  The supporting characters in this book (especially Trent's family) were very appealing as well.

I recommend A Lot Like Forever for fans of small town romance.   Based on the author's storytelling and sensitivity telling this story, I think the entire series would be a good read.

Book Synopsis

Whitney Carlisle has everything under control–or at least that’s what she needs everyone in Blue Moon Bay to think. She has always faced the hard times in her life head-on and come out stronger for it. But this time, she isn’t so sure. Whitney knows she needs help, but how can she put that burden on Trent, her fiancĂ©? How can she crush his dreams by telling him the plans they made for a future together have to change?

All Trent Connolly wants is to get married, have kids, and spend the rest of his life loving Whitney. Their relationship has had its share of ups and downs–like any other couple–and they’ve always managed to get through it unscathed. So when Whitney is clearly struggling with something, Trent is ready to help. His fiancĂ©e’s strong will is part of what draws him to her–but this time, it feels like it’s pushing him away.

Whatever Whitney is hiding from everyone has to be big. Possibly life-changing. She must believe that revealing her secret would do Trent more harm than good, even if it crushes her under the weight of it. The only thing he can do now is be there for her in whatever way she needs…until a secret of his own comes to light that threatens to steal their chance at forever.

Each book in the Blue Moon Bay series is STANDALONE:
* A Lot Like Love
* A Lot Like Christmas
* A Lot Like Forever

Author Bio

Jennifer Snow is an award-winning, contemporary romance author writing for Harlequin, Grand Central, and Berkley/NAL. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and son. Find out more at jennifersnowauthor.com.