He made impulsive decisions that cost him in the long run. He was so naive in the beginning, but as this book grows, so does Liam. I actually kind of hated him at the beginning. What he did to JoJo was horrible. He left the woman he left alone and never looked back. He learned a lot during this book and it made him a better person in the long run. You will learn to love him at the end and for that I was glad he got to redeem himself a bit. Goodness there is so much to say but not to give anything away, but she did an amazing thing when she had to.
She didn't try to keep any secrets but some things can't be help. She never fell out of love with Liam, but she had to move on. She had to make a life for herself and she did, but how do you forget a first love. True love, that is what this book is about and how to conquer things that are put in the way of that. I can't wait to see this movie. It is going to be one that I can only hope will do the book justice. I can't wait to dive into the next book of this series. I knew their story was not over. How do you know the forever you have is what you want?
That is really what this story was. Liam needs to go back to the city because the band is losing their momentum. He can't let his band members down and he misses touring and singing in front millions. This was his life for song long before Josie and Noah.
Liam is trying to juggle both lives but he doesn't know what to do. When he decides to go back is just about the worse possible time. When he tells Josie what he decides she is not sure if they are going to make it. Josie still has a lot of trust issues when it comes to Liam. She and Noah lost a lot of years with LIam and she doesn't know if they are enough for him. Josie just feels that Liam is missing out and she is not sure if she is going be able to trust him when he goes away.
On top of that LIam and Josie have been having a baby but have had no luck yet. Liam has to leave and on top of that Liam is hiding something from Josie because he thinks it will end them all together. You would think a normal for them they would expect the unexpected but life isn't that way. Every time they think they have made it something or someone is holding them back. Their love is strong, but is it strong enough for everything that is coming. These two are amazing. I am in total love of Liam. He has been working so hard to prove that he is the man for Josie, but life and lies keep getting in the way.
Liam knows that it is hard for Josie to forget and move on, but the problem is he doesn't know how he can keep on proving himself. He has let Nick stay in their life because of Noah. Liam moved back to be with Josie, but with doing that his band is faulting. He had a life before Beaumont and because of that he also has to make a living to support his family and make sure his band members can support theirs. He does what he has to do, but where is that going to leave Josie and LIam at the end? Goodness she has tried to forget about everything that has happened and moved on, and for the most part she has, but there are still those times.
She tries to shake them off, but when things keep on coming up and Liam starts to hide things, well what is she suppose to think. Now he is leaving. Will he come back? Will Josie be enough for him? Is Noah enough for him to come back? All these things and more run through her head.
What is she suppose to do? Loving someone is hard. Trust is even harder. These two have been through everything, now they have to do it again in some ways. These two have been the center of my book love for a long time and I am trying to keep focus. I have loved them forever and to see this part of their story is somewhat heartbreaking, irritating, and of course loving. How can you not love these two.
Don't forget you will see the other couples in this book and they will have to make decisions for themselves also. There is a lot about growing up here and what they all want out of life. They just need to figure out what is best for them. You will see some new faces, some old ones, and you will want to hurt some of the people that make our couples lives difficult again. I can't say it enough, I loved this series and I know there is more to come, so with that I will leave you with this.
Life is a roller coaster. If you are in it for the long haul all the ups and downs are worth it in the end. Oct 01, Jill M rated it it was amazing. When his friend tragically passes he must return to his hometown and everything he left behind. A second chance doesn't always happen. Liam left without an explanation and left Josie heartbroken and alone. He left thinking he was making the right choice but then a surprise meeting changes everything he thought was right. Josie has tried to move on with Nick but she never let go of her first and only love. Is she willing to try again to only be heartbroken again?
This book is abou Forever My Girl This book is about young love and lost. About making life changing choices even if they may not be right. It's about second chances and finding what was missing. It's about lost love and new love. I can't wait to see where life takes these two. This was a short story but very well written. Harrison has always been my 1 favorite of the Beaumont Group.
The depths people will go when they are infatuated with someone is beyond me. I never liked Alisha and to know what she did only makes me dislike her more. What you see isn't necessarily what you get. Harrison may be covered in tattoos head to toe and have a hard sexy body but he's a softy underneath.
Never once has he made katelyn or her daughter's feel like he was replacing Mason. He always included them and put them first along with his own son. Josie Westbury loves everything about her life. She has a successful business and a son who keeps her active. The only thing she longs for is another child.
Torn between his love for music and his love for his family, Liam finds he's needed back in Los Angeles and the place where it all began. Josie is apprehensive, but knows this is what's best for Liam and the bands career; however, it doesn't take long for her biggest fears to start coming true.
They'll only make it to forever if the get past this - they have to fight for their love. Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review. Showing of 4 reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. These were the best books I've ever read. They were so easy to read. I had a hard time putting them down. Just went from one book to the next before I knew it I was on book five. June from Hermitage PA.
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Up all night reading. Absolutely Love love love the Beaumont series and the next generation! I for sure will stay up all night again reading this book!! Highly recommend for any age. Great series, believeable characters and situations, pulls at your heart strings - read the series in order and all tied nicely together with each other. Loved this series, she is an amazing writer. See all 4 reviews. Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.
In , Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl. When writing isn't occupying her time, you can find her sitting courtside at either of her daughters' basketball games. I did really love the mystery. But a lot of the time, I'm But a lot of the time, I had no idea what was going on, and that stayed with me for the rest of the book. I was hoping for more answers, but not much changes between Corey's arrival and her departure from Lost Creek.
She gets called "outsider" a lot, gets treated like crap, the townspeople are very weird. It got very repetitive very fast. She discovers a few things about Kyra's time before her death, but overall, you know the whole story pretty early on, which was kind of disappointing. There were also scenes that were written more like screenplays, which was very odd. I do have to compliment the writing as the book was very easy to read, but I can't say I enjoyed it much. It lacked development in terms of character and plot and missed a climax or just overall closure.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy Jan 18, Cesar rated it it was ok. Before I Let Go is at best in my opinion a mediocre book. I know I might be sounding mean, but there was nothing appealing about the story or characters. It's bland and doesn't really offer much other than being another generic bo 2 stars With a setting in a small Alaskan town, you would expect Before I Let Go to have some atmosphere of a small-town mystery surrounded by snow and dreariness.
It's bland and doesn't really offer much other than being another generic book about a small-town mystery. There is nothing wrong with that type of genre if it is done well. Before I Let Go was just plain boring and didn't have that vibe of an eerie mystery. Our main character, Corey, was set to return to Lost Creek to visit when she finds out her best friend, Kyra, has died. When Corey does get to Lost Creek, she discovers something is wrong with not only the town but the people themselves. They're keeping secrets about what really happened with Kyra and Corey wants to find answers.
Before I Let Go could've been a great book had it not been for its lackluster atmosphere and dead-ass boring lead character. Even if this is another small-town mystery book, they can still be a great read. There's no denying the ominous tone to these types of books where not everything is what it seems and that your closest neighbors and friends could be hiding something.
Before I Let Go had none of that. It did have secrets but they were not presented in a good way. For many mystery books, there is this feeling you get knowing that a secret could very well rip apart a person or a community. It's even more creepy if it takes place in a small town where literally nowhere is safe. By all means, Lost Creek should've been a perfect setting. There was no atmosphere to be seen anywhere. This was the same issue I had with her previous novel, This is Where it Ends where I did like the idea but it didn't have that effect of a school shooting and the characters were boring as well.
I figured that maybe Marieke did improve on that but it seems like it still stayed the same.
There was no suspense. There was no hook. There was no fear. It may have been a fast read, but by no means did that mean it was a good book. The Alaskan setting did help somewhat, but only a little since I never got that Alaskan vibe. Plus I'm sure small towns like Lost Creek don't have police chiefs or something like that. Corey is without a doubt a boring character. I don't hate her, but there isn't anything interesting about her to redeem her.
She was so boring I forgot her name twice. That is not a good sign. To me, all she was was a friend who wanted to find out the secret of her friend's death. And that's fine and all, but she didn't have much of a personality. She wasn't unique in any way and came off as generic. She could've been a great character had Marieke put in a personality other than being a mystery solver.
There were a few instances where I had to suspend my disbelief with how the town reacted to Kyra's death and Corey's intrusion. It felt way too much like something from a cheesy movie another issue I had with This is Where it Ends. There were even chapters where it was written in a script format that didn't add to the story. If Corey was interested in writing or playwriting, then it would make sense.
But she wasn't and it was redundant. Since there was no atmosphere, my experience with Before I Let Go was a boring one. The chapters were short so I was glad I didn't have to endure more than 8 pages of boring dialogue. This isn't a major issue I had with the story, but I got to say it. In This is Where it Ends, the town is called Opportunity. I can't with these names. I did find Kyra's bipolar disorder to be a good rep. It didn't look like it was handled badly so I'll give Marieke props for that. The moments between Corey and Kyra was probably the highlight of the book.
They really did care for each other and even with Corey not understanding Kyra's bipolar disorder, she was still there and didn't leave her. Verdcit A boring read with a boring character. No eerie atmosphere, lackluster story. There is a story in Before I Let Go, but it didn't live up to it and sadly disappointed me. Thanks for reading my review! View all 3 comments. I have no clue how I actually feel about this book Set in the isolated community of Lost Creek, Alaska, this is the story of once-best friends Corey and Kyra. Corey has returned to her former home only to find herself labelled an outsider.
But struggling to fit in is the least of the troubles she faces here. In her absence Kyra, the best friend she left behind, slipped below the ice that enshrouds their small community and died a tragic death. Corey seems I have no clue how I actually feel about this book Corey seems to be the only who who truly remembers the girl that was lost and is the only one willing to search for answers. Part of my inability to navigate my feelings about this book is due to how mesmerising I found the quality of writing.
I so badly wanted to award this the full 5 stars as I found beauty in every sentence and was enchanted by the way Nijkamp structured and vividly created such an atmospheric and eerie setting. However, regardless of my adoration for these aspects, I struggled to fully immerse myself in the story-line. Early on, I was fascinated by the mystery but when the intrigue kept adding and nothing seemed to be resolved I was left a little disappointed.
Some semblance of an explanation was garnered about two-thirds of the way through but it felt like an unsatisfactory one, for me, and as so much of the book was still left I was awaiting a thrilling plot twist that never arrived. Despite my misgivings in this area, I still found this a wonderfully diverse read that discoursed authentically and sensitivity on a variety of real-world topics. I am still so glad to have read this, even if only for the chance to experience such sublime writing, and have this author pegged as one who I will continue to explore.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Marieke Nijkamp, and the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for this opportunity. Dec 05, Reading. Wines rated it liked it Shelves: It is so beautiful and fitting. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't as great as I was hoping it would be. Before I Let Go felt to me to be about friendships, loss, and small town mentality. I like that it switched between past and present, and you learn the most about Kyra from the past chapters and the letters she writes to Corey.
The different styles this book is written in was also a nice change. However, I feel like we only scratch the surface of these characters, and I didn't feel like there was much depth to them. Corey felt like the only fully developed character to me which was kind of odd.
Also, this book was just weird.
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I was confused for almost the entire book, and I still don't feel like there was enough closure at the end. There were too many things infused into this book that didn't get explained which drove me a little crazy. The salmonberry blossoms left everywhere including on her at one point?! None of it gets explained. Also, the weird chanting and actions by the townspeople and the semi-crazy ending seemed so off and unexplained.
I felt like I was in an alternate universe and you wake up and don't remember what happened. Before I Let Go was definitely a very fast read it took me about a day total to read it , and I stayed up late ish to finish it because I just couldn't fathom how this book was going to end. There isn't really a mystery here that you can't figure out, but I literally had no idea what was going to happen to Corey when shit started getting crazy.
I'm a little concerned that Marieke Nijkamp might just not be an author that I can connect to, but I still want to give it a shot. I loved the underlying creepiness, there just wasn't enough that I loved for me to give this one more than a 3. Jul 13, Liz Overberg rated it did not like it Shelves: To be blunt, this book just isn't good.
In order to build a growing sense of unease, a good storyteller will slowly build from "things seem pretty normal here" to "WTF is going on?! The events are incredibly repetitive. I think the main character, Corey, has the same conversations with others and with herself about 76 times.
There is absolutely zero characterization of any characters other than the p To be blunt, this book just isn't good. There is absolutely zero characterization of any characters other than the protagonist, Corey, and her friend Kyra. Kyra's parents may as well be the sheriff may as well be the post office clerk may as well be the other people in town. They are all exactly the same character with different names.
Forgiving the elements of the story that are meant to be mysterious and possibly magical, too many things don't add up. After Corey, a year-old girl, moved away from her best friend, she never texted or called? Corey and Kyra's only option for communication was snail mail? The author makes a lame attempt at using the poor cell phone reception excuse, but you would think Kyra could have talked on a landline. Finally, Corey is the worst.
She is self-righteous and unsympathetic.
I don't even care that she was right about the things that she was saying. She was angry and unlikable, and she didn't attempt to make sense of anything before she went around yelling at everyone that they were bad people. And you know what? They were bad people. Which was not really explained at all.
I feel like this was the type of really melodramatic, overly-long, not well written story that would get submitted in a freshman writing workshop. Hers is a story that deserves to be heard. Who saw stories in the world around her, and who regaled an entire Alaskan town with them. And hers is a story of how they started to believe her. I wondered where the author was headed to with the choice she made for this book.
It took a turn I totally did not expect based on the blurb. Yet I still loved it. The story is nerve racking with an oppressive mood. Everything happens in this very, very small town lost in Alaska with endless nights and snow everywhere. It is weighting on you.
Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp
It has an oppressive and eerie feeling. Lost is a town that thrives on secrets. The small clues left here and there built up the tension till the apex of the thriller. All along I was uneasy, shivering, shoulders tense and I could not put it down. Back to the story now! Its inhabitants who could not stand Kyra seem to have claimed her. She had a very tight friendship with Kyra. Corey is resenting the town so much! Where were they when Kyra suffered all these years?
When they rejected her? Where were they when she needed love and acceptance the more? Kyra suffered so long from their rejection because in this little town anything different feels like a threat. She has her death on her hands too. In the span of six days Corey will try to understand what happened in the few months she left. What really happened to Kyra and to the town?
She also realizes that even if she is born and grew up for more than sixteen years in Lost she is now an outsider. Marieke Nijkamp did a stellar job at writing suspense. The eyes always watching every move Corey did. The petals appearing in her room.
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The fever overcoming the town. Know beforehand that things will be left unexplained even by the end of the book. Things beyond our logical grasp. But if you love books and movies with a mysterious and scary feel, if you love spooky atmosphere then this could be your next fix. Beware Of The Reader Facebook: Beware Of The Reader Facebook besties: Best Reading Blogs Ever Instagram: View all 18 comments.
Mar 03, jv poore rated it really liked it Shelves: It sucks when bad things happen to good people. When blame can't be assigned, when that-which-is- terrible isn't exactly someone's fault, but maybe everyone could have done something a little differently to avert the tragedy Nijkamp displays life with a mental illness in a heart-felt, honest, hard-to-handle way that sticks with the reader long after the story has been told.
I nearly gave it three stars, because I liked bits and pieces of it, but overall I wasn't really enjoying myself and there weren't enough bit that I liked. This book was okay. The premise sounded good, I was keen for a murder mystery, but it wasn't really a 'murder mystery' book if it makes sense. It was more of a suspense novel, but that didn't really happen until near the end. It also felt like they tried to throw in some magical realism and a bit of 'friendship contemporary' and I don't even k I nearly gave it three stars, because I liked bits and pieces of it, but overall I wasn't really enjoying myself and there weren't enough bit that I liked.
It also felt like they tried to throw in some magical realism and a bit of 'friendship contemporary' and I don't even know what this book was It just felt so all over the place. There were so many flashbacks, but they weren't in order? It would go from the present, to three years ago, to the present, to two months ago, to when they were little I just didn't get why though?! The characters were meh. I liked a few, but that was it. The plot was confusing.
I'm still not completely sure what was going on in that novel. And the main character Why did she just stop talking to her? It seems like such a horrible thing to do, especially when she knew Kyra had nobody else. Oct 14, Esther rated it really liked it Shelves: Thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The best part of this book, for me, was the setting. I truly hope there are not many towns like Lost Creek around. The town and the people in it gave this book a pretty creepy vibe. I believe this is a likeable book for a lot of people, everyone can find something to bond with in this book and feel satisfactory at the end. A longer review can be found at Bite Into books I have to be honest Thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I felt that Marieke Nijkamp did not give me enough answers at the end of the book, while the characters and relationships were the best part of the book.