The Promise of Forever

by Brooke Harris

It’s a celebration, but Dee McKenna’s heart is breaking.

The potatoes for the family lunch are half-peeled and forgotten in the kitchen, and Dee is upstairs, clutching a fragile boat made of folded paper. The tears won’t stop as she thinks about Sean, Fionn and Oisin. The three O’Connell boys who over the last twenty years, changed her life forever.

The one she loved, the one she married, and the one who died…

Be mesmerised by this deep, emotional and completely heartbreaking story about lives intertwined over twenty years. A story about second chances and the strength of love that will have you destroying the tissues. Perfect for fans of Paige Toon, Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes.

Readers love Brooke

‘To say that my heart was broken would be an understatement… THE most moving, emotional, tender novel I think I have ever, ever read .’ The Writing Garnet , ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘ WHAT A BOOK!!! … It was a-ma-zing, fabulous, wonderful … Had my eyes filled with tears and the emotions were so raw… never-to-be-forgotten … Heartbreaking, heartfelt… I loved it! ’ B for Bookreview , ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘ Wow … One hell of a rollercoaster ride of emotions!… This book will certainly tug at your heartstrings. I was completely hooked from the very first page and only managed to dry my eyes after I had finished .’ Stardust Book Reviews , ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Oh my goodness… I couldn’t see the words through my tears . This book broke me… Fantastic .’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘This book broke me … Took my heart and squeezed it until all my emotions flowed down as tears … I loved every single thing about this book .’ Shalini’s Book Reviews , ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘ I cried so much while reading this book … An emotional and powerful read that will stay with me for a long time! ’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘ Stunning … Even though it made me blub like a baby and I met my grocery delivery man with tears streaming down my face!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘ Absolutely wonderful. Charming, real and heartbreaking … The love I felt for this book was unreal … Such an amazing book .’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘ OMG … I loved this book so much … It felt really special , I couldn’t put it down and read it in one go … I ended the book with tears streaming down my face .’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘I went through a full box of tissues as I sobbed my heart out . One of the most emotional, uplifting and inspiring reads I’ve read.’ By the Letter Book Reviews , ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘What can I say other than absolutely brilliant . Such a wonderful story where from sadness, hope arises… I couldn’t put this book down .’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘I absolutely adored it from start to finish . It’s a wonderful story with some fabulous characters. I can’t recommend this fantastic emotional read highly enough .’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘This book was so good … such a tearjerker .’ Booked with Brandi , ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genres: Contemporary, Audiobook

352 pages, Paperback

Published September 4, 2023

About the author

Also writes as Laura Anthony - The Women on Platform Two out now!!

Reviews

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

“the boy with the boats has finally broken my heart.”

i tiptoed a little out my comfort-reading-zone with this book, and I finished it in one sitting. if i were to describe it, it would be akin to the Irish version of 'normal people' but with a tragic ending. years of anguish, heartbreak, grief, and life-altering moments were interwoven into a nuanced patchwork that sewed this beautifully elegiac storyline. it oscillated between family drama, well-hidden secrets and betrayal. the plot line also provided a graceful depiction of how to handle the aftermath of losing loved and cherished ones. but to my opinion, the best aspect of the book was the way it tragically portrayed the famous cursed line of 'right person at the wrong time' and all the what-it-in-betweens of finding true love.

“the sea is a thief. a murderer. a villain. i will never forgive.”

~•~
many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange of an honest review.

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Promise of Forever by Brooke Harris is one of those stories that really claws at your heart with its gut wrenching loss. Events leave its victims’ families with unrecoverable trauma and pain. This story centres around a community of fishermen with its fierce reality of a hard life on the sea. It is something I can relate to, since I also come from such a family (from the other side of the Atlantic on east coast Canada) so I understand the dangers of this livelihood. Storms and exhaustion often go hand in hand along with shipwrecks and drownings. In The Promise of Forever, the worst thing imaginable happens to two persons that leave Fionn and his family shattered and scarred forever.

The Promise of Forever is told from two perspectives: Dee’s and Fionn’s which allows us to empathise and see first-hand how the dire events affect each one of them. The novel is set mostly in Ireland – on an island off Donegal but Dublin has centre stage for while when Dee and her best friend move and work there in radio. Dee, though, later is scouted for a host position on a London TV show. She takes the offer and the next portion of her life in the big city ascends to some lofty heights. Friendships change, surprise romantic relationships occur and things don’t always go as planned or hoped. But Dee’s connection to Fionn never loosens or lightens. The story reveals that over twenty years their love for each other remains, even though there is a lot that divides them. Many factors keep them apart, some of which will be chopped on the guillotine of life and death.

I don’t want to rehash the story, as it is one you must read and experience with the turning of its pages. I can say it is a novel that you must prepare yourself to read—in that it is quite an emotional journey— so keep your tissues close. There are small victories that will make you smile but mostly it is not a novel that will leave you feeling uplifted. Rather it will make you stare at the cold hard facts of some people’s lives who seem to never get a break or become lost in their own losses. And how it affects those around them. In this way, the novel paints quite a stark reality for these fictional families. Some would say that is how real life is for many. True. I must add, there are some stunning descriptions of the seascape and a deep love for an Irish island. But events happen here that show how scars sometimes never fade in the psyche and may return to haunt the dreams of those who have experienced the reaper’s hand.

One other observation: the Charles Dickens quote from Great Expectations at the start of the novel could have easily been the words of Fionn and his love, relationship and history with Dee: ‘I loved her against reason, against promise, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.’ For this line sums up the heart of this story in a nutshell. Yes, there are little offshoots or plot branches that cover the supporting characters and their journeys but The Promise of Forever is primarily about Dee and Fionn: a tragic tale that takes some unexpected turns—including unfavourable ones. The author has done well covering emotional trauma as I really felt the negative effects of the characters’ loss, sadness and despair. In many ways, it is a modern tragedy like Great Expectations. This story of multiple conflicts and hard-hitting resolutions shook and broke my heart many times.

Although shattered by this tale, I was also mesmerised by the island. The atmosphere is haunting and familiar as it reminds me of my childhood home with the smell of the salt on the breeze and the lobster traps and nets in the barn. Brooke has captured the spirit of a solitary place, the agony of its residents and pushed the limits of our emotional response. So be prepared to have a box of tissues close by as you're truly going to need them! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my review copy

[Elizabeth Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced reader copy of “The Promise of Forever” by Brooke Harris.

This is story takes place in Ireland and London and the description of the island off of Donegal where much of the story takes place, is lusciously written and transported me to the time and place described. Her portrayal of the community of people on the island was beautiful-it made me want to meet them.

The story between Dee and the O’Connell boys is heart breaking, emotional, devastating and magical and so, so good. I now plan on reading Ms. Harris’s other stories set in Ireland.

[Shan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book isn’t something I’d normally ready, but I thought I’d give it a go. It’s gut wrenching and a tear jerker! It was a good read, but I thought the ending could have been written better. I feel like it was a tad rushed and could have been extended for better effect - but overall a good read.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally engrossed in this book from start to finish, There were chapters where I had a huge lump in my throat from trying not to cry and yet other parts where I smiled at the antics of the young. There was always something stopping Dee and Fionn from being together but would their love for each other conquer all. It's not often I can say that I lived a book but I totally did with this one.

[Sarah Zschunke · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 is harsh, but this ending???

It felt like this story just kept repeating the same thing over and over again. I didn’t like that she had relationships with two brothers as well? Also, why did Oisín hate Fionn - like what did he do to him..?

Seriously though, what a ridiculous ending. All of that for absolutely nothing. She’s not even with Oisín. Over it.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about Dee. But it's not only about her. It's about three brothers who all touched her life in some way over the past twenty or so years; Finn, Sean and Oisin O'Connell. We start off being in a small fishing village on an island off Donegal where Dee and her friend Lainey are sent to a Gaelic school. It's there that Dee meets Finn and his younger brother Sean. They grow close over the weeks and when it is time for Dee to leave, they promise to keep in touch. But then tragedy strikes and their lives are thrown into chaos. Years later and Dee is working in London and reconnects with older brother Oisin.
I am not sure I can say much more about this book without spoiling things. You already know from the blurb that one brother dies, one brother Dee falls in love with, and the other she marries, so you can garner from that the emotions that you will experience during the book. And emotional it blooming well is too. Heartbreaking at times, but also occasionally also very funny which means that it isn't too dark and stays balanced. But yeah, you might want to have a box of tissues handy and, probably not a good idea to read it on the bus!
The characters are really brought to life both by the story being told and by the way they have been created, They are all well described and all play their parts very well indeed.
The story gets on with itself very well too. There is no superfluous waffle or padding to distract and the description is only really used for scene setting and narrative progression.
All in all, a good solid read that apart from it nearly crushing me emotionally, I thoroughly enjoyed. It's my first book by this author but I will definitely be checking out her back catalogue. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Linda McCutcheon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He's an imprint now. A permanent mark on my soul."

When you meet the "one" but it's a question of,
"We're very different people."
"No we're not; we just live in very different places."

The poignant The Promise of Forever by tearjerker, grab your heart and squeeze it, author Brooke Harris is an Irish tale of young fisherman Fionn and fairly well to do Dee falling in love as teenagers despite the disapproval of their families. Through tragedies, fulfilling life goals, and various lovers Fionn and Dee always seem to find each other but fail to hold on to forever.

This is the second book I have read from this author and she has a way of making you root for the forlorn. The hope that through some shocking deaths, jaw dropping twists, and personal sacrifices for family, these two will find a way to be together is an actual physical pain at times.

Dee wants to fulfill her career dreams. She wants to believe her and Fionn are strong enough to wait for one another as life forces other roads in their path. A devastating accident leaves Fionn living with unnecessary guilt that leaves him feeling unworthy of the happiness he could have with Dee.

I was floored by how it ends, I ugly cried all night because despite the fiction of this story we all know how guilt, sacrifice, and grief can destroy not only a relationship but ourselves. There are no promises of forever so, as is the moral of this story, grab the love now.

I received a free copy of this book from Storm Publishing via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just ignore me over here picking the pieces of my heart up off the floor....

This was such an emotionally charged and heartbreaking book and I inhaled it. Apparently I'm a masochist. Once I started it, I was obsessed with seeing how it ended. The story focuses on Dee who loved three brothers in very different ways and had her heart broken by each of them in a different way. This was a gritty and often painful telling of a family's life. The ups and downs that we are often faced with and how to handle them.

The book starts when Dee is a teenager and follows her into adulthood. There are tragedies that occur which alter plans and goals. Insecurities come out and endanger relationships. Basically, everything is blown off course and Dee is left wondering how to move forward.

I hesitate to say too much because I don't want to give up the plot. I reiterate that this is an emotional rollercoaster of a book. Don't go into it expecting anything light-hearted because you definitely won't find it here. I saw someone in another review compared this book to Sally Rooney's Normal People and I completely agree. I definitely did have those vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

[Hannah Thomson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was accepted to read the ARC for The Promise of Forever by Brooke Harris.
In this book we follow the loves of Dee and Fionn (along with their best friends with their own side plot).
The start of the book I feel like a lot of things happened one after the other. However I feel like this was done to make room for the rest of the book where you follow the characters as they’re older. I found it a lot easier to get through the last two thirds of the book and enjoyed them thoroughly.
Being from a place myself where we also say ‘mam’ instead of ‘mom’ I did find some comfort in that.
There were some unexpected turns in this book that I would not have guessed. The ending being one of them. Although different to what I assumed, the ending was comforting in an odd way. All characters found peace in there own way after the trauma in their lives.
I rated this three stars. I would rate it a 3.5 if I could on here. I did enjoy the majority of this book and would recommend, but only to people who are into this genre and don’t mind giving books some breathing room.

[Pynkbyrd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having just finished the book, I'm not sure how I really feel about it. At least the ending. So without wanting to spoil the ending, giving an in depth review of the book is a bit tricky.

There was so much to love about the book. The setting of the small fishing town off the coast of Donegal sounds idyllic, even though perhaps it isn't if you have bigger dreams. And sometimes there are secrets. My favorite character in the book, besides Seany is of course, Fionn. My least favorite character would have to be Lainey, Dee isn't that far behind. I understand why she made the choices she did, but....Fionn.

My other issue with the book was the use of first person. I really struggle with these, because of authors mixing tenses and just the overall effect of it. Usually first person narration causes a book to lose at least a half-star.

So overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a great book for a good cry. I just wanted more, and different.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are mine and freely given.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovestory set mostly in Ireland . Dee is sent from Dublin to a Co Donegal island before her leaving certificate to help her Irish language. She and her friend socialize with the local boys and make long lasting friendships. The story is told from the viewpoint of Dee and one of the island boys, Fionn over a period of them growing up and into their adult lives. It was a good and interesting read and certainly kept me engaged throughout. Emotions were dealt with quite well and several scenes were recognisable and well described. Because the book is told at different stages in the characters lives, their circumstances have changed along the way, not too much detail, good in some ways but in others it left me asking questions. I loved the descriptions of the Irish locations and Dee's wonderment when discovering London
I enjoyed this book though and thank Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for a review

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌊🛥Ill fate leads to devastating heartbreak😩

What a hauntingly beautiful and doom-driven story! Fionn, the boy who keeps getting knocked back, was a wonderful character, cursed by events out of his control and his staunch loyalty to his family. And it was especially poignant because their story starts out so hopeful: teenagers Fionn and Dee finding each other during summer holidays on a small Irish coastal island and who had hope that they could make their relationship last past the vacation's end. Tragedy and bad timing strike to pull them apart but the love remains.

This book evokes so much emotion and sadness, but I could not stop reading. Really well done👍.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Amanda Alviz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The synapsis of this book was very intriguing, but unfortunately the book didn't work as well for me as I had hoped. The author is based in Ireland and I think a large barrier to fully enjoying the story came from trying to figure out the terminology and locations. The locations were not well described and I had trouble visualizing the setting. There were words and phrases that I'm not used to and had to figure out what it meant. The book jumps around a lot and it was a bit difficult to keep track of. The story is more character driven and I do prefer more of a plot.

It is a very emotional and heartbreaking story that is quite moving and I think many will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book other than it was completely and utterly wonderful. From the very start this book hooked me right in and I didn’t want to do anything else but read this wonderful story. Omg did it make me cry yes it honestly did. I cried big ugly tears. I also did laugh in places as I remembered back to the days of leaving school and the Gaeltacht. This story flowed so well that every time I came to the end of a chapter I just couldn’t wait to read more. The characters in this book were all written about so well, I couldn’t pick a favourite but if I had to it would be Seany. He was such an absolute delight. I can’t say there is one single thing I didn’t love about this book. A massive 5 ⭐️ read for me.

[Linda Leone · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first sight you may think this book is your typical romance novel.

It is not.

As a teenager Dee is sent to Gaelic school for three weeks and can think of nothing she'd like to do less. But that soon changes when she meets the O'Connell brothers. The three will have a huge impact on her life during the next twenty years.

A story of heartbreak. A story of missed chances and meeting the right person at the wrong time. A story of love and it's endless possibilities.

A well written tale that will have you reaching for the tissue box.

Thanks to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc.

[jmoura01 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve put off writing this review for a couple of days, I can’t stop thinking about it. I loved Brooke Harris’ Memories of You, so I was excited to get my hands on this ARC. I really enjoyed this story but at the same time it was so very, very sad, as real life often is. We don’t always get our happy ending, but the highs of life make the low times so worth it.

A well written book about complicated characters throughout their interwoven lives. It focuses on their loves and losses and the strength of will or lack of it that affects them all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Elaine Fearnley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful, powerful and very emotional story absolutely broke me! It’s so wonderfully written, with a fantastic storyline that hit me right in the heart. The characters are beautifully depicted, and very engaging, and the love, the wanting, just pervades the pages! Dee and Ffion’s story broke my heart, and made me cry. There is so much in this story, not only love, but deeper, darker things, that are handled with so much sensitivity. I couldn’t put this book down, and I know that I will go back to it again and again. I’ve never read this author before, but definitely will from now on. Highly recommended.

[Teresa Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic, heartwarming and endearing love story. The characters were all so believable and gelled together really well. It flowed so nicely and was a lovely easy read. This is the second book i have read by this author and she is becoming one of my favourites. Absolutely loved this book, cant recommend it enough. The ending will just blow you away - that’s my promise!! If i could give it 6* then i would.

[HEATHER · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad Brooke Harris is back with another book! I loved Memories of you so I was so excited when I saw she had another one coming out. This book had me hooked from beginning to end. This book had wonderful characters. I'm not much of a crier but I did get choked up. This is such a great read and would highly recommend this book!!


Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

[Mary Bamford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely read. I’m not quite sure why this story was so good, it’s just beautifully told. It’s a relaxing tale of love and friendship which is told over several decades. All along the love Dee has for the three o Connoll boys being her love and heartache, and her friendship with her best friend is tested.
Worth a read if you are looking for a relatively easy read, then this gorgeous book might just be what you need.

[Darla Coker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant, painful and lovely

This is a poignant tale of love and loss and real life. The author brings you into the minds of Dee-Dee and Fionn masterfully. Her writing perfectly captures the human condition and showcases the painfully beautiful story of a life sacrificed for those we love the most. As well as the great overwhelming need to always follow your heart. I will read anything you write Mrs. Brook Harris! Thank you for sharing your gift with the world.

[Caitlin Jerde · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful story of friendship and love. I felt connected to Dee and Fionn immediately and could not wait to hear how their love story unfolded. It was never picture perfect. It was also rarely the right time, but it always felt real. I adored the setting in Ireland and loved how the author included so many pieces of Irish culture. I loved this book and cannot wait for it to come out.

[Luisa Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book is such a heart-breaker. A powerful and gripping exploration of love, loss and coming of age, it kept on surprising me all the way through. I loved the characters and felt fully immersed in their struggles and the ups and downs of their lives. The Promise of Forever will, I’m sure, stay with me for a long time.

[Bookbug_40 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emotions and heartbreaking. I liked the connection between Fionn and Dee, loving each other throughout all the years, but I really wish that they should be together, I was counting on it. The end came as a shock. It was a great read with lots of beautiful moments, but the ending left me disappointed. Thanks to Netgalley and Storm publishing for the ARC of the book.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say about this book, firstly it made me cry, happy and sad tears. I was hooked from the start and didn’t want to do anything else but read this wonderful story. The characters in this book were all written about so well.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Diana Venegas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heed the warning for “HEARTBREAKING” in the title. This book is truly heart wrenching and it literally broke my heart. Harris’ has a talent for storytelling, and I was rooting for every single character’s happy ending. But, as in real life, not everyone’s ending is a happy one. The trials and tribulations of growing up and growing apart are ever so evident in this book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was SO good but it broke my heart too many times..

Loved the characters, fell in love with the setting.

Was so hoping for a certain ending.

just wow.

And I cried way too much and am happy I have another book by the same author to read soon.

Go out and get this book if you like emotional stories, heartbreaking things, family and friendship.

4 1/2 ****

[Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

a true presentation of life

Life works in crazy, amazing ways… Our youth is so special, we do things that make an impression on who we becoming. Some of us do things, create relationships and move on while others of us create a lasting, forever connection to those we’ve encountered. Dee’s story, Fionns story, it’s one of a lifetime.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an Irish novel about first love and lasting friendships. Told from two different points of view, Dee and Fionn, it's a coming of age novel that spans twenty years.
It is a well written compelling story of family, friendship, love and loss and it will appeal to readers of this genre.