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Always My Forever
What if what you’ve been searching for has been right in front of you all along?
And what if, by the time you realize that, you’ve f**ked it all up beyond repair?
Aaron and Gemma have been best friends since middle school. Long before he was becoming a household name on the big screen and taking home models, he was everything to one girl. When he finally realizes she’s all he’s ever needed, will it be too late? Has she moved on, bloomed into who she was always meant to be in his absence? Is the damage he’s done irreparable? Or is their forever fated, unavoidable, and the only thing that really matters?
Emotions are messy, mistakes are made, and a lifetime of trust is shattered. Always My Forever is the story of how one man took the best thing that ever happened to him for granted, how he plummeted to rock bottom, and what he did to try to win her back.
Gemma
I can take a hint. He’s never going to see me as anything but a friend. It’s time to give up on what’ll never be, and move on. The fact that he’s not just my best friend, he’s also my boss (and did I mention, on the cover of every magazine I pass by) isn’t helping me get over him, but a new boyfriend just might.
Aaron Stone has been my entire world for as long as I can remember. But when he crosses the line, makes me feel worthless at the only thing I’ve ever been good at, I’ve been made a fool for the last time. I’m determined to build a life without him. His will crumble without me.
But Aaron? He’s not walking out of my life. And he’s not letting me get away from his, either. He’s back, and he’s got plans to stay there, regardless of how badly I want to shut him out for good.
Aaron
How did I miss the fact that she is what kept my life going, kept me going? How did I miss the fact that she was made for me?
Now that I’ve seen how it should’ve always been, there’s no going back. I might be a mess, but there’s one thing I know for sure, and that is she belongs with me. I just need to remind her of it, once I earn her trust back.
I might’ve caught on to what she’s always known ten years too late, but she’s not getting away from us. We’re forever, and I’ll do whatever it takes to show her that I’ll never take her for granted again. Even if she ends up being the only thing I have left at the end of it.
About Always My Forever
Always My Forever is a slow burn, childhood friends to lovers romance. It is a standalone with a happily ever after (after quite a few bumps along the way), and enough spice to start a food truck, once you get to it.
And what if, by the time you realize that, you’ve f**ked it all up beyond repair?
Aaron and Gemma have been best friends since middle school. Long before he was becoming a household name on the big screen and taking home models, he was everything to one girl. When he finally realizes she’s all he’s ever needed, will it be too late? Has she moved on, bloomed into who she was always meant to be in his absence? Is the damage he’s done irreparable? Or is their forever fated, unavoidable, and the only thing that really matters?
Emotions are messy, mistakes are made, and a lifetime of trust is shattered. Always My Forever is the story of how one man took the best thing that ever happened to him for granted, how he plummeted to rock bottom, and what he did to try to win her back.
Gemma
I can take a hint. He’s never going to see me as anything but a friend. It’s time to give up on what’ll never be, and move on. The fact that he’s not just my best friend, he’s also my boss (and did I mention, on the cover of every magazine I pass by) isn’t helping me get over him, but a new boyfriend just might.
Aaron Stone has been my entire world for as long as I can remember. But when he crosses the line, makes me feel worthless at the only thing I’ve ever been good at, I’ve been made a fool for the last time. I’m determined to build a life without him. His will crumble without me.
But Aaron? He’s not walking out of my life. And he’s not letting me get away from his, either. He’s back, and he’s got plans to stay there, regardless of how badly I want to shut him out for good.
Aaron
How did I miss the fact that she is what kept my life going, kept me going? How did I miss the fact that she was made for me?
Now that I’ve seen how it should’ve always been, there’s no going back. I might be a mess, but there’s one thing I know for sure, and that is she belongs with me. I just need to remind her of it, once I earn her trust back.
I might’ve caught on to what she’s always known ten years too late, but she’s not getting away from us. We’re forever, and I’ll do whatever it takes to show her that I’ll never take her for granted again. Even if she ends up being the only thing I have left at the end of it.
About Always My Forever
Always My Forever is a slow burn, childhood friends to lovers romance. It is a standalone with a happily ever after (after quite a few bumps along the way), and enough spice to start a food truck, once you get to it.
Unknown Binding
First published July 23, 2024
309 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
Madison Myers
8 books201 followersMaddie is an elder millennial who writes contemporary romance books that focus on relatable characters you’ll fall for, journeys you’ll root for and spice you’ll melt for. She’s awful at social media and talking in the third person, but she’s less slightly terrible at writing spicy romance.
When she isn’t at her keyboard from dark to dark, she’s usually blasting music that hasn’t been cool for fifteen years, or curling up with a book, her pups and the book boyfriend of the day, or her very real (and very understanding) husband of over a decade.
When she isn’t at her keyboard from dark to dark, she’s usually blasting music that hasn’t been cool for fifteen years, or curling up with a book, her pups and the book boyfriend of the day, or her very real (and very understanding) husband of over a decade.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
September 6, 2024
It’s rare that I comment on a book’s writing because I could ALMOST excuse a badly written book if the plot and characters are contenders but this one? Oh god. I can’t even pretend.
The writing is so freaking repetitive. Like I think the author must have googled synonymous phrases to satisfy a word count. My eyes must have crossed too many times to count to skim paragraphs after paragraphs of useless information thrown.
Usually I could power through this but the characters pissed me off so much. Here we have a 20-something doormat woman who’s been in love with her best friend since forever and who’s also an actor that’s having sex left and right parallel and perpendicular to whoever has vagina EXCEPT his best friend. Said girl best friend has been celibate for YEARS because she’s been waiting for this manchild to open his eyes and see her and what could they have, until she had enough when garbage MMC said he got back with his ex-gf and saying that maybe she’s the one for him and wants her to befriend said gf.
Sounds romantic?
Hold tight. There’s more.
So after that FMC said she had enough and goes on a date with this super great and very nice OM, but honestly we all know that nice, green flags, sweet OM do not win in books because most authors loves to romanticize red flags—anyways beside the point. So she finally has a boyfriend, has great orgasm with him and thinks she’s headed to her happy ending UNTIL. Until her atrocious best friend decided that oh she became beautiful! She dresses sexy now! Oh look her boobies! Oh look she’s on a make up, she looks hot!
He noticed her and decided that he wants her.
I expect grovel. Major grovel and courting but she folded like the doormat pathetic bitch she is. 🤦🏻♀️
The writing is so freaking repetitive. Like I think the author must have googled synonymous phrases to satisfy a word count. My eyes must have crossed too many times to count to skim paragraphs after paragraphs of useless information thrown.
Usually I could power through this but the characters pissed me off so much. Here we have a 20-something doormat woman who’s been in love with her best friend since forever and who’s also an actor that’s having sex left and right parallel and perpendicular to whoever has vagina EXCEPT his best friend. Said girl best friend has been celibate for YEARS because she’s been waiting for this manchild to open his eyes and see her and what could they have, until she had enough when garbage MMC said he got back with his ex-gf and saying that maybe she’s the one for him and wants her to befriend said gf.
Sounds romantic?
Hold tight. There’s more.
So after that FMC said she had enough and goes on a date with this super great and very nice OM, but honestly we all know that nice, green flags, sweet OM do not win in books because most authors loves to romanticize red flags—anyways beside the point. So she finally has a boyfriend, has great orgasm with him and thinks she’s headed to her happy ending UNTIL. Until her atrocious best friend decided that oh she became beautiful! She dresses sexy now! Oh look her boobies! Oh look she’s on a make up, she looks hot!
He noticed her and decided that he wants her.
I expect grovel. Major grovel and courting but she folded like the doormat pathetic bitch she is. 🤦🏻♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2024
When my release scores through me like a whip of hot flame, it’s not the girl under me who I’m thinking of. For the first time in my life, it’s a pair of honey-brown eyes I know better than my own staring back at me as I grunt my satisfaction into my girlfriend’s neck. And it’s the hardest I’ve ever come in my life. And then I leave.
Above is the MMC’s thoughts after fucking his girlfriend while thinking about the MFC. I was not really liking the dumbass MMC up to this point but was ok he is blocking his feelings etc. this right here though is why I could not get behind him getting her. He was staring at the MFC all during supper with their significant others and was hard. I thought after he turned down his girlfriend coming to his place he was going do the right thing and not have sex with her while he obviously wanted the MFC. Oh no he just did not want her in his bed because something felt wrong about it but he still wanted her body so he goes to her place and the above is the result. I lost all respect for the character what little I had to begin with.
The writing was good and I liked that the MFC really laid it all out there and her hurt. He did grovel and work towards showing her that he wanted her but after all those years of not cluing into his feelings and using his girlfriend was just gross and ruined the story for me.
Above is the MMC’s thoughts after fucking his girlfriend while thinking about the MFC. I was not really liking the dumbass MMC up to this point but was ok he is blocking his feelings etc. this right here though is why I could not get behind him getting her. He was staring at the MFC all during supper with their significant others and was hard. I thought after he turned down his girlfriend coming to his place he was going do the right thing and not have sex with her while he obviously wanted the MFC. Oh no he just did not want her in his bed because something felt wrong about it but he still wanted her body so he goes to her place and the above is the result. I lost all respect for the character what little I had to begin with.
The writing was good and I liked that the MFC really laid it all out there and her hurt. He did grovel and work towards showing her that he wanted her but after all those years of not cluing into his feelings and using his girlfriend was just gross and ruined the story for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 20, 2024Nothing screams romance like getting to read about the MC screwing his GF while thinking about the FMC or him groping his GF AND the FMC at the SAME TIME while out eating on a double date 🤮🤮
And of course she pines for him for YEARS while he screws every hole possible. He probably on wants her now cuz she’s now the only girl in the entire world he hasn’t slept with. She finally moves on from this emotionally abusive disgusting manhoe, but of course he throws a tantrum cuz another guy is finally paying her attention. All he cares about is me me me
And of course she pines for him for YEARS while he screws every hole possible. He probably on wants her now cuz she’s now the only girl in the entire world he hasn’t slept with. She finally moves on from this emotionally abusive disgusting manhoe, but of course he throws a tantrum cuz another guy is finally paying her attention. All he cares about is me me me
January 22, 2025
Tags: boring-yaawn, boss-employee, cheating-on-ow, cruel-cruel-hero, doormat_heroine, friends-to-lovers, hero-hurts-heroine, hero-loved-or-loves-ow, heroine-leaves, manwhore-philanderer, over-the-years, ow-drama, read, rejection-contemporary, rich-hero, unlikable-hero, unlikable-heroine, unrequited, weak-hero, weak-heroine
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August 13, 2024DNFing quickly.
The guy can choose to be a self-centered, egotistical and callous jerk, but remaining besotted and in love with a man that uses you as his PA, is condescending about your life and shows no apparent responding feelings is a choice as well.
The guy can choose to be a self-centered, egotistical and callous jerk, but remaining besotted and in love with a man that uses you as his PA, is condescending about your life and shows no apparent responding feelings is a choice as well.
August 18, 2024
Enjoyable but a little too long
3.5/5 stars
This is one of those books you really have to read every word to fully engage with the sentiment. You can’t skim read it and then call the fmc a doormat, as you’ll miss all the meaningful parts. The words have meaning and the dialogue of apologies are truly heartfelt.
About halfway through, admittedly, I was getting a bit bored. The story was dragging as it is very inner monologue heavy, but then we got to the reconciliation part and I was fully immersed again.
I think it’s a double-edged sword... you want the inner turmoil, but you want the story to move along quicker. I think for me, once I got past the halfway point and saw how the mmc was so introspective and realised his mistake, I felt endeared to him. His explanation made sense to me, but it’s harder to digest as we automatically feel for the fmc and her feelings. But humans are flawed! They are only in their twenties and for me, that’s still a time to find out who you are, careers are taking off, and you are finding your way into proper adulthood.
I’ve seen a few comments saying the fmc was a doormat... I didn’t feel this at all. She ‘found’ herself and moved on. He never forced her to stay as his assistant; we can't forget that everyone has choices... including Gemma. As much as Aaron was blind to her feelings for him, she was blinded by her own hopes and love for him... until she wasn’t. She got away and moved on, and I was happy for her that she had that strength. You can’t just turn your feelings off. I think what she felt during the reconciliation was natural; Aaron communicated with her so well, he laid it all out bare for her, and also listened when Gemma talked as well. His response was heartfelt. I think it’s easy to overlook the meaning as it is very ‘wordy’. There’s a lot of dialogue mixed in with a lot of inner monologue. There’s also the added 'fourth wall' where the writer uses the character to speak to us directly (very Deadpool!).
I did feel the book was about 50 pages too long, though.
3.5/5 stars
This is one of those books you really have to read every word to fully engage with the sentiment. You can’t skim read it and then call the fmc a doormat, as you’ll miss all the meaningful parts. The words have meaning and the dialogue of apologies are truly heartfelt.
About halfway through, admittedly, I was getting a bit bored. The story was dragging as it is very inner monologue heavy, but then we got to the reconciliation part and I was fully immersed again.
I think it’s a double-edged sword... you want the inner turmoil, but you want the story to move along quicker. I think for me, once I got past the halfway point and saw how the mmc was so introspective and realised his mistake, I felt endeared to him. His explanation made sense to me, but it’s harder to digest as we automatically feel for the fmc and her feelings. But humans are flawed! They are only in their twenties and for me, that’s still a time to find out who you are, careers are taking off, and you are finding your way into proper adulthood.
I’ve seen a few comments saying the fmc was a doormat... I didn’t feel this at all. She ‘found’ herself and moved on. He never forced her to stay as his assistant; we can't forget that everyone has choices... including Gemma. As much as Aaron was blind to her feelings for him, she was blinded by her own hopes and love for him... until she wasn’t. She got away and moved on, and I was happy for her that she had that strength. You can’t just turn your feelings off. I think what she felt during the reconciliation was natural; Aaron communicated with her so well, he laid it all out bare for her, and also listened when Gemma talked as well. His response was heartfelt. I think it’s easy to overlook the meaning as it is very ‘wordy’. There’s a lot of dialogue mixed in with a lot of inner monologue. There’s also the added 'fourth wall' where the writer uses the character to speak to us directly (very Deadpool!).
I did feel the book was about 50 pages too long, though.
November 14, 2024
There were aspects of this book I really loved, such as the unrequited, betrayal, angst and grovel.
I found Aaron’s character exasperating but he did finally pull his head out of his bum.
What I didn’t like was the repetition and how the last 1/3 of the book dragged!
I found Aaron’s character exasperating but he did finally pull his head out of his bum.
What I didn’t like was the repetition and how the last 1/3 of the book dragged!
March 16, 2025
3.3 stars
Finally done reading this. There were some good parts and some less good ones. Overall, I think MM is a promising author.
The plus points
📚 The author embraced well her topics of choice: unrequited love between best friends. Her 'I loved you for years' and 'he is so blind' felt well approached, with all the ins and outs explored on page. The first part of the story ratcheted up so much hurt, with Gemma suffering while Aaron was so oblivious with his girl of the moment. That part set the base of their situation quite well. I could not even fault Aaron because he really did not figure out what was happening. The second part () was plain toxic just like MM promised in her opening note. I was sick every time Aaron was being a douche bag . But I was waiting avidly for when he would open his eyes at last. How slow he was, my goodness! (As a side note, despite what MM said . Didn't bother me though.)
📚 The grovel essentially took over the last half of the book. Which is just great because I hate it when any grovel is quickly pushed in one line in the last 3% of a story. Plus, the grovel was actually quite good. With all the heartfelt words, all the actions backing the words, and all the devotion. And more importantly, that grovel worked well because of who the characters of Aaron and Gemma were i.e. young New Adults still navigating through life. The reasons why he never saw her sounded real, just like her reasons for letting him in her life even after he messed up bad. His sincerity shined through his every word and action because Aaron felt really like that nice guy next door, and her forgiving him more or less quickly felt natural given who they were, what they went through, and how he was solidly there once his blinkers were off. I don't think the grovel would have worked for me if they were older, less life-innocent characters.
📚 The angst potentiality was okay in some parts. Weirdly enough, the part that hurt the most to read was the 'house key scene' and somewhere in me, I still haven't forgiven Aaron completely for it 😅! That said, the angst would have been a 100 times better if not for certain elements - see below.
The not so plus points
🎟 Too long book. Too many repetitive inner monologues. I get the need to establish their psychologies but it was too much. Imho, it hurt the pacing and hence my enjoyment of the story. And the leaden pace killed any emotionality that might have been attached to the angst and grovel scenes. It took me 7 days to finish this book, and some days, I didn't want to even touch it. Each scene seemed so much lengthy to go through. I even paused during sex scenes to do other things, which shows how not invested I was 😅.
🎟 I am pissed that MM chose to cheat me on the details of
🎟 This is mostly a me thing. I have never been a fan of 1st person narrative (because growing up, I read so much 3rd person narrative) but I learned to bear with it as most books are written like that nowadays. But in this book, I particular disliked the 'breaking of the 4th wall'. I get the want to involve the reader but it didn't work for me. It felt obnoxious.
So definitely a middling read for me. But I am not giving up on this author because I liked how she gets her subject well. I think she needs just to know how to trim and liven up the visceral elements (i.e. wring out the storylines for maximum hurt and tears 😅).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2024
This is a slow burn, angsty, friends to lovers/ boss / assistant, “heroine is in unrequited love” book. They're a bit older than college aged, but it still has a New Adult vibe. The hero and heroine are both mid-20s. They’ve been best friends since they were kids. Now, he’s a famous actor and she’s his assistant. She’s been pining for him for years, as he’s dated other women. When it becomes clear that she’s being pathetic and he seemingly doesn’t want her – and isn’t even treating her well – she’s had enough, and leaves. Then, the hero realizes how much he screwed up, and panics about losing the heroine, right as she’s moving on.
The heroine was pathetic at first, but it didn’t annoy me too much, because that wasn’t dragged out for too long. I did like how she left him and shut him out decisively. And, that didn’t happen too far into the story. She also dated another man. So, although she was a doormat for a while and was celibate while he was dating OW, that situation mostly happened off-page before the events of the story and we were just told about it. Too many books have, “hero is with many OW while heroine is celibate.” So, I appreciated that she got another man for a while. And, her OM wasn’t secretly terrible, he was a good guy.
It was delicious to watch her shut the hero out as he panicked and suffered with regret. If that’s the kind of book you’re in the mood for, this hits the spot. His grovel was decent, too. Not the best, but solid.
So, why 3 stars? Well, it's baked into the premise that the hero is stupid and a dick for a while, so that's not a problem by itself - a perfect hero is boring. And, in a book where the premise is, "he screws up and has to make it better," he needs to start at the bottom and then get better. That's the plot! But, it's still a tough needle to thread, because we still have to somewhat like him and feel invested in the relationship, and this book didn't always nail it. I didn't hate him by the end, but at times, it was hard to root for her to end up with him. And, the writing felt like it was trying to hard to feel “Gen Z,” or like how people text their friends. Like for example, it kept using abbreviations like “tbh” instead of writing out “to be honest” when we were in his POV. I didn't like that. And, it lost steam towards the end. It felt like this story eventually got bored of its own plot, and just fizzled out.
It also could have been angstier. I did like the, “she’s in unrequited love with him, then he returns the feelings too late” angst. And, it did deliver that! But in other areas, this book didn’t lean into angst as much as it could have. A book like this might as well go all-out and not pull any punches. Like, for example, the hero has a girlfriend for a while, but she’s nice, and then she just vanishes from the story. (This may be a good thing, to readers who hate OW drama. But for me, as long as a there’s an OW, she might as well deliver angst. It felt anticlimactic).
Also, the heroine gets a makeover, and although the hero swears that he didn’t finally notice her just because she looks prettier, it DID feel like that’s exactly what happened.
This book is flawed, but if you’re in the mood for this type of premise, and a, "she shuts him out while he suffers with regret," it does scratch that itch.
The heroine was pathetic at first, but it didn’t annoy me too much, because that wasn’t dragged out for too long. I did like how she left him and shut him out decisively. And, that didn’t happen too far into the story. She also dated another man. So, although she was a doormat for a while and was celibate while he was dating OW, that situation mostly happened off-page before the events of the story and we were just told about it. Too many books have, “hero is with many OW while heroine is celibate.” So, I appreciated that she got another man for a while. And, her OM wasn’t secretly terrible, he was a good guy.
It was delicious to watch her shut the hero out as he panicked and suffered with regret. If that’s the kind of book you’re in the mood for, this hits the spot. His grovel was decent, too. Not the best, but solid.
So, why 3 stars? Well, it's baked into the premise that the hero is stupid and a dick for a while, so that's not a problem by itself - a perfect hero is boring. And, in a book where the premise is, "he screws up and has to make it better," he needs to start at the bottom and then get better. That's the plot! But, it's still a tough needle to thread, because we still have to somewhat like him and feel invested in the relationship, and this book didn't always nail it. I didn't hate him by the end, but at times, it was hard to root for her to end up with him. And, the writing felt like it was trying to hard to feel “Gen Z,” or like how people text their friends. Like for example, it kept using abbreviations like “tbh” instead of writing out “to be honest” when we were in his POV. I didn't like that. And, it lost steam towards the end. It felt like this story eventually got bored of its own plot, and just fizzled out.
It also could have been angstier. I did like the, “she’s in unrequited love with him, then he returns the feelings too late” angst. And, it did deliver that! But in other areas, this book didn’t lean into angst as much as it could have. A book like this might as well go all-out and not pull any punches. Like, for example, the hero has a girlfriend for a while, but she’s nice, and then she just vanishes from the story. (This may be a good thing, to readers who hate OW drama. But for me, as long as a there’s an OW, she might as well deliver angst. It felt anticlimactic).
Also, the heroine gets a makeover, and although the hero swears that he didn’t finally notice her just because she looks prettier, it DID feel like that’s exactly what happened.
This book is flawed, but if you’re in the mood for this type of premise, and a, "she shuts him out while he suffers with regret," it does scratch that itch.
July 30, 2024
I’m sorry. Nothing about Aaron is likable. Nothing. He is an immature, narcissistic manchild and I wish Gemma hadn’t given in. He doesn’t want her, but wants no one else to have her. He’s honestly disgusting and cruel and such an incredibly self-absorbed jerk that I couldn’t find anything redeemable about him. He doesn’t REALLY grovel. He doesn’t REALLY make amends. He pushes to get his way because he suddenly sees Gemma once he realizes others see her as someone worthy.
I honestly wish I hadn’t wasted my time with this book. He’s toxic and so annoying and Gemma proves to be a doormat without too much prodding. Ugh.
I honestly wish I hadn’t wasted my time with this book. He’s toxic and so annoying and Gemma proves to be a doormat without too much prodding. Ugh.
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November 9, 2024No rating because I skimmed most of it. It was too long and boring. Repetitive chapter after chapter. The H was a narcissist and full of himself. The h was boring and had zero personality. There really wasn't any information given about their lives as bff's before he became famous. Only short flashbacks that didn't deliver. He seemed to only be interested in the h after she got a bf. Didn't buy their friendship or relationship. The author gave claimer at the beginning saying it's a toxic one sided relationship, but these characters had zero emotion or personality. Book should have been edited down because of the repetitiveness. Sorry
July 16, 2024
This was such a different spin on friends-to-lovers!! She’s been his assistant for years. And instead of him pining, it’s been her. I really wondered how much groveling Madison was going to make Aaron do after he’d been so ungrateful to Gemma.
BUT DO NOT FEAR. The groveling was fully groveled and I was here for every second of it.😆
I also adored Gemma’s bestie Alex. She was there by her side through different stages and also laid the truth right in front of Aaron when he needed it most.
Poor Spencer. The wrong end of a lopsided triangle. We wish you well friend.
The giggles I gaggled when Aaron realizes she doesn’t need her 🥐 and is searching around her house/fridge. IYKYK.
Loved this book by Madison. 🤗
BUT DO NOT FEAR. The groveling was fully groveled and I was here for every second of it.😆
I also adored Gemma’s bestie Alex. She was there by her side through different stages and also laid the truth right in front of Aaron when he needed it most.
Poor Spencer. The wrong end of a lopsided triangle. We wish you well friend.
The giggles I gaggled when Aaron realizes she doesn’t need her 🥐 and is searching around her house/fridge. IYKYK.
Loved this book by Madison. 🤗
April 22, 2025
Ik had letterlijk niks aan dit boek willen veranderen… nikkkssss. Ik heb in lange tijd niet zoveel plezier gehad als tijdens het lezen van dit boek.
July 11, 2024
Wowza!! I knew from the moment I saw a post on Instagram that I had to read Always My Forever, it DID NOT disappoint!
💛slow burn
🧡friends to lovers
💛celebrity MMC
🧡book loving FMC
Warning the toxicity at the beginning is feral but boy oh boy does Aaron make up for his ways later on, in more ways than one!! The burn is slow and I mean slow but it makes the anticipation built up so much that it caused me to cheer with excitement when it finally happened.
Gemma is head over heels in love with her best friend who doesn’t see her as more than a sister. So what happens when she finally decides to move on and explore other options in life? The jealousy is strong with this one. What happens when Aaron finally realizes that what he always wanted was right in front of him but she isn’t free for the taking?
I will say I am very THANKFUL there was no cheating in this book. Just a lot of feelings and emotions neither Aaron or Gemma chose to face and when those feelings finally broke the surface, let’s just say some chaos ensued.
Overall this was a fabulous read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a friends to lovers romance! I was giggling like a schoolgirl and fussing at the situation and applauding some of the supporting characters at the same time. I loved watching their friendship blossom into something more even if one of them took 10 years to realize what he had in front of them all along.
💛slow burn
🧡friends to lovers
💛celebrity MMC
🧡book loving FMC
Warning the toxicity at the beginning is feral but boy oh boy does Aaron make up for his ways later on, in more ways than one!! The burn is slow and I mean slow but it makes the anticipation built up so much that it caused me to cheer with excitement when it finally happened.
Gemma is head over heels in love with her best friend who doesn’t see her as more than a sister. So what happens when she finally decides to move on and explore other options in life? The jealousy is strong with this one. What happens when Aaron finally realizes that what he always wanted was right in front of him but she isn’t free for the taking?
I will say I am very THANKFUL there was no cheating in this book. Just a lot of feelings and emotions neither Aaron or Gemma chose to face and when those feelings finally broke the surface, let’s just say some chaos ensued.
Overall this was a fabulous read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a friends to lovers romance! I was giggling like a schoolgirl and fussing at the situation and applauding some of the supporting characters at the same time. I loved watching their friendship blossom into something more even if one of them took 10 years to realize what he had in front of them all along.
July 29, 2024
ARC REVIEW
I was so so excited to receive this ARC, and I started it the moment I got it. It took me 20 days to get halfway through the book where I usually read a 400/500 page book in about a week or so. I’m having to put this book down for now and hopefully come back and finish it; if that’s the case, I’ll come back and update my review.
200ish pages of nothing but repetition.
Aaron Stone isn’t a misunderstood male character; he’s an asshole. He uses women for their bodies, and he only sees his best friend as a tool to get further in his career with no thank you’s given.
Gem hates herself and makes it known that no guy could ever find her attractive because of her boyish figure. She only begins to value herself when another guy finds her attractive and interesting AFTER having a mega makeover. Ya know, the classic “she takes off her glasses and puts on a low cut top and BAM she’s the hottest girl at school”. That was the vibe.
I DNF’ed the book after Stone begs Gem to break up with her boyfriend because he finally realized that she was all he ever needed (aka he saw another man have his prized possession and threw a tantrum). Even in this scene, it felt gross. I had so many moments in the first half that I felt gross reading though so this wasn’t anything new.
I’m sorry to the author, and I hope she never reads this. I hate giving low ratings, and I wanted to like this story. I wanted to like this slow burn friends to lovers HEA story, but I just couldn’t get over reading the same incessant misogynistic comments and repetitive pity party.
The only saving grace from this story is the best friend. Alex you might be the only reason I finish this story.
I was so so excited to receive this ARC, and I started it the moment I got it. It took me 20 days to get halfway through the book where I usually read a 400/500 page book in about a week or so. I’m having to put this book down for now and hopefully come back and finish it; if that’s the case, I’ll come back and update my review.
200ish pages of nothing but repetition.
Aaron Stone isn’t a misunderstood male character; he’s an asshole. He uses women for their bodies, and he only sees his best friend as a tool to get further in his career with no thank you’s given.
Gem hates herself and makes it known that no guy could ever find her attractive because of her boyish figure. She only begins to value herself when another guy finds her attractive and interesting AFTER having a mega makeover. Ya know, the classic “she takes off her glasses and puts on a low cut top and BAM she’s the hottest girl at school”. That was the vibe.
I DNF’ed the book after Stone begs Gem to break up with her boyfriend because he finally realized that she was all he ever needed (aka he saw another man have his prized possession and threw a tantrum). Even in this scene, it felt gross. I had so many moments in the first half that I felt gross reading though so this wasn’t anything new.
I’m sorry to the author, and I hope she never reads this. I hate giving low ratings, and I wanted to like this story. I wanted to like this slow burn friends to lovers HEA story, but I just couldn’t get over reading the same incessant misogynistic comments and repetitive pity party.
The only saving grace from this story is the best friend. Alex you might be the only reason I finish this story.
July 18, 2024
ARC Review ❤
Wow this book took me on a complete rollercoaster 😫 Aaron really had a full character development. He really did change for her and pulled his head out his bùťť and I loved that! I'm so proud of Gemma to choosing to leave when she did and for being so strong and making Aaron work for them! 😌❤
Aaron and Gemma are childhood best friends. They've always been together and around each other. As time went on she supported him in his journey to becoming an accomplished actor and she became his assistant. Gemma has been in love with him since she understood what love is but never dared to cross the line in fear of losing him. Aaron never crossed the line either because he was afraid of losing her so he always put her on this pedestal in his life as "best friend and nothing more".
Things finally reach a breaking point when an argument threatens to end their friendship and that's when Aaron gets his wakeup call 😫 The woman he's actually been in love with But was too afraid to make a move with, he was on the verge of losing her. But he couldn't have that 😌 He fights tooth and nail to prove to her he's all she'll ever need and she never has to look at anyone else for love, support and absolute adoration 🤧😫❤
The grovelling in this book was top tier and I liked the pacing. His efforts never went unnoticed for me and I appreciated them even more as the story went on. The slow burn was a plus because when it hit, it really 😮🔥🔥 The mouth on these two 😏🔥 Gemma is definetely not a shy girl when it comes to her and Aaron's 🤭 time. Aaron knew how to keep us hooked 😏🔥 And boy was Gemma and I both
I would definitely recommend if you're a fan of grovelling, slow burn, childhood friends to lovers and an FMC who says "That is enough"
Wow this book took me on a complete rollercoaster 😫 Aaron really had a full character development. He really did change for her and pulled his head out his bùťť and I loved that! I'm so proud of Gemma to choosing to leave when she did and for being so strong and making Aaron work for them! 😌❤
Aaron and Gemma are childhood best friends. They've always been together and around each other. As time went on she supported him in his journey to becoming an accomplished actor and she became his assistant. Gemma has been in love with him since she understood what love is but never dared to cross the line in fear of losing him. Aaron never crossed the line either because he was afraid of losing her so he always put her on this pedestal in his life as "best friend and nothing more".
Things finally reach a breaking point when an argument threatens to end their friendship and that's when Aaron gets his wakeup call 😫 The woman he's actually been in love with But was too afraid to make a move with, he was on the verge of losing her. But he couldn't have that 😌 He fights tooth and nail to prove to her he's all she'll ever need and she never has to look at anyone else for love, support and absolute adoration 🤧😫❤
The grovelling in this book was top tier and I liked the pacing. His efforts never went unnoticed for me and I appreciated them even more as the story went on. The slow burn was a plus because when it hit, it really 😮🔥🔥 The mouth on these two 😏🔥 Gemma is definetely not a shy girl when it comes to her and Aaron's 🤭 time. Aaron knew how to keep us hooked 😏🔥 And boy was Gemma and I both
I would definitely recommend if you're a fan of grovelling, slow burn, childhood friends to lovers and an FMC who says "That is enough"
July 17, 2024
I was lucky to get an ARC for this book and I am so happy I did. Aaron and Gemma are childhood friends and she has always loved him. Unfortunately he is a guy and makes some awful choices that threaten their friendship and future. Watching Gemma grow into a strong woman and Aaron realizing how badly he messed up was both gratifying and heartbreaking. I loved the angst. I’m a sucker for second chances in my books. The groveling Aaron does was 👩🏻🍳💋. I can’t wait to read more by Madison. I really hope she writes Spencer a HEA. Poor guy.
September 15, 2024
very sweet
This was really cute. Ups and downs and stupidity but I loved it.
I want to see Spencer’s book lol. The guy needs a love. He was great. I love they didn’t demonize him or make him a dirt bag etc.
Enjoyed it. I did skim quite a bit. There was a lot that could have been way shorter but the premise was good
This was really cute. Ups and downs and stupidity but I loved it.
I want to see Spencer’s book lol. The guy needs a love. He was great. I love they didn’t demonize him or make him a dirt bag etc.
Enjoyed it. I did skim quite a bit. There was a lot that could have been way shorter but the premise was good
July 12, 2024
Best friends to lovers is one of my favorite stories to read. Every story is different in how this progression happens. Aaron and Gemma’s friendship was created at a young age. He pursued acting while she built her life around his needs (like becoming his assistant).
You know the saying, “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone”? Aaron received a heavy dose of this. When Gemma decides to move on with her life, Aaron suddenly realizes how much he’s always taken her for granted. Trust me, you’re going to hate him at first. I kept thinking what exactly does Gemma see in him??
I absolutely loved Gemma’s character development in this story. By the end of the book, I was so proud of her and the way she carried herself. She never let Aaron get away with anything. I also loved Aaron’s character development too. By the end, I couldn’t love him more. This story was very sweet and I will definitely be reading more of Madison’s books!
You know the saying, “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone”? Aaron received a heavy dose of this. When Gemma decides to move on with her life, Aaron suddenly realizes how much he’s always taken her for granted. Trust me, you’re going to hate him at first. I kept thinking what exactly does Gemma see in him??
I absolutely loved Gemma’s character development in this story. By the end of the book, I was so proud of her and the way she carried herself. She never let Aaron get away with anything. I also loved Aaron’s character development too. By the end, I couldn’t love him more. This story was very sweet and I will definitely be reading more of Madison’s books!
July 12, 2024
So many pages when I simultaneously wanted to strangle Aaron and hug him at the same time!
The epitome of an emotional rollercoaster - both enjoyable and uncomfortable at the same time. Great characters, with a deep and tangible shared history, and heartfelt descriptions of their inner thoughts and feelings. My chest ached for them both at times and I was rooting for the HEA all the way!
I defy anyone not to be 100% invested in Gemma and Aaron's story and I thoroughly enjoyed diving into my first Madison Myers book. I'll be reading more, for sure.
The epitome of an emotional rollercoaster - both enjoyable and uncomfortable at the same time. Great characters, with a deep and tangible shared history, and heartfelt descriptions of their inner thoughts and feelings. My chest ached for them both at times and I was rooting for the HEA all the way!
I defy anyone not to be 100% invested in Gemma and Aaron's story and I thoroughly enjoyed diving into my first Madison Myers book. I'll be reading more, for sure.
August 17, 2024
Ehhh...this was felt very juvenile and drawn out
July 24, 2024
Reviewers were right it was angsty slow burn af and I wanted to slap Aaron so many times omg how could he be such a dumbass douche honestly it was staggering the shit he pulled and the timing of it all. I wanted to like this book but I'm not a fan of angst slow burn and just couldn't over the way he treated her, also didn't feel like we got enough of pay off from all their suffering either sadly. The one thing this book got super right was him having an insanely long period of groveling, honestly 99% of books don't do it and they should. Also poor Spencerrrrr. Alex I loved and was my fave in book besides Spencer I wonder if they’ll be getting their own book next 👀
January 6, 2025
I'm glad I (once again) ignored the negative reviews and read this. I liked the writing and really liked Gemma's strength after she woke up to Aaron's selfish antics. What I didn't enjoy was the filler that made the book overly and unnecessarily long. I just wish Spencer hadn't been shafted though, he definitely didn't deserve that.
September 10, 2024
This book is like a Sunday drive. Long, Leisurely and Somewhat Uneventful. And if that's what you're in the mood for, then this book is a winner. Gem has harbored a not-so-secret crush on her celebrity best friend and boss for 10 years and when he declares he's found the one, she decides it's time to move on. He realises what he's been missing all this time.
I wasn't Aaron's biggest fan. Without going into specifics, he seemed to be a crappy best friend, a crappy boss and a crappy boyfriend to the girlfriend mentioned. It's easy to forget that the 10 years she's talking about loving this boy started when she was 13, so lets give the guy a bit of a break but I couldn't get beyond the fact that he was never attracted to her AT ALL throughout their friendship.
He certainly commits to right his wrongs and it was an enjoyable read.
I wasn't Aaron's biggest fan. Without going into specifics, he seemed to be a crappy best friend, a crappy boss and a crappy boyfriend to the girlfriend mentioned. It's easy to forget that the 10 years she's talking about loving this boy started when she was 13, so lets give the guy a bit of a break but I couldn't get beyond the fact that he was never attracted to her AT ALL throughout their friendship.
He certainly commits to right his wrongs and it was an enjoyable read.
August 27, 2024
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 Cover: I really liked it! Nice and classy. With perfect title.
The story: promising. Unrequited love is one of my favorites without question.
Characters: here’s where I don’t know exactly what to say. Characters were juvenile but not in a YA way. They were just… immature.
The heroine and her train of thought are always in the BBS line and it gets boring.
The hero’s love felt forced and fake. I ended up skimming through the book around the 58% of the story. Obviously, I ended up taking days to read it.
The only thing I loved? The epilogue. Perfect words.
4/5 Cover: I really liked it! Nice and classy. With perfect title.
The story: promising. Unrequited love is one of my favorites without question.
Characters: here’s where I don’t know exactly what to say. Characters were juvenile but not in a YA way. They were just… immature.
The heroine and her train of thought are always in the BBS line and it gets boring.
The hero’s love felt forced and fake. I ended up skimming through the book around the 58% of the story. Obviously, I ended up taking days to read it.
The only thing I loved? The epilogue. Perfect words.
September 24, 2024
i liked that gem got some time apart from aaron and she thrived during that time, she wasn't just moping around. hated aaron, he was just so immature and didn't get any better.
the writing was full of references and memes of today which will definitely date it. also, i was annoyed at times when the characters were talking to us, the readers.
the fact that she's thin, tiny, has no curves, was referenced so many times, very unnecessary.
it also could've been shorter, it seemed repetitive, especially the beginning and end.
the writing was full of references and memes of today which will definitely date it. also, i was annoyed at times when the characters were talking to us, the readers.
the fact that she's thin, tiny, has no curves, was referenced so many times, very unnecessary.
it also could've been shorter, it seemed repetitive, especially the beginning and end.
July 28, 2024
So much of this book was my jam!
Angsty, unrequited love, oblivious H.
But as another reviewer said-it was long winded. I found myself reading it over several days because I needed a break. I sped read through the final chapters.
Angsty, unrequited love, oblivious H.
But as another reviewer said-it was long winded. I found myself reading it over several days because I needed a break. I sped read through the final chapters.
September 29, 2024
Interesting until the 50% mark ( although repetitive) but after that was dragged, forced and boring. Nothing really happened after that and I found myself skip reading it 😕
July 28, 2024
ARC Review:
This book had me hooked from the very first chapter, and I fell even more in love with it as I read on. Madison Myers has an affinity for creating characters that you easily connect to and love.
Gemma, a.k.a. Gem is such a dorky and sweet FMC. I connected to her straight off the bat and I loved getting to watch her character grow and become more confident in herself.
Aaron is what every woman wants and a boyfriend seeing him struggle and go back-and-forth with himself just made him so relatable that I loved him from the very beginning. His love for Gemma was so pure and so beautiful that it literally brought tears to my eyes. He is so dedicated to her and proving that he can be better for him himself and for her that I fell even more in love with him chapter by chapter.
Seeing both of them go through struggles and learning to navigate their lives through that made endeared this story even more to me.
This author truly astounds me with her writing. So thank you for creating this beautiful world and these beautiful characters. I 100% recommend this book to anyone that loves contemporary romance.
Tropes:
* Childhood friends to lovers
* Famous MMC
* slow burn
* she falls first, he falls harder
* “It was always you”
* Redemption
Thank you to Grey’s Promotions for the opportunity to read this book!
This book had me hooked from the very first chapter, and I fell even more in love with it as I read on. Madison Myers has an affinity for creating characters that you easily connect to and love.
Gemma, a.k.a. Gem is such a dorky and sweet FMC. I connected to her straight off the bat and I loved getting to watch her character grow and become more confident in herself.
Aaron is what every woman wants and a boyfriend seeing him struggle and go back-and-forth with himself just made him so relatable that I loved him from the very beginning. His love for Gemma was so pure and so beautiful that it literally brought tears to my eyes. He is so dedicated to her and proving that he can be better for him himself and for her that I fell even more in love with him chapter by chapter.
Seeing both of them go through struggles and learning to navigate their lives through that made endeared this story even more to me.
This author truly astounds me with her writing. So thank you for creating this beautiful world and these beautiful characters. I 100% recommend this book to anyone that loves contemporary romance.
Tropes:
* Childhood friends to lovers
* Famous MMC
* slow burn
* she falls first, he falls harder
* “It was always you”
* Redemption
Thank you to Grey’s Promotions for the opportunity to read this book!
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