Heather Frost's Blog, page 5
July 8, 2020
From My Library: We Hunt the Flame
This YA fantasy debut is by Hafsah Faizal, a brilliant writer who I will DEFINITELY be keeping an eye on!
Here's the official summary from Goodreads:
People lived because she killed.
People died because he lived.
,Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the king. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways.
,Both are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be.
,War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the king on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.
,---------------------------------------------------
,You know how sometimes you see a book, and you read the blurb, and you just know you're going to love it? That's what happened with this book. The world, the magic, the characters--they all felt so real and fresh to me, even though there are familiar fantasy tropes.
,I really don't want to say too much about the plot, since this is one that definitely deserves discovery. But I really loved the characters and I could feel their individual struggles. Especially Nasir. My heart aches for him and all he has endured--and done. The world is unique, the writing is deftly beautiful, and the characters are captivating. I had a hard time putting this down, and I am DYING for book 2! (January 2021, I need you!)
,In short, I totally recommend this book!
,Let me know if you've read this one, or what great book you've finished recently!
July 1, 2020
Choose Your Own Ending
Did you ever read those "Choose Your Own Ending" adventure stories? As a kid, I went through a phase where I devoured them. Any that the library had, I read. One of my favorites was an Indiana Jones one, where the MC (me!) was a sidekick to Dr. Jones. I still remember this scene where we were caught in a shootout on some docks, and these were the choices:
1) You run in a straight line to the boat.
2) You run in a serpentine pattern to the boat.
3) You hide behind the nearest crate.
I was probably eight or nine, and I remember feeling so cool because I KNEW serpentine was the smart move, and I made my choice without hesitation. It didn't matter that in real life, I probably would have picked the hiding option (which, for the record, would have gotten me abducted, haha!).
I have found that writing is kind of like those Choose Your Own Ending books. There are so many choices you make as an author--choices your characters have to make. Some choices are big and some are small, and somehow at the end of it, you come out with--hopefully--a story others will love as much as you do. Sometimes you make a choice that you think is a good one, but it leads you into a corner your characters can't get out of, so you have to double back and make a different choice. It can be a frustrating process sometimes, but generally speaking, I love it. The possibilities are all there, so open, and it's a wonderful process to be a part of! It is part of what makes writing so addictive to me :)
Okay, and at the risk, of getting too philosophical . . . I think our lives are actually like a "Choose Your Own Ending" story. We determine our destiny through the choices we make every day. Sometimes the choices are smaller, like deciding how we will respond to a situation. Sometimes the choices are bigger, like what we choose for a career, or where we live. We can double back from mistakes we might make, and we can pave a new path whenever we want.
,Life isn't meant to pass us by. We should be active participants in our lives. Your life is your adventure, so live it! Run to your goal and chase your dream--don't hide behind a crate :)
Haha, that got deeper than expected. :)
As a lighter, final note, I want to give a shout out to Author Rebecca McKinnon for putting Choose Your Own Ending stories back on my mind with her super cool new podcast, "Pick The Plot"; this first season is a regency romance story, and the listeners get to vote on what direction the story goes at the end of each episode. Awesome, right?? Check it out:
June 24, 2020
From My Library: The Scarlet Pimpernel
,I’m in a classic mood, so I wanted to highlight one of my favorite stories: “The Scarlet Pimpernel”! The book was written by ,Emmuska Orczy, and it is a romantic adventure story set during the French Revolution.
,Here's the Goodreads summary:
,It is 1792 and France is in the grip of a seething, bloody revolution. Mobs roam the Paris streets hunting down royalists, barricades block any chance of escape, and every day hundreds die under the blade of Madame la Guillotine. But in the hearts of the condemned nobility there remains one last vestige of hope: rescue by the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel. Renowned for both his unparalleled bravery and his clever disguises, the Pimpernel’s identity remains as much a mystery to his sworn enemy, the ruthless French agent Chauvelin, as to his devoted admirer, the beautiful Lady Marguerite Blakeney.
,First published in 1905, The Scarlet Pimpernel is an irresistible novel of love, gallantry, and swashbuckling adventure.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/431145.The_Scarlet_Pimpernel
,Ok, so to fully understand my love of this book, I think I need to explain that I grew up LOVING Robin Hood.
,Exhibit A:
Some re-incarnations I've loved better than others (the 1938 version pictured right above is pure gold!), but seriously, I LOVED Robin Hood.
I still do, in case you couldn't tell :)
,But considering my intense love of Robin Hood, I guess it was only natural that when I stumbled upon The Scarlet Pimpernel, I was fated to fall in love with this story. There are similar themes, including protecting those who cannot protect themselves, ingenuity, adventure, out-smarting the villains, and a straight-up heroic arrogance that’s just so charming.
,My first encounter with "The Scarlet Pimpernel" was when I was sixteen, and my brother played me some songs from the musical. I was instantly hooked by the beautiful music and the thrilling story, and when I saw it was based off a book, I rushed to get my hands on said book. Since then, I've re-read it, I've read some of the sequels, I have seen the movies, I adore the musical, and it is even high on my "If I Get Amnesia" list, which tells my family which movies and books to prioritize in case I ever forget everything and get to re-experience my favorite things. (Does anyone else have this list?)
,No? Huh....
Moving on!
I've raved a lot about this book, so l,et me try and focus on the actual book.
,"The Scarlet Pimpernel" follows Marguerite, a famous actress from Paris who has recently moved to England after a whirlwind romance with Sir Percy Blakeney, an English aristocrat. While Marguerite is lauded for her quick wit, Percy is foppish and ridiculous. Opposites can attract, right?
,When Chauvelin, a former acquaintance of Marguerite's, comes to England to investigate and capture the infamous Scarlet Pimpernel who saves French aristocrats from the guillotine, he goes right to Marguerite. Chauvelin threatens Marguerite's brother, who is in Paris, to coerce her into helping him uncover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Marguerite doesn't want to help stop the mysterious hero--she, like every other woman in England, is totally in love with--but she will do anything for her brother...
,Betrayal, adventure, and romance abound in this book. Not to mention plenty of witty repertoire, surprising twists, and suspense. It's a great classic! It is not as well written as some, and the first chapter may be a little slow/confusing the first time you read the book, but I promise the story is worth it!
,I avoid spoilers in my reviews......but this time it is hard, because there's so much more I feel like I could say if spoilers were allowed! So here's the deal: You read it, and some day I'll do another post where we get to talk about it more :)
,Note: If you have somehow made it to this point in your life and you do NOT know the story or spoilers of The Scarlet Pimpernel, I beg you to read the book first. The musical and movies will totally give it away. That being said, I adore the movies and musical, so you can totally watch them after reading the book :)
,My favorite movie versions are:
,The 1982 version with Jane Seymour, Anthony Andrews, and Ian McKellan. Jane Seymour makes a great Marguerite, and how can you not love that hair?
Plus, she can really get in Chauvelin's face when he's being all villainous:
And I just think Percy is hilarious:
I also love the 1934 version, with Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon. They have been pictured above in the black and white GIFs, but I love that version, so it deserves another GIF here:
Fun fact: Leslie Howard loved the story so much that he wrote his own re-telling and set it in Nazi Germany. It is super interesting! It's called Pimpernel Smith. Winston Churchill loved it :)
Have you read The Scarlet Pimpernel? Have you seen any of these movies? Do you agree that it's time for another remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel? Let me know in the comments!
And thanks for reading!
June 18, 2020
Royal Decoy - Out Now! What I Did On Release Day
Hi all! Just wanted to drop a quick post to say Royal Decoy is out! I've been so thrilled to see the excitement you all have for this book, and I can't wait to hear how you like it. Thanks for being the best, most supportive readers out there!
It's real, and in hardcover, and I am just so happy that this very long road has led me here.
Amazon:
Goodreads:
----------------------------
So, what did I spend release day doing?
1. Looked at the clock at 12:02am and thought--"This is it. Release day!" And promptly had a hard time falling asleep.
2. Slept in (see above)
3. Made--and ate--Strawberry & Nutella Crepes (see below)
4. Spent hours on social media and email as I checked in with my readers, family, friends, and favorite bloggers, just loving the fact that I'm celebrating an amazing day with amazing people--even if social distancing meant no big party at a bookstore, like I have done in the past.
5. Read some of my library book, because, well, reading is my favorite thing to do.
,6. Sat on the couch next to my sister, Kimberly, and kept telling her all the exciting comments and posts I saw online, while she tried to read.
,7. Looked at this picture Kimberly took of me--and stopped bugging her. (I mean, can you say blackmail? I'll share it with you guys because we're friends, but seriously...that's going no where else!)
8. Sent THE PRINCE AND THE PRISONER bonus short story to everyone who pre-ordered ROYAL DECOY (I hope you all enjoy Grayson's story! And if you are still wanting the story, you've got time! Just order Royal Decoy ,TODAY ,and fill out this form:
9. Read some of the 4 and 5 star reviews on Goodreads, because that makes me feel like my book has done exactly what I wanted it to do.
10. Planning a yummy dinner of chicken bacon ranch pizza and cheesey breadsticks from my favorite local pizza place: Pizza Plus.
All in all, a pretty amazing day. Thanks for celebrating with me!!
June 3, 2020
Exclusive Pre-Order Gift!
Hello Dear Readers!
,I promised some exciting news today, so here it is: I'm offering an exclusive gift when you pre-order ROYAL DECOY!
,As a reader, I love getting bonus scenes and extras, which is why I decided to share an exclusive short story with anyone who pre-orders ,ROYAL DECOY,!
,,ABOUT THE STORY:
,Grayson is his father's ultimate weapon--but he wasn't always. THE PRINCE AND THE PRISONER is the story of how a young Grayson met the little girl who would change his life forever.
,Grayson is quickly proving to be a fan-favorite, and I LOVED writing this short ROYAL DECOY prequel from his POV!
,,TO CLAIM YOUR GIFT:
,All you have to do is order ROYAL DECOY, take a screenshot/picture of the receipt, and fill out the form below. Then, after ROYAL DECOY releases, you will receive via email THE PRINCE AND THE PRISONER!
,,NOTE ABOUT PHYSICAL COPIES:
,Since you can only pre-order the Kindle edition of ROYAL DECOY at this time, I will also extend this to any physical copy purchases made on release day, June 18th! Just make sure you follow the same steps and fill out the form below so I know where to send your gift!
,Claim your pre-order gift here,:
,Thank you for pre-ordering!
June 2, 2020
Royal Decoy Blog Tour: Meet The Bodyguards
I'm taking a turn to post during the Royal Decoy blog tour, and for this stop I wanted you to meet the princess's bodyguards. They're a big part of the story since we're dealing with assassins, rebels, and of course our decoy for the princess, Clare. Bodyguards are rather needed in this story!
I'm going to share a picture I used for inspiration while writing the bodyguards, and I'll share three things about each of them.
BENNICK
- He is the princess's lead bodyguard and the youngest captain in the history of Devendra.
- He believes that the only family that matters is the family you choose.
,- He takes it upon himself to train Clare, the princess's decoy, in self-defense. (And she may have a hard time not staring at him sometimes...)
VENN- He loves a good laugh and is a bit of a flirt (with a grin like that, you can't blame him!)
- He's best friends with Bennick, although when you hear the story of their first meeting, you'll wonder how that came about.
- He loves his long hair, which he usually wears in a ponytail. (You'll have to imagine that, because this picture doesn't have it. But this image perfectly captured his personality!)
CARDON- His childhood wish was to become a soldier; becoming one of the princess's bodyguards is a something he never would have imagined, but now he can't see himself doing anything else.
- Kindness is one of his defining traits.
- One of his favorite stories to tell is not about his own heroics, but a time when the princess actually saved his life.
DIRK- He's kind of like the fatherly figure in the group and is often the peace-keeper.
,- He's been a royal bodyguard for many years, and some wondered why he wasn't given the position of the princess's lead bodyguard. (The truth is, he didn't want it, and he thought Bennick would do a better job.)
,- He doesn't speak his mind often, but when he does his words are powerful.
WILF- Sometimes described as a "bear of a man", Wilf is not one you want to cross.
- He has suffered tragedy, and it shows in every line on his gruff face.
- He was selected by Bennick even though the king--and Wilf--considered his career as a bodyguard to be over.
That's the lineup! Who are you most excited to meet in the book and learn more about? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
______________________________________
ROYAL DECOY is out on June 18th!
Pre-order the Kindle edition here:
Add to Goodreads:
Learn more about the blog tour here:
______________________________________
,,A SERVANT blackmailed into becoming a princess’s decoy.
,,A BODYGUARD determined to keep her alive.
,
,,A PRINCE forced to execute his father’s brutal laws.
,,A PRISONER used to keep him compliant.
,
,,A WORLD on the brink of war.
,In one horrible night, Clare goes from kitchen maid to royal decoy. She has three months to become the princess's perfect double so she can ensure her betrothal to an enemy prince. Desperate to survive, Clare throws herself into self-defense training, taught by her distractingly attractive bodyguard. The danger increases when a ruthless assassin begins stalking her, intent on ending the tenuous peace.
,Across the northern mountains, Prince Grayson is his father’s ultimate weapon. He carries out the king’s harsh orders because the one person he cares about is his father’s prisoner. Grayson's silent obedience is tested when his father plans to exploit the marriage alliance between two of their greatest enemies. If Grayson submits, the blood of thousands will spill. If he resists, the girl who means everything to him will die.
,The fate of Eyrinthia hangs in the balance. Some want peace. Some want war. All will be thrown into chaos.
June 1, 2020
Royal Decoy Blog Tour Schedule
,Hi Dear Readers!
,Next week will bring us to June, which means release day is getting SO CLOSE! I wanted to share the blog tour schedule with you today, so you can see all the amazing things lined up! (Please note that the schedule may change a little, so be sure to follow me on social media to stay up to date!)
,In case you haven’t seen the cover or summary for Royal Decoy, here you go!:
,A SERVANT blackmailed into becoming a princess’s decoy.
,A BODYGUARD determined to keep her alive.
,A PRINCE forced to execute his father’s brutal laws.
,A PRISONER used to keep him compliant.
,A WORLD on the brink of war.
,In one horrible night, Clare goes from kitchen maid to royal decoy. She has three months to become the princess's perfect double so she can ensure her betrothal to an enemy prince. Desperate to survive, Clare throws herself into self-defense training, taught by her distractingly attractive bodyguard. The danger increases when a ruthless assassin begins stalking her, intent on ending the tenuous peace.
,Across the northern mountains, Prince Grayson is his father’s ultimate weapon. He carries out the king’s harsh orders because the one person he cares about is his father’s prisoner. Grayson's silent obedience is tested when his father plans to exploit the marriage alliance between two of their greatest enemies. If Grayson submits, the blood of thousands will spill. If he resists, the girl who means everything to him will die.
,The fate of Eyrinthia hangs in the balance. Some want peace. Some want war. All will be thrown into chaos.
,----------------------------------
,Pre-order Kindle edition for 4.99 today!
,Add on Goodreads:
,----------------------------------
,Royal Decoy releases June 18th, but there will be so much to celebrate before then, including an awesome blog tour lined up. The Fantastic Flying Book Club put together an amazing tour for the 12-18th (thank you Patricia!!). The tour will include reviews, interviews, excerpts, and other fun extras, including giveaways! There will also be other awesome blogs dropping reviews and extras starting June 1st, and some have already posted!
,,Already Live Reviews:
,Check out Lisa's review @ Bookworm Lisa: https://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/...
,Check out Silvia's review @ Darkest Sins:
You can also see other early reader reviews @ Goodreads:
Link to The Fantastic Flying Book Club Blog Tour Schedule:
,https://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2020/05/tour-schedule-royal-decoy-fate-of.html
,,Additional Blog Tour Stops:
,June 1 - Getting Your Read On
,June 2 - Heather Frost’s Blog
,June 3 - Why Not? Because I Said So!
,June 4 - The Nature of Pages
,June 5 - Singing Librarian
,June 6 - Chapters and Pages
,June 7 - A Court of Coffee and Books
,June 9 - Mundie Moms
,June 10 - Crossroad Reviews
,June 11 - Wishful Endings
,June 16 - Literary Time Out
,June 18 - Indie Fantasy Review
,June 18 - Darkest Sins
,June 18 - Gina Rae Mitchell
,I’m so excited for the upcoming tour, and for the 18th!
,Also, I have an exciting announcement that I'll be blogging about next week, so be sure to check back next Wednesday! It may have to do with the benefits of per-ordering Royal Decoy...
May 27, 2020
Royal Decoy Blog Tour Schedule
,Hi Dear Readers!
,Next week will bring us to June, which means release day is getting SO CLOSE! I wanted to share the blog tour schedule with you today, so you can see all the amazing things lined up! (Please note that the schedule may change a little, so be sure to follow me on social media to stay up to date!)
,In case you haven’t seen the cover or summary for Royal Decoy, here you go!:
,A SERVANT blackmailed into becoming a princess’s decoy.
,A BODYGUARD determined to keep her alive.
,A PRINCE forced to execute his father’s brutal laws.
,A PRISONER used to keep him compliant.
,A WORLD on the brink of war.
,In one horrible night, Clare goes from kitchen maid to royal decoy. She has three months to become the princess's perfect double so she can ensure her betrothal to an enemy prince. Desperate to survive, Clare throws herself into self-defense training, taught by her distractingly attractive bodyguard. The danger increases when a ruthless assassin begins stalking her, intent on ending the tenuous peace.
,Across the northern mountains, Prince Grayson is his father’s ultimate weapon. He carries out the king’s harsh orders because the one person he cares about is his father’s prisoner. Grayson's silent obedience is tested when his father plans to exploit the marriage alliance between two of their greatest enemies. If Grayson submits, the blood of thousands will spill. If he resists, the girl who means everything to him will die.
,The fate of Eyrinthia hangs in the balance. Some want peace. Some want war. All will be thrown into chaos.
,----------------------------------
,Pre-order Kindle edition for 4.99 today!
,Add on Goodreads:
,----------------------------------
,Royal Decoy releases June 18th, but there will be so much to celebrate before then, including an awesome blog tour lined up. The Fantastic Flying Book Club put together an amazing tour for the 12-18th (thank you Patricia!!). The tour will include reviews, interviews, excerpts, and other fun extras, including giveaways! There will also be other awesome blogs dropping reviews and extras starting June 1st, and some have already posted!
,,Already Live Reviews:
,Check out Lisa's review @ Bookworm Lisa: https://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/...
,Check out Silvia's review @ Darkest Sins:
You can also see other early reader reviews @ Goodreads:
Link to The Fantastic Flying Book Club Blog Tour Schedule:
,https://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2020/05/tour-schedule-royal-decoy-fate-of.html
,,Additional Blog Tour Stops:
,June 1 - Getting Your Read On
,June 2 - Belle's Archive
,June 3 - Why Not? Because I Said So!
,June 4 - The Nature of Pages
,June 5 - Singing Librarian
,June 6 - Chapters and Pages
,June 7 - A Court of Coffee and Books
,June 9 - Mundie Moms
,June 10 - Crossroad Reviews
,June 11 - Wishful Endings
,June 16 - Literary Time Out
,June 18 - Indie Fantasy Review
,June 18 - Darkest Sins
,I’m so excited for the upcoming tour, and for the 18th!
,Also, I have an exciting announcement that I'll be blogging about next week, so be sure to check back next Wednesday! It may have to do with the benefits of per-ordering Royal Decoy...
May 20, 2020
Wanderlust: Matera, Italy
I recently did a post about my visit to Dubrovnik, and it was so much fun that I think it's time for another travel post!
Welcome to Matera, Italy! It's such a cool city to wander, and when you visit the ancient Sassi area and see the cave dwellings . . . well, it feels like you stepped back in time.
This is a view of Sassi, and the one day we spent here did NOT give us enough time to explore!
But I'm getting ahead of myself!
We started our day in Matera in the more modern part of the city, which still looks pretty darn cool and old to me!
The deeper you go, the older the city becomes. Then you reach a square and see an example of how cities get built on top of each other over time:
This is a spot where they're excavating, and whenever I see things like this, I just have to stop and marvel at how OLD Europe is. I love it!
One of the coolest things we saw as we got closer to Sassi was the ,Chiesa del Purgatorio--The Church of the Purgatory. It sits right on the street, so it's hard to get a super good picture of the exterior. But it is probably the most unique church I've ever visited. (Well . . . There was another really unique church I visited later in the day . . . but let's focus on this one first!)
,Check out those doors!
Yes, those are skulls and bones on the doors of that church--including skulls with crowns and important headdresses, just in case everyone needed the reminder that even rich and powerful people will die.
Crazy cool, right!? There's a reason I was grinning when I saw it...It's just so unique!
When we walked in, I was surprised to see how colorful everything was.
,And, randomly, there was an art exhibit going on that day.
,Can I just say I LOVE when those random things happen on a trip? I feel like they make even better memories! (Once, while I was in Bath, my cousin and I walked into a church and there was a bake sale going on, put on by the local kids. It was so fun--and delicious!)
,Anyway, there were these really cool (and sometimes creepy) bronze statues scattered throughout the church. It was felt like a very fitting display for this unique church, dedicated to purgatory.
,My favorite statue was actually on the middle of the floor:
Lilith, the fabled first wife of Adam. I thought it was such a haunting statue, and the detail is insane!
Here are some more views of the church:
And then, in case you forgot we were in a chruch dedicated to purgatory, notice the skull above the door...
That church really captured my imagination, but there were other amazing things to see, so I'll move this along :)
As you get closer to Sassi, you suddenly find yourself at the edge of another time.
We entered the older section, which you can see behind us--but there's an even older section at the bottom, so we started our hike down.
It's truly gorgeous! And I loved finding spots of greenery and flowers as we were increasingly surrounded by stone.
Finally, we made it to the edge of the city.
Literally.
It drops off right there. This is me, standing at the wall.
I decided not to use the bridge...I was OK staying on this side of the cliff :)
All along the mountainsides here are caves, and the people who settled the area turned these caves into their homes. They even made some caves into churches! Usually only a little modifying was needed to make the caves large enough to inhabit, and it kept them cooler on hot summer days.
This picture shows you the cliff wall on one side, and the doors to the cave houses on the other. So cool, right?
And here's an example of one of their stone churches:
You can see how some of it is natural, and some of it is man-made.
Here I am inside one of their smaller cave churches--which is the second most unique church I've ever stepped foot in:
The picture below is another angle of this cave church, and you can clearly see the smooth brick that was man-made, and the natural face of the cave.
,We also toured one of the cave houses, which was decorated so you could get a taste of what it would have been like to live there.
It was pretty tight quarters (not just because there was a large group of us there) but it's basically one large room that's sectioned off. There's a stable area:
And just opposite your donkey is where the bed was located:
Notice the cradle at the foot of the bed? 1-2 children would sleep in that, another couple would sleep at the foot of the large bed, and then if you had more children they would sleep in the pulled-out drawers of your large family dresser, which you can see below (black, with lots of stuff stacked on top :)
This is one of the larger homes, because you also have this niche for the kitchen:
Now, look closely at that stove. Seem a little too modern? that's because people were still living in these dwellings in the 1950s! ,Why mess with a good thing, right?
Matera is such a unique and beautiful city, with so much to see and explore! I loved it, and I would easily go back because one day just wasn't enough!
Leave me a comment to let me know if you had a favorite part of this virtual tour of Metera! Which church did you think was the most unique? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
May 13, 2020
From My Library: The Problem With Forever
I’m back with another Jennifer L. Armentrout book, because she’s amazing and I just finished this book and I can’t help myself from gushing right now! Here is the summary from Goodreads:
Growing up, Mallory Dodge learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it's been four years since her nightmare ended, she's beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime. Now, after years of homeschooling, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her se
nior year at a public high school. But she never imagined she'd run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn't seen since childhood, on her very first day.
It doesn't take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet soon it becomes apparent that she's not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider's life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants and the truths that need to be heard.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26721568-the-problem-with-forever
This book, guys. THIS BOOK.
It has ALL the feels. It is beautifully written with compelling, realistic characters. I was hooked by page one. I’m a sucker for the trope of childhood friends reunited later on in life, and this book delivered in every conceivable way.
I don’t read a ton of contemporary stories, since I’m more of a magic and fantastical and paranormal kind of girl. But every time I read a compelling contemporary, like “The Problem With Forever”, I wonder why I don’t read more of these. They can be so powerful and teach us so much about our own lives.
Mallory’s inner thoughts, her anxieties, her fears, her bravery, her struggles, her emotions, her dreams--they are written with such detail that I felt all of it. She is a courageous girl who has risen from nightmarish childhood, and no matter how hard it is for her to follow through with her goals, she doesn’t stop. Her struggles and her growth were all believably written.
Rider . . . There are no words. Or maybe there are too many words. He is heroic, flawed, courageous, and (of course) super attractive. He is fiercely protective of those he loves. I mean, he was like six and a half years old when he put himself between Mallory and their abusive foster parents. He is the boy who wears confidence and arrogance and a “I don’t really care” kind of attitude, but underneath he is dealing with so much. He feels like there’s no point in really giving himself a chance at life, because no one else ever will. He broke my heart. He made me cry. He made me smile. He made me smile even while I was crying. And when he quotes the Velveteen Rabbit with that passage about being real . . . Oh my gosh, guys. POWERFUL.
I also loved the supporting cast, so much so that they deserve to be mentioned. Hector and Ainsley are great in their respective best friend roles to Mallory and Rider, and they each had depth and their own challenges that both balanced and enhanced Mallory’s story. Mallory’s adoptive parents are inspiring yet human, and, Carlos, I can almost forgive you for how you grilled Rider during that first, most awkward dinner. (Almost.) And Mr. BLANK should win teacher of the year! I adored him in every way, and I love knowing that the world has dedicated teachers like him.
I don’t do spoilers in these reviews, so I can’t tell you much more other than to say this book is incredible. It is moving, and deeply touching. It left a mark on me, and when a book does that, I know it was good! “The Problem With Forever” is a YA romance, but it goes deeper than that. Facing our demons, admitting our insecurities and flaws, and allowing ourselves to feel can be painful, but these are also the things that make us real. And being real for ourselves--and being real and there for others--is a beautiful, wonderful thing.
I completely, wholeheartedly recommend this book!
Content Advisory: There are some tough subjects dealt with in this book, including child abuse and violence. I thought the scenes were handled in a good way, but I want to lay out anything that might be a trigger. There is also some language (including a handful of F words) and one sexual scene.
