Forgot to Say Goodbye

Westcott Family #3

by S.L. Scott

Noah Westcott should come with a warning: Too Hot to Handle! The man is stunningly handsome with his embracing brown eyes and lips that make me want to kiss that smirk right off his face. How could I resist? I didn't. That was my first mistake. I blame him for the second. It should have been easy and fun. No strings attached. No feelings. As if he commanded it like he did me in the bedroom, I did exactly what I said I wouldn't. I fell for him. Two years later, the same man walks into my life. Again. A lot has changed. Not his devastating good looks, or that smug grin, but for me everything. Now that Noah's back-in my office and hanging around after hours-I can't get distracted. I must protect my secret-the one who calls me Mommy.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Workplace Romance, Second Chance Romance

472 pages, Paperback

Published September 14, 2023

About the author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, S.L. Scott, writes character driven, heart-racing suspense, and swoony romances that will leave you glued to the page. With stories ranging from witty beach reads to heart wrenching and heart healing, her stories are highly regarded as emotional, relatable, and captivating.

Her books are more than escapes for the voracious readers of today. They are journeys of the heart that always come with a happily ever after reward at the end.


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Reviews

[Dora Koutsoukou]

Nope! It didn’t work for me! 🤷🏻‍♀️

I couldn’t connect with the main characters and their story didn’t hold my attention.

Moreover, as a couple they didn’t pique my interest.

Dnf @ 21%

[Carla Bulian · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart is full of joy! This book is everything we need to read!
I’m sighing now! Just WOW.
It’s worth the reading.

[Jen ♥]

Self note:

- second chance romance
- surprise baby from ONS
- reformed playboy


update:

why didn't I use the word "fxking" in the search functionality?! this would've saved me some time!

he wasn't celibate

excerpt:

"I was a fool to believe that night was special. Fuck special just like she fucked me over. I gather my wits about me, remembering how that one encounter fucked with my brain chemistry. I traveled through the stages of grief in record speed until I landed in anger. That stage served me well for a while. Fucking became a mission. I fucked with abandon. It didn’t matter. Not at that time."

===========
previous thought 🤦‍♀️

i skimmed the story to know if he was celibate during the last two years since they met (though i think he was), but didn't find clarity in the excerpts i found. 😅

it really bugs me when the fmc remains celibate or didn't date at all because her life had a 180, while nothing changed for the mmc.


excerpt fom chapter 15 (39%)

“You know, you were the last one I was with.” I leave the confession in the air and wait for a response with bated breath.

“I hope so. It was only twenty minutes ago.”

“Even tired, you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”

“I’m certain nothing was funny about that bad joke. I’m blaming it on the hour.”

But then he says, “That was two years ago.” Disbelief tinges his words. There’s a pause, and I can tell he’s inching closer to the truth by how his brow furrows, and the grin is gone. He glances at me, tightening his arm around me. “That’s a long time.”

God, he feels sorry for me. I could almost laugh, but I’m worried I’ll end up in tears from the tension beginning to permeate the air. “Yes. It’s been a while.”

he didn't say it was the same for him, and i read the rest of the scene not to miss anything. then the next excerpt confused me.


excerpt from chapter 20 (51%)

"I’m still free to do as I please when I want to. I can date . . . I’m not an angel, but I never claimed to be. My sex life came to a grinding halt after that night in the Hamptons because I was hung up on her. It took time to get back on that horse, but I have a contact list full of names I can call any day or night. None of that’s appealing anymore."

does this mean he dated at some point? because he said it took time to get back, giving me the notion that he eventually went back to dating. but he probably didn't sleep with the women??? or maybe he did??? ugh, why is it so vague?

i didn't find anything else, maybe i need to read the whole story to know which i'm very 50-50.

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: ONS, secret baby
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥1/2

Absolutely loved this one! SL Scott's books are hit or miss for me. Not because she's not a gifted storyteller, but rather it's my own love/hate relationship with angsty reads, lol. This one was definitely a hit for me. We just had the perfect blending of trope magic :)

✅ ONS pregnancy
✅ Secret baby
✅ Surprise workplace second meet
✅ Cinnamon roll hero

It's definitely an emotional filled journey. Liv has a lot of past emotional trauma she needs to work through to get in a good place with Noah, which is hard since it's more than just her that's on the line. For the past 2 years, she and her son have had few people they can rely on and she is just not trusting by nature. Luckily for her, Noah is all in and here for forever. He's sweet, supportive, pretty jealous and possessive her her, but definitely the hero you'd want your RL significant other to be emulating. The story was well written, engaging, and had a dash of suspense thrown in to keep us hooked to that last page. My favorite one of this series!

⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olivia Bancroft has always followed the rules. Two years ago she decided to do something spontaneous for once in her life and that one decision forever changed the course of her life. Now she has no intention of ever going off kilter and messing up her calm and drama free life. But that all changes when a blast from her past walks through her office doors and she learns that the man she desperately tried to forget, is now a new colleague.



Noah Westcott has a solid work ethic and he hasn't been this excited about the prospect of anything in a really long time. Starting a new job at one of the top marketing firms in the city, Noah knows that he can bring a lot more to the company and take it to another level. Nice apartment, terrific salary with a job you love. What more can a twenty five year old ask for? How about the woman that you've been constantly dreaming about for the past two years is now standing in front of you.



I loved that this started out as a love/ hate thing. From the prologue we saw Noah and Olivia's first interaction with each other and knew that it wasn't going to be all roses. We saw the after effect of that night and how it changed and shaped Olivia into a role that she loves more than anything. Their back and forth banter was enjoyable for a while but I was not a fan of the inner dialogue too much. I also felt like certain things got smoothed over too quickly and was wrapped up in a leave it alone bow.

If you're a fan of second chance romance with a little bit of drama, then I recommend you go with this one.

[S.L. Scott]

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgot to Say Goodbye by S.L. Scott is an INCREDIBLE romance novel. This book has so many of my favorite tropes and reading it felt like a big cuddle to me. It’s emotional, filled with the best kind of enemies-to-lovers tension, and has some humor sprinkled in to make it feel whole. I just adored this book, the characters, the way everything develops (one night stand to now they are working together). I immediately want to dive into more books by the author based on this one so if you have a favorite from her let me know! I highly recommend this one.

[O’rion Risher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars because I actually liked the first like 40% of the book. But once she tells him he’s the father, it becomes a train wreck. The reactions are so weird and then she acts as though it was no big deal. He just rolls with everything and is “perfect”. For instance… she freaks the hell out thinking he took their son, then freaks out because he told her he gave the baby a donut (he just found out he has a son and he’s letting her sleep) only to find out that they’re in the livingroom and he did not give him a donut. She was so upset about him having sugar! But then she informs Noah that the breakfast he was feeding the baby was a dessert… it’s no big deal now. WHAT? lol pick one. Either she’s upset about sugar or she’s not. Also… who in the hell leaves their baby with someone they really don’t know in the middle of the night? I’d call and wake up my mother. I mean, how late can it really be? Dinner was at 7 and if they ate for two hours (which is kinda pushing it) it would be 9. So why not call her mother? And why bring Noah to her house to tell him about the baby during a crisis with the babysitter or whatever? And also… it’s kinda shady that she decided to screw him before talking to him. And then she flips out and demands to know what he’s thinking within seconds of him finding out he’s a father. Then there’s how she’s treating Noah. Hot and cold and really touchy feely with him and idk. It was weird! Like she was pushing a relationship right away and he just allowed her to walk all over him. Baby is calling him dada immediately. He’s really excited and happy. Idk it was just the strangest book at that point.

Honestly, the story just went bananas and made no sense after she rushed home from their dinner. She was giving me whiplash.

[asiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

“the two of them together look like the kind of morning i want to wake up to more often. not just more often. every day. forever.”

this was interesting bc the first 40% was angst and the rest of it was fluff, which is just an insanely criminal ratio …. but ch.16 was something so serious! imma be real i only read this bc for once the white boy on the cover is hot (i almost think he’s too attractive for this character hshsjhs)

tropes:
• one night stand
• secret baby
• workplace romance (she’s a nepo baby)
set in nyc also!

i think this might actually be my first secret baby book diaries too but him finding out was so 🔐❤️‍🩹 just a real good man need me a noah westcott! (once you realize he was raised in upstate new york and not the city it all adds up 🤣)

unrelated i’m either to the type to read a book in one sitting or it’ll sit in my currently reading for so long but in reality i’ve only touched it twice to finish it… i cannot be the only one

[Christine (Shh Moms Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters, the banter…just something was missing for me. Overall a good read

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was like watching a reality show. Not the negative scripted side but like being in someone’s day to day life.

Noah and Liv hook up while both are in the Hamptons to get away from issues that had at that moment. They both planned for a one night stand. No last names, not phone numbers exchange.. no commitment. Well both felt something spark but didn’t want to go back on their word.

2 years later, Noah is starting a new job. Walking into the conference room, he lands his eyes right in Liv. She’s introduced by her father, part owner of the company, as Olivia. Olivia is pissed to see Noah, you will learn later in the book, and gives him the cold shoulder. The first couple weeks it’s definitely enemies energy. Olivia gets no respect at the company. Everyone thinks she’s only in her position because of her dad but that’s so far from the truth.

Olivia lets in Noah a tad. Over time she realizes he’s not the asshole she thought he was. One night they were suppose to meet up with a client and they bail, the end up carrying on with the dinner. Until she gets a text from her nanny. She rushes out of dinner and Noah follows. At arrival she begs him to forgive her and he’s so confused as to why. That’s when she shares she has a son.

Later that evening she tells him she hasn’t been with anyone since him and her son is 14 months old. Connecting the dots, Noah figures out that Maxwell, Liv’s son, is his son.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
Single Mom
Secret Baby
Enemies to Lovers
Work Romance
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Office Romance
One Night Stand pregnancy

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

She had no way to track him down.
The wildest thing is that he gets hired by her dad. One star off because her dad was extraordinarily evil. All other characters were awesome. Baby Max was a cutie!

[Saydee Throckmorton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t have hated this more. It was a big waste of my time to even read it. There was no serious character development. No realness to it. Someone finds out they’re a dad and immediately just believe it without a paternity test, an outburst over not knowing, and magically is the perfect dad and co-parent? There was no real conflict or depth to the characters or story line.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book I have a hard time rating. The blurb sounds intriguing and the start of the book was promising. And I see why people loved this book, but I just couldn't.
Don't get me wrong, I totally liked it, but I somehow expected something different.

The banter in the beginning was great but it quickly turned into something else. We get many inner dialogues and the actual dialogues kind of felt repetitive. There was not much character growth or seeing how/why the relationship deepened. Even though I love a good Labrador hero, someone I'd like to meet in real life. One that is caring and understanding but can be bossy at times as well. However, in this story Noah's character fell short.
Liv on the other side has grown a little throughout the story and I loved seeing her in the end standing up against the man that should have loved her unconditionally, but didn't.

I also think that there are more than one things that were added to the story to create some angst, but they didn't reach their full potential. It was like things were missing or not fully played out.

If you love a slow-burn, single parent, second chance, workplace romance with an adorable hero, this book might be for you.

[Rossy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐

It's very nice and heartwarming, but lacking a bit of passion and realism for the way it's set.

It builds up good tensions, but never truly makes a reader worry. Also doesn't show but just tells about the important resolutions in their life :)

Regardless, both characters were good and the story was nice. It just needed a bit more for me..

[BookKraves · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a cute and feel-good read, and it's refreshingly free of the typical third-act breakup. Imagine finding your other half when you least expect it, in a boardroom at a new job.

Noah is an endearing character. He's loving, caring, and a true gentleman. He and Liv have a one-night stand while each is seeking an escape from their respective issues. Their plan is simple: a no-commitment fling with no exchange of last names or phone numbers. However, sparks fly, and they both feel a connection, even though they're determined to stick to their initial agreement.

Fast forward two years, and Noah starts a new job, only to walk into a conference room and come face to face with Liv. The book plays with several engaging tropes, including single motherhood, secret baby, enemies-to-lovers, office romance, and a forbidden workplace relationship.

While the book might start a bit slowly, and it takes time to get to the core of the romance, it offers a genuinely enjoyable reading experience. The depth of the characters and the emotional journey they embark on make this a delightful and heartwarming story.

[‎‧₊˚✧ storm ✧˚₊‧]

DNF @ 38%

couldn't connect with the main characters and wasn't a fan of the way the story played out up until the point i stopped.

not for me.

[Trudy · Rating 2 out of 5]

So boring!! This book did not hold my attention at all, and I tried. I gave up at the 60% mark. It could have been so good and I really like this author's work.

This is Olivia and Noah. They met 2 years ago in the Hamptons and they had a one night stand which produced a baby. She couldn't find him because they decided on 1st names only.

They meet again when he is sought out and hired by her father's marketing firm. Its a aurprise to him that she works there and she gets nervous that he will take her baby from her.
They slept together, she tells him about the baby over a weekend that they spend together and this is where I ended my task of trying to read this book.

[Maddie Hoy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seriously?

The opening chapter was hotish and enough to keep my interest, after that it just fell apart. After a one night stand, where Liv decided to not exchange details and walk away, she ends up pregnant and has a baby. 2 years later, Noah gets a job at the same firm, she completely overreacts and tells him he must quit, explaining to her Mom that she's scared Noah will take her son away. I was still hanging in there at this point until she allows Noah into her apartment and LEAVES HER SON WITH A COMPLETE STRANGER while she takes her sick nanny home. Let me repeat: she leaves her 14 month old son alone with a stranger, who happens to be his father and don’t forget she’s worried he’s going to take her son away from her?? Ridiculous. DNF.

[grace ☼]

dnf @42%. i think surprise pregnancy/baby just isn’t for me.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Noah + Olivia

✅ Second Chance Romance
✅ Accidental Baby
✅ Co-workers
✅ Enemies to Lovers
✅ Family Dynamics
✅ HEA

A one night stand in the Hampton with no last names leads to baby Maxwell and no known father. When Noah get a job offer from a prestigious marketing firm, he first day is set off kilter when he comes face to face with his one night stand that he has never forgotten. Olivia, fearing she might lose her son, tries to distance herself from Noah. Pretty fast it becomes apparent that Noah is actually a good guy and she soon reveals he is a father.

Noah’s life changes instantly and he knows he wants both Maxwell and Liv in his life for good. Meanwhile, Noah has discovered some account inconsistencies at the marketing firm and is trying to trend cautiously. It turns out that Liv’s crappy father and former boyfriend have been stealing funds and were setting up a fall guy, Noah.

When Liv finally confronts her father about his horrible and double-standard mistreatment of her, she quits and Noah is soon to follow after has gather evidence to take to a lawyer and be a whistleblower.

When they both move on with a new family firm, they can finally get their HEA.

Likes
➕No third act break-up
➕Noah upon finding out he is a dad, immediately steps up and takes care of his family
➕ Noah’s family is great and supportive
➕ When Liv finally gets out of the toxic relationship with her father

Dislikes
➖The book was 460 and felt looong. I think a lot of the middle could have been edited
➖The book felt disjointed with the fraud plot and the accidentally baby/new family. I felt like these could have been woven together a little better and balanced out.

[christyheartsbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two years after Noah and Liv had one amazing night together they find themselves working for the same marketing firm. Liv's father is one of the owners/partners of the firm and she always felt that she has to work twice as hard to prove to him that she is deserving of her position there. Noah was recruited straight out of graduate school by Liv's father. Neither one had any idea as they never exchanged last names during their one night, needless to say both were surprised to see each other on Noah's first day. Now she just has to work up the courage to tell him that their one night together made him a father.

I really wanted to love this one. Surprise baby is my cat-nip and the premise behind this one sounded really good. It started out with a bang but then it fizzled out for me. I loved Noah. He really carried this story for me. I wasn't too fond of Liz - she seemed all over the place and I don't feel her story was fully developed to get me to understand her. Or maybe I blocked it all out. My biggest issue though was with the pacing and inconsistencies. It felt like the first 70% spanned 1 or 2 weeks, then the last 30% of the book was filled with time jumps. And since the last 30% held a ton of drama it was all very rushed and lackluster. I wish that there was more of a balance - more of the drama that was in the last 30% more woven into the first part of the book. Less of Liv freaking out about telling Noah. And Liv said that the reason that she was on the trip where she met Noah two years ago was when she broke up with her ex and needed to get away for a bit. But then she tells her mom that she hadn't been with anyone in over a year when she met Noah that was how she knew he was the father. Seems odd to me that she was engaged to a man that she dated for years but hadn't been with a man in over a year. Doesn't add up to me.

[Heather Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noah Westcott should come with a warning: Too Hot to Handle! Noah has always been the flirty one of the family going with different girls all the time. When he met Liv 2 yrs ago, something was different about her. He knew he wanted to connect again with her. But, they gave no last names and didn't think about getting her number from her. 

Liv works in accounting at her father's office in NYC. She knows she is always the talk of being 'daddy's girl' but her father has never shown her any 'nice' things about being his daughter. He always wanted a son, and she doesn't complete that box. 

They met 2 yrs ago and had a one night stand up in the Hamptons. Both are from money and have worked hard to where they are today. Liv never thought she would see Noah again after their night in the Hamptons. Two years later he walks in the office for a position he earned in marketing with her father's company. Now she is freaking out. She doesn't want anyone to know they hooked up a few years ago. She doesn't know how to handle being around Noah, he's just so hot and sexy, and he knows it! 

Liv has been keeping a secret from everyone mostly. Now that Noah is back in her life will he be accepting of her secret? Will his family? 

I did receive a free ARC book copy of this book. I am freely leaving an honest review. 

[Vivi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

I was really liking this book until around 60% and it was almost a 4-star read. However, afterwards it went quite downhill. The plot felt rushed and underdeveloped for what was a good first half. I honestly fell very disappointed, because this story and these characters had so much potential. It was like a betrayal to have such a potential wasted in a rushed and unfulfilling way.
The characters were quite great and deserved a lot better than having what could be great moments just thrown around in the story. I was expecting a relatively big blown and great scenes, but it all fell kind of flat. I was looking forward to having the heroine stand up for herself and show her strength, but it was so brief and with a barely there development. I wish we had gotten more from both main characters and the story in itself.
My second book by this author and again it wasn’t as good as I hoped. I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t. The second half felt like a different story and it made me kind of disappointed. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it really felt like the author just wanted to get to the end as fast as possible. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if I will be giving this author another try. It really feels like her style is not my cup of tea. Maybe in the future I might give another chance, I just don’t see it happening very soon.

[Teri Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have immense admiration for Noah Westcott, and I was not disappointed with this story. His unwavering determination to secure his dream job straight out of college, and his transformation into a loving father, was impressive. What was most notable was the absence of unnecessary drama as he embraced Max, his newfound son, with open arms, demonstrating what a great father looks like.

Olivia, the female lead, was also a pleasant surprise. Unlike other protagonists who fall prey to manipulation, she remained strong and courageous, standing up for herself and her family when she discovered the truth. Her remarkable ability to juggle her role as a mother, work in a toxic environment, and keep secrets from her loved ones, was admirable.

The Westcott family played an essential role in the plot, and it was delightful to see how each character had evolved. The inclusion of new babies and growing businesses, among other things, added to the story's richness.

The audiobook "Forgot to Say Goodbye" was narrated by Savanah Peachwood and Jason Clarke, both of whom delivered exceptional performances, bringing Noah and Olivia's characters to life.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start to a wonderful end

This new-to-me author had me frustrated at the beginning of the story. I was impatiently waiting for the bomb to drop. The explosion was all I wanted and more. There was enough drama to keep the story interesting, but it didn't distract from the heart of the love story at play. I didn't realize this was a part of a series, so I guess I have some reading to catch up on.

[nikkyireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈.”

I absolutely love the Westcott family. This had all the family moments I was longing for in book 2. Noah and Liv were like two puzzle pieces meant to be together. The workplace drama added the perfect dash of suspense, too. 

✨️ He Falls First
✨️ One Night Stand
✨️ Accidental Pregnancy
✨️ Forbidden - Boss's Daughter
✨️ Enemies to Lovers
✨️ Dual POV
✨️ Open Door

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

While this plot isn’t very new - I like that there wasn’t a huge amount of drama. There was a big plot twist, but she doesn’t hide it for months from him. Just a few days …

They become a couple almost instantly but it felt … natural in a way.

I have never read the other books and wish I did, the family was written so lovely! I may go back and find them.

[Kim Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the top swoon worthy!

[Julie Cady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noah made me giddy